Credo! Catholic Truth in an Age of Relativism

For many years evangelization was relegated to priests and religious. Generally speaking, the lay faithful we just expected to sit in the pews and be quiet. However, from the beginning of the Church, every member was expected to share the Good News. As a lay person, you should share the Faith with others and invite them to come to Christ in His Church. Most people who return to the practice of the Faith did so through the invitation of a friend or family member. Be that friend of family member in the world today!

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Here is the homily I gave for Ascension Thursday. As Jesus ascends to heaven, He give us hope that we will follow where He goes before us.

To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/828000809

Among my pet peeves are those who presume a deceased loved one is in Heaven. So many wish deceased loved ones "Happy Birthday in Heaven", which indicates they presume the person went straight to Heaven. The result is that so many no longer pray for the deceased.

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Here is the homily I gave for the 4th Sunday of Easter. This homily begins the series, "Quo Vadis". As we read the beginning of the discourse known as The Good Shepherd Discourse from the Gospel of St. John, we are called to follow the Good Shepherd. For this reason, we should ask the Lord where He is going and make sure we follow Him until the end.

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To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/822461585

While on pilgrimage in the Holy Land I met a man named Brig Sorber. He is a Catholic businessman who brought his Faith into his business and has never regretted it. He wrote a book about his experience entitled Moving Forward. You can get a copy here: https://a.co/d/f6uPLXD

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In this bonus podcast, I talk with Randi Hochenberger about the Lenten Mission we offered at St. Joseph in Kings Park. This Mission was developed by us using books written by Dr. Bob Schuchts. In his book entitled Be Healed, he speaks of the connection between his faith life and professional life as a psychiatrist. This connection has led him to be part of a healing mission. In this episode we speak about the third part of his book where he speaks about the healing efficacy of the Sacraments. If you would like to order his book, it is available on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/5iGHa31

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In this bonus podcast, I talk with Randi Hochenberger and Nicole Alimaro about the Lenten Mission we are offering at St. Joseph in Kings Park. This Mission was developed by us using books written by Dr. Bob Schuchts. In his book entitled Be Healed, he speaks of the connection between his faith life and professional life as a psychiatrist. This connection has led him to be part of a healing mission. In this episode we speak about the second part of his book where he talks about identifying our core wounds. If you would like to order his book, it is available on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/5iGHa31

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In a follow up to last week with regard to the Sacrament of Confession, this week I talk about how we are to evaluate the morality of an act. The three elements are the object, the end of the intention, and the circumstances. Of particular importance for today's discussion is how to understand the role of intention.

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We are at the time of year when many people go to the Sacrament of Confession. In this episode I go over the way to make a good Confession.

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In this bonus podcast, I talk with Randi Hochenberger about the Lenten Mission we are offering at St. Joseph in Kings Park. This Mission was developed by us using books written by Dr. Bob Schuchts. In his book entitled Be Healed, he speaks of the connection between his faith life and professional life as a psychiatrist. This connection has led him to be part of a healing mission. In this episode we speak about the first part of his book where he talks about our need to encounter Jesus. If you would like to order his book, it is available on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/5iGHa31

You can also follow the parish of St. Joseph here:

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Probably the most revealing words a Catholic can say are, "Catholic Opinion." When it come to revealed Truth, we are not expressing merely an opinion. Yet so often someone will tell me they appreciate the Catholic opinion on things like Natural Family Planning. Check today's episode for more information.

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One of the quick comebacks people use today is, "Don't judge me!" Or, "You don't know what is really in my heart." While there is validity to these statements, it should not render our capacity to judge actions for what they are. If a person commits a grace moral evil, what is so wrong with stating it as such? Ultimately, when judging an action, we are not passing judgment on the soul of the person. Even though, it does not remove our obligation to fraternally correcting the other.

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Today I am joined by Randi Hochenberger who is the Director of Evangelization at the parish where I am pastor. In our conversation, we reflect on a graphic that was posted on our parish page with a quote from Pope Benedict in which he said, "Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment. Such attraction fades quickly – it cannot compete in the market of leisure pursuits, incorporating as it increasingly does various forms of religious titillation." Since there are many who  applaud the music ministry each week, the post has seen many comments defending the practice. So is there a place for applause at Mass? 

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Here is the homily I gave for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is the final homily in the series "Come to Me." So many people today tend to cling to their wounds, even though they know they need to be healed. If we truly want to be healed, we need to hear Jesus say to us, "Come to Me."  #frpeterd

To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/800330924

We often throw around possessive pronouns as if the object in question were actually owned by us. In a world of relativism, we come to believe that what is yours is yours and what is mine is mine. But in fact, all is owned by God and we are just stewards of all He gives us. 

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Here is the homily I gave for the sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is part of the series, "Come to Me." Jesus indeed calls us to Himself. But if we accept the call, our lives must necessarily be different. We must make the daily choice to go to Him, again and again.

To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/798146666

Here is the homily I gave for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is part of the series, "Come to Me." One of the themes we see often in Scriptures is the tension between Light and Darkness. We all need to overcome the darkness in our lives by going to Christ the Light, and we need to bring others whose lives are in darkness to Him.

