Long before Alexandria, Egypt became a center of Christian life and thought, it was one of the intellectual hubs of the ancient world. Its library is well known, but it was also a center of Greek philosophy and Jewish learning. The version of Christianity that emerged in Alexandria built on the best of the city’s cosmopolitan, scholarly traditions and, in its maturity under master teachers like Clement (c. 150–215), Origen (c. 185–251), and Didymus the Blind (c. 313–398), developed a distinctive approach to catechesis and Christian life that impressed scholars from Eusebius to John Henry Newman. Petroc Willey’s book seeks... Read more
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Articles Under: Adult Faith Formation
In our specific quest for understanding the priesthood of the faithful, we must recognize that the theology of the Church is echoed in her liturgical rituals. The Catechism says, “By Baptism [the faithful] share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission” (1268). T he Order of Baptism of Children gives us a significant catechesis in the oration for the post-baptismal anointing with sacred chrism: “Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has freed you from sin, given you new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and joined you to his people. He now... Read more
When Catholics hear the word “priesthood,” our minds often jump to the parish priest at the altar. Yet, the Church teaches that all the baptized share in the one priesthood of Christ. This truth, while ancient, is often misunderstood, overlooked, or reduced to a vague notion of “service.” The priesthood of the baptized is not a lesser version of ordained ministry—it is a distinct, ontological participation in Christ’s own priesthood with its own dignity, power, and mission. This article explores the biblical and theological foundations of the common priesthood, its relationship to the ministerial priesthood, and what this means for... Read more
As the “hero” of the Book of Job illustrates, the life of the believer is often beset with difficulty—even, and perhaps often, great difficulty. This is the way of human life in a fallen world, and as Job and many others illustrate, a living faith provides no immunity from undergoing such difficulties. Though God has promised “that in everything [he] works for good with those who love him” (Rom 8:28) so that we can ultimately rest secure in him (see Rom 8:18–21), he does not guarantee freedom from bodily pain and spiritual sorrow. This problem, the problem of suffering, is... Read more
Orphaned at five and trying to make sense of the world as a teenager, Charles de Foucauld lost his faith at the age of 15. Reflecting on this period of his life, he wrote, “I lived twelve years denying nothing and believing nothing, despairing of truth and not believing in God. No proof seemed evident enough.” [1] The further away he drifted from God, the more the young Charles, not yet a saint, resembled the prodigal son of Luke’s Gospel (see Lk 15:13–16). Naturally contemplative, Charles appreciated solitude, but his conception of natural solitude uniquely “included the quiet presence of... Read more
Editor’s Note: The Jubilee year of hope comes to an end on January 6, 2026. In September 2025, the Church celebrated the Jubilee of Catechists, asking God’s grace upon all those who teach the faith. We are happy to republish below the homily of Pope Leo XIV given on this important occasion in the life of the Church and in the lives of each of us who have been invited by God to form others in the Christian life. The words of Jesus convey to us how God sees the world, at every moment and in every place. We heard... Read more
None of us wants to suffer. We don’t want to be diagnosed with a disease. We don’t want to experience loss.But suffering is inevitable. When it comes, what are we to do? Is it merely to be endured? What, if anything, can we learn from Jesus and his experience of suffering? What does his response to suffering mean for us, who are joined to him in baptism? The Priesthood of Jesus Jesus is the eternal Son of the Father. He is the divine Teacher and our model of holiness. The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that he is also... Read more
A witness of faith and keeper of the memory of God ; in experiencing the goodness and truth of the Gospel in his encounter with the person of Jesus, the catechist keeps, nourishes, and bears witness to the new life that stems from this, and becomes a sign for others. The faith contains the memory of God’s history with humanity. Keeping this memory, reawakening it in others, and placing it at the service of the proclamation is the specific vocation of the catechist. The testimony of his life is necessary for the credibility of the mission. Recognizing his own frailty... Read more
A strong community life within a parish does not just happen overnight. It is not the result of one specific curriculum or event but is woven together over time, creating a vibrant tapestry of unification in vision and way of life. When you enter a strong parish community for Sunday Mass, you feel alive, welcomed, and called to more. People of every age attend, the young and the old in necessary relationship, as a vibrant parish community is often multigenerational and a place people want to “come home” to and be part of. Together, they can weather the storms of... Read more
C. S. Lewis’s devil Screwtape advises junior tempter Wormwood, “The parochial organization should always be attacked, because, being a unity of place and not of likings, it brings people . . . together in the kind of unity the Enemy desires.” [1] Christian community makes tangibly present communion with Christ. It is often the first place people begin to encounter him and believe in the possibility of his love, which is manifested through the love of the Church’s members. Even in its veiled, earthly form, the Communion of Saints has the power to radiate Christ to the world. This article... Read more
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