The Spirit & The Bride

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...

In the  Apostles’ Creed , Christians profess their belief in “Jesus Christ, his [God the Father’s] only Son, our Lord.” Dr. Alan Schreck  explains the significance of these titles—”Christ,” “Only- Begotten Son,” and “Lord”—which reveal essential truths about Jesus. He also discusses the reasons why the Son of God assumed our humanity and the purpose of his Incarnation.   Listen to more The Spirit...

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church  begins its teaching about Jesus with the meaning and importance of his name: “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Referring to the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of John,  Dr. Alan Schreck  reflects on the power of Jesus’ name and the need to speak of his name to enable others to en...

Jesus Christ is the primary subject of the creeds and the heart of the Good News of Christianity. The  Catechism of the Catholic Church  states, “From the loving knowledge of Christ there springs up in the believer the desire to evangelize and catechize, that is, to reveal in the Person of Christ the entire design of God and to put humanity in communion with him” (art. 80). Dr. Alan Schreck  also...

After the original sin of Adam and Eve, God initiated, in his providence, a loving plan to overcome the evil caused by sin and restore the human race. Through Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and many others, God initiated covenants with the Hebrew people in preparation for the final and unsurpassed saving act and covenant offered to all people in Jesus Christ.   Listen to more The Spirit and The Brid...

Dr. Alan Schreck  continues to unfold the Catholic understanding of God’s revelation in the Book of Genesis, focusing on the original sin of Adam and Eve and its effects. This includes how God reveals hope for the restoration of the human race, which is foreshadowed in Genesis.   Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith a...

Dr. Schreck asks why, if God is all good and all powerful, does evil exist? This begins with sin of Lucifer and the angels who followed his example in rebellion against God. The summit of God's creation in the material order is the human person, bearing God's "image and likeness" and created for communion with God and others. He also unpacks what the Church learns about the human person and God's...

Dr. Alan Schreck  explores the meaning and purpose of all that exists apart from God—creation—which is a sign and fruit of God’s goodness and love. He discusses what God reveals about creation, beginning with the visible, material order as presented in Genesis and the highest intelligent immaterial beings—the angels. Listen to more  The Spirit and The Bride episodes  and discover other Catholic po...

Dr. Alan Schreck  explores what the Catholic Church teaches about the central mystery of our faith: the Blessed Trinity. What does it mean that God is one, and yet “three” or triune? He also discusses the most important, central attribute or perfection of God: that “God is love” ( 1 Jn 4:8 ).   Listen to more  The Spirit and The Bride episodes  and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and res...

Faith is a personal response to God and God’s revelation. The creeds, which are part of Sacred Tradition, present a necessary summary of what we believe, or the faith of the Church. The first article speaks of God, who is One and Spirit. But he is also a personal God who Jesus addressed—and taught us to know and address—as “Father.” Listen to more episodes of The Spirit and the Bride here.

Dr. Schreck  describes the relationship of Scripture, Tradition, and the Church’s Magisterium and how each is essential to receive the truths God has revealed. Our only adequate response to this revelation is faith, so he also discusses the nature of faith and how we can grow in faith in God and his revealed truth. Listen to more episodes of The Spirit and the Bride here.

Dr. Schreck  describes the Catholic teaching on the interpretation of Sacred Scripture and the essential role of the Magisterium, the teaching office of the Church, in the proper interpretation and proclamation of God’s revealed truth. He also addresses the meaning and purpose of “private revelations.” Finally, the Catholic Church has urged all the faithful to prayerfully read and study the Bible,...

Dr. Schreck  continues to explore God’s revelation, focusing on the Word of God in the Bible. He discusses the nature and importance of the Old and New Testaments, their relationship, and how the writings in these testaments came to be included in the canon of Scripture. He then addresses what it means that the Bible is “inspired” and “inerrant” (or without error).   Check out part 2 here.  Listen...

God’s revelation was handed on by Jesus and his apostles through Sacred Scripture (the Bible) and Sacred Tradition. But what is this Tradition, and how does it come to us? Dr. Schreck  explores that question, highlighting the role of the teaching office of the Church—the Magisterium—in handing on, safeguarding, and authoritatively interpreting God’s revealed truth in Sacred Scripture and Tradition...

Dr. Alan Schreck  reviews how God has revealed himself through the material order (or “natural revelation”) and how God as creator has been confirmed by scientific discoveries in the past 100 years. He also talks about God’s direct revelation in history (or “divine revelation”)—from God’s manifestation in word and deed to the Hebrew people to his entering into history in fullness in Jesus, the cli...