I'm an historical theologian (Cambridge PhD) and I just released a video on the Erasmus-Luther free will debate. I tried to take Erasmus seriously on his own terms — not as Luther's warm-up act, which is how most Protestant treatments handle him.
His taxonomy of grace (natural, prevenient, cooperat
Ive met this girl it was over online dating which we both despise. Im not gonna tell the story but anyway. We have been talking for a week now. I have seen at least 10 different signs which I asked God to show me if im meant to keep talking to her, even some signs which are very hard to pass off as
I’m not Catholic yet, but I believe the Catholic Church has the wholeness of truth. I got my first rosary today and started trying to pray it. I got to the hail holy queen prayer and got a bit uncomfortable.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cr
I mean this in as good faith a way as possible. I just can't stand going to church. I converted from non-denominational a few years ago and I thought it would get get easier over time, the obligation to go to Mass on Sundays, but it just hasn't It has gotten worse. It's so so so, incredibly boring.
genuinely curious, I’ve been going to mass for past 4 weeks and the one thing I’ve struggled with is focusing on the mass itself but instead my mind still wonders off about simthing completely unrelated or I get worried about what gonna happen next week or such and my mind tries to find ways to thin
I would think that as one of the most important days for us Catholics it would be obligatory.
(please consider this one mods,I really need this)
Lately I've been having several existential crises, one after the other.
I keep wondering if God/Jesus really exists and if it's just a collective illusion, if God wasn't a primitive justification for natural causes, if the promise of life after d
I don't know how to explain what's happening to me, but I'm losing faith, or at least I think so.
like a moment of crisis that I've been experiencing for many months, I don't know, it just happened and here I am.
I always felt that God was far from me, that He doesn't listen to me, and that I am a
Good morning all, apologies if I'm misinterpreting any beliefs or clear cut explanations. It is not my intent - I wish to be educated regarding this matter in any way possible.
I
About 18 years ago I went to confession. I believe that due to the traumatic events surrounding what I was confessing and that I was hysterically crying it caused me to mentally block out what the priest and I discussed. I keep reflecting on it and it’s driving me crazy because I guess maybe I’m wor
We are trying to keep a simple meal plan during the week and incorporate Mediterranean dishes to remind us of the Holy Land. Olives, figs, and couscous will be making multiple appearances! A big batch of lentil soup on Thursday for plenty of leftovers over the Triduum.
I have a delicious carrot cak
I’m in OCIA, and the church I attend is having a healing mass. I’m not going to it, but I wanted to ask what your experiences have been like with that sort of thing. Based on what I’ve read online, this sounds like some Protestant nonsense.
I can't wrap my mind around this, and it's been incredibly painful in my faith journey.
I read saints, who coming from even unbelieving households, were graced to see Visions of Christ at the age of 6, having apparitions of saints and angels at such an early age and then living a life of greatest p
I love the liturgy. I love the tradition. I love the art, the music, the history. I could talk about any of that for hours.
But when was the last time I actually read Scripture with real attention? Probably a year ago. Maybe more.
I've been treating Catholicism like a beautiful culture I belong to
In honor of Palm Sunday.
Hello, I’m a practicing Catholic, born and raised in the faith. Unfortunately, I only began a more devout journey exactly a year ago after studying the early church (I was attending a Baptist church at the time up until my reversion). I still study theology and early church history both apologetical
Why can one worship the cross? For example, during Holy Week, where the worship of the cross is solemnly performed.
Hello all,
So I’m trying to build myself a little prayer corner and I wanted to Include an icon of my partition saint, St. Benedict. I cannot find one anywhere. The only place I found was monastery icons but I heard they were sketchy.
Do you also happen to know where people get little statues of
I get the feeling the only reason we read the passion on Palm Sunday is that most Catholics won’t get to hear it because Good Friday is not an obligation.
hi, apologies if this is posted in the wrong place. i'm a baptised and confirmed anglican seeking to convert to catholicism. i've been attending a catholic young adults group, and doing plenty of my own research and this is what i've come to. however, i've reached some logistical problems. i'm curre
I’ve been navigating a difficult few months. I was struggling to wake up with purpose, and a seed of bitterness had started to grow deep within me. Without realizing it, I was watering this bitterness with it's favorite desert sloth by doing a bunch of nothing all day on my phone.
Today at Mass, th
Hello everyone. So I'm a Hispanic convert living in South Texas close to the Mexican border, where the divide between Catholics and Evangelicals arguably runs even deeper than up North. Just going online or in-person, you'll come across Spanish-speaking Evangelical pastors spreading the same old mis
The priest/deacon/bishop spreads his arms while he prays. The altar boys hold their hands together with fingers pointed out away from their bodies. How should the congregation hold their hands while praying? I see people doing all sort of different things.
Ok, I’m just going to be honest here. I’m at a very crucial point in my life with a lot of competing priorities, career, school, personal growth, relationships, etc. Over the past few months, I’ve formally returned to my faith after years of searching and exploring different religions.
