St John Chrysostom

Wikipedia has the following to say about this Saint, this Doctor of the Church, who is one of the Three Holy Hierarchs:

"Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. After his death in 407 (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek epithet chrysostomos, meaning "golden mouthed", in English and Anglicized to Chrysostom.

The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches honor him as a saint and count him among the Three Holy Hierarchs, together with Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus. He is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church as a saint and as a Doctor of the Church."

In the icon above of the Three Holy Hierarchs, St. John Chrysostom (middle) is commonly shown balding, with dark hair and a small beard.

Links:

• Catholic Encyclopedia entry on St. John Chrysostom
• Wikipedia entry on St. John Chrysostom

Readings:

• Pope Benedict's first audience
• Pope Benedict's second audience

Optional Readings:

• Homily 21 on Ephesians 6:1-3, raising a child.

• St. John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instructions, No. 6, p. 93, addressed to the neophytes in criticism of those who have abandoned the religious service and have gone off to the chariot races and the theatres.

• Background on public amusements in Constantinople, including the importance of chariot races at the hippodrome, p. 161-164, in the book St. Chrysostom’s Picture of His Age.  Chrysostom’s actual treatise Contra Ludos, and others, are hard to find online.

St. Gregory of Nyssa

Pope Benedict has the following to say about St. Basil's brother: 

Gregory of Nyssa had a very lofty concept of human dignity. Man's goal, the holy Bishop said, is to liken himself to God, and he reaches this goal first of all through the love, knowledge and practice of the virtues, "bright beams that shine from the divine nature" (De Beatitudinibus 6: PG 44, 1272c), in a perpetual movement of adherence to the good like a corridor outstretched before oneself. In this regard, Gregory uses an effective image already present in Paul's Letter to the Philippians: épekteinómenos (3: 13), that is, "I press on" towards what is greater, towards truth and love. This vivid expression portrays a profound reality: the perfection we desire to attain is not acquired once and for all; perfection means journeying on, it is continuous readiness to move ahead because we never attain a perfect likeness to God; we are always on our way (cf. Homilia in Canticum 12: PG 44, 1025d).




Readings

• Pope Benedict XVI first audience
• Pope Benedict XVI second audience
• On the Soul and Resurrection (optional)

St. Gregory Nazianzus

St. Gregory Nazianzus is venerated in both the Western (Catholic) and Eastern Orthodox Churches.  He is a Doctor of the Church in the Catholic Church.

In this Eastern Orthodox icon of the Three Holy Hierarchs, from the Lipie Historic Museum in Sanok, Poland, St. Gregory Nazianzus (right) is shown bearded with white hair.

The Eastern church calls him St. Gregory the New Theologian.

Readings:

• First Pope Benedict Audience
• Second Pope Benedict Audience
• Fifth Theological Oration (on the Holy Spirit) (optional)

St. Basil the Great

This icon shows "The Three Holy Hierarchs" of Sts. Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, and St. John Chrysostom. which are venerated also in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Catholics consider each of these three these Saints Doctors of Church. St. Basil (left) is always depicted with dark hair and a long pointed beard.

The Catholic Encyclopedia entry on St. Basil opens with the following synopsis:  Bishop of Caesarea, and one of the most distinguished Doctors of the Church. Born probably 329; died 1 January, 379. He ranks after Athanasius as a defender of the Oriental Church against the heresies of the fourth century. With his friend Gregory of Nazianzus and his brother Gregory of Nyssa, he makes up the trio known as "The Three Cappadocians", far outclassing the other two in practical genius and actual achievement.





Readings:

• Pope Benedict XVI's first reflection on St. Basil
• Pope Benedict XVI's second reflection on St. Basil
• De Spiritu Sancto (Of the Holy Spirit) (optional)