Council of Catholic Men: Catechism and Bible Study of the Catholic Church

In this Christmas Eve episode of Council of Catholic Men, we continue our study of the Letter to the Hebrews with chapters 3–5, reflecting on Christ’s supremacy over Moses, the call to enter God’s rest, and Jesus as our compassionate and eternal High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. We highlight the exhortation to persevere in faith, the power of God’s living word, and the invitation to approach the throne of grace with confidence. We then turn to the Small Catechism of St. Peter Canisius, reviewing the fruits of the Spirit, the eight Beatitudes, the evangelical counsels, and the Four Last Things, followed by a curated series of Scripture passages used for defending and clarifying Catholic doctrine and unity. We close with a reading from St. Alphonsus Liguori on the lives and witness of St. Chrysogonus and St. Anastasia, contemplating their steadfast charity, courage under persecution, and final triumph in martyrdom. The episode begins and ends in prayer, inviting listeners to enter the mystery of the season with renewed hope and fidelity to Christ and His Church.

In today’s Council of Catholic Men, we opened in prayer and entered a rich study of Scripture and tradition. We read and reflected on Saint Paul’s Epistle to Titus, exploring the qualities of bishops and priests, the call to sound doctrine, and practical guidance for every state of life—from older men and women to young people and servants—culminating in the charge to avoid heresy after charitable admonition. We then read the brief yet tender Epistle to Philemon, highlighting Christian reconciliation in the story of Onesimus, and began Hebrews, chapters 1–2, contemplating Christ’s divinity, his superiority to the angels, and the saving purpose of his Passion shared in our humanity.

Our catechesis drew from St. Peter Canisius’s Small Catechism on the duties of Christian justice: turning from sin and doing good, the nature of mortal and venial sin, the capital vices with their opposing virtues, sins against the Holy Spirit, works of mercy, and the cardinal and theological virtues. We closed with a reading from St. Alphonsus Liguori on the martyrdom of St. Lucy—her steadfast virginity, charity to the poor, miraculous protection, and courageous witness—before concluding in prayer. May these readings strengthen us in sound doctrine, virtuous living, and firm hope in Christ.

In this episode of the Council of Catholic Men,  a prayerful study of Scripture and catechesis. We read 1 Timothy 4–6 and 2 Timothy 1–4, reflecting on St. Paul’s counsel to Timothy: guarding sound doctrine, the goodness of God’s creation received with thanksgiving, the dignity and duties within the Church (including care for widows and honor for faithful clergy), the dangers of greed, and the call to pursue holiness, patience, and charity. We meditate on Paul’s stirring farewell—“I have fought the good fight”—and the enduring charge to preach the word in and out of season, holding fast to the faith amid error and persecution. 

 We continue with the Small Catechism for Catholics by St. Peter Canisius, summarizing the seven sacraments—their institution by Christ, purpose, and effects—highlighting the Eucharist’s truth, transubstantiation, adoration, sacrificial offering, and reception, along with penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, and matrimony. We conclude with the lives of the martyrs for December 10: Saints Eulalia and Julia, whose youthful courage and fidelity unto death inspire us to love Christ above all. We close with prayer and a look ahead to next week’s reading from Titus and the continuation of the catechism.

In this episode of the Council of Catholic Men, we prayed together and then journeyed through Scripture with a focused reading of 2 Thessalonians and 1 Timothy. I reflected on Saint Paul’s exhortations to stand firm in the faith, hold fast to apostolic traditions, discern false teachings, and live disciplined, charitable lives that honor Christ. We explored themes such as the “man of sin,” the Church as the pillar and foundation of truth, the dignity and duties of bishops and deacons, the call to prayer for all people, and the practical holiness of work, integrity, and perseverance.

We then turned to catechesis with St. Peter Canisius on charity and the Decalogue—how love of God and neighbor is the heart of the commandments—and concluded with a moving hagiography from St. Alphonsus Liguori on St. Crispina, a noble African martyr who chose fidelity to Christ over life itself. May her witness strengthen our resolve to love God above all and live the commandments with courage and mercy.

In this episode, we journey through 1 Thessalonians, reflecting on Paul’s gratitude for the Thessalonians’ faith, their perseverance under persecution, and his fatherly care expressed through exhortation, prayer, and encouragement. We highlight key themes: receiving the Gospel “in power and in the Holy Spirit,” becoming “children of the day,” living soberly with faith, charity, and hope, and comforting one another with the promise of Christ’s return and the resurrection. We also underscore Paul’s practical counsel for Christian living—brotherly love, honest work, respect for leaders, patience with the weak, rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and testing all things—so we might be preserved blameless at the Lord’s coming.

We then begin St. Peter Canisius’s Small Catechism, covering faith, the Apostles’ Creed, the nature of the Church, hope in the Lord’s Prayer, and the Hail Mary—clarifying the Communion of Saints and the Church’s unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolic governance. Finally, we honor St. James Intercisus, whose repentance and courageous martyrdom witness to the power of grace. May his steadfastness inspire us to seek Christ’s help in every trial and to persevere in holiness.

