Tag: featured

Waters of Baptism

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John Loncar recently posted a great quotation on Shameless Popery that I found really touching and wanted to share. This is an extract from a letter written by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th-century theologian and a Doctor of the Church, which he wrote to a couple who had suffered the tragedy of a miscarriage:

“Your faith spoke for this child. Baptism for this child was only delayed by time. Your faith suffices. The waters of your womb — were they not the waters of life for this child? Look at your tears. Are they not like the waters of baptism? Do not fear this. God’s ability to love is greater than our fears. Surrender everything to God.” – St. Bernard of Clairvaux

baby-ultrasound

One Minute Book Review: Crazy Love

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This weekend I finished Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan.  It has been quite some time since I’ve read a book by a contemporary Protestant author which blew me away, but this is definitely one of those books.  Over the course of this short volume, Chan re-sensitizes us to the holiness of God, to demands of obedience and to the call of Jesus to give him EVERYTHING.

If you want your life to continue uninterrupted, don’t read this book. If you are satisfied with a happy, comfortable Christianity, don’t even think about cracking the cover… However, if you have a sneaking suspicion that you’ve grown lukewarm in your faith, order this book right away. Don’t be surprised if you are made to feel more than a little uncomfortable.

Group Pilgrimage

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I thought I would do a follow-up to yesterday’s post about friendship…

Since the earliest times, as pilgrims traveled towards some holy site, they would travel together in groups. They would band together for support, encouragement and safety as they journeyed towards their pilgrimage destination. Likewise, in our pilgrimage towards Heaven, good friends along the way can offer us all kinds of support.

Given my personality type, I benefit greatly from time by myself, but in recent years I’ve come to understand how much I need friends. Good, virtuous friends support and encourage, but also tell us the cold, hard truth about ourselves when we really need it.

A while ago I was praying The Office of Readings and read about the beautiful friendship between St. Basil and St. Gregory of Nazianzen. These were two of the three “Cappadocian Fathers” who were Early Church Fathers in Fourth Century Turkey. On Wednesday, in the Eastern calendar, it will be their feast day, the “Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs“, I thought I’d share an extract from one of Gregory’s sermons where he describes his relationship with Basil.

the-three-holy-hierarchs

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Before 300: Pre-Constantinian Christianity

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It is often asserted that the Catholic Church was founded by the Constantine, who was Emperor of the Roman Empire from AD 306-337. A couple of weeks ago, a lady named Monica made such an assertion and in earlier post I pointed out some of the problems with such a theory.

However, today I would like to do something a little different… In this post I would like to set forth the positive historical case for the existence of the Catholic Faith in the generations prior to Constantine. I will show how twenty-two different Catholic doctrines were taught long before Constantine rose to power:

  1. The Church is Catholic
  2. The Church has a three-fold structure of leadership
  3. There is unity through episcopal authority and schism is evil
  4. Sacred Tradition is authoritative
  5. Worship is liturgical
  6. There is Apostolic Succession
  7. Peter has Primacy
  8. The Eucharist is a Sacrifice
  9. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist
  10. The Eucharist is taken to the sick
  11. Infants are to be baptized
  12. Baptism actually washes away sin
  13. Priests forgive sins
  14. Works are involved in salvation
  15. Prayers are said for the dead
  16. There is purgation after death
  17. Relics are venerated and Saints are celebrated
  18. Mary is the New Eve
  19. Mary was a perpetual virgin
  20. Mary is the Mother of God
  21. Prayers are made to Saints
  22. Songs are sung to Mary

I will demonstrate these early Christian belief by looking at primary sources alone and restricting myself to writings produced prior to AD 300.

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PWJ: S1E14.5 – Bonus – “Merry Christmas!”

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Pinky

Rather than going through a chapter of “Mere Christianity” in this episode, today Matt and I are just going to be chatting about Christmas. You’ll get to hear about our favourite songs, the best presents we’ve received and our treasured Christmas memories. So sit back, pour yourself some eggnog and enjoy!

If you enjoy this episode, you can subscribe manually, or any place where good podcasts can be found (iTunes, Google Play, Podbean, Stitcher and TuneIn). Please send any objections, comments or questions, either via email through my website or tweet us @pintswithjack.

Episode 14.5: “Merry Christmas!” (Download)

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PWJ: S2E2.5 – Bonus – “The language we use…”

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This week is a short episode and Matt and I are not discussing The Great Divorce. Instead I talk about an interaction I recently had on Facebook and how we’d all be better off if we took to heart a little piece of Lewisian wisdom…

Please send any objections, comments or questions, either via email through my website or tweet us @pintswithjack or message us via Instagram!

S2E2.5: “The language we use, and wishing black was a little blacker…” (Download)

If you enjoy this episode, you can subscribe manually, or any place where good podcasts can be found (iTunes, Google Play, Podbean, Stitcher and TuneIn).

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PWJ: S2E1 – TGD P – “Preface”

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Today we start a new book! The Great Divorce is my favourite book by Lewis. Through the vehicle of Jack’s story, we get to see more clearly the daily choices which we make which takes us closer to either Heaven or Hell.

Please send any objections, comments or questions, either via email through the new website or tweet us @pintswithjack or message us via Instagram!

S2E1: Preface (Download)

If you enjoy this episode, you can subscribe manually, or any place where good podcasts can be found (iTunes, Google Play, Podbean, Stitcher and TuneIn).

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