Sin Make You Stupid – Tim Staples

Tim Staples explains when people stop worshiping and giving glory to the true God, they begin to worship money, sex, power, and ultimately themselves, which is even worse. That is why Catholics need to know more about the culture of war because we are at war.

Rom 1:21-25 for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools, (23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles. (24) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, (25) because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Advent in Eyes of Joseph and Mary - Retreat - Mons. Joseph Schaedel

Mons. Joseph Schaedel gives three advent talks at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center for our December Day of Reflection titled Advent through the Eyes of Joseph and Mary on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Matthew 1:18-21 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; (19) and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (20) But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; (21) she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

1. Meaning of Advent

In this talk he explains the meaning of Advent, which it is basically a time of anticipation for the coming of Christ as a preparation for Christmas, but also for the coming of Christ on our Judgment Day, the day we take our last breadth. The best preparation is to strive for humility.

2. Serving Others

In this talk he exhorts us to avoid the self-centered nature of the modern Christmas celebration which has little to do with Christ. He suggests that we should take Our Lady's example of focusing on others and on Christ. If we can do this then we will have the essence of the Christmas spirit.

3. Joseph Guide to Christmas

In this talk he explains the role of St Joseph in the Advent Season as guide to the Holy Family toward Christmas.

Forming Sacred Scripture: Understanding How the Bible Came to Be

The Bible is the most studied document in human history and the most published book ever. Love for the inspired Word of God has always led people to study not only what the text says, but also how the text came to be. There is a remarkable history of the formation and preservation of the Word of God, one which extends down right to the Bible in your hands! In the course of history we can learn many things of not only scholarly interest, but also of devotional and apologetical importance.

The three main topics of this talk are:

• The Canon of Scripture: How the various books of the Bible were gathered into one collection.
• Manuscript History: How scholars have tried to obtain the best text possible for every book of the Bible.
• Editions of the Bible: How the Bible has been translated into its various English editions that we use today.

Why Worship Jesus Christ as the Son of God? - Bradley Elliott

Br. Bradley Thomas Elliott talks about the world today where many people admire Jesus, they admire his moral teachings, and his example of life, many people claim to follow his teachings as if Jesus was one of the moral great world leaders, but he is not only a great man he is the Son of God, God himself.

Col 1:11-20 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, (12) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (13) He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (15) He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; (16) for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities all things were created through him and for him. (17) He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. (19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Hell and Purgatory – Marino Restrepo

Sadly a lot of Catholics don’t believe in purgatory neither in hell, they are contaminated with Protestants doctrines, those who deny existence of purgatory and hell, that’s why Marino Restrepo explain his vision of purgatory and hell in his mystical experience with the Lord.

1Cor 3:11-15 For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- (13) each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (14) If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. (15) If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Rapture vs Second Coming Doctrine - Allison Tobolla

Dr. Allison Tobolla Low answer questions on the dispensationalist doctrine of rapture and the second coming of Jesus and what happens after death. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Faith Formation.

Dispensationalism

• Defines history into epochs/dispensations/periods. This method also includes a distinct period of the end times.
• Today form of Dispensationalism made popular in the 1800s. Common among Protestants who are Fundamentalists and Evangelicals. Includes the idea of a "Secret rapture of believers"

1 Thess 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Introducing the Bible to Everyone in 6 Weeks - Fr. Bill Wack

Father Will Wack presents a 6 week series of bible classes to introduce the Bible and the glory of God to everyone, especially for beginners. Fr. Bill Wack CSC is the Pastor of St. Ignatius Martyr parish in Austin Texas.

Rom 10:9-15 Because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. (11) The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." (12) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. (13) For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." (14) But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? (15) And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!"

1. Introduction to the Bible

Bible basics, Word in Relation to Tradition, Canon, Old & New Testament, How to Read the Bible and Conclusion.

2. Pentateuch & the Historical Books of the Bible

Review of Week 1, Introduction to the Pentateuch, Summary of The 5 Books and Historical Books.

3. Wisdom & the Prophetic Books

Review of Week 2, Wisdom Literature, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, The Book of Wisdom, Sirach and The Prophetic Books.

4. The Gospels & Acts of the Apostles

Recap of the Old Testament, Gospels in General, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts of the Apostles.

The Church Fathers from St. Paul to St. John of Damascus - Charles H. Craigmile

Charles H. Craigmile guides us through a tour with the Fathers of the Church beginning with the Early Church and Missionary Theology of St. Paul and ending with St. John of Damascus. St. Mary's Summer School of Faith 2014 presents an 8-part series on discover their relevance for today!

Why study this initial phase of Christianity?
-The Fathers confronted a culture like our own.
- An intense period of doctrinal energy and creativity up to 8th century which determined the pillars of our Catholic faith.
- Provides guidance for today´s controversies so we can evangelize more effectively.

Who are the Fathers of the Church?
- Privileged witnesses to the Apostles and the Apostolic preaching.
- Referred to as early/ancient sources for orthodoxy or the rule of faith.
- Holy life.

The march to Orthodoxy was not a straight line but full of twists and turns
- Like today.

1. Introduction and Background to the Early Church and the Missionary Theology of Saint Paul

2. Clement of Rome and the Didache

3. Three Great Martyrs: Ignatus of Antioch, Polycarp and Justin Martyr

4. Irinaeus and Tertullian