Andrew W. HOFER, OP.  The Power of Patristic Teaching: The Word in Our Flesh.  Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2023. pp.389. pb. ISBN 978-0-8132-3653-7.  Reviewed by Peter DRILLING, retired professor of theology.

Andrew Hofer has written a study of preachers/teachers in the patristic age whom we can read to learn what we must do to take seriously the life and ministry of Christ Jesus in our own time and in our own life and ministry.  The author highlights three themes: incarnation, deification, proclamation.  To develop these themes the writings of seven patristic authors are examined.  Four are Eastern: Origen of Alexandria, Ephrem the Syrian, Gregory of Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom.  Three are Western: Augustine of Hippo, Leo the Great, and Gregory the Great.

A summary of the book is found in one sentence in the introduction, as the author states about Origen: "Without the enfleshment of the Word in Origen himself, the incarnation would be in vain for him.  But if this enfleshment does occur, if he shows this Word in his life and preaching, he has a deified life, with its share of Christ's suffering, and others too may experience through him the everlasting covenant of God" (p.4).  As the book progresses Hofer shows how each author highlights certain virtues of Christian living by means of his preaching and teaching.

Thus, Origen's writings focus frequently on holiness as the goal of living virtuous life.  Ephrem, on the other hand, often writes on humility and how it grounds the virtuous life.  Gregory of Nazianzus emphasizes the need for Christians to purify themselves and grow in their faith.  Jesus' discourse on himself as the vine and his followers as the branches in John 15 is expressive of this theme in Gregory (p. 128).  John Chrysostom zeroes in on the hope of salvation, including in On the Priesthood, which notes the priest's vocation to offer salvation to his flock, not least through his preaching.  A major theme of Augustine of Hippo is love, God's love for humanity and our love for God and our neighbor.  ("Ama, et quod vis fac.")  Care for the poor is a recurring point in the preaching and writing of Leo the Great, because we meet Christ in the poor.  For Gregory the Great, "the first virtue is the recognition of one's weakness" (p. 279).  This is highlighted regularly in The Pastoral Rule.

Andrew Hofer's book is a weighty reflection that one cannot rush through and put aside.  I find it to be an invitation to careful thought and reflection with reference to my own need to grow in virtuous living, and take care to preach and teach appropriately, because Christ continues to incarnate Himself in each of his baptized followers/disciples.