The thing is
Hey there! I’m a young Catholic and I’ve only returned back to the church for the first time in like 5 years because covid 19 kinda pushed me and my family away for the church for some reason. But lately ive been really weak in my faith. I have no boldness at all! I mean at all I can never speak abo
People barely care I’m becoming a Catholic In a week, I tell them how much passion I burn with for Christ through the church, and I hear nothing back. I shouldn’t expect anything, but I have to say this to people who care. Jesus is king. The Catholic Church is THE ONE APOSTOLIC TRUE CHURCH, and the
It’s been 6 years since my conformation and I remember taking the classes and I remember vaguely why I chose st Francis of Assisi but I can’t remember that one obscure/unique thing and it is driving me crazy. Can anyone relate/help with this. I do not regret choosing him what so ever I just feel lik
Are black monk rosaries legit? Or are they're rosaries poor products?
My orthodox (I wanna be catholic) understanding is that throughout the life we consistently get more and more united with God, taking on his traits and energies like love, empathy and righteousness, but maintaining our own unique personality and in no way becoming more divinely or taking on God’s ab
If so, tell me about it. How many beads does yours have, and in what configuration (just 10, 20 in two decades, etc.)? What prayers do you usually use?
For the other 99% of readers, I mean one of these.
As a Catholic I dont really have too much foray into the protestant world, but Ive heard the term "mainline protestant" be thrown around a lot here in the states, and just wanted to know what the difference was between mainline protestant, and not mainline protestantism, Lutheranism for example. Als
Hello, I am going to my 1st mass (well first time going to church at all tomorrow.) Was raised atheist, but I've believed in Jesus for about 8 months now, read a good portion of the bible and have researched and feel drawn to the Catholic faith. I know it's Palm Sunday and the mass will have some ex
I'm a Catholic but I also whole-heartedly believe in the paranormal.
She was born and raised Catholic, her faith is way more private than mine and I really don’t know how to bring her to attending Church regularly again, she likes videos I send her about going to Mass together, she is open about loving and knowing he is THE saviour of us humans. But I don’t want to p
Hello brothers and sisters. I hope this Palm Sunday was blessed for you all.
How do we recite a religious service? For example, Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or others that may exist?
I read the Wikipedia page about it, but I don’t really understand… Thank you in advance.
A few months ago, my husband and I decided we would be sending our oldest daughter to one of the local Catholic schools when she is old enough this fall because they offer the best education in our area. My husband grew up non-denominational Christian, and I grew up Catholic-adjacent (attended UCC c
I’m not looking for relationship advice, just trying to understand Catholic discernment.
I was in a relationship where I really thought God was guiding it. We were discerning marriage and there were real fruits, like growth in faith and a sense of peace and shared values/goals.
What I’m struggling
I’m slowly edging back into my faith. I’ve been reciting the rosary on my own, once a day, everyday but I would love to be able to do this in a group at a church. I accidentally joined in randomly at St Patrick’s, Soho on a weekday just before confession began, but have gone back in several times an
Some backstory, I am in my early 20s and have recently started rediscovering Catholicism over this past 6+ months after walking away completely in my early teens. Today after months of dread I tried to physically go to mass after watching it online but while in the car park I had what I would descri
I got married through no one but ourselves.
We both agree despite me becoming Catholic, but agnostic then and her being agnostic now that being one flesh made a lot of sense. I am abstained from the law of the Bible as I’ve studied throughly the circumstances.
But does this make sense? I was mar
Dear brothers in Christ, lately I have been thinking about changing schools. I am currently attending a secular Masonic school (where I have been since I was a child), and as a faithful Catholic, I deeply disdain Freemasonry. It feels strange and uncomfortable to study in a place where God is treate
I’ve been praying for a very specific sign from God and St. Therese of Lisieux. I asked that if a certain situation in my life is "meant to be," I would receive or see roses.
Today at Mass, while waiting for the blessing of the palaspas (palm branches), a young vendor approached me offering sampagu
I started exploring Catholicism this year and notice weekly Sunday mass attendance dwindling ever since New Year’s.
Today at Mass during Palm Sunday, it was extremely crowded and I saw tons of those who I normally don’t at 10 AM mass.
Where are these people normally?
Do they just go for the bigge
And will I be able to partake in the eucharist at mass, as a baptised and confirmed Eastern Orthodox who believes in Catholicism
Is it normal to have Illuminati symbols in churches?
Interested in the trends in attendance as the years have gone by.
I have just begun exploring Catholicism this year and have been very consistent in attending mass on Sunday.
I'm curious if there are any trends in attendance that show a lower or higher attendance in Palm Sunday throughout the year
Last week, I was accepted into seminary!
I'm 22, but I have been discerning a vocation to the priesthood since I was a child, so I'm really excited (albeit mildly terrified, naturally) about this. I will be starting this September.
Please pray for me, and I will continue to pray for all of you as
I’ve been thinking about how Pope Francis is often labeled as "progressive" or "theologically progressive" both in media and in some Christian discussions, and I’m not sure I fully understand where that perception comes from.
On a number of major doctri
