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Do you ever wonder if the Christian faith is true? Perhaps it’s late at night just before you fall asleep. Maybe you’re going through a tough time or an unbelieving friend questions your faith and you think (but of course, would never say) that all of this might just be some gigantic con game and I’ve believed a bunch of lies. God knew you would wonder. From the very beginning, God knew he would do something so astounding, so wonderful, so unbelievable and so incredible that nobody would believe it without some kind of space and time evidence. The resurrection...

All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.( Isaiah 56:9-12)Jeremiah...

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand” (1 Corinthians 15:1). The true church has consistently testified to the power of the Resurrection. Kenneth Scott Latourette observed in his History of the Expansion of Christianity: “It was the conviction of the resurrection of Jesus which lifted his followers out of the despair into which his death had cast them and which led to the perpetuation of a movement begun by him.” This statement was true for the church at Corinth, even with its many problems....

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matt. 5:9). True peace exists only where truth reigns. People often define peace as the absence of conflict, but God sees it differently. The absence of conflict is merely a truce, which might end overt hostilities but doesn't resolve the underlying issues. A truce simply introduces a cold war, which often drives the conflict underground, where it smolders until erupting in physical or emotional disaster. James 3:17 says, "The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable." Godly wisdom, purity, and peace go hand- in-hand. Peace is wisdom...

Wise Men, Flattering, May Deceive Us --; A Meditation on an Aria from Judas Maccabeus Msgr. Charles Pope • April 21, 2016 • Judas Maccabeus was Handel’s most famous oratorio during his lifetime, more popular than the Messiah. There are many wonderful moments in it, especially its bold and brave choruses. Written in 1746, it covers the biblical events of 170–160 B.C., when Judea was ruled by the Seleucids and the people were compelled to worship Zeus. Some resisted; others obeyed. The priest Mattathias went to the hills and gathered others who were willing to fight for their faith....

Title: The Key Character in Brideshead Revisited Is Mrs. Beryl Muspratt In the aftermath of “The Exuberance of Buttsecks” more than one piece was written on the novel “Brideshead Revisited”, and how the entire point of the novel was essentially mocked unto destruction by Bergoglio and his army of diabolical faggots. I wrote on this previously in September of ARSH 2014. Here is that piece, even more relevant now than it was before. I have updated a couple of terms. ———- There are a few more points on the subject of shame that I would like to expand upon. The...

As Jesus (Yeshua - YAHWAH IS Salvation/Deliverance) the Messiah entered into Jerusalem for the Passover of the Lord - which had been rendered useless and reduced to a mere traditional religious lifeless skeleton of a feast, renamed the Passover of the Jews (Lev. 23, Matt. 23: 13-15, John 2:13, 5:1, 13:1), all the air was abuzz with the news of Jesus of Nazareth (Matt. 21:8-11, Luke 19:37-40)! As it were, Jesus had absolutely dominated the “news cycle” of His day for 3 ½ years! Jesus would have been constantly talked about in all of the newspapers and on all of...

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son...

Life simply won’t work without the safety net of God’s grace. If you’re like me, what defines you and your life includes your issues, your secrets, your need to achieve, your desire to please people and your ambition. It is therefore important to place grace at the very foundation of such a life to understand God’s unconditional acceptance and love. If you don’t and then fail big time (and we all will), your life will end up meaningless and empty. Grace does more than that though. I hate religion (and I’m a religious professional) because I’ve seen what toxic religion...

“‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said’” (Matthew 28:5-6). The fact of Jesus’ resurrection is the culmination of redemptive history and the essential basis of the Christian faith. Without the Resurrection, our Christian faith would just be a lot of wishful thinking, no better than human philosophies and speculative religions. In fact, the noted seventeenth-century philosopher John Locke, some of whose ideas were incorporated into the Declaration of Independence, wrote, “Our Saviour’s resurrection is truly of great importance...

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matt. 5:9). God’s peace cushions the soul during difficult times. I remember reading about what is called "the cushion of the sea." The ocean surface is often greatly agitated, but as you descend, the water becomes increasingly calm. At its greatest depths the ocean is virtually still. Oceanographers dredging ocean bottoms have found animal and plant remains that appear to have been undisturbed for hundreds of years. Similarly, Christians can experience a cushion of peace in their souls regardless of their troubled surroundings. That's because they belong to...

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! A Meditation on the Stunning Glory of Being Gathered to Christ on the Last Day Msgr. Charles Pope • April 20, 2016 • During Eastertide we continue to read from the Book of Revelation and meditate on Jesus as the Lord of history and the Victor over sin and death. As Revelation moves to its conclusion, it points forward to the Parousia (the magnificent second coming of the Lord). We do well to allow our imaginations to be engaged in contemplating the glory that awaits those who are faithful, to meditate on the joy and...

We should only look to Jesus for Heaven, Pope Francis said during a recent mass. The pontiff made his comments Monday while speaking from Casa Santa Marta at the Vatican, saying that only through Jesus can people go to heaven "The Lord thus clearly says: you cannot enter eternal life by any entryway that is not the door – that is not Jesus," the pontiff said. "He is the door of our life – and not only of eternal life, but also of our daily lives." The pope added that he who attempts to reach heaven by an alternative way...

“And many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him” (Matthew 27:55). The women who supported Jesus’ ministry all the way to the cross are fine examples of compassionate loyalty. Caring, consistent loyalty is a wonderful characteristic of godly women. This trait is probably more evident in them than it is in godly men. The women by the cross were the main group of believing eyewitnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion. They also showed incredible loyalty in the face of ridicule and danger. This courage contrasted with the disciples who, except for John,...

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). You have a part to play in becoming pure in heart. Purifying a heart is the gracious and miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, but there are some things we must do in response to His prompting. First, we must admit we can't purify our own hearts. Proverbs 20:9 says, "Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?'" The implied answer: no one! Next, we must put our faith in Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross is the basis for...

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.( Deuteronomy 13:1-3)Again he said, Therefore hear the word of...

Five Remedies for Sorrow from St. Thomas Aquinas Msgr. Charles Pope • April 19, 2016 • Some of you who follow me on Facebook know that I just lost a beloved pet, Daniel, our rectory cat. Losing a pet is not to be equated with losing a spouse, sibling, or friend, but it remains a painful loss. Part of the reason for this, I am convinced, is that we cannot communicate with animals as we do with one another. We cannot know what they are experiencing “inside” and so cannot reassure them or be reassured by them that they...

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.(Matthew 7:21-23)I was struck one day, while reading this sober passage from the Sermon on the Mount, that these words of...

Most Americans say they believe in God. And around the world, religious Jews, Christians, and Muslims all say they believe in God, as do many people who do not identify with any formal religion. But this statement is actually meaningless. To cite but one example, the God in whose name Muslims cut innocent people’s throats and rape women cannot be the same God as the God of those who believe that God hates such actions. Who, then, argues that all those who say they believe in God believe in the same God? Two groups make this argument. The first consists...

A bleeding Host in Poland that “has the hallmarks of a Eucharistic miracle” has been approved for veneration. The announcement was made by Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Legnica on Sunday, according to reports. On Christmas Day in 2013, a consecrated Host fell to the floor, the bishop said in a statement. It was put in a container of water and red stains subsequently appeared on the Host. After the discovery, the former Bishop of Legnica set up a commission to observe the phenomenon, the statement said. “In February 2014, a tiny red fragment of the Host was seperated and put...