A Summary of Deep Conversion / Deep Prayer by Fr. Thomas Dubay

My summary notes from Fr. Thomas Dubay's Deep Conversion/Deep Prayer: For chapter by chapter summaries: (click here) 3 key insights from the book:   1. We have a remarkable resistance to conversion due to sin “There are more people converted … [Read more...]

A Surefire Exercise for Holiness: The Particular Examen

The following text is from Fr. Thomas Dubay's book,  Deep Conversion/Deep Prayer (pp. 103–105). Fr. Thomas Dubay, in outlining the Surefire Program for deep conversion, gives this spiritual exercise on how we can be more specific in a practical way … [Read more...]

Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

My summary notes from Divine Intimacy: DI 1: The Lord Cometh from Afar Advent is the season of waiting and of fervent longing for the coming of Christ, for an intimate and personal encounter of Christ's coming to our soul daily.  Come, Lord, come! … [Read more...]

Catholic Teaching on the Magi

Sources used: The Magi by Fr. William Saunders The Magi: Misconceptions and Mythicism by Jon Sorensen Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI The Visit of the Magi Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days … [Read more...]

The Spirit of Early Christian Thought by Robert Louis Wilken

Introduction Purpose = to depict the pattern of Christian thinking as it took shape in the formative centuries of the church's history. Focus =how a Christian intellectual tradition came into being, how Christians thought about the things they … [Read more...]

Advent thoughts with C.S. Lewis

Are you waiting for God this Advent? Are you eagerly longing the coming of Christ? Often we forget that this is not a 1-sided game, but something entirely different. Lewis helps us see that Christianity is something other than what we commonly … [Read more...]

Origen on the Word

From Origen: Spirit and Fire: A Thematic Anthology of His Writings by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Chosen texts for Patrology Class. Each section contains a summary and introduction from HUVB. I've included both notes. Word with God The Word of … [Read more...]

The Paradox of Divine Love: A Treatise on the Kenosis of Christ and Creation

The following essay is for my Dogma 520 Class on Creation and Christology. The Paradox of Divine Love: A Treatise on the Kenosis of Christ and Creation Richard Conlin Dogma 520 November 14, 2016 Fr. Abbot John In his latest encyclical, Laudato Si, … [Read more...]

Origen on the Inner Senses

From Origen: Spirit and Fire: A Thematic Anthology of His Writings by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Chosen texts for Patrology Class. Each section contains a summary and introduction from HUVB. I've included both notes. Spiritual Sense and … [Read more...]

Scandal of the Incarnation: Irenaeus Against the Heresies by Hans Urs von Balthasar

My summary notes from this book. Read it as part of a Patrology class in 1st Theology. Hans Ur von Balthasar arranges quotes from St. Irenaeus in a thematic way in order to show the unity of his Christian view of the world. "Everything in Irenaeus is … [Read more...]