St. Augustine tells us that we can be wrong about some things without causing any harm. What we can’t be wrong about is moral principles. It’s not bad in itself to think that someone is good when he’s actually an adulterer, but it’s quite another thing to think that adultery is good. In some things, we are deceived in great matters; in others, small. In some of them no harm is done; in others, even good comes of it. It... Read more
Mike Aquilina is the award-winning author of more than fifty books on Catholic history, doctrine, and devotion. His works have been translated into many languages. He has hosted nine television series and several documentary films and is a frequent guest on Catholic radio. On this episode Mike and I chat about his recent book The Apostles and Their Times: Archaeology, History, and Scripture Unveil What Life Was Really Like During the Apostolic Age. This book provides an incredible insight into exactly... Read more
Philoxenus, an ancient Syriac writer, tells us that the love of truth is a consuming passion for those who have tasted it, and no danger or torture can separate those who have found it from the love of Christ. Jesus Our God commands us to declare our truth openly, and not to be ashamed, and not to blush, and not just to accept what we are told by people in authority, and not to seek to please those who are... Read more
The abbot Nesteros tells St. John Cassian that he needs to learn practice before he can tackle theory. You can’t reach the highest peak if the first step isn’t in place. Whoever would arrive at this theoretical knowledge must first pursue practical knowledge with all his might and main. For this practical knowledge can be acquired without theoretical, but theoretical cannot possibly be gained without practical. There are certain stages, so distinct, and arranged in such a way that our... Read more
Just as in our own time, educated people in the time of St. Augustine loved to look down on lower-class accents. Dropping the letter ‘h’ was a notorious sign of poor pronunciation. Yet with all the effort they put into the rules of speaking properly, these same people could easily ignore the commandments of God. See, God, and see it patiently, as you always do, how diligently people observe the conventional rules of letters and syllables, as they have been... Read more
There is only one way to salvation, says St. Irenaeus, but there are many roads to perdition. Writing a little instruction book for his friend Marcianus, Irenaeus tells him that knowing more about his faith will keep him safely on the right path. Knowing, dear Marcianus, your desire to walk in godliness, which alone leads man to life eternal, I rejoice with you and make my prayer that you may preserve your faith entire and so be pleasing to God... Read more
Before dawn after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene came and found Jesus’ tomb empty; then she ran to Peter and John and told them someone had taken the Lord’s body. St. Cyril of Alexandria holds her up as a model of faith, she who did not abandon Jesus even when he had been killed in a shameful public execution. This excellent and pious woman (Mary Magdalene) would never have allowed herself to stay at home and leave the sepulcher, had not... Read more
Many are familiar with the Total Consecration method started by St. Louis de Montfort. He wrote extensively about the devotion particularly in his book True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Some however, find the language in this book difficult. Written in 1712 then discovered and published in 1843, the book was written in a style familiar to readers of those times. There have been a few attempts in the centuries since to adapt the method of St. Louis de Montfort... Read more
In a dialogue with St. Gregory the Great, Peter the deacon seems to prefer to think there is no hell. But we can’t do that, says St. Gregory the Great, without making a liar out of Christ. Peter: Let me ask you: will those who are condemned to hell burn forever, and never have any end of their torments? Gregory: It is certain, without doubt, and very true that, as the good will have no end of their joys, so... Read more
A mighty building, says Aphrahat, depends on its foundation stones. If we build the structure of our faith on Christ the true Stone, that structure cannot be shaken. Faith is made up of many things, and by many kinds is it brought to perfection. It is like a building that is built up of many pieces of workmanship, and so its structure rises to the top. And know, dear friends, that stones are laid in the foundation of the building,... Read more
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