By Teresa Lee

Why is the fundamental difference of the conception of grace between Catholics and Protestants crucial to understand?

Introduction Catholic and Protestant reformers of the 16th century disagree about man’s justification, namely, how grace, the gift of God won by Jesus’ sacrifice, works on the human soul[1]. Protestants believe grace covers up but does not remove sin. Luther sees “human nature or soul as dung-covered snow, so grace covers up our ugliness.” Catholics…

Departing from self-love, growing in charity

The gospel reading today (4th Sunday of Lent) is about the parable of the prodigal son. Our chaplain preached a homily about how we should move away from self-love, towards charity. The younger son who squandered everything did not return to his father’s because he was contrite, but because he was hungry and lusting after…

It is who we are, and not what we do, that matters to God

2019 feels overwhelming. My plans include delivering our second child, conducting a cross-continental move, renovating our house, and readjusting to life with a toddler and infant. * Our chaplain’s homily today — on the Baptism of the Lord (January 12) — is very timely. He shared that it is not what we do that matters…

Catholic homeschooling our toddler

The majority of our toddler’s friends are enrolled in school. I am resisting as I am picky – it is either a Catholic school or none. The nearest Catholic school, however, is far and expensive. The nearest Catholic homeschool co-ops or hybrid schools are affordable but even further. There is no Catechesis of the Good…

Hope and Humility

My husband and I have been trying to conceive for a few months and by God’s grace, we received news of a bundle of joy a few weeks ago. I conducted home pregnancy tests, followed up with the school’s midwife, and proceeded to book an appointment at the gynecologist as advised. Two weeks later, we…

Why is objective morality necessary for true charity?

Charity in truth In a world dominated by moral relativism, “what is truth?” According to Patrick Madrid, “the answer, from a Catholic perspective, is Jesus Christ… ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’” Morality is “objective truth given by God, not to ruin our lives, but to make us truly free”[1]. Charity, on…

What is the eternal law, divine law, natural law, and human law? What is the proper hierarchy of law?

“Law is an ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the one who is in charge of the community” (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh I-II, 90, 4; CCC 1976). Law is primarily a reasonable plan of action, “a certain rule and measure of acts whereby man is induced to act or is restrained from…

Why are the moral virtues considered cardinal? Which aspects of man does each govern?

Moral/ Cardinal virtues “A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do good. Virtue allows a person to give the best of himself” (CCC 1803). Virtues can be divided into moral and theological virtues. Theological virtues (faith, hope, and charity) direct us to our End (God), while the moral virtues direct us in our…

What are the three conditions of the Human (Moral) Act?

Photo by Martin Sattler on Unsplash Three conditions of the Human Act Human (moral) acts are acts which are chosen by exercising one’s free will as a consequence of a judgment of conscience. Human acts are moral acts because they express the good or evil when someone is performing them.[1] The morality of acts is defined by…

What is Man’s Final End?

Thomistic ethics best answers this question on Man’s Final End and how we arrive at this conclusion from a Catholic perspective. Thomistic ethics begins with the end in mind; and defines happiness as knowing, loving and serving God. We know this as this corresponds with our natural faculties/ Reason which enables us to…

Does God Exist? A debate by Trent Horn and Raphael Lataster

For our final exam of the Apologetics course, we were asked to critique this debate, “Does God Exist”, organized by Parousia Media and the University of Sydney’s Catholic Student’s society. Parousia Media is founded by Charbel Raish. Trent Horn took the position that God exists, and Raphael Lataster took the opposite stand. * Trent presented four…