Remember you weakness St. Augustine probably ventured deeper into the uncharted territories of theology than any of the other Fathers. Yet he was always careful to remember what his own limits were, and he was always ready to confess them candidly to his readers. It certainly is a useful caution to myself that I should remember what my own powers are, and warn my brethren to remember what theirs are as well. We must not let our human weakness pass... Read more
A Call to Mercy: Hearts to Love, Hands to Serve is a collection of posthumous writings by Mother Teresa herself. It’s release coincides with Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy and the Vatican’s canonization of Mother Teresa on September 4th. Father Brian Kolodiejchuk provides the introduction as well as compiling the writings for the book. Father served as postulator for the cause of beatification and sainthood of Mother Teresa. The book serves as a faithful witness of Mother Teresa’s wisdom and... Read more
Keep speculation in bounds There are many things we can try to know about angels, says St. Augustine, but we can never know for sure. It can be good to speculate, but we have to admit it frankly when we just don’t know the answer. How is life arranged there in that blessed heavenly fellowship? What differ- ences are there in rank among the angels? They’re all called by the generic name “angels,” as we read in the letter to the... Read more
Review by Michele Craig “Ah roses. Glorious roses, lovely roses: in flower form they are the ultimate image of love. But whose love? Human love? Perhaps so, for they are no doubt beautiful, fragrant, and truly lovely. Glorious roses have hundreds and hundreds of petals, dense and rich and velvety, so tightly entwined with one another that it’s impossible to find the center of the bloom. Could this be why they are the symbol of human love? For they so... Read more
We can’t understand all the mysteries of Heaven On his way to martyrdom, St. Ignatius writes to the Trallians that he could tell them more about Heaven’s mysteries—but he’s afraid to burden them with too many things they couldn’t understand. Don’t you think I could write to you about things that are even more mysterious? But I’m afraid to do so. I don’t want to injure you, who are still only babes. Please excuse me here: I’m afraid that you would... Read more
Spiritual bodies St. Augustine speculates that angels have a kind of spiritual body that adapts itself to various forms. But he’s always careful to distinguish what he himself believes from what everyone is required to believe. Do angels have bodies adapted to their duties and their swift motions from place to place, or are they only spirits? If we say that they have bodies, we are met by the passage, “Who makest thy angels spirits” (Ps. 104:4). But if we say that... Read more
Angels as counselors In the hierarchy of angels, says St. Gregory the Great, the lower receive from the higher the knowledge they need to transmit to us. Angels are our counselors, because they want us to be with them in the kingdom of Heaven. From things that have no sense, we can learn how to understand beings with sense and intelligence. Now, the air makes the earth fertile, and the quality of the heaven governs the air. Likewise, human beings are... Read more
Angels bring us the vision of God The speculative philosopher Dionysius the Areopagite says that the heavenly beings deserve their title of “angel” (which means “messenger”) because they bring us the light of God, which they experience at first hand. The holy orders of the heavenly beings share in the supremely divine participation in a higher degree than things that merely exist, or that lead an irrational life, or that are rational like ourselves. By imitating God, they shape themselves, keeping the... Read more
In March of 2011 during the World Youth Day celebration in Madrid, Spain; Pope Benedict XVI gave youth YOUCAT. The title is short for Youth Catechism. Since its release the book has been printed in multiple languages and sold millions of copies. Pope Benedict XVI in the introduction requested: “I beg you: study this Catechism with passion and perseverance. Make a sacrifice of your time for it! study it in the quiet of your room; read it with a friend;... Read more
Sharing the knowledge of the angels Dionysius the Areopagite tells us that the angels see the marvelous unity of God because they get their conceptions directly from God. We are too divided and scatterbrained to see that way under normal circumstances; but when we are gathered together in unity, we can have something of this same experience. From the self-existing Life of God, the contemplated and contemplating powers of the angelic minds have their simple and blessed conceptions; collecting their divine... Read more
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