Author: Joe Heschmeyer

Do Ecumenical Councils Eliminate the Need for the Papacy?

A friend asked me about an argument against Catholicism raised by Fr. Viktor Potapov, an Orthodox priest based here in D.C., in Chapter Ten of his Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy.  The argument essentially says that the early Church believed in conciliar infallibility, but that the West replaced this idea with papal infallibility.  Fr. Potapov first explains… Continue reading Do Ecumenical Councils Eliminate the Need for the Papacy?

John Piper v. John Piper on the Apostles’ Creed

Harrowing of Hell (15th c.) The Apostles’ Creed declares that Jesus “was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.  He descended into hell.  On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right… Continue reading John Piper v. John Piper on the Apostles’ Creed

If We Can’t Call Priests “Father,” It Doesn’t Leave Much

Padre Pio de Pietrelcina Some time ago, I wrote a post on why we Catholics call our priests “Father.”  In a nutshell, this is a recognition of the priest’s spiritual fatherhood. St. Paul sets the pattern for this in 1 Cor. 4:15, when he tells Timothy, “I became your father through the Gospel.”  The typical objection to… Continue reading If We Can’t Call Priests “Father,” It Doesn’t Leave Much

CNN’s Easter-Bashing Goes Laughably Awry

CNN’s annual “Bash Christianity on Easter” story is crazier than usual.  This year, they ran an article entitled The Jesus Debate: Man vs. Myth. On one side were John Dominic Crossan and Bart Ehrman, who deny the physical Resurrection. On the other side, are folks like (self-proclaimed “spiritual pioneer”) Timothy Freke who go even further, and deny… Continue reading CNN’s Easter-Bashing Goes Laughably Awry

Holy Saturday

For Christ also died for sins once for all,the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days… Continue reading Holy Saturday

Good Friday

Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. As many were astonished at him — his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men — so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because… Continue reading Good Friday

A Sacramental Look at Holy Thursday

Jaume Huguet, Last Supper (1470) Today is Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday.  One of the very first posts that I wrote was about the significance of Maundy Thursday.  It’s here, at the Last Supper, that we see: (1) the institution of the Eucharist, (2) the institution of the sacramental priesthood, and (3) references… Continue reading A Sacramental Look at Holy Thursday

The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

V. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.R. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum. Pope John Paul II From the Gospel according to Mark. 15:46-47 Joseph of Arimathea, wrapped the body of Jesus in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock. And he rolled a… Continue reading The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

The Beauty of Tenebrae

Tenebrae Hearse I went to Tenebrae last night at the Dominican House of Studies.  If you’re not familiar, it’s a beautiful way of reflecting upon the death of Christ.  Here’s how Wikipedia explains it: The principal Tenebrae ceremony is the gradual extinguishing of candles upon a stand in the sanctuary called a hearse.[2] Eventually the Roman… Continue reading The Beauty of Tenebrae