Virtus In Medio Stat

"Too much and too little wine. Give him none, he cannot find truth; give him too much, the same" - Blaise Pascal, Foundations of the Christian Religion

About an hour ago, I saw a post by Father Paul Kramer, of Consecrate Russia Now fame on his Facebook page. I can't find it now after I did a bit of poking around. He commented on how the word "Bergoglio" in the Basque language translates to variations of "Antichrist" in Spanish and Tagalog, and almost every language that Google Translate offers. When I checked this out myself, my closet sedevacantist tendencies started to consume me. I started to get suspicious, however, when it would not translate small case "bergoglio" in the same way. Furthermore, it would not translate "Antichristus" back to "Bergoglio" in the Basque. Could this be a gag by Google? Could this be bait for the sedevacantists who number in the tens of twenties all across the... country? Why would Google even care? In any case. It doesn't hurt to say. Come back home to Mother Church (and go to confession), outside of which there is no salvation....

In Christopher Hitchen’s “the Portable Atheist: Essential readings for the Nonbeliever,” we find a selection from neuroscientist Sam Harris as chapter 45 titled, “In the Shadow of God” from his book, “The End of Faith”. I don’t intend this to be a lengthy treatment of the chapter, because the validity of this chapter stands or falls on the veracity of the historical claims he makes therein. I would only submit to you that even if I were to accept all historical claims made in this chapter, it does not in any way prove that God does not exist. Reading this chapter elicited a number of reactions in me. The most salient of which was a sense of abhorrence for the historical points brought up. If true, the Witch Trials, the Inquisition, executions of unbelievers, heretics, and apostates, the extermination attempts on the Jews, etc., it would rightly disturb most of us. There’s probably dozens more atrocities that could be levied against ...

2 Timothy 3:14-17 [14]   But continue thou in those things which thou hast learned , and which have been committed to thee: knowing of whom thou hast learned them;   Tu vero permane in iis quae didicisti, et credita sunt tibi: sciens a quo didiceris: [15]   And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures , which can instruct thee to salvation , by the faith which is in Christ Jesus.   Et quia ab infantia sacras litteras nosti, quae te possunt instruere ad salutem, per fidem quae est in Christo Jesu. [16]   All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice ,   Omnis Scriptura divinitus inspirata utilis est ad docendum, ad arguendum, ad corripiendum, et erudiendum in justitia: [17]   That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work .   Ut perfectus sit homo Dei, ad omne opus bonum instructus. A few things I would like to point out here. This is th...

The power of understanding compels me Laurence Gonzaga Very rarely do I have conversations on a truly theological or philosophical nature. I think in the last several years I can probably count on one hand how many times I have found myself in an intensely challenging discussion on some of the most troubling beliefs that I hold dear to my heart. One was with an agnostic, the other was with a former Protestant convert to Catholicism, and the third was just a few hours ago with an old friend whom I seldom converse with anymore. The predominant topics which I have engaged with them on are predictable, the existence of God and its implications, the theologically compelling superiority of the Catholic tradition over and above the Protestant tradition, and lastly how God accomplishes his plan throughout history. For my agnostic friend, and even though we have really only had a handful of real conversations, I consider him a true friend. He was in fact the first person to con...

By: Laurence Gonzaga Published on Faithful Answers One of the most relevant and controversial topics among Christians is the issue of salvation. Many theological terms such as justification, salvation, sanctification, soteriology, atonement, propitiation , and expiation can easily confuse the untaught and unlearned. Other Christian communions also use these same terms but mean different things by them. So, I wanted to simply summarize this whole salvation business so you can get the facts down before you venture into a more in depth study of the issues. Salvation is a team effort. It is a work in progress, a joint project between you and God. Because of Adam’s original sin , we have a fallen nature. We have a propensity to sin, always. This attraction to the world, the flesh, and the Devil is called concupiscence . We are not born “basically good” as the humanists believe. Apart from God, we can do no civil or moral good on our own. Grace is the life of God operating in ou...

Crossing the Christian’s Boundaries By Laurence Gonzaga Hi Laurence - Had a question for you--- I have been reading a book on dealing with a loved with a mental health condition, and one of the things it talks about is the importance of boundaries -- to my uneducated mind on matters of psychology, i see there being a conflict with setting boundaries and that of basically Christ's all and totally giving example -- giving to the point of death. Do you have insights on how one may and must set appropriate boundaries on their relationships with people that does not necessarily set aside the example of Christ, or efforts to say, heroic virtue of serving another. [My only guess is that, when dealing with some people, by giving so much of oneself that it enables a person, and in no way helps them with their redemption or self improvement, etc...]. Appreciate if you can offer a few words of insight, I know you've studied psychology and theology so you could help me understand how t...