In today’s Council of Catholic Men Bible Study and Catechism, James chapter 4 in the Douay-Rheims, reflecting on the dangers of friendship with the world, the call to humility, and the command to resist the devil. We connected James’s charge—“God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble”—to Proverbs 3:34 and 1 Peter 5:5, drawing out the practical call to submit to God, purify our hearts, refrain from detraction, and entrust our plans to the Lord’s will. We emphasized that James consistently links authentic faith to works, urging a life of humility, patience, and sober judgment before God.

We then turned to the catechism with St. Peter Canisius on the holy sign of the Cross—its meaning, its ancient practice, and its power as testimony, patience, and spiritual armor—grounded in Scripture (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23; 1 Peter 2–3) and illuminated by the Fathers (Athanasius, Ambrose, Augustine, Basil, Chrysostom, Cyril of Jerusalem, and more). In honor of March 25, we read St. Alphonsus on St. Irenaeus of Sirmium’s steadfast martyrdom and celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation through selections from the Golden Legend, contemplating Gabriel’s greeting, Mary’s prudent faith, and her fiat. We closed in prayer, looking ahead to James chapter 5 next week and then the First Epistle of Peter.

In this episode of Council of Catholic Men is a study of James 3 on the power and perils of the tongue, contrasting earthly ambition with the meekness of heavenly wisdom. We reflect on James’s vivid images—the bit, the rudder, and the spark—and consider how small words can build up or destroy, urging brotherhood over mastery, peace over contention, and humility over envy. The opening warning, “Be not many masters,” to Matthew 23:8, emphasizes our call to be servants and peacemakers whose speech flows from purity, mercy, and sincerity.

We then turn to St. Peter Canisius’s Large Catechism on the Creed’s fourth article—Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried—walking through a rich tapestry of Scripture (John, Matthew, Luke, Acts, Isaiah, Wisdom, Hebrews, Philippians, Romans, Revelation, and more). We contemplate Christ’s willing passion, his obedience unto death, and the continual consolation and cleansing flowing from his Blood, Cross, and Resurrection, calling us to suffer and be glorified with him. Finally, the powerful martyrdom of St. Basil of Ancyra, whose fearless confession before Emperor Julian the Apostate exemplifies steadfast faith, bold charity, and ultimate trust in the King of kings. We close with prayer and a reminder to live as brothers who make peace and speak life.

In this week’s Council of Catholic Men study, we continue our journey through Scripture with James chapter 2, reflecting on the call to reject partiality, uphold the “royal law” of loving our neighbor, and live the truth that faith without works is dead. We walk through the Douay-Rheims text and its footnotes, connect James’s teaching to Old and New Testament cross-references—from Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Sirach, and Genesis to the Gospels, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and 1 John—and consider Abraham and Rahab as living witnesses to the cooperation of faith and works. 

We then open St. Peter Canisius’s Large Catechism on the third article of the Creed—“conceived by the Holy Spirit”—to contemplate the Incarnation as the origin of our salvation and the form of our regeneration, drawing on passages from Matthew, Luke, John, Romans, Galatians, Titus, 1 Peter, and more. I close with a reading from St. Alphonsus de Liguori’s Victories of the Martyrs on Saints Peter, Dorotheus, and Gorgonius, whose steadfast witness challenges us to fidelity.

Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study 2026 March 4


In this episode, we open with prayer and begin our study of the Catholic Epistle of Saint James, focusing on Chapter 1. We explore how trials refine faith into patience, why God is the author of all good and not of temptation, and the call to be doers of the word—bridling the tongue, serving the vulnerable, and remaining unspotted by the world. We connect James’s teachings to Scripture across the Old and New Testaments (Romans, the Gospels, Isaiah, 1 Peter, Job, Proverbs), highlighting Christ’s promises about prayer offered in faith and the fleeting nature of earthly riches. We also underscore the Catholic teaching that faith and works belong together, with James challenging the notion of justification by faith alone. We then turn to the Catechism through St. Peter Canisius’s “Large Catechism,” reflecting on the Second Article of the Creed: Jesus Christ as true God and true man, High Priest, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells. Drawing on John, Hebrews, Colossians, Philippians, Revelation, and more, we contemplate Christ’s primacy, redemption of sinners, and ultimate subjugation of all powers. Finally, we honor the approaching feast of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, recounting their steadfast witness and martyrdom at Carthage, and close in prayer, asking Our Lady’s intercession.

Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study 2026 February 25


In this episode of the Council of Catholic Men catechism and Bible study, we conclude our reading of Hebrews with Chapter 13 and reflect on Saint Paul’s closing admonitions: fraternal charity, hospitality (even to “entertaining angels” unawares), fidelity in marriage, freedom from covetousness, obedience to spiritual leaders, and the call to offer God a continual “sacrifice of praise.” We trace the Old Testament roots of these themes—hospitality in Abraham and Lot, confidence in the Lord from the Psalms, Day of Atonement sacrifices in Leviticus, and the pilgrim hope of a “city to come”—and consider how Christ’s suffering “outside the gate” shapes our willingness to bear reproach and do good both inside and outside the church. We then begin the catechism with St. Peter Canisius on the first article of the Creed: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” Drawing from Wisdom, 1 Samuel, Psalms, Romans, Hebrews, Colossians, and the Gospels, we contemplate God’s sovereign power over life and death, our adoption as His children through Christ, and His providential care over all creation—visible and invisible. We close with a reading from St. Alphonsus Liguori on the martyrs Lucius, Montanus, Flavian, and companions, whose steadfast witness in Africa under Valerian exemplifies charity, courage, and perseverance unto death, and we end in prayer.

