The Cordial Catholic - Page 2 of 23 - Cordially explaining the Catholic faith.

How Do We Participate in the Mass?

August 7, 2018 By K. Albert Little

Let’s play a word association game. When I say, “Vatican II,” what do you think of? Often times, for Catholics of a certain generation, the term Vatican II can send shudders up the spine. For others, its a source of bitter division between the traditional rites and liturgies of the Catholic Church and the new, modernized Mass that was established following the reforms that have come to be known simply as Vatican II. But the Second Vatican Council was actually… Read more

No, the Catholic Church Isn’t Anti-Sex

July 17, 2018 By K. Albert Little

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As a young Evangelical, my understanding of Christian sexual ethics was, at best, a piecemeal affair. Like much of the theology and philosophy that underpinned my beliefs, I’d gathered what I knew from a loose networks of Evangelical authors I’d read, pastors I’d listened to, and a sordid collection of opinions from friends and family. Needless to say, it was quite an eclectic flavour of Christianity. But, at the same time, no different in the least from my Evangelical peers…. Read more

Why Do I Need To Go To Mass On Sunday? (Because You’re Fat!)

July 13, 2018 By K. Albert Little

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In basically all of the developed world obesity is a growing crisis. People—adults and, sadly, children too—are getting fatter and becoming considerably less healthy. It’s a huge problem, and it’s getting worse. By most accounts I’ve read it’s a medical crisis of greater scope and scale than even the worst kinds of cancer or disease. We are getting fatter, and it’s killing us. Sadly, the causes are all too well known and stupidly simple. Highly processed food and a movement away… Read more

Why Catholics Must Be Able to “Argue the Other Side”

July 12, 2018 By K. Albert Little

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Lately, I’ve become enamoured with St. Thomas Aquinas. After reading G.K. Chesterton’s biography of the medieval philosopher and theologian I’ve been exploring everything I can get my hands on that has to do with the saint. He’s a fascinating, towering figure in the history of theology, philosophy, and in the life and development of the Church but it’s his interesting approach to arguing that I’ve become especially interested in. See, Aquinas was famous—infamous in the eyes of his detractors—for his uncanny… Read more

Hey Heretics, You Need To Read Church History!

June 20, 2018 By K. Albert Little

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After a rousing thirty minutes of worship music, I settled into my seat to listen to the sermon. It was Trinity Sunday and this week we’d be taking a break from our Ship Series—you know, friendship, discipleship, worship—to talk about the Holy Trinity. God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (We were a medium-sized, fiercely Pentecostal, community church.) The sermon began by talking about how hard it is to conceive of a triune God—a God that is three-in-one. It’s a concept… Read more

Bring Your Own Sacrifice to Mass

June 12, 2018 By K. Albert Little

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One of the most beautiful things about being Catholic is that no matter how long one is Catholic there is always more to learn about the faith. There are always deeper depths to plumb. One of these depths that I’ve recently found myself exploring is the Church’s Liturgy. The rite and ritual. The how and the why we do things a certain way. And, while I’ve always known that the Church’s ancient traditions run deep, I’ve been absolutely awestruck at just how deep and… Read more

My Big, Ugly Evangelization

May 25, 2018 By K. Albert Little

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As a younger Evangelical I once went door to door conducting a so-called research survey. It was our Outreach Pastor’s idea, and it was ostensibly to support his Master’s Thesis. And, by “Master’s Thesis” I mean he was attending an unaccredited Pentecostal Bible college called “Master’s College” and had to write a thesis. It was—how do you say—a bit of a crapshoot. But, there we were, conducting our survey. I am, by nature, an introvert and so knocking on a… Read more

So You’re Invited to Mass: Four Things To Know and Share

May 9, 2018 By K. Albert Little

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Hello, reader. And welcome. Let’s, right off the bat, talk about the crazy things that have to bring the two of us—you and me—together today. First, some crazy person maybe an aunt, an uncle, a deranged sibling, or a complete stranger has invited you to a Catholic Mass. How weird. You know, Catholics aren’t that great at sharing our faith (we’re getting better, I swear!) so the fact that you’ve been invited to Mass is already one decisive step in the… Read more

There Was Something Wrong With How I Read My Bible

May 1, 2018 By K. Albert Little

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As a result of my writing, I end up getting a lot of e-mails and comments from people on all different kinds of journeys. Some are from people journeying into faith; some are from people journeying out of faith. Some e-mails and comments are from people who feel hoodwinked by a faith they grew up with and can no longer believe in. I get all sorts. Recently, I was in a discussion with someone decidedly on their way out of a… Read more

Evangelicals, the Ancient Church, and the Liturgy as a Love Song

April 27, 2018 By K. Albert Little

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As an Evangelical convert to Catholicism I’ve been deeply interesting in the growing movement within the Evangelical church back towards the ancient liturgies of the church. It is a longing, an urgency, which I felt strongly. It contributed a great deal to my decision to become Catholic. The idea that worship is not something we need to reinvent; that worship isn’t something which we tailor to suit ourselves. That worship isn’t just singing but something which God clearly laid out for us… Read more