Vivat Agnus Dei

Continued from  Carruthers, Carter. "Confession: The Call to Forgiveness Pt. 1" Vivat Agnus Dei, March 9, 2025. https://vivatagnusdei.blogspot.com/2025/03/confession-call-to-forgiveness-pt-1.html. Third, what does God's forgiveness consist of? This is a much tougher question because, for humans, forgiveness only means appealing the case to God ( Psalm 103:10-12 ). God is the just judge; He is not swayed by favoritism toward sin ( Deuteronomy 10:17, Acts 10:34-35 ). He comes to His judgment seat loving both parties ( Wisdom 11:24-26, Romans 5:8 ). Perhaps, then, the question is not "What will God do?" but "What is God's ultimate design?" ( Ephesians 1:9-10 ). In our pain, we can only see juridical contrariety, but God is not interested in punishment—He is interested in salvation from sin, its reality, and its effects ( Ezekiel 33:11, John 3:17 ). His hopes are not suffering, but healing, love, and communion ( Jeremiah 29:11, 1 Timothy 2:4 ). If, by ...

Apologies that this will be a long post, but it is a big topic. I have heard this question twice from people in my life, and I have also found myself on the other side of it. So, to paraphrase in a more pointed way:  "How, in God's good justice, can He forgive you for hurting me—especially when I do my best to abide by His rules and love Him—while, when something befalls me, I am told to forgive and surrender it, yet He just forgives?"  A loaded question, no doubt! In fact, it echoes the Epicurean philosophy of the day—one that everyone condemns when it is used against them, yet many justify when they themselves seek to be forgiven. So, let’s answer it. However, I must say there are misconceptions embedded in this question, which means we will need to consider multiple aspects. This requires nuance—something often undesirable when suffering is already present. Let’s break this down and examine it properly by separating the question into broader inquiries: What is the real...

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 ...

In light of  Carruthers, Carter. " Divorce: Rupture of the Highest Human Communion" Vivat Agnus Dei, August 25, 2024. https://vivatagnusdei.blogspot.com/2024/08/divorce-rupture-of-highest-human.html. In a world where individualism often reigns supreme, the bonds of marriage are frequently undermined by societal values that promote personal freedom over communal responsibility. The rise in divorce rates reflects a cultural shift away from the enduring commitment that marriage requires. Let us attempt to invert the post on divorce so that we can see what Christian families are called to. Jesus's teaching on the house built on a solid foundation versus a house divided against itself serves as a poignant reminder of the need for stability and unity in our relationships  (Matthew 7:24-27; Mark 3:25).  Just as a strong foundation is essential for a house to withstand the storms of life, a marriage built on mutual love, respect, and the teachings of Christ is vital for a thrivin...

In the Christian understanding, the dignity of humanity is fundamentally rooted in the call to communion with God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) articulates this idea, stating, "The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God"[1]. This call to communion is the foundational goal of human existence, encapsulating the state of "shalom" from the beginning, which represents the original state of man[2]. Communion, as an essential aspect of human dignity, is a multi-faceted concept deeply intertwined with love, spirituality, the reality of one's physical nature, and interpersonal relationships, ultimately reflecting our divine purpose and nature. Communion is a multi-faceted concept, deeply intertwined with love, which is its efficient cause. The mutual, abiding, dialogical state of communion between persons (the final cause) arises from both parties willing the good of the other through vulnerability. Love of God se...

If you have ever read the Bible, you know that is something obscure, at least as it differs from the present context of culture. However, this does not mean that its meaning is not timeless, logically anyway. On the contrary, I would believe that it rather transcends time, making it both behind the times and way ahead of the curve/times. This speaks to faith being equally transcendent. Of course, "faith" in this sense is used to describe all of the Catholic teachings on prayer, morality, and theology. If something is true and you know it, what can justify not acting on it? However, this post is about more than a "money where your mouth is" statement, as valuable as such statements are. Not only should faith be lived at the same level as science, but also one's life should be its own liturgy bestowing grace as though a sacrament, receiving such grace from the relationship one has with God, the sacraments one receives, and the extension of love to others one has/r...