The Catholic Brothers

03/11/2024

Three photos.

Photo 1 is a 3rd century catacomb.

Photo 2 is the 13th century Catholic Basilica of St Francis

Photo 3 is a typical, 20th century Baptist church.

Spot the imposter.

01/11/2024

If any Protestant is wrestling with the question of icon veneration as a last hurdle to becoming Catholic, I would encourage them to think less about what it entails for him/her to move “up,” from aniconism to icon veneration, and instead consider what it entailed for the pagan world to move “down” from idol worship to mere icon veneration.

One man’s move “up” is not nearly as dramatic as an entire social order’s move “down,” and in that thought experiment, one can at least begin to see the wisdom of Christ’s Church, where orthodoxy is firmly situated between the precipices of two cultic extremes.

25/10/2024

St John Lateran is an essential place to visit when in Rome.

Peter’s and Paul’s skulls are actually in busts on the main Altarpiece, and the old mosaics in the apse are just stunning.

This church is the symbol of Christianity’s destiny to replace pagan Rome with a new Rome, dedicated to the worship of Christ.

(I’ll add more photos in the comments)

After leaving the original seat of the earliest popes at Santa Pudenziana, we hopped over to St John Lateran, which is the official seat of the Bishop of Rom...

25/10/2024

St Peter and the earliest bishops of Rome likely celebrated the Eucharist at this location, and 99% of tourists and pilgrims have no idea !

When we contemplate the legacy of Peter and his early successors in Rome, most people fix their attention on St Peter’s Basilica. Some of the more historical...

24/10/2024

This moment meant everything to me (thanks to Dan for capturing the moment!).

We were able to pray before the bones and the preserved prison chains of St Paul. It was the only moment on the journey where God gave me the grace of tears.
Dan and I owe absolutely everything to the tent maker from Tarsus. His life and letters were fire to our adolescent hearts so many years ago; they made us fall in love with Jesus Christ and planted within us a perpetual desire to be converted. Unlike the hustle and bustle of tourists at other holy sites, St Paul’s resting place is usually less crowded, silent, and available for direct access. It was very, well, Pauline.

After Mass, we descended the stairs and venerated his memory, honored his chains, begged his intercessions, and thanked him for his life of faithfulness to the Gospel and his unparalleled witness, even unto death.

24/10/2024

This moment meant everything to me (thanks to Dan for capturing the moment!).

We were able to pray before the bones and the preserved prison chains of St Paul. It was the only moment on the journey where God gave me the grace of tears.
Dan and I owe absolutely everything to the tent maker from Tarsus. His life and letters were fire to our adolescent hearts so many years ago; they made us fall in love with Jesus Christ and planted within us a perpetual desire to be converted. Unlike the hustle and bustle of tourists at other holy sites, St Paul’s resting place is usually less crowded, silent, and available for direct access. It was very, well, Pauline.

After Mass, we descended the stairs and venerated his memory, honored his chains, begged his intercessions, and thanked him for his life of faithfulness to the Gospel and his unparalleled witness, even unto death.

22/10/2024

The experience of Catholicism in the city of Rome and its environs is something you cannot forget. You leave the city assured that Christ is principally concerned with this Church and that she is the mother of all Christians.

19/10/2024

St Ignatius of Antioch is right here under this Altar in the Basilica of St Clement. This church is very near to the Colosseum, where Ignatius was devoured by beasts sometime between 107 and 117 AD and was crowned with martyrdom.

19/10/2024

St Ignatius of Antioch is right here under this Altar in the Basilica of St Clement. This church is very near to the Colosseum, where Ignatius was devoured by beasts sometime between 107 and 117 AD and was crowned with martyrdom.

15/10/2024

Now entering Assisi to walk in the footsteps of Sts Francis and Clare 🙌🏻

13/10/2024

Visiting the church of St Agnes

13/10/2024

Look who just arrived in Rome! 👀

First stop: Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.

This is the first church in Rome to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Pope Callixtus I established the original Church here in the early third century. The current floor and foundations belong to the early fourth century before Christianity was formally recognized as the official state religion. The columns came from the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla (thanks Caracalla!).

Pope Callixtus is entombed under the high altar.

28/09/2024

Aniconism is not a Christian impulse.

12/09/2024

We’re back baby!
Resuming our First 500 Years series with a discussion of Gnostic Christianity.

We hear this word “Gnosticism” every now and then, and we have a rough picture of what that means, but in this Episode we dive into the original theology of the Gnostic movement in the second century and explore its divergence, as well as its points of contact, with the “proto-orthodox” Christian church.

Enjoy!

In this episode we discuss one of proto-orthodoxy’s most formidable challenges: the rise of the Gnostics. We often hear the word “Gnosticism,” and we think w...

08/09/2024

While I’m staying here in Minneapolis for a few days, I had the absolute pleasure of attending Mass this morning at a parish called Holy Cross Catholic Church. And my goodness, what an absolute gem. The priest, Fr Spencer Howe, was one of the most impressive young priests I’ve ever met (and holy cow, could this guy chant and preach!). The liturgy was celebrated with such beauty, reverence, confidence, joy, and evangelistic fervor. It was authentically Roman but celebrated with a subcurrent of Byzantine, liturgical gusto.

When these little surprises happen, it’s always a reminder that real Catholicism happens on the ground. The Catholic Church really has a bright future, and it’s a trend that I see time and time again as I travel and attend Masses with these younger clergy. These men are sincere, orthodox, passionate, and authentic Christians.
Praise Christ.