The Seven Seals

Last updated on: May 28, 2023 at 10:33 am By David Schloss

The apocalypse, also known as the end of the world, has been the object of both serious theological discussions as well as less serious Hollywood movies. The subject of the apocalypse is undoubtedly intriguing, and the topic is extensive. For the purpose of this paper, I will discuss the mysterious “seven seals” mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The Unveiling The Book of Revelation is one of the most unique books in the Bible. Containing detailed and frequently frightening imagery... Read more

The Evangelical Counsels

Last updated on: May 21, 2023 at 10:37 am By David Schloss

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To the uninitiated, it is easy to view religion in general and Catholicism in particular as being dominated by prudish rules. No more is this the case when the subject is the vows taken by consecrated religious people. In this paper, I will limit myself to discussing vows known as the Evangelical Counsels. Evangelical because they are found in the Gospels (Evangelium in Latin) and Counsels because they were recommended (counseled) by Jesus. Generally reducible to poverty, chastity, and obedience,... Read more

How Does Sin Affect The Soul?

Last updated on: May 14, 2023 at 12:00 pm By David Schloss

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Terms like sin and the soul are both old and familiar to most people of faith. How often, however, do we stop and think about the meaning and significance of these terms? In this paper, I would like to examine the relationship between the soul and sin. Specifically, the affect that sin has upon the soul. For the most part, Catholic theology draws its understanding of the soul from the work of Thomas Aquinas. In turn, Aquinas’ view was influenced... Read more

The Seven Last Words

Last updated on: May 7, 2023 at 10:41 am By David Schloss

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The title of this article may be misleading. A more accurate rendition would be “The seven last phrases (or sayings) of Christ.” Questions of semantics aside, the seven last words refer to the final statements of Christ leading up to His death. As one would expect, the words spoken by Christ have been the subject of study and speculation for two thousand years, and “the seven last words” are no exception. In this article, I will review each of the... Read more

Have We Lost What Is Sacred?

Last updated on: April 30, 2023 at 10:34 am By David Schloss

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“Ain’t there nothing sacred no more, lord, ain’t there nothing sacred no more?” – David Allan Coe A Church is broken into, and the Tabernacle is stolen. A person curses God. These are examples of sacrilege and blasphemy. In a secular and postmodern world, these terms will likely be considered old-fashioned or even ignorant. Yet these examples raise an important question. Has human history reached a place where there is no room for the transcendent? And if that is the... Read more

The Problem Of Impassibility

Last updated on: April 23, 2023 at 10:11 am By David Schloss

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The Gospels tell us that Jesus suffered greatly in His earthly life, and Jesus Himself prophesizes about His suffering as we read in the Gospel of Luke. “The Son of Man [Jesus] must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Yet the fact that Jesus suffered presents a dilemma. The dilemma rests on three propositions: that Jesus is God, that God is impassible,... Read more

Dying To Oneself.

Last updated on: April 15, 2023 at 9:34 am By David Schloss

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We are at war with ourselves. Within every person, a conflict exists between the spirit and the body. From a Catholic perspective, the outcome of that conflict is essential to the salvation of the soul. In this paper, I will discuss an essential weapon in the conflict between body and soul; mortification. I will begin by discussing the need for mortification and how it is depicted in the Bible. Lastly, I will examine the various types of mortification common in... Read more

Some Thoughts On Thoughts And Prayers

Last updated on: April 2, 2023 at 9:33 am By David Schloss

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In the wake of tragedy, one often hears, “our thoughts and prayers are with the victims.” Recently, this seemly harmless bromide has been met with ridicule. While one expects any statement pertaining to faith to be attacked by atheists and agnostics, the phrase “thoughts and prayers” is now being held in contempt by religious people, including Christians. One such example of a Christian criticizing “thoughts and prayers” comes from the Chaplin of the United States Senate. Following the murder of... Read more

Missiology

Last updated on: March 27, 2023 at 2:18 pm By David Schloss

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“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” – Matthew 28:19-20. Every person in the Bible who encounters God is sent on a mission. From Abraham and Moses to Peter and Paul, to encounter God is to be tasked with doing His work. This holds not just at the level of the... Read more