marriage
Coming soon……
Coming very soon: My latest book, which is very different from my first three. This one is an in-depth, scholarly, and comprehensive look at human sexuality and marriage. It covers human nature, what it means to be a sexual being, and the covenant of marriage from an historical, philosophical, and moral point of view – […]... Read More
Annulments – what and why?
Why are there so many annulments today? And how is it essentially different than divorce? Dr. Paul and Fr. Holmes sit down to discuss the what and why of annulments in our confusing times.... Read More
What is Marriage?
Our age of insanity no longer understands human nature; and because of this, natural marriage is routinely attacked. Paul and Fr. Holmes go beneath the surface on the question: What is marriage?... Read More
Worship and Sex are Fundamentally Linked
Today’s first reading in Acts 15 was on the council of Jerusalem, where Church authority declared Gentile converts must follow four fundamental ordinances. Three were about idolatry and one about marriage. Their exhortation concludes: “If you keep free of these you will do what is right” (Acts 15:29). I find it interesting that they mention […]... Read More
Avoiding Divorce through Faith and the Word
Divorce is often the result of a constant battle of the wills. What might be the remedy to this ailment? Scripture speaks of two important acts of faith, which can greatly impact one’s worldview and stave off marital rupture: 1. God’s will must always be top priority over one’s desires in all decision-making (Mt 6:33). […]... Read More
Executive Orders and Our Culture of Death
By reversing the government’s involvement in sex-change mutilation, Trump is able to address by executive order the tail end of our culture of insanity. It’s a good sign, of course, but we still live in a society that murders half its babies before birth, kills ten preborn children for every one brought to term in […]... Read More
Is Communion in the Hand the Main Cause of the Problem?
Many believe faith in the Eucharist, or more specifically in the real presence, has waned in recent decades due to Communion in the hand and the Novus ordo. I tend to think a greater factor has been the desecration of marriage. The sacraments of Marriage and the Eucharist are inextricably linked as the sacraments of […]... Read More
An ‘Invalid Marriage’ is a Non-Marriage
Between natural law and the law of the Church for Catholics, there are certain objective criteria, internal and external, that are essential for being married.... Read More
Eucharistic Communion: Christ and His Bride become One Flesh
Baptized Christians who do not celebrate the Eucharist are in a friendship-marriage, or a 'Josephite marriage' with Christ the bridegroom.... Read More
The Complementary Sexual Dynamic the Modern World Hates
Today’s first reading at Mass is the most un-PC in the New Testament (Eph 5:21-33), which, unfortunately, leads some clergy to avoid it out of lack of faith, lack of understanding, or cowardice. Yet, it offers a clear illustration of the beauty of the masculine-feminine relational dynamic, whose source is found the eternal relation between […]... Read More
Joe and Sally Discuss Attending an Invalid Wedding
Sally: Hi Joe. Are you coming to my Wendy’s wedding? Joe: Oh, I’m sorry Sally, I’m unable to make that. I was about to send you back the RSVP letting you know. Sally: Oh, no! You have an emergency? Joe: No. It’s that Wendy is a baptized Catholic, which means that if she “marries” outside […]... Read More
What exactly are they celebrating?
Today is the solemnity of the beheading of John the Baptist; a very important witness for our time. As the precurser of Jesus, John was martyred for pointing out the illicit union and invalid marriage of Herod Antipas and Herodius. According to today’s gospel, both were offended by John’s words. But notice their different reactions: […]... Read More
The Tragic Error of the Pro-Life Movement
The fundamental error that guarantees abortion will continue indefinitely.... Read More
The Irrationality of the Cultural Catholic
When God called out to Adam, "Where are you" in Gn 3:9, Adam & Eve could no longer comfortably hide from God. In the unnatural comfort zones we create for ourselves hiding from God, we create our own gods who see us as a "good person", despite not fulfilling our religious and moral obligations.... Read More
Can a Catholic in Good Conscience Attend an Invalid Wedding?
One of the more fraught decisions virtually every Catholic must face in the modern era is what to do when invited to the invalid wedding of a family member or friend. And while the attendance decision itself can be excruciating, the moral dilemmas pertaining to addressing and accommodating a loved one who entered a false […]... Read More
Two ‘hard’ Teachings of Christ are Related
It is fascinating that the two places in the New Testament that Jesus’ followers complain about His teachings are related to the intimacy of holy communion: the communion of man and woman in Marriage and the communion of Christ and Church in the Eucharist. The revolt was against Christ’s teaching that Marriage is exclusive and […]... Read More
The Un-PC Truth between the Sexes
Despite decades of conditioning by the cultural Left, human nature remains the same with regard to finding a spouse: A woman cares about a man’s future; a man cares about a woman’s past.... Read More
‘Real’ Difference between Catholicism and Protestantism
Since biblical times the Church has been known as the bride of Christ (cf., Eph 5:21-35). This is an important metaphor for understanding what it means to be Christian. The two elements that create an unbreakable marriage covenant are consent and consummation – when the couple says “I do” with their words, and then with […]... Read More
Choosing a False Marriage over the Eternal One
Whoever chooses an invalid marriage over God rationalizes temporary satisfaction at the expense of true happiness and eternal joy. To the baptized who become members of Christ’s bride, freely and knowingly choosing the false marriage is a rejection of one’s everlasting marriage to Christ. It’s truly an irrational choice that objectively, without repentance, is also […]... Read More
How Our “Relationship” Culture is Practice for Divorce
Do our premarital dating rituals groom people for shattered hearts? Read how our embedded post-1970s "relationship culture" is practice for divorce.... Read More
The Father is greater than Jesus??
Today’s gospel reading at Mass is a little mysterious. In the Gospel of John, after Jesus reassures His disciples that He and the Father are One (Jn 10:30), that when you see Him you see the Father (Jn 14:9), and that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him (Jn 14:11), Jesus […]... Read More
Marriage, an Icon of the Trinity
The Blessed trinity is infinite Being of three divine Persons in eternal relationship of life-giving love. With the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, there are no impediments or barriers to this divine Personal Love – which is inherently exclusive, life-giving, and permanent. Marriage/family is meant to be an icon of the […]... Read More