Surprising contributions by Francis to the Magisterium...
Despite the indifferentism of our days, it often happens that the same question, which someone — perhaps afflicted with the perspective of eternal condemnation — had posed long ago to the Redeemer keeps coming back: ‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’Continue Reading
The spiritual good of the People of God depends on the proclamation of the Gospel that was confided by Jesus Christ himself to Saint Peter and the Apostles. Continue Reading
Saint John Chrysostom compares the education of a child with the fashioning of a wonderful statue for God. According to this Doctor of the Church, the privileged mission confided to parents is to bring their child to the practice of virtue, teaching it to love the true God and ‘to mark all that it says and does with the sign of the cross.’Continue Reading
The veneration of the faithful toward the Holy Father has been a constant trace of Catholicism. This is understandable, considering his dignity as Vicar of Christ on earth and successor of Peter, who ‘presides over the Church in charity,’ with the power to bind and loose received from the very Redeemer of humanity.Continue Reading
“About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they’re just one thing, and we shouldn’t complicate the matter,” replied Saint Joan of Arc during her trial (cf. CCC 795), evidencing impressive theological precision – despite her lack of education – that was due to her great union with the Divine Savior.Continue Reading
The constant changes in a society in which God is increasingly ignored present real pastoral challenges for the Church. Nevertheless, faithful to its mission, She cannot betray certain principles despite having to adapt some aspects of pastoral praxis to the new circumstances. Continue Reading
One of the fundamental documents of Vatican Council II teaches that ‘the Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel.’ Francis, in turn, insinuates that the Gospel should be re-read in light of modern culture.Continue Reading
The principle end of human existence is happiness. Even without Aristotle’s affirmation of this principle, no one would ever question that there are few things in this life as universal as the natural desire for happiness, which surges forth from the human heart: there is no one who does not desire happiness. The question is where to find it…the options are many and varied.Continue Reading
Jesus tells us in the Gospel that, ‘A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit’ (Mt 7: 18). Evidently, any botanist who claims a tree to be defective, even though it visibly produces appetizing and nutritious fruit, would be considered mad. He would be taken as a liar or a charlatan for making such an unfounded affirmation.Continue Reading
According to the Oxford Dictionary ‘proselytize’ means ‘convert or attempt to convert someone from one religion […] to another,’ while ‘proselyte’ means ‘a person who has converted from one opinion, religion […] to another.’ Ever since the time of Jesus, the Church – as guardian of the truth – has given special importance to attracting all people to its midst, thus leading them toward salvation. In other words, it employs a proselytism for the good, in the full sense of the word. However… perhaps other methods are more pleasing to God. Read further…
