Category Archives: Ecclesiology

Our Brothers and Sisters in Africa

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I would like to mention that Brother Nicodemus of the Congregation of Brothers of Our Lady Mother of Mercy, left a comment on a post I did last May on Blessed Anuarite, whom I described as the St. Maria Goretti … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Missionaries | Leave a comment

Holy Father Establishes the Personal Ordinariate of The Chair of St. Peter

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Deacon Bob

Today, the Holy Father formally established the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. Let me try to explain. For quite sometime, some of the Anglican Church here in the United States, and elsewhere in the world, have wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Ecclesiology | Leave a comment

St. Augustine, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Dignity of the Church

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Deacon Bob

An excerpt from St. Augustine’s Discourses was offered today for our consideration in the Office of Readings for the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a feast that is quite ancient in the Eastern Churches … Continue reading →

Posted in Blessed Virigin, Christology, Ecclesiology, Saints and Prophets | Leave a comment

A Re-Wording of the Spirit of Vatican II

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I was listening this morning to a Catholic talk radio station. The host was interviewing someone who described the effect of Vatican II with a term I have not heard before used in this context: Protestantism. At first, I thought I … Continue reading →

Posted in Church History, Ecclesiology | 3 Comments

Who Are We? “We Are Catholic!” – An Inspiring Video

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I ran across this stunning video that says it all when it comes to answering the question, “Who are we Catholics?” Log on to: We Are Catholic. This is definitely worth two minutes of your time to view. It resonates … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, General Interest | Leave a comment

A Mark of Orthodoxy

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Ran across a great description of orthodoxy today, written by Fr. John Hardon. Here is what he says: “As a mark of orthodoxy, the Church’s catholicity is part of a mysterious paradox whereby the same essential faith and worship are … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, Dogmatic Theology, Ecclesiology, Evangelization | 2 Comments

Prisoners of the Lord in the Bond of Unity

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Deacon Bob

My thoughts in recent days have been turning back to unity in the Church. With all the distress over John Corapi and the divisions that seem to have developed among some surrounding it all, I can only hope that the fractures … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Ecclesiology, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

If One is a Source of Division and Discord….

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I want to share a quote today from St. Clement I on how to respond if one is seen as a source of division and animosity within the Church. This is my translation of the Italian text I used. “Who … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Popes, Saints and Prophets | Leave a comment

Pope St. Clement I on Church Unity

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Today’s Office of Readings includes a selection from Pope Clement I’s letter to the Corinthians, written not long after the original twelve Apostles lived. It is a splendid reflection on unity within the Church. As always, I use an Italian … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogmatic Theology, Ecclesiology, Popes | Leave a comment

“That Which Saves is Unity”

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Deacon Bob

In today’s Office of Readings we are given a selection on the Canticle of Canticles written by St. Gregory of Nyssa, one of the Fathers of the Eastern Church. It is a wonderful reflection on the gift of unity that … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogmatic Theology, Ecclesiology | Leave a comment

Catholics Come Home! We Welcome You!

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Deacon Bob

To all who are thinking of the Catholic Church but have questions, listen and see. To all who have left the Church, coming home has never been easier. We are family. We welcome you. Please listen to the talk given by … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, General Interest | Leave a comment

Have We Lost a Generation?

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The conference titled “Lost? Twenty-somethings in the Church” co-sponsored by Fordham Center on Religion and Culture and the Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies is getting a little blog time among us Catholic weblog editors. This conference … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Ecclesiology, General Interest | Leave a comment

It is the Lord who builds the Temple

Posted on July 10, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Today’s Old Testament selection in the Office of Readings speaks of the building of the Temple by Solomon. As you recall, his father, David, wanted to build the Temple and got the go ahead from the prophet Nathan until Nathan … Continue reading →

Posted in Christology, Ecclesiology, Spirituality | Leave a comment

The Continuity of the Church

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father had an interesting comment during last Wednesday’s general audience. He spoke of St. Bonaventure and the Franciscans, but then tied into that the reality of the continuity of the Church throughout the centuries. I have translated the … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Ecclesiology, Popes | 3 Comments

The Maternity of the Church – World Day of the Sick

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Deacon Bob

From the homily today of the Holy Father on the World Day of the Sick, my translation of his Italian original: “The maternity of the Church is reflected in the caring love of God, of which the prophet Isaiah speaks: … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, General Interest, Popes | Leave a comment

Byzantine Catholic Convert

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Thanks to Deacon Greg Kandra at his blog (www.blog.beliefnet.com/deaconsbench) I ran across this interesting article in the Catholic Anchor, the newspaper for the diocese of Anchorage, Alaska on the conversion of a Lutheran minister to the Byzantine rite of the Catholic … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Ecclesiology | 2 Comments

Memorial of St. Clement of Rome, Pope

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Today is the memorial of St. Clement of Rome, the third pope after St. Peter.  Little is known about his life and death, except for a wonderful epistle to the Corinthians which he wrote toward the end of the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Popes | Leave a comment

Papa Luciani on the Family

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Pope John Paul I spoke to the Region VII bishops from the United States during their ad limina visit on September 21, 1978 about the Christian family.  Here is an excerpt: “Let us never grown tired of proclaiming the family … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, General Interest, Papa Luciani (Pope John Paul I), Popes | Leave a comment

In the Church there can be no Right or Left

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Deacon Bob

There is no place in the Church’s teaching for a “right” or “left.” These are creations of our secular political system in the United States and not ecclesial life. To align oneself along these lines is perilous. There are those … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology | 2 Comments

Encore on Church Unity

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Deacon Bob

I attended a piano concert last night conducted by Ian Shapinsky. He gave three encores. I thought it was a bit much, but then I don’t frequent piano concerts often, so maybe that is the standard for world class pianists. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Saints and Prophets | 1 Comment