Catechism Basic

Four Elements of Our Fundamental Duty

DVRodriguez2024-07-07T13:05:59-04:00

Pope Pius XII teaches that man's fundamental duty is to orient his person and life towards God. Man does this by [1] accepting all divinely revealed truths, [2] obeying the law of God and His Church, [3] rendering God right worship, [4] and centering all his acts and aspirations on God. These four are carried out perfectly by the Sacred Heart. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a compendium of our holy religion. It comprises a devotion of love, reparation and imitation. Attaining this fundamental duty is hard. Hence, we must pray to the Holy Ghost for His assistance.

Four Elements of Our Fundamental DutyDVRodriguez2024-07-07T13:05:59-04:00

What Does It Mean to Love God

DVRodriguez2024-07-03T08:22:48-04:00

The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Faith. The Catholic Faith exists to make this mystery known to all souls. In this sermon, Father provides a basic catechism on the Blessed Trinity and God Himself. Man is called to know, love and serve God so as to be happy with Him forever. Yet a terrible sin of omission, the one Catholics most frequently commit, must be overcome.

What Does It Mean to Love GodDVRodriguez2024-07-03T08:22:48-04:00

The Holy Ghost and Our Lady

DVRodriguez2024-06-17T17:36:38-04:00

Frequently pray the Church's three most important prayers to the Holy Ghost. In the time between the Ascension and Pentecost Our Lady humbly guided the Apostles. Our practice of praying novenas originates from these days. Our Lady is a most perfect Mother, and her concerns for us, her children, are centered on eternity, grace and sin. Christian Mothers, imitate HER! The Holy Ghost is particularly active in carrying out the Mission of Christ where – and in whom – He finds His Spouse, the Ever Virgin and Holy Mary.

The Holy Ghost and Our LadyDVRodriguez2024-06-17T17:36:38-04:00

Five Simple Points

DVRodriguez2024-06-18T09:15:56-04:00

Our Risen Lord made His first resurrection appearance to His most Blessed Mother. This Easter, we have asked "What is the foundation of the Christian Religion?" It is Christ, His Mission, and His Church. Understanding this answer helps us love our Catholic Faith and live it well. Five simple points from the resurrection narratives in the gospel help us summarize this answer.

Five Simple PointsDVRodriguez2024-06-18T09:15:56-04:00

Christ is the Foundation

DVRodriguez2024-05-08T20:21:58-04:00

As a fruit of the Resurrection, Jesus is now present in a new way, different from before His Passion. He is alive and present by the power of the Holy Ghost in His Church! In His Church, He teaches the truths which save us. In and by His Church, He bestows life through His sacraments. The Scriptures clearly profess this. So too the witnesses of the Resurrection, who teach with the authority that Christ Himself has given. Contemplate Christ. Keep your eyes constantly fixed on Him. Set your heart on Him alone.

Christ is the FoundationDVRodriguez2024-05-08T20:21:58-04:00

The Road to Emmaus

DVRodriguez2024-05-02T06:41:00-04:00

Contemplate Christ. Keep your eyes fixed on Him. Set your heart on Him alone. Meditate upon the gospels and epistles from Easter week. St. Peter and St. Paul teach – by the power of the Holy Ghost – not their own ideas but they 'teach Christ.' The disciples journeying to Emmaus pattern a progressively deeper encounter with the Risen Lord. [1] They desire Christ, sharing their limited knowledge and love of Him. [2] Jesus then teaches them the Scriptures, showing we all need proper interpretation from the rightful authority. [3] Christ remains with them and feeds them. Every Christian is called [...]

The Road to EmmausDVRodriguez2024-05-02T06:41:00-04:00

Two Lessons from the Easter Encounters

DVRodriguez2024-05-02T06:22:28-04:00

Contemplate Christ's words and actions following the Resurrection. He abides in our midst, teaches the truth, calls us to faith, feeds us, and commands us. Clearly, the foundation of the Catholic Faith is Jesus Christ. He is alive and active in the Church He founded. He commands that we go to all nations (no exceptions) teaching everyone the truth and baptizing all.

Two Lessons from the Easter EncountersDVRodriguez2024-05-02T06:22:28-04:00

The Doctrine of Predestination

DVRodriguez2023-12-17T10:57:40-05:00

God by the eternal resolve of His will has predetermined certain men to eternal blessedness. The number of the elect is predetermined and can not change (none added, none taken away). While God wills all men to be saved, not all men are saved. This is based not on God's providence but on a man's sin and lack of contrition. The heresy of "double predestination" holds that men are like brute beasts with God leading some to salvation and others to damnation by His (predetermined) divine will. For men how are saved, it is a gift from God; from men who [...]

The Doctrine of PredestinationDVRodriguez2023-12-17T10:57:40-05:00

The Great Thought

DVRodriguez2023-12-08T16:58:46-05:00

For Christ to truly be King, He must reign in men's minds. This means man assents – with perfect submission and firm belief – to the doctrines taught by Christ and His Church. How terrible that many occupying high places in the Church are instead seeking to undermine His teachings. We instead must remain steadfast and faithful to the Great Truth. As an example, consider the Church's teachings on the Four Last Things. Review a 'Short Catechism on Eternity.' Heed the example of St. Anthony Mary Claret. And in all thy works, remember thy last end, and thou shall never sin [...]

The Great ThoughtDVRodriguez2023-12-08T16:58:46-05:00

A Prayer for Studying the Faith and an Act of Consecration

DVR Fatima2023-11-20T09:47:28-05:00

From the Raccolta (Prayer 763) Under Thy patronage, dear Mother, and invokingthe mystery of Thine Immaculate Conception, Idesire to pursue my studies and my literary labors:I hereby solemnly declare that I am devotingmyself to these studies chiefly to the followingend: that I may the better contribute to the gloryof God and to the spread of Thy venerationamong men. I pray Thee, therefore, most lovingMother, who art the Seat of Wisdom, to bless mylabors in Thy loving kindness. Moreover, Ipromise with true affection and a willing spirit, asit is right that I should do, to ascribe all the goodthat shall accrue to [...]

A Prayer for Studying the Faith and an Act of ConsecrationDVR Fatima2023-11-20T09:47:28-05:00