Q’s from the Pews Archive

On October 4, 2025, Pope Leo XIV issued his first Apostolic Exhortation titled Delexi Te (“I have loved you”). In completing this document, Pope Leo built upon an exhortation originally begun by Pope Francis, expanding on the Church’s teaching regarding the ‘preferential option for the poor.’ “This principle does not imply exclusivity or discrimination against…

Genesis describes the creation of the world as occurring over seven days. The Hebrew word yom, translated as “day,” can refer to a 24-hour period or a longer, indefinite span of time—such as an epoch. For example, “the day of mankind” refers to the era during which humanity exists. Literary analysis also reveals that Genesis…

The word church, derived from the Greek ecclesia, literally means “an assembly gathering.” However, it has come to be applied to many things: groups of believers, a faith tradition and even buildings. When Catholics use the term church, what do we mean? The Universal Catholic Church encompasses all those who are in communion with Rome…

What Is the Church’s View on Other Religions and Religious Freedom? The Second Vatican Council’s declaration Dignitatis Humanae (The Dignity of the Human Person, DG) affirms that every human being has a right to religious freedom. It emphasizes that “constitutional laws” should safeguard this freedom, recognizing it as a fundamental responsibility of governments in protecting…

What is our missionary task in the world? The Second Vatican Council’s decree Ad Gentes (“To the Nations”) reminds us that the entire Church is called to “spread everywhere the reign of Christ” by proclaiming the Gospel. This mission is not only for priests and religious—it belongs to all of us. The Council urges: “Let the clergy…

Unitatis Redintegratio (the decree on ecumenism, UR) addresses the divisions that have developed within Christianity. UR notes that anyone validly baptized under the formula prescribed in Scripture is a Christian.  Thus, any validly baptized person is in “some manner” a member of the “Mystical Body of Christ and the Catholic Church.”  Those baptized in non-Catholic…

Apostolicam Actuositatem defines the “apostolic activity of the people of God.” This decree of Vatican II, known as the Apostolate of the Laity, calls us to spread the light of the Gospel on every aspect of life. AA notes that “the Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the…

Gaudium et Spes (Joys and Hopes) begins: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ.” In this document, GS asks that the…

Volume II: Lumen Gentium or LG (translated as: Light to the Nations) was the first document worked on, but the second published. This document, along with Dei Verbum (The Word of God), form the center of Vatican II teachings. LG defines what The Church is. This is what Vatican I had intended for its third…

July 28th began our formal study of the Documents of Vatican II suggested by Pope Francis. Since many of you cannot attend the formal classes, I will provide you with some snippets from the classes. Volume I:Twenty-one ecumenical councils have occurred in the Catholic Church. The 20 councils prior to Vatican II, from the Council…

The descriptor “Roman Catholic” is quite commonly used to describe Catholics in the Western world. However, you might not know that the Catholic Church does not recognize this term! The early Church of Christ (Catholic – “Universal Church”), according to tradition, began on Pentecost in 33 AD. Peter immediately began preaching the Gospel, and since…

St. Thomas Aquinas listed four cardinal virtues: prudence (caution), temperance (balance), justice (fairness), and fortitude (perseverance). These virtues, espoused by ancient Greek philosophers, were explored by Aquinas, freely quoting from Aristotle’s work “Nicomachean Ethics.” Also known as the Angelic Doctor, Aquinas’ genius was to see these virtues perfected in the person of Christ and, by…

In recent comments to Italy’s Bishops, Pope Leo XIV affirmed his Christ-centered (Christocentric) view of the Church in the world. This follows the theme of Pope Francis’ 2013 Apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium, “helping people live a personal relationship with the Lord, so they may discover the joy of the Gospel.” Pope Leo strongly reinforced the…

The structure of the institution of the Catholic Church has evolved in response to a changing world and the growth of the Church (“the evolving of the Church as it looks to the signs of the times,” in the language of Vatican II). The Church in 33 AD was very small. It was led by…

“I Believe in one God…” are the opening words of the Profession of Faith or Nicene Creed.   June 19, 2025 marked the 1700th anniversary of the opening of the Council of Nicaea which produced the Creed in 325 AD.  The history of this council is a mixture of political and religious concerns.    Arius, a…

Modern Catholic Social Teaching began in 1891 with Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum  (translated as: Of New Things).   Written as the Industrial revolution was taking place, the Church took a stand on how secular society should be ordered.  This was the first time the Church had acted to influence world leaders since the fall…

Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian.  The Rule of St. Augustine of Hippo,  one of the earliest guides for religious life,  was written about 400 AD.  It provides the framework of the Augustinian order.   Here is an overview of the Rule of Saint Augustine. I: Purpose and Basis of Common Life:  “Let all of you…

Pope Leo XIV is the 35th person from a religious order elected to the Chair of Peter.  Though you likely have heard the names of religious orders before, you may not know what they mean or how they differ from a diocesan priest at a parish.  There are four broad categories of priests in the…

Remember the iconic fast-food ad  Where’s the BEEF?   This week’s question is Where’s the JOY?    I was asked why we seem to concentrate more on suffering than God’s mercy and joy.  In his Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris, Pope St. John Paul II writes that suffering seems almost inexpressible … in its “objective reality”, (and) our greatest mystery.”  Thus it…

Historical and archeologic records have shown a large Jewish population living in the region of Cilicia (Turkey) in the 1st century AD. The capital of this region was Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul.  According to Josephus, the Jewish historian, the area was colonized by Tarshish, the grandson of Noah’s son Japheth.  It is fair…

   The recent fictitious movie “Conclave” does little justice to the actual working of a Papal Conclave.  I thought a brief explanation may be of interest. Modern Papal elections are governed by two documents: The Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, issued by Pope St. John Paul II in 1996, and the Apostolic letter Normus Nonnullas…

Happy Passover!  Today is Easter so why would I wish you a Happy Passover in Hebrew?   Both the Eastern and Western Churches initially referred to the celebration of Easter as Pasch.  The word “Pasch” comes from “Pesach” and means “Passover.”  The origin of the word “Easter” is uncertain, but likely was a pagan holiday replaced…

  “God calls each person to an encounter (with Him) known as prayer.” (CCC 2567) This “mysterious encounter” is fundamental to our spiritual life.   Two very ancient forms of ‘encounter’ with God are Contemplative and Meditative prayer. So, which form should I use Contemplation or Meditation?   The derivation of this question comes from a misunderstanding…

During Lent, the pious practice of the Way of the Cross is a common devotional.  This very Catholic form of Liturgical worship – though not based on Scripture – is heavily rooted in the tradition of the Church reaching back to the earliest times.  This week I present to you quotes from the Doctoral thesis…

Indifference: an attitude of submission and not caring. Today’s relativism (“This is my way of thinking, so it’s okay”) has made indifference the standard for morals and ethics.  Why then would the church call us to Holy Indifference, and at the same time ask us to resist the evil of relativism?  St. Ignatius of Loyola…