Tag: apologetics

The Elephant-Horse and Catholicism

Michael Novak, on page 43 of No One Sees God: The Dark Night of Atheists and Believers, uses a wonderful analogy: In an inn in the little village of Bressanone (Brixen) in northern Italy, there is a fresco painted many centuries ago, whose main subject is an elephant, by a painter who had obviously never… Continue reading The Elephant-Horse and Catholicism

Ecumenism and the Holy Name of Jesus

Yesterday was an absolute feast on the subject of ecumenism and the Holy Name of Jesus at Mass. I. Acts 23:6-11, the Wages of Disunity The first reading was Acts 23:6-11 (with a prologue from Acts 22:30, setting the scene): Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the… Continue reading Ecumenism and the Holy Name of Jesus

Why Do Popes Call Themselves “We”?

In Pope Paul VI’s 1967 social encyclical, Populorum Progressio, he writes: 4. Before We became pope, We traveled to Latin America (1960) and Africa (1962). There We saw the perplexing problems that vex and besiege these continents, which are otherwise full of life and promise. On being elected pope, We became the father of all men.… Continue reading Why Do Popes Call Themselves “We”?

Why Doesn’t John’s Gospel Mention the Institution of the Eucharist?

I’ve wondered in the past why John’s Gospel doesn’t include the Institution of the Eucharist. John’s Gospel is heavily Eucharistic, and notes that Jesus’ Eucharistic discourse occurs at the time of the Passover (John 6:4), a year before the Institution itself. And when he gets to the Last Supper, the point at which the Synoptic… Continue reading Why Doesn’t John’s Gospel Mention the Institution of the Eucharist?

Msgr. William J. Awalt on the Eucharist

I was reading about Judge Robert Bork’s conversion to Catholicism, and he said: After I wrote Slouching Toward Gomorrah the priest at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., Msgr. William Awalt, told me that my views on matters seemed to be very close to those of the Catholic views, which was true. Not being… Continue reading Msgr. William J. Awalt on the Eucharist

St. Paul’s Vision of the Law as a Teaching Slave

Galatians 3 is one of St. Paul’s finest expositions of the relationship between Christianity and the Mosaic Law. The chapter is part of an epistle written in opposition to a camp of early Christians in Galatia known as Judaizers, who held that Christian salvation required adherence to the entire Mosaic Law. In response to this,… Continue reading St. Paul’s Vision of the Law as a Teaching Slave

What We Can Learn from the Sacrifice of Isaac

This is adapted from a final I turned in yesterday which examined the difference between obeying the letter and spirit of the law in a number of contexts. The term “telos” means “purpose or end,” so when I refer to the “teleological role of the law,” I’m referring to the function which the law has.… Continue reading What We Can Learn from the Sacrifice of Isaac

Happy Mother’s Day, Mary!

Three quick notes for this Mother’s Day: Happy Mother’s Day for all the mothers out there, especially the new mothers. A friend of mine and his wife are celebrating their first Mother’s Day together (she’s due in August), so special prayers for them today. Heard about an interesting tradition: buying flowers, and laying them in… Continue reading Happy Mother’s Day, Mary!

Cardinal Pell: Mandatory Ad Orientem

This is old news (March 2009), but given that Cardinal Pell looks like a serious contender for the top spot at Congregation for Bishops, I thought I’d mention that in an interview last year, Pell was asked if he favored making ad orientem posture mandatory. He replied: “Yes. Now there’s nothing like a consensus in… Continue reading Cardinal Pell: Mandatory Ad Orientem