Catechism of The Council of Trent (in Less than a Year)

In this episode we conclude our reading of the Catechism's treatment of the 'Sacraments in General'. The sacraments have two effects "Sanctiying Grace" and a "Character." As an aid to our understanding of these effects we also turn to several articles in the third part of the Summa Theologica concerning these two effects of the sacraments. (ST. IIIa, Q.62 a. 1, Q63....

In this episode we discuss the necessity of the sacraments relative to one another. Are all the sacraments equally necessary for salvation? Additionally, we discuss the distinction between the principle author of the sacraments as opposed to the instrumental agency of his ministers. Finally we discuss the question whether wicked ministers are able to validly confer the sacraments. To aid us in thi...

In this episode we discuss the number of the sacraments. The Catechism of the Council of Trent sets forth the doctrine of seven sacraments following St Thomas Aquinas in his Summa where he draws and analogy to the seven things that are necessary for the life of man in his corporal nature. In addition we read from the third part of the Summa where St Thomas asks "Whether there should be seven...

In this episode we continue reading the Catechism in its treatment on the Sacraments in general. In particular we discuss seven reasons why the Sacraments were instituted. Additionally, we read about the constituent parts of every sacrament-namely the matter and the form. We also give three reasons for the ceremonies that surround the administration of the sacraments.

In this episode we continue our reading of the second part of the Catechism of the Council of Trent in its opening discussion on the sacraments in general. The Catechism sets forth the meaning of the word sign as it explains St Augustine's definition of sacrament (i.e. "A sacrament is a sign of a sacred thing") As the Catechism draws heavily on the first three chapters of Book II of...

In this episode we begin reading the second part of the Catechism of The Council of Trent in its treatment on the Sacraments. The Catechism discusses the origin of the word 'sacrament' as referring to an oath the soldiers would take declaring their pledge of service. In Scripture we see the word can sometimes signify a secret and is ultimately used to signify a sign of a sacred thing.

In this episode we conclude our study of Part I of the Catechism of the Council of Trent. We finish reading the Catechism's treatment of Article XII concerning "Life Everlasting" with respect to the "Accessory Happiness" that those word signify. (in addition to the "Essential Happiness" that we spoke about in Day 46). In addition to reading the Catechism, we also...

In this episode we continue our discussion of Article XII of the Apsotle's Creed concering the belief in "Life Everlasting." The Catechism teaches us in what human happiness finally and ultimately consists, namely the "Beatific Vision." In order to understand this more fully we turn to The Summa Theologica in that part where St Thomas Aquinas treats of 'Man's Last E...

In this episode we begin our study of the very last article of Faith, article 12 in the Creed "Life Everlasting." The catechism begins to teach us about the ultimate happiness of the human person and in what it consists. We begin by eliminating the things in which happiness does not consist. Turning to the Summa Theologica we read from the "Prima Secundae" question 2 articles 1...

In this episode we conclude our study of Article 11 of the Creed concerning the resurrection of the body. The Catechism teaches that aside from immortality, the glorified bodies of the saints will be marked with impassibility, brightness, agility and subtilty. With respect to the "agility" of the resurrected body we turn to St Augustine in his City of God . (City of God Bk XIII, Chapter...

In this episode we continue our discussion of Article XI of the Creed "The Resurrection of the Body." The Catechism teaches us that all shall rise from the dead, both those who rise to life and those who rise to judgement. The catechism explains that our bodies shall be rejoined to our souls with all their members restored and without any blemish. In this article we see that the authors...

In this episode we commence our study of Article XI in the Creed "the resurrection of the body." In addition to reading the Catechism, we also consider the Summa Theologica where St Thomas writes about the incorruptibility of the soul. (ST. Ia, Q 75. a.6)   

In this episode we conclude the Catechism of the Council of Trent's treatment concerning the tenth article of faith "I believe...in the forgiveness of sins." We also take a brief look at the Summa Theologica in prima secundae question 113 article 5 and 6.  

In this episode we begin our discussion of article X of the Apostles Creed "I believe...in the forgiveness of sins." In addition to reading the first pages of the catechism concerning article X, we also examine two articles on the effects of the sacrament of penance from the Summa Theologica. (ST. Q. 86. a.1 and a.2)  

In this episode we conclude our study of the ninth article of faith "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church The Communion of Saints." Today we focus particularly on the second part of the article "the communion of saints." The Catechism explains that the gifts that justify us are the common possession of all members of the Church. (particularly the graces that come to us from the sacraments). But a...

In this episode we continue our study of Article IX of the Creed discussing why the church is called "Catholic" and "Apostolic." As an aid to our understanding we consult St. Thomas Aquinas' treatment of this Article of Faith in his Compendium Theologiae.  

In this episode we continue to discuss Article IX of the Creed with respect to second mark of the Church, holiness. The Catechism gives three reasons why we say the church is "holy." In addition we read an excerpt from the Compendium Theologiae in which St Thomas gives four reasons why the church is holy.  

In this episode we continue our discussion of Article IX "I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church, The Communion of Saints." We focus specifically on the first mark of the Church which is that it is "One." In addition to reading the Catechism, we also look at the Summa Theologica where St Thomas asks "Whether to be Head of the Church is proper to Christ" (IIIa. Q. 8, a. 6) We also look at the treatm...

In this episode we continue discussing the ninth article of the Creed I believe in the Holy Catholic Church. In particular we discuss the division of the Church into the "Church Triumphant" and the "Church Militant." We see the divisions in the Church Militant between the good and the bad. We also read a small section from the Summa Theologica of St Thomas Aquinas where he discusses whether Christ...

In this episode we commence our study of Article IX of the Creed- "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church the Communion of Saints." In particular we reflect on the meaning of the word Church ("Eccelsia") and the various words that signify the church in Scripture.

In this episode we conclude our reading of Article VIII in the Creed I Believe in the Holy Ghost. We discuss the Holy Ghost as the Lord, the Giver of Life as well as His procession from the Father and the Son as the loved is in the lover. (ST. Q. 37. a1)

In this episode we continue our discussion of Article VIII of the Apostle's Creed "I Believe in the Holy Ghost." In particular we discuss the two "processions" in God which are within Himself. One procession is from God's intellect and is aptly called generation (by which the Word is conceived), the second is from God's will (by which the Holy Ghost emanates). We take a brief look at three article...

In this episode we commence our study of Article VIII of the Apostles Creed, " I Believe in the Holy Ghost." We read the opening comments concerning tis article of faith in which the CCT explains that the third person of the Holy Trinity has no proper name of His own. For example, the name "Holy Spirit" might be applied to other members of the Holy Trinity as well. Nonetheless, we appropriate thes...

In this episode we simply read the final considerations concerning the seventh article of the Apostle's Creed concerning Christ's return as the judge of the Living and the Dead. The Catechism treats of the "circumstances of the Judgement": "The Judge," The Signs of the General Judgment", "The Sentence of the Just," The Sentence of the Wicked," and "The Importance of Instruction on this Article"&nb...

In this episode, we commence our study of Article VII of the Apostles Creed, "From Thence He Shall Come to Judge the Living and the Dead." We discuss the two judgements, the "particular" and the "general," and the reasons for them. Additionally we take a brief look at the fifth article of Question 59 of the Summa Theologica regarding the general judgement. (ST. IIIA. Q.59. a.5)