New Life in Renewal – A Response to Vatican…

In response to the challenge that the Second Vatican Council presented to religious congregations, which was to renew the charism of their institute according to the authentic and original spirit of their foundress, seven sisters participated in an experiment that ultimately led to the forming and founding of a new branch of Mercy. The vision of Mother Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the congregation, was to establish Houses of Mercy. The Sisters strive to develop and amplify this vision within the mission of comprehensive health care, understood as the care of the entire person (spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional) and the Church has approved this for their particular institute. Read more “New Life in Renewal – A Response to Vatican II” →

Past Events

Communion for Divorced and Remarried Catholics?

6 PM Sunday March 22^nd in Clayton

Communion for Divorced and Remarried Catholics? At this year’s forum in honor of St. Joseph, head of the Holy Family, Fr. Brian Harrison, O.S., S.T.D., will speak on this topic. It’s the now-famous proposal (promoted with particular vigor by Cardinal Walter Kasper and other German-speaking bishops) to officially relax the Church’s discipline that debars divorced and civilly remarried Catholics from receiving the Eucharist. This is without any doubt the most burning and controversial question on the agenda for the upcoming Ordinary Synod of Bishops in October 2015, dedicated to marriage and family issues!

Paragraph 52 of the Final Relatio of last year’s Extraordinary Synod raised this question (although it received less than the 2/3 majority of votes required to make it an official recommendation of the Synod). It tentatively asks whether psychological or social factors might in some cases reduce the subjective guilt for such objectively adulterous unions from the level of mortal to only venial sin (or maybe even no sin at all), thereby opening the way for such couples to receive Holy Communion. Paragraph 52 calls for “deeper study” of this question as part of the preparation for this year’s Synod.

Don’t miss Fr. Harrison’s own answer to this call, in which he will argue the case for maintaining the Church’s discipline in this matter, as recently confirmed by Pope St. John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, no. 84. Read more “Communion for Divorced and Remarried Catholics?” →

Past Events

The Natural Desire to See God A Conversation With…

THE NATURAL DESIRE TO SEE GOD

A Conversation With
David Bentley Hart and Lawrence Feingold

Friday, March 20^th, 2015 2 PM

Anheuser-Busch Auditorium, John Cook School of Business
Saint Louis University

Free and Open to the Public

Surnaturel bu Henri de Lubac Does every human being desire to see God? How ought we interpret the legacy of Henri de Lubac, S.J. and his assessment of St. Thomas Aquinas and his interpreters? What are the implications of these questions for the
ecclesial-cultural situation today?

David Bentley Hart, Ph.D., Danforth Visiting Professor of Theological Studies, Saint Louis University. Hart is the author of many books, including The Beauty of the Infinite: The Aesthetics of Christian Truth and The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, and Bliss.

Lawrence Feingold, S.T.D., Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. Feingold is the author of The Natural Desire to See God According to St. Thomas Aquinas and His Interpreters.

For questions or to confirm your attendance, please contact Dr. Randy Rosenberg at rrosenb3@slu.edu.

The Event is sponsored by the Department of Theological Studies, Saint Louis University

Articles

The Value of Preaching to the Choir

When we say, “preaching to the choir,” we mean “preaching to the converted.” It suggests that a lot of energy is being squandered trying to convince people of something about which they are already convinced, which is why preaching to the choir, whom we assume to be among the converted, is considered a waste of time.

So why do it? Chesterton and Dale Ahlquist tell us in this article from the Bellarmine Foundation Forum.

Articles

Can Dignitatis Humanae Be Reconciled With Traditional Catholic Doctrine?

Can Dignitatis Humanae be reconciled with traditional Catholic doctrine? A new book-length debate on this question between Credo Spiritual Adviser Fr. Brian Harrison O.S. and Arnold T. Guminski has just come off the press and is available for order from St. Augustine’s Press by clicking here.

One of the gravest and most divisive issues confronting the Catholic Church in recent decades—a major factor in an ongoing institutionalized rupture between Rome and at least half a million traditionalist Catholics – is the question of whether Vatican II’s Declaration Dignitatis Humanae (DH) can be reconciled with traditional Church doctrine on religious liberty. Although the book is not a primer on the Church’s traditional teaching and is not an exhaustive treatment of DH, it does provide a tour and “a sound albeit select introduction to the history of Church teaching on religious liberty.” Read more “Can Dignitatis Humanae Be Reconciled With Traditional Catholic Doctrine?” →

Articles

Audio Recordings from Day of Recollection Available from St.…

Fr. Ambrose Bennett delivers a conference at the 2013 Credo Day of Recollection A successful CREDO Day of Recollection in the Chapel of Saint Anselm at the Oratory of Saints Gregory and Augustine last Saturday proved a worthwhile occasion to enhance our Lenten observance and enjoy some Christian fellowship. Father Ambrose Bennett of the Saint Louis Priory presented the opening conference and this was followed by the Sacrament of Penance as the rosary was prayed in common. Father Bennett also celebrated the Mass and our own Father Brian Harrison was in attendance to sing the day’s Epistle and provide a homily.

