Today I received an e-mail with this question: The other night, in one of the RCIA session for which I am responsible, we looked at Who Is Jesus? In that video, some thing was said that struck a very wrong cord. It said that “Jesus raised himself from the dead.” I had never heard that before. I did check out a few things. I looked up the CCC. It does say that because of His divinity, Christ in union with God and the Holy Spirit was raised from the dead (638). However, our local bishop frowned on this statement. My local Jesuit school President frowned on this statement. Therefore, Steve, is it ..read more

Since this was part of the readings at Mass on Wednesday of Holy Week, I thought I would repost this blog. I was confronted with an interesting argument against Mary’s perpetual virginity. The man argued that the Bible itself proves that Mary had other children. He claimed that Jesus expressly states in no uncertain terms that his mother had other sons. He said it must have been overlooked by the Catholic Church. To read my whole response, click here.  Surprise spoiler alert, at the end of the article, you will discover that Mary DOES have other children!   The post Jesus Said His M ..read more

Realizing Jesus saw many people and things from the heights of the Cross including conversations he had, I put together this list for your edification. Please do not distribute or sell since I use this for Radio Show Talking Points. Just for your personal edification — and thanks! I posted in honor of Teresa Tomeo who requested I provide this lists for her listeners on Ave Maria Radio and EWTN. ****************************** People at the Foot of the Cross Eighteen people, groups and entities at the foot of the Cross. A topic for profound, prayerful meditation on Good Friday 1.  Mother Ma ..read more

The post Leading a Lenten Pilgrimage through the Stations of the Cross appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith ..read more

My article on “The Birds, the Temple and the Pilgrims” was published by Crisis Magazine on Saturday. I think you will enjoy it! ************************************************** The Bible mentions swallows and sparrows that have an envious place for nesting. They have built their nests at the altars of the Lord—in God’s very presence in the Temple. “The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God” (Psalm 84:3). Psalm 84 was written, in part, for the pilgrims crisscrossing Israel and Ju ..read more

Wow, we miss the Holy Land. We have been to Capernaum and on these boats over 150 times with groups and filming projects and exploring. Can’t wait to get back. This is where Jesus lived the three years of his earthly ministry – at the house of Peter which was located under the octagonal brown-roofed church next to the white synagogue. Matthew 4:13  “And leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.” Matthew the tax collector was outside the city along the road you see in this video. He was collecting taxes from those pass ..read more

This is an article written by my friend Thomas Williams Ph.D. of Breitbart. I collaborated with him to address the tedious atheists who come out of their dens at Easter and Christmas to take potshots at Christians. I hope you enjoy this simple pithy response. This is the whole article reproduced below. ************************************************************ The Christian season of Lent always triggers the anti-God squad, and 2024 is no different, with limelight-seeking atheists trotting out the tired “Jesus never existed” thesis in preparation for Holy Week. Writing in Aeon, professional ..read more

Fr. Robert McTeigue SJ is a sharp guy and this theology is “right on the money”.  He interviewed me this week on my book “Genesis, A Bible Study Guide and Commentary” with a show title of “Rediscovering the Book of Genesis”. He is a good interviewer and the discussion as lively. This was probably my favorite interview of many on my new book. Hope you enjoy it! https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/TCC_-_012524-1.mp3 Link With Show Notes: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/29652838 Direct Audio Download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thecatholiccurrent/TCC ..read more

It was a fun and fast-paced show tonight dealing with Epiphany and the Magi. Enjoy! https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/cdn.catholic.com/wp-content/uploads/ca240103a.mp3 Questions Covered: 11:03 – Should we take it literally that a star led the Wisemen? Was it possibly an angel?  19:11 – The Wisemen didn’t come for like 2 years right?  24:00 – Was Jesus’ family wealthy because the Wise Men brought gold, etc. in their treasure chests?   29:35 – Do they think Jesus was born at midnight? Or sometime during the night.  33:12 – why have they ma ..read more

REPOSTED: At the 20219 investiture of new Knights and Dames into the North Central Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, I was asked to give the keynote talk on Sunday morning with a good number of bishops in attendance and several renowned theologians and radio personalities. (Photo: Janet and I with Patriarch of Jerusalem Saba at Mass at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Easter 2004) Janet and I have been members of this order for nearly 25 years now. Since Janet and I have been to Israel over 200 times, I assumed they would request a talk on the Holy Land, the Holy Sep ..read more