The new edition is here!
I don’t own a copy yet, but I saw three crates destined for the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, whose good folks are handing over a copy to anyone who donates $50 or more (and asks for one).
New in this edition are writers from the Syriac and Coptic traditions and from the lands of modern Africa, Iraq, and Iran. I’ve added eleven more ancient writers and beefed up the sections dedicated to Irenaeus, Clement, and Origen. In a concession to my academic friends — and as an acknowledgment that the book is widely used as a college text — I’ve also added endnote references for all quotations. I’ve added an index. And I’ve expanded the recommended-reading section, which is now more than twice as large as in the first edition, and now subdivided and annotated.
Here’s advance notice from some critics I admire:
“The first edition of this book rather quickly established itself as the standard popular introduction to the Fathers. This new edition raises the standard. . . Aquilina shows us the Fathers as true fathers, and he demonstrates their crucial role as witnesses to Sacred Tradition — indispensable guides to the Church’s interpretation of Scripture. They are witnesses to our continuity with the apostles, and to the unity and universality of the apostolic faith. Yet, as we see in this book, they are not uniform voices. Theirs is a rich diversity that enhances unity. What Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were for Israel, the Fathers are for the Church. Reading this book, one grows more Catholic by the page. It will surely be a classic.”
Scott Hahn, Ph.D.
Pope Benedict XVI Chair in Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation
St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa.
“Too many Christians suffer from historical amnesia. The Church very much needs a popular rediscovery of the early Fathers, and this book admirably makes such a discovery possible. It will be of great benefit to numerous Christians.”
Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, O.F.M., Cap.
Honorary Theological Fellow, Greyfriars, Oxford
Capuchin College, Washington, D.C.
Congrats on the new edition, Mike! I can’t say I’ve read even the first edition (your new one is on officially on my list), but I’m always pleased to see any attempt to break through our collective Christian amnesia.
So, congrats again!
Phil
Amazon says the book isn’t out until Nov 11. What has happened?
Wonderful news!
Amazon is not always super-reliable with small presses’ information. (Or indeed, large publishers’ information, in certain areas.)
Also, sometimes small presses get their print runs done earlier or later than planned. (They may have begged, pleaded, and moved up their run to get that college textbook market this quarter….)
Maureen got it right. They begged to get it done for fall semester. And here it is!
I am delighted and have been waiting for this. I want to be the first one on my block to have one.
I’ll have to see if it’s in Franciscan University’s bookstore. If so, it will definitely be a new addition to my collection!
I snagged one today. Almost knocked over an elderly lady in my haste. But I got the first copy, joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Wow! I’ll put these endorsements on my wall, next to those by Scott and Fr. Weinandy! You’re very kind.