St. Romuald is one of the Saints who continued to spearhead the monastic movement of St. Benedict in Europe. He founded the Camaldolese Order, which was basically the Rule of St. Benedict and the integration of an eremitical life within the Rule. There is a short blog post about St. Romuald and the Camaldolese Order in this blog.
If you want a more comprehensive article, you can read about his contribution to the growth of the Catholic faith in Europe in Wikipedia.
Abbot and Confessor: 580-662 A.D.
Greek Father of the Church
Introduction
Although listed as a Greek Father of the Church, St. Maximus Homologetes was the last common Father of both the East and the West. He lived in Rome for many years and collaborated with the popes and other Western leaders to overcome the heresy of Monothelitism (the teaching that Christ had only one will).
The struggle against Monothelitism
St. Maximus was born of a noble family at Constantinople and became secretary to Emperor Heraclitus. He however resigned to become a monk at nearby Chrysopolis (Skutari), where he became abbot. He led the struggle against Monothelitism and Emperor Constans II, who favored the heresy. He defended Pope Honorius (who was charged with the heresy); supported very much papal authority; and in 645 A.D., refuted Pyrrhus who was influenced to abjure the heresy.
Continuing the struggle against the heresy
Emperor Constans issued a decree, Typhos, which favored Monothelitism. St. Maximus was at the Lateran Council of 649 A.D. at the time - a Council that was convened by Pope St. Martin I, to condemn the decree. Due to this struggle, Pope St. Martin I was exiled to Chersonese in 653 A.D. and died a martyr's death due to ill treatment. St. Maximus too suffered from this struggle. He was seized at Rome, brought to Constantinople where he was charged with conspiracy against the Empire. He was then exiled to Bizya, Thrace.
In exile
In his exile, St. Maximus lived next to a monastery at Rhegium, and then spent the next six years at Perberis, with two of his supporters also subjected to great hardships. These two who supported also the cause against Monothelitism were then brought back to Constantinople, tortured and mutilated, and sentenced to life imprisonment. St. Maximus died after a terrible journey to Skhemaris on the Black Sea.
Byzantine mysticism
St. Maximus was a foremost exponent of Byzantine mysticism and wrote prolifically, theological, mystical, and ascetical treatises, biblical commentaries, a dialogue on the spiritual life between two monks, and Mystagogia, a treatise on liturgical symbolism.
Some of St. Maximus' Greek writings were translated by John Scotus Eriugena in the ninth century and thus became available to Latin thinkers. In his Mystagogia and in his speculative writings, St. Maximus transformed the mystical teaching of Evagrius and Dionysius, through an ontology (a branch of philosophy), that centered on his insight: "on account of Christ, that is the mystery of Christ, all the ages, and all things in the ages, take in Christ their beginning and end of being". (Questions to Thalassius, question 60).
Author's note: Below is the result made to a prompt made at Gemini.google.com (June 18, 2024, 1500h MLA time) to understand this theological issue which began in the Eastern Church of Christianity:
St. Maximus the Confessor was a key figure in defending the orthodox position, known as dyothelitism, against the monothelite heresy. Dyothelitism affirms that Jesus Christ possesses two wills:References of this article
St. Cyprian of Carthage, c. 200-258 A.D.
[Author's note: Carthage, great city of antiquity on the north coast of Africa, now a residential suburb of the city of Tunis, Tunisia. Built on a promontory on the Tunisian coast, it was placed to influence and control ships passing between Sicily and the North African coast as they traversed the Mediterranean Sea. (Britannica.com)]
A convert to Christianity in his middle age
St. Cyprian was originally known as Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus. Professionally a teacher, orator and lawyer, he became a Christian when he was in his middle aged years. As he converted to the Christian faith, he studied comprehensively the Scriptures and the works of religious writers like Tertullian. He strongly advocated Christianity through his writing talents and soon became a priest. In 248 A.D., he was named bishop of Carthage.
St. Cyprian against Novatus
As bishop of Carthage, St. Cyprian had to contend with the schismatic Novatus [who did not want Cyprian to be named as bishop of Carthage]. Novatus caused a schism because he accepted all apostates, known at the time as lapsi, with no requirement of penance. St. Cyprian denounced Novatus for this undue leniency and convened a council at Carthage in 251 A.D. to set forth the terms under which the apostates or lapsi, should be received back in the Church. In retaliation, Novatus went to Rome and joined the antipope, Novatian. St. Cyprian however asserted the supremacy of Pope [St.] Cornelius and actively supported him by rallying the African bishops on the side of Pope Cornelius. There thus were two schisms at the time: St. Cyprian against Novatus, and St. Cornelius [Pope] against the antipope Novatian.
A terrible plague in Carthage and St. Cyprian's martyrdom
In the years 252-254 A.D., Carthage was stricken with a terrible plague. Under the leadership of St. Cyprian, people all around Carthage cared for those smitten with the plague - including among enemies and persecutors. Wealthy people gave money for the care of the plague victims, while others of simple means gave much of their time.
Despite the success of St. Cyprian's leadership in alleviating the effects of the plague, the Christians were still blamed for the plague and hatred against St. Cyprian and the Christians started to build up again. St. Cyprian was arrested amidst all these schisms, trouble, turmoil, and persecutions, and was exiled to Curubis, which was 50 miles away from Carthage. In the following year after his exile, a decree came out sentencing Christian clergy to death. In his trial, St. Cyprian persisted in his Christian faith and refused to honor and sacrifice to the Roman gods. He was thus beheaded on September 14.
St. Cyprian's teaching on unity
Known for his writing talents, St. Cyprian wrote numerous theological treatises on the Church. The late pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, asked the faithful to place particular attention to St. Cyprian's teaching on Church unity. He mentions that according to St. Cyprian, the unity in the Church has its foundation in St. Peter and its perfect fulfillment in the Eucharist. Since the Church during St. Cyprian's time was filled with schisms and divisive elements, the bishop-martyr and saint "strongly affirm that the Church is one, [and] founded on Peter".
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