Spiritual Formation Library Archives

Faith Check 14 – Born Again in Baptism

Born Again in Baptism

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02 — 971.1KB) | Embed

Are you born again? It’s a question that Catholics aren’t quite sure how to respond to, but those who are living out their faith should answer with a whole-hearted Yes.

The term “born again” comes from John 3 when our Lord tells Nicodemus, “Amen, Amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above,”1 or “born again,” as some translations put it. Nicodemus is confused, thinking that Jesus is referring to a 2nd physical birth, so Jesus clarifies that “no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”2 The early Church unanimously interpreted this as a reference to the sacrament of baptism, 3 which is no mere symbolic ritual, but the normative instrument that Christ instituted for our spiritual rebirth.
Romans 6 says that in baptism our old natures are buried and we are raised to new life in Christ. 4 And 1 Peter 3:21 puts it plainly, “baptism now saves you.”
Salvation is a lifelong process, a race to the finish line. But baptism is where it all begins, where we are born again, if you will.
1 – Jn. 3:3
2 – Jn. 3:5
3 – See Catholic Answers website on subject: http://www.catholic.com/library/Born_Again_in_Baptism.asp
4 – Rom. 6:3-4

IP#241 Emily Stimpson – These Beautiful Bones on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

“These Beautiful Bones: An Everyday Theology of the Body” is the book I’ve been waiting for, thank you Emily Stimpson! A book about the Theology of the Body, the great teachings from Bl. Pope John Paul II, that isn’t all about SEX! What Emily has done is truly remarkable….she has presented to us just how practical this great teaching is and how it can be applied to the varied aspects of our everyday lives. Emily has an engaging writing style which is filled with humor and insight. A wonderful work and a must have for the Catholic library.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:41 — 25.3MB) | Embed

You can find the book here

“As a writer, Emily Stimpson always brings to her readers a unique combination of deep wisdom, practical insight and personal experience. In These Beautiful Bones, she uses the sacramental lens of the liturgy to explore a wide range of activities in daily life. Whether it’s your eating habits or clothing styles, the dignity of hard work or the pitfalls of pop culture, you will find in this book lots of graceful guidance in living out the physical side of being spiritual. ” — Dr. Scott Hahn, Internationally renowned author and biblical theologian

IP#237 Fr. Joseph Fessio S.J. – The Transforming Power of Faith on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

What a delight to speak once again to Fr. Joseph Fessio, this time about “The Transforming Power of Faith” by Pope Benedict XVI. Ignatius Press has once again brought to us a wonderful compilation of the final sixteen talks given at his weekly audience from October 2012 to the end of his papacy in February 2013. These talks explore how and why faith is relevant in the contemporary world.

In this discussion, Fr. Fessio offers his insights on the pontificate of Pope Francis, a brother in the Jesuit order. He also addresses an issue concerning the work of Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar as found in his book “Dare We Hope That All May Be Saved”, which has, in some cases recently, been mistakenly understood and represented to others. He breaks open a bit Fr. von Balthasar’s teachings on hell, the mercy of God, and the proper understanding of “hope”. Another engaging conversation with the ever fascinating Fr. Fessio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (24.9MB) | Embed

You can find the book here

From the book description:

“Having faith in the Lord is not something that involves solely our intelligence, the area of intellectual knowledge; rather, it is a change that involves our life, our whole self: feelings, heart, intelligence, will, corporeity, emotions, and human relationships. With faith everything truly changes.”

So Pope Benedict XVI introduced his catecheses for the Year of Faith, a series of sixteen talks given at his weekly audience from October 2012 to the end of his papacy in February 2013. These talks explore how and why faith is relevant in the contemporary world. How can we come to certainty about things that cannot be calculated or scientifically confirmed? What does God’s revelation mean for our daily lives? How can the hunger of the human heart be fulfilled? Offering the guidance of biblical exegesis, pastoral exhortation, and brotherly encouragement, Pope Benedict seeks to answer these questions and many others.

IP#235 Fr. R. Scott Hurd – When Faith Feels Fragile on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

It’s a rare believer that doesn’t feel challenged at times in the area of faith. For those occasions, Fr. R. Scott Hurd provides wise counsel and encouragement in “When Faith Feels Fragile: Help for the Wary, Weak, and Wandering.” Fr. Scott has an engaging and pastorally sensitive approach to many of the common issues that cause us to stumble on the journey of faith. A great book even if you feel your faith is strong, and to passed on to those you may know who are struggling.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:07 — 12.0MB) | Embed

You can find the book here

“At some point in our life, our faith is tested. It can feel like God is hidden and out of reach. We wonder if we can we count on God’s presence. When Faith Feels Fragile teaches us how to recognize the many ways that God touches us in the course of our daily routine. Drawing on the practical wisdom of life’s experience, Father Scott Hurd explores the deeper spiritual meaning by finding parallels in Scripture and Christian spirituality. We learn how to “open ourselves up to the gift of faith and hold it close to our hearts.”

