Introduction In August 2018, then Pope Francis approved a revision to paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, declaring “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person” and that the Church “works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”1 The revision provoked immediate and…

Introduction In the Western economic life of today, consumption has taken on a role that extends far beyond utility. Material goods that were once thought of as instruments, ordered toward the support of life, have increasingly become symbols of identity, success, and personal worth. The unnatural normalization of lifestyle inflation, curated self-presentation, and widespread reliance…

In today’s world there are few things more contested than what constitutes the true nature of marriage. Many would have you think that marriage is just simply something two (or more) people can do when they “love” each other. The catechism states, “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves…

“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a…

It is often said by the unbeliever or the lapsed Christian, that it is unjust for God to separate himself from the sinner. This conclusion however, is based on a false premise that would lead one to believe that God separates anyone from himself. On the contrary, the sinner has chosen willfully, to separate himself…

The sacraments do not merely stand alone, but are interconnected channels of God’s grace. Each Sacrament itself marking a point in the spiritual life. Being initiated by Baptism and Confirmation, sustained by the Eucharist, and healed by Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. “The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and…

“Mary’s role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it.”1 This relationship begins with the Annunciation. The archangel Gabriel comes to the Virgin Mary to deliver to her the news that she will bear a child, even though she remains untouched by a man. Mary responds to the messenger,…

“From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God’s gifts and the diversity of those who receive them. Within the unity of the People of God, a multiplicity of peoples and cultures is gathered together. Among the Church’s members, there are different gifts,…

How do we, as catechists, transmit the teachings of Christ without allowing our personal opinions to cloud the truth? This is an especially difficult task given the society in which we live seems at odds with nearly every Catholic moral teaching. How do we maintain the integrity of the teachings of Christ, while being palatable…

The role of doctrine in nurturing personal faith must not be understated. In living a devout life and following Church teachings, we are increasingly compelled towards Christ. “There is an organic connection between our spiritual life and the dogmas. Dogmas are lights along the path of faith; they illuminate it and make it secure. Conversely,…