7 09, 2016

Catholics and iPhones

By |2018-07-13T02:29:23+00:00September 7th, 2016|Theology|

Leisure: The Basis of Culture is a book written by Josef Pieper, a 20th century expert on St. Thomas Aquinas. In this book, Pieper demonstrates that a Christian civilization can not be sustained by technology and production as seen in Protestantized countries like Germany. On the southern and more Catholic side of Europe, we see how Italy and Spain close down business for afternoon siestas. Although Italy and Spain are less and less Catholic every year, they retain some aspects of what was once a Christian culture, namely, leisure. For Pieper, leisure is not laziness but an ability to enjoy the good things of life via contemplation and community.  This includes God and family. [...]

Read More
5 08, 2016

Transfiguration and the Song of Songs

By |2016-10-19T05:10:16+00:00August 5th, 2016|Theology|

—Written by one of my spiritual directees who entered women's religious life. The Song of Songs illustrates the journey of the Bride, a journey toward love. A journey involves a process, a traveling toward something which one desires but has not yet attained. Highly susceptible to losing his way on a long journey, a pilgrim often encounters numerous and varied obstacles. The Bride in the Song of Songs is no exception. One’s first outlook on the Song of Songs may circulate around the book as brimming over with vibrant images and profound expressions between two lovers. Although this description definitely defines the Song of Songs, it does not include every [...]

Read More
24 11, 2015

St. John of the Cross and The Buddha

By |2015-11-24T23:00:26+00:00November 24th, 2015|Theology|

The above picture is a remake of the spiritual life as drawn and described by the greatest ascetical theologian of the past millennium, St. John of the Cross. St. John of the Cross was a 16th century Carmelite whose feast day we celebrate today in the TLM (a couple weeks out in the new calendar.) If you look at that picture (which is hard to see but phenomenal if you can expand it) you will see that the man or woman who sets out to seek God is called to a narrow path that not only despises any earthly attachments that prevent union with God, but also despises any self-centered [...]

Read More
20 11, 2015

Christianity vs. Islam

By |2019-04-10T16:15:41+00:00November 20th, 2015|Podcasts, Sermons, Talks|

Today's feast honors St. Felix of Valois, a 13th century saint who gave himself to be the ransom (replacement) of Christians taken hostage by Muslims.  At Mass tonight, I preached my sermon on St. Felix and the theology of both Christianity and Islam.

Read More
5 11, 2015

Colbert vs. Mother Teresa

By |2015-11-06T10:06:27+00:00November 5th, 2015|Theology|

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5weP79J7bM In this short video, Stephen Colbert (comedian-turned-theologian) says “Faith ultimately can’t be argued; faith has to be felt."  Let's cut through his poor philosophy and consider reality: 1) Feelings are often no different from biochemical pleasures.  God uses feelings in all stages of prayer, but it is not central to the substance of the soul where the Blessed Trinity resides.  If faith must be "felt" as Colbert said, then where does that leave Mother Teresa who couldn't feel anything for 60 years of prayer?  But false-positives abound, too:  If I drink an enormous Chemex hipster coffee and feel like a saint who could take on the world, did I just "feel" an increase in [...]

Read More
Copyright 2024 Padre Peregrino Hermitage LLC | All Rights Reserved
Go to Top