The Reconverted Catholic

Christopher Vitale Introduction / Survey Considered to be a quintessential work of Pauline contributions to Christian theology and ecclesiology (Neufeld 22), Ephesians reveals a Christian community that has not only spread widely and evolved greatly in its movement throughout the Mediterranean regions, but also identifies the ‘Church’ as inextricably linked with Christ as head of…

While there is no denying that the Gospels do not feature Jesus saying the exact words, “I am the Son of God,” there are plenty of other examples in Scripture where Jesus does not make a direct statement about himself, yet most Christian denominations believe in the associated teaching. For instance, Jesus never says, “Hey…

This blog post will explore the how the meanings of Wisdom and Word, two titles ascribed to Jesus, evolved from Old Testament Scripture into New Testament / early Christian interpretations of Christ as Logos. Beginning with Wisdom, its roots in the Old Testament show a range of interrelated meanings. These meanings are found primarily in…

What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word epiphany? Does it make you think of someone having a earth-shaking, mind-blowing, the-planets-have-finally-aligned, and the universe-is-in-now-in-complete harmony, “A-ha!” moment? Well, even if not so dramatic, one definition of epiphany is to have a dramatically mind-altering awareness — you suddenly see the…

Within Theology programs, courses such as Church History, Ecclesiology, and the Sacraments have all involved studying the Church’s evolution throughout several major periods of world history. Based on observations made during Vatican II, Tkacik and McGonigle describe the Church as a conflicted mix of Classical Essentialist and Historical Existentialist approaches to its evolution, with Classical…

The Module 7 lecture slides begin with the instruction to listen carefully to the song, “There is Love,” by Paul Stookey. It is a simple, yet emotionally moving acoustic piece, and with an equally simple message about man and woman joining together in marriage, with a sacred bond rooted in God’s love. Per Tkacik’s ask…

In one of the countless podcast interviews Bishop Robert Barron has done in recent years, he was asked whether he spent much time thinking about his own mortality, and about suffering and death overall. His immediate answer was, “all the time.” He then added something to the effect of, “Every time I say the Rosary…

If you ask a devout Christian, “Why do you believe in Jesus?”, the short answer is usually something like, “Because he is my Savior”; or “Because he saved us from sin”; or “He is the Son of God”; or “He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Whichever the…