This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ). The declaration, first signed on October 31, 1999 by representatives of the Catholic Church[1. The Catholic signatories were … [Read more...]
Twenty-five Years After the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
How an Ecumenical Achievement Offers Catechetical and Pastoral Opportunities
July 26, 2024 by Rev. Bradley D. Easterbrooks
“The Wind Blows Where It Wills”: Understanding the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
April 26, 2024 by Tyler Pellegrin
The Second Vatican Council, in its document Gaudium et Spes, teaches us that only in the mystery of the Incarnate Word does the mystery of man take on light, that Christ fully reveals man to himself. The goal of this article is to shed more … [Read more...]
Seven Characteristics of the Resurrection Appearances
March 30, 2024 by Fr. James McTavish
The Resurrection is a central mystery of our Christian faith. Without the perspective of the resurrection, we lose sight of eternity and the life hereafter. Yet despite the centrality of this mystery, I wonder how many Christians could … [Read more...]
Preaching Dogma Kerygmatically
February 23, 2024 by Fr. Pieter van Rooyen
Thirteen years a priest, I have often heard Catholic faithful lament that their priests and deacons “don’t preach the hard truths,” but for many years I was reluctant to listen. This wasn’t because I was hostile to truth; rather, I didn’t wa … [Read more...]
Military Zeal in the Priesthood
What Priests Can Learn from the Ukrainian Military
November 24, 2023 by Fr. Shane Deman
The United States military is not tactically nor morally perfect. Yet it is rightly known to be one of the strongest forces in the world. Its ability to respond to global threats within hours and display impressive power makes it ready to … [Read more...]
Grace and Free Will in Spiritual Growth
September 22, 2023 by Deacon Carl Sommer
In the 2000-year history of theology, some of our greatest thinkers have struggled to define the precise relationship between grace and free will in the lives of individual Christians. Are we free to choose the good? Do we need grace even … [Read more...]
Book Reviews – October 2023
September 22, 2023 by Book Reviews
Aquinas on Scripture: A Primer. By John F. Boyle. Reviewed by D.M. Walker. (skip to review) Remembering Why We Preach: A Retreat to Renew Your Spirit and Skill. By Karla J. Bellinger and Michael E. Connors, CSC. Reviewed by Deacon … [Read more...]
There but for the Grace of God
June 23, 2023 by Bishop Paul Sanchez
“O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling.” Exultet One of the four Americans mentioned by Pope Francis in his address to the joint session of Congress on September 15, 2015 was Thomas Merton. Thomas Mer … [Read more...]
Can We Be Recognized As Christians?
Practicing Love in Contentious Times
September 30, 2022 by S. E. Greydanus
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Christ thus established love as the essential identifying mark of those who belong to Him. Love reveals the Christian; conversely, if we do … [Read more...]
Addictions: A Pastoral Approach for the Catholic Spiritual Director and Confessor
March 12, 2021 by Fr. Anthony J. Pinizzotto
Saint Paul refers to a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan that is his constant reminder of the need for God’s grace.[1. 2 Corinthians 12:6–7, New American Bible (Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2002).] Al … [Read more...]
Ten Commandments That Should Shape Palliative Care
January 14, 2021 by Rev. Basil Cole, OP
The Ten Commandments that are found in the Old and New Testament are meant to set limits to human freedom so that when obeyed, they produce within human beings a set of virtues or inner strengths, which enable a certain flourishing of one’s … [Read more...]
The Sacrament of Marrying
A Covenant and a Verb
November 13, 2020 by Fr. Paul Grala
Because the family is the basic unit of society through all time, it is imperative to delve deeper into the sacrament of matrimony, or the verb of marrying as I will explain. St. John Paul II said on December 7, 1986 during a visit to … [Read more...]
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