Skip to main content
Thank you almighty God for sending Tropical Storm Bonnie to clean up the oil spill created by man. Many had wondered what it was going to take to clean up this disaster but those of us who trust in your providence knew that you would take care of this. We also thank you for the slow but steady recovery of Haiti and for allowing stability to take hold. I attended a wonderful Mass at St. Anthony Cathedral in Beaumont, TX this weekend and heard Bishop Guillory preach for the first time. He was terrific and used modern day examples to further illustrate the Lord's word from the Gospel reading. What really struck me was his emphasis on the first reading as well. Bishop Guillory talked about forgiveness in such a way that it made me begin to look at so many things in a different light. Our society is very focused on public humiliation. People are recording and filming others in very unflattering situations. It seems that many are taking great joy in the downfall of others. I am not saying that we should not seek to expose corruption or evil. Bishop Guillory urged us to take a very different approach than what is prevailing at the moment. He says that Jesus instructed his disciples to talk one-on-one with anyone that they had a disagreement with and resolve the issue between themselves. He noted that this public humiliation fascination is contrary to God's teachings. I agree and will focus on settling my disagreements in a more private manner. In addition, I will not support anything (TV shows, movies, etc.) that seek to publicly humiliate rather than reconcile. All of our decisions have consequences and very often when we are upset with "society", we have helped to create the situation with our choices. I hope you have a blessed week full of forgiveness.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Doctrinal Clarity, Not Change: Unpacking the Note on Marian Titles

The release of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s note, Mater Populi Fidelis , on November 4, 2025, seems to have sparked some immediate and widespread confusion, driven largely by sensationalist headlines from secular sources. In response to requests, particularly surrounding a potential Fifth Marian Dogma of Spiritual Maternity , the DDF addressed the usage of titles like Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix. Unfortunately, this has led to a large contingent online and in the media claiming that the Church has "tossed out" centuries of doctrine, with some outside the Church even proclaiming a "victory" over Catholic teaching (This may be the saddest part of it all, that we as Christians, are "competing" with each other). It is essential to understand that this doctrinal note is fundamentally about titles and clarity, not doctrine and change according to the Vatican News. The true teachings regarding Mary's unique role in salvation remain inviolabl...

Jesus Came to End Death and to Build a Church

The twelve apostles chosen by Jesus formed the bedrock of the early Church , and their Catholic identity is deeply rooted in their direct relationship with Christ and the mission He entrusted to them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights this foundational role, stating that Jesus "instituted the Twelve as 'the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy'" ( CCC 860 ). These men were not simply followers; they were handpicked by Jesus, lived intimately with Him, witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand, and were specifically commissioned to preach the Gospel to all nations ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Their unique position as eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and their reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, established them as the authoritative leaders of the nascent Church, a reality echoed in the writings of early Church Fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, who emphasized the apostles' authority as repre...
Kurt Hilgefort, is a Catholic father of six who publishes his thoughts on his blog Shadows of Augustine . He responded to my seven question survey with the following answers. Kurt is the first layperson to respond to the seven question survey and I think that his experience is extremely relevant to me personally and I hope that you are inspired by his thoughts as well. If you would like to respond, please send an email to fellmananthony@gmail.com with your thoughts and I will be happy to publish them as well. 1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far? The biggest challenge for me has been the whole dying to self thing. On an intellectual level, there are no barriers. It comes down to a matter of accepting the authority of the Church that Christ founded upon Peter. My challenge is not in the intellect, but rather in the will. The challenge for me has always been to continually seek conversion. I want to be transformed, but I want it to be over all ...