Pammachius, a friend of Jerome’s since they were teenagers studying in Rome, was the son of one of Rome’s most prominent and wealthy families. He had a very successful political career as a senator and office holder. He married Paulina, daughter of Paula, in A.D. 385. When she died a decade later, Pammachius began living
Tepidity is a serious danger that threatens those trying to lead good and pious lives. It is, indeed, a peculiar state of the soul. The Lord has given us abundant graces and inspirations and strength, and nevertheless our spiritual growth has remained stunted. And now grace seems to produce little or no effect in us.
“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: that he might redeem them who were under the law; that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Gal. 4:4, 5) “That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will, according to
Jesus performed many exorcisms as part of His public ministry. These were signs of His divine power, as He had, in himself, full power over demons. He had no need of any object, name, incantation, or prayer, like the other exorcists of His time. Jesus also explicitly empowered His twelve disciples with authority over demons
St. Paul advises us to think about whatever is dikaia, which is justa in Latin and just in English. So just what is dikaia, justa, or just? Let us begin by examining definitions of justice from great thinkers, including a great Greek philosopher and two great Latin-writing theologians, all of whom are addressed in the
Many people would agree that being “active” is better than being “passive,” as being “active” is more proactive. When we assess a person’s personality, being active is regarded as merit, and being creative in such “activeness” is even more appreciated. Yet many things in life require you not to do but “to tolerate.” You have
The science of prayer is the science of the conversation of man with God. Prayer itself is the unfolding of our mind before the Most High and in His presence. It begins by a desire on the part of the soul to put itself in the presence of its Creator; in its development, it tends
It was July 2, 1945, at eight o’clock in the evening. It was time to lock the doors of the shrine for the night, and as I came out of the chapel, I saw that it was raining—soft, summer rain, cool and refreshing after the heat of the day. It was almost symbolic, I thought,
We were made to ask the big questions: For what purpose do I exist? What happens to me when I die? Is there an all-powerful God who loves me? If we accept the lie that life has no meaning, that this is all there is, we’re led into what Pope St. John Paul II described
The Synoptic Gospels present Jesus as a teacher, healer, and exorcist. He was not very unusual in that. There were other charismatic healers and exorcists at the time. There was, however, something very unusual in the way Jesus did exorcisms. We can best see this in His first public miracle in the Gospel of Mark