Institute of Catholic Culture

“Wherever politics tries to be redemptive, it is promising too much. Where it wishes to do the work of God, it becomes, not divine, but demonic.” - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Truth and Tolerance: Christian Belief and World Religions

“Wherever politics tries to be redemptive, it is promising too much. Where it wishes to do the work of God, it becomes, not divine, but demonic.” - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Truth and Tolerance: Christian Belief and World Religions

People are always trying to do without religion, even pray without it. Many in these days, in fact, claim to be "spiritual" without being "religious." Secularized forms of spirituality (which is what many versions of Yoga, Zen, and Transcendental Meditation have become) can't deliver what they promise. Spirituality that can deliver is rooted in the mystery of Christ, fully human and fully divine.

In this talk, Clayton describes, through his own ‘story in prayer,’ the profound effect of prayer in our lives. Using the book The Little Oratory that he co-wrote, Clayton discusses how to reclaim an almost lost tradition that families used for centuries to build a beautiful bridge between home and church, and to help live the liturgical life of the Church more fully in the home.

People are always trying to do without religion, even pray without it. Many in these days, in fact, claim to be "spiritual" without being "religious." Secularized forms of spirituality (which is what many versions of Yoga, Zen, and Transcendental Meditation have become) can't deliver what they promise. Spirituality that can deliver is rooted in the mystery of Christ, fully human and fully divine.

"Of course the world of work begins to become—threatens to become—our only world, to the exclusion of all else. The demands of the working world grow ever more total, grasping ever more completely the whole of human existence." - Josef Pieper, Leisure: The Basis Of Culture

"The story of Vendée should be a beacon for Catholics today. These heroic peasants summon us to rise and protect Holy Mother Church from those determined to destroy her under color of law. The glory of Vendée is the glory of Calvary—self-sacrifice giving life to the Church." - Anne Gardiner, New Oxford Review

"The story of Vendée should be a beacon for Catholics today. These heroic peasants summon us to rise and protect Holy Mother Church from those determined to destroy her under color of law. The glory of Vendée is the glory of Calvary—self-sacrifice giving life to the Church." - Anne Gardiner, New Oxford Review

"Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right." - Fulton J. Sheen

“I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act.” - John F. Kennedy

“Recognizing that natural law is the basis for and places limits on positive law means admitting that it is legitimate to resist authority should it violate in a serious or repeated manner the essential principles of natural law. … Natural law is therefore the basis of the right to resistance.” - Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, No. 400

“Recognizing that natural law is the basis for and places limits on positive law means admitting that it is legitimate to resist authority should it violate in a serious or repeated manner the essential principles of natural law. … Natural law is therefore the basis of the right to resistance.” - Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, No. 400

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." - Declaration of Independence

"Arise, O Lord, and judge your own cause. Remember your reproaches to those who are filled with foolishness all through the day. Listen to our prayers, for foxes have arisen seeking to destroy the vineyard whose winepress you alone have trod." - Pope Leo X, Exsurge Domine

"All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. O what a disgrace if such a despised and base race, which worships demons, should conquer a people which has the faith of omnipotent God and is made glorious with the name of Christ!" - Pope Urban II This lecture was given at two different times and locations. The resources...

"All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. O what a disgrace if such a despised and base race, which worships demons, should conquer a people which has the faith of omnipotent God and is made glorious with the name of Christ!" - Pope Urban II This lecture was given at two different times and locations. The resources...

"It is accordingly our wish and command that the English Church shall be free, and that men in our kingdom shall have and keep all these liberties, rights, and concessions, well and peaceably in their fullness and entirety for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs, in all things and all places for ever." - Magna Carta

“For God’s sake, spare not; strike hard at the beginning; stay not to take spoil; all the booty shall be in common, and there will be plenty for everyone. … I have no doubt of the victory; we are come for glory; the victory is in our hands, and we may make sure of obtaining it if we so please.” - Duke William, preparing his men for battle

“It is fitting that the end of all our desires, namely eternal life, coincides with the words at the end of the creed, ‘Life everlasting. Amen.’” - Saint Thomas Aquinas, On the Apostles' Creed

Can the human mind truly understand reality? Modern skepticism and relativism undermine our human identity and vocation by cutting at their root: our ability to grasp fundamental truths. The great Western philosophical tradition can help us see our identity as rational creatures, and help us bring the light of reason to an age of darkness.

“It is fitting that the end of all our desires, namely eternal life, coincides with the words at the end of the creed, ‘Life everlasting. Amen.’” - Saint Thomas Aquinas, On the Apostles' Creed

Can the human mind truly understand reality? Modern skepticism and relativism undermine our human identity and vocation by cutting at their root: our ability to grasp fundamental truths. The great Western philosophical tradition can help us see our identity as rational creatures, and help us bring the light of reason to an age of darkness.

Celebrating Pentecost, we recall one of God’s founding acts in forming the Church, the Body of Christ. We are reminded of the wonder of living in this world buoyed up by the Spirit of God. The Scriptures, the Fathers, and the Liturgy all blaze with the power of his Presence and show us the meaning of the People of God as the People inflamed by God’s Spirit.

In a traditional philosophy class, truth, goodness, unity, and (usually) beauty are called "transcendental properties of being"—something which is rejected by many modern philosophers. In this talk, we discuss issues that arise from this philosophy, such as the objectivity of truth, beauty, and goodness and how this can be reconciled with their apparent subjectivity.

In certain Protestant circles, there is a strong and often vivid preoccupation with signs of the Second Coming of Christ. Many of the notions expressed are either erroneous or extreme. The Catholic approach is perhaps less provocative, as it does not generate Left Behind movie series or cause people to sell their houses and gather on hillsides waiting for the end. This lecture sets forth certain p...