Well, I’ve allowed this film to soak in after viewing it back in December. After seeing The Last Jedi, my skepticism was extremely high. I wasn’t sure how The Rise of Skywalker was going to recover from a creative direction that veered sideways. I think Ruin *cough*, I mean Rian Johnson took too many risks that nearly cost the franchise half of its fanbase. But given the framework from the previous Star Wars film, J.J. Abrams did an okay job all… Read more
January 15, 2020
My Review of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ***SPOILERS***
January 15, 2020 By René Albert
January 9, 2020
Francis Chan, Christian Unity and the Real Presence of Christ
January 9, 2020 By René Albert
Most of my Catholic readers probably wouldn’t have known who Francis Chan is until recently. If you’ve followed the renaissance of celebrity Protestant pastors which started in the mid-2000s (including the likes of John Piper, John MacArthur, Timothy Keller and Paul Washer), then Francis Chan is pretty much a household name. He was the founding pastor of megachurch Cornerstone Community Church before stepping down and pursuing smaller-scale forms of ministry involving social justice and small-church planting. I have always admired… Read more
January 2, 2020
In Defense of Mary: Co-Redemptrix?
January 2, 2020 By René Albert
2 Comments
One of the most common criticisms towards Catholics is how they seem to elevate Mary to an equal status or above Jesus Christ. When one believes that both iconography and veneration of any created being is inherently unbiblical, it’s understandably easy to completely write it off as idolatry. Especially when much of the imagery in the average Catholic Church usually includes Mary holding an infant Jesus, wearing a jeweled crown on her head or a combination of the two. For… Read more
December 30, 2019
Top 10 Most Read Articles of 2019 by Coffee & Crucifix
December 30, 2019 By René Albert
After first blogging in the winter of 2016, I never thought I’d still be doing it nearly 4 years later. In the late fall of 2018, I was fortunate enough to get in touch with Patheos manager Rebecca Bratten Weiss — thus beginning my new adventure in becoming a regular contributor to Patheos Catholic! So, to mark the end of a solid year of writing, here’s a list of my Top 10 most popular articles of 2019! 10 – Who Is… Read more
December 18, 2019
Dialogue With Protestant In Response To My Article “Call No Man Father”
December 18, 2019 By René Albert
As a Catholic blogger, I’ve immersed myself into joining several social media blogging groups in order to help my articles gain more traffic. Most of the groups I am involved with are generally non-denominational Christian bloggers groups. While my articles are mostly well-received in Catholic circles, general Christian sites tend to be a mixed bag. Most Christian bloggers I’ve come across (Catholic and Protestant) are quite pleasant to engage with. But when it comes to discussing topics and worldviews we… Read more
December 17, 2019
The Priesthood & “Call No Man Father”
December 17, 2019 By René Albert
2 Comments
As an adolescent, I was terrified of one of the priests at my home parish. He was a tall Polish man in his 50’s with a deep voice that was easily perceived as eternally condemning, especially during his homilies. Because of how intimidating he was, I refused every opportunity to serve as an altar boy since I was so afraid to screw up in his presence during Mass. By the time I was in high school, I befriended many Evangelical… Read more
November 18, 2019
Corey Taylor’s Message To Kanye West Still Relevant
November 18, 2019 By René Albert
***CONTENT WARNING: COARSE LANGUAGE*** In a previous article, I wanted to emphasize how new Christian converts (especially celebrity ones like Kanye West) ought to expect hostility and pushback from the secular world. I’m going to digress and say that not all opposition and criticism should be taken as ‘from the devil.’ As it turns out, Kanye’s recent performance at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church has been raising eyebrows for two reasons. The first being that Osteen is widely known for promoting… Read more
November 14, 2019
Is War Justifiable?
November 14, 2019 By René Albert
3 Comments
In the wake of All Hallows’ Eve, November is a somber month. Especially considering All Souls Day is two days afterwards — a day when Catholic Christians around the world commemorate and pray for those who have died and anticipate their entry into Paradise. In the wake of All Souls day, Canadians commemorate the lives lost during the First and Second World War on Remembrance Day, which also coincides with Veterans Day in the United States. It’s always interesting to… Read more
November 7, 2019
Four Types Of Catholics You Will Find In North America
November 7, 2019 By René Albert
In almost every culture, there are usually sub-cultures that reside in them. In my observation as a reverted Catholic, I’ve noticed four types of people that seem to be unique to Catholicism in North America. I think it’s important to bear in mind that people who might fall into these categories have fluidity and can wander between the quadrants unknowingly. This list is intended more for self-reflection as opposed to a means of labeling other Catholics as for which category they… Read more
November 4, 2019
Why I Pray For The Dead
November 4, 2019 By René Albert
1 Comment
Anytime we lose someone dear to us, it feels like someone plunged their hand into your chest, ripped a piece of your heart out and ran off with it. Even as time goes by, the void where the fragment of your heart was removed never heals back to its original state. In spite of our loved ones leaving this world for the life hereafter, we never cease to love them. This may be why many cultures emphasize keeping the memory… Read more
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