Radical Catholic Reactionaries vs. an Optimistic Faith

Last updated on: March 1, 2017 at 12:51 pm By Dave Armstrong

Ringling Brothers circus clown Emmett Kelly in a bubble bath: Sarasota, Florida; photo by Joseph Janney Steinmetz, c. 1955 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (21 January 2001. Revised terminology on 8-7-13 and 4-2-16) *** [see my definition of radical Catholic reactionary] *** Mario Derksen’s words will be in green. Some time after this dialogue, he became a sedevacantist (0ne who denies the validity of the current sitting pope). I also dialogue with a second reactionary (words in blue). * *... Read more

Luther’s “Prophetic” Authority Critiqued (Series)

Last updated on: October 24, 2018 at 1:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

Posthumous Portrait of Martin Luther as an Augustinian Monk (after 1546), from the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** Most of the papers formerly listed here are now posted on my web page devoted to Luther. I’ve also written a critical book and a second ecumenical volume (quotations of Luther’s with which Catholics would totally or largely agree). * * * * * Read more

The Eucharist, the Mass, and the Church Fathers (Series)

Last updated on: October 24, 2018 at 10:53 am By Dave Armstrong

Church Fathers, a miniature from Svyatoslav’s Miscellany, from 1076 A.D. [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** [Most of the articles formerly listed here have been updated to my Patheos blog, and are listed on my Fathers of the Church web page] Read more

Pope Francis Foot-Washing Controversy Redux

Last updated on: March 1, 2017 at 12:59 pm By Dave Armstrong

When Can Laws Properly be Broken? Dialogue with Three Catholic Papal Critics Christ Washing the Apostles Feet (c. 1616), by Dirck van Baburen (c. 1595-1624) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Now we again have complaints from the usual suspects that the Holy Father “broke the law of the Church” regarding the foot-washing ceremony. Someone tagged my name and I got involved in a public Facebook discussion about this. As usual, it was three on one side of the debate and... Read more

Passover in Judaism & the Supra-Temporal Mass

Last updated on: January 13, 2020 at 5:51 pm By Dave Armstrong

“Past Events Become Present Today”/ Survey of “Remember” in Scripture The Last Supper, by Philippe de Champaigne (1602-1674) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * This article has been re-uploaded under the title, Passover in Judaism & a Mass that Transcends Time (“Past Events Become Present Today”/ Survey of “Remember” in Scripture). *** Read more

The Timeless Crucifixion (Sacrifice of the Mass)

Last updated on: April 11, 2020 at 9:57 am By Dave Armstrong

Christ on the Cross (1870), by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * (9-25-09) * * * * * This article has been re-uploaded under the title, The Timeless Crucifixion & the Sacrifice of the Mass. *** Read more

Jesus’ Agony in Gethsemane vs. “Be Not Anxious”?

Last updated on: March 1, 2017 at 1:06 pm By Dave Armstrong

Christ in Gethsemane (1873), by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * (3-15-11) * * * I received the following question in a combox, and thought it might be helpful to share my answer. * * * * * Our pope , in his latest book (Jesus of Nazareth) wrote that our Lord in Gethsemane, was afraid (very afraid). Now my question is this. Our Lord Jesus Christ always told his disciples and us... Read more

Dialogue with Lutherans on Jesus’ Descent Into Hell

Last updated on: March 24, 2017 at 1:36 pm By Dave Armstrong

I.e., Hades or Sheol . . . Also Discussion of Nestorianism Christ’s Descent Into Limbo (1470-1475), by Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (2-1-07) * * * This dialogue took place on the Lutheran blog Three Hierarchies, underneath the post, Reformed and Roman Catholic doctrine as compromise platforms. CPA’s words will be in blue; Eric Phillips’ words in green, Tom R’s in purple, and [anonymous] in orange. Sometimes I omit some portions to keep the flow going, and... Read more

Jesus’ “3 Days & Nights” in the Tomb: Contradiction?

Last updated on: April 12, 2020 at 10:37 am By Dave Armstrong

Photo credit: Photograph by “Antranias” [CCO public domain / Pixabay] * * * This article has been re-uploaded under the title, “Three Days and Nights” in the Tomb: Contradiction? *** Read more

My Books (#8): “Quotable Catholic Mystics & Contemplatives” (2014)

Last updated on: March 24, 2017 at 1:42 pm By Dave Armstrong

[see the information page for this book, for full details and all purchase options. Available for as low as $2.99 (ePub / mobi / Amazon Kindle / Nook Book / iTunes / Kobo) ] * * * (published in May 2014 by Lulu, 304 pages; 14 mystics or mystical works from 22 books from the 12th-16th centuries. Arranged chronologically in 215 topical categories.) * * * * * Authors and anonymous books included, listed in chronological order, are (Doctors of the Church in blue):... Read more