Vivat Agnus Dei

It seems to me there is a lot of confusion surrounding the faith vs. works disagreement between Protestant and Catholic Soteriology. There are distinctions between homophonic definitions and the rhetoric continually gets stuck here. Let us begin there: "Works" as actions in general, without faith being necessary, including all human actions, whether morally good, neutral, or sinful. These works may stem from natural abilities and dispositions but lack salvific value apart from faith and grace. Without the proper orientation toward God, even virtuous actions remain within the natural order and cannot justify a person (cf.  Isaiah 64:6). "Works" as actions ad salutem to human cooperation with the grace of God, where one’s actions are oriented toward forming virtue, disposing the soul to receive the infused virtue of justice (justifying grace) but are not themselves the cause of justification (cf.  Ephesians 2:8-10). "Works" as actions ex salutem  or from h...

"Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16).  I was at an Advent communal penance service, and to my shock, the building was sturdy enough to hold up. I, naturally, saw a priest and said, "Imagine seeing you here!" Still, to my shock, he said, "Imagine seeing YOU here! One might say you are a sinner." To which, I understandably and truthfully responded, "I am just here for the prayer." Another priest behind him laughed for some reason. Anyway, if you can handle all of this shock, and you might not, please keep reading. If not, just take a break here, and go for a walk, this is going to be a lot to unpack, and you may find yourself gritting your teeth, or developing migraine symptoms. Just do what you can. I am not talking about a literal shoe, I am talking about the classic person-to-description analogy, "If the shoe fits, wear it." If the truth hurts and others seem to condemn someo...

The proposed course of correction to  Carter Carruthers, "Chronic Pursuit of Instant Gratification", Vivat Agnus Dei, November 24, 2024 . If you have ever had an in-depth spiritual conversation with a spiritual director, minister, a friend who is reading the saints, or even a recovering addict, odds are you have/will have heard the word "surrender" at least 5 times in the course of that conversation. Given the fact this word can begin to seem like vocal clutter solution more than a real term or concept or an opportunity to be dismissive of your trials (or effects of the sins others have committed against you), and how essential this concept appears to be in such conversations, it is well worth presenting at least an attempt at defining surrender. In consulting Scripture, the Magisterium, and 12-step group texts, it seems that surrender is best understood as the following sentences delimit: Surrender is the grace-filled act of aligning one’s will with God’s, born of ...

"Lay your heart into my perfect machine I will use it to protect you from me I will never let you see what’s beneath So good for you and good for me We told ourselves we’re Right where we ought to be Even you know, even you know This was all for nothing Just a sad show, just an ego" STARSET, PERFECT MACHINE Building from  Carter Carruthers, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil", Vivat Agnus Dei, May 30, 2021. We are sick of how we give, expect, and receive love, not that we shouldn't but we should question how we do it in any relationship. The song quoted above is a great allegory for how the secular world approaches love, trying to fill the cracks, holes, and wounds in our hearts. It isn't very difficult to see the connection between this and the first sin. In our every sin, whether of omission or commission, we fail in willing the good often for lack of knowing what is truly good.  First, in the first sin, we can recognize the problem as Eve ...

Painting: "Jacob recieving Joseph's bloody coat" by William-Adolphe Bouguereau There is a lesson that is almost always learned fully only when painfully in this fallen world, and in a sense, it is the problem. This truth is only so crushing because it is the cause of every betrayal. It is a fact that convenience is often a significant factor in determining what relationship is chosen, which is chosen against, and worse, when. I have experienced the betrayal of people I trusted because I wanted to, those I trusted because I had to, and had a close friend betrayed. However, I am also guilty of choosing things out of convenience mostly with our Blessed Lord Who is deserving of all my love, and other times with people although not usually as extreme as the aforementioned times I was at the other end. As a finite creature made for love having very little of it in return, I could say just how much it sucks, but I am afraid it exceeds the reach of words. For God, Who knows our e...

Parable of the hidden treasure by Rembrandt In a world where human effort often leads to success, it may be tempting to believe that eternal life can be achieved through our own endeavors. Just as we might work diligently to lift ourselves out of poverty, one might assume that eternal salvation can be earned through human effort alone. However, the teachings of the Church, the writings of saints, and Holy Scripture reveal a profound truth: eternal life is a divine gift that cannot be merited by human effort alone. Just as we cannot cure ourselves of disease without the guidance of a physician (Sirach 38:1-15), we cannot attain eternal life without cooperating with God's grace. This essay explores the nature of grace and its essential role in meriting eternal life, affirming that it is only through God’s grace that we can hope to achieve salvation. First, the necessity of grace is deeply rooted in the teachings of Thomas Aquinas, who asserted that “the free gift of God is eternal li...