The Mass was very uplifting, being sung in the Extraordinary Form with the schola of St. Mary of Victories under the able direction of Mr. Stan Metheny. After a catered lunch and a break, Father Bennett gave a second conference. New to our annual event was sung Vespers, concluding with Benediction. The CREDO Day of Recollection is an annual event. If you missed this year, we hope to see you at our next event!

Audio recordings of Fr. Ambrose’s conferences and Fr. Harrison’s sermon from the Day of Recollection are available from St. Joseph Radio for $12 including postage. 2 CD set, about 1-3/4 hours of material. Call (636) 447-6000 or e-mail ordermo1@saintjosephradio.net. (Fr. Ambrose made two Chesterton references!)

Articles

Robert George: The Time of the Comfortable Catholic is…

Robert George at the 2012 Credo Christ the King Forum With this statement, Professor Robert George of Princeton University began his outlook on American life in the near future. Addressing more than 160 audience members at the November Credo Forum, he reminisced briefly about the Catholic Church’s influence during the “golden years” of the 40’s and 50’s, years when government intrusion in our institutions was minimal, and the ten commandments formed the basis of our national moral code.

But since the 60’s, government intrusions have increased until today they make the faithful Catholic exceedingly uncomfortable. Today we look ahead to a massive federal health system that confronts both Catholic institutions and individuals with absolute moral choices that cannot be ignored. And the secular culture has become both morally adrift and powerful, so powerful that immorality is enshrined in our nation’s laws. As Catholics in such a culture we need to be always militant, keeping our minds centered on truth and subjecting to rigorous scrutiny whatever is presented to us by the media. Today the culture we live in directly opposes Christianity, so if we are true Christians we shall be very uncomfortable in the future.

News

Bishop Peter Elliott on the Liturgical Reforms Envisioned by…

On Saturday and Sunday, September 29^th & 30^th, we were blessed with an animated public lecture and practical demonstration of principles by the Bishop Peter Elliott on the Liturgical Reforms Envisioned by Benedict XVI, at Saint Mary of Victories Church.

Credo members have been interested in “good liturgy” for many years; we have a number of enthusiasts of what is now called the Extraordinary Form of the Liturgy, and Board Member Fred Haehnel is the president of the local Una Voce chapter. Advisory Board member James Hitchcock is one of the founders of the Latin Liturgy Association, which promotes and fosters the use of Latin, and his wife Helen publishes the very fine Adormeus Bulletin, recommended by Bishop Elliott.

The complete text of the heavily-footnoted lecture is available by clicking here.

Click here for an MP3 of part one of the lecture. In this part of the lecture, his Excellency addresses the vision of Pope Benedict XVI concerning the liturgy. He answers a couple of questions at the end. This part of the lecture lasts about 40 minutes.

Click here for an MP3 of part two of part two of the lecture. In this part of the lecture, his Excellency addresses the specific teachings of Pope Benedict XVI concerning the liturgy. He answers many questions at the end. This part of the lecture lasts about 55 minutes.

We were very fortunate to have him in St. Louis and we thank Fr. Harrison, Msgr. John F. McCarthy , and Archbishop Carlson for making this visit possible.

Articles

Selection of Paul Ryan Excites Catholics, Pro-Lifers

When Mitt Romney announced on August 11^th his selection of Paul Ryan of Wisconsin to be his vice-presidential running mate, excitement bubbled up all over the country among Catholics, pro-life activists, and citizens who like well-read and intellectual political leaders. Not since 1964, when Barry Goldwater chose Rep. William Miller of New York, has a Catholic appeared on the G.O.P. ticket. Probably not since 1956, when the Democrats re-nominated Adlai Stevenson, or 1932, when Herbert Hoover lost his re-election bid, has a candidate of such acknowledged intellectual weight appeared on a national ticket.
Read more “Selection of Paul Ryan Excites Catholics, Pro-Lifers” →

6 PM Sunday March 22nd in Clayton

THE NATURAL DESIRE TO SEE GOD

Free and Open to the Public

6 PM Sunday March 22^nd in Clayton