Nicolas Poussin, The Institution of the Eucharist (1640) Tonight marks the beginning of Triduum, the most sacred season of the year. It’s the three day period lasting from Holy Thursday evening until Easter. It’s here, on Holy Thursday, that Christ institutes the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Here’s how St. Paul describes it in tonight’s… Continue reading A Holy Thursday Challenge
Tag: apologetics
A Biblical “Easter Egg” in the Passion of Jesus Christ
A subtle or hidden feature, particularly in a movie or game, is often referred to as an “Easter egg,” because it’s something that you have to hunt for. The Bible is full of things like this – subtle references are easy to overlook, even upon repeated readings. So, for example, take this line from Mark 15:21:… Continue reading A Biblical “Easter Egg” in the Passion of Jesus Christ
Stephen Colbert and the Death of Protestant America
Stephen Colbert, 2007(Photo: David Shankbone) Certain events, small in themselves, can serve as cultural bellwethers, pointing to the direction that the culture is going as a whole. Two years ago, we saw one of these in the replacement of the Supreme Court’s last Protestant, Justice David Souter (an Episcopalian), with Justice Sonia Sotomayor (a Catholic).… Continue reading Stephen Colbert and the Death of Protestant America
Four Surprising Facts About John Calvin and the “Apocrypha”
One of the major issues dividing Catholics and Protestants is the Bible. Catholic Bibles have seven Books that Protestants reject: Protestants call these Books “the Apocrypha,” while Catholics call them “the Deuterocanon.” This dispute matters, because it’s hard to agree on what Scripture says if we can’t even agree on what Scripture is, on which Books are… Continue reading Four Surprising Facts About John Calvin and the “Apocrypha”
What Both Sides of the Abortion Debate Can Learn from “My Body, My Choice”
One of the most common slogans in defense of abortion is “My Body, My Choice.” It’s an appeal to bodily autonomy, and it’s not all wrong. In fact, I think that there’s a lot that both sides can learn from it. I. What “My Body, My Choice” Gets Right Although it’s just a slogan, “My Body,… Continue reading What Both Sides of the Abortion Debate Can Learn from “My Body, My Choice”
Three Meanings of “the Sign of Jonah”
In this morning’s Gospel, from Luke 11:29-32, Jesus mentions the “Sign of Jonah”: Pieter Lastman, Jonah and the Whale (1621) When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign… Continue reading Three Meanings of “the Sign of Jonah”
Nothing’s the Matter with Atheistic Materialism
The central problem with atheistic materialism is nothing, really. Metaphysical nothing, to be exact. The Solar System (not to scale) Any worldview, including atheism, should be able to give some sort of coherent answer to the rudimentary question of why the universe exists. I don’t mean “why does this universe exist rather than another?” I… Continue reading Nothing’s the Matter with Atheistic Materialism
What’s the Point of Mortification and “Offering It Up?”
Domenichino, The Way to Calvary (1610) One of those phrases that Catholics use that non-Catholics are often baffled by is “offer it up.” Usually the context involves some sort of hardship, either voluntary or involuntary. Elizabeth Scalia gives the example “when you are in pain, when you are disappointed, when your feelings have been hurt,… Continue reading What’s the Point of Mortification and “Offering It Up?”
The Evangelical and Pastoral Heart of Francis de Sales
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) is one of the most well-rounded Saints in Church history, and he played a major role in returning tens of thousands of Calvinists to the Catholic Church. You’ll often find a Saint who was accomplished as a theologian, or as a mystic, or as an apologist, or as a devotional… Continue reading The Evangelical and Pastoral Heart of Francis de Sales
How Do We Know Jesus Isn’t Speaking Figuratively About the Eucharist in John 6?
Cale B.T., an Anglican with some Catholic sympathies, asked one of the better questions I’ve seen regarding John 6 and the Eucharist: Guercino, Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well (1641) I’m an Anglican who is very sympathetic to Catholicism and I’ve a question regarding the Real Presence. A verse frequently used in defence… Continue reading How Do We Know Jesus Isn’t Speaking Figuratively About the Eucharist in John 6?