How do we carry our cross? In the Synoptic Gospels Christ challenges his followers to take up their cross and follow him. In this episode, we briefly discuss Augustine’s understanding of Christ’s call to carry our cross. 

Among other things, Augustine observes that carrying the cross contains a paradox. On the one hand, carrying the cross involves much effort on the part of the Catholic Christian. On the other hand, however, carrying the cross is in a certain sense easy because God offers the Christian much help.

Join us this week as we explore the paradoxical nature of carrying the cross.

To access the text of this sermon, please navigate to: http://catholicheritagespirituality.com/Augustineserm96/

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The Catholic Heritage Spirituality Show is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors.

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How should Catholics think about non-Catholic writings? Should Catholics give any considerations to such documents?

Down through the centuries, various Catholic Christians have expressed everything from moderate caution to complete rejection of the idea of reading non-Catholic texts. Among the various concerns raised were fears that the reading of such documents could corrupt the soul, negatively influence one’s thinking and even compromise one’s fidelity to Christ and the Church. These were indeed grave concerns

In this episode, we continue our conversation from last week by discussing how the Doctors of the Church utilized the writings of non-Catholic authors. The work of the Doctors, we believe, provides an excellent opportunity to consider this question on the extent to which Catholic Christians should use the writings of non-Catholic thinkers.

We note, among other things, that the Doctors of the Church were educated in the schools of rhetoric and philosophy that made extensive use of non-Christian writings such as those penned by Homer, Plato, Cicero and many others. These documents were critical at helping them form their abilities to analyze, interpret and present their findings. Their abilities in reading, writing and speaking surpassed their contemporaries.

One could argue that it was precisely their engagement with non-Christian writings that made them famous preachers, theologians and apologists. A meaningful engagement with these sources equipped them to engage their culture and to make a contribution to a better understanding of the Christian faith.

Join us this week as we discuss the various considerations Catholics should bear in mind when reading non-Christian writings.

To access a listing of series of sources where one can find the writings of the Doctors of the Church, please navigate to: http://catholicheritagespirituality.com/doctorsseries/

To comment on this show or to provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritagespirituality.com/episode63

The Catholic Heritage Spirituality Show is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors.

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What were the main characteristics of the Doctors of the Church? In this episode, we briefly discuss not only who the Doctors the Church were, but we also describe some of their salient characteristics.

We note, among other things, that the Doctors were most remembered as those who excelled in a deep understanding of the Christian faith. Despite their cultural, historical and professional differences, they were united by a depth of understanding that was unparalleled during their times.

They were also united in their deep commitment to the Catholic faith. Throughout their Christian life, they had a remarkable commitment to the the teaching authority of the Church. The Church established the basis for their thinking about the life questions.

We also note that the Doctors of the Church were characterized by a deep love of God and their fellow human beings. These men and women reached intellectual heights unknown to most other Christians of their respective eras. Nevertheless, they were characterized by a deep commitment to share their faith and to contribute to the formation of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

To access a listing of series of sources where one can find the writings of the Doctors of the Church, please navigate to: http://catholicheritagespirituality.com/doctorsseries/

Join us this week as we discuss key principles for overcoming challenges and enjoying the blessings of the Church’s treasures.

To comment on this show or to provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritagespirituality.com/episode63

The Catholic Heritage Spirituality Show is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors.

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Since the mid-twentieth century, US Catholicism has experienced a great reduction in its membership. Many families that had been Catholic for generations now have fewer if any active members.

For a variety of reasons, but sometimes as a result of negative personal experiences or scandals caused by leaders or lay members, some Catholics leave their faith and either join another Christian community or cease to practice their faith altogether.

At times, people can have negative experiences in their interactions with their local Catholic parish or with Catholics in their sphere of everyday experience. These experiences are indeed disconcerting, to say the least.

In view of such experiences, some people who are either joining, returning or considering further involvement in their local parish may have second thoughts. Wouldn’t it be better, they might ask themselves, to join another more welcoming and more vibrant Christian community? Or, better yet, why not have direct access to Jesus through the Bible, without any need for any Church?

Negative experiences with Catholic Christians, whether lay or ordained, are virtually inevitable. The Church is made up of human beings who are bound to fail in one way or another. 

But we believe that despite these negative experiences, all people should either join, return to or stay in the Catholic Church. But what considerations should someone bear in mind for joining, returning or staying in the Catholic Church?

In this episode, we set forth the three major considerations one should keep in mind when navigating their experience with their local Catholic parish or with Catholics whom they know. Our hope is that the treasures of the Church and the opportunities for spiritual gain discussed in this episode would inspire people to persevere in the face of such challenges.

