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What is the conscience?

By Joseph Arias

According to paragraph 1778 of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” conscience is “a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed.” To understand better this definition, it is useful first of all to point out what conscience is not. It is not an emotion or feeling, even a “gut feeling,” as is often said. Rather, conscience is an action of the intellect, a judgment of reason. 

6/10/20
Reading Time 3 min

Things that make us happy Vol. 5

By Zoey Maraist

Throughout this pandemic, we’ve been bringing you fun and uplifting videos, photos and posts from people throughout the diocese. 

6/9/20
Reading Time 1 min

A moral crisis

By James C. Hudgins

If you ever have to wager your last nickel on which passage in the Bible is the most famous and best loved of all, bet on John 3:16. We hear it read in our very brief Gospel reading, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that all who believe in him might not perish, but might have eternal life.” Since we celebrate Trinity Sunday this week, focus particularly on the first words of that passage, “God so loved the world, that he gave.” Love is nothing other than giving. The very definition of love is to will the good of another person, entirely for their own sake. Our belief in the Trinity teaches us that such total, unconditional, self-sacrificing love is God's very identity. Our Lord’s words challenge us to make that love our identity as well.

6/4/20
Reading Time 3 min

Apocalyptic challenge

By Russell Shaw

One of the more predictable byproducts of the coronavirus pandemic has been an uptick in apocalyptic warnings that the end of the world is at hand. The folks who send me emails announcing that COVID-19 signals the arrival of the End Times mean well, and their eagerness to spread the news is understandable. But they’re missing the point —  two or three points, in fact.

6/3/20
Reading Time 3 min

Oberammergau’s plague

By Ann M. Augherton

In a few weeks, I was supposed to lead a group of pilgrims from Baltimore to Oberammergau, Germany, with my husband, Chris Gunty, associate publisher and editor of the Catholic Review magazine. The odd coincidence — not being able to visit a town literally put on the map by a plague — is not lost on me. 

5/27/20
Reading Time 3 min

Patience for the unseen

By Elizabeth Foss

In January, I had spring 2020 meticulously planned. I sketched it out in detail in not one, but three planners. I had a long-range view, a daily up-close detail, and something that fell in between and was open to all the inevitable entries from the outside world that would surely fill the squares. In February, we made sweeping, lifechanging decisions. Those planners each took on new importance.

5/27/20
Reading Time 3 min

The promised Advocate

By Jack Peterson

Pentecost is the grand finale of the paschal mystery. The pouring forth of the Holy Spirit onto the church and into the hearts of Christians is absolutely critical to the saving mission of Christ. The celebration of Pentecost boldly proclaims our belief in the power of the Holy Spirit to generate faith in Jesus, unify a divided world, set hearts on fire with a love for God and send out disciples to scatter the darkness with the light of Christ.

5/27/20
Reading Time 3 min

Rekindle a desire to know the Lord more intimately

By Ana Lisa Piã‘on

The recent events caused by the coronavirus have challenged and deepened my relationship with Christ. During this time of distancing, I find myself wondering what it means to be known intimately, by myself, by others and by God. What does it mean to be known? Psalm 139 reveals the way the Lord knows us: “Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar” (Ps 139:1-2). The Psalmist reveals that God knows every aspect of who I am. He probes me; he does not just look at me but studies my every thought and action. When a couple begins a relationship, there is an insatiable desire to know every detail about each other. Justin Bieber says in his song “10,000 Hours,” “When you close your eyes, tell me, what are you dreamin'? Everything, I wanna know it all … ”  

5/27/20
Reading Time 3 min

What is Biblical inerrancy?

By Salvatore J. Ciresi

Challenges to the Catholic faith are common in every age. The 21st century testifies to skepticism on the veracity of the sacred Scriptures. This is the subject of the inerrancy of the Bible. Admittedly, this is a detailed and complex topic. A brief article, making limited use of Scripture, tradition and the magisterium (the church’s teaching authority), can only cover some highlights.   

5/27/20
Reading Time 3 min

Things that make us happy this week Vol. 4

By Zoey Maraist

Throughout this pandemic, we’ll be bringing you fun and uplifting videos, photos and posts from people throughout the diocese.

5/26/20
Reading Time 1 min

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