The Lay Thomist

Emmaus: A Lesson in the Importance of Holy Communion

What the story of the road to Emmaus tells us not only about the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but about the importance of receiving Him in the Eucharist as well. This story instructs us not merely in the emotions of His disciples after He had Risen from the dead, but also provides us a guide in how we ourselves can also see the Risen Lord if our hearts truly desire to see Him.

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Why Believe in a Formal Church Structure?

What is the point of believing in a formal hierarchical structure to the Church, rather than accepting as the Protestants do that the "Body of Christ" is an informal, loose confederation of believers with a common belief in Christ? What are the underlying logical reasons for even arguing for the existence of the hierarchical structure of the Church in the first place?

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No Works, No Love, No God

The idea that we can have faith in God without proper works accompanying it is to suggest nothing more than we can be in an abusive relationship with God, whereby we abuse His mercy and grace, and expect to receive a heavenly reward at the end of our days.

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Why Did Thomas Doubt?

A prayerful examination as to why St. Thomas might have doubted the Resurrection, going beyond the core story that we hear every Divine Mercy Sunday and offering us an examination into our own faith lives to be inspired by St. Thomas.

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Don't be the Brood of VIpers

How do we acknowledge God Present among us and not fundamentally deny it by our actions, in the way that the Pharisees did in the time of Christ?

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How to Read Fiducia Supplicens: A Guide

Inundated with all of the Catholic and non-Catholic news media coverage around Fiducia Supplicens, the document released by the Vatican on blessings? Read this article for a summary of the major points of the document, particularly if you want some peace of mind that the Church is standing consistently behind her teachings.

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Putting an End to Factionalism in the Catholic Church

Putting an end to the liturgical divisions within the Catholic Church is something that needs to begin among each member of the laity, not something to be handed down from the Church hierarchical authority from on high.

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In Response to "Pope Francis is a Weak Leader"

A refutation to an earlier article written by another Catholic365 writer, Amelia Carlson, with the intent of defending the Holy Father from false assertions that he means to allow same-sex unions to take place in the Catholic Church. This article was written to try and introduce a new perspective on what the Holy Father is advocating with LGBTQ couples in all fairness.

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Why Confession? A Catholic Explanation

Ever wondered why Catholics need to go to Confession as opposed to just "confessing our sins to God?" This article provides an overview of the Scriptural authority giving Catholic priests the authority to forgive sins, and underlines how Jesus understood why it was so profoundly necessary to give such a powerful spiritual aide to His Church before ascending to Heaven.

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