Like a typical convert, becoming Catholic was the last thing on my mind. The first church I ever attended was Sunset Wesleyan Church in La Puente, California. I remember it like it was yesterday. My mom took my sister and I to church while my dad stayed home to watch football. I wanted to stay home for football too, but when we walked through the doors of the church, something clicked. It was like I was supposed to be there. ... Read more
Basics Of Ecclesiology The study of Ecclesiology is interesting in that it raises a dichotomy that ripples through the very fabric of Christianity. Ecclesiology is the branch of theology that deals with the study of the Church. What is the Church? What are its functions? Is it visible, invisible, or both? Some, if not most of these, are contained in the four marks of the church. These are questions lead to great discussion, but the root of Ecclesiology is the... Read more
Actual Grace And Scripture Jesus loves us and wants us in Heaven with him. To understand actual grace, it is important to differentiate it from sanctifying grace. Sanctifying grace is that grace that grace that we receive at Baptism. Actual grace is that grace that assists us in our daily lives. It inspires us and guides our minds to focus on the things of God and assists us on our journey to the beatific vision. The concept of actual grace... Read more
This past Sunday my wife and I were sitting in Mass with our children. Afterward, we spoke with those who were there as we normally would. After our brief discussion we said that we would see each other next week. With cancellation public Masses all across the country my wife had a feeling that this would be our last Mass for a while. One day later our intuition would become a reality as the Diocese of Tucson cancelled all public... Read more
Sometimes we can do things so often that we inadvertently go through the motions. This can happen in our work, relationships, and in the worship of our Lord at Mass. At every Mass we are getting a foretaste of the wedding supper of the Lamb. This is mentioned in Revelation 19:7-10. Sometimes it helps to take a step back to realize the miracle and greatness that happens at Mass. The Bridegroom Comes For The Bride When we attend Mass, we... Read more
When it comes to a discussion about sacred scripture the word “accuracy” will definitely come up. Whether it is in regards to passages in the Old Testament or the New, but what is the basis for such questions? Is it an honest attempt to discern the truth or is one’s mind already made up? This is a question that I myself had before I became a Christian, and it is the same that some of my best friends have now.... Read more
Did Jesus Claim to be God? It is a question that is asked very often and it is important to have a proper defense (i.e. apologetic) to respond to this crucial question. If Jesus is not God in the flesh then you and I as Christians are wasting our time. There are many passages in scripture that attribute divinity to Christ. In most of these passages the Lord is speaking of himself. The spoken words of Christ in regards to... Read more
By now you have heard about the Coronavirus and how it is rapidly spreading throughout the world. I will be the first to admit that post like this out of the ordinary for this column. However, I have noticed a trend, both online and locally. Profit From Panic There is a panic around the Coronavirus. So much so that the financial markets have had 1,000 point swings from positive to negative on any given day. It has brought tourism to... Read more
When it comes to the concept of relations there is some clarification that must first take place. To the everyday person, relation means someone to whom you are related. At the base level this is correct, but philosophically it goes a little deeper. This is especially true when discussing relations in connection with the Trinity. St. Thomas Aquinas’s concept of relations included paternity and filiation (Garrigou-Lagrange Introduction). Relation of the Father and Son Paternity and filiation, of course, are completely... Read more
If you are like me, you want to learn as much as you can about the Catholic Faith. But sometimes there is a small issue of money. There are so many great resources, apostolates, and teachers out there that is hard to spread our hard-earned dollars around. However, there are many resources available to help you learn the faith at no charge. The following are five that I have used personally and can vouch for. 1. The Knights of Columbus... Read more
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