Category Archives: Fundamental Theology

Calling all Deacons! – The Authority of Service

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father’s Angelus message centers around today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark in which a man with an unclean spirit is cleansed by Jesus. Benedict XVI made a remarkable comment on the nature of authority. We all have … Continue reading →

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Speaking of Conscience

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I mentioned conscience in my post earlier today. Let me define it for you, and then try to apply it to the idea of confronting the national conscience in regard to abortion, marriage and family, euthanasia, and other pro-life issues. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics and Morality, Fundamental Theology, Human Development and Life, Marriage and Family | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I want to thank Elizabeth Scalia over at The Anchoress (www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress) for this wonderful quote from Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI: Faith is not the resignation of reason in view of the limits of our knowledge; it is not … Continue reading →

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A Fourth Sunday of Advent Meditation

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Office of Readings today offer for our reflection a section of the Letter to Diogenitus. It is a beautiful brief meditation on God’s intervention into human history. Here is one translation: No man has ever seen God or known … Continue reading →

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Sexual Difference: Dual Unity

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Blessed Pope John Paul II, in his The Theology of the Body, talks about “dual unity” or the “double unity.” He said that in creation, God created the unity of two beings, male and female, and this unity lay in … Continue reading →

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Is Sexual Difference a Construct of Society?

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Deacon Bob

A common idea floating around our culture today is that sexual differences between men and women are a construct of society, i.e., determined by social norms, expectations and experiences. The idea purports that sexual and gender traits are what society … Continue reading →

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Pope St. Leo the Great and the Modern World

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Today is the memorial of Pope St. Leo the Great. His pontificate was from 440 to 461 AD, a time of upheaval in the Church as well as in the Roman Empire. Prior to being elected pope, Leo was a … Continue reading →

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Do You Have Enough Oil?

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Deacon Bob

This weekend’s Gospel reading is of the foolish virgins who run out of oil for their lamps as they await the bridegroom’s coming. Of course, it is also about the wise virgins who have prepared themselves for the wait and … Continue reading →

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Who is Lord in Your Life?

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Our first reading for Mass today (Romans 14: 7-12) challenges us to ask, “Who is Lord in my life?” God has poured his life and love into our lives at our baptism. His fidelity to us is unquestionable. We all … Continue reading →

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“Essence” Is It A Noun or a Verb?

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I am attending a day long seminar today on Narrative Therapy which is a form of psychotherapy in which the patient/client defines the problem which afflicts them in terms meaningful to them and separates themselves from the problem, thus making the … Continue reading →

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The Meaning of Success

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Back  in 1973, when I was a college freshman, a required reading was the book, The Meaning of Success, written by Michael Quoist. I honestly don’t remember its contents nearly 40 years later, but the title has never escaped my … Continue reading →

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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

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 →

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Theology of the Trinity – cont’d

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Here is a description of the Trinity made by the Holy Father in his recent pastoral visit to San Marino, the oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world, established in the 4th century. “The Father, Son and … Continue reading →

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Trinitarian Theology – 101

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Did you know that whenever the Holy Spirit acts, he acts with the Father and the Son? And whenever the Son acts, he does so with the Father and the Spirit? And when the Father acts, he does so in … Continue reading →

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Quote for the Day

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! That the Lord of the universe, God and Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under the little form of bread.” — St. Francis of Assisi

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Is Europe Doomed?

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I read with a bit of interest the Holy Father’s comments on the first day of his visit to Croatia. He spoke of conscience, and Europe’s future. Here is what he said, as reported by The Catholic News Agency. “If, … Continue reading →

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“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 →

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From the Ancient Catechism of Jerusalem

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Deacon Bob

There is an ancient Christian text called the Catechism of Jerusalem, a selection of which was given for today’s Office of Readings. It has a teaching about baptism that is worth our attention and thought today. My English translation of … Continue reading →

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The Resurrection — Who Will Rise? How? Why?

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Deacon Bob

As we continue to rejoice in our Lord’s resurrection during this Octave of Easter, a question no doubt surfaces for all of us, “Who will rise?” The answer is, “All the dead will rise.” Yes, all the dead one day … Continue reading →

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