Join us this week as we discuss key principles for overcoming challenges and enjoying the blessings of the Church’s treasures.

To comment on this show or to provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritagespirituality.com/episode61

The Catholic Heritage Spirituality Show is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors.

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Have you ever wondered: What does the Catholic Church actually teach about this or that question? Why exactly does the Catholic Church take this position on this or that doctrinal or moral question?

These are important questions because of the multiplicity of media sources continually raising questions on these matters. Furthermore, these are also important questions because of the proliferation of videos, podcasts and blogs available today.

This experience of consuming content from different sources may generate some confusion. Everyone is not saying the same thing.

So where does a Catholic look who wants to access authentic Catholic teaching? In other words, what are the resources designed to help Catholic Christians align their thinking with that of the Church?

In this episode, we talk about the three most important resources Catholics need for understanding the beliefs and practices of their Church. Among the various sources mentioned in this episode are the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the documents of the magisterium and the writings of the doctors of the Church.

In our experience, these by far have been the most reliable resources for accessing authentic Catholic teaching.

This episode briefly discusses each of these three categories sources and provides key definitions for important terms needed to understand their authors.

Join us this week as we discuss the three most important resources for accessing authentic Catholic teachings.

Conversions in the Catholic Spiritual Life – Insights from Augustine of Hippo - CHSS 59

Many people think about conversion as a once in a lifetime event. But is this really the case? Is conversion a singular moment never to be experienced again? In this episode we discuss this difficult question by seeking insight from the writings of Augustine of Hippo.

Augustine of Hippo introduces us to the idea that conversion, in the fullest sense of the term, is never truly complete in this life. In his various writings, Augustine maintains that the purpose of the Christian life should be understood as the restoration of the original alignment enjoyed by the first parents of humanity before the fall. The Christian life, argued Augustine, should be understood as re-aligning one’s self toward God by seeking the highest good in life.

Join us this week as we discuss Augustine’s rich understanding of conversion.

You can find this podcast episode on all the major podcast distribution channels (Stitcher, Apple Podcasts) and on our site catholicheritagespirituality.com

To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritagespirituality.com/episode59

The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors.

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The Relationship between Faith, Reason and Mystery – CHSS 58

Have you ever heard someone say something to the effect of: “You can’t give any reasons for what you believe, you just have to believe it”? Statements such as these presuppose that faith is incompatible with reason. In other words, there are no legitimate reasons one can give for accepting the truths of Christianity (e.g., the historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth, the Incarnation [i.e., the Logos becoming flesh] and Christ’s resurrection). But is faith really incompatible with reason?

In this episode, we talk about the relationship between faith and reason, and the unique role that mystery plays in our understanding of the faith. We talk about the inherent tension in the act of faith, which requires someone to be able to grasp the truths believed in but also to recognize that even our grasping of these truths is not comprehensive. In other words, faith allows us to hold on to truths about God, but at the same time we recognize that those truths we profess by faith do not exhaust everything that makes up God.

We can profess our faith in God’s infinity, for example, but we can also profess our belief that God in some sense became finite in the Incarnation. This simultaneous affirmation of the infinity and the finiteness of God seems contradictory. In such instances as these, the Catholic recognizes the place of mystery. A mystery signifies an element of our faith that lies simultaneously within and beyond the grasp of faith.

Holding the truths of the Christian faith demands a recognition of the mysterious in those truths. Join us this week as we explore how elements of mystery pervade the at times tense relationship between faith and reason.

You can find this podcast episode on all the major podcast distribution channels (Stitcher, Apple Podcasts) and on our site catholicheritagespirituality.com

To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritagespirituality.com/episode58

The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors.

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Many of our Catholic beliefs and practices can seem odd if one does not understand their historical and theological basis. Practices such as praying for the dead, the intercession of saints, penance and the liturgy make sense when one understands the Jewish context out of which they emerged.  We also discuss the role the Deuterocanonical books have had in shaping and explaining such Catholic beliefs and practices. 

Maybe you have heard someone say they stopped praying because it didn’t “work.” What are some of the reasons given for this claim? Today we offer an explanation of how the Christian faith has looked at prayer in order to address this questioning of prayer’s efficacy. We also speak to the importance of defining prayer in relation to a proper understanding of God’s nature. 

Jesus’ ministry began and ended with Mary, his mother, at his side.  Mary has a prominent place alongside Jesus at the wedding at Cana and at his crucifixion. Today we discuss the significance of Mary’s role in both instances and the wisdom we can learn from her as a mother to Jesus and to the Church.

The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors.

Stay in touch with us! Join our newsletter: https://catholicheritagespirituality.com/podcastnewsletter/