John B. Manos

Dormition icon detail showing the sliced hands of Anthonius

Mary’s Assumption Stands to Disprove Gnosticism: You aren’t Dragging yourself, or anyone else, to Heaven

Some time ago, and throughout the years, I’ve heard various people say, “I want to drag souls to Heaven.” I’m sure that in the cases where I’ve heard it, the person didn’t realize what they were saying. They can’t drag themselves, let alone anyone else, to Heaven! If we take that phrase literally then it…

Read More...

Lutherans Discuss Fr. Sauppé’s Article — Matt Abbott Tips His Hat

It’s pretty interesting that our post from Fr. Sauppé continues to capture people’s interest and stir discussion in so many places. Today, a Missouri Synod Lutheran page linked to it, and nearly 1000 people came to read and discuss whether contraception is really at the heart of the mess. A few blog posts have spun off of…

Read More...
The Transfiguration: Jesus glowing in white robes, flanked by Moses and Elijah on a mountain. Three disciples below in awe. Gold background with red border. Text: "The Transfiguration"."

The Transfiguration shows that Baptism changes us? Why were Moses and Elijah there? (they fasted)

When Moses returned from the mountain with the tablets of the commandments, we are told that his face shone (the Douay Rheims reports that his face was horned). Moses did not even see the Lord face to face, but yet his body was changed, literally. Today, on the feast of the Transfiguration, we read the Peter,…

Read More...
A collage featuring religious and pop culture symbols: a cross with text "IC XC NIKA," Pope Benedict XVI making the sign of the cross, a Batman logo, and a Star Trek phaser. Text reads: "The sign of the cross really is: BATSIGNAL PHASER COMMUNICATOR." The background is primarily dark with red and white text."

Suffering the Ignorant Orthopraxis of Our Day

One of the things I really like about how God ordered this world is precisely how unassuming some of the greatest things He has worked really are to the passer by.  If you didn’t look, you wouldn’t notice.  It’s so easy to take them for granted until you look with the eyes of faith that…

Read More...
A religious leader in ornate red and gold vestments with a tall mitre, holding a staff. Text reads: "A Very Dangerous Sign of the Apocalypse." Catholic church background, emphasizing apocalyptic themes."

Gay Marriage is ‘A Sign of Apocalypse’: Russian Patriarch Kiril Speaks His Mind

In America, we are all too familiar with the scene where one person speaks their mind and states an opinion contrary to what others perceive to be the “correct” thing to say. Immediately, that person will be jumped on verbally and accused of being any various number of things, “arrogant,” “intolerant,” or worse, sometimes they…

Read More...
Three copies of Bellarmine Forum Magazine Vol III, Issue 2 with text about Pope Benedict XVI and the legacy of Vatican II. The cover features a title "The Public Face of Vatican II: Change" and an order prompt. Mainly black text on white background with a green header."

Magazine – The Public Face of Vatican II: Change

The Summer 2013 Volume III, Issue 2 is out in the wild! Continuing our theme for the Year of Faith, where Pope Benedict XVI has given us a tool to unravel the false reforms conducted “in the spirit of Vatican II.”  Our focus is on the goal of the Year of Faith:  A true renewal of…

Read More...
A judge declares two people are no longer married in a divorce court scene, while an illustration of Jesus says they are still married to each other. The judge is at a bench, and the couple sits in front of him. The background is red with black outlines. Text: "You are no longer married to each other." and "You are still married TO EACH OTHER."

If that was yesterday… Marriage catechism needs updated

From the old Baltimore Catechism… My how times have changed… That’s not even scratching the surface of Our Lord’s words: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, Made them male and female? (Matt. xix. 4). Yet, people have hinged all their happiness on the idea that marriage is something different….

Read More...
Religious icons of Jesus and John the Baptist in a church setting with incense burner, featuring text: "REPENT!!! I MUST DECREASE THE HE MAY INCREASE." The icons are colorful with gold halos, and the text is bold."

Some People think ‘Losing Their Head’ is the Way to Imitate John the Baptist

Was John the Baptist a mere political activist, speaking truth to power? Why did St. john the Baptist survive death threats when Peter wilted at mere questions from bystanders? How and what can we learn from St. John the Baptist on his feast? What does he tell us about religious liberty?

Read More...
A person walking in a desert landscape with text overlay: "Acrobats, Daredevils, and... 'Thank you, Jesus?'". The scene is live with a time stamp of 04:24. The person wears a blue shirt and green vest, with rocky terrain in the background."

Acrobats, Daredevils, and … “Thank You, Jesus”?

This evening, Discovery Channel aired a two hour special wherein Nik Wallenda walked across the Grand Canyon on a tightrope, with no fall protection. The Wallenda family is several generations deep of acrobats, and tight wire performances. They aren’t amateurs at this sort of performance, but I was taken aback by something different. Besides Joel Osteen being…

Read More...
A man dressed in papal attire with a speech bubble saying, "Etiam vel non. Hoc dixi??" in Latin. The background is a blurred yellow and orange gradient, emphasizing Catholic themes."

Did Cardinal Pacelli (Pius XII) really say this?

Sometimes bombshell quotes sound just a little too good. Pius XII supposedly said we’d be searching for Our Lord in our own Churches as Mary Magdalen did… or did he?

Read More...