Theology

9 04, 2019

Why are Trads So Mean to Each Other?
Why are Trads So Mean to Each Other?

Why are Trads So Mean to Each Other?

By Father David Nix|2019-04-10T01:25:59+00:00April 9th, 2019|Theology|

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.—Jesus Christ in St. Matthew 24:10-14 Why are traditional Catholics so mean to each other? I don’t mean people like Virginia senator Tim Kaine who described himself as a “traditional Catholic.” By “traditional Catholic” I mean people who [...]

3 04, 2019

Church Structures and Supernatural Faith
Church Structures and Supernatural Faith

Church Structures and Supernatural Faith

By Father David Nix|2019-04-03T20:31:21+00:00April 3rd, 2019|Theology|

About 15 years ago, I went to Colorado Springs to visit both the Focus on the Family Visitor Center and New Life Church. The latter is a Protestant community nearby with nearly 14,000 congregants. I always half-joke that Colorado Springs is the "Protestant Vatican," but I am half-serious: These two centers alone are the engines for countless missions in dozens of countries, not to mention the hundreds of other Protestant communities in Colorado Springs. In Colorado Springs, many Catholics might be surprised to see that Protestants have a relatively unabashed approach to "sacramentals." Many Protestant Mega-Church communities now sell "holy water" from the Jordan and "holy oil" made from olives [...]

27 03, 2019

Courage over Consequentialism in the Hierarchy
Courage over Consequentialism in the Hierarchy

Courage over Consequentialism in the Hierarchy

By Father David Nix|2019-03-28T01:02:54+00:00March 27th, 2019|Theology|

And behold, a man came up to [Christ], saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, [...]

21 03, 2019

On Sorrow in a Good Confession
On Sorrow in a Good Confession

On Sorrow in a Good Confession

By Father David Nix|2019-03-22T13:06:51+00:00March 21st, 2019|Theology|

The sacrament of penance, also called the sacrament of reconciliation (or confession) has four necessary parts, three of which are on the part of the penitent: 1) contrition (sorrow) 2) confession of sins (to a priest, in person) and satisfaction (also called your penance, done outside the confessional.) The one aspect of a good confession executed by the priest is absolution (provided the priest has judged the penitent worthy of absolution.) Last year during Lent, I gave a sermon called How to Make a Good Confession found on both my podcast and Sensus Fidelium's YouTube on these external parts of confession. Since then, I have started to read the Catechism of Pope [...]

4 03, 2019

The Simple Gospel
The Simple Gospel

The Simple Gospel

By Father David Nix|2019-03-05T05:50:25+00:00March 4th, 2019|Theology|

Our Patristics professor in seminary said something that I will never forget. He said: “Don’t read the Scriptures with a higher IQ than who it was written for.” I’m going to keep coming back to this line, “Don’t read the Scriptures with a higher IQ than who it was written for,” so I need to explain first what it does not mean. My professor was a very intellectual man, so he was not saying that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was created to trick peasant-doofuses into becoming Christians or later that Catholicism would become the opium of the illiterate-masses. Nor did he mean that the Deposit of the Faith was [...]

28 02, 2019

The Amazon Synod and Married Priests
The Amazon Synod and Married Priests

The Amazon Synod and Married Priests

By Father David Nix|2019-03-01T16:13:23+00:00February 28th, 2019|Theology|

Crux reports "When the Synod of Bishops on the Amazon rolls around in October, the long-debated possibility of ordaining mature, married men to the priesthood in areas where there are priest shortages will be brought to the table." Ever notice that when he who St. Ignatius of Loyola calls “the enemy of human nature" floats propositions to men, that proposition always begins under the guise of "safe, rare and legal"? This is not only in matters of human life, but even in liturgical matters. Fr. Heilman shows here in Truth About Communion in the Hand While Standing that Holy Communion in the Hand only started in 1969 by "bestowing an [...]

14 02, 2019

True Catholic Social Justice
True Catholic Social Justice

True Catholic Social Justice

By Father David Nix|2020-06-28T17:18:15+00:00February 14th, 2019|Theology|

The most important thing in the Catholic Church is the glory of God. Secondly, the salvation of souls. The term "social justice" has been commandeered by SJWs, but let's admit that real social justice is still on the top-ten list of important things in Catholicism. About five years ago, I ran into a North American priest in Rio De Janeiro. We traveled around the city a bit, and I explained to him why my two great passions were ending abortion and ending child sex-slavery. After my long explanation, he simply said, "So abortion kills children's bodies and child-trafficking kills their souls?" He got it perfectly. In fact, as I look [...]

26 09, 2018

On Schism
On Schism

On Schism

By Father David Nix|2018-09-26T13:47:38+00:00September 26th, 2018|Theology|

Johannesburg, South Africa used to be the gunshot wound (GSW) capitol of the world. Several years ago, I was reading about how a Joburg paramedic was treating a conscious GSW patient. After a body sweep to find the exact number of GSWs, the paramedic found an exit wound in addition to the single entrance wound. Finding the exit wound made the medic exclaim, "This means you're going to live! This means you're going to live!" (Keep in mind that GSW patients frequently survive. Other victims may die hours later in the Operating Room, unlike the movies where the victim always dies on-scene.) I've been very curious about that story for [...]

24 08, 2018

Why Did So Many Gay Men Enter the Priesthood in the 20th Century?
Why Did So Many Gay Men Enter the Priesthood in the 20th Century?

Why Did So Many Gay Men Enter the Priesthood in the 20th Century?

By Father David Nix|2020-04-17T01:12:20+00:00August 24th, 2018|Theology|

Here are 10 very important Nota Benes to read before the account of homosexuality in the American Catholic Church: 1. This is not a gay-bashing blog-post. I have good friends who have struggled with same-sex attraction. Most of them were smart enough not to enter seminary or religious life. I say "smart" because it would be stupid to go live with 100 people you're sexually attracted to for over seven years in a celibate vocation. 2. I do not believe anyone is born “gay,” so the correct Catholic term is actually “someone who struggles with same-sex attraction.” However, for the sake of brevity, I will often use the term “gay” [...]

8 08, 2018

May Catholics Attend a “Gay Wedding” for Pastoral Reasons?
May Catholics Attend a “Gay Wedding” for Pastoral Reasons?

May Catholics Attend a “Gay Wedding” for Pastoral Reasons?

By Father David Nix|2019-02-07T08:23:41+00:00August 8th, 2018|Theology|

This was a real email I got tonight. My response also follows verbatim. Hi, Fr. DN, I asked three local pastors in the area I live in in NJ about what Catholics should do if they are invited to same sex marriages. They all said that if it is a close relative that you should attend so as not to lose the relationship or bond with that relative. Does the Catholic Church have any dogma on this? Thank you, Karen Dear Karen, Those priests are wrong. You would be committing grave mortal sin in participating in the attempted "marriage" of same-sex people by going to their "wedding." Your sin would [...]