I will always go back to my youth for the definition of a sacrament – “A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.” For those of us who grew up during the era of the Baltimore catechism, this was etched into our consciousness from an early age. And I still think … Continue reading The Sacraments – An Overview
Month: February 2021
Catholics and the Prosperity Gospel
Over the last generation or so, what is known as the “Prosperity Gospel” has become increasingly popular, especially within the United States. Wiki defines this theology as “a religious belief among some Protestant Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations … Continue reading Catholics and the Prosperity Gospel
Suffering and Our Salvation Part 2
Caryll Houselander wrote “To the Christian, suffering is not a problem to be explored by the human mind, but a mystery to be experienced by the human heart.” I think to some degree in this life, suffering will always remain a mystery to us. It can easily lead some to despair. It can lead some … Continue reading Suffering and Our Salvation Part 2
Suffering and Our Salvation Part 1
If you are Catholic and of a certain age, I am certain you have had this experience. While growing up when I was faced with any type of difficulty, the most common response from my mother was “offer it up.” The Catholic understanding is that when we “offer up” and unite our sufferings with those … Continue reading Suffering and Our Salvation Part 1
Who Can Be Saved (Part 2)
In my last post I covered the Catholic Church’s position regarding the salvation of non-Catholic Christians. In this post I’ll review the teaching of the Church regarding the salvation of non-Christians. For many other Christian groups, this topic is a non-starter. They will look to Sacred Scripture and John 14:6 where Christ says “I am … Continue reading Who Can Be Saved (Part 2)
Who Can Be Saved (Part 1)
I have visited internet message boards with a somewhat anti-Catholic flare and have been interested to find multiple threads discussing what Catholics believe about salvation regarding those outside the Catholic faith. Some claim that Catholics believe only Catholics will be in heaven. Others claim that Catholics believe you don’t even have to be Christian to … Continue reading Who Can Be Saved (Part 1)
Between the Farm and the Cross 