Here are my notes for a lecture I gave at the Angelicum in Rome for my licentiate in dogmatic and fundamental theology, adapted for this blog post. I. Introduction Q. What is the relationship between philosophy and theology? In the 13th … [Read more...]
Introduction Let’s face it—mention the devil, and people either roll their eyes or start Googling exorcisms. But in a great course taught at the Angelicum, Fr. Serge-Thomas Bonino, OP, reminds us that Christian demonology—the study of Satan and … [Read more...]
Introduction In Baptism of Desire and Christian Salvation, Anthony Lusvardi, SJ, offers both a historical and theological recovery of a frequently neglected doctrine—baptism of desire—as the Church’s most coherent response to the enduring problem … [Read more...]
Bishop Robert Barron’s What Christians Believe offers a clear and compelling walk through the Nicene Creed, line by line. Formulated at Nicaea (325) and expanded at Constantinople (381), the Creed distills centuries of reflection on the biblical … [Read more...]
Chapter 1: Introduction Brant Pitre’s Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary offers a profound exploration of Catholic beliefs about Mary by examining them through the lens of ancient Judaism. Drawing on the method of biblical typology, Pitre … [Read more...]
Pope John Paul II’s 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater (“Mother of the Redeemer”) is a deeply contemplative and theologically rich reflection on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mystery of Christ and in the life of the Church. Written in … [Read more...]
Tucked in the heart of ancient Rome—surrounded by crumbling imperial grandeur and the silent witness of martyrs—stands a church that guards a sacred secret: the Basilica of Saint Anastasia. Step through its doors, and you cross a threshold where … [Read more...]
During the Easter season, we rightly celebrate Christ’s bodily resurrection from the dead. Moreover, every Sunday, we proclaim in the Creed, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” But how often do we pause to reflect on what His … [Read more...]
The following is a collection of 4 meditations by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on Holy Saturday (I have given a title for each), with my reflection question at the end: Meditation 1: "God is dead and we killed him!" It is with increasing … [Read more...]
Introduction Fr. John Riccardo’s Rescued begins with three bold convictions to shake us awake: (1) we are not here by accident—we were born for this moment in history; (2) the world is crying out in spiritual despair, desperately in need of … [Read more...]
Prodigal Catholic 