-His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington

IP#227 Dr. Matthew Bunson – Lumen Fidei on Inside the Pages

Dr. Matthew Bunson joins us to discuss the recent encyclical issued by Pope Francis, “Lumen Fidei”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:00 — 25.6MB) | Embed

ENCYCLICAL LETTER
LUMEN FIDEI
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
FRANCIS
TO THE BISHOPS PRIESTS AND DEACONS
CONSECRATED PERSONS
AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON FAITH

1. The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (Jn 12:46). Saint Paul uses the same image: “God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts” (2 Cor 4:6). The pagan world, which hungered for light, had seen the growth of the cult of the sun god, Sol Invictus, invoked each day at sunrise. Yet though the sun was born anew each morning, it was clearly incapable of casting its light on all of human existence. The sun does not illumine all reality; its rays cannot penetrate to the shadow of death, the place where men’s eyes are closed to its light. “No one — Saint Justin Martyr writes — has ever been ready to die for his faith in the sun”.[1] Conscious of the immense horizon which their faith opened before them, Christians invoked Jesus as the true sun “whose rays bestow life”.[2] To Martha, weeping for the death of her brother Lazarus, Jesus said: “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40). Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets.

Come, Holy Spirit – Discerning Hearts

Come, Holy Spirit,
Veni, Sancte Spiritus,

fill the hearts of Thy faithful
reple tuorum corda fidelium

and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love
et tui amoris in eis ignem accende

Send forth Thy Spirit
Emitte Spiritum tuum,

and they shall be created.
Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur.

And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Et renovabis faciem terrae.

Let us pray.
Oremus.

O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit:
Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti:

grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise;
da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere;

and ever to rejoice in His consolation.
et de eius semper consolatione gaudere.

Through Christ our Lord.
Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit,
Veni, Sancte Spiritus,

fill the hearts of Thy faithful
reple tuorum corda fidelium

and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love
et tui amoris in eis ignem accende

Send forth Thy Spirit
Emitte Spiritum tuum,

and they shall be created.
Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur.

And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Et renovabis faciem terrae.

Let us pray.
Oremus.

O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit:
Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti:

grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise;
da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere;

and ever to rejoice in His consolation.
et de eius semper consolatione gaudere.

Through Christ our Lord.
Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Amen.

Holy Spirit, Make Your Home In Me – In Conversation with Fr. George Montague

Fr. George Montague is an exceptional biblical scholar, as well as a humble pastor. His experience with the gifts given by the Holy Spirit are extraordinary and he shares those with us, but he also encourages us to seek the deepening of our own prayer lives so that we too may discover what the Father desires to give his beloved children. Through Scripture and the practice of prayer, Fr. Montague helps to encounter the Holy Spirit who is eager for our response. Bruce and I loved our conversation with him. Highly recommended!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:09 — 23.9MB) | Embed

You can buy this book here

IP#213 Joan Wester Anderson – An Angel to Watch Over Me and Angelic Tales on Inside the Pages

What a delight to talk once again to Joan Wester Anderson. It would be hard to find a more gracious soul than Joan’s, and to have a chance to have a conversation about the angels…well it doesn’t get much better! Joan is the author of a dozen or more books (many bestsellers!), and her work making known the angelic relam are always a delight. It was difficult to choose which one to discuss first, but we gave it go. I’ve never been disappointed in her writing, and I highly recommended any of the titles found in this post (and yes, I’ve read them all…over and over again).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:00 — 23.8MB) | Embed

IP#212 Fr. Joseph Fessio – Married Priests? on Inside the Pages

“Married Priests? 30 Crucial Questions about Celibacy” is the go to book when seeking answers to just about everything related to the Church’s teaching and exprience in regards to priestly celibacy. With Fr. Joseph Fessio S.J., editor and founder of Ignatius Press the publisher of this work, we discuss several of those questions. Why do Catholic priests not marry? How can celibacy possibly be so important to the Church, if Jesus did not even require it of his apostles? How does this discipline play into the discernment for this particular vocation? We also discuss the vocation of Marriage, and the state of Church in America from Fr. Fessio’s prespective. It is always a joy to have the opportunity to talk with Fr. Fessio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:59 — 11.9MB) | Embed

You can find the book here

From the book description:

In recent years the arguments in favor of openness to married priests seem to be multiplying. Some object that celibacy is not a dogma but only a discipline that originated in the Middle Ages; that it is contrary to nature and hence harmful for a man’s psycho-physical equilibrium and the maturation of the human personality. And then, if priests could marry, there would be an increase in vocations.

In this book, seventeen various experts make contributions, responding to these and other burning objections, allowing the reader to discover the value that celibacy has today in the lives of thousands of priests and seminarians.

Among the key topics this book discusses are: History of Priestly Celibacy, What Theology Says on the Celibacy, Emotions and Sexuality, Discerning and Fostering a Vocation, Celibacy in the Life of a Priest, Celibacy and Inculturation, Papal teachings on Celibacy from Pius XI to Benedict XVI.