In this episode of the Council of Catholic Men Bible and Catechism Study (2/18/2026), we journey through Hebrews 12 in the Douay-Rheims, reflecting on God’s fatherly discipline, the call to perseverance, and the contrast between Sinai and the heavenly Jerusalem. We connect the chapter’s themes—chastisement that yields the “peaceable fruit of justice,” pursuing peace and holiness, and the unshakable kingdom—to supporting passages across Scripture (Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Peter, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Haggai) and highlight the gravity of rejecting grace with the example of Esau. We also review the single footnote on verse 17 and explore how divine discipline forms true sons in the spiritual life. We then continue in the Large Catechism of St. Peter Canisius on the Creed, focusing on the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—one God in three persons, with Scripture references from Matthew 28, Hebrews 1, 1 John 4–5, and John’s Gospel on the Paraclete’s abiding governance of the Church. We recommend key readings from St. Augustine and touch on the filioque. We close with a reading from St. Alphonsus de Liguori on St. Leo of Patara, a martyr who witnesses boldly to Christ, embracing suffering for the eternal crown. May these readings strengthen our patience in trials and deepen our love for the Triune God.

In this episode of the Council of Catholic Men, we open with prayer and then guide a Scripture and catechism study centered on the virtue of faith. We read Hebrews 11 in full—reflecting on faith as the “substance of things to be hoped for,” and tracing how Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, and the prophets bore witness through steadfast trust in God. We highlight key footnotes and cross-references, including Genesis (Creation, Abel’s offering, Enoch’s translation) and Matthew 23 on the blood of the righteous, drawing out how faith illuminates both visible and invisible realities and orients us toward the heavenly city God has prepared.

We continue with St. Peter Canisius’s Larger Catechism on faith, outlining the twelve articles of the Apostles’ Creed as the concise rule of Christian belief and noting patristic witnesses who expound the Creed. We share an inspiring reading on St. Agatha from St. Alphonsus Liguori, honoring her courageous martyrdom and unwavering hope in eternal life. We conclude in prayer and preview next week’s study of Hebrews 12 and the first article of the Creed.

In today’s Council of Catholic Men catechism and Bible study, we prayerfully entered Hebrews 10 to contemplate Christ as the once-for-all High Priest whose single oblation perfects those being sanctified. We reflected on the insufficiency of the Old Covenant sacrifices, the new and living way opened through Christ’s flesh, and the call to persevere in faith, charity, and communal worship. We highlighted the sobering warning against willful apostasy (Heb 10:26) while underscoring God’s justice and mercy, the hope of full remission in baptism, and the ongoing call to repentance and confession after baptism.

We connected Hebrews 10 to its Old Testament roots in Psalms 39 and 109 and Jeremiah 31, exploring prophecy fulfilled in Christ’s priesthood and the law written on our hearts. From the Catechism (St. Peter Canisius), we began unpacking what faith is: a divine gift and light to assent to revealed truths—especially the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Resurrection, new birth by water and the Spirit, and Christ’s Real Presence. We closed with the lives of the martyrs Saints Phileas and Philoromus (Feb 4), whose steadfast witness before persecution challenges us to prefer God above all and remain vigilant in holiness.

In this week's session of Catechism and Bible Study with the Council of Catholic Men (Wednesday, 01/28/2026), we continue our journey through Hebrews, focusing on chapter 9. Exodus, Leviticus, and 3 Kings—highlighting how the earthly tabernacle, priestly rituals, and blood sacrifices prefigure Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice. We explore the footnotes’ key themes: Christ as the mediator of the New Covenant, the efficacy of His blood to cleanse the conscience from dead works, and the finality of His offering that “exhausts” the sins of many. We link Hebrews to 1 Peter, 1 John, Revelation, Galatians, Romans, and Mark to deepen our understanding of redemption, baptism, and living faith. We then move to catechism study (St. Peter Canisius) on the primacy of faith—why “he that cometh to God must believe”—and how belief, baptism, and a life of charity belong together. To conclude, we read from St. Alphonsus’s “Victories of the Martyrs,” recounting the life and trials of St. John Chrysostom, his courageous pastoral reform, unjust depositions and exiles, and his persevering witness alongside the martyrdoms of Sts. Tigrius and Eutropius. We wrapped with prayer and a look ahead to Hebrews 10 next week.

In this week’s Council of Catholic Men study, we continue our journey through Hebrews with a focused reading and reflection on chapter 8. We look at the Douay-Rheims text on Christ the High Priest and drawing on footnotes and cross-references to Exodus 25:40, Acts 7:44, and especially Jeremiah 31’s promise of God’s law written on the heart. We consider how the Levitical priesthood foreshadowed Christ’s heavenly ministry, why the New Covenant surpasses the old, and what it means for us to receive mercy and to live as God’s people by forgiveness and fidelity. We then connect this to Christian identity in the early Church and today—looking at Acts 11:26 and 1 Peter 4:16—before exploring wisdom and justice in the Large Catechism of St. Peter Canisius, with supporting texts from Sirach 1 and 1 Corinthians 13, and the call to “turn from evil and do good” (Psalm 34/36[33/36]; 1 Peter 3). We close by honoring St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, recounting her steadfast witness, miraculous protection, and the early veneration that followed—including the tradition of blessed lambs and pallia—inviting us to courageous purity and total consecration to Christ. Next time, we’ll pick up Hebrews 9 for a deeper look at Christ’s sacrifice and the New Covenant liturgy.