To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/796016258

Here is the homily I gave for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is the first in the series, "Come to Me." St. John the Baptist uses the words, "Behold the Lamb of God." The same words are spoken at Mass before Holy Communion. It is important to remember that the Eucharist is a Who, not a what. And we should hear Jesus say to us, "Come to Me" for healing through the Eucharist.

To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/789351842

The forces that surround us in our culture can be overwhelming. Whether we realize it or not, the more we are exposed to something the more it influences what we believe and how we live. Today more than previous generations we need to expose ourselves to Catholic culture and immerse ourselves in Jesus Christ. If we say we believe in Jesus Christ, then we must spend our lives forming our minds and souls for Him. 

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Here is the homily I gave for Christmas Day. This is the first in the series, "A Perfect Gift." In the darkness of this world, God sends the Light of His Son.

To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/784243484

In today's episode I speak with a young woman named Nicole Alimario. I have known Nicole for years and she used to work at my previous parish. As a young person in today's world, she is able to witness to the fact that "the struggle is real."

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In today's episode I speak about the overwhelming indoctrination of many good natured believers. There are things Jesus never said and yet so many want to form Christ in the image they have in their own mind. So today, I say that you should read the Gospels, even if you have read them before and keep track of the things Jesus actually said.

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In many ways today it feels that rational talk and dialogue has been replaced with anger and mental torture. If we are to make progress today, we need to return to rational and reasonable dialogue.

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Here is the homily I gave for Thanksgiving Day. On this day we must always remember we are thankful to God for our blessings. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/774812264

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In today's episode, I ask the question, "How late would you have to be to Mass before you would not come up for Holy Communion?" There really are no sources out there to answer this question, particularly when attending a weekday Mass. But we do know that we are to participate in a "complete Mass" every time we attend. As a moral theologian, I offer an answer to this question.

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In this episode, I recall why I originally started this podcast on the Vericast Network and why I still believe it is important today. I offer this podcast for your edification and growth in the Faith. If there are topics you would like me to cover, send them to petrus@priest.com. I also ask that you continue to pray for me and I assure you of my prayers.

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On this episode of Credo Podcast I discuss the Spiritual Works of Mercy. So many today are well versed in the Corporal Works of Mercy, but no so with the Spiritual Works. The Spiritual Works are 7: 1) To admonish the sinner; 2) to instruct the ignorant; 3) to counsel the doubtful; 4) to comfort the sorrowful; 5) to bear wrongs patiently; 6) to forgive all injuries; 7) and to pray for the living and the dead. In this episode I will discuss numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.

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Here is the homily I gave for the Solemnity of All Saints. On this special feast, we are reminded that we need to study the lives of the saints and use their example as an inspiration in our own lives.

To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/766099645

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What are the fonts of Moral Action? There are many arguments made today that justify grave moral evils. As a Catholic, we know there are actions that are intrinsically evil. This is known as the object of the act, that is, an understanding of an act as it is in itself. The Church's Teaching in this regard is very clear - we may not do evil that good come of it. Today I discuss these fonts of moral action and apply it to the abortion debate.

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In today's episode I revisit the phrase "Mystery of Iniquity" from the Catechism paragraph 675. This phrase is taken from but translated differently in St. Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians chapter 2. In this letter, we find it translated as "Mystery of Lawlessness." In either translation, we see the indication for understanding the end times. Is the relativism of our time the mystery of lawlessness?

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With world leaders using apocalyptic words like Armageddon, should we be concerned about whether we are in the End Times. As believers, we know that there will be a Second Coming of Christ that will be preceded by a "time of trial that will shake the faith of many believers." As Catholics, how should we respond to these recent developments? In this podcast I refer to paragraphs 675-677 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

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Based on recent posts I have seen, it has become clear that we need to reignite a conversation on the topic of Modesty. Modesty must work in tandem with purity of heart. Please refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2514-2527 for more on this topic.

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Here is the homily I gave for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is the final installment in the series, "That's Reasonable." Jesus asks us to do what is good because it is right to do. As a faithful servant, we should expect nothing more from God and live according to His will because we are merely "unprofitable servants" in His Kingdom.

Here is a link to the readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100222.cfm

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To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/756171065

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Here is the homily I gave on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is the 3rd in the series, "That's Reasonable." Do you want to go to Heaven? Read this weekend's Gospel and listen to this homily. 

To view this on video - https://vimeo.com/753525619

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Here is the homily I gave for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is the second in the series, "That's Reasonable." The Gift of Reason is meant to help us see beyond our limitations and to understand the mysteries of what God created. We can use this power for Good or for evil. To be sure we are in Right Reason, we must avoid using our reason for self-centered or selfish purposes.  

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Here is the homily I gave for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This homily begins a 4 part series entitled, "That's Reasonable." One of the more detrimental trends in modern time is our failure to encourage people to use Right Reason in their decision making. More often than not, people today are led by passions and emotions with not recourse to a healthy sense of guilt. We all need to slow down our lives and spend some time in quiet before the Lord.  

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Here is a brief introduction to the Credo Podcast.