Institute of Catholic Culture

For centuries it was thought that Judaism was opposed to Christianity. But upon further reflection, the ancient roots of the Gospel are revealed in the Biblical and theological traditions of Judaism. This is most evident in the cycle of Jewish holy days that foreshadow the coming Messiah and universal salvation. This lecture was given at two different times and locations. The resources are listed...

We are living in a time of worldwide challenge to the truths of God which Jesus Christ revealed when he came to us “in the flesh.” Spiritual warfare has existed in every generation but is especially intense now and, through social media, is more apparent than ever before. The duty of Christians is to take the initiative in this confrontation by being “shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” Thi...

"[T]hese are the days of vengeance, that all things that are written may be fulfilled. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles. And then they will see the Son of Man coming upon the cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand." - Luke 21:20, 22, 24, 28 This lecture was given at two different...

“O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High … O Lord, and leader of the House of Israel … O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples … O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel … O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.”

Many Catholics are aware that there were a number of Jewish groups at the time of Jesus–the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, and so on. But what did these groups believe? What were their hopes? On what did they agree–and disagree–with Jesus? This lecture explores these Jewish groups and their relationship with Our Lord.

Many in our culture today point out the truth of Jesus’ magnanimous mercy, but they presume that Jesus’ mercy does not demand conversion from sin. To understand authentic Christian mercy, the mercy that Pope Francis spoke of in his now famous exchange with reporters in 2013, one must distinguish between Divine Mercy, which calls for true conversion, and the diabolical deception of moral relativism...

"Th[e] demand for freedom in human society chiefly regards the quest for the values proper to the human spirit. It regards, in the first place, the free exercise of religion in society." - Dignitatis Humanae

Today there is much talk in our Church about the coming Jubilee Year. But what exactly is a Jubilee Year? Why are we celebrating the Jubilee now, and what is it supposed to accomplish? In this lecture, we will discover why this year is different from all others and, if celebrated according to God’s instruction, will be a year of renewal and restoration for the entire Church.

Plato’s critique of corrupt political orders is fundamentally a moral indictment of the citizens. His views of society and the common good express basic insights shared by the great Christian tradition of moral and political thought. This lecture gives points for self-examination regarding how we contribute to the common good of our society.  This lecture was given at two different times and locat...

Today there is much talk in our Church about the coming Jubilee Year. But what exactly is a Jubilee Year? Why are we celebrating the Jubilee now, and what is it supposed to accomplish? In this lecture, we will discover why this year is different from all others and, if celebrated according to God’s instruction, will be a year of renewal and restoration for the entire Church.

Pope Francis has referred to our contemporary social dysfunction as a “throwaway culture.” Abortion, euthanasia, fetal tissue research, and gun violence are human examples of the nexus between the culture of death and the throwaway culture. In this lecture we examine how Church teaching addresses these anti-human impulses and presents a grander vision of human life and existence.

Plato’s Republic is a masterpiece of natural reason in pursuit of the truly good human life. In these two lectures we will consider fundamental Platonic insights into human nature, virtue, community, and happiness, giving special attention to how to apply these insights to our own lives.

Plato’s Republic is a masterpiece of natural reason in pursuit of the truly good human life. In these two lectures we will consider fundamental Platonic insights into human nature, virtue, community, and happiness, giving special attention to how to apply these insights to our own lives.

In every era of biblical history, God sent “mediating agents” to his people, to save, sanctify, and steer them towards Himself. To varying degrees, these individuals anticipate Jesus, God’s divine Son and agent of grace. We will explore two such Old Testament agents, Joseph and Joshua—how they prefigure Jesus, and how, in various ways, He surpasses them.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” - Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” - Genesis 1:1

"Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist." So wrote Oxford evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. Yet modern science has discovered that the foundation of life is run by molecular machines whose sophistication far surpasses human technology.

"The Catechism teaches that 'In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith … Christ who is the Truth willed to confer on her a share in his own infallibility.' Yet the Church also teaches that the gift of infallibility is limited. When is the Pope teaching infallibly? What authority does a Council of the Church have in defining the doctrines of the Church? What role does a Synod play...

Now that the Supreme Court has ruled, Americans face momentous debates about the nature of marriage and religious liberty. Because the Court has redefined marriage in all states, we have to energetically protect our freedom to live according to conscience and faith as we work to rebuild a strong marriage culture. Ryan Anderson explores what marriage is, why it matters for public policy, and the co...

"Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made." – Romans 1:20

"The Catechism teaches that 'In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith … Christ who is the Truth willed to confer on her a share in his own infallibility.' Yet the Church also teaches that the gift of infallibility is limited. When is the Pope teaching infallibly? What authority does a Council of the Church have in defining the doctrines of the Church? What role does a Synod play...

“What emerges here is a process of universal significance. And if I were called upon to identify briefly the principal trait of the entire twentieth century, here too, I would be unable to find anything more precise and pithy than to repeat once again: Men have forgotten God.” - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

The Catholic Church’s struggle with Communism is central to understanding modern Church history. There is an element of conflict between Catholicism and Communism at the level of doctrine and politics, with rival conceptions of the common good.

The Institute of Catholic Culture is an adult educational organization, faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and dedicated to the Church’s call for a new evangelization.

"The time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths." - 2 Timothy 4:2-6