The Feast of All Saints is a day on which we honor and respect all those who lived before us, those who lived their lives with holiness, embracing grace, so that through that grace, they were able to become glorified in Christ (and so, participate in and experience the kingdom of God). But it is also a day for all of us. We are to call to our mind the saints who came before us, the grace they received, so... Read more
Ed Feser announced that he has written a book about Critical Race Theory (CRT), All One in Christ: A Catholic Critique of Racism and Critical Race Theory; it is set to be published this summer. The description found on the back of the book is very telling, for it indicates Feser’s underlying ideology, showing us the problematic hermeneutic he employs against CRT: This book also demonstrates that Critical Race Theory, far from being a remedy for racism, is, in fact,... Read more
Christ, working with the Spirit, brings us all the sacraments. Christ and the Spirit always work together, not only in the way all the persons of the Trinity work together as one in their divine unity. but also in relation to the economy of salvation. This can be seen both in the way the Spirit dwells upon the incarnate God-man, and in the sending of the Spirit by God-man. Christ sends the Spirit into the world so that the Spirit... Read more
Not all sins are of equal weight. This is because not every action is of equal gravity, nor coming from equal culpability. And so, which should not be surprising, they do not all bring about the same consequences for their engagement. Moral theology provides us many ways to discuss sin, both in relation to objective standards, as well as in our subjective responsibility due to the conditions surrounding our activity. Sadly, much of the vocabulary which has developed to help... Read more
Jesus promised that he would send into the world another Comforter, another Counselor, one who would abide with it forever. He also said that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, would be inside us, making sure we never be abandoned and left to go astray without any help or guidance. And this is because the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, would help us realize how we have become united with Christ, and once we discern we are united with Christ, we will... Read more
We are naturally good, and, despite whatever sin we might do, no matter what vices we might act upon, we still have some good in us. Those who would suggest we are totally depraved, for whatever reason, dishonor God. Indeed, it would be blasphemous to say God could make something which would end up being totally evil. Those who suggest that every human endeavor is, in itself, sinful, because there is something sinful in humanity, or because only God could... Read more
True charity, caritas, is love. If we want to act with true charity, love would serve the foundation for our actions. This is why, if and when we have some reason other than love for why we give to those in need, our actions are but a simulacra of true charity. And so, if we act without such love, Paul says we gain nothing for what we do: “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my... Read more
As Christians, it is important that we should spiritually develop our ourselves, abandoning vices and embracing the virtues promoted by the faith. We cannot do this if we are focused on others, looking at them, trying to find reasons to judge and condemn them. For then, instead of focusing on our own spiritual development, which is what we should be doing, our focus will be on others, and so, we would end up ignoring our own faults and weaknesses. Not... Read more
Paul spoke to the elders of Ephesus, explaining to them that their authority in the church should be exercised for the sake of the people, and not for their own personal gain: Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you,... Read more
Scripture has two major representations of the ascension;[1] the first is a very short description of what happened: Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, worshipped him, and were continually in the temple blessing God (Lk 24:50-53 RSV). The other presentation of the ascension fleshes out the event.... Read more
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