Zbigniew Kotyłły, John Paul II (2012) This year, Holy Thursday falls on the tenth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. Each year on Holy Thursday, the saintly pope would write a letter to his priests, in honor of Christ’s institution of the priesthood at the Last Supper. The last of these letters,… Continue reading The Attraction of a Priestly Life Well Lived
Tag: apologetics
The Most Important Moment in History: Why the Incarnation Matters
Today is the Feast of the Annunciation, which celebrates the Angel Gabriel’s message to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It also celebrates the Incarnation, which is brought about through Mary’s faith-filled response (“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,” Luke 1:38). This is the greatest event… Continue reading The Most Important Moment in History: Why the Incarnation Matters
6 Early Christian Controversies That Protestantism Can’t Explain
Woodcut of St. Patrick, Nuremberg Chronicle (1493) In an article entitled Saint Patrick the Baptist?, Stephen R. Button tries to claim St. Patrick for Evangelical Protestantism… or at least disassociate him from Roman Catholicism. Button is hardly alone: you can find similar attempts by Don Boys and others, some of them dating back several decades. The argument tends… Continue reading 6 Early Christian Controversies That Protestantism Can’t Explain
Two Steps for Beginning Your Examination of the Catholic Church
St. Peter’s, Rome In 2007, Dr. Francis Beckwith, the president of the Evangelical Theological Society — the nation’s largest Evangelical coalition of scholars, with over 4,000 members — announced that he was converting (technically, reverting) to Roman Catholicism. Last week, I had the opportunity of meeting Dr. Beckwith, and hearing his reversion story in person (I’d… Continue reading Two Steps for Beginning Your Examination of the Catholic Church
5 New Testament Promises for the Church Today, Tomorrow, and Forever
Image from the Waldburg Prayer Book (1476),showing the Coronation of Mary, and the Sacrifice of the Mass Stat crux dum volvitur orbis is the motto of the Carthusian religious order. It’s Latin for “The Cross is steady while the world is turning.” It’s a recognition that the Gospel is timeless and eternal. But the Gospel… Continue reading 5 New Testament Promises for the Church Today, Tomorrow, and Forever
Faith Alone v. Forgiving Trespasses: How the Lord’s Prayer Contradicts the Reformation
Lines from the Lord’s Prayer, in various languages.From the Eucharist Door at the Glory Facade of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain. It’s Lent in Rome. That means it’s time for one of the great Roman traditions: station churches. Each morning, English-speaking pilgrims walk to a different church for Mass. This morning, on the way to… Continue reading Faith Alone v. Forgiving Trespasses: How the Lord’s Prayer Contradicts the Reformation
Stump the Seminarian, Vol. 1: The Angel Uriel?
St. Uriel, mosaic in St John’s Church, Boreham (England) (1888) I’m teaming up with St. Michael Catholic Radio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 102.9 FM, to do a twice-monthly Stump the Seminarian feature. Here’s the description: Have a question about the Catholic faith? Don’t know who to ask? St. Michael Catholic Radio is starting a new blog called… Continue reading Stump the Seminarian, Vol. 1: The Angel Uriel?
Is Religion Responsible for the World’s Violence?
Sébastien Mamerot, Second Battle of Ramla, from Les Passages d’Outremer (1475) Last week, a “gun-toting atheist” and self-proclaimed “anti-theist” killed three Muslims in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. There’s some question still about whether the killer was motivated by atheism or some other motivation. What there’s no question of is that much of the secular response was predictably… Continue reading Is Religion Responsible for the World’s Violence?
Is St. John the Key to Settling the Justification Debate?
Anonymous, The Last Supper (17th c.) Are we saved by faith and works, or by faith alone? This question is, from a traditional Protestant perspective, the single biggest issue dividing Catholics and Protestants. R.C. Sproul has pointed out the historical importance of the question: Luther made his famous comment that the doctrine of justification by… Continue reading Is St. John the Key to Settling the Justification Debate?
Does God Hate Sinners?
Pompeo Batoni, Sacred Heart of Jesus (1767) Does God hate sinners? There’s a notorious Baptist group based out of Topeka, Kansas, that claims that He does: and specifically, that He hates homosexuals. They’re a radical fringe even amongst Baptist Calvinists, and other Calvinists have sought to distance themselves from them. But many of those doing… Continue reading Does God Hate Sinners?