The Catholic Cafe

As much as we love and respect our separated brothers and sisters in Christ, the Protestants, we must realize as Catholics that their understanding of the relationship between faith, works, judgment, and salvation is ultimately unbiblical. The Bible tells us we will be judged by our works, and Jesus reminds us that if we receive a prophet in His name, we will receive the reward of a prophet.

Our Father Who art in heaven is actually a wonderful model for all earthly fathers to follow. If we look at the attributes revealed by our heavenly Father, we can see a great pattern that, if followed, we lead to better success in paternal parenting and will ultimately lead to heaven for our children.

Pope Leo just recently released the first encyclical of his pontificate, having signed it on the anniversary of the release of the the encyclical Rerum Novarum, which was focused on the dignity of human labor. This new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, focuses on maintaining human dignity in the age of Artificial Intelligence.

Whenever we receive the Eucharist, properly disposed, we receive the Real Presence of Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. This is the best way, indeed the intended way, that we can best live as an image of Christ. This is true because we become what we eat and take on Eucharistic virtues.

As we leave the very busy and spiritually powerful Easter Season and enter into Ordinary Time, it is vital that we remember that the Easter Mysteries are supposed to empower us for the days ahead, not tired us and convince us we need a rest. We must avoid the temptation to hibernate in our faith and wait until the next big season of the Church.