Irenaeus of Lyons was born in modern-day Turkey around the year 130. Not much is known about the early life of this Father of the Church, so his story begins when he became a disciple of St. Polycarp, who himself was a disciple of St. John the Evangelist. St. Irenaeus was ordained and served the Church of Lyons in present-day France as a priest, and then as a bishop. His evangelistic efforts saw him write five books against many heresies, including Montanism and Gnosticism, and he is considered the first Christian theologian to develop a system of theology. He was among the first to call Mary “The New Eve” and in all his writings he shows not just a Marian devotion, but an assumption that Mary’s helping role in salvation was common knowledge among Christians.
CHALLENGE
St. Irenaeus of Lyons wrote, “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary.” Many times our lives can seem like a complicated mess, and it’s easy to feel “knotted up”. Today, bring the biggest tangle of your life to “Mary, Undoer of Knots” and trust in her intercession.
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