In today’s Council of Catholic Men Bible Study and Catechism, we journeyed through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, reflecting on Christ’s primacy as head of the Church and peacemaker through the blood of His Cross (Col 1), Paul’s warnings against deceptive philosophies and angel-worship that displace Christ (Col 2), and the call to put off the old man and put on the new, living charity, gratitude, and orderly family life in the Lord (Col 3–4). We highlighted key footnotes clarifying “firstborn” as first-begotten, not created; the meaning of “filling up what is lacking” in Christ’s sufferings in the members of His Body; and the rejection of Mosaic legal observances and superstitious practices that obscure the mediatorship of Jesus. We then concluded the Large Catechism of St. Peter Canisius with the “four last things,” considering heaven’s glory, the sanctifying “fear” (reverence) of God, and the practical fruit of meditating on last things for Christian wisdom and justice. Finally, we read from St. Alphonsus Liguori on the martyrdom of St. Romanus and the infant martyr Barulas, a powerful witness to steadfast faith under persecution, the primacy of Christ, and the triumph of grace. Next week, we begin 1 Thessalonians and the Small Catechism of St. Peter Canisius as a refresher of the core teachings.

In this episode of the Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study, we continue through Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, completing chapters 2–4. We reflect on Paul’s call to unity, humility, and obedience to Christ, highlighting the kenosis hymn (“He emptied Himself”) and the charge to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” We consider Paul’s warnings against false teachers, his total renunciation of worldly status to gain Christ, and his exhortation to rejoice, practice virtue, and persevere—summed up beautifully in Philippians 4:8. We also underscore Paul’s example of conversion and integrity, encouraging us to shine as lights in a crooked generation and to live content in Christ who strengthens us. We then turn to the Catechism of St. Peter Canisius on the Four Last Things—especially judgment and hell—pondering Scripture’s sober admonitions to examine ourselves before judgment and to live in holy discipline and godly fear. Finally, we share the lives of Saints Theodorus and Nicholas, Studite abbots, whose steadfast defense of holy images and patient endurance under persecution model fidelity and courage. We close in prayer and look ahead to beginning Colossians next week.

In today’s Council of Catholic Men, we continue our catechism and Bible study with a prayerful reading of Ephesians 4–6, exploring St. Paul’s call to unity, truth in charity, putting on the new man, and living a virtuous life. We reflect on practical holiness: honesty, righteous speech, righteous labor, reconciling anger, and generosity. In Ephesians 5, we consider walking as children of light, the call to purity, and the sacrificial love and mutual duties within Christian marriage, modeled on Christ and the Church. Chapter 6 brings us to the armor of God—truth, justice, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word—preparing us for spiritual warfare against unseen powers through constant prayer. We then open Philippians 1, where Paul’s affection for the Philippians shines through, highlighting joy amid suffering and the tension between “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” From the catechism of St. Peter Canisius, we meditate on the evangelical counsels—obedience, chastity, and poverty—as helps toward charity and conformity to Christ’s humility and cross. We introduce the Four Last Things (death, judgment, hell, and heaven), urging watchfulness and perseverance, and conclude with the inspiring martyrdoms of Saints Agricola and Vitalis of Bologna, whose courageous witness calls us to faithfulness to the end.

In today’s Council of Catholic Men Bible and Catechism Study, opened with prayer and then began our read-through of Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians using the Douay-Rheims, covering chapters 1–3 with select footnotes. We reflected on Paul’s context writing from prison, the “spiritual blessings” in Christ, the seal of the Holy Spirit, and Christ as head of the Church. In chapter 2, we examined salvation by grace, the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile into one body, and our new identity as fellow citizens and members of God’s household. Chapter 3 highlighted the revealed mystery that the Gentiles are coheirs, Paul’s ministry to them, and his prayer that we be strengthened to comprehend the breadth and depth of Christ’s love and be filled with the fullness of God.

We then turned to the Catechism of Saint Peter Canisius (1622) on the evangelical counsels—poverty, chastity, and obedience—clarifying the distinction between commands and counsels with insights from Augustine, Ambrose, and Jerome, and scriptural foundations for voluntary poverty and consecrated chastity. We concluded with a reading from Saint Alphonsus de Liguori on Saints Anastasia and Cyril of Rome, contemplating steadfast witness under persecution. Next time, we’ll continue with Ephesians chapter 4 and further catechism study.

In today’s Council of Catholic Men Bible and Catechism Study, we continue our journey through Scripture by finishing Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (chapters 5–6). We reflect on Christian liberty, the contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit, and Paul’s call to bear one another’s burdens and glory only in the Cross of Christ. We note how baptismal life, animated by charity, is what avails in Christ and encourage us to “walk in the Spirit” where there is no law against the fruits of charity, joy, peace, patience, and more.

We then turn to the Catechism of St. Peter Canisius on the gifts and fruits of the Holy Ghost and the Beatitudes—seeing how grace empowers the theological and cardinal virtues, equips us for spiritual combat, and promises eternal reward to those who labor faithfully. We close with lives of the martyrs for October 22: St. Philip of Heraclea, with Sts. Hermes and Severus, whose steadfast witness before hostile governors and joyful embrace of martyrdom challenge us to prefer heaven over earth and to persevere in love. We remember, too, the feast of St. John Paul II, giving thanks for his intercession.

Next time, we’ll begin the Epistle to the Ephesians. Thank you for praying and studying with me—may God bless you and keep you walking in the Spirit.