Working together, Sts. Peter and Paul built up the church and set up the foundation of the See of Rome. But it was not an easy task. St. Peter struggled to understand what faith in Christ really meant, to see its universality, to see how it transcended his Jewish background. Peter was a man of faith, a man of devotion, but also a man who made many mistakes. And yet, like many great men, he was willing to learn from... Read more
The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness (Eccl. 10:12-13 RSV). Abusers and bullies love to manipulate others, finding any way they can to excuse themselves from taking the blame for the harm which they cause. They want to be thought of as great and powerful by others, thinking this is... Read more
One of the most famous post-resurrection stories of Jesus is when he asked Peter three times whether or not Peter loved him: When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to... Read more
We are made in the image and likeness of God; while sin has defaced us, blotting out that image, the teaching of the Christian faith is that Jesus came not only to heal us from the defilement of sin, cleansing that image and making it visible again, but to deify us, to make us greater what was given to us at creation. We must not consider our nature to be static: though it is good, though it is meant to... Read more
But if any one has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? (1Jn. 3:17 RSV). One of the many great deeds of the 15th century theologian, Nicholas of Cusa, was the establishment of a hospice in Kues: Cusanas (1401 – 1464) used his considerable benefices, which he had accumulated over a successful ecclesiastical career, to establish this hospice as home for thirty-three poor men, thirty-three... Read more
In Gaudium et spes, the second Vatican Council made a list of several infamies which degrade humanity and human dignity, including, but not limited to, deportations: Furthermore, whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia or wilful self-destruction, whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself; whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation,... Read more
Humans are called to have a merciful, indeed, compassionate relationship with animals.[1]They are sentient beings. God has granted them their own particular status in the world, a status which humans are meant to respect and protect. They should not be abused. They should not be mistreated. To abuse them, to neglect them, to lack compassion to them can be seen as a kind of disrespect for God himself. What artist would be satisfied if someone took their work of art... Read more
In its present form, the church is said to come into being as Pentecost with the descent of the Holy Spirit. It is through its reception of the Holy Spirit that the church itself is holy, for through the Holy Spirit it is granted a share of the holiness of God. This holiness of the church is granted not only to the church as a whole, but to its members. Holiness is first something which comes from God. In this... Read more
An athlete, taking great lengths to sharpen their skills, will discipline themselves to make sure their body and skills develop in the way needed for their sport. The time and attention which this takes is tremendous, but it is rarely without sacrifice, rarely without some sort of pain or discomfort as being a part of the process. “No pain, no gain,” as the slogan goes. The pain and suffering, the sacrifices which are made, are made because they are a... Read more
In Scripture. God speaks to the leaders of the peoples, telling them that they must rule justly. That means, they must treat the poor, the needy, the afflicted, the stranger, the widow or orphan, with respect. If, on the other hand, they contemptuously mistreat the lowly of the world, they risk divine judgment. The prophet Isaiah made it clear that social injustices caused divine retribution: The LORD enters into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: “It is... Read more
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