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Prepare The WayA voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”-Isaiah 40:3-5It was John the Baptist who prepared the way for the Lord, making straight a highway for God by …

Day 1: Spiritual or Religious?CHALLENGE: I consider myself spiritual rather than religious. Why isn’t that enough?DEFENSE: Because God loves you and wants even better things for you.When people say they are spiritual rather than religious, they frequently mean that, although they don’t practice a specific religion, they recognize there is more to the world than matter, that it has a spiritual dimension. This is good! But it doesn’t go very far. Wouldn’t it be nice to know more about the world’s …

How a Popular Mis-Quotation Made it Into the CatechismIn the sixteenth century, St. Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits. Supporters and critics alike have called them “God’s Marines” in recognition of their founder’s military background and their willingness to be deployed around the world in service of the Church. The Jesuits’ founding document is even addressed to “Whoever desires to serve as a soldier of God beneath the banner of the cross in our Society.”The image …

During the season of Advent we are awaiting the coming of Jesus Christ. This brings the divinity of Christ into sharp focus. Here's an excerpt on this subject from The Fathers Know Best: Your Essential Guide to the Teachings of the Early ChurchAnother error regarding the Trinity appeared in the 300s, when a priest named Arius asserted that Jesus was not actually God but was a created being—the first of all created beings. The ensuing controversy led to the first ecumenical council—Nicaea …

The history of Christianity is one of debate. As the Gospels reveal, Jesus was challenged right from the start. Rival schools like the Pharisees and Sadducees posed pointed questions to him, trying to trap him in his words and even to get him in trouble with the authorities. Some of Jesus’ most famous statements were responses to challenges from his critics:“What God has joined together, let man not put asunder.”“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”“Render unto Caesar what is Caesa …