Try to imagine the most wonderful spectacle you’ve ever seen, says St. John Chrysostom. Now think how much more beautiful it will be when you see the saints and angels in Heaven. If we go out into a field and see the soldiers’ tents with their curtains, and the spears, and the helmets, and the bosses of the bucklers gleaming, then we are filled with wonder. But if we also happen to see the king himself running through the field, or... Read more
The heavenly life of praise and joy the angels live is possible only through the Holy Spirit, says St. Basil. Only with the help of the Spirit can the angels sing their hymns of praise—and the same is true for us. How can angels sing “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:14) without being empowered by the Spirit? “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit,” and “no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever... Read more
How important is it to have a right understanding of the Incarnation? So important, says St. Ignatius of Antioch, that even the angels in Heaven would be condemned if they did not believe that Christ’s body and blood were real. Some ignorantly deny the Lord, or rather have been denied by him, be- cause they are the advocates of death rather than of the truth. These people have not been persuaded by the prophets, or by the Law of Moses, or... Read more
The devil and his angels, says St. Augustine, have been cast out of Heaven, but they inhabit the lower celestial regions. The important thing about this passage is not St. Augustine’s speculative cosmography, but the theological point that the demons are still awaiting their eternal judgment. But because evil angels also were not formed evil by God, but were made evil by sinning, Peter in his epistle says: “For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast... Read more
Revelation says that Satan will be let loose for a little while—but even then, says St. Gregory the Great, it is only under the power of the good angels, who serve God’s will by unchaining him. “Then I saw an angel coming down from Heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and... Read more
There are evil people inside the Church, says St. Augustine, because the devil planted weeds among the wheat, as Christ says in his parable. But if the devil has his followers inside the Church, we must remember that Christ has followers outside the Church. But yet “through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his party experience it” (Wis. 2:24)—not because they are created by God, but because they go astray of themselves, as Cyprian says... Read more
One of the oldest prayers in the Catholic Church is the rosary. It is a centuries-old devotion that has seen its popularity ebb and flow as time has passed. Most Catholics own one; some even collect them. Still, others might wear them. However, do we truly have a clear understanding of the power and benefits of the rosary? Gretchen Rowe has compiled a book that shines a spotlight on the rosary and makes it clear why this is THE weapon... Read more
The saints, says St. Augustine, will judge with Christ and the angels—and in fact will be as good as angels. “Heaven” is the word we use for all the people from around the world who have been made perfect in Christ. Many will judge with the Lord, but others will be judged—not all equally, however, but according to their deserts. He will come with all his angels, and all the nations will be gathered before him. And among the angels will... Read more
We are the Church on Earth, says St. Augustine, but the angels are the Church in Heaven. The wonderful and amazing thing is that God, served by all the angels, came down to serve us on Earth. “For God’s temple is holy,” says the Apostle, “and that temple you are” (1 Cor. 3:17). But surely it’s obvious that God dwells in the angels. Therefore when our joy, being in spiritual things, not in earthly, takes up a song to God, to... Read more
Gretchen Crowe is the editor-in-chief of Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly, where she oversees the publication of the only national Catholic weekly newspaper in the United States. In addition to planning and editing the print edition, she also oversees the content of OSVNews.com and Our Sunday Visitor’s social media content. Gretchen also is an award-winning writer and photographer. On this episode Gretchen and I discuss one of the most commonly known devotions among Catholics, the Rosary. Gretchen’s new book Why the... Read more
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