on August 25 / by Edin Michael
Being married for five years and as a couple struggling with infertility we do understand the pain felt by those who dream of having children of their own. I know that it is a hard place to be and at times couples do tend to feel that the Church does not understand the pain they […]
on August 25 / by Chris Cammarata
Human emotions are a gift from God, though we are meant to control our emotions to a good end. However, lust is not an emotion. Sometimes the word “lust” gets used interchangeably with “attraction” but the two are entirely different. To have feelings of attraction is completely normal. We are made for beauty–one of God’s […]
on August 16 / by Chris Cammarata
It used to be in older days that the Church did not allow cremation for corpses. Even today, the Church still prefers burial to cremation. The reason for this reluctance from the Church is because of the great importance the Church gives to the dignity of the human body and the importance of the resurrection […]
on August 16 / by Chris Cammarata
There is a surprisingly common misconception that weddings (and according to some, even baptisms) cannot be held during Lent or Advent. This is usually rooted in the idea that these seasons (but especially Lent) are “penitential” seasons which are unfit for a joyful celebration like a wedding. As a result, parishes and even priests have […]
on August 16 / by Chris Cammarata
When two people start a relationship, they are beginning a process of discerning whether God is calling the two of them to marriage. Marriage is a vocation in which you pledge your life to your spouse in order to help each other on the journey to heaven. Discernment is important because it is what helps […]
on August 16 / by Chris Cammarata
The “whore of Babylon” mentioned in the Book of Revelation very clearly refers to the Roman Empire. Understanding the symbolism of the Book of Revelation requires understanding the original audience for which it was written, which was the early Christians under Roman persecution. The sufferings (and future sufferings) which are seen by John point to […]
on August 13 / by Chris Cammarata
I would say there are many reasons. I don’t think I could give an exhaustive answer to that question–it would probably take a full book–but maybe we can take a brief look at history with “theological eyes.” St. Thomas Aquinas once commented that the initial spread of Christianity was in itself a miracle. Twelve rowdy, […]
on August 13 / by Chris Cammarata
Melchizedek and Jesus are not the same person. Melchizedek is mentioned in several other places in the Bible (most famously in Psalm 110:4 and the Letter to the Hebrews) in connection with an eternal lineage of priests. The author of Hebrews connects this to Christ by saying that the “line of Melchizedek” is a symbol […]
on August 13 / by Chris Cammarata
It’s difficult to determine the exact location of Moriah, because even the ancient Jews did not know exactly where it was located. Classical Judaism thought that Mount Moriah was in or near Jerusalem, owing to 2 Chronicles 3:1, which mentions that Solomon built the Temple over a threshing floor given to him by Araunah the […]
on August 13 / by Chris Cammarata
Neither Phoebe nor Junia were priests or bishops. The reason these holy women of the early Church are brought up with regards to this particular debate usually comes from a confusion of terms and ambiguity in language. The exact Greek word which is used to identify Phoebe is diakonos, which is where we get the […]