Recent Posts…
Where Is That in the Bible? (And Other Questions for People Who Can’t Find the Remote)
"Where is that in the Bible?" It’s the ultimate Protestant mic-drop. It’s the "Get Out of Jail Free" card played during every Thanksgiving dinner when your Uncle Bob decides to take a swing at Purgatory or the Papacy. It’s the rhetorical equivalent of asking someone for their ID at a bar, if you don't have […]
Catholic Church and Science: 10 Things You Should Know Before You Start a Debate
"Religion is just a fairy tale for people who are scared of science." Really? That’s the line we’re still using? It’s 2026, and somehow the "Conflict Thesis", the idea that the Church and Science are locked in a cage match to the death, still has better PR than reality. It’s lazy. It’s historically illiterate. And […]
7 Mistakes You’re Making with Catholic History (and Why Constantine Didn’t Actually Invent the Church)
"Constantine invented the Catholic Church." It’s the ultimate "mic-drop" for people who haven't opened a history book since high school. It’s the "Get Out of Jail Free" card for anyone trying to argue that the early Church was a loose collection of hippie communes until a Roman Emperor decided to turn it into a political […]
Dinosaurs, the Big Bang, and the Church That Nodded Along: A 3-Minute Crash Course in Catholic Science
“The Catholic Church is against science.” That slogan has been running on fumes for a while. Yes, there have been Catholic mistakes, bad arguments, nervous theologians, and at least one famous Galileo-shaped mess. But the popular story, that the Church spent two thousand years hiding from dinosaurs, banning curiosity, and yelling at the Big Bang, […]
Catholic Apologetics 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Arguments That Actually Work
Stop trying to "win" arguments. Seriously. If your goal in Catholic apologetics is to walk away with a metaphorical trophy and a digital "mic drop" while the other person feels like a theological floor mat, you’ve already lost. I’ve been a catechist for over 20 years. I’ve seen every "gotcha" question in the book, from […]
Random Posts
Fruits, Vegetables, and the Fall of Man…and Bacon.
A good friend posted a link to an answer to the ultimate question: What makes a fruit, and what makes a veggie? The answer from Wisegeek was: Simply put, a fruit is the ovary of a plant, which means that it may contain seeds, while a vegetable is a plant part, which does not contain […]
Gutenberg’s Contraption And The Nostrum of Sola Scriptura
At the end of the 15th century, mankind was hit with an invention that did more to shape culture, life and education over the next 500 years than any advancement prior, and arguably more than all other advancements combined. The printing press made the dissemination of information quick and easy, and relatively cheap. Book after […]
Charismatic Gifts and Spiritual Maturity
Patrick shared an encounter that he had with a retreat group purporting to be a charismatic group, and the leader of which insinuated that to not pray “in the spirit” is to not pray at all. Naturally, Pat was offended. We went back and fourth discussing his piece, and I encouraged him to do his […]
Advent and Christmas Wisdom From G. K. Chesterton
Description Advent is upon us this evening, and one of my favorite companions in the last few years has been this book. Of course, one of my favorite mental companions in general has been Chesterton, and my favorite liturgical season is Advent, so this book has a lot going for it from the get-go. Features […]
The Martyrdom That Inspired Centuries: Polycarp’s Enduring Wisdom
Introduction “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” These words, spoken by an elderly bishop facing death, would become one of history’s most powerful declarations of faith. Tonight, as you settle into rest, breathe slowly and imagine this old […]
The Faces of Hope: Patrick’s Favorite Images of the Popes
Since the election of Pope Francis, Justin has posted several photos of him on Oramus and begged the question of how we cannot automatically love our new pontiff. I’ve recently found myself wondering the same thing. As I was gathering material for my last few entries, I found photos of the popes during whose reign […]