Category Archives: Fundamental Theology

God’s Love Knows No Bounds, But Man’s Response is Imperative

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Deacon Bob

We have all heard today at Mass St. Paul’s beautiful discourse on love. It is so often read at wedding Masses, and one is tempted to think of Paul’s focus being solely on human love. He says that in the … Continue reading →

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“He is possessed by Beelzebul!”

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Deacon Bob

We heard in the Gospel for today’s Mass the scribes uttering, “He is possessed by Beelzebul.” Jesus, in response, asks the question whether Satan can long stand if his house is divided. In other words, Jesus points out that he, … Continue reading →

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Epiphany: A Light Has Shone to the Whole World!

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Deacon Bob

The Osservatore Romano, the newspaper of the Holy See had a short article today on the Epiphany. Worth your time to read. I am presenting the original Italian text, with my English translation below it. Happy Epiphany, everyone!! Oggi è … Continue reading →

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A “Catholic” Newspaper Gets It Wrong

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Deacon Bob

Some of you may already be on top of this story. On December 3rd, the National Catholic Reporter published an editorial endorsing the ordination of women to the priesthood. If you must, you can log on to: http://ncronline.org/node/40306 to read … Continue reading →

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Faith as Liberation Mediated by Communion with Christ

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Deacon Bob

Pope Benedict has written eloquently about the virtue of faith, and fittingly so in the Year of Faith. He has reminded us that faith is a supremely personal act, by which he means it is an act of the whole … Continue reading →

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Hats Off to Fr. Ted

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Deacon Bob

There is an 18 minute video making its way around the blogsphere of a conversation a woman had with a young priest from the diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan about a whole host of things ranging from Vatican II, the whole … Continue reading →

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The “Fundamental Lie” and the Remedy

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I do not know whether or not you have read Pope Benedict’s homily for Holy Thursday two weeks past, but it is a wonderful meditation. I would encourage you to read and reflect upon it: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20120405_coena-domini_en.html  At the end of the homily, … Continue reading →

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Practicing Christianity

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I was speaking with a professional colleague today at a conference we both attended on self-injurious behavior and it relationship with eating disorders. We whispered to each other as the lecturer was speaking how we as therapists are always trying … Continue reading →

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It is in the Following that You Face the Cross

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I have been left with an enduring thought these past couple of days, a thought which came from yesterday’s Gospel in which Jesus instructs his disciples that if they follow him, they will face the cross. I would suspect that … Continue reading →

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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 →

Posted in Deacons, Evangelization, Fundamental Theology | 2 Comments

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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