Institute of Catholic Culture

Can the human mind truly understand reality? Modern skepticism and relativism undermine our human identity and vocation by cutting at their root: our ability to grasp fundamental truths. The great Western philosophical tradition can help us see our identity as rational creatures, and help us bring the light of reason to an age of darkness.

Celebrating Pentecost, we recall one of God’s founding acts in forming the Church, the Body of Christ. We are reminded of the wonder of living in this world buoyed up by the Spirit of God. The Scriptures, the Fathers, and the Liturgy all blaze with the power of his Presence and show us the meaning of the People of God as the People inflamed by God’s Spirit.

In a traditional philosophy class, truth, goodness, unity, and (usually) beauty are called "transcendental properties of being"—something which is rejected by many modern philosophers. In this talk, we discuss issues that arise from this philosophy, such as the objectivity of truth, beauty, and goodness and how this can be reconciled with their apparent subjectivity.

In certain Protestant circles, there is a strong and often vivid preoccupation with signs of the Second Coming of Christ. Many of the notions expressed are either erroneous or extreme. The Catholic approach is perhaps less provocative, as it does not generate Left Behind movie series or cause people to sell their houses and gather on hillsides waiting for the end. This lecture sets forth certain principles of Catholic Eschatology, drawing insights from the Catechism and Scripture.

When Jesus spoke of giving his body to eat, it scandalized some of his followers. Even to this day, some Christians find Jesus' words to be a stumbling block. Most Protestants apply a merely symbolic meaning to the New Testament passages that refer to Christ's body. This presentation will break down common objections to the Catholic doctrine, and build a powerful case—from Scripture as well as the practices of the early Christians—for taking Jesus at his word.

As Christians, we live as people of the New, not the Old, Covenant. Yet, how could the first Christians embrace this new paradigm of Jesus: what of God’s Temple, its sacrifices and high priesthood? These and other biblical mysteries are addressed in the Book of Hebrews, one of the richest and most thought-provoking texts of the entire Bible.

"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side."- John 20:19-20

As Christians, we live as people of the New, not the Old, Covenant. Yet, how could the first Christians embrace this new paradigm of Jesus: what of God’s Temple, its sacrifices and high priesthood? These and other biblical mysteries are addressed in the Book of Hebrews, one of the richest and most thought-provoking texts of the entire Bible.

There is no point in talking about the evidence for the resurrection unless it is your purpose to talk about the evidence for the resurrection. This is a very practical presentation not only of the case for the resurrection of Jesus, but also why it is urgent for Catholics to make that case, particularly to the young.

"What is worship? What happens when we worship? In all religions sacrifice is at the heart of worship. But this is a concept that has been buried under the debris of endless misunderstandings."- Cardinal Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy