The Latin Text of Gelasius

The passage is from Pope Saint Gelasius’ work De duabus naturis in Christo Adv. Eutychen et Nestorium (On the two natures of Christ against Eutyches and Nestorius) at section 14. I have included the original Latin text:

*There is an alternative reading provided by Schwartz for verse 5:

Standard reading         ut sicut in hanc, scilicet in divinam transeant
Schwartz reading:       ut sicut haec licet in divinam transeant

The difference doesn’t substantially change the meaning of the text. The primary difference being:

Haec is nominative
Hanc is accusuative

Does Gelasius Contradict the Council of Trent?

The important text is verse 2, where Saint Gelasius explicitly states, “yet the substance or nature of bread and wine (substantia vel natura panis et vini) does not cease.” Strictly speaking, this would place Saint Gelasius at odds with the dogmatic definition of the Council of Trent on transubstantiation, which reads as follows:

“If anyone says that in the sacred and holy sacrament of the Eucharist the substance of the bread and wine remains conjointly with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and denies that wonderful and singular change of the whole substance of the bread into the body and the whole substance of the wine into the blood, the appearances only of bread and wine remaining, which change the Catholic Church most aptly calls transubstantiation, let him be anathema.” (Council of Trent, Session 13, Canon 2).”

Trent rejects the affirmation that the substances of bread and wine remain after the consecration. Gelasius says “the substance or nature of bread and wine (substantia vel natura panis et vini) does not cease.”

Two Possible Responses

The Catholic is faced with two possible responses to the formulation of Pope Gelasius:

1. Gelasius was wrong and held an incorrect belief about the Eucharist. But it doesn’t matter because Popes can be personally mistaken on matters of doctrine before their dogmatization.
2. Gelasius used “substance or nature” analogically to refer to what later Catholics called the “accidents of bread and wine,” and verses 5 and 7 reveal his clarification on that matter as in conformity with later Catholic teaching.

The proper response is that the second option, that Gelasius clarified his meaning in verses 2, 5, and 7. Let us look at the passages:

In verse 2, Gelasius states:

“the sacrament which we receive, the body and blood of Christ, is a divine thing (divina res).”

The Latin “res” refers to what is real. Our English word “real” comes from res. It is a divina res, or divine reality. Only after stating this does Gelasius say that “the substance or nature of bread and wine do not cease.” This is problematic because res usually refers to substance. However, we find clarification in verses 5 and 7.

In verse 5, Gelasius states:

5) That just as they pass into this, namely into the divine substance, the Holy Spirit perfecting, nevertheless remaining in the propriety of its nature.

Gelasius states in verse 5 that the bread and wine transeant (pass into or transition into) the divine substance. I have never heard a Protestant affirm that the bread and wine transition into the divine substance. Gelasius then affirms “nevertheless remaining in the propriety of its nature.” The bread and wine here retain not their “natures,” but he clarifies that they retain what is “propriety of its nature.” Gelasius refers here to what is proper to the nature of bread and wine, but this time does not denote “nature” simply. He is clarifying his statement in verse 2. What is proper to the nature of bread? Texture, smell, taste, etc. These are what would later be separated as the “accidents” or sensible features pertaining to the substance of bread. But the res is divine. This essentially clears up the misunderstanding.

Moving to verse 7:

From which permanent things, the one Christ, properly, remains constant, because the integrity and truth are shown to remain.

Gelasius here indicates that the one Christ is constant or enduring in the Eucharist. The full presence of Christ is in the Eucharist.

Two Possible Positions

From this analysis, Gelasius could be said to hold either of the two positions:

1. Consubstantiation: The substances of bread and wine are united to Christ’s divine and human substances. This is problematic because it creates a second hypostatic union with bread and wine. So that Christ now has a divine substance, a human substance, a bread substance, and a wine substance. Actually, it would create a second hypostatic union (union with bread substance) and then a third hypostatic union (with wine substance), since the consecration of each species is separate from the other.
2. Transubstantiation: The substances bread and wine are transubstantiated into the substances of Christ’s divine substance and human substance—the position of the Fourth Lateran Council and the Council of Trent.

One could argue that Gelasius affirms consubstantiation, but he is undoubtedly not affirming a symbolic or memorialist Eucharist held by most Protestants. I think the strongest argument is that Gelasius is describing transubstantiation, because he describes the bread and wine “remaining in the propriety of its nature.” He clarifies “nature” as actually being what is “proper to its nature.”

Furthermore, Gelasius was pope from 492 to his death on 21 November 496. He was daily praying the Roman liturgy with the fully developed Roman Canon as the Eucharistic anaphora or prayer. It is difficult to read the Roman Canon with its prayers over the Eucharist and deduce anything less than transubstantiation. Even Martin Luther (who held something closer to consubstantiation) felt the need to reject the Roman Canon (as used by Gelasius in the fifth century) because of its “transubstantiation” theology.

Imprecision is not Heresy

In conclusion, Gelasius affirmed the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and asserts that it enters into the divine substance. He remarks that the substance or nature of bread and wine does not cease, but just after that, he clarifies his meaning by his reference to what is proper to their nature.

This debate is akin to that of the miaphysite arguments after the Council of Chalcedon. Miaphysite teaching is based on Saint Cyril of Alexandria’s formula μία φύσις τοῦ θεοῦ λόγου σεσαρκωμένη, meaning “one physis of the Word of God made flesh.” Chalcedon declared “two natures” in Christ but never doubted Saint Cyril’s orthodoxy or sanctity. Saint Cyril defended the right concept but used a different (misleading) formulation regarding one physis or nature with respect to the incarnation. Nobody doubts that Saint Cyril was correct, but later Catholic teaching rejects the “one nature” formulation of Saint Cyril in favor of “two natures.”

Gelasius is teaching the Catholic (Tridentine) doctrine of the Eucharist, but with the confusion about “substance or nature” not being what later Catholic dogma would articulate. Nevertheless, Gelasius does clarify in verse 5 that he is speaking of that which is proper to the nature of bread and wine.

Conclusion

Pope Gelasius (pope from 492-496) would be in continuity with his papal predecessor Pope Leo the Great (pope from 440 to 461) who wrote:

“Dearly beloved, utter this confession with all your heart and reject the wicked lies of heretics, that any contagion with error may not pollute your fasting and almsgiving: for then is our offering of the sacrifice clean and our gifts of mercy holy, when those who perform them understand that which they do. For when the Lord says, “unless ye have eaten the flesh of the Son of Man, and drunk His blood, ye will not have life in you,’ you ought so to be partakers at the Holy Table, as to have no doubt whatever concerning the reality of Christ’s Body and Blood. For that is taken in the mouth which is believed in faith, and it is vain for them to respond ‘Amen’ who dispute that which is taken.” Pope Saint Leo the Great, Sermon 91:3

The worst-case scenario is that Gelasius was teaching consubstantiation (not Protestant symbolism), but this is unlikely. The context of the passage seems to indicate that the bread and wine “enter into the divine substance,” but the properties of bread and wine remain. The entire context suggests what later theologians would call “transubstantiation,” even if Gelasius’s formulation is awkward. The goal here is to use the Eucharist as an analogy in discussing Christology, not as a dogmatic statement about the metaphysics of the Eucharist. That’s why the passage isn’t a major issue for Catholic theologians.

The post Did Pope Gelasius deny transubstantiation? Nature and Substance Debate appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Latin Mass and Liturgy:

You need the 1962 hand missal because that’s what is stipulated in Summorum Pontificum, but everyone realizes that the 1955 Holy Week of Bugnini is inferior and thus you also need a pre-1955 hand missal. These are my favorites:

• 1945 Father Lasance Roman Missal (this is currently out of print – buy used)
• 1945 Saint Andrew Missal (if you cannot find the Father Lasance Roman Missal, this is a close second)
• 1962 Roman Missal (Angelus Press) (this is my third place option)

If you want to pray the old traditional office, it can be intimidating. Traditionally, the laity prayed the Little Office instead. This the traditional format with Latin/English:

• Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1961 Latin/English)

Canon Law:

• 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law (Ignatius Press)

Sacred Scripture:

• The Holy Bible Douay Rheims Bible (Baronius Press)

If you want Latin:

• Holy Bible Douay-Rheims and Latin Clementine Vulgate

Theology, Prayer, and Catechism:

• Roman Catechism aka the Catechism of the Council of Trent
• Baltimore Catechism
• Summa Theologiae of Saint Thomas Aquinas in English
• The Raccolta Manual of Indulgences (1957 Edition)

Video on why you need THIS VERSION of the Summa:

You don’t need all these books, but every Catholic home should have these books as references on the bookshelf.

Godspeed,
Dr Taylor Marshall

The post Dr Marshall’s Happy Meal: Traditional Catholic Books You Must Own appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Was Jesus Christ born on December 25? Dr Taylor Marshall says “Yes, Christ was born on the historical day of December 25 in the year 1BC. Dr Taylor Marshall explains using the Church Fathers and the Gospel of Saint Luke.

This is a sample class from my online Catholic Curriculum “Early Church Fathers History” offered by the New Saint Thomas Institute. You can join for a limited time today for 47/month (and receive 7 more Courses thrown in) at:

https://NewSaintThomas.com

Watch the Youtube video by clicking here.

Or listen to the audio mp3 here:

This is a sample class from my online Catholic Curriculum “Early Church Fathers History” offered by the New Saint Thomas Institute. You can join for a limited time today for 47/month (and receive 7 more Courses thrown in) at:

https://NewSaintThomas.com

If you are already a student Member of New Saint Thomas Institute, you already have full access to this course. I look forward to seeing you inside the New Saint Thomas Institute!

Happy Advent,
Dr Taylor Marshall

The post Was Christ Born on December 25? Yes! Dr Marshall Explains [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Listen to the audio podcast version below or watch the full Youtube interview:

Coming up next week, I’ll be posting two new interviews on “Eastern Catholic theology” and “Hunting in the Bible.” Subscribe at Youtube to get notified.

You can get Austin Ruse’s latest books at amazon here:

You can find all related video interviews here at Youtube.

Have a blessed and fun weekend!

Godspeed,
Dr Marshall

The post 148: McCarrick Scandal, Suffering Souls, and the problem of Fake Science [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Political Society is like a Human Body:

For Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Zeno and the Stoics, the soul of the human is aristocratic and consists of estates or ranks. You will find this doctrine in Plato’s Timaeus (the book Plato holds in Raphael’s “School of Athens”) and in his Republic. You will also find it referenced or built upon in almost call classical Catholic treatments of government. See also Saint Thomas Aquinas’s De regno.

Here is how Plato puts it together:

1. Head = Philosophers, Scholars, Astronomers, Mystics, Priests
2. Chest = Generals, Warriors, Police (for the Greeks, nobility always is martial)
3. Stomach and Genitals = Merchants, Farmers, Artisans, Lawyers, Corporate Owners, CEOs
4. Arms and legs = Laborers or at the very bottom Slaves (Plato doesn’t explicitly identify them as “arms and legs” but it could be implied)

Plato’s City-Man

It’s easy to see how the cosmo-man fits together:

1. The head thinks and plans. This is the philosopher and mystic who examines reality and plans or foretells the future and explores future contingencies for the cosmo-man (the State).
2. The chest keeps the cosmo-man alive by pumping blood and moving air. The chest is brave and forces the body to fight and run. He fights enemies inside and outside the populace.
3. The stomach receives food and produces capital and art through procreation.
4. Slaves work the limbs and get things done.

Many have noted that Plato’s four strata are deeply Indo-European and map perfectly onto the Vedic system (1500 BC) of India:

1. Brahmins (priestly scholar class)
2. Kshatriyas (royal warrior class)
3. Vaishyas (artisans, merchants, tradesmen and farmers)
4. Shudras (laboring classes)

Nota bene: the Rigveda (the oldest Sanskrit text) identifies the 4 levels descending with the human body in a modified way: 1) head/mouth > 2) arms > 3) stomach/loins > 4) feet.

For Plato and the Greeks (and for Europe), people could move up and down the classes based on merit. For example, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle went from level 3 to level 1. The High Priest Aaron went from level 4 to level 1. King David went from level 3 to level 1. However, in Hindu theology, a person cannot move up and down the classes in this life (because of the false theology of reincarnation). This is a fundamental difference between Western and Eastern philosophy.

Trigger Warning: You maybe be triggered by the talk of classes and castes

We like to think that human society is now finally enlightened and that there are no castes or classes. Whether you call it a “caste” or a “demographic,” you’re just moving around words. The concept may become more humanitarian over time, but the idea of “political layers” transcends cultures and transcends time. Human society has different parts.

The Platonic way of understanding political levels has little to do with wealth. Bill Gates is very rich, but he still belongs to level 3 as a merchant and producer. A modern example of how the the levels can be transcended is how both Barack Obama and Donald Trump ascended from level 3 to level 1. A person at level 3 could be poor, middle class, or a billionaire.

The 4 Levels of Society in Contemporary Society:

In America we may think of ourselves as egalitarian and without castes, but we still preserve this natural human hierarchy of political layers:

1. Head (priestly scholar class). This was the Catholic Church’s ecclesial hierarchy (from AD 600-1500). Now it is the University, the Professor, Politician, Judges, the “experts” and (since the 1960s) the TV Media and Social Media (Facebook). They are still almost impossible to circumvent. They seek to influence our daily thoughts and our children. And as always, they are usually very rich.
2. Chest (royal warrior class). This is the military, but more and more so it is the IRS, FBI, CIA, police, ATF, TSA, game warden, et al. They have the power to imprison us and kill us. In a good political system, they are inspired by the Head to promote justice and protect the innocent. It was for fear of a corrupted “chest level” that the United States allowed its citizens to arm themselves with weapons and, notably, firearms.
3. Stomach/Loins (artisans, merchants, tradesmen and farmers). This is your “middle class” white collar executives, and your corporate owners. They bear the load of society according to Plato, they must be controlled through “myths or noble lies” crafted by the philosophers. Civil religion is the best way to do this. It can be Roman imperial paganism with an Emperor cult (very powerful). In the same way it can be 16th century Church of England with civil obligations ordered to the king or queen who is “Head of the Church.” Or it can be a form of state-controlled Catholicism (Napoleonic Catholicism or Chinese Communistic Catholicism) or controlled Protestantism (state Protestantism/Lutheranism found in Northern European nations). In the last 30 years, the controlled state religions are being replaced with political correctness and class Socialism.
4. Limbs (laboring class). We no longer call them “servants” but our society has people who are deeply in debt (in the Bible, debt is de facto slavery) and who work only to: pay off debt (to banks), have food, and have a roof over their heads.

How do we fix it?

Now for the first question:

Where are you in the hierarchy? The most important point in this essay is that you can ascend and descend in these layers. It has always been accomplished in every age. The common born Socrates reached level 1 (but he was killed by level 2). Popes have arisen from slave status level 4 to high priest status level 1. Many Roman Emperors began as level 2 generals and then later became level 1 emperors and even philosophers (Marcus Aurelius). In fact, it has always been quite easy for some people to ascend to level 1. Just be aware that level 1 people are often killed by level 2 people.

Now for the second question:

Isn’t it obvious that Christians are leaving or being forced out of level 1 (head) and level 2 (chest)? Christians are less welcome in Universities. Less welcome in politics. Less welcome in film, TV, and media. It’s a given. This means a revolution is under way whether we recognize it or not. The TV stations, the internet, the news media, and the social media have driven out everything Christian and are replacing it with a new state-sponsored religion of political correctness, which is really environmentalism, pansexuality, and moral tolerance. 

Now for the third question:

What is our response as Christians? There are two options for us:

1. FIRST OPTION: We can fight to take back levels 1 and 2 through intellectual and moral excellence.
2. SECOND OPTION: We can recreate our own parallel society/culture and seek to win the long distance race of permanence. This is sometimes called the Benedict Option (hat tip to Eastern Orthodox author Rod Dreher) since it follows Saint Benedict creating an alternative culture and intellectual climate.

Taylor Marshall’s conclusion on the matter:

My belief is that Christians currently have possess all 4 levels in action whether or not we are recognized in society (we have intellectuals, warriors, artisans, laborers).

Therefore we should be pursuing both strategies at the same time:

1. We should be fighting to take back levels 1 and 2 (apologetics, academics, along with undermining the anti-Christian institutions).
   AND
2. We should build parallel institutions (e.g., our own Universities, schools, Troops of Saint George, our own TV/radio stations, our own art, our own Social Media outlets, our own news stations).

Some of us can push forward and fight on the front lines of layers 1 and 2 now, while some of us can retreat and construct our own parallel society (of layers 1-4).

Why Catholics are struggling at the moment to accomplish this transition:

The hardest part is that Christians (especially Catholics) are still deeply tied to all the old institutions, old universities, old political parties, and old means of communication (eg, announcements during liturgy and bulletins). This means we are having a very difficult time establishing a pivot.

Also, the Catholic hierarchy in the West still acts like it is operating at level 1 influence. Sadly, this is not the case. Secular nations have spent the last several decades figuring out ways to transform bishops from level 1 priestly spiritual leaders into level 3 producers of funds (taxation of church is the end game) and into level 3 producers of government service (grants to do government work which we saw occur in America under President Obama).

The ultimate aim here is the same as that of King Henry VIII – to make the bishops into level 3 producers and transfer their wealth, land, and production (offerings) to the State. See 16th century England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway for details on how it all goes down.

The difficulty in establishing a Christian pivot for a new era can be observed in how both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis are so deeply wedded to the European Union and traditional forms of communication (eg, Encyclicals) as means for bringing about Catholic influence. The Pope might as well be talking about feudalism and the Code of Hammurabi. It’s like carrying bows and arrows into an era of nuclear war.

The most brilliant minds in Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy are talking about the Benedict Option (Option 2: parallel institutions), but we need to engage both fronts. The intellectuals who are currently “fighting the culture war” while trying to win back levels 1 and 2 are either Jewish (Ben Shapiro, Mark Levin, Michael Savage) or secular in outlook (Milo Yiannopoulos, Gavin McInnis, Jordan Peterson). Some might see this “diversity” as a strength. I see it as as weakness. Here’s why:

As much as I like listening Jordan Peterson or even Ben Shapiro, I sometimes cringe when I think of how much better an equipped Christian could respond. We have a profound intellectual tradition (Thomism), but we are not using it. This is likely why God has allowed Christian influence to wane.

Where are the Christians? We need to spend the next decade prayerfully cultivating sharp and relevant Christian minds to engage the culture and social media. It’s required for the common good of society and for the moral excellence of next generation. It’s not enough to possess them only within our own parallel “Benedict Option” institutions. We need them out front in the current culture war. And in case you’re ready to sign up for this “level 1” position, be mindful of those level 1 intellectuals and prophets who came before you marked with blood: Isaiah, Socrates, Cicero, John the Baptist, Peter and Paul, Boethius, Thomas Becket, and Thomas More to name a few.

[reminder]

The post Plato’s Aristocracy and Why Catholics are Losing the Culture War appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Don’t take this too far. Saint Paul speaks plenty of human damnation and believes in punishment in the afterlife. For example:

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed…But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” (Rom 2:5, 8)

“If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Gal 1:8-9).

“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among those who have believed.” (2 Thess 1:8-10)

“All will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thes 2:12)

My belief is that Paul is does not use the language of “Hades” because it conjures ideas of Homer and Virgil in Roman audiences. And he does not use the language of “Gehenna” because it’s an exclusively Jewish idea. So “eternal condemnation” and “fire” are his favorite categories for Gentile audiences.

There is a lot of crazy stuff on the internet (and bookstores) on Saint Paul. If you want a concise Catholic commentary on all the writings of Saint Paul, please check out this book: The Catholic Perspective on Paul.

The post Saint Paul never once mentions the word Hell appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Canonizations are Infallible. Here’s why:

Concerning the Potential Problem of “Damned Saints”:

When a person is damned, he hates and curses God forever in Hell. That’s what damnation is. It’s a decision to reject God and His love. The damned person lacks all charity toward God. As Thomas Aquinas, would say, he belongs to the Kingdom of Satan. He is officially anti-Christ.

If the Church mistakingly were to canonize a damned man, then that means monks and nuns would be praying the Liturgy of the Hours and commemorating a man who currently curses God – and doing so annually in the liturgical cycle. Moreover, this would entail that priests are celebrating Masses in honor of a man who is literally diabolical. Even more so, churches, chapels, and cathedrals would be erected and consecrated in honor a man who hates God. No doubt, the devil would love all of this. So canonizations are infallible.

Concerning the Potential Problem of “Make-Believe Saints”

The same goes saints who are claimed to not have existed. If someone were to say that St George or St Christopher were make-believe people, then you have the Liturgy of Hours and Holy Mass celebrated to what amount to cartoon characters. It would be like celebrating Mass in honor of Luke Skywalker. It’s a mockery of true religion.

[Shameless plug: Check out my #1 Bestselling Historical Novel Sword and Serpent for a plausible biography of Saint George (and the “Dragon”) along with Saint Christopher by clicking here.]

We can grant that the legends and hagiography about certain saints are exaggerated or embellished, but we cannot say that the Church formally venerates imaginary people, celebrated Mass in honor of imaginary people, or that there are Churches dedicated to imaginary people.

If so, the devil would love all of this. So canonizations are infallible. It’s also worth noting that when a Pope canonizes a saint he invokes his authority as Vicar of Christ and successor to Saints Peter and Paul in a way similar to declaring dogmas infallible.

I recently wrote a history of the process of canonizations. You can read it here: “How Saints are Canonized: from Local to Papal Canonizations over Time.”

The post Are Catholic Canonizations of Saints Infallible? Yes appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The goal is to list gifts that he likes, but may not think of or ask for himself. If you need something interesting, different, and approved, check out this list.

Nota bene: In years past, I have recycled some of the most popular gifts, like this here Swiss Army Knife that is perfect for men, but especially for young or teenaged boys. If your son or husband doesn’t have a Swiss Army, get this one for him ASAP. He’ll love it and use it all Christmas morning to open boxes and gifts for everyone.

This year I wanted to change it up with 2 rules:

• I have to own/use it.
• It’s never been on a previous Top List before.

So here we go:

10. Amazon Echo or Show

I purchased an Echo for Joy and thought it was so cool I also got a Show for the kitchen counter. With just her voice, she can call up recipes, measurements, news, etc. But a guy can use it to call up weather, movie times,weather, his calendar appointments for the day, and any sport results or sport times coming up in future.

You can also fact check on it. For example, the other night we were debating how many people died in World War I. So I just said, “Alexa, how many people died in World War I?” and she answered: “17 million people died in World War I including 7 million civilians and 10 million military personnel.” How cool is that? We use it often and it’s great gift.

• The Amazon Echo has no screen just sound (You can play music on it and it sounds GREAT).
• The Amazon Show has a screen that shows images and text of what you ask or request.

9. Whisky Ice Ball Mold

I love scotch and I love the gigantic sphere ice cubes. My father got me these molds and they are easy to use and work great.

They are the #1 Bestseller on Amazon for this type of thing and they are the best. The “cool” thing about these large ice balls is that it melts slower than normal ice so you’re drink is cool but NOT watered down. It’s amazing. Get him some whisky ice ball molds for his stocking for only 9.99 by clicking here.

8. The Roku Premier

I love our Roku. I canceled cable which saves a lot of money. The Roku allows us to watch Amazon Prime content or Netflix. Get rid of cable. Get rid of ads. The Roku plugs into your TV or into your Receiver and streams content.

I like the Roku Premiere which is the most up to date version at only $65. Click here to get it.

7. Resistance Exercise Bands

I used to think you needed heavy weights and weights only, but these bands proved me wrong. I like to stretch with them and to place them under my feet and then do arm exercises.

They stretch and work the muscles well and you can do various muscle groups and angles that you could NEVER do with traditional weights. It’s a great addition to any work out routine. If your guy doesn’t lift, these are a threatening introduction. You will be sore but in a good way. Get the mixed pack for 29.95 – you’ll need different resistance levels for various exercises.

6. Wool Gloves

I’ve worn a pair of these for decades. They are rough and tough but they actually dress up pretty nice with a blazer or peacoat in the winter. You’ll get compliments on them.

Every man needs gloves. These are practical and stylish. At $25, these gloves are awesome.

5. Patagonia — Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover

Sweatshirts and even sweaters are just okay. This pullover is stylish and tough. I’ve been wearing one of these for…decades (am I that old?). Patagonia is a great brand and it’s not going to fray or rip. They are for great skiing, camping, sitting by the fire, or for taking out the trash. I like the one depicted below:

At $200 it is on the expensive side, but I think it’s worth it and it’s a gift that will last for over 10 years. Check out the various color options (I also like black and charcoal) by clicking here.

4. Audio Technica AT-LP60BK Record Player

This is the record player that my family got me 2 years ago. It’s great. We’ve had so much fun with it, from listening our parents old LPs, to searching out and buying new music on vinyl.

The benefit is that we actually sit down in chairs, but on an LP and sit and listen to the record and talk about it. Music is often in the car or on the run. Vinyl makes it an experience again. It’s a cool gift. Get this one for $89 (higher quality than what anyone had in the 70s) and throw in one of his favorite vinyl records from the past.

3. Pomade

The secret to great hair is pomade. Remember George Clooney in Oh Brother Where Art Thou? His hair was legit because his pomade was legit:

Most guys think this is stuff for Presidents or movie stars in the 1950s. Um, yeah? What’s wrong with that? It’s awesome. This is a cheap gift but it makes your hair awesome. Just a dab will do ya! Get the Pomade by Crew (it’s in my hair now) for $34.

2. Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation (Works with Amazon Alexa)

We got one in the summer and it’s AMAZING. We save tons of money on electric and heating and we are more comfortable. It actually senses when you are in the house and over time adjusts the power usage and temps to be most comfortable and save money. So if you leave the house every Tuesday for 5 hours at noon, it learns that and adjusts which save a lot of cash.  It also looks super cool on your wall:

It hooks up to your mobile devices and phones. And remember how I recommend Amazon Show or Echo above – this thermastat can be voice controlled via Alexa. It’s a game changer. Start your smart home with Alexa. I had a lot of fun setting it up and watching it adjust and save money week after week (it keeps track of usage and shows you much you’re saving.)

Don’t be scared by the $244 price tag. I promise you’ll save that much easy in your first year using it. Get a Nest Thermostat here.

1. A Grown Man’s Victornox Slicing Knife

If you could just get one gift, get him this one. I know he needs a nice carving knife, because I also know that most men use the old knives that their wives use every day – the ones that your uncle gave you on your wedding day. However, every man needs to learn how to age and prepare meat and this is STEP ONE: A NICE SLICING KNIFE.

My father has a PhD in meat science so he’s passed on some education to me, and this knife is awesome:

• It has over 1,000 5 star reviews. Rave reviews.
• It’s made by Victornox (the people who make the Swiss Army Knife).
• It’s #1 Bestseller in Carving Knives.
• There are better knives but for the price ($43), this is a steal.

Best of all, he can carve Christmas dinner with it. It will be his knife in the kitchen. Get the Victornox 12 inch Slicing Knife (don’t opt for a cheap one!) at amazon.com.

So there it is. If you’re a man and you like this list, subtly forward to this to your loved ones or slyly share it on Facebook. If you’re shopping for the men in your life, any of these are great gifts and I stand by the as someone who proudly uses all of them.

Final personal plug: My third and final novel in my Sword and Serpent Trilogy (about St George and Constantine) came out last week, and is trending as a #1 New Release on Amazon.com.

If your father or son loves battle, war stories, Roman history, gladiatorial games, and saints’ stories, please get him a copy of the first book in the Trilogy: Sword and Serpent by clicking here or the image below.

Happy Advent!
Taylor Marshall

The post Top 10 Christmas Gifts for Men – 2017 Edition appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

This Catholic novel continues the historical fiction tale of St George, St Catherine of Alexandria, Constantine the Great, St Nicholas, St Christopher, and Sabra to Britain, and then back into the heart of the Roman Empire climaxing in the Diocletian Persecution of AD 303.

If you like Saints’ stories, Lord of the Rings and The Princess Bride, then this Trilogy is for you:

The previous 2 books in the Trilogy are Amazon #1 Bestsellers in their categories, and all 3 books are back up in the Top 20 of their categories.

Here’s a video of Taylor explaining the new book:

Brief Synopsis of the Sword and Serpent Trilogy:

Book I: Sword and Serpent tells the story of a young man Jurian (St George) who experiences the mysterious murder of his father and later the murder of his mother. He journeys to Rome to uncover clues and along the way he meets St Blaise, St Christopher, St Nicholas and eventually Pope Marcellinus in Rome. The Pope reveals prophecy going back to Pope St Linus (2nd Pope after St Peter), which guides him to Cyrene in North Africa where he encounters the Dragon Molech. I don’t want to ruin the ending for you. Here’s the book:

Book II: Tenth Region of the Night picks up where Book I ended and introduces Jurian/George to Aikaterina (St Catherine of Alexandria), St Helena, and Constantine as Jurian rises through the Roman military but also seeks to find his kidnapped friend Menas (St Christopher). Book II begins in Egypt and follows a trail of mystery to the gladiatorial games and Christian martyrs.

Book III: Storm of Fire and Blood follows the narrative arc with Jurian/George in exile while being escorted by a young Constantine to Britain where Constantine’s father Constantius and his grandfather King Coel await him. This book sets ups several precedents for Arthurian legend and chivalry in England before heading back into the heart of the Empire for a confrontation with the draconian Emperor Diocletian.

If you’ve read the first 2 books, you need to read Book 3. All the readers say that it is the stand out novel and the best of the 3. If you have not yet begun, please join and and read Book 1: Sword and Serpent.

And everyone is invited to our Sword and Serpent Discussion Group on Facebook (370 members).

The post #1 New Release Catholic Fiction Novel = Taylor Marshall’s Storm of Fire and Blood appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

What was Saint Nicholas like as a young priest? Could he bi-locate? Could he read souls?

These are topics that I explored in my bestselling historical novel Sword and Serpent, in which I imagined a young and clairvoyant Saint Nicholas meeting a traveling pair of young future saints: Saint George and the recently baptized Saint Christopher.

These novels explore the historical martyrdoms of Christians under the Emperor Diocletian from the point of view of St George, St Christopher, St Nicholas, St Catherine of Alexandria, St Helena, Constantine, and dozens of other men and women who will go on to be known as Catholic saints. The novels are “clean” but contain gruesome and detailed accounts of martyrdoms, Roman battles, and gladiatorial bouts. If you mixed together Catholic Saint stories, The Princess Bride, and Lord of the Rings – you’d get the Sword and Serpent Trilogy.

Sword and Serpent Book 3: released today!

The first 2 novels were Amazon best-sellers in their categories – and on the feast of Saint Nicholas, we are announcing the print version of the third and final novel in the Sword and Serpent Trilogy is released: Storm of Fire and Blood.

The consensus from the reader reviews from the ebook version is that this third novel is exhilarating, well-researched, and the best of the three in the trilogy. Some have said it is the best book that they’ve read all year:

Here are the three novels in the Sword and Serpent Trilogy:

Just like first two novels in the series: we are having a Launch Party to get the word out with prizes.

How To Join the Party and Get FREE Books (hashtag: #SwordAndSerpent #TenthRegion #StormofFireandBlood)

Here are 8 epic ways you can do epic things and win epic stuff:

1. Take an Epic #Selfie with the Book
(Prize: a Free signed copy of Storm of Fire and Blood)

HOW TO ENTER: Take a photo with the book Storm of Fire and Blood. Extra points will be awarded for costumes or exotic places. We once had one taken in front of the Colosseum in Rome! The more epic, the more likely you are to win. Take a photo, post it on Facebook and then send an email to swordandserpent+selfie@gmail.com with a link to your picture.

RULES:

• This is not a random drawing. This is a performance-based contest that will be judged. Be epic. Get the family to dress up as Jurian, Sabra, Aikaterina, Menas, Helena, et al. and snap a selfie with the book. Or maybe take a photo of yourself holding the book in someplace amazing. If you get a photo of yourself standing next to Pope Francis holding the book, you win hands down!
• Selfies with any version of the Storm of Fire and Blood count (printed, ebook).

2. Just Get the Book Contest (Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card)

HOW TO ENTER: Buy just one copy of Storm of Fire and Blood and then send an email to swordandserpent+boughtbook@gmail.com simply stating “I bought a copy.” If you buy more than one copy, please send one email for each copy you bought. *If you already reviewed the novel before today and emailed me about it, you’re already entered into this contest.

You can get a copy of Storm of Fire and Blood by clicking here.

RULES:

• You can enter for each copy purchased. (For example, if you buy four copies, send an email saying “I bought 4” in the subject line.)
• Winner will be drawn at random on December 24.

3. St Nicholas Gift Contest (Prize: an iPad Mini mailed to your house! AND a free signed copy of Storm of Fire and Blood)

HOW TO ENTER: Several reviewers on amazon.com said that Sword and Serpent would be a perfect Christmas gift. This contest honors Saint Nicholas who is an important character in the book – it’s also his feast day this week. To win this prize, purchase at least 4 copies (1 for yourself and 3 as gifts to give away at Christmas) and send an email to swordandserpent+gifts@gmail.com. You can order copies by clicking here.

RULES:

• You must purchase at least 4 copies to enter.
• If you purchase multiples of 4, you can enter that many times (8 copies = 2 entries; 12 copies = 3 entries; 80 copies = 20 entries – enter how many copies you got in the subject line: “I got 8 copies as Christmas gifts” – that’s 2 entries in this prize)
• Winner will be drawn at random on December 24 and will receive an iPad for free.

4. Review the Novel at Amazon.com (Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card AND a free signed copy of Storm of Fire and Blood)

HOW TO ENTER: Read the book and leave a friendly review at amazon.com. Next, send an email to swordandserpent+reviewed@gmail.com with a link to your review.

RULES:

• Please leave a review at amazon.com before December 24.
• Even though GoodReads is not a retailer, we’ll count GoodReads reviews too. So if you review at Amazon and goodreads, that’s two entries. Way to go! Click here for GoodReeds reviews.
• Send an email to swordandserpent+reviewed@gmail.com with a link to your review.
• Winner will be drawn at random on December 24.

5. Write a Blog Post about Storm of Fire and Blood
(Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card + a promo link to your blog from my blog)

HOW TO ENTER: Write a blog post about Storm of Fire and Blood with the amazon link to the book in your review. Next, send an email to swordandserpent+blog@gmail.com with a link to your review.

RULES:

• The post does not have to be a “book review.” It can be a theological reflection or an interview with me about the book.
• Please include this exact amazon.com link: http://amzn.to/2BFTyWh
• Winner will be drawn at random on December 24.

6. Facebook The Book (Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card)

HOW TO ENTER: Write an update on your Facebook wall about Sword and Serpent and include a link to the amazon link and the link to the book trailer. Next send an email to swordandserpent+facebook@gmail.com.

Please use this photo and this link to the book: http://amzn.to/2BFTyWhRULES:

• Please feel free to use the book video trailer from Book I: http://youtu.be/lN8dFJEOQ_8
• Please include the amazon.com link to the book: http://amzn.to/2BFTyWh
• Winner will be drawn at random.

Okay, there are the contests. They all end on Dec 24 2016. Get busy taking epic selfies. By the way the easiest contest to win is #3 – Just Get the Book: Storm of Fire and Blood.

To everyone who already made Storm of Fire and Blood possible and helped it get to #1, THANK YOU!

Happy winnings and Happy Advent!

Saint George, pray for us!
Taylor

Epic Book Trailer for Sword and Serpent, Book I:

Saint George pray for us,
Taylor Marshall

The post What was St Nicholas like as a Young Priest: Sword and Serpent Book 3 released! appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Father Dwight Longenecker discusses his research connecting the Magi to the court of the ancient Nabateans. He has some fantastic insights into the identity and theological importance of the Magi. Watch this interview as we discuss “What is a Magi?” and “Where did they come from?” and much more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13WSR8pFhPU

You can learn more about Father Dwight Longenecker’s new research and book Mystery of the Magi by clicking here.

The post Who Were the Historical Wise Men? Dr Marshall Interviews Fr Longenecker on Mystery of the Magi appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Many are shocked to discover that a Temple to the Aphrodite (goddess of sexual lust) was built by Hadrian in around AD 135 over the location of Golgotha and the Tomb of Christ, as depicted below by National Geographic. In fact, a status of goddess was located directly over the site of the crucifixion of Chirst:

As in our own era, sexual exploitation may seek to bury the cross of Jesus, but the power of the cross will topple all idols dedicated to lust.

The reality of this blasphemy is depicted in my historical-fiction novel: Tenth Region of the Night, when Sabra (the young girl rescued in the Saint George legend) visits Aelia Capitolina (Jerusalem) to see the Tomb of Christ only to find it sadly “buried beneath a Temple to Aphrodite.”

Asoldier nearby, noticing her beauty, wrongly concludes that she desires to visit the Temple of Aphrodite:

“I have no interest in the cultus,” she said quietly, heart pounding. “My interest is more…historical. Something happened outside the city’s old walls that interests me greatly, and I wish to see the site for myself. I…I did not know about the Temple of Aphrodite, in all truth.”

The soldier’s eyes widened. “This site you wish to see…do you mean to say, the site of mankind’s darkest hour?” he asked, his voice just as low as hers. “Am I wrong to think that is your interest?”

“Our darkest hour, and the brightest,” she said. “Victory disguised as defeat.”

“Something men of my calling can rarely understand,” he said, touching the mark of the Legion on his upper arm. “But that site has been buried for centuries, domina. Did no one tell you that?”

“Buried?” Sabra echoed. Her heart felt strangely numb. “Forgotten…”

“Not by all of us,” Orentius said softly. “I came early to the Legion, and late to the sea. I should rather have been a fisherman.”

Tenth Region of the Night is the sequel to my best-selling novel about the Roman legend of Saint George and the Dragon: Sword and Serpent. If you’d like to explore Roman history in the years just before the conversion of Constantine the Great, check out the best-selling Sword and Serpent Trilogy.

The third book in the Sword and Serpent Trilogy, Storm of Fire and Blood, will be released next week – probably on December 6 – Feast of Saint Nicholas (a major character in all 3 books):

Godspeed,
Taylor Marshall

The post The Tomb of Christ was once buried under an Idol of Lust appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

William Shakespeare died on the feast day of Saint George: April 23.It fits nicely with Shakespeare’s play Henry V which features the battle cry:

Follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’

Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish author of Don Quixote (and solder at Battle of Lepanto) also died on April 23.

It’s also worth noting that the novel Dracula begins on April 23, the feast of Saint George, since Dracula a “slaying the dragon myth.” Dracula translates as “little dragon.”

On of the the readers of my Saint George historical novel Sword and Serpent also recently pointed out the center placement of Saint George on the Russian Coat of Arms up until 1917 (year of Our Lady of Fatima):

If you’d like to learn more about Saint George in history, please join our Sword and Serpent Discussion Group on Facebook by clicking here.

Godspeed,
Dr. Taylor Marshall

PS: Book 3 in the Sword and Serpent Trilogy comes out later this year.

The post When William Shakespeare died on the Feast of Saint George appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Is Saint Christopher still a saint? It’s said that his feast day (July 25) was removed from the universal calendar, but was it? Actually it was not. It was removed from the General Roman Calendar of 1969. Saint Christopher is still liturgically celebrated by the Eastern Catholic Churches and by those churches celebrating the Latin Mass, which follow the General Roman Calendar of 1960.

Saint Christopher is an unnamed martyr who died for Christ either under the Roman Emperor Decius (249–251) or under the Roman Emperor Maximinus II Dacian (308–313). My research leads me to believe that the latter date is accurate.

The Legend of the Christophoros:

The legend is that an evil and gigantic Canaanite man named Reprobus (“reporobate”) was asked by a child to carry him across a river. As Reprobus carried the child, the child became heavier and heavier and nearly drowned the giant Reprobus.

The child revealed Himself as the Christ Child who bore the weight of all the sins of the world, especially those of Reprobus. The evil man repented and was baptized by Christ in that same river. His baptismal name became Christo-Phoros (Christ-bearer) since he ferried the Christ Child across the river.

Christopher is sometimes depicted with the head of a dog, since he was a Canaanite. But the term Canaanite was confused for “canine” meaning “dog.”

The Historical Christophoros:

In my best-selling historical-fiction novel Sword and Serpent (featuring Saint George and Saint Christopher as companions) I follow an alternative history for Saint Christopher that identifies him with the Coptic “Saint Menas.”

Saint Menas is venerated in Egypt and is also said to have carried the Christ Child. He was a Roman solider (like Saint George) who later abandoned the military to live a solitary life of a hermit. The association of Saint Menas with Egypt fits the Roman tradition of “Saint Christopher belonging to the Egyptian “Third Valerian Cohort of the Marmantae.”

Additionally, Christopher and Menas received martyrdom in Antioch, further linking their identity.

My hypothesis is that Menas (from Egypt) was martyred to the north in Antioch. The local Christians were not familiar with him but honored him simply as “he who bore Christ” or “Christophoros” and thus the Antiochian Christians called him “Saint Christopher,” and the Egyptian Christians called him by his actual name: “Saint Menas.”

Saint Christopher in Catholic Novel Format:

I tease out all these traditions in my historical-fiction trilogy Sword and Serpent. In the third novel (Book III: Storm of Fire and Blood; due Christmas 2017), while Saint George and Saint Christopher are in Britain, I have the pagan inhabitants mistaking Saint Christopher for the god Woden for reasons that will be entertaining and apparent if you read the Book II: Tenth Region of the Night.

If you’d like to begin this best-selling “5-star” novel trilogy: Book I Sword and Serpent is on sale today (for the feast of Saint Christopher) for:

• Sword and Serpent: $0.99 on sale today for Kindle
• Sword and Serpent: $13.29 on sale today in paperback

(It’s available in Spanish as well: La espada y la serpiente.)

Please grab a copy and enjoy your summer reading! Happy feast of Saint Christopher!

Saint Christopher/Menas, pray for us!

Dr Taylor Marshall

The post Is Saint Christopher still a saint? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

I have a question for you from “The Catholic Perspective on Paul.” You make brief conversation about the protestant idea of ‘imputed righteousness’ by way of Luther, but didn’t discuss other verses he may have drawn that idea from. In particular, I know James White (a popular debater on YouTube) likes to quote from Romans 4 and the Psalm therein about the “blessed man to whom the Lord imputes to guilt” and makes a big deal about “God’s imputation of our sins to our account”, saying that even if we can be forgiven by the Sacrament of Penance, we would still be un-blessed because God “blames us” for our sins under the Roman system of Theology. Have you discussed this idea before? I would love to hear your thoughts

I was also curious what translation of the Bible you were quoting from in your books. While similar to the RSV2CE I own, I like many passages you quoted because they seem a bit more poetic than what I’m used to reading. What translation are you using?

Here is my response:

Dylan,

• If Dylan owes me one million dollars, I could just pretend that you don’t owe me (Lutheranism) and say you are forgiven.
• The Catholic way is that I actually give Dylan a million dollars and the debt is actually paid back to me.

The post How and Why Catholics can use Language of Imputation appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Sword and Serpent has been the best-selling Catholic fiction novel of the last couple years:

The story begins in AD 299 with an orphaned young man (the future Saint George) who begins a laborious journey with his sister to Rome. Along the way he meets figures such as Saint Christopher, Saint Blaise, Saint Nicholas, and others. The story climaxes with a mysterious encounter with an intellectual Dragon – but in a way that you may not be able to imagine yet. Let is suffice to say that it plays into the Catholic tradition of demonic apparitions…

Book Trailer for Sword and Serpent on Youtube:

Here’s one readers review of the novel:

Today only you can receive Sword and Serpent on sale for only:

• $0.99 Kindle Version: Sword and Serpent
  OR
• $14.77 Paperback Version: Sword and Serpent
  OR
• $16.35 for Spanish Version (La Spada y La Serpienta) from Palabra

Sword and Serpent is part of a 3 Volume Series and the second installment is also a best-seller and available for sale today as well. Part 2, title The Tenth Region of the Night is on sale for:

• $0.99 Kindle Version: The Tenth Region of the Night
• 14.77 Paperback Version: The Tenth Region of the Night
  (no Spanish version yet available)

You can also read Father Dwight Longenecker’s glowing review of Sword and Serpent by clicking here.

Please explore the reviews for the Sword and Serpent to discover what people are saying about this new edition of Catholic historical-fiction: Read Reviews of Sword and Serpent.

Happy Feast Day of Saint George!!!

Dr. Taylor Marshall

The post #1 Best-Selling Catholic Fiction Novel on Sale Today at Amazon appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

In our New Saint Thomas Institute Catholic Church History series on the Arian Heresy Controversy and the Council of Constantinople, our student Alicia asks:

Is there a reason why the name of Pontius Pilate was included in the second creed?

Pontius Pilate’s name is in the Creeds because it anchors the life of Christ into human history, specifically Roman history. If you interested in the redemptive meaning of Rome, the Roman Pontius Pilate, and the Roman cross of execution in the redemption of man by a Jewish Messiah, please see my book The Eternal City: Rome and the Origins of Catholicism. 

There is a “tradition” that Pontius Pilate’s wife Claudia Procula had a dream of billions of people chanting “sub Pontio Pilato” over and over and over.

What she was hearing was the billions of Christians who recite “He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.”

Most woman would be honored to know that their husband’s name would be on the lips of billions over a period of 20 centuries. But in the case of this Prefect of Judaea, it is the notorious reputation of being the remote efficient cause of Christ’s crucifixion.

The dream of “Claudia” is referred to in Matthew 27:19:

While Pilate was sitting in the judgment hall, his wife sent him a message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, because in a dream last night, I suffered much on account of him.”

If the tradition is true, she dreamed of the countless recitations and liturgical chants of “under Pontius Pilate.”

Origen is the first to mention that she converted to Christianity. She is a saint. In art, she is depicted as whispering into the ear of Pontius. Mel Gibson’s Passion depicts Claudia giving linens to the Blessed Mother to collect the Blood of Christ from the scourging.

Saint Claudia, pray for us.

If you’d like to take our courses on Historical Theology, the Creeds, the Councils, and Catholic Tradition, please sign up with us at newsaintthomas.com.

The post The Horrific Dream of the Wife of Pontius Pilate (about the Nicene Creed) appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

When I was Protestant, we relished in the belief that the Apostle Paul was thoroughly Protestant. We considered him to be the proto-Martin Luther. We believed that Paul taught:

• justification by faith alone
• once saved always saved
• authority of Scripture alone (no Tradition)
• sacraments as symbolic

However, there were always those little verses in Paul that made me feel uncomfortable. Here were things that we tried to ignore:

• Paul rejoiced in being celibate – I didn’t know any celibate Protestant pastors that spoke like Paul did
• Paul called himself “Father” in relation to his converts – he once refers to his ministry as “priestly”
• he speaks of baptism transformative and saving
• he speaks of obedience and good works quite often
• he holds out the possibility that he might forfeit his own salvation through infidelity

This passages kept bubbling up until at last I saw that Protestantism couldn’t hold all the tension within these passages…and so I became Catholic.

After entering the Catholic Church, I wrote a simple and systematic explanation of nearly every major Catholic doctrine within the writings of Saint Paul. Not only does the book walk you step by step through Paul’s thoroughly sacramental and ecclesial theology, it also includes an appendix with all the verses in Paul – a kind of Pauline cheat sheet for Catholic theology. This appendix will save you hours of time looking for passages. It already arranged for you.

To celebrate Saint Paul’s own conversion, this book is half price today (and down to only $0.99 on Kindle): The Catholic Perspective on Paul. This is a great resource for anyone interested in Apologetics, Pauline theology, New Testament studies, or for anyone who wants to become familiar with Paul’s letters. Check out the Table of Contents and read a free sample here:

If you’ve read the book already, please leave a review by clicking here. I’d love to read your thoughts and I’d be grateful for your review.

Saint Paul, pray for us.

Happy Feast Day of Saint Paul,

Taylor Marshall

The post The CATHOLIC (not Protestant) Perspective on Paul appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

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The post Reviews of the New Saint Thomas Institute from Members appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

My new best-selling Catholic historical fiction novel about early Catholic saints, Tenth Region of the Night, is now on sale (a few dollars cheaper) for the next few days, if you’d like to get a copy.

Here are the winners of our contests:

Take an Epic #Selfie with the Book
(Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card AND a free signed copy of Tenth Region)

Winner: Mari Webber with this photo from Germany with depictions of two characters from the books: Saint George and Saint Nicholas

Thanks for the awesome photo, Mari and thanks for our “smoking St Nicholas.”

Just Get the Book Contest (Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card)

Winner: Armando Javier Arteaga.

I hope you enjoyed the novel Armando!

Christmas Contest (Prize: an iPad Mini mailed to your house! AND a free signed copy of Tenth Region)

David W. Warner

Review the Novel at Amazon.com (Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card AND a free signed copy of Tenth Region)

John M. Sengenberger II for his review on amazon.com:

To read more reviews of the novel, click here.

Write a Blog Post about Sword and Serpent
(Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card)

Winner: Catherine T. Mohs with her excellent review of the book that you can read on her blog at: The Tenth Region of the Night: Sword and Serpent Book II Review.

Thanks Catherine!

Facebook The Book (Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card)

Winners: Alan and Julie McCabe

Thanks for sharing on Facebook!

Thank you to the hundreds that participated. I wish I could send a prize to you all. Thank you so much for supporting the book. It means so much to me.

Godspeed,
Taylor Marshall

The post Our Winners for the Tenth Region of the Night Book appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

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Looking for a Bestselling Historical Fiction Novel about Saint Nicholas? Check out my novel: Sword and Serpent (and its best-selling sequel Tenth Region of the Night) at amazon.com:

The post Catholic Video: 3 Facts about Saint Nicholas! appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

In 2014, I published a historical fiction novel about the legend of Saint George and the dragon (titled Sword and Serpent) that debuted at #1 on Amazon.com in Young Adult Religious at both Historical and Action!!! I’m grateful to everyone who read it and reviewed it!

Yesterday I published the sequel to Sword and Serpent titled The Tenth Region of the Night: Sword and Serpent Book II. It also has reached #1 Bestseller status in those categories as well as in “Hot New Releases.”

The new novel’s cover depicts a Greek ouroboros – a snake eating itself. Evil always turns in on itself – and this is the plot of the novel. Just before daybreak (what the Egyptians call the “Tenth Region of the Night”), evil is thoroughly destroyed by the dawning light – Saint George, the martyrs, and Constantine’s conversion.

If you’d like to immerse yourself into the life of early persecuted Christians (circa AD 299) with the likes of Saint George (Jurian), Saint Nicholas (Nikolaos), Saint Christopher (Menas), Saint Catherine (Aikaterina), Constantine, and Saint Helen, then please explore these novels.

It’s what would happen if you mishmashed stories like The Princess Bride, Lord of the Rings, and Hunger Games with historic truths about relics, miracles, bilocating saints, popes, and self-sacrifice. What if epic adventures didn’t have in a far away fantasy world…but happened in the Roman Empire in AD 299. That’s this story…and it has something like a dragon it!

Just like last time, we are having a Launch Party to get the word out with prizes.

How To Join the Party and Get FREE Books (hashtag: #SwordAndSerpent #TenthRegion)

Here are 8 epic ways you can do epic things and win epic stuff:

1. Take an Epic #Selfie with the Book
(Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card AND a free signed copy of Tenth Region)

HOW TO ENTER: Take a photo with the book The Tenth Region of the Night. Extra points will be awarded for costumes or exotic places. The more epic, the more likely you are to win. Take a photo, post it on Facebook and then send an email to swordandserpent+selfie@gmail.com with a link to your picture.

RULES:

• This is not a random drawing. This is a performance-based contest that will be judged. Be epic. Get the family to dress up as Jurian, Sabra, Aikaterina, Menas, Helena, et al. and snap a selfie with the book. Or maybe take a photo of yourself holding the book in someplace amazing. If you get a photo of yourself standing next to Pope Francis holding the book, you win hands down!
• Selfies with any version of the The Tenth Region count (printed, ebook).

2. Create The Tenth Region of the Night Cocktail/Beverage (Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card)

HOW TO ENTER: That’s right mixologists, here’s a contest for you! Using ideas, concepts, locations, items, people, or ingredients mentioned in the book Tenth Region (Saint Anastasia is a pharmacist in the novel!), create the official The Tenth Region of the Night cocktail or beverage. Send an email to swordandserpent+drink@gmail.com and write down the recipe, take a photo of the drink, and the explain how it relates to the book.

RULES:

• This is not a drawing. It is performance based. The best concotion wins.
• The drink need not be alcoholic. It could be a kid’s milk shake or soda concoction. Or it could be “Menas Mojito” inspired by dragons, the Aikaterina Sleeper Martini, Constantine, and/or the sword of Saint George. Get epic. Get crazy. Have fun with it. Take pics.

3. Just Get the Book Contest (Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card)

HOW TO ENTER: Buy just one copy of The Tenth Region of the Night and then send an email to swordandserpent+boughtbook@gmail.com simply stating “I bought a copy.” If you buy more than one copy, please send one email for each copy you bought. *If you already reviewed the novel before today and emailed me about it, you’re already entered into this contest.

You can get a copy of The Tenth Region of the Night by clicking here. 

RULES:

• You can enter for each copy purchased. (For example, if you buy four copies, send an email saying “I bought 4” in the subject line.)
• Winner will be drawn at random on December 24.

4. Christmas Contest (Prize: an iPad Mini mailed to your house! AND a free signed copy of Tenth Region)

HOW TO ENTER: Several reviewers on amazon.com said that Sword and Serpent would be a perfect Christmas gift. This contest honors Saint Nicholas who is an important character in the book – it’s also his feast day this week. To win this prize, purchase at least 4 copies (1 for yourself and 3 as gifts to give away at Christmas) and send an email to swordandserpent+gifts@gmail.com. You can order copies by clicking here.

RULES:

• You must purchase at least 4 copies to enter.
• If you purchase multiples of 4, you can enter that many times (8 copies = 2 entries; 12 copies = 3 entries; 80 copies = 20 entries – enter how many copies you got in the subject line: “I got 8 copies as Christmas gifts” – that’s 2 entries in this prize)
• Winner will be drawn at random on December 24 and will receive an iPad for free.

5. Review the Novel at Amazon.com (Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card AND a free signed copy of Tenth Region)

HOW TO ENTER: Read the book and leave a friendly review at amazon.com. Next, send an email to swordandserpent+reviewed@gmail.com with a link to your review.

RULES:

• Please leave a review at amazon.com before December 24.
• Even though GoodReads is not a retailer, we’ll count GoodReads reviews too. So if you review at Amazon and goodreads, that’s two entries. Way to go! Click here for GoodReeds reviews.
• Send an email to swordandserpent+reviewed@gmail.com with a link to your review.
• Winner will be drawn at random on December 24.

6. Write a Blog Post about Sword and Serpent
(Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card + a promo link to your blog from my blog)

HOW TO ENTER: Write a blog post about The Tenth Region of the Night with the amazon link to the book in your review. Next, send an email to swordandserpent+blog@gmail.com with a link to your review.

RULES:

• The post does not have to be a “book review.” It can be a theological reflection or an interview with me about the book.
• Please include the amazon.com link: http://amzn.to/2gOQq3N
• Winner will be drawn at random on December 24.

7. Facebook The Book (Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card)

HOW TO ENTER: Write an update on your Facebook wall about Sword and Serpent and include a link to the amazon link and the link to the book trailer. Next send an email to swordandserpent+facebook@gmail.com.

Please use this photo and this link to the book: http://amzn.to/2gOQq3N

RULES:

• Please feel free to use the book video trailer from Book I: http://youtu.be/lN8dFJEOQ_8
• Please include the amazon.com link to Tenth Region of the Night: http://amzn.to/1HPEMLf
• Winner will be drawn at random.

8. Book Club Contest (Prize $75 Gift Card to Restaurant and Skype Chat with Me and your Group AND a free signed copy of Tenth Region)

HOW TO ENTER: Gather a book group of at least five friends who will read the The Tenth Region of the Night and meet to discuss. The winner will get a $75 restaurant gift certificate to pay for food or drinks for your book club. I will also sit down with you via internet interview in Skype or Google Hangout for 15 minutes to talk about the book and answer group questions. Send an email to swordandserpent+bookclub@gmail.com with a link to an Evite or other online invitation showing four or more attendees.

RULES:

• The primary purpose of the meeting should be discussion of The Tenth Region of the Night.
• One entry per group.
• You can choose the restaurant, but please find one that has gift cards so I can pay for it.
• Winner will be drawn at random.
• I will arrange my schedule around the winner’s book club meeting to do the Skype interview. It’ll be fun!

Okay, there are the 8 contests. They all end on Dec 24 2016. Get busy taking epic selfies. By the way the easiest contest to win is #3 – Just Get the Book: The Tenth Region of the Night.

To everyone who already made The Tenth Region of the Night possible and helped it get to #1, THANK YOU!

Happy winnings and Happy Advent!

Saint George, pray for us!
Taylor

Epic Book Trailer for Sword and Serpent, Book I:

Saint George pray for us,
Taylor Marshall

The post Orthodox Catholic Fiction Novel = #1 Bestseller in Youth Historical/Action appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Mari Webber, New Saint Thomas Institute Member and Sword and Serpent Launch Team member (and Our Lady of Guadalupe NSTI Pilgrim) purchased in Germany this beautiful smoking Saint Nicholas for our family. Our children love it! Thanks Mari for your generosity!

You place incense inside of him and he blows the incense smoke out of his mouth, as if he is smoking his pipe:

and here is Mari taking an “epic selfie” with a copy of Sword and Serpent in Germany:

Thank you Mari for our smoking German Saint Nick!

Happy Advent to everyone!

Godspeed,

Taylor Marshall

The post Saint Nicholas is smoking incense in our kitchen! appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

https://youtu.be/QFJ2nPX5b20

YOU WILL DISCOVER:

• Why the Book of Revelation was written
• a Catholic interpretation of Revelation based on Scripture, Tradition, and Church Fathers
• the Virgin Mary in Revelation 12
• the Mark of the Beast and 666 from a Catholic view point of view
• EVERYONE THAT ATTENDS WILL RECEIVE a FREE pdf worksheet of the Webinar. Dr Marshall will make available his 16 part series on Catholic Revelation.
• Register to reserve your spot by clicking here.

The post Catholic Webinar on the Book of Revelation with Dr Marshall appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

What is the history of the Sign of the Cross? How can I defend this practice to Protestants/atheists/other religions?

Many of our students responded with excellent answers (if you’re a student of NSTI, you can read them here), but here is my advice to Sarah:

Sarah,

When talking about this with a non-Catholic, you should be succinct and convincing. Protestants prefer “Scripture alone” but they can be swayed by quotes from the earliest Church Fathers. So I would recommend this line of argument:

The Apostles would place the sign of the cross on the foreheads of newly baptized people in fulfillment prophetic visions found in Ezekiel and Revelation. After baptism, Christians would continue to make the sign of the cross on their foreheads, and we see evidence of it in the Bible and Church Fathers. When Christianity became legal, the larger sign of the cross made from head to stomach became adopted. But the original form is simply made with the thumb on the forehead.

SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel speaks of the “mark of the t” administered by the heavenly “man in linen” on the head of the faithful. “Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”

The heavenly “man in linen” is the Second Person of the Trinity. Revelation depicts Jesus Christ as the man in linen.

So Ezekiel describes Christ placing a saving “t” or “x” shaped letter on the forehead. The Book of Revelation carries on the description of placing the cross on the forehead.

For my in depth discussion on the sign of the cross as “the mark of the Christ” in the Book of Revelation (in contrast with “the Mark of the Beast:), you can listen for free here.

CHURCH FATHERS
For Church Fathers goes with Tertullian. Writing in around A.D. 204, Tertullian explained that Christians mark their foreheads with the sign of the cross.

In all our travels and movements in all our coming in and going out, in putting of our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupieth us, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross. (Tertullian, De corona milites, 3)

My bestselling novel Sword and Serpent features early Christians often making the signum crucis on their foreheads. You can read a sample and reviews by clicking here at amazon.com.

The post How to Explain Sign of the Cross to Protestants appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

1. Edith was born on the Jewish feast day of the Day of Atonement.
   From an early age she perceived herself as special chosen by God and situated her own life into the Jewish theology of atonement. Whereas ancient Old Testament Judaism has a rich theology of blood atonement, contemporary rabbinical Judaism (as I cover The Crucified Rabbi) has no way of providing blood atonement according to the precepts of Moses.
2. Edith lost faith in early Feminist movement.
   She described herself as a “radical suffragette” who eventually “lost interest in the whole issue.” She turned to philosophy and then eventually Catholicism to provide answers to the problems facing women in the 20th century. Ultimately, she found those answers in the Carmelite convent as a place of silence, religious obedience, mortification, study, and prayer.
3. Edith studied phenomenology under the guidance philosopher Max Scheler.
   Philosophy has been plagued by the problem of how the mind knows and interacts with the world. If our perceptions are different from one another and different at various times of life, is there truly an objective reality outside our mind. Phenomenology seeks to bridge the real world to the phenomena of our mind. Ultimately, it took a Catholic guide in the person of Max Scheler to guide Edith to the philosophical Realism that Catholicism offers. Scheler called his philosophy a “return to things” or a “turn to reality.”
4. Edith’s dissertation thesis was titled “The Problem of Empathy.”
   As a professor myself, you can tell a lot about a professor by just knowing the title of the doctoral dissertation. The philosophy of empathy (literally “suffering in another”) maps neatly onto Catholicism, with its universal call to mercy and its pattern of faithful suffering and martyrdom. Even before she was a Catholic, she wrote the following in her dissertation: “There have been people who believed that a sudden change had occurred within them and that this was a result of God’s grace.” Clearly, she was already finding her way to Christ.
5. Edith read the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila in one night.
   During her philosophical struggles with empathy, psychology, and suffering, she came across a book about the Carmelite spiritual master Saint Teresa Avila. “When I had finished the book, I said to myself: This is the truth.” Notice she said “the truth” and not simply “truth.” She had found Christ Himself.

I’m sure there are dozens of other events and inspirations that led Edith Stein into the Catholic Church. She was baptized on the feast of the Circumcision of Christ (Jan 1) in 1922. She entered the Carmelite convent twelve years later in 1934 taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (German: Teresia Benedicta vom Kreuz). She received the crown of martyrdom under the Nazis on August 9, 1942

Saint John Paul II canonized Edith on Oct 11 1998 as “a daughter of Israel” and as a martyr of the Catholic Church.

One interesting fact is that the final miracle for her canonization came from Eastern Catholic devotion to her. You can read about that miracle among the Melkite Catholics here.

[reminder]Do you have devotion to Saint Teresa Benedicta? Do you know of any other intimate details from her life?[/reminder]

The post 5 Reasons Why Jewish Prof. Edith Stein Became a Catholic Nun appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

A major theological controversy broke out in in the Catholic Church around the year AD 217 regarding adultery and fornication.

In 217, Pope Saint Callixtus I of Rome issued a decree that the sins of adultery and fornication could be remitted by the Catholic Church through the office of the bishop.

Tertullian, who rejected the Pope for this reason, directly quotes and preserves Pope Callixtus’s decree:

I hear that there has even been an edict set forth, and a peremptory one too. The Pontifex Maximus, that is, the bishop of bishops, issues an edict:

“I remit, to such as have discharged the requirements of repentance, the sins both of adultery and of fornication.”

It’s notable that Tertullian refers to the Bishop of Rome as the “bishop of bishops” and “Pontifiex Maximus.” Tertullian scholars believe that he was saying this tongue in cheek, because Tertullian held the lowest esteem for Bishop of Rome and Pope Callixtus in particular.

This merciful papal decree of 217 led to general scandal because it was generally believed that certain sins could not be absolved by the visible church. According to Tertullian (a great theological enemy of Pope Callixtus), once a baptized person committed any of the seven sins on the list below, he or she could not be absolved by the visible church:

1. murder
2. idolatry
3. fraud
4. apostasy (publicly renouncing Jesus Christ)
5. blasphemy
6. adultery (sex with someone besides your spouse)
7. fornication (sex outside marriage)
   (this list is found in Tertullian’s De Pudicitia*, Ch 19).

Tertullian vs. Pope Calixtus

Tertullian, citing ancient custom, claimed that a sinner could be forgiven directly by Jesus Christ for these seven sins; however, the Catholic Church on earth could not absolve these seven sins and those that committed them would and should remain excommunicated and outside the Catholic Church until death. If you were baptized and committed one of these seven sins, you could never in your life receive the Holy Eucharist. Period. End of story. Close the book.

Anti-Pope Hippolytus vs. Pope Callixtus

The Catholic Church’s first Anti-Pope (a man falsely claiming to be Pope against a valid Pope) arose in response to the 217 decree of Pope Callixtus allowing the absolution of fornication and adultery. While Tertullian was railing against Pope Callixtus’s laxity, some traditions say that a priest in Rome named Hippolytus rebelled against his Pope Callixtus and set himself up as a rival Bishop of Rome against Callixtus on the issue of absolution for adulterers and fornicators. It is unclear if Hippolytus claimed to be a full blown “Bishop of Rome” or merely a reformer set against the laxity of Callixtus. Either way we can see that even the clergy of Rome were divided over this issue.

Hippolytus writes that during the pontificate of Pope Callixtus, men in holy orders began taking wives and Callixtus did not censure them for sin or depose them (Refutation of All Heresies 9, 7). Hippolytus claims that clergy were even being married two to three times after ordination. Divorce and remarriage among the clergy!

Concerning Pope Callixtus, Hippolytus writes:

And in justification, [Callixtus] alleges that what has been spoken by the Apostle has been declared in reference to this person: “Who are you that judges another man’s servant?”

Hippolytus goes on to lament that Catholic women in Rome began to engage in contraception and abortion:

Whence women, reputed believers, began to resort to drugs for producing sterility, and to gird themselves round [their belly], so to expel what was being conceived on account of their not wishing to have a child either by a slave or by any paltry fellow, for the sake of their family and excessive wealth. Behold, into how great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by inculcating adultery and murder at the same time! And withal, after such audacious acts, they, lost to all shame, attempt to call themselves a Catholic Church!

And so there was great scandal in Rome concerning Pope Callixtus (who is a canonized Catholic saint).

Can Mortal Sins Be Forgiven? Callixtus says Yes

Center to the debate between Pope Calixtus and Tertullian/Hippolytus was the passage in 1 John concerning “mortal sins”:

And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. (1 Jn 5:15-16)

Both Tertullian and Hippolytus claimed that the Apostle John taught the Catholic Church that prayer should not be made for those whose sin is mortal. Saint John explicitly says: “I do not say that one is to pray for that.” So for them, there was Apostolic teaching that mortal sins should not receive the intercession of the public and visible Church. According to Tertullian and Hippolytus, if you committed apostasy or adultery or fornication, then the Church had nothing for you. No prayer. No Eucharist. Nothing. After all, didn’t Saint John teach the same thing?

Binding and Loosing in Saint Peter’s Rome

We don’t have the exegetical response of Pope Saint Callixtus but I can make a conjecture of his orthodox response: Saint John said that we are not obliged to pray for mortal sins. However, we find two truths in the Gospels that show us that the visible Catholic Church can and should absolve mortal sins (even the mortal sins on Tertullian’s list of seven):

1. The power to bind and loose on earth as given by Christ to Peter in Matthew 16. Saint Peter and the bishops of Rome do have the power to bind and loose sins and to modify customs for the sake of Christ’s mercy and salvation for sinners. Pope Callixtus was using the power of the keys as the Successor of Saint Peter.
2. Peter committed apostasy on Good Friday. He was reestablished visibly and publicly by Christ. Christ did not leave Peter without prayer and sacraments until death. He publicly raised Peter back to his rank with the question: “Simon do you love me” three times.

The Catholic Church, the Pope, and the Ministry of Mercy

Nowadays it seems unthinkable that the austere rigorism of Tertullian and Hippolytus was once normative in the Catholic Church of AD 217. Back then it was generally assumed that after baptism, Catholics did not commit adultery, fornication, murder, apostasy, idolatry, blasphemy, or fraud. It just wasn’t supposed to happen. Remember, this was the persecuted Catholic Church of the martyrs. If you were baptized, you were signing up for possible martyrdom!

Origen (who died in 254), it seems, was baptized as an infant, but 90% or more of Christians at this time were not baptized as children. They made a careful and prayerful decision to follow Christ and receive baptism. Most of them had friends or family who were actual martyrs for Christ. These were serious Christians and once we recognize this reality, we see how “mortal sins” were a real issue.

In the Catholic Church, we see a theological shift happening in AD 217. The reality of Romans 7 comes alive: “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” For this reason, the Church as the Body of Christ can visibly execute the mercy of Christ to mortal sinners.

Many Catholics began to report that the Rigorist position against absolving sin removed forgiveness and yet did not remove sin – because even the Rigorists had scandalous sins among them.

Repentance and Mercy

Pope Callixtus and the Catholic tradition afterward was not entirely lax, and she always required the act of ecclesial repentance for sin. “Going straight to Jesus” for the forgiveness of mortal sin has never been approved. If we commit a mortal sin, we must go and confess it to a priest in confession. We believe that forgiveness is tied to the Church and her powers that she received directly from Jesus Christ.

If a sin can be absolved through the bishop and the priests he appoints, then any sin can be absolved through the bishop and the priests. This is the great mercy and comfort of being a Catholic

Godspeed,

Taylor Marshall

PS: If you are interested in these types of topics, can get all three volumes of my Origins of Catholic Christianity at amazon.com.

* Of note, Tertullian in De Pudicitia claims that Saint Barnabas wrote the Epistle of Hebrews in union with Saint Paul. I claim that Tertullian is wrong on this point and Hebrews was written by Saint Luke and give my reasons in my book The Catholic Perspective on Paul.

The post Could Adultery and Fornication be Forgiven in the Early Catholic Church? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Saint George Podcast

Have you ever debated whether Saint George is real or historical? If so, then this Catholic podcast is for you: Is Saint George (and Saint Christopher) still a Saint?.mp3

Sword and Serpent: My Best-Selling Novel about Saint George is on sale this weekend

Looking for a Catholic fiction page-turner? I published a #1 best-selling historical fiction novel about Saint George and the Dragon (plus St Christopher, Emperor Constantine, Diocletian, et al.) titled Sword and Serpent. 

Father Dwight Longenecker wrote a glowing review of Sword and Serpent here.

Here’s the book trailer for Sword and Serpent on YouTube:

The novel is now on sale for this April 23 weekend on Kindle and in paperback. Click here to get a copy:

You can also download the free “Sword and Serpent Study Guide” (an explanation of the historical features of the book and its saints) at swordandserpent.com.

Troops of Saint George: Outdoor Adventure for Catholic Men and Sons

Looking for a Catholic alternative to scouting? In 2013 I founded a Catholic outdoor adventure fraternity for priests, deacons, fathers and sons – and dedicated it to Saint George. We have 40 active troops. Please visit our website and consider starting a Troop of Saint George at your parish. We have a starter kit for dads and for priests to help you get started:

Click here to visit the Troops of Saint George website.

Saint George’s Skull in Rome

Saint George’s skull is in Rome and I visited him last summer in Rome. If you’d like to go on pilgrimage with me for a NSTI Catholic Theology Pilgrimage to Rome and Italy this summer, please click here to reserve your spot.

Happy feast of Saint George!!!

Saint George pray for us,

Taylor Marshall

The post Is St George Still a Saint? What about the Dragon? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The Council of Elvira (Spain, AD 305) prohibited the washing of feet because heretical ideas were being associated with it: “The feet of the newly baptized are not to be washed by the priests or clerics” (Elvira 48). Saint Ambrose of Milan, against this rulings of the Council, considered foot washing to be “sacrament” of great importance. In Milan and other places, “foot washing” was a prelude to sacramental baptism.

The Albigensian heretics held foot washing in high esteem and assigned to it a theological importance without parallel in the orthodox Catholic Church. Up until the last century, Popes, Abbots, and Kings would wash the feet of the poor as a sign of humility and servant leadership. More on that later.

Foot Washing Enters the Mass in 1955

Up until 60 years ago, the custom of foot washing did not appear in the Roman Eucharistic liturgy. Until 1955, the Roman Missal included a rite of foot washing detached from the Mass. Pope Pius XII was the first Pope to have foot washing included in the Mass and it was stipulated that it would be the feet of men, presumably as a sign of the male-only priesthood.

Hence, foot washing is relatively new liturgical rite. 

In 2013, Pope Francis washed the feet of two women and non-Christians (Muslims) at a juvenile detention center in Rome 2013. Pope Francis revised the direction of the Roman Missal in 2016 to include men and women as a sign of inclusion.

Theology of Foot Washing? Jerome, Ambrose, and Augustine:

I wrote a well-known book on Judaism and Catholicism that covers the liturgical and sacramental connections between the Old Testament and Catholic Christianity called The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity. It’s a popular text now in Catholic schools and seminaries. You can read reviews of it on amazon here.Unfortunately, I did not include a section on foot washing. So here goes:

Saint Jerome in his Epistle to Pope Damasus states that Christ washed His Apostles’ feet to prepare them for the preaching of the gospel, in fulfillment to the prophecy of Isaiah:

“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, of them that bring good tidings.” (Isa. 52:7)

The Apostles were ordained as sacerdotal priests at the Last Supper and so the foot washing is to prepare them to carry the Gospel to foreign lands. It’s a commissioning rite to “preach the Gospel of peace.”

Saint Ambrose associates the foot washing to original sin and the Protoevangelium of Genesis 3:15 since it is with “the heel” that the Messiah and His followers will crush Satan’s head:

“Because Adam was tripped up by the devil and the venom was poured out over thy feet, therefore dost thou wash thy feet that in that part where the serpent ensnared thee there may be added the more abundant aid of sanctification, so that he be not able to trip thee up hereafter.” Saint Ambrose De Sacramentis3, 1)

Saint Augustine and Cyprian associate the washing of feet with the removal of venial sins. This is why Christ says: “He that has been washed needs not but to wash his feet, but is clean throughout.” The Apostles were already baptized. Peter asks for a second baptism (his head) but Christ refuses. The Apostles had already been baptized and their sins removed, however, the lower sins that trip us up also have to be remitted before receiving the Holy Eucharist. Hence, the foot washing was a liturgical penitential rite prior to the First Communion of the Apostles.

Is Right to Allow Women?

Prior to Francis, the men chosen to receive foot washing symbolized the 12 Apostles. As described above, foot washing seems to be a priestly rite preparing the Apostles to have the “beautiful feet” foretold by Isaiah. Since men alone can be Catholic priests, only men were chosen for the washing of feet.

One might argue, however, that Christ calls all men and women to proclaim the Gospel with beautiful feet. Proclaiming or sharing the Good News is not exclusively a sacerdotal action. Moreover, Saint Paul states that all Christians are called to crush Satan under their (beautiful) feet (Rom 16:19). The Coptic liturgy includes the act of the priest washing the feet of the entire congregation! So there is liturgical precedent for including women in the washing of the feet.

Is it Right to Allow Non-Christians?

What I cannot reconcile theologically is the act of washing the feet of non-baptized members of other religions, namely adherents of Islam, within the Eucharistic liturgy. Peter’s words and Christ’s response presume that the recipients are “washed already,” that is, baptized. Foot washing is an intra-baptized experience.

There is precedent for foot washing as a pre-baptismal rite (in the catechetical context of Easter baptisms), but it’s not clear that the Muslims receiving papal foot washing are preparing for baptism.

My personal belief is that foot washings should be returned to their pre-1955 status. Popes, Abbots, Kings, Presidents, parents, et al. can wash the feet of anyone they like as a sign of humility outside the Eucharistic liturgical rites of the Church.

If a Pope or King washes the feet of another outside of the liturgy, then it is simply a sign of humility. When it’s placed inside the context of Eucharistic liturgy, then we strain to attach a theological meaning to it…and that’s where we run into trouble.

If we want to show outward acts of “inclusion” to the non-baptized, we could give give them blessed bread or other gifts. Or we could wash their feet in contexts that aren’t sacramental. 

[reminder]I would love to hear your thoughts on foot washing. Please keep the comments respectful. No bashing of the Vicar of Christ on earth. He is our Holy Father.[/reminder]

The post Why Did Jesus Wash the Feet of the Apostles? Pope Francis, Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The Greek word kithara appears 4 times in the New Testament – 3 times in the Book of Revelation.

{Here’s my audio Catholic commentary on the book of Revelation: click here.}

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and twenty four presbyters fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them kitharan, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints. (Rev 5:8)

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the kitharas of God. (Rev 15:2)

In English, it is sometimes translated as “harp,” but chordophone or “guitar” is actually a better translation.

The Greek word kithara comes into Latin as cithara and from Latin into Spanish as guitarra. The biblical guitar is a chordophones of 4-18 strings. 

The saints in Heaven are playing the kithara. Why? It’s the instrument that King David played. In fact, the word psalm means in Greek means “to pluck [a string].”

The problem is that the guitar is associated with rock n roll and rock n roll is not suitable for divine liturgy. The guitar or chordophone might find liturgical use, but in the meantime, let’s keep it out of the liturgy.

[reminder]

The post There are Guitars in the Bible appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

(You can watch the replay here.)

The single best thing that you can do is to commit to a schedule of daily mental prayer. Here are tips in no particular order:

1. Find a place in your home where you pray. Designate a space.
2. Find a time in the day when you pray. The prophets and the saints usually got up early to pray. Set your alarm clock earlier (go to bed earlier) and wake up to be with Christ in the morning.
3. Create a morning ritual that includes prayer. I recommend that it include Scriptural reading, also. The Bible is how God usually talks to you. “God never talks to me,” people often say. My response is, “Are you reading the Bible?” God talks to you in Scripture.
4. Use a timer on your phone. Start at 5 minutes and work up to 30 minutes daily.
5. Mental prayer is using your mind (“mental”) to speak to God. Tell him everything. Speak with your heart. Ask Him questions about your life. Ask Him theology questions? Ask Him to do more than you expect. Don’t be afraid to ask for insanely crazy requests. He likes to answer those best because they prove that we didn’t accomplish it.
6. Keep a New Testament or spiritual reading book nearby. If you’re mind loses track and wanders. Use this book to read a few sentences to focus again on Christ or spiritual thoughts.
7. Use your daily time to fill yourself with positivity. The people that I know that pray 30-60 minutes every day are very positive thinkers. Why? Because they spend time with God and learn that all things are possible through Christ. Faith and prayer build confidence and a “get it done” attitude. The most pessimistic (and lazy) people are the people who do not pray or do not spend time alone in silence. “Be still and know that I am God.”
8. Make daily prayer your identity. Repeatedly tell yourself: “I am a person who talks to the Trinity every day. That is who I am and I always do it.” Become what you are.

[reminder]We can evangelize every soul on earth if we pray and fill ourselves every day with Christ’s resurrected power. How do you best plan your goal of daily mental prayer?[/reminder]

(You can watch Catholic New Years Goals Webinar replay here.)

The post 8 Tips on How to Pray Every Day appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

For the sixth year in a row, I am featuring the Top Ten Manly Christmas Gifts for Men – stuff that men want but don’t ask for.

* If you received this post by email, you’ll want to click “Always Display Images” in your email client so that you can see the manly gift images.

Every year you’ve come to expect it, and every year I get ready for angry liberals complaining about my advocacy for pocket knives, guns, scotch, pipes, and leather.

[callout]After doing this list for six years, I now get stopped by wives who say, “Thanks for your annual Men’s Christmas Gift Guide. My husband loved the thermos and knife that you recommended.” Recently, a Catholic dad related to me, “My wife followed your Christmas manly gift guide. Thanks for recommending the scotch decanter. I love it.” Last year we even caused Amazon to sell out of pocket Bibles.[/callout]

Like last year I have an improved list with more information on knives and how a lady can choose the right knife for the men in her life.

Men, it’s not bad taste to forward this post to your wife’s email account.

When your man gets back to work after Christmas and someone asks, “So what did you get for Christmas?” let him say something more than “Oh you know, a couple of new shirts and a tie.”

Top Ten Manly Christmas Gifts for Men (drumroll…)

Below is a guide for Manly Christmas Gifts: your husband, brother, or grandpa. Seriously, you can’t wrong with the following ten gifts. They’re all winners. So here we go:

10) Cigarette Case for Business Cards

Almost every man carries his business cards in his wallet where they get rounded corners, warped, and stained. Those last 2 or 3 business cards in your wallet have been sat on thousands of times. Nobody wants that. So instead…

Place your business cards nicely in a cigarette case!

Nothing says “cool” like a cigarette case – but few men smoke cigarettes…so why not get one anyway and fill it with business cards?

1. First of all, your cards will remain fresh, crisp and unabused.
2. Secondly, you’ll look totally legit when you pull out an old school Victorian cigarette case and give someone your business card.

This gift idea is something that men will love and will later reflect, “Why didn’t I think of this earlier?”

Get him the Victorian Etched Cigarette Case by clicking here.

9) Timeless Thermos for the Outdoors

This “Manly Christmas Gift” also has a backstory:

I was fly-fishing in Montana in October. It was fun, but it was cold. I was catching monster trout, but my body temp was diving.

Our fishing guide pulled out three timeless thermoses from his bag. They could have been 100 years old. They were beautiful. He offered us coffee or, get this, hot chicken broth to drink from these old beautiful thermoses. I don’t drink coffee, so I reached for the chicken broth. Wow. It warmed me from the inside out.

I admired the fly fishing guide’s amazing collection of thermoses. “They just don’t make them like that anymore.”

Well now they do. Check out this beautiful thermos from Stanley for only 24.99.

8) Shoe Shine Valet and Kit

Call me prejudicial but I judge a man by his shoes. When I interview an employee or intern, the first things I look at are his hair and his shoes. A great looking suit can be ruined by scuffed shoes. A man must learn to care for his leather.

The Marshall Rule of Thumb is: “Don’t buy a $100 pair of church shoes every year for 5 years ($500 over 5 years), but buy a nice $350 pair of shoes every 5 years ($350 over 5 years). The only way that works is if you shine your expensive shoes. If you don’t shine shoes, don’t waste money on solid shoes.

Step 1 is having the right valet. I have one that looks like this:

Your heel hooks on the lid and you (or ideally your 13 year old son) spit shines your shoes right there on the box. The box holds all your polish so that it stays clean. I don’t know how I shined shoes before having a box like this: Kiwi Shine Kit WITH VALET BOX for $39.

7) Money Clip that also holds Credit Cards

Lots of men have started thanking me for recommending this money clip. I should have bought stock in this company.

I really, really, really love this money clip. I finally gave up the big fat back-breaking leather wallet and now carry this minimal lightweight money clip. It holds my drivers license, my concealed carry gun license, and my business and personal cards. I don’t know how I lived without this clip before.

This money clip is the perfect stocking stuffer for teens and men:

Here it is on amazon: Money clip that holds credit cards.

6) A Good Novel (WARNING: shameless personal plug below)

3) The Gift of Catholic Theology and Leadership: NSTI

Western culture is literally rotting away because authentic male leadership has evaporated. Christianity in many places is transforming into a sentimental and weak form of Churchianity – performing Church without a vital and virtuous connection to Jesus Christ. We need men to take the lead at the parish and in the home , but a man can only take lead IF HE KNOWS THE CATHOLIC FAITH WITH HEART AND HIS HEAD.

For over 2 years, we at the New Saint Thomas Institute have been delivering high quality, HD video Catholic theology courses online to over 2,000 students in 50 nations. It’s real orthodox theology based on Scripture and the Church Fathers. Logic, not emotion, is stressed. And our classes are usually only 10 minutes long – designed for the busy person on the go. Classes can be watched on computer, tablet, or listened to on iPhone/Android or via bluetooth.

If you’re a reader of mine, but not yet a Member of the New Saint Thomas Institute, please sign up. NSTI is where I now do the core of my theological teaching and leadership. Here’s a sample from our Apologetics training module:

Tuition is without contract or long time commitments. It’s month to month like Netflix and you can earn a Certificate in Catholic Theology as you finish our theological modules (Thomas Aquinas, Mariology, Christology, Eucharistic Theology). After two years, we have a 97% student retention rate, so you know we’re legit.

Sign up as student at the New Saint Thomas Institute by clicking here.

The post Top 10 Manly Christmas Gifts for Men (2015 Edition) appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The politically incorrect article I wrote last week on a Thomistic response to the Islamic Refugee Crisis is approaching 100,000 views and 20,000 shares on Facebook and some 300 comments – many of which debate the “nature of Islam.”

I wanted to continue this discussion in a sequel article about the relationship of Islam with Christian theology. You’ll find this sequel in the post below:

The question is really about whether Islam is a “Christian heresy” or a whether Islam is a “world religion.”

The English word “heresy” derives from the Greek word αἵρεσις (hairesis) meaning “choice” or “a thing chosen.” (It’s the original “pro-choice” position.) Saint Paul uses the word in Titus 3:10 to describes “heretics” – those that pick and choose their own beliefs instead of following the beliefs taught by the Apostles:

• heresy = I choose my own personal beliefs just as I choose my meal at Luby’s
• orthodoxy = I receive the Apostolic beliefs passed down through papally ratified Councils, Scripture, and Tradition (orthos in Greek means “right or straight”; eg. orthodontics means “straight teeth” and orthodox means “straight belief.”

Heresy is not a slur or pejorative term. It simply describes a method of religion.

An Analogy from Legos

Let’s say you purchased the Lego edition of the Star Wars’ Death Star. It comes with a box full of plastic pieces and a paper set of instructions. If you follow the directions and follow the instructions correctly or “straight” then you have an orthos situation and having something that looks like this:

But if you buy this box of Legos and personally choose how you yourself want to assemble it, you’ve created your own reality and arrange the pieces however you want to create any pattern that you like. For example, this Lego pattern:

In the first example, the Lego pieces were arranged according to the creator’s instruction. In the second example, the Lego pieces were arranged in accord to the person’s “choice” or “hairesis.”

Legos and Islam

When it comes to Islam, we must ask whether Islam is a religion totally distinct from apostolic Christianity (like Hinduism or Jainism or Aztec paganism) or whether it is a “rearrangement” of historic Christianity (like Mormonism or Jehovah’s Witnesses).

The History of Muhammad

If you haven’t listened to my free audio talk on “Is Muhammad Evil? (audio)” please take a listen. It will give you a short biography of Muhammad and show how he fell under demonic influence.

You will learn that the ancient Arabs were generally polytheistic pagans. They worshipped a variety of deities, as did the ancient Greeks and Romans. However, Muhammad belonged to a social circle that was composed heretical Christians as we will discuss below.

[callout]Listen to Dr Marshall’s Is Muhammad Evil? (audio)[/callout]

Islam as a Heresy Stealing from Christian Ideas

The great Catholic writer Hilaire Belloc (d. 16 July 1953) foretold the future rise of Islam in his book The Great Christian Heresies (a book that every member of the New Saint Thomas Institute should read).

Hilaire Belloc wrote, “[Islam] began as a heresy, not as a new religion….It was a perversion of the Christian religion…an adaptation and a misuse of the Christian thing.” Belloc is following Saint Thomas Aquinas, Dante, and Saint John of Damascus who describe Islam not as a new religion but as a corruption of Christian ideas, notably a pre-existing Christian heresy of Nestorianism.

Was Muhammad modifying the Christian Heresy of Nestorianism?

The Islamic sources reveal a heretical Christian monk having an influence on the young Muhammad. Moreover, Muhammad’s first wife Khadija belonged to a heretical Christian sect since she was familiar with the God of Abraham, Jesus, Mary, and the angel Gabriel. Khadija once consulted a monk about Muhammad and the monk was named Nestora. Given the time period and geography and name, we are likely dealing with Nestorian branch of heretical Christians having influence over Khadija and her husband Muhammad.

Nestorianism was a heresy that denied that the baby Jesus born of the Virgin Mary was the Divine Son of God. Rather, the heretic Nestorius taught that the historical Jesus Christ was a combination of two persons: the Son of God (one divine person) and the historical and human Jesus son of Mary (one human person). Catholic orthodox teaches that Jesus Christ is one Divine Person with a Divine Nature and a Human Nature united but not confused or commingled.

Here are a few teachings of Muhammad that cribbed from Christianity:

1. Muhammad taught that God chose Abraham (although Muhammad taught that God’s promise went through Hagar and Ishmael and not Sarah and Isaac – hence the term Sara-cenes).
2. Muhammad taught that Jesus was born of a Virgin (although Muhammad denied that God was His Father).
3. Muhammad taught that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah (although he denied that Jesus was the Savior and Son of God).
4. Muhammad taught that Mary the Mother of Jesus was sinless.
5. Muhammad taught that Saint Michael and Saint Gabriel are important angelic messengers (Muhammad claimed to speak with Saint Gabriel).
6. Muhammad taught that there is Heaven and Hell.
7. Muhammad taught that there will be a resurrection of the body as Christians recite in the Creeds.
8. Muhammad taught that a Creator created the universe out of nothing (as Jews and Christians believe).
9. Muhammad taught the importance of Christian customs such as fasting, regularly prayer, almsgiving, and pilgrimage.

So the “Lego pieces” being used in Muhammad’s religion are those of Christianity. But he re-organizes these pieces to create a religion in his own image.

Here are some those heretical errors:

1. Muhammad taught that Jesus Christ is not divine.
2. Muhammad taught that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God.
3. Muhammad taught that the Trinity was “the Father and the Son and the Virgin Mary.” He didn’t properly understand the Christian teaching on the Trinity.
4. Muhammad taught that there was no such thing as a Trinity of Divine Persons as Christians profess.
5. Muhammad taught that there are no sacraments (eg, no baptism, Eucharist) but only a profession of faith (shahada).
6. Muhammad taught that lying is allowed. It’s the al-Taqiyya deception. Muhammad said that Muslims can lie to non-Muslims. So when a Muslim tells you “I am peaceful and I don’t approve of terrorism – we can never be 100% ceratain about whether they are being honest with us, because the Quran explicitly gives them permission to lie to non-Muslism.” Mohammed also gave permission for a follower to lie in order to murder a Jewish poet who had offended Mohammed. [Are you learning from this post? If so share it on Facebook by clicking here.]
7. Mohammad taught that Jesus did not die on the cross and therefore denied salvation through the cross of Christ. Surah 4:157-158 says: “they [the Jews] said, ‘We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah’ – But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself.”
8. Mohammad denied that marraige is monogamous or sacramental.
9. Mohammad denied the existence of a “Church” and instead had the “State” stand in as the organizing principle, hence the imperative for Sharia Law.

Muhammad is painting with Christian colors, but omitting and reorganizing the structure and form of religion. He’s taking Nestorianism (false belief that Jesus son of Mary is not a Divine Person) and taking it to the heretical next level.

Why Does This Matter? “Islam as Heresy”

If we perceive Islam as a Christian heresy, it helps Christians better understand and address Islam. Muslims are not baptized and do not have faith in Christ as Savior. Hence, they are not Christians. They are certainly not “brothers and sisters in Christ.”

However, they do profess that Jesus is the “Jewish Messiah” (though non-saving Messiah), and the sinless son of Mary.

This matters because we are dealing a demographic of people with a severely “malformed conscience.” We know from Saint Thomas Aquinas and from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that all humans are called to form their conscience in accord with reason, natural law, and divine revelation. Islam leads human adherents to a conscience formed incorrectly.

So the Christian answer is most certainly not: “Just be a good Muslim. Follow your conscience.”

The Christian answer is, “Let’s reform consciences in conformity to natural law (eg, lying is always sinful and polygamy is contrary to nature).”

Even better, the Christian answer is, “Let us tell you the good news of Jesus Christ who is Son of God, Savior, and Divine Mercy. He will lead you to know God as Father.”

Our Goal as Christians:

Our goal as Christians is to remove all error from the earth and lead people to God Who is Truth Incarnate. Our goal is to see all peoples saved and every human person receiving the joy of the Holy Eucharist. This includes Muslims. So we must form consciences properly and evangelize every human heart.

If you want to learn how to do this better, the New Saint Thomas Institute is currently offer a special Catholic Apologetics training module on “How to Share Your Faith to Jewish Friends and Muslim Friends.” It’s available to all of our Basic and Premium Member students:

If you’re not yet a student Member of the New Saint Thomas Institute, you can watch the video series and quizzes here. If you want to join and get start learning how to share the Catholic Faith with Jewish and Muslim friends, click here.

Please share this on Facebook.

[reminder]

The post Is Islam a Heresy or World Religion? Legos and Muhammad appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Are you looking for a gripping Catholic novel that you just can’t put down?

The difficulty with so-called “Christian” fiction is that it must avoid explicit sermonizing, and yet subtly communicate human sin and redemption. If the book preaches an obvious lesson, the story fails.

The ever-popular author and blogger Father Dwight Longenecker recently reviewed my #1 Amazon Bestselling novel Sword and Serpent: A Retelling of Saint George and the Dragon with a similar [initial] concern that my novel could have been yet another pious sermon pretending to the next Lord of the Rings.

Instead, Father Longenecker was delightfully surprised in the novel as a “re-mythology” of Saint George. He writes:

“Using the fact that the story of St. George is rooted in history, but surrounded by mythical elements, Dr. Marshall avoids the temptation to de-mythologize and, through the use of imagination and fantasy, decides to re-mythologize. He does so skillfully, never quite revealing whether the dragon is a literal reptile, a paranormal manifestation of evil, or a beast from the realm of the daemonic. It doesn’t matter. A dragon is a dragon is a dragon, and Georgios is led by providence to enter the cave, encounter the serpent, and slay him once and for all. That the beautiful Sabra stands by in a white bridal gown says all that needs to be said about Dr. Freud’s interpretation of the myth.

“Dr. Marshall also manages to capture the intriguing religious atmosphere of the Roman Empire in the fourth century. The story opens with the lament that the ancient gods have died. The haruspex can no longer discern the future in the entrails of the victims. The sybils are silent, and the pagan prophets are blind. Christianity is on the rise, and George’s slaughter of the ancient dragon is a powerful victory over the old gods and their demonic domination of the world. The book evokes the tender and wise world of the early Christians—avoiding persecution with gentleness and taking hold of the future with confidence.” (read his entire review here)

So if you want to crack open a new historical novel full of sinners and saints (and Roman emperors and catacombs) before the feast of All Saints, please pick up a copy of: Sword and Serpent (available this week for $0.99 on Kindle and 13.99 in Print).

• SPANISH VERSION: The Spanish edition of Sword and Serpent will be available in 2016 through Palabra Publishing in Madrid, Spain.
• FREE STUDY GUIDE: The free study guide to Sword and Serpent can be downloaded here: Sword and Serpent Study Guide.
• Did you already read Sword and Serpent? Thank you! I’d love to read your thoughts. Please leave your review of Sword and Serpent by clicking here.

The post A Highly Recommended Catholic Fiction Novel: Macabre. Yet Clean. appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Here are some interesting resources for you as we celebrate Our Lady’s Dormition and Assumption:

1. What is the historical date of Mary’s Assumption?
2. Did the Virgin Mary Die? The Answer May Surprise You (The majority tradition in Catholic history is that Our Lady did experience the separation of body and soul.)
3. Audio: Mary as Assumed in Revelation 12 Podcast: Our Lady of the Apocalypse
4. Did Christ receive an assumption or ascension or both?
5. The year of the assumption according to Maria Agreda
6. The Assumption of Saint Joseph – A forgotten tradition
7. If you deny the Assumption – You have fallen away!
8. Saint Gregory of Tours on the Assumption
9. The Assumption of Mary in the Book of Psalms
10. Does the Rosary Pre-Date Dominic?
11. Mary’s Special Role over Purgatory
12. Mary’s Empty Tomb Information
13. Did Pope Pius XII Teach that Mary died? Yes he did

Enjoy!

to Jesus through Mary,
Taylor Marshall

[reminder]Please let me know if there are any topics that you’d like me to write on as it relates to Our Lady![/reminder]

The post 13 Assumption of Mary Catholic Resources appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The claim is that it was Saul/Paul, not Christ, who founded the religion of Christianity and that the historical Christ was universalized and divinized into a cosmic Christ.

The argument goes that Saul had some kind of conversion from radical Pharisaic Judaism to belief in Christ, but that Saul/Paul had zero interaction with the dead Rabbi Jesus.

It is true that Saul/Paul did not claim to have known or seen Jesus of Nazareth prior to His crucifixion. Instead, Saul/Paul claims to have met and known Jesus of Nazareth through mystical experiences.

[callout]To read of Paul’s three encounters with Jesus in the Acts of the Apostles, click here.[/callout]

Paul’s first encounter with Jesus is his conversion on the Road to Damascus. Luke retells the conversion of Acts and the narrative compares Jesus to an Old Testament theophany of Yahweh.

In Acts 9:7, Luke writes:

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no one.”

Here Luke is making the connection with God’s theophany in Deuteronomy with Christ’s theophany to Paul:

Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice.” (Deut 4:12)

Notice that in both cases there is no visual form, but only the voice.

The Alleged Controversy of the Paul’s Damascus Accounts

The “heard voice, saw nothing” account in Acts 9 makes for a great parallel with Deuteronomy but it opens up a problem.

There is a alleged contradictory account of between Luke’s narrative account of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9 and the second version retold by Paul himself in Acts 22:6-9:

6 “As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

Some claim that this contradicts the account in Acts 9 because:

• Acts 9: men with Saul hear a voice, but see no one.
• Acts 22:6-9: men with Saul saw the light but did not hear the voice.

The contradiction is dispensed with easily in this way:

• Acts 9 reports that the men saw no one and Acts 22 says they saw a light. This is not a contradiction. These men saw a light but saw no form or person in it.
• Acts 9 reports that the men heard a generic voice, but Acts 22 says they “did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.” In Acts 22, the stress is on “the voice of the one speaking to Saul.” This means that the men heard a sound (Acts 9), but that it was not intelligible to them (Acts 22).

Here we can see that Saul’s encounter with Christ is not fictionalized. The fact that it is recounted three times in Acts is remarkable. It is the anchor of Paul’s claim to apostleship. Without it, Paul is merely an enthusiast. Luke’s Acts demonstrates that Paul’s apostleship is accompanied by miracles and this fact reveals Paul as a true and valid prophet for the New Covenant [Catholic] Church.

[reminder]

The post Paul’s Damascus Conversion: Does Acts 9 Contradict Acts 22? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

1) Paul’s Vision on the Road to Damascus (described in Acts 9, 22, and 26). Paul is walking on the road to Damascus in order to arrest Christians in Damascus.

[callout]To read my theory that Saul/Paul had Herodian connections to accomplish this political task, click here.[/callout]

A bright light surrounds Saul and he hears a voice claiming: “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Saul loses his sight but gains it again through the laying on of hands by Ananias who then baptizes Saul/Paul.

2) Paul’s Trance in the Temple (Acts 22:17-21). After his conversion, Paul returns to Jerusalem and while he is praying in the Temple, he enters into a trance. In Greek, the word for trance is ἐκστάσει {ecstasei} or “ecstasy.”

17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance {ἐκστάσει} 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in thee. 20 And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by and approving, and keeping the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Depart; for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

We learn something more about Saul here. Although he did not capture Christians in Damascus, he did previously and personally “imprison and and beat” Christians in Jerusalem – “in every synagogue.” Saul was the chief of Anti-Christian police in Jerusalem. Saul would have had to have authority from the High Priest and Herod Antipas to accomplish this.

3) Paul’s Vision in Prison (Acts 23:11). This is the big “Roman Catholic” passage that I stress in my book on Saint Paul as Roman and in my book on Rome as the Capital of Christianity. Here Jesus Christ connects the Apostolic ministry from Jerusalem…to Rome. Romanism is a mandate delivered to Paul from the resurrected mouth of Jesus Christ:

“The following night the Lord stood by him and said: Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome.” (Acts 23:11)

Christ connects the Great Commission as a line drawn from Jerusalem to Rome. We see this in the thematic structure of the four Gospels (the Jerusalem/Pilate struggle) and also in the narrative structure of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts starts in Jerusalem and ends in Rome). The Book of Revelation, rightly interpreted is a vision about the unholy adultery between Whore of Babylon (Jerusalem) and the Beast (Rome).

[reminder]

The post Paul’s Three Encounters with Christ Jesus in Acts appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Dear Taylor,
I am truly fascinated by Saint Thomas aquinas’ comment Beware the man of one book.
I can interpret that two ways and I was wondering if you had the original italian, because the word ‘un’ in Italian can mean one book or it can mean a book, and this would help better interpret the meaning.
If it means one book, then it can mean that a man who writes only one book could be limited in his views.
It can also mean that the writer of one book has put a lot of thought and study into writing and therefore he is a thinker and therefore, a person to be reckoned with or an authority on a subject.
On the other hand, to beware of the man who writes A book could mean any book (indefinite article.) which can then mean that he thinks he is an expert and may not be.
So I would love to know the original Italian and context for nothing more than curiosity.

Cheers,
Catherine

Dear Catherine,

You have some amazing analysis of this quote! I’ve never thought so much about it!

Fortunately for us, Thomas didn’t usually write in Italian! Let’s get into the Latin, which makes it very clear.

We don’t know if Thomas Aquinas really said this (it’s not in his Works as far as I’ve read), but in Latin the received Thomistic proverb is: “Hominem unius libri timeo.” I fear the man of a single book.

Here unius means one and only one. In a medieval context it would refer to a man who has only studied one book. Probably not a man who has written only one book.

So Saint Thomas Aquinas, if he really said it, is communicating that he fears “scholars” who only have a single speciality and not a breath of knowledge (as did his master Saint Albert the Great).

As we show in the New Saint Thomas Institute, Saint Thomas Aquinas was a master of:

1. Old Testament
2. New Testament
3. Aristotle
4. Boethius
5. Augustine
6. Dionysius the Areopagite
7. Eastern Church Fathers
8. Science and Astronomy (for his time)
9. Practical sermons and preaching

Thomas was hardly a man of one book or one speciality. I hope that helps. Thanks for the question!

Godspeed,
Taylor

PS: A few “back to school” slots will be opening up on Monday Aug 17 2015 for those that want to study with us at the New Saint Thomas Institute (NSTI). Please join the NSTI waiting list in order to hold a reservation.

The post Did Thomas Aquinas Fear the Man of One Book? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Paul was originally a Herodian. By “Herodian” I mean that he seems to have connections with the family and court of the Herods. Theologically, Saul/Paul favored the theology of the Pharisees before his conversion but his family connections relate him to the inner circle of Herod Agrippa.

Here are the reasons demonstrating that Saul/Paul had Herodian connections

1. Saul/Paul was highly educated both in Hebrew Scripture/Tradition but also in Greek philosophy. He seems familiar, for example with Plato’s Timaeus. He is Hebrew, but he also dabbles in Gentile learning and culture. This is the Herodian style: Jewish identity, loyalty to Jerusalem, familiar with the priests, but appreciative of Gentile power and learning. Sounds like Paul…

2. Saul/Paul was a Roman citizen. Jews were not typically citizens. We learn that Saul/Paul gained his Roman citizenship by birth. This means that his parents were Hebrews with Roman privilege. In the first century, Hebrews with Roman privilege were linked to the Roman appointed rulers of Palestine – the Herod’s.

3. Saul/Paul officially persecuted Christians on behalf of the Temple authorities. This is odd. Think about how hard it was for the Sanhedrin to kill Jesus Christ. Back and forth between the Roman Pontius Pilate and the Roman appointed “King” Herod Antipas the Tetrarch. Killing Christ was complicated and difficult.

And yet somehow we are to believe that Saul received certificates of authority in around the year AD 36 to go about capturing and killing Christians without trial…even as far away as Damascus? Ahem, this is the Roman Empire with laws and rules. A man can’t get permission from the priests of one city and then go and capture people in another city.

How did Saul/Paul get that power? The High Priest and the Jewish Sanhedrin in Jerusalem could not have authorized Saul to arrest Christians in Damascus. The High Priest and the Jewish Sanhedrin in Jerusalem had no power in Damascus, a city in the Roman Province of Syria. Jerusalem belonged to the Roman Province of Judea. Saul seems to have gained an authority entrusted to him by a civil power connected to the Temple. This means that Saul needed religious authority (Temple) and he needed Roman authority in Damascus (King Aretus IV of Damascus).

[callout]King Aretus IV of Damascus. King Aretus IV who ruled over Damascus during the period of Saul/Paul’s conversion was the father-in-law of Herod Antipas the Tetrarch (d. AD 39). You might remember how Saint John the Baptist was preaching against Herod Antipas for divorcing his wife in order to marry his brother’s wife Herodias. Well Saint John the Baptist was defending the honor of Herod Antipas’ first wife Phasaelis – the daughter of King Aretus IV. Small Herodian world![/callout]

Which one politician of this period had deep connections with the High Priesthood at the Temple in Jerusalem and political influence in Damascus?  Who was the only man on earth who could arrange for Saul to act on behalf of the High Priest in the foreign city of Damascus? Oh that’s right, Herod Antipas the Tetrarch!

Why was Saul/Paul able to fulfill his desire to persecute Christians on behalf on the High Priest throughout the Roman Empire? Because his family was close to the family of Herod.

4. Saul/Paul is grouped with those raised with Herod Antipas the Tetrarch. “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul. (Acts 13.1) The Greek is unclear but there is certainly a group of young Jewish men in Antioch who are associated with Herod Antipas the Tetrarch.

According to Josephus, Herod Antipas the Tetrarch, his full brother Archelaus and his half-brother Philip were raised and educated in Rome (Josephus, Antiquities 17.20–21). Hence, those raised with Herod Antipas the Tetrarch were educated in Rome. I would not be surprised if Saul/Paul had also studied in Rome as a young man, even though he is younger than Herod Antipas the Tetrarch.

5. Saulus/Paulus was not merely a plebian rabbi. He had political clout. When Saul/Paul is arrested, the commander assigns, get this, 470 men to guard Paul’s life!

“Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.” (Acts 23:23)

• 200 soliders
• 70 horsemen
• 200 spearmen

Yes, Paul was a Roman citizen, but Roman citizen’s didn’t normally receive 470 body guards. Saul/Paul was being protected because he was connected to the family of Herod Agrippa.

6. Josephus refers to a “Saulus” who persecuted people in Jerusalem. From the Antiquities (20.9.4) of Josephus:

“Costobarus also, and Saulus, did themselves get together a multitude of wicked wretches, and this because they were of the royal family; and so they obtained favour among them, because of their kindred to Agrippa; but still they used violence with the people, and were very ready to plunder those that were weaker than themselves.”

Is this the same “Saul”? It’s hard to tell, but a Saul who was “of the royal family” and “kindred to (Herod) Agrippa” and who “used violence with the people” sure sounds like Saul/Paul in his pre-Christian days.

7. Paul identifies his Herodian kinfolk. We don’t need Josephus to tell us about a “Saul ” was also “kindred to (Herod) Agrippa.”

In Romans 16:11 Paul writes: “Greet Herodion, my kinsman.”

Paul has connections in Rome. He even has a Jewish relative in Rome named Herodion! We don’t know who Herodion is, but his name links him to the Roman-Jewish rulers associated with the dynasty of Herod the Great.

Conclusion: Paul as Herodian Pharisee

Some might counter my arguments by stating that Saul/Paul himself clams to have been a Pharisee and not a Herodian.

But this is where things get interesting. The Pharisees and Herodians worked together!

When the Herodians are mentioned in the Gospels (Mark 3:6, 12:13; Matthew 22:16; cf. also Mark 8:15, Luke 13:31-32, Acts 4:27), they are coupled with the Pharisees. For example, in Mark 3:6, the Pharisees plot against Jesus regarding his teaching on the Sabbath day by incorporating the Herodians into their conspiracy. In Mark 8:15, Christ described the alliance of Pharisees and Herod against Him. In Mark 12, the Pharisees and Herodians together, try to trap Christ with their question about paying taxes.

The fact that Saul/Paul was a Pharisee does not disqualify him from being a Herodian. Rather, it substantiates it.

[reminder]Do you have any arguments pro or con regarding my Paul the Herodian thesis?[/reminder]

PS: I plan to revise and update my The Catholic Perspective on Paul to incorporate this new research.

The post Was Saint Paul Related to Herod? 7 Reasons Paul was Herodian appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Every year during Holy Week leading up to Easter, there is growing popularity in Christian or Messianic Seder Meals. In today’s post we are going to look at theological reasons (from Scripture and Saint Thomas Aquinas) as to why Seder Meals might be a bad idea for Christians.

The Hebrew word “seder” literally means “order” or “rite” or “liturgy.” It’s the “liturgy” for the Jewish Passover meal.

Evangelical Protestants have popularized Christian passover seders to get in touch with their Hebrew Christian origins. More recently, Catholics have also started celebrating the Passover as a para-liturgy outside the normally approved Catholic rites and liturgies.

Can There Even Be a Christian Passover Seder Meal?

We need to begin by recognizing that when God instituted the Passover through Moses, the Passover was always intended to be an animal sacrifice. The slaughter of a passover lamb and the eating of it was a sacrificial memorial of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The influence if liberal Reformed Judaism in America has caused most Americans to forget that Old Testament Judaism (as instituted by Moses) is chiefly a religion of animal sacrifice and ritual purity.

Every Christian knows that animal sacrifice is strictly prohibited in the New Testament. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was identified by Saint John the Baptist as “the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world,” and Christ identified Himself as that sacrificial Lamb of God. Since the coming of Christ, it would be blasphemous and sacrilegious for a Christian to sacrifice a Passover Lamb since it indicates that Christ’s sacrifice either never happened or that it was insufficient.

So it is unthinkable for Christians to offer a true Passover meal.

Is it Sinful to participate in a “Christian” Passover Seder Meal?

The good news is that Christians of good will are not participating in Passover Seder meals because they deny the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their sins. They all would likely say that they are celebrating Passover in the Jewish way “to learn more about my faith and to appreciate better what Jesus did for me on Good Friday.”

These Christians of good will do not believe that the “Christian” Passover Seder is a Old Testament ritual of sacrifice. They instead see it as a “educational moment.”

There is still something wrong with this. The Epistle to the Hebrews equates Christians returning to the ceremonial laws of Moses as tantamount to denying Jesus Christ. The Mosaic ceremonies have become anti-sacraments, and the epistle is written to dissuade baptized Hebrew Christians from dabbling in the old ceremonial rites (like Passover!).

Saint Thomas Aquinas explains that the baptized Christian observing any Old Testament ritual, sacrament, or liturgy is sinning and if done with knowledge and full consent, such an act would be a “mortal sin”:

just as it would be a mortal sin now for anyone, in making a profession of faith, to say that Christ is yet to be born, which the fathers of old said devoutly and truthfully; so too it would be a mortal sin now to observe those ceremonies which the fathers of old fulfilled with devotion and fidelity.” (Saint Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I-II, q. 103, Art. 4)

Saint Thomas Aquinas (and the Ecumenical Council of Florence*) identify the observance of Old Testament rituals as mortally sinful. Why? According to Saint Thomas, it implies that the ceremonial and sacrificial work of Christ did not happen. Remember that in the biblical worldview, liturgy is doing something louder than words can say. Liturgy is the highest for of communication. So when you liturgically celebrate an Old Testament reality, you are literally shouting against the New Testament reality.

Protestants might read this and shrug their shoulders, but a Catholic with a profound sacramental worldview will at once perceive the liturgical significance.

New Covenant = New Liturgy

My suspicion is that Christians are attracted to the Passover Seder meal because they want an intimate liturgical experience that hearkens back to the days of Jesus Christ their Savior. The liturgy at the local parish doesn’t really communicate this to them…and so they resort to Jewish handbooks to recreate what they think Jesus did on the night before He was betrayed.

For the Catholic, there is a Passover seder meal available to them: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This Eucharist is the Passover. As Saint John the Baptist, Christ Himself, the Gospels, Saint Paul, and the Book of Revelation repeat over and over, Christ is the Lamb of God. And before He died He instituted a New Covenant with a New Liturgy.

The Jewish Passover Seder might feel special, but it’s just a meal with some herbs. It is a shadow of things to come. The Catholic Eucharist is the substance of the New Covenant. It is the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the human Lamb of God. When God asked Moses to institute the Passover meal with little white lambs, He had in mind the eternal sacrifice of the Lamb of God who is the Son of God.

