The Book of Ecclesiastes Explained | For Beginners

1️⃣ The Author – Two Voices at Work Ecclesiastes opens with: “The words of Qoheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (1:1). “Qoheleth” isn’t a person's name but a Hebrew title for "The Gatherer"—someone who gathers people or wisdom. In … [Read more...]

Summary and Review of Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It’s Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind… by Louie Giglio (2021)

Introduction Louie Giglio begins with a moment of raw honesty. After enduring a season of deep personal and pastoral struggle—marked by betrayal, exhaustion, and mental turmoil—he sent a long, vindicated message to a friend. The response was … [Read more...]

Ancilla Theologiae | A Lecture on Philosophy’s Service to Theology for St. Thomas Aquinas

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...]

Satan and the Demons | A Crash Course Under Christ’s Feet with Fr. Serge-Thomas Bonino, OP

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...]

Summary and Review of Baptism of Desire and Christian Salvation by Anthony Lusvardi, SJ

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...]

Summary and Review of What Christians Believe: Understanding the Nicene Creed by Bishop Robert Barron

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...]

Summary and Review of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary: Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah by Brant Pitre

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...]

Summary and Review of Redemptoris Mater (Mother of the Redeemer) by Pope John Paul II

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...]

The Resurrection of the Body | 7 Important Truths by St. Thomas Aquinas

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...]

Summary of Holy Saturday Meditations by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

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...]