Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. Kenneth Kemp reflects on his formation as a Catholic philosopher and his contribution to the series with an article on evolution and the Catholic response to it. He discusses his upbringing in Iowa, studies in Russian and linguistics at Georgetown and the University of Texas, his serv… This is a public episode. If you'd like to...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on John 3 and the meaning of salvation in Christ. Jesus is not sent to condemn but to save, and condemnation only arises when we remain apart from Him. To meet Jesus as He truly is means to encounter Him as Savior, open-armed and giving eternal life. Every aspect of our lives is invited into His transforming love. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Wisdom 9 and the Catholic vision of body and soul. The body is not evil, but part of our God-given nature, created to be ordered with the soul toward Him. The Christian life is goodness orientation, a movement of the whole person—body, soul, mind, and heart—toward God who is goodness itself. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subs...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 14, where Jesus calls us to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. In the spiritual life, we are all poor and broken, yet the great banquet of Christ is for us. Even our distractions and weaknesses in prayer can become instruments that draw us closer to Him, because Jesus never turns away those who come to Him in need. This is a public epis...

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. Christopher Kaczor reflects on his formation as a Catholic philosopher and his contribution to the series with an article on moral systems. He discusses his education at Boston College and the University of Notre Dame, the influence of mentors like Peter Kreeft, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Ralph McInerny, and his current work at Loy...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Hebrews 12: Endure your trials as discipline, for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines. The Lord is the Master Teacher, Christ the Divine Teacher. There is no part of the Christian life which is not ordered to our holiness. Even sin, even brokenness, even weakness for the Christian has a salvific meaning. Not even our sins can keep us from our Lord, because in th...

What are the major moral systems, and how do they shape today’s ethical debates? In this edition of In Focus, Dr. Christopher Kaczor examines four foundational approaches to ethics—duty-based, consequentialist, nihilist, and virtue ethics—through the thought of Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Tracing the phi… This is a public episode. If you'd like to...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 12, where Jesus asks: Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. Our Lord’s words are so surprising, so shocking, perhaps even scandalous, yet reveal that unity is not true unity unless it’s unity in something. Jesus has come to make Himself the only center of all saving reality, uniting all who are i...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 12, where Jesus warns: You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. But what is most pressing, he says, is not only Christ’s final coming, but the fact that our Lord Jesus comes even now. The Christian life is lived in the perpetual constant now, where God dwells and grace is given. The only place to find Jesus is h...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 12, where our Lord tells the parable of the rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. In this Gospel passage, Jesus reveals that money and resources can’t make one happy—they are ordered to other things. The Christian is reminded that the truth of the Christian life is a truth... founded in reality, and that sin is not broken rules and broken comman...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 11, where Jesus begins with a striking phrase: “Suppose one of you has a friend.” In this Gospel passage, Christ explores the complexities of human friendship, exposing the double privation we often experience—having nothing to give and receiving nothing in return. Yet this need draws us toward something deeper. Jesus reveals Himself as the wisest and best...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.ectplus.org In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. John Brungardt discusses his formation as a Catholic philosopher and his contribution to the series with Natural Philosophy: An Introduction. He reflects on his education at Thomas Aquinas College and the Catholic University of America, the influence o...

What is natural philosophy, and why does it matter today? In this edition of In Focus, Dr. John Brungardt explores the meaning, scope, and enduring significance of natural philosophy—the ancient discipline that investigates change, motion, and the principles of the physical cosmos. Drawing on the insights of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas, Brungardt t… This is a public episode. If you'd like to...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel accounts of Martha, who appears in both Luke 10 and John 11. Often seen as overshadowed by her sister Mary, Martha is revealed as a woman of deep insight—attuned to the relationships around her. But Jesus does not leave her in the realm of observation. Instead, He draws her into personal union, speaking directly to her: “Do you believe this?” Her resp...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel of Luke, where a scholar of the law asks Jesus the question at the heart of every human life: What must I do to inherit eternal life? At first, the scholar and Jesus appear to agree—but something deeper is revealed. The scholar seeks to justify himself, reducing salvation to something achievable by his own effort. But divine life is not earned or engi...

Where are theological notes and censures discussed in the Church’s tradition? Fr. Dylan Schrader traces the development of this important tool in Catholic theology, highlighting early modern scholastics like Francisco Suárez, Robert Bellarmine, and the Salmonte Censas, as well as more recent figures such as Constantine Coser and Sisto Cardacchini. He al… This is a public episode. If you'd like to...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus declares that the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. At first glance, it seems God is in need—but in truth, He needs nothing. Out of sheer goodness and love, God freely chooses to involve us in His saving work. Our labors are not burdens but privileges, grounded in divine initiative. God does not depend on us—but He de...

What role do theological notes play in the life of faith? In this video, Fr. Dylan Schrader explores how these notes help clarify the Church’s teachings—distinguishing what must be believed from what may be debated. Drawing on the tradition of the Church, he highlights how theological notes serve both obedience and understanding, offering guidance amid … This is a public episode. If you'd like to...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel of Matthew, where Peter professes Jesus as the Christ—not by insight or reason alone, but by grace. Every act of faith, hope, and love is made possible because God acts first. The Church, the papacy, and our own return to Christ are never of human origin—they are the work of God, who draws us to himself. This is a public episode. If you'd like to disc...

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Fr. Dylan Schrader recounts his path to the priesthood and his theological formation, shaped by a diverse religious upbringing, seminary education, and academic research. From his early years at a high school seminary to studies at Conception Seminary College and the Catholic University of America, Fr. Schrader reflects on the intel...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, highlighting how the Eucharist is not a human invention but a gift received from the Lord. In the Mass, we don’t merely recall Christ’s sacrifice—we proclaim it, and through the sacraments, Christ himself comes to us, unchanged and always relevant. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subs...

What are theological notes, and why do they matter? In this edition of In Focus, Father Dylan Schrader examines the history, function, and enduring value of theological notes and censures in Catholic theology. Drawing on the Church’s magisterial tradition, moral and canonical distinctions, and the legacy of the Second Vatican Council, Schrader shows how… This is a public episode. If you'd like to...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, showing how justification by faith brings about real peace with God—not symbolically, but truly. Through grace and the sacraments, God pours his divine life into us, transforming us from within. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ectplus.org/su...

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel of John, showing how Jesus breaks through fear and locked doors to give us his peace—personally and powerfully. That same peace reaches us today through the sacrament of confession, where Christ forgives sins and gives us himself. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www....

Summary In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. Daniel Keating reflects on his article on deification and offers a personal account of the formation—spiritual, intellectual, and ecclesial—that has shaped his theological vocation. From his early years in Cleveland to his Jesuit education, studies at Oxford, and life in Christ… This is a public episode. If you'd like to...