A Treasure To Be Shared

[ 5 minute read time ] 1. Consistency Does someone sitting in the pew require consistent doctrine? He does if he’s to truly understand his need for salvation. In other words - duh, yeah, he does! Philippians 2:12 | Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. To learn any subject, be it math or a language or music or what-have-you, a student (a disciple!), if he is to rise and enact his potential, is well assisted when provided a precise vocabulary, consistent delivery of true content, and the encouragement and opportunities to apply the content of a lesson. Romans 12:12: Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Without commitment, you never begin. Without consistency, you never finish. James 5:12: But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that ...

And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.  | 1 John 5:3-5 Advent is a time to pause and refocus our hearts on God. It’s a season to seek His grace and stay aware of the promise of Jesus Christ’s return. Advent is an opportunity to reflect on our spiritual lives, looking to the example of the saints and Christ Himself, so we can welcome Him with a pure heart, mind, body, and soul. But first - Christ the King! Who is Jesus? What is Jesus' identity? He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is 'I am', God. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the Bread of Life. He is... the King of the Universe! He wants us to share in his identity. Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” St Matthew 16:16 For th...

BCC | Crucifix, New Chapel at Saint John Paul II Academy Photo by Nicholas Elbers Read time: 7 minutes. The New Evangelization is more than a fad. It is a trajectory increasingly obvious in its character as we see many people discovering and converting to the Church founded by Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church. Perhaps the label has worn out its usefulness, but the trend it identified is building in strength. Q. What do people want and need? A. People want to live rightly and be loved. Q. Who can teach them and love them? A. Jesus Christ and his Gospel. Q. Where can people find and learn from and be loved by Jesus? A. In his Church (1 Timothy 3:15). A daily scroll through social media shows hundreds, if not thousands, of young people sharing their stories and decisions to seek reception into the Catholic Church. People are searching for holiness, meaning, peace, fellowship in the truth, goodness, and beauty. They’re seeking Jesus. They want to live the Gospel. The stories of conver...

Meditation from Psalm 65 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and receivest unto thee : he shall dwell in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple. Thou shalt show us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation : thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea. Who in his strength setteth fast the mountains : and is girded about with power. Who stilleth the raging of the sea : and the noise of his waves, and the madness of the people. from Psalm 67 GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us : and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us; That thy way may be known upon earth : thy saving health among all nations. Prayer Omnipotent God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Who doth know the very hearts and inward longings of all souls, we do beseech Thee most humbly to make manifest Thy power and mercy. May all nations be guided toward righteousness and concord, the...

In our beautiful, masterfully crafted buildings where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated, shouldn’t the Mass itself be just as rich in detail? After all, these stunning structures were created to honor the victory of Jesus Christ’s resurrection over sin and death. Sacred music, especially the works of masters like Palestrina, Byrd, and Bach, complements the text of the Mass in ways that elevate and open hearts and minds to God's grace. Likewise, exquisite works of art—crafted from wood, glass, gold, and silver—serve to tell the story of redemption in Christ. Does a bland liturgy fit into buildings designed to mirror the most wondrous miracle given to man for his salvation, namely the Holy Eucharist? The liturgies of our Eastern Catholic brethren, the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, and Divine Worship of the Personal Ordinariates, are rich in fitting ornamentation that has been inspired by centuries of the action of the Holy Ghost working in the life of the Church. Do our ...

Are you an 'X Catholic' or an 'Ex-Catholic', or perhaps both? X Catholic : a Catholic who inhabits X, formerly Twitter, and uses the platform to disseminate whatever it is s/he may choose that peaks the Catholic interest. The X Catholic may be Trad and Glad or Rad and Bad, which is to say faithful or heterodox. X is well known for offering a space for sharing conversion stories and asking questions for those searching for meaning and authenticity. It helps people connect and discover communities where their questions are answered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, leading to healing and salvation. Brief video testimonies uploaded by converts speak volumes and help create a meaningful familiarity with a person's story. There are sites that offer group recitation of the Holy Rosary. Catholic "influencers" of the orthodox kind offer valuable insights. Live episodes of Catholics Answers and other reliable sites are linked to at X. And, of course, not just X. ...

7 minute read time. 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. What's all the hubbub... bub? Social media are abuzz with talk about the identity of Mary and her role in salvation. Learned commentators are weighing in  —  some caught up in the politicization of the topic and trapped in a hermeneutic of suspicion more than tapping into the opportunity to engage in authentic debate. Controversy tends to sell more than tugging at a document with goodwill and thorough analysis. Ad hominem attacks are flying around like daggers in a gang fight. Put 'em up! The recent document by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) is a straight forward composition that requires attention to detail and a nuanced understanding of context — yes context! — to avoid getting unnecessarily steamed-up about what the document Mater Populi Fidelis (The Mother of ...