The writings of the Early Church Fathers are a gift to every man and woman who seeks the truth concerning Christ and His Church. Let's visit some of their statements.

The Holy Spirit is God: "If anyone does not say that the Holy Spirit can do all things, knows all, and is everywhere, just as the Son and the Father: he is a heretic...If anyone says that the Holy Spirit is a creature, or that He was made by the Son: he is a heretic...If anyone does not say that the Father made all things, that is, the visible and the invisible, through the Son and the Holy Spirit: he is a heretic." (Saint Damasus I, Pope, mid to late 4th century)

The Trinity: "If anyone does not say of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that there is one godhead, strength, majesty, and power, one glory and dominion, one reign, and one will and truth: he is a heretic." (Saint Damasus I)

The Church: "While I slept, brethren, a revelation was made to me by a very handsome young man, who said to me, 'Who do you think the old woman is, from whom you received the little book?' I said, 'The Sibyl.' 'You are wrong," he said: 'She is not.' 'Who is she, then?' I said. 'The Church,' he replied. So I said to him, 'Why, then, is she old?' 'Because,' he replied, 'she was created the first of all things. That is why she is old. It was for her sake that the world was established." (The Shepherd of Hermas, brother of Pope Pius I, mid 2nd century)

Sacred Tradition preceded Sacred Scripture (the Bible): "We have learned the plan of our salvation from none other than those through whom the gospel came down to us. Indeed, they first preached the gospel, and afterwards, by the will of God, they handed it down to us in the Scriptures, to be the foundation and pillar of our faith. ...They went forth to the ends of the earth, spreading the good news of the good things which God has sent to us, and announcing the peace of heaven to men, who indeed are all equally and individually sharers in the gospel of God. Matthew also issued among the Hebrews a written Gospel in their own language, while Peter and Paul were evangelizing in Rome and laying the foundation of the Church. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, also handed down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. Luke also, the companion of Paul, set down in a book the Gospel preached by him. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord who reclined at His bosom, also published a Gospel, while he was residing at Ephesus in Asia." (Saint Irenaeus, late 2nd century)

The Lord's Day, confess of sins, and the Holy Eucharist: "On the Lord's Day of the Lord gather together, break bread and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure. Let no one who has a quarrel with his neighbor join you until he is reconciled, lest your sacrifice be defiled. For this is that which was proclaimed by the Lord: 'In every place and time let there be offered to Me a clean sacrifice. For I am a Great King,' says the Lord, 'and My name is wonderful among the gentiles." (The Didache, the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, late 1st century)

Infallibility of the Pope when he speaks on issues of faith and morals (ex cathedra: from the Chair of Peter): "Moreover, if Peter was reproached [by Paul] because, after having lived with the gentiles, he later separated himself from their company out of respect for persons, the fault certainly was one of procedures and not of doctrine." (Tertullian, late 2nd century)

Bishops: "Let us be careful, then, if we would be submissive to God, not to oppose the bishop." (Saint Ignatius of Antioch, late 1st and early 2nd century)

Salvation is not through faith alone: "When we hear, 'Your faith has saved you,' we do not understand [the Lord] to say simply that they will be saved who have believed in whatever manner, even if works have not followed. To begin with, it was to the Jews alone that He spoke this phrase, who had lived in accord with the law and blamelessly, and who had lacked only faith in the Lord." (Saint Clement of Alexandria, late 2nd century)

Jesus Christ is the source of our salvation: "Adam sinned and earned all sorrow, and the world, following his lead, all guilt. And it took no thought of how it might be restored, but only of how its fall might be made more pleasant for it. [Response] Glory to Him that came and restored it!" (Saint Ephraim, 4th century)

I gathered these quotes from The Faith of the Early Fathers by William A. Jurgens. This three volume set is published by The Liturgical Press. Our Catholic faith is clearly expressed through Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. The Early Church Fathers offer insight into the Word of God for all who seek to read and digest their words.

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 11, 688. Pull out your "Catholic" Bible and reference Mal 1:11, 14; Mt 5:23-24; 9:22; Mk 5:34; Lk 8:48; Jn 13:23; 1 Cor 9:6.