Who Were Isaac and Ishmael? The Origins of MidEast Turmoil

Who were Isaac and Ishmael? H ow could these half-brothers be the source of tensions in the Middle East?  B orn nearly 3,000 years ago, h ow could they still be affecting the world to this day ? What did Abraham do wrong? Why was God's covenant with Abraham sealed with circumcision ? Ouch! Was circumcision chastisement for having relations with his maidservant?  Why does God refer to Isaac as Abraham's "only son"? Why does God not count Ishmael? All these questions are answered below, plus much more! This is part of an ongoing series I'm writing about Abraham and Isaac, including the following articles:  ○  "The Modern Attack on Abraham,"  for which I was interviewed by  Brother Andre Marie on the Veritas Radio Network  - Listen to it  here !  ○  "Did You Know Isaac (at the time of his sacrifice) was NOT a Little Boy?" " Only  Son Isaac" - WHO was Isaac?? God tells Abraham: "Take your son,  your onl Read More August 11, 2018

Where is Purgatory in the Bible? The Complete Guide

I once heard a priest being asked about Purgatory. This priest had just retired from the University of Notre Dame theology department where he had served as a tenured professor. He was asked whether Catholics still believed in Purgatory. Do you know what he said?  He completely affirmed the Church's teaching on Purgatory in the most breath-taking way imaginable. His answer left us all emboldened to spread the Gospel. The priest's answer was rich in references to the Bible. Most of all, he left with us an abiding hope for the future and a foretaste of Heaven.  Actually, the priest's answer wasn't any of those things . But it should have been. It could have been. Want to know what the priest really said? "Closed for Repairs." He said that, theologically speaking, the doctrine of Purgatory was a darkened building with a sign hanging on its front door. The sign read "Closed for Repairs."  This answer couldn't be farther from the truth. Here i Read More July 16, 2018

The "Good Wine" of the Wedding at Cana: What's "Wine on the Lees"? Is the Bible Anti-Alcohol?

Why does the steward at the Wedding at Cana praise the "good wine"? Did you know this fulfilled a Messianic prophesy from Isaiah? And from Moses?  Is the Bible against drinking alcohol? Is the wine at the Wedding at Cana non-alcoholic, as some Protestants argue? Ever heard of "wine on the lees" or aging wine "sur lie"? This is where your Catholic knowledge can inform your wine knowledge and vice-versa.   Jesus turns the water to wine at the Wedding at Cana, right? This is his first public miracle and will be connected to his "last miracle" before his death on the Cross.  We remember Jesus turning the water into wine, but what comes after?  The Wedding at Cana: The Testing of the Wine There was a very significant scene after Jesus turned the water into wine.  Do you remember the testing of the wine at the Wedding at Cana?  The  steward of the feast says something to the bride-groom, i.e. the groom. What does he say?  The Steward sa Read More July 04, 2018

Justice Clarence Thomas, The Rosary, and His First Homily as Priest

I love hearing a good story about the Rosary. Here's a great one, as told by Justice Clarence Thomas. It's part of an amazing and "unabashedly Catholic" commencement address that Justice Thomas recently gave at Christendom College.  I also wanted to share with you a story about the time that I met Justice Thomas. I asked him, " If you had continued in seminary and become a priest, what would have been the subject of your first homily?" The answer is below, following the video.  [The story about the Rosary begins about the 19:22 mark] Wasn't that a great story? Want to hear another one? FYI,  I'm collecting stories like this for an upcoming book I'm compiling on the Rosary. The working title is "Amazing Things About the Rosary You Never Knew" or something like that. You may have already heard portions of Justice Thomas' commencement address on Teresa Tameo's radio show or from Steve Ray. I'm glad to see it's Read More June 06, 2018