Immaculate Conception & Assumption: Why Defined So Late?

Last updated on: December 8, 2016 at 4:08 pm By Dave Armstrong

Assumption of Mary (c. 1650), by Juan Martin Cabezalero (1633-1673) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (2-1-09) ***** [The dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was proclaimed ex cathedra (highest level of dogmatic authority) in 1854, and likewise, the dogma concerning the Glorious Bodily Assumption of Mary in 1950] ***** From a Protestant questioner on the Coming Home Network board, with my replies: * It kind of bugs me. Why did the Church have to announce those dogmas in the... Read more

James the Lord’s “Brother” (i.e., Cousin)

Last updated on: April 18, 2017 at 6:17 pm By Dave Armstrong

+ Who Wrote the Book of James? Icon: Saint James the Just [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (11-6-08) ***** According to The New Bible Dictionary (Protestant), the most plausible (though not certain) theory is that the author was James, the “brother” (i.e., cousin, from biblical and historical evidences) of Jesus, and that the data is quite consistent with his being also the bishop of Jerusalem. It is stated that this was the view of the early Church. A variety... Read more

Does God Forbid ALL Contact with the Dead?

Last updated on: April 18, 2017 at 6:22 pm By Dave Armstrong

Saint Benedict in Glory (1748), by Johann Jakob Zeiller (1708-1783) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** (6-23-07) ***** The following illustrates the logical structure of biblical arguments in favor of contact with the dead under special and specific circumstances and indirectly for the invocation of the saints in heaven (at least how I myself make the argument): 1. We ought to pray for each other (much biblical proof). 2. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its... Read more

Catholics: “SO Dogmatic About the Perpetual Virginity of Mary!”

Last updated on: December 6, 2016 at 3:15 pm By Dave Armstrong

+ Lutheran Confessional Agreement The Annunciation (1850), by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (11-1-08) *** From discussion on the Coming Home Network forum. The woman whose words are in blue is married to a Lutheran, who has a hard time accepting many Catholic beliefs. * * * * * Dave Armstrong, I just read your article about this, the one in which you gave an apologetic argument to some Protestants on this topic. You mentioned... Read more

Mark Shea vs. “Old Pro-Life” Texas Legislators (Medicaid)

Last updated on: April 18, 2017 at 6:24 pm By Dave Armstrong

23 boys at Crumpsall Workhouse, circa 1895-1897: sent there, no doubt, by wicked conservative pro-lifers [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** Mark Shea wrote, in his article, What Does the New Prolife Movement Look Like in Action? (12-5-16): As it happens, Texas Republicans did me the favor of demonstrating my point by, in their utter passion for human life from conception to birth, voting to kill Medicaid funding for kids with disabilities–ten days before Christmas. These guys, Good Christian Prolifers all,... Read more

Perpetual Virginity of Mary: Binding Catholic Dogma

Last updated on: December 5, 2016 at 2:58 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Virgin Annunciate, by Carlo Crivelli (c. 1435-c. 1495) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (11-3-08) ***** Dr. Ludwig Ott, in his Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, a standard theological reference source, states (pp. 203-207) that Mary’s virginity, before, during, and after the birth of Jesus (i.e., the perpetual virginity of Mary) is de fide dogma (the highest level). One can search the book to some extent and see these passages, via the Amazon Online Reader function. Ott in turn cites Denzinger’s... Read more

Was St. Louis de Montfort a Blasphemous Mariolater?

Last updated on: December 9, 2016 at 12:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (2009) ***** St. Louis de Montfort’s Mariology is often misinterpreted, just as, unfortunately, many, if not most books about devotion to Mary are misunderstood by non-Catholics, and not a few Catholics as well. Anti-Catholic Protestants (a small, fringe wing of Protestantism) often seize on these works and cite things out of context, making it appear that Catholics have practically raised Mary to the Godhead. All things have to be... Read more

Sacramentalism: James White Proves Augustine & Luther Aren’t Christians

Last updated on: December 4, 2016 at 5:53 pm By Dave Armstrong

BLU-82 Daisy Cutter Fireball [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Original title: “Man-Centered” Sacramentalism: The Remarkable Incoherence of James White: How Can Martin Luther and St. Augustine Be Christians According to His Definition? *** (11-26-03) ***** Bishop James White (one of the most vociferous critics of Catholicism today) and I engaged in a vigorous postal exchange in 1995. I have his letters in my possession, and the “debate” has been posted on my website for many years, with the good bishop’s... Read more

Sunday Mass Obligation: Brief Explanation & Rationale

Last updated on: December 3, 2016 at 8:22 pm By Dave Armstrong

Main door of the Church of Saint George in Sopot, Poland. [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] ***** (10-7-08) ***** A Lutheran woman who is considering Catholicism brought up a question regarding the Sunday Mass obligation: My therapist and his wife – formerly life-long Evangelicals – became part of the RC church last Easter. That was a real heads up for me. I totally respect both of them, their research and study, their morals and values,... Read more

Sacred Heart & Immaculate Heart: Biblical Reflections

Last updated on: June 3, 2017 at 12:34 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Heart of Mary, by Leopold Kupelwieser (1796-1862) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license] *** (11-23-10) *** On the Coming Home Network board where I am the head moderator, a person (Catholic convert since 1997) wrote, asking about both the sacred heart of Jesus and immaculate heart of Mary devotions: In several devotions attached to private revelations which have become popular over the last couple of centuries, I hear prayers being addressed to a body part... Read more