Learning to be Quick to Listen

In an age saturated with political discourse and ideological divides, it's easy for Catholic Christians, particularly in the U.S., to find ourselves entangled in debates that threaten to schism our communities. We witness a pervasive tendency to categorize even papal pronouncements along a left-right political spectrum, as if issues like climate change or immigration are new litmus tests for orthodoxy. This fixation on political punditry, however, is a shortsighted distraction from our core mission . Historically, the Church’s most profound and enduring political achievements have stemmed not from overt political commentary, but from unwavering adherence to foundational credal affirmations and the communal practices centered on Christ. The early Church offers a powerful example of this focus. While not explicitly apolitical by modern standards, the early Christians demonstrated a remarkable detachment from the prevailing political currents of their time. Their corporate life, cen...

The discourse surrounding gender ideology has seen a notable shift, particularly in Western societies. While a few years ago, "gender theory" was heavily promoted in various spheres, including educational programs, there's now growing resistance and a questioning of its widespread implementation. This change in sentiment, as observed by Cardinal Eijk, provides a crucial opening for the Catholic Church to articulate its consistent teaching on the relationship between sex and gender. The Pontifical Academy for Life , now under the presidency of Monsignor Renzo Pegoraro, is uniquely positioned to engage with these discussions, offering clarity and guidance rooted in a Catholic understanding of the human person. At the heart of Catholic teaching is the belief that biological sex is an intrinsic and fundamental aspect of human identity, divinely willed and designed. This perspective stands in contrast to "dualistic philosophies" that often separate the mind and b...

The Ascension of our Lord, as described in Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, and Acts 1:6-11, is a pivotal moment not just for Christ, but for all humanity. As St. Cyril of Alexandria so profoundly explains, what happened to Christ affects the entire human race. When Christ was raised to heaven, he didn't just go alone; he brought us with him into paradise. He secured a path, smoothed an impassable way, and opened heaven, which was once closed to mortal man. This act was a first for flesh to enter that pure and holy realm, presenting himself to the Father as the " first fruits " of humanity in heaven. The angels themselves were astonished, questioning who this was coming from "Edom"—from the earth. Yet, the Spirit revealed the marvelous wisdom of God, commanding them to open the heavenly gates for the King of Glory. Christ, our Lord Jesus the Messiah, created a "new and living way" for us, entering not into a man-made sanctuary, but into heaven itself t...

The Catholic Church profoundly affirms the reality and importance of free will , seeing it not as a limitation on God's power, but as a testament to His immense love and respect for His creation. As St. Augustine of Hippo wisely observed, "God preferred not to use His own power, but to leave success or failure to the creature’s choice." This preference highlights a divine purpose: to allow rational creatures, both angelic and human, to experience the profound consequences of their choices and to demonstrate the "immense evil that flows from the creature's pride" alongside the "even greater good that comes from His grace." God's decision to grant us freedom is a loving invitation to participate in our own salvation, not an imposition. This gift of free will is intrinsically linked to our creation in God's image and likeness. St. Catherine of Siena beautifully articulates that God "moved Him to draw us out of Himself and give us, us, ...

For many Catholics, the concept of purgatory can be a source of confusion or even fear. Yet, far from being a grim holding cell, purgatory offers profound consolation to believers who grapple with the reality of sin in their daily lives. We are all too familiar with our own weaknesses – from fleeting uncharitable thoughts to failures in promptly meeting the needs of those we love. Christian perfection often feels like a heroic ideal, rarely attained by "ordinary folks." Considering that death can surprise us at any moment, as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 24:44, the thought of facing God with the guilt of venial sin and the lingering effects of our imperfections could lead to despair of final salvation. Without purgatory, the path to heaven might seem impossibly narrow for most. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a purification , "so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven" 1 (CCC 1030). It is a state for "all who...

The very heart of the Christian faith, the gospel, is a concept deeply rooted in the past, yet profoundly relevant for today. Far more than just any " good news ," its origins in the Hebrew bsorah and Greek euangelion point to a specific kind of joyful proclamation. To truly grasp the New Testament's understanding of the gospel, we must look to the Old Testament, where its emergence was prophesied. Often, in the Old Testament, "good news" heralded a military victory, signifying God's triumph for His people. This theme of divine intervention and victory is particularly prominent in the prophetic book of Isaiah, a source frequently quoted by Jesus Himself. Isaiah’s prophecies , especially in the latter part of the book which foretells the coming of the Messiah, are rich with references to this "good news." When Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 and declares its fulfillment in His ministry, He directly connects His work to Isaiah's vision of a coming era...

Tradition is the lifeblood of identity, both for individuals and groups. It encompasses our education, culture, and the invaluable inheritance passed down through generations. The very word "tradition" stems from the Latin tradere , meaning "to hand on." While not all traditions are equally significant—some are merely human inventions, even frivolous or harmful, as cautioned in Mark 7:8 and Colossians 2:8—others hold profound importance. For Catholics, this handing on of faith from Christ and the apostles is of unparalleled significance, known as "Sacred Tradition" or "Apostolic Tradition," capitalized to distinguish it from lesser customs. The apostles initially transmitted the faith orally through their preaching. Over time, some of them and their companions penned the documents that would eventually form the New Testament. Together with the Old Testament, these writings constitute Sacred Scripture. It is crucial to understand that Sacred Scr...

In the vibrant, nascent days of the Church, as the Apostles diligently spread the Good News, a beautiful and essential need arose. The community of believers was growing rapidly, and with it, the demands of daily life and ministry. It was in this context, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, that the Holy Spirit inspired a pivotal development in the structure and service of the Church: the appointment of the first deacons . The apostles, recognizing that they could not dedicate themselves fully to both prayer and the ministry of the word while also attending to the material needs of the community, wisely sought a solution. Acts 6:1-6 recounts this moment: "Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were 1 neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, 'It is not desirable that we should leave the 2 word o...

Hope is not a vague optimism or wishful thinking—hope is a person. Jesus Christ is our living hope , planted in the soil of our hearts through His Word. In the Parable of the Sower , Jesus tells us about a sower who scatters seed on different types of ground. Some seed falls on the path, some on rocky soil, some among thorns, and some on good, fertile soil. The seed is the Word of God , and we are the soil. Jesus knows that life can make our hearts hard, rocky, or tangled with worry and sin. But still, He sows His Word generously . He doesn’t wait for us to be perfect; He comes to us right where we are , because He is the hope that transforms the soil . When we receive His Word with faith , even in small amounts, it begins to take root. It pushes through the rocks, breaks through the thorns, and slowly, through grace, we become that good soil. And the fruit? It’s abundant: “some a hundred, some sixty, some thirtyfold” (Matthew 13:8) . So, if your life feels dry or cluttered or...

In a providential alignment, as the Catholic Church welcomes its first Augustinian Pope, Leo XIV, the release of my good friend Dr. Shane Owens' new book,  Return to the Heart: The Biblical Spirituality of St. Augustine’s Confessions , couldn't be more timely. This insightful work invites readers to delve into the enduring wisdom of one of Christianity's most influential figures, offering a roadmap for personal conversion and a deeper encounter with God. St. Augustine's  Confessions  holds a unique place in Western literature as the very first autobiography. It's a profound narrative of one man's tumultuous journey away from and ultimately back to God, a journey rich with human experience. As Augustine himself famously penned, "He is most intimately present to the human heart, but the heart has strayed from him. Return to your heart, then, you wrongdoers, and hold fast to him who made you." This profound call to the heart resonates deeply with our ...