St. John Chrysostom tells us that the best way to draw back those who don’t come to church is not by preaching to them, but by showing them the difference the Mass makes in our lives. If they see in our behavior that we’ve been let into Heaven to sing with the choirs of angels, they’ll come running. I’ll never stop begging you, with all earnestness, as I have often done before: Bring your brethren to us! Urge the wanderers! Advise... Read more
The angels glorify God in Heaven, says St. Gregory of Nyssa, and human beings were made so that God would be glorified by intelligent beings in the material part of creation. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him” (Gen. 1:27). Certain writers before us have explained the reason for creating this animate being this way: The whole creation is divided into two parts: that which is seen, and that which is not seen,... Read more
In the Garden of Eden, says St. John of Damascus, Adam and Eve lived like angels—without a care in the world. That’s the way we were all meant to live, and that’s the way Christ has been trying to teach us to live. Before they took of the fruit, “the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed” (Gen. 2:25). For God meant that we should be thus free from passion, and this is indeed the mark of... Read more
God’s perfect knowledge is something no human could teach us, says St. Augustine. Angels couldn’t teach it to us; they couldn’t even teach it to other angels. But we can have it if we knock at God’s door. We see the things you have made because they exist. But they exist be- cause you made them. And we see from outside that they exist, and from inside that they are good; but you saw them where you made them when... Read more
If you love your brother, says St. Augustine, you know God—because God is love. Love is what binds us together with the angels. When you are filled with love, you really are filled with God, and you know God more intimately than you can know your closest friend. No one should say, “I do not know what I love.” Love your brother, and you will love that same love. For you know the Love you love with more than you know... Read more
Matt Fradd is the founder and executive director of The Porn Effect, a website dedicated to exposing the reality behind the fantasy of porn and offering help. He also serves as director of content development for Integrity Restored. He speaks to about 50,000 people every year on the harmful effects of pornography and how to free from it. On this episode Matt and I discuss the porn pandemic that is running rampant through society today. His book The Porn Myth:... Read more
The fall of the angels left a gap in the heavenly hierarchy, says St. Augustine, and the redemption of humanity will fill that gap. The redemption of mankind rebuilds the ruins left by the fall of the angels. Of course, the holy angels, who learn from God (for they are blessed with eternal contemplation of God’s truth), know how many of the human race are required to fill up the full census of that commonwealth. This is why the apostle says... Read more
If we’re to be like the angels, who have no bodies, then what becomes of the resurrection of the body? St. Methodius of Olympus explains that we’re to be equal to angels, but not identical. Our nature will never be other than human. Here’s another point you should consider, Aglaophon—for you’re very much misled here, if you’ll forgive me for being blunt when the subject is so important. You said that the Lord declared plainly that those who gain the resurrection... Read more
Answering the resurrection-denying Sadducees who tried to trip Jesus up with a tricky question about marriage in the life to come, Christ says that in that future life we will be equal to the angels (Luke 20:27-40). That tells us, says St. Cyril of Alexandria, what our blessed life of the future will be like. “The sons of this age,” Christ says—those, that is, who lead worldly carnal lives, full of fleshly lust—for the procreation of children “marry and are given... Read more
Contemplation, says St. Augustine, is the highest part of reason, which is the highest part of the soul, which is the highest part of our nature. In everything we do, then, we should be guided by our contemplation of God. Each of us, we know, consists of soul and body; but so does a beast. Again, it is plain that in the order of nature the soul is superior to the body. More- over, in our own souls there is reason,... Read more
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