The Spirit & The Bride

This article of the Apostles' Creed—professing belief in "the resurrection of the body"—begins the presentation of Catholic belief in the four last things: heaven, hell, death, and judgment. Dr. Schreck describes what death is and how Christians can approach and understand death with hope, rather than fear. The meaning of the "resurrection of the body" is understood in light of Christ's Resurrecti...

Included the "communion of saints" professed in the Apostles' Creed is the saint who has a unique and exalted place in God's plan of salvation: Mary, the mother of God. Dr. Schreck explores the Catholic Church's teaching on Mary's place in the Church, the power of her intercession as the Church's mother, and the special honor given to her by millions of Christians over the centuries.

In the Apostles' Creed, the profession of faith in "the holy Catholic Church" is immediately followed by "the communion of saints." Dr. Schreck talks about how the Church and the communion of saints are not two separate realities. The communion of saints conveys the truth that the Church includes not only those living now but also the union of all those who have died in Christ. In Jesus, we have a...

After reviewing how lay people participate in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly ministries of Christ today, Dr. Schreck describes the important vocation and apostolate those who consecrate themselves to Jesus Christ and his service through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chaste celibacy, and obedience. The various forms of religious or consecrated life has, for centuries, been a powerful wi...

Following the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church reveals a new emphasis and clarity on the essential role and mission of lay people in the Church and the world.

Jesus' promise that the Holy Spirit would guide the Church into all truth is fulfilled in this gift of infallibility: that God's people would know with certainty the truth which is essential to Christian faith as revealed by the Spirit. Dr. Schreck explores how this gift is manifested in the Church and our faith response to what God reveals. 

Jesus commissioned his Apostles to guide and lead his Church, and they passed on this authority to others. By the beginning of the second century, each local church was led and served by a single bishop and by a body of presbyters (priests) and deacons—the same ordained ministers in each diocese or eparchy of the Catholic Church today. Peter was set apart as leader among the Apostles, and the succ...

Dr. Schreck reviews how the Catholic catechesis on the Church follows the order of Vatican II's "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church" (Lumen Gentium). He then describes how the Church's bishops, as successors of the apostles, continue Jesus' three-fold ministry of priest, prophet, and king/shepherd (based on chapter 3 of Lumen Gentium).

The final 'mark' of the Church is "apostolic." What does that mean? Certainly, it refers to the apostles and their mission and ministry. But who carried on this mission and ministry in the Church after the apostles died? The Catholic Church believes there is an unbroken line of successors who fulfill this leadership role in the Church to this day. 

What does it mean that "the Church is holy?" Some think it means perfect or sinless, which is obviously not the case for the Church on earth. Dr. Schreck explains what Catholics mean in professing this mark of the Church and how God's call to "be holy, for I am holy" (1 Pt. 1:16; Lev. 11:44-45) extends to each and every follower of Christ.

Dr. Schreck explores the meaning of the Apostles' Creed's profession of belief in the Church as catholic. He also explains the relation of the Catholic Church to non-Christian religions and Christ's mandate to proclaim the Gospel to all people.

Dr. Schreck begins a study of the four marks of the Church, which we profess in the Apostles' Creed. We begin with our belief that the Church is one—the perfect unity modeled on the Blessed Trinity and for which Christ prayed (Jn. 17:21). In response, the Catholic Church calls all her members to actively engage in ecumenism: "a movement, fostered by the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the restoratio...

The central image of the Church presented at the Second Vatican Council is as the people of God. God has chosen to save us, not as individuals, but as a people. Dr. Alan Schreck begins to explore the Catholic understanding of the Church as a priestly, prophetic, and kingly people and the first "mark" or characteristic of the Church—that the Church is "one."   Listen to more The Spirit and The Brid...

Dr. Alan Schreck begins to explore the Catholic Church's belief in and understanding of the Church. The Church is the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, established to draw the human race back into communion with himself. Dr. Schreck discusses the meaning of the word "church," the Church as a mystery and sacrament of salvation, and the rich biblical images of the Church.   Listen to more Th...

The teaching on the Holy Spirit continues with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Dr. Schreck also discusses the Holy Spirit's action in the lives of individual Christians and in the Church, as well as how we can recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.

The creeds profess Christian belief in the Holy Spirit, but many do not understand who the Holy Spirit is and his importance in God's plan of salvation and in their lives.  In this first of two podcast episodes on the Holy Spirit, Dr. Schreck explores images of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and how a fuller revelation of the Spirit is given by Jesus and in New Testament writings.  The divin...

After his Resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples until he was taken up to heaven—the Ascension—where he, as the Apostles' Creed professes, "sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty" and "from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead." Dr. Alan Schreck reflects on the meaning of these events and mysteries of our Christian faith.  Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride e...

Dr. Alan Schreck begins by summarizing why it was necessary for Jesus to undergo his passion and death. He explains the meaning and centrality of "the Resurrection of Jesus...the crowning truth of our faith..." ( Compendium , 126); "...the fulcrum on which all of Christian faith turns..." ( Bishop Robert Barron, What Christians Believe , p.71).   Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes an...

How does the death of one person more than 2,000 years ago atone for sins the whole human race and reconcile us with God? Dr. Alan Schreck explains four ways Catholic theology has sought to understand this mystery of Christ's saving work, as well as the burial of Jesus and what he accomplished when he "descended into hell."   Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes and discover other Cath...

The  Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church  states, “The Paschal Mystery of Jesus… stands at the center of the Christian faith because God’s saving plan was accomplished once for all by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ” (112). Dr. Alan Schreck describes the first stages of this event, from the beginning of Holy Week to Jesus’ Agony in the Garden on Holy Thursday.   Listen...

What does God “look like”? Jesus says simply: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father… I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (Jn. 14: 9–10). Jesus is one with the Father (Jn. 10:30), and he is also the way to the Father. That way is discipleship. Dr. Alan Schreck discusses what it means to be a disciple of Jesus: its necessity, its joy, and the sacrifice and suffering—the cross—it requir...

Jesus' "hidden life" ends and his public ministry begins with his baptism in the Jordan River by John. Jesus' proclamation that "the kingdom (or reign) of God is at hand" is the key to his mission and ministry. But what is this kingdom, and how does Jesus bring it about?   Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reas...

As author C. S. Lewis noted, Jesus as he’s revealed in the Gospels is either God, a lunatic, or a liar. Jesus differs from all other religious founders in that he is God Incarnate, revealing God as love and reconciling the human race with God by his passion and death. Dr. Alan Schreck talks about the Gospels’ narrative of Jesus’ life, starting with his infancy and “hidden life” in Nazareth.   List...

The Council of Chalcedon  clarified that Jesus was one person in two natures, divine and human. Dr. Alan Schreck  explores this mystery and how it relates to Jesus’ knowledge and his will. He also reflects on Jesus’ Sacred Heart as a reflection and expression of God’s love.   Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and R...

Some recognize Jesus as a great teacher but don’t accept the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ mighty works or miracles. Dr. Alan Schreck  explains how all the central Christian beliefs about Jesus are miraculous, and their purpose is to reveal God and bring about the redemption of the human race and communion with God. The first miracle or mystery of Christ’s life is the Incarnation—Jesus as one divine p...