John Calvin taught that concupiscence, our post-Fall inclination towards sin, was itself sinful. He went so far as to say that man was only concupiscence. These views don’t square well with the Incarnation, the idea that Jesus Christ became fully man, but without sinning. Perhaps it is unsurprising, then, that Calvin’s views led him to functionally deny Christ’s sinlessness, particularly at the moment when He was at prayer in the Garden. The broader question: was Calvin’s heresy in spite of his Reformed theology, or because of it?
Tag: Incarnation
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
Understanding Christ’s Resurrected Body
Caravaggio, Supper at Emmaus (1601) This Sunday’s Gospel involves one of the Easter Sunday appearances of Jesus Christ to the Disciples. It starts out with the two disciples from the road to Emmaus returning to describe how “Jesus was made known to themin the breaking of bread,” an obvious Eucharistic reference. But in the midst of this… Continue reading Understanding Christ’s Resurrected Body
Does the Bible Prohibit Religious Images?
Earlier, I came across this discussion, in which an iconoclast Protestant accuses the Catholic Church of eliminating the Second Commandment because we have statues… and then asks how to add an image to his post. Bravo, irony! But this is a real stumbling block for a lot of Protestant Christians, and even Catholics often are… Continue reading Does the Bible Prohibit Religious Images?
Can Christ’s Glorified Body be in Locked Rooms and in the Eucharist?
In Luke 24, we hear how, on Easter Day, Jesus made Himself visible to two travelers on the road to Emmaus and then, after breaking Bread and giving it to them, He disappeared. And in John 20:19, in one of the Resurrection appearances of Jesus, we hear: On the evening of that first day of the week,… Continue reading Can Christ’s Glorified Body be in Locked Rooms and in the Eucharist?
Merry Christmas!
I hope everyone’s having a wonderful Christmas, getting plenty of family time in, and all that. If you find yourself on the computer today, I’ve got a few suggestions: Pope Benedict’s Christmas Homily These homilies are always good. Here’s the full thing, and here’s a taste: The first thing we are told about the shepherds… Continue reading Merry Christmas!
Anglicanism: Rotting From the Top Down?
Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has caught my attention lately. If you’re not aware, he’s the head of the Anglican Communion, including the Episcopal Church here in the US. The man is something of a tragic figure. He’s usually painted as a conservative who’s too diplomatic or weak-willed to impose his brand of orthodoxy… Continue reading Anglicanism: Rotting From the Top Down?