St. Basil the Great - The Doctors of the Church with Dr. Matthew Bunson

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St. Basil the Great – The Doctors of the Church with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Born: 330 AD, Kayseri, Turkey
Died: January 1, 379 AD, Kayseri, Turkey
Siblings: Gregory of Nyssa, Macrina the Younger, Theosebia

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor discuss the life of St. Basil the Great. St. Basil defended Christ’s divinity during the Arian controversy, contributed significantly to understanding the Holy Trinity and pneumatology. Pope St. Pius V declared him a doctor of the Church in 1568 amid the Council of Trent. St. Basil’s commitment to social teachings, exemplified as bishop of Caesarea, reflects his deep concern for the dignity of every person.

The significance of his family, including siblings like St. Gregory of Nyssa, is acknowledged. St. Basil’s emphasis on eternal life and indifference to worldly achievements serves as a key aspect of his legacy.

Dr. Bunson provides insights into the multifaceted contributions of St. Basil as a defender of faith, social advocate, and influential figure in the development of monastic traditions.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How does St. Basil’s defense of Christ’s divinity during the Arian controversy inspire your understanding of the importance of precise theological language in discussions about faith?
In what ways can we, like St. Basil, actively engage in social teachings and demonstrate a deep concern for the dignity of every person in our communities?
Reflect on St. Basil’s contributions to monasticism, particularly his emphasis on communal living, care for the poor, and humility. How can these principles be applied to your own spiritual journey?
Consider the significance of St. Basil’s family, including St. Gregory of Nyssa. How does the family dynamic contribute to their collective impact on the Church, and how might our own families reflect and support our faith?
St. Basil placed great importance on eternal life over earthly achievements. How can we adopt a similar perspective in our daily lives, focusing on spiritual growth and the pursuit of the divine rather than worldly success?

For more from Dr. Matthew Bunson check out his Discerning Hearts page

Dr. Matthew E. Bunson is a Register senior editor and senior contributor to EWTN News. For the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints, and Catholic culture. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books including The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.