Father asks: “Can an ‘implicit faith in Christ’ be sufficient for salvation?” He answers “No.”
Category: Articles
The Old Law as a Preparation for the New
After the Original Sin, man was left in a condition of alienation from God. Whereas before the sin, he enjoyed infused knowledge in his intellect, loving obedience in his will, spontaneous virtue in his emotions, and no sickness or death … Continue reading
Mary at Bethlehem, by Saint Peter Julian Eymard
Saint Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) was born at La Mure, a little town in the diocese of Grenoble, France. His entire life from his infancy to his death was a perpetual hymn of praise in honor of the Blessed Eucharist.
The Miraculous Image of Guadalupe, a Mystery to Science
THIS AUTHOR HAS NOT had the blessing of visiting the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, nor does he ever expect to be given that privilege. Therefore, in describing the miraculous Image I can only relate what has come to … Continue reading
The Four Senses of Scripture
There are two basic senses of Holy Scripture: the literal (or historical) and the spiritual. The spiritual sense is further divided into the allegorical, the tropological (or moral), and the anagogical. St. Thomas cites St. Gregory the Great on the … Continue reading
First Canonized Saint of the United States, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini
God sees all things and all acts an eternity before they are or happen. Most are aware of this paralyzing truth, of course. But, because our finite minds cannot really grasp it, we tend to give little if any thought … Continue reading
The Joy of Being Catholic
The idea that the life of a Catholic, even on the natural level, should be markedly different from the life of, say, an Episcopalian, or a Jew, or a Buddhist, is not so readily apparent as some might assume. The … Continue reading
Making Good Use of Scripture
(This piece is an excerpt from a lecture Brother Francis gave in the 1970s.) The Bible is the book that makes saints.
Belloc on the New Paganism
A great sage of our time, Hilaire Belloc, foresaw what was coming upon our civilization. He saw its approach half a century ago more clearly than most people today see it now that it is here.
The Council of Trent: Overview of its Importance and Difficulties
The importance of the Council of Trent lies in its being two things at the same time: 1) the heart and soul of the Catholic Reformation (the authentic reform of the Church); and 2) the definitive moment of the Counter … Continue reading
The Church or the Bible by Rev. Arnold Damen S.J.
Catholicism.org introduction: This is classical apologetics from a real American Apostle of the Catholic Faith. Readers can learn more about Father Damen here: A missionary in Chicago: Fr. Arnold Damen S.J. by Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I.
Saint Maximus the Confessor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and Christ’s Two Wills
St. Maximus, the monastic mystic and eminent controversialist of orthodoxy against the Monothelites, earned his title “the Confessor” because he died in exile for his heroic confession. In his defense of the orthodox faith against an heretical emperor and supine … Continue reading
The Three Levels of Magisterial Teaching
Introduction: This is a work in progress. It is a section of a larger work on the various levels of magisterial teaching, the assent due to each, and where Vatican II fits into these categories. According to standards presently employed … Continue reading
Grace and the “Problem” of Man’s Desire for God
This problem is important in establishing the relationship of nature to grace because it offers something of a “test case” by which we can illustrate certain fundamental truths of the Catholic Faith. These truths regard man’s natural powers and the … Continue reading
Christ’s Theandric Role in our Sanctification
Here is the assignment: “The Church teaches that Christ is truly human and truly divine. Comment on the significance of each of the aspects of the mystery of Christ with regard to our sanctification and our salvation.” The title I … Continue reading
