What we mean by “the right hand of the Father” St. John of Damascus, traditionally the last of the Church Fathers, explains what we mean when we say that Christ sits “at the right hand of the Father”: not that God the Father has literal hands, but that God the Son shares the Father’s glory. We also believe that Christ sits in the body at the right hand of God the Father. But we do not believe that “the right... Read more
PETE: What drew you to writing your conversion story “Catholic By Choice”? RICHARD COLE: We always want to share good news, right? If we see a terrific movie, we want to tell our friends, and I had just gone through this terrific, amazing, dazzling experience of conversion so I wanted to tell everybody about it. Writing a book also seemed like the “next best thing,” as the Jesuits would say. I had been taking notes all through the RCIA process,... Read more
Live a life worthy of the Resurrection Christ died for sinners, not for the righteous. Now that Christ has conquered death, says St. Gregory the Great, we should abandon our worldly lives and live for Christ. God’s mercy for us is more amazing because Christ died, not for the righteous or holy, but for the unrighteous and wicked. Though his divine nature was not capable of death, yet at his birth he took from us what he would offer for... Read more
Let your tears turn to joy Tears we shed for Christ are never unrewarded, says St. Cyril of Alexandria. Look at Mary Magdalene: she wept because she thought Christ’s body had been stolen, and she learned the most joyous news in all history. Observe that the tears we let fall for Christ do not lose their reward, nor is it long before love for him bears fruit. No, his grace and rich return will follow closely in the wake of... Read more
Cross the bridge to heaven In a striking metaphor, St. Ephrem the Syrian imagines Jesus the carpenter making his own Cross into a bridge to heaven. Because the tree in Eden brought death, it is fitting that a tree also brings us to life. This is the Son of the carpenter, who skilfully made his Cross a bridge over Sheol—Sheol that swallows up all—and brought over mankind into the dwelling of life. And because it was through the tree that... Read more
This week publisher Loyola Press sponsors the CBB giveaway. One lucky winner will receive one copy of Catholic by Choice: Why I Embraced the Faith, Joined the Church, and Embarked on the Adventure of a Lifetime (you can read the 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 Friday 9/05 with a winner being announced later that day.... Read more
Find your strength in Jesus’ weakness Because Christ took on our flesh and suffered for us, says St. Gregory the Great, we can know that we will also overcome our own suffering. How much this humiliation gave all the faithful was proved first by the most blessed Apostle Peter. After the fierce blast of threatening cruelty had dismayed him, he quickly changed, and his strength was restored, finding his remedy in the great model, so that the member who had... Read more
No two conversion stories are the same. Every person has their own unique story to how they were led to the Catholic faith. For some, the road to the Catholic Church can take years. Every conversion story is worth reading as the struggles and reasons for joining the Church can help us on our own faith journeys. Richard Cole details his own conversion story in Catholic by Choice: Why I Embraced the Faith, Joined the Church, and Embarked on the... Read more
Learn to suffer from Christ Christ’s prayer at Gethsemane leads us in our own prayers, says St. Gregory the Great. “Your will be done” is the powerful prayer that every Christian should learn and use in times of trial. So, dear friends, when the Son of God says, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39), he uses the outcry of our nature, and pleads the cause of human weakness and fear, so that... Read more
Christ taught by doing Jesus Christ taught by preaching, but he also gave us examples of his preaching in action. We should learn from him how to live our lives, and how to lead each other by example. When Christ came to earth, he wished to instruct everyone in virtue. Now, an instructor teaches not just by word, but also by deed—that’s the teacher’s best way of teaching. A pilot, for example, makes his apprentice sit by his side and... Read more
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