“There is no greater, no more important art upon earth than the art of dying a good death. Upon this thy whole eternity depends; an eternity of surpassing felicity or of unutterable torment.”- Martin Von Cochem One of the subsets contained within the vast universe of Catholic theology is eschatology. Eschatology is a Greek word that refers to the study of last things. Catholic eschatology categorizes these last things as death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell. As is often the case... Read more
“If they be faithful and seek no satisfaction in creatures, they pass from pure suffering to the pure love of God. But the fortunate souls who succeed thus far are very few.” – Saint Paul of the Cross. It was common among the Church fathers to practice spiritual detachment. Saint John of the Cross likened it to a form of blindness whereby the soul is cut off from worldly attachments and must rely entirely on faith. Properly practiced, spiritual detachment... Read more
“We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16. Who is Jesus? To the detriment of Christ and human understanding of Him, there have been numerous efforts to reduce Christ to a particular archetype. For some, He did not exist. For others, Jesus was a type of guru, or a first-century Jewish rebel, battling the Roman... Read more
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” – Colossians 3:1 At Catholicism’s theological core are two rather remarkable “risings” and two corresponding feasts. I am speaking, of course, of Christ’s rising from the dead, more popularly known as Easter, and of His Ascension to Heaven. These two events have great significance for the Catholic faith. In the following exposition, I will discuss both Easter and the... Read more
“Capital punishment is society’s final assertion that it will not forgive.” – Martin Luther King. With the possible exception of abortion, there may not be a more controversial practice than the death penalty. This work aims to provide an overview of the death penalty’s history, including the Biblical view of the practice. I will also review the evolution of Catholic teaching on the death penalty and conclude by suggesting that the Catholic Church’s contemporary teaching is at last consistent with... Read more
“Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24. The impetus for this article is a comment that I came across a remark on social media. An atheist was asking why God needs people to do His work. While atheists rarely ask serious theological questions, I think that the question is... Read more
“The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. Science brings men nearer to God.” – Louis Pasteur, The Father of Microbiology. It has been some five hundred years since the scientific revolution. In the intervening years, many have come to view science as the answer to humanity’s great questions and urgings. From electricity to flight to medical breakthroughs, science has drastically improved the lives of countless people. However, the rise of science... Read more
“Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.” – Saint John of The Cross One need not make much effort to find pain and suffering in this world. War, crime, and hatred are ever-ubiquitous. This is to say nothing... Read more
“Fear not evolution.” – Dr. Stacy Trasancos. Much to the demerit of science and religion, we live in an age that thinks these two disciplines are contrary. If science is true, religion is not, and if religion is true, science must be false. Nowhere is this view more evident than in the theory of evolution. For some, the theory provides a framework to understand life without appealing to God. For others, it is a blasphemous attempt to deny both God... Read more
Is God an “unalterable celestial dictator” that impinges on human freedom as the late atheist Christopher Hitchens once claimed? It is likely a sentiment shared by many of today’s atheists. While I suspect that referring to God as an “unalterable celestial dictator” was more snarky than serious, I think the underlying sentiment, that God impinges on human freedom, is worth considering. Having it Both Ways Before proceeding to the issue of God and human freedom, it is worth pointing out... Read more
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