A Christian's Road Home to Rome and Journey Onward
In response to a question on Facebook, after I shared this article from Catholic Answers. I might say that “faith plus works” can be a valid but misleading generalization — but not “grace plus works” (even though the article does clumsily put those side by side). Catholics do (and the Council of Trent did) fully …
Continue reading “Why the Catholic Understanding of Justification Is Not “Faith Plus Works””
The beginning of a series: “How do I know the Catholic Church is the Church Jesus founded?” It is a commonplace of Catholic apologetics that we claim that “the Catholic Church is the Church Jesus founded.” On the other hand, opponents charge that the Catholic Church was in fact founded at some later date, often …
Continue reading “Were the churches of the New Testament independent of one another?”
A common charge against the Catholic Church that I’ve heard from a number of opponents is against the fact that the Church obligates her children to attend Mass each Sunday and on other declared holy days of obligation, and especially against the fact that “it’s a mortal sin to miss Mass.” Supposedly this is an …
Continue reading “The Sunday Obligation: “Missing Mass is a Mortal Sin”?”
No, I haven’t abandoned my blog. I just have way too much on my plate. I’m trying to get back into it, at the request of several dear friends. So I thought I would start with an update of where I am and what I’m up to. Back to school As you may know, I …
How now, Brown Cow? Sorry I’ve been silent for a few weeks. I’m still around. And one of the major projects I’ve been working on has been transferring my blog from WordPress.com to its new home on its very own shiny new site. Behold, the new LonelyPilgrim.com! If you’re reading by subscription, via RSS or …
I’ll be honest: I’m not sure about this post. It comes across as more critical than I meant it to be. I do not mean to “bash” anyone’s faith; only to point out what I see to be honest, practical difficulties in particularly Evangelical Protestantism, as I’ve witnessed and I myself experienced. As usual, if …
Continue reading “Assurance for Today: God works through the Sacraments”
The conclusion of what I originally wrote concerning grace and justification and “Falling from Grace,” in preparation for a discussion of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There’s a lot more where this came from! [Part one. Part two. An aside. Part three.] Baptism: Initial Justification Our Baptism is the moment of our initial justification, the beginning …
Continue reading “Falling from Grace, and God’s Mercy and Forgiveness”
Part three of a longer thought on grace and justification and “Falling from Grace.” [Part one. Part two. An aside.] So, then, is justification merely a forensic declaration acquitting the sinner of sins, as the Protestants say? Or is it, as the Catholic Church teaches, an actual infusion of grace that cleanses and purifies the …
Continue reading “The Catholic View of Grace and Justification”
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Early in my journey as a Catholic seeker and convert, I didn’t know quite what to make of this belief and this observance; but as the years go by, and I continue to reflect on it, it is coming to have deeper meaning for …
Continue reading “The Assumption of Mary: The Redemption of the Flesh”
My next post in the current series is already queued up and scheduled; but I think I’m going to delay it for a timely reflection that turns out to be quite apropos. [Part one. Part two.] Last night I gave my testimony to a room full of Baptists. On Wednesday nights I attend a home …