If the Trinity is of such vital important to the faith and to the Christian life, what did the testimony of the patristic fathers have to say about it? This question is asked because it is a question asked by some skeptics of the Trinity. While the Faith is explained in a plain and direct manner in the first centuries, the substance of the mystery is rightly shown in the following centuries. The testimony of the church fathers regarding the... Read more
There are many things that may come to an individual’s mind when it comes to sacred scripture. Some may ask why there are so many translations. Some may wonder if the Bible as we know it fell from the sky at Pentecost. However many have questions on why we have the New Testament books we have. For sure it was long and arduous process, but it was one guided by the Holy Spirit and the church. New Testament Books Have... Read more
The Cathars are another famous sect in history that denied the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The Cathars were dualists as they believed in One god who was evil, and another that was good. The movement was essentially a revived type of Gnosticism as physical matter was also deemed evil. Cathars And Gnostic Roots They denied that Jesus ever had a human body, and as result they would deny that the Eucharist was the body and blood of... Read more
“You cannot become a saint without becoming a human being first.” -St. Charbel Makhlouf, on sainthood, “Love is a Radiant Light”. Sainthood Is The Goal I was struck by this quote over the course of my spiritual readings. Such power and depth packed into one little sentence! In this piece I hope to unpack some of my thoughts behind this saying and its greater significance in our road to sainthood. To become a saint is our great goal in this... Read more
I was once a freemason. Freemasonry was something I became interested in when I wasn’t taking my faith seriously. It offered something I had been looking for such as friendship, a social life, and of course the teachings were interesting. However, when I started taking the faith seriously, I realized that freemasonry just is not compatible with the Catholic faith. Freemasonry has Always Been Banned by the Church On March 26 I had the opportunity to appear on Gary Michuta’s Hands... Read more
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God[a] is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.- Isaiah 12:2-3 NRSV Trust In The Lord Sometimes I am at awe with the timeliness of the Mass readings. Take a look around at the events of the world. Last week there was huge explosion in Lebanon. The world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. On top... Read more
Here is an imagined conversation between Our Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary shortly after Peter’s Confession in Matthew 16:13-20. This is purely from my imagination and is no way meant to be an addition to Scripture nor an official interpretation of the passage. The Conversation Mary: Good Evening Son. How did your preaching go today? Did those Pharisees change their attitude about you yet? Jesus: No. They still cling to their rigid judgment. Today, I asked them [the Apostles] who... Read more
“If another member of the church[a] sins against you,[b] go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.[c] 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even... Read more
Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.- John 12:24-26 NRSV Lose To Gain Today... Read more
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his... Read more
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