Popular Culture and Catholicism

We live in an age of short messages, fleeting headlines, and simplified language. Yet the Catholic faith—especially in its most ancient tradition—is woven with a profound, symbolic vocabulary filled with centuries of wisdom. Many faithful attend Mass, pray, love God… but they have forgotten (or never learned) the language that …

In the contemporary world, few religious phenomena have grown as rapidly as the evangelical movement. Its presence is increasingly visible in Latin America, Europe, and Africa; its preaching is fervent, its language direct, and its call to conversion intense. Many Catholics today live alongside family members, friends, or coworkers who …

We live in a time fascinated by the hidden. Series, social media, and self-help books constantly speak about “energies,” “intuition,” “messages from the universe,” or “signs.” In this context, the word premonition frequently appears: that sensation that something is going to happen before it occurs. But what does traditional Catholic …

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”— Ephesians 6:12 We live in times of polarization, social tension, ideological clashes, and family conflicts. It seems …

In an age in which everything seems divided between the “sacred” and the “profane,” between the “religious” and the “ordinary,” the Catholic Church surprises us with something profoundly countercultural: there is an official blessing for beer. Yes, you read that correctly. The ancient Rituale Romanum — the traditional liturgical book …

We live in an era where almost everything is emptied of meaning. Festivals become excuses for excess, traditions turn into mere folkloric events, and words become sounds without depth. Among those words that have lost their soul is carnival. For many, “carnival” means costumes, revelry, and fun before Lent. But …

A decisive key to understanding the Church, faith, and spiritual authority today Introduction: a very contemporary confusion In everyday language —and even in many media outlets— people speak interchangeably of priests, pastors, religious leaders, or ministers. For many ordinary believers, the difference seems to be merely a matter of names …

Every year, when the night of June 23rd to 24th arrives, fire once again takes over squares, beaches, and fields. Bonfires, ritual jumps, wishes written on paper, words like energy, solstice, rebirth, magic. Many believe they are celebrating something ancient, pre-Christian, almost “appropriated” by the Church. However, the historical, theological, …

What Traditional Theologians Say About the Apparitions of Souls from Purgatory Introduction: Between Modern Fear and Forgotten Faith The word ghost today awakens more morbid curiosity than spiritual reflection. Series, films, and popular stories have reduced the supernatural to spectacle or horror. However, the Catholic faith —especially in its most …

Talking about excommunication almost always causes a shiver. For many, it sounds like a medieval punishment, a banishment with no return, a public condemnation. Others, on the contrary, live convinced that “the Church no longer excommunicates anyone.”The reality — as so often happens — is deeper, more serious… and also …

When conscience does not surrender, not even to the Empire Speaking about Guy Fawkes today usually brings to mind masks, street protests, and anti-system slogans. But reducing his figure to a modern pop icon is a serious historical injustice… and also a spiritual one. Behind the stylized face that now …

Why Many Perceive It as Becoming Less Catholic. In recent years, the word “synodality” has become one of the most repeated terms in documents, speeches, and ecclesial meetings. For some, it represents an opportunity for renewal. For others, a serious source of concern. And for many faithful who love Tradition, …

Introduction: The Fashion of Being “Catholic My Way” We live in a time when many declare themselves to be “believers, but not practicing,” or “Catholics, but not fanatics.” It sounds modern, polite, even reasonable. But in reality, it hides one of the greatest spiritual dangers of our time: the attempt …

Introduction: The Uniqueness of Christianity in a Plural World In a world where multiple religions and belief systems coexist, many wonder: What makes Christianity unique? Is it simply one among the world’s great religions, or is there something radically different about its message? The answer is profound and transformative: Christianity is not just …

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever …

(A Journey of Promise, Fulfillment, and Eternal Grace) Dear Seeker of Truth, At the heart of human history beats a profound question, a divine mystery spanning centuries: Who is God’s People today? The answer, illuminated by the Cross and the Holy Spirit, reveals a love story as ancient as Abraham and as …

“He has made everything appropriate to its time, and He has put eternity in their hearts.”— Ecclesiastes 3:11 Introduction: When Stone Preaches At first glance, a Gothic rose window may seem like nothing more than an ornamental feature: a burst of shapes, colored glass, and symmetrical patterns high atop a …

Introduction: The poet who still speaks to our souls When we think of Dante Alighieri, many immediately recall his masterpiece The Divine Comedy, perhaps without fully realizing that beyond its literary beauty, we are faced with a profound work of Catholic theology—a poetic catechesis that has influenced centuries of Christian …

Introduction: Can a Catholic Love His Homeland Without Falling into Nationalism? In times of globalization, political tensions, and ideological polarization, the question of the Catholic’s role in regard to their homeland echoes with renewed strength. Should a Christian love their country? To what extent is that love compatible with the …

Introduction: An enemy with a friendly face In an age when many ideologies disguise themselves under the language of “human rights,” “freedom,” and “progress,” few dare to point out that many of these banners actually conceal a deep rupture with revealed Truth. Liberalism, so celebrated in political forums, universities, and …

Introduction In the annals of Christian history, there exist certain documents that, although not officially recognized by the Church as authentic, have inspired devotion and contemplation among the faithful for centuries. One such document is the mysterious and fascinating Letter of Lentulus. Supposedly attributed to a Roman governor contemporary to …

A current look at one of the most forgotten—and most dangerous—sins of the soul Introduction: What’s so wrong with feeling unmotivated? We live in an age of exhaustion. The fast pace of modern life, hyperconnectivity, information overload, and the pressure to always be productive have caused many to experience a …

Why so many abandon God… and how to find Him again Introduction: Why do so many lose faith today? We live in an age where speaking about God seems, for many, like a thing of the past. Atheism has spread with surprising force, not as a result of deep reflection, …

A historical, theological, and pastoral journey through the “forgotten sins” that can illuminate your life today Introduction: When sin takes unexpected forms Throughout history, the Church has discerned and taught about morality with a richness of nuance that sometimes surprises modern Catholics. Many are astonished to learn that practices now …

Introduction: Faith Between Meaning and Ritual In a world dominated by speed and superficiality, many Catholic practices have become automatic gestures—repeated out of habit but stripped of their deep theological meaning. How often have we seen someone make the Sign of the Cross when passing by a church without meditating …

A spiritual guide to resisting the Evil One in the modern world Introduction: Does the devil still exist? In an age where rational thought and science seem to have an answer for everything, talking about the devil may sound outdated or even superstitious. Many Christians today live as if the …

Beyond the Specter: The Catholic Light on “Wandering Souls” and the True Destiny of the Soul Dear brother, dear sister in faith. In a world fascinated by the paranormal, where TV shows and movies depict stories of tormented ghosts wandering the earth, it’s natural to wonder: Does the idea of “wandering …

Dear brother, dear sister in Christ: take a moment. Imagine attempting to climb Mount Everest with a Disneyland tourist map. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Yet this is how millions of Catholics today walk through life—armed with a diluted faith, a “light” version of the Gospel, in the midst of a …

Introduction: The Poison Disguised as Relief We live in an age where human suffering is met with countless immediate “solutions.” One of the most dangerous and destructive is drugs—legal or illegal, recreational or “therapeutic,” soft or hard… all of them promise relief, an escape, a door to another world. But …

A spiritual guide to discernment, healing, and living soberly in Christ Introduction We live in a society where alcohol consumption is not only tolerated but often celebrated. It is present at birthdays, weddings, company dinners, Christmas parties, family gatherings, and even at church events. This phenomenon, known as social alcoholism, …