Come & See: Theological Reflections on the Promotion of Vocations
PREFACE In his 1996 Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, Pope John Paul II writes: The invitation of Jesus, "Come and see" (Jn 1:39), is the golden rule of pastoral work for promoting vocations even today. (no. 64) This passage expresses so well the responsibility...
Christ’s Baptism: The Beginning of His Public Life
by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. Introduction With this meditation, we begin the public life of Jesus Christ. We call it the public life to distinguish it from the 30 years of Christ’s hidden life at Nazareth. We also call it the public life because it represents Christ’s...
The Golden Anniversary: A Summary of the Vatican II Documents
by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. The following is an excerpt from: The Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan: The Second Vatican Council The twenty-first ecumenical council of the Catholic Church was first announced by Pope John XXIII on January 25, 1959. He opened the council on...
Writing Demands Humility
by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. Dear ________, I am deeply grateful for your generous Christmas greetings and the assurance of your prayers. Only our Lord knows how best to repay you for your kindness. As we begin the New Year, we are all hoping that God will continue...
All the Kings of the Earth Shall Adore Him
by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. St. Matthew is the only evangelist who gives us the full details of the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. Once again, the full quotation is lengthy but it is worth giving in full. There are so many implications for our faith and...
The Word Actually Became Flesh
by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. There are so many subjects that we could talk about on Christmas day, but I thought the most appropriate would be to speak on Christmas and the Eucharist. There are many aspects to their relationship, but I believe that they are mainly...
Mary’s Divine Maternity Rests Upon Christ’s Divinity
by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. In the nature of things, our treatment will be theological, and we will have to resort to certain facts of history and statements of doctrine that are somewhat technical. There are three basic errors which occasioned the Church’s defining...
The Incarnation as Pattern for Missiology
by John A. Hardon, S.J. The Imitation of Christ is more than the title of a book. It is a principle for those who believe in the Incarnation to use in every aspect of the Christian life, including the missionary enterprise. Among the problems vexing modern Missiology...
Holy Mass – Holy Innocents: The Holy Sacrifice versus Human Sacrifice
by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J The title of our present meditation is certainly strange. In fact, it is really two titles wrapped in one. Both parts of the title are contrasts. The first is between the Holy Mass and the innocents who were killed by King Herod. The second...
In Saint John’s Gospel, Approach to Christ is Decisively Different
by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. St. John’s Gospel is unique. Not only does it contain many events and discourses not present in the Synoptics, but its whole approach to Christ is decisively different. John the Evangelist was certainly familiar with the first three...