Catholic Foundation Library

Catholic Foundation Library #27

In this third talk, we focus on the vision in Chapters 10 through 12. We follow its historical development by studying the royal dynasties and their timeline.

This vision is important because it sets the timetable of the coming of Jesus Christ. Another important aspect of this vision is that the Archangel Gabriel tells Daniel to seal the vision for its time has not yet come, and in the Book of Revelation, Our Lord unseals a sealed scroll.

Highlights

• The devil is the accuser of each and every one of us. Find out how he does it.
• What is the abomination of desolation that Gabriel speaks of?

Catholic Foundation Library #26

We focus on the visions contained in Chapters 7 through 9. These visions play a critical role in the Book of Revelation and in the Gospels.

Jesus ascribes to himself the title, "Son of Man", more than any other title. This title does not mean, as some may think, a meek and humble Jesus hiding his divinity; quite the contrary, it is a messianic title that means "Son of God" and it is taken from the Book of Daniel.

Highlights

• The four beasts are identified with four empires. Which empires?
• Is this book about the end of the world? If not, what end is it about?
• Who is the "Ancient of Days"?

Catholic Foundation Library #25

We focus on Chapters 1 through 6 of the Book of Daniel where we read of three tests of faith that Daniel (and some of his companions) had to undergo.

These tests were ordained by God for the sanctity of Daniel. Through them, he was learning about God, his love, and his nature, and so God was preparing him for his prophetic mission.

Highlights

• How strong is our faith? Are we ready to be tested?
• How important is personal prayer?
• Is living a Christian life supposed to be easy? If our life is easy, what does it say about our faith?

Catholic Foundation Library #24

In this third and last lecture on the Book of Ezechiel, we observe that God does not always speak to us with words.

Most of the time we simply do not want to hear God speaking to us that way. In particular, we will meditate on holy indifference.

Next, we study the New Temple described in the latter part of the Book of Ezekiel and see the splendor of the Church.

Highlights

• Why did God take Ezechiel's wife away and command him not to mourn?
• What is holy indifference?
• Where do all the graces flow from? What does it have to do with the river that watered Eden?

Catholic Foundation Library #23

We continue the study of the Book of  Ezekiel beginning with Chapter 9 with the marking of those who sigh about all the iniquities that take place in the Temple.

We will understand how the Covenant removes every city, country, or power that stands before it. Anyone who tries to break the Covenant is broken by it. The question, therefore, is not if but when.

Highlights

• 665 appears in the Book of Ezechiel. What is its relationship with 666?
• Can one be a committed Christian and be anxious?
• Why is it that the Church insists that without a physical relationship there is no marriage?
• The  Temple built under Ezra and Nehemiah was materially poorer than the  Temple of Solomon, but how is it described in the Book of Ezechiel?

Catholic Foundation Library #22

In this lecture, we begin by looking at the overall structure of the Book of Ezechiel, and then we will cover chapters 1 through 5.

In particular, we will look at the vision of the dead bones, and we will point out the similarity in structure between the Book of Ezechiel and the Book of Revelation.

Highlights

• What is the relation between the vision of the dead bones and the final judgment?
• How are we to understand the vision of the throne and the strange creatures surrounding it?
• Why did God make Ezechiel's tongue cleave to his mouth so that he could not talk anymore?

Catholic Foundation Library #21

1. Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.
2. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.
3. A voice cries out: In the desert, prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
4. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low;  the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.
5. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
6. 
   

These five verses begin the 40th Chapter of the Book of Isaiah. We all know that Jesus went and lived in  Capernaum at the very beginning of his ministry. Why did he go up to  Galilee and begin there instead of starting in Jerusalem?

Isaiah prophesied that where the desolation of Israel began, the restoration will begin also, and when Samaria attacked the northern Kingdom of  Israel, it conquered first Zebulun and  Naphtali. Capernaum was a touchpoint for the land of these two tribes, so Jesus went to Capernaum because where the desolation started, there the restoration would begin. St. Matthew understood all  this when he wrote in Chapter 4 of his Gospel beginning with verse 13:

• He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
• that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
• "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
• The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.

Catholic Foundation Library #20

We continue and complete our study of the Book of Damnation.

Highlights

• Why God allows his enemies to flourish? To make good use of them, of course.
• What is this business of speaking in tongues? Is it real?
• Why is the Catholic view of the world optimistic and triumphant?
• Do you really understand why Galileo was excommunicated?

Catholic Foundation Library #19

What is striking is that these woes are not immediately followed by a sweeping action on God's part. It is as if  God promises woes to those who are unfaithful to Him but seems to hesitate; Is God unfaithful to His word?

The interpretive key here and elsewhere is that God is a loving father. He will warn multiple times before taking action, but when He does the action is definitive, efficient, and cannot be revoked.

Catholic Foundation Library #18

In this lecture, we cover the meaning of the Zodiac, natural elements like the sea, the mountains, trees, etc., colors, precious stones,  weapons, and animals.

Highlights

• What is the sea a symbol of?
• What is the fig tree a symbol of?
• What is a horse a symbol of?