Faith and Culture

A Catholic Reflection for Confused Times We live in an age where one of the most popular—and seemingly harmless—slogans is: “Live and let live.” It’s repeated on social media, in everyday conversations, on television shows, and even in religious settings. At first glance, it seems to express tolerance, respect for …

A spiritual guide to rediscovering the true meaning of giving in times of indifference 🌿 Introduction: When giving becomes a sacred act In an age where charity seems to be diluted into advertising campaigns and fleeting gestures on social media, the Catholic Church preserves a quiet yet powerful institution that …

Introduction: The Man Who Fought Against Darkness Father Gabriele Amorth (1925–2016) was no ordinary priest. For over 30 years, he battled the forces of evil as the Vatican’s most famous exorcist, performing thousands of deliverances and demonic expulsions. A founding member of the International Association of Exorcists, his testimonies and revelations about the occult …

“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) INTRODUCTION: A MEETING WITH THE LIGHT OF TRUTH Conversion from Islam to Catholic Christianity is not simply a change of religion, but a profound spiritual transformation that touches the deepest …

INTRODUCTION: A CRISIS BEYOND POLITICS We are living in turbulent times. Europe and much of the Western world are experiencing unprecedented levels of immigration. What began as moderate flows of people seeking a better future has now become a massive and, in many cases, uncontrolled phenomenon. Most of these immigrants …

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). In a world where authority and power are often associated with oppression or corruption, Catholic tradition offers a sublime model: that of Christian monarchs who, robed in white, embodied not just temporal governance but a sacred mission. The …

Introduction: The Mystery of a Christian Curse At the foot of the Moncayo mountain, in the province of Zaragoza (Spain), stands a small and picturesque village that holds a history as unusual as it is unsettling. This is Trasmoz, the only town officially excommunicated and cursed by the Catholic Church. …

Introduction: Are we building another Babel? In a hyperconnected world, where every word can travel the planet in seconds, it would seem that we’ve never understood each other better. And yet, we’ve never felt so misunderstood, divided, and confused. We speak the same language—or so we think—but we don’t understand …

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” — Psalm 19:1 Introduction: The Eloquent Silence of Nature In an age where materialism and scientism seek to reduce reality to mere particles and physical forces, all of Creation stands as irrefutable testimony to the existence of …

Introduction: An Act of Love and Justice At the heart of Catholic life lies a reality often overlooked yet essential for the Church’s sustenance and the sanctification of souls: the stipend. This term, which may sound technical or even financial, carries profound spiritual, theological, and pastoral significance. What is a stipend? …

(A Critique of Moral Relativism and a Defense of Natural Law as the Objective Foundation of Good.) Introduction: The Illusion of Autonomous Morality In our increasingly secularized modern world, it is common to hear statements like “I don’t need God to be good” or “Morality doesn’t depend on religion.” While these claims may seem …

A theological and pastoral guide to reconciling science and faith in the modern world Introduction: Science vs. Faith? “Do you still believe in God? But we already know we came from monkeys…”Phrases like this echo in classrooms, the media, and everyday conversations. Modern narratives often pit science against faith as …

Introduction: The Moral Crisis of Relativism We live in an age where morality is often reduced to a mere “social construct”—a set of arbitrary norms that vary across cultures and time periods. According to this relativistic view, there would be no objective foundation to distinguish good from evil; everything would depend …

Introduction: The Question That Defines Faith In a world where spirituality is often reduced to self-help advice and religion is diluted into motivational phrases, a crucial question arises: Who really was Jesus of Nazareth? Many admire Him as a great moral teacher, an inspiring prophet, or a peaceful revolutionary. But if He …

Introduction: Faith and Reason in a Skeptical World We live in an age where skepticism and atheism are often presented as intellectually superior positions. It is frequently claimed that faith is irrational, that belief in God is an act of ignorance or a comfort for the weak. But is this …

“The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). With these words, St. Paul reminds us that faith is not a leap into darkness but a path illuminated by reason—a divine gift that allows us to seek, understand, and love God with our whole being. But what is the relationship between faith …

“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'”(Matthew 19:14) Introduction: A Magical World with an Eternal Message The Chronicles of Narnia, the famous saga written by C.S. Lewis, is not just a tale of …

Introduction: A Fantasy World with Catholic Roots J.R.R. Tolkien, the literary genius behind The Lord of the Rings, did not merely create one of the most influential works of epic fantasy—he also wove a deeply Catholic worldview into its pages. Though he himself stated that his work was not a direct …

Introduction: When a Galaxy Far, Far Away… Meets the Gospel Can a science fiction saga like Star Wars teach us something about Christianity? Does it make sense to talk about Catholicism in a universe full of Jedi, droids, and spaceships? Far from being just a galactic fantasy, Star Wars surprisingly …

Introduction: What Does The Matrix Have to Do with Catholicism? Since its release in 1999, The Matrix has been the subject of philosophical, cultural, and religious interpretations. But for the attentive Catholic, Neo’s story is not just science fiction. It is a powerful allegory of the Christian life—of the battle …

INTRODUCTION: THE PERFECT STORM We live in times where everything seems negotiable: truth, morality—even God. In a world that worships freedom without truth, identity without roots, and progress without direction, the Catholic Church remains a steadfast beacon… or at least it should be. But something unsettling is happening: from media …

Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural speech is a rich tapestry of theological symbolism, ecclesial continuity, and pastoral vision. Below is a detailed breakdown of its most significant dimensions: 1. Peace as the Central Theme: A “Disarmed and Disarming” Peace The pontiff opens with Christ’s Easter greeting: “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19), but …

Introduction: The greeting that says it all Pax vobis… Two words in Latin. Brief, yet charged with a spiritual force that transcends centuries. They literally mean “peace be with you,” and they echo like the voice of an eternal promise that flows from the very Heart of the Risen Christ. …

INTRODUCTION: A calling, an election… and a new name In a world where every detail is scrutinized and every decision analyzed under a magnifying glass, there remains a gesture within the Church that still carries an aura of mystery, spiritual depth, and prophetic beauty: the change of name by a …

INTRODUCTION: A MYSTERY MISUNDERSTOOD “I believe in God, but not in the Church.”“Priests are hypocrites, that’s why I don’t go to church anymore.”“Jesus, yes—but not the Church.” These common phrases reveal a deep confusion about what the Catholic Church truly is. And beyond the criticisms (often justified by human errors), …

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”— Matthew 6:6 Introduction: The Mystery of the Door That Closes Every time a Pope dies or resigns, the …

A spiritual guide to understanding the deeper movements that shape the life of the Church Introduction: Beyond Colors, the Battle for the Soul of the Church When cardinals gather behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope, the whole world holds its breath. But what may …

Introduction: Being Catholic in Times of Cancellation Speaking of persecution and martyrdom brings to mind the Roman catacombs, the lions of the Colosseum, and saints like Stephen and Cecilia. However, today, in the 21st century, with no beasts or tyrannical emperors in sight, being Catholic still carries a cost. A …

We are living through difficult times for the Church. Scandals, doctrinal confusion, external persecution, and, perhaps most painfully, internal divisions. Many ordinary Catholics — laypeople committed to their faith — feel sadness, confusion, or even helplessness. What can “just a layperson” do in the face of such enormous crises? The …

In a world saturated with opinions, where every idea seems to carry the same weight as eternal truth, it becomes urgent to recover a forgotten virtue, vital for authentic Christian life: “feeling with the Church” (sentire cum Ecclesia). What does it really mean? Why do our personal ideas sometimes conflict …