What about Seders for Educational Purposes?

Someone might say, “Okay, I understand. We should not participate in Old Testament rites religiously, but what if we do it educationally?”

I actually like this question because it shows that the person understands that there is a profound problem with celebrating non-Christian rites religiously.

I think Thomas Aquinas would say, “You can fully understand Passover by reading about it and by experiencing the Eucharist. You don’t need to play-act the older liturgy for the sake of catechesis.”

The Old Testament should be loved, studied, and respected. We can’t understand the New unless we understand the Old. But play acting the Old Testament rites is not appropriate. I also think it’s somewhat disrespectful toward Jewish believers of good will. Likewise, we don’t need to play-act polygamy (something sanctioned in the Old Testament) in order to have an educational knowledge of it. We don’t need to play-act Jewish dietary laws to understand them. We don’t need to sacrifice a bull like Moses said or live in tabernacles like Moses commanded. We are Christians and part of our explicit identity is that we do not do these things that were once noble and righteous for the Old Testament faithful. We live in a New Covenant.

Christ taught us that we are children of the Father and as such, the probational laws given through Moses do not bind us any longer.

If you truly want to experience the eternal Passover of God in Heaven, then go to the Eucharist. As Saint Paul said:

For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (2 Cor 5:7-8)

So if you are invited to participate in a Christian or Messianic seder, kindly decline. You’ll find what you’re looking for in the Mass.

[reminder]

PS: Lest anyone thing that I’m somehow anti-Jewish, please take a look at my book The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholicism to see how much I love our Jewish roots as Catholics. It’s half price on paperback and Kindle until Easter Sunday! Read a preview of it here.

*Quote from the Ecumenical Council of Florence:

Note that this is not a “disciplinary canon” but a doctrinal canon because the canon reads that the Church “believes, professes, and teaches…”

712 It firmly believes, professes, and teaches that the matter pertaining to the law of the Old Testament, of the Mosiac law, which are divided into ceremonies, sacred rites, sacrifices, and sacraments, because they were established to signify something in the future, although they were suited to the divine worship at that time, after our Lord’s coming had been signified by them, ceased, and the sacraments of the New Testament began; and that whoever, even after the passion, placed hope in these matters of the law and submitted himself to them as necessary for salvation, as if faith in Christ could not save without them, sinned mortally.

Yet it does not deny that after the passion of Christ up to the promulgation of the Gospel they could have been observed until they were believed to be in no way necessary for salvation; but after the promulgation of the Gospel it asserts that they cannot be observed without the loss of eternal salvation. (Ecumenical Council of Florence, AD 1445)

The post Christian Seder Passover Meals: Should Christians Celebrate Them appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

As I explained in last week’s free audio podcast, the first is the Sea Beast (arising from the sea) that symbolizes the pagan and idolatrous Roman Empire and its Emperors. This beast follows the exact description of the “Fourth Beast” described in the Prophet Daniel.

The second is the Land Beast (arising from the land) symbolizes the apostate Jewish leaders of the Temple in Jerusalem who condemned and killed their Messiah Jesus of Nazareth saying, “We have no king but Caesar.” How do these two beasts work together?

Revelation 13 describes the alliance and pact between the Sea Beast and the Land Beast to persecute Jesus and the followers of Jesus…and that’s exactly what happened after the Resurrection of Christ. Read the Acts of the Apostles and see how the Jews and the Romans worked together to persecute James, Stephen, Peter, Paul, and eventually the entire early Church of the first 40 years between AD 33 and AD 70.

The Whore of Babylon

A third personage is introduced to the mix in Revelation 17 is infamous the Whore of Babylon. She is undoubtedly the High Priesthood in Jerusalem that condemned not only James the Greater, Stephen, Peter, Paul, but eventually James of Jerusalem. We know the Whore of Babylon is the High Priesthood because she wears “purple and scarlet” (the vestment colors of the Jerusalem priests) and she is adorned in precious stones, which refers to the breastplate of precious stones that the Jewish High Priest wore during his liturgical services. She is said to be drunk on the blood of the martyrs.

The “Whore of Babylon” refers to how the Jewish priesthood has become a “whore” or “prostitute” providing her intimate services not to God but to pagan Rome. This is not surprising. Nearly all the Old Testament prophets refer to Israel’s infidelity toward God as “spiritual” whoredom, adultery, fornication, and prostitution. The fact that the High Priest literally condemned the Messianic Son of God and sold out this divine Son to the Roman Pontius Pilate is the greatest manifestation of prophetic and spiritual prostitution.

This is why the Whore of Babylon rides around on the back of Sea Beast. The apostate High Priesthood is supported by the idolatrous Beast of Rome.

The end of Revelation 17 explain how the Beast (Rome) will eventually turn on the Whore of Babylon (Jerusalem) and destroy her. This happened in AD 70 when Rome destroyed Jerusalem and burned its Temple.

Look for more on this. You can listen to my podcast on the 2 Beasts of Rev 13 by clicking here:

The Taylor Marshall Catholic Show Podcast #066: What is 666 and the Mark of the Beast?

In this podcast we saw how Satan and these two beasts stand for an unholy Trinity against Christ. Likewise, the Whore of Babylon stands against the immaculate, pure, and faithful Bride of Christ who also appears in Revelation. More on that later.

[reminder]Would you like me to do a full podcast series on the book of Revelation? Please leave me a comment and let me know what you’d like to me to clarify, write about, or record a podcast about. Thanks so much.[/reminder]

The post Book of Revelation: Who are the Beasts and the Whore of Babylon? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

These “Leucian Acts” are as follows:

• The Acts of John
• The Acts of Peter
• The Acts of Paul
• The Acts of Andrew
• The Acts of Thomas

These five works were immensely popular and always carried the flavor of heresy and wild supernatural fantasy. The book about Saint John and Saint Thomas have obvious evidence of Gnostic teaching and their Christology is Docetic. These books also follow the heresy of Encratism by teaching that sexual relations between a Christian husband and Christian wife are sinful and should be avoided. In the Acts of Andrew, it tells of a Christian woman who avoids having intercourse with her husband by “piously” substituting her maid in her place without her husband’s knowledge! We also have one woman receive “martyrdom” rather than have relations with her husband.

So, yes, these are not orthodox novels for popular Catholic consumption!

• Tertullian doesn’t give the author’s name, but calls the author of the Acts of Paul a “presbyter in Asia” who was condemned by the Church (Tertullian, De baptismo 17, 5).
• Augustine identifies the author as “Leucius” and a “cobbler of fables” (Contra Faustum 22:79).
• Writing of the five Leucian Acts, Pope Saint Leo the Great said these books: “should be utterly swept away and burned.”
• The Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicea II) said of it: “Let no one read it; and not only so, but we judge it is worthy of being committed to the flames.”

Yet despite the repeated condemnations, these books continued to be copied, circulated, and read. Many Catholic traditions such as Saint Thomas going to India, Saint John being boiled in oil in Rome, and Saint Peter engaging in spiritual battle with the heretic Simon Magus are found in the Leucian Acts.

The ancient sources hold they were written by a certain Leucius Charinus. This author’s name is interesting because it may have an esoteric connection with another ancient Christian pseudo-history.

I’m an author and I do hide esoteric things in my writings. This is part of the fun of being an author and it’s always great when readers “get it.” Sometimes it’s a footnote. Sometimes it’s an intended pun. Sometimes it’s the name of a friend or family member that’s hidden in the text.

I recently noticed that the apocryphal Act of Pilate (sometimes called the Gospel of Nicodemus) refers to two men who were raised from the dead on Good Friday (as described in Matthew 27:53). The names of these two men are Leucius and Charinus!!! Is this an esoteric reference to the author? If so there is some connection between the five Leucian Acts and the Acts of Pilate. My guess is that it’s the same author Leucius Charinus and he’s having fun with it.

In the Acts of Pilate, two men named Leucius and Charinus are raised from the dead after the crucifixion, as I just related. These two men then report to the Jewish Sanhedrin about how explain how the “Good Thief” (named here as Dismas) went along with Christ through death into the limbo of Hell and the delivered of the righteous Old Testament saints. It’s a fun read, but not to be taken too seriously. The names jump out. It would be like a popular theological novel out there on amazon with the two main characters named “Taylor” and “Marshall.” Something’s afoot here.

With this evidence, it is reasonable to group it with the other five Leucian Acts of the Apostles. This would make the complete collection as consisting of:

1. The Acts of John
2. The Acts of Peter
3. The Acts of Paul
4. The Acts of Andrew
5. The Acts of Thomas
6. The Acts of Pilate (with two narrating characters strangely named Leucius and Charinus)

Conclusion on Leucius

My conclusion is that Leucius was a second century presbyter in Asia who was confused by early Gnostic tendencies (Docetism) and held to a strict teaching against human sexuality (Encratism). It’s easy to see how his Docetism (as a denial of Christ’s historical incarnation with a physical human body) is related to his Encratism (with an antagonism toward human sexuality and the human conception of new human bodies). More than all this, he was a gifted writer who spun out heretical works that captured the attention of both orthodox Christians and heretics.

Should you read them? Only if you recognize them as heretical and non-historical.

[reminder]

The post Meet Leucius Charinus the First (Heretical) Christian Novelist appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

30% of Catholic college students will go off to college and by the time they reach 22 years, they will never receive Catholic sacraments again. 

Something happens during those four years to convince them to permanently drop out of Catholicism…for life.

I’ve heard Catholic parents lament: “I spent 18 years of effort, prayer, tuition for Catholic private school, sacramental prep, and we tried everything…and my son/daughter lost it all in the first 18 days of life on the college campus. They don’t go to Mass anymore. They just aren’t interested.”

So how do we begin to address this problem effecting 30% of all Catholic College students? What do we do?

I’m hearing more and more voices from both parents and college students (mostly from within the New Saint Thomas Institute) who want to provide dynamic Catholic instruction and community for Catholic college students.

So I’m putting something together called: Catholic in College. It will be an online forum for college age students to receive video instruction in Catholic apologetics, resources, book recommendations, regular reminders via email, and a whole army of people to help them joyfully rediscover Catholicism as a college student. We’ll also help them find Masses and confession opportunities in a way that’s relevant to them.

This is going to the BIGGEST online outreach to Catholic college students. Are you interested? I hope so.

Before we make the huge investment in web design, video courses, and online community, I just wanted to get the pulse of my 100,000+ followers: Is this something that you see as a solution to this problem for Catholic young adults?

We will likely roll out a beta version of Catholic in College for a limited number of parents and college students this year. If you’d like to be part of the initial Catholic in College movement, we want to hear from you.

Please sign up here and I’ll put you on the early bird notification list for news about Catholic in College. Sign Up to learn more about our Catholic in College Support Network by clicking here.

The post 30% of Catholic College Students Leave the Sacraments for Life – Here’s how you can help: appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

“When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.”

“And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (St Mark 8:19-21)

Clearly Christ expects His apostles and us by extension to make an [obvious] conclusion about these numbers. But most of us cannot make a conclusion…because we do not know the Old Testament Scriptures!

Here are the numeric equations:

Feeds 5000 with

• 5 loaves
• 12 baskets left over

Feeds 4000 with

• 7 loaves
• 7 baskets left over

The interpretive key or secret here is the preceding story of Christ referring to “bread” being reserved only to the children of Israel (St Mark 7:24-30). The Gentile Syro-Phoenician woman then says, “Yes Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the crumbs of the children.” Christ loves her answer! He just wanted someone to “get this.” The Apostles did not, but she did.

So this whole business about bread and baskets left over refers to bread for the nation of Israel and then bread for the Gentiles in their midst.

The first number is something God/Christ takes and the result is something yielded from the number. It’s easier if we work backward:

• The number 12 almost always refers to the 12 tribes of Israel. It is the national number of the People of God.
• The number 7 can refer to the Sabbath (seventh day), holiness, or completion. It’s also the number of the universe since the 7th day brought completion and peace to the creative act of God. The number 70 (7×10=70) is often used by Jews to describe the universal (Catholic) fulness of the Gentiles. Given the presence of the Syro-Phoenician woman, the number 7 here represents the seven Gentile nations that occupied the Promised Land during the time of Moses (see Deuteronomy 7:1 for the list). The Promised Land was occupied by the 12 Tribes of Israel and the competing 7 Nations of the Gentiles.

Here’s how it signifies redemptive history:

• Old Covenant: Christ first feeds people and yields the 12 baskets. This is God first establishing the People of Israel (12 tribes) in the Old Testament.
• New Covenant: Christ thereafter (literally “after three days” see Mark 8:2) feeds people and yields the 7 baskets. This is God next establishing the Catholic Church – the fulness of the Gentiles (7 nations) in covenant with God.

So that’s how it works out. Christ is prompting His apostles to “get it” and see that the Gentiles are going to be brought into the basket “after three days” (Mark 8:2). My guess is that Saint Paul is later placed “in a basket” because He is the designated Apostle to the Gentiles.

God is amazing!

All this proves that you cannot really understand Christ and the New Testament unless you are deep into the Old Testament.

If you’d like to study Catholic theology with my online and earn a Certificate, please check out my New Saint Thomas Institute.

[reminder]So what do you think the 5 loaves and 7 loaves signify? I look forward to reading your answers![/reminder]

Please share this on Facebook.

The post What is the meaning of the 12 and 7 baskets left over from the feeding of 5000 and 4000? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Most of will never meet Saint Augustine or Saint Thomas Aquinas, but we have the next best thing. We can hear their voice and get their input through their books.

It’s important to read. Here’s my NSTI Lifetime Reading List. But even when we have the right books, it doesn’t mean we have the right method for absorbing books.

My good friend Brandon Vogt also just launched a course on how to read more books per week/month/year. I’ve already checked it out and it looks amazing. Practical easy advice. A few minutes invested here will save you minutes, hours, and even days or years in your reading habits.

Please click the link and check out his free course on learning how to read more quickly and intentionally:

Read More Books Now Video Course by Brandon Vogt

I want to challenge everybody this year to step it up in their reading. You will be happier, better informed, and more successful in the areas of your life by picking up more books.

[reminder]

The post How to Read More Books! appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Free Video: Catholic Core of Saint Paul

Free audio mp3s: Catholic Perspective on Paul (11 presentations)

GK Chesterton once observed that the Catholic Church has been “attacked on all sides and for all contradictory reasons. No sooner had one rationalist demonstrated that it was too far to the east than another demonstrated with equal clearness that it was much too far to the west.” The same may be said of Saint Paul. The history of heresy is essentially a series of contradictory positions, each claiming the authority of the Apostle Paul.

In today’s video I explain how understanding Paul’s “core theology” can help you explain and defend EVERY Catholic teaching and doctrine:

[youtube id=”CCuyPQG_g-M”]

According to some heretics, Paul was the first corrupter of the life and doctrines of Jesus Christ. To others Paul alone preserved the true message of Christ that had been corrupted by the Twelve. Some consider Paul to have been the champion of grace, while others accuse him of yielding to the so-called Jewish legalism of Peter and James. Paul has since been accused of being too Greek, too Jewish, too gnostic, and too orthodox.

In his own day, he was held by some to be an apostle and by others to be a heretic. Martin Luther claimed Paul’s authority, as did the Catholic Council of Trent. He has been called both a misogynist and a liberator of women. Some hail him as a proponent of freedom and others revile him for imposing rules against sexual freedom and social progress. Always and everywhere, Paul is pulled and tugged in opposite directions. Paul has been stretched out so thinly that his features have become faint, almost forgotten. Prophetically, Saint Peter aptly described the controversial nature of Paul’s epistles:

Also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:15-16).

All the detractors of Paul stand united in their conviction that the historical Paul is certainly not the same Paul revered by the Catholic Church. There is today a deep prejudice against the so-called “Saint Paul” of the Catholic Church. They will grant that Paul was a rabbi, missionary, mystic, polemicist, author, and apostle. However, they will not grant that the man enshrined in the mosaics, statues, and stained glass of a thousand Catholic cathedrals is the Paul of history. The critics are convinced that the Catholic religion as we know it today has little to do with the historic Paul of Tarsus.

Paul is none other than a saint of the Holy Roman and Catholic Church. He spent his life wishing to bring his feet within the walls of Rome and he surrendered his head to the sword outside those very walls. Within his writings, