Giveaway – Lenten studies by Catholic Scripture Study International

Last updated on: February 28, 2015 at 6:47 pm By Pete Socks

Publisher Catholic Scripture Study International sponsors this special giveaway. One lucky winner will receive one copy of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering and one copy of The Road to Redemption with DVD set (you can read my review here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. The contest starts at midnight tonight EST and will end 12AM EST 3/11 with a winner being announced later that day. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more

CBB Review – The Catholic Advantage: Why Health, Happiness, and Heaven Await the Faithful

Last updated on: February 28, 2015 at 8:03 pm By Pete Socks

Sometimes a book passes in front of me that approaches a topic that I would not actively search out to read about. The Catholic Advantage: Why Health, Happiness, and Heaven Await the Faithful is one of those books. As is usually the case by the end of the book I am glad I gave it a chance. Author Bill Donohue gives a compelling argument on how one’s view on religion and their religious practices can impact their health and overall outlook... Read more

Church Fathers, Day 225: St. John Chrysostom warns beware the temptations of power

Last updated on: January 11, 2015 at 5:35 pm By Pete Socks

Beware the temptations of power Whenever we have power over people, says St. John Chrysostom, we’re tempted to use that power for the basest ends. Better to have no wealth at all than to use our wealth for revenge. But riches, someone may say, bring honor to those who possess them, and give them the power to take vengeance on their enemies easily. Tell me, is this really a reason why riches seem desirable to you and worth striving for—that... Read more

CBB Review – Lenten studies from Catholic Scripture Study International

Last updated on: February 28, 2015 at 3:43 pm By Pete Socks

Catholic Scripture Study International has a wide range of Faith studies and Bible Studies. The more of them I review the more I like the product CSS is putting out. This time around I am reviewing two Lenten related studies. The first is Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering. The second is The Road to Redemption a study for Cycle B. Jennifer Phelps is the author of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering. This particular study does not... Read more

Verbum’s HUGE High School Announcement

Last updated on: February 27, 2015 at 7:37 pm By Pete Socks

Readers of this blog are likely aware that I use the great study tool called Verbum. Verbum is the Catholic version of the popular Logos Bible Software. You can read my review of their excellent Foundation 6 library package here. My friends at Verbum are doing something incredible….amazing….generous…I’m not sure any of these words are good enough. Today they have officially announced an initiative to give away five million dollars in scholarships for schools to implement their brand-new high school... Read more

Church Fathers, Day 224: St. Gregory the Great warns beware of prosperity—Satan lurks there

Last updated on: January 11, 2015 at 5:30 pm By Pete Socks

Beware of prosperity—Satan lurks there The persecutions had ceased, and Christians were safe from the government. But they weren’t safe, says St. Gregory the Great, from the wiles of Satan, who knows how to make use of prosperity and security, too. Because the stress of the earlier tempests has lulled, and with the end of the struggle a measure of tranquility has seemed to smile on us for a long time, we have to guard against those errors that arise... Read more

CBB Interview with Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Last updated on: February 25, 2015 at 7:45 pm By Pete Socks

PETE: Slubgrip Instructs and your previous book Gargoyle Code clearly borrow a page from C.S. Lewis’ renowned classic The Screwtape Letters. How much has C.S. Lewis’ work influenced you in your conversion and your life as Catholic priest since? FR. DWIGHT LONGENECKER: I think C.S.Lewis’ greatest influence on my life is his ability and passion for communicating the faith in a way that is intriguing and entertaining. In so many of his books he is willing to cut through all the intellectual mumbo jumbo to... Read more

Church Fathers, Day 223: St. Jerome says remember the poor and trust God to provide

Last updated on: January 11, 2015 at 5:19 pm By Pete Socks

Remember the poor and trust God to provide Writing a eulogy of his good friend Paula, a noble widow who was also his student, St. Jerome recalls how she used to give abundantly whenever she saw someone in need. No mind could be more considerate than hers, or none kinder towards the lowly. She did not court the powerful; at the same time, if the proud and the vainglorious sought her, she did not turn from them with disdain. If... Read more

Church Fathers, Day 222: St. Ambrose tells us don’t take advantage of misfortune

Last updated on: December 30, 2014 at 11:32 pm By Pete Socks

Don’t take advantage of misfortune When food is scarce, prices go up. It’s just good business, right? No, says St. Ambrose. It’s one thing to get a fair return for your work, but it’s quite another to take advantage of human misery to turn an outrageous profit. “The people curse him who holds back grain” (Proverbs 11:26). This is a plain and definite statement, leaving no room for debate. Yes, you must expect payment for your labor from the crops... Read more

Church Fathers, Day 221: St. Ambrose says share everything

Last updated on: December 30, 2014 at 11:27 pm By Pete Socks

Share everything St. Ambrose quotes the pagan philosopher Pythagoras to show that even the pagans admire selfless sharing between friends. But Christians are all family, so we should be all the more willing to share everything with our brothers and sisters. If one of the pagans has said that all the possessions of friends should be common, how much more ought those of relatives to be common! For we are relatives, because we are bound into one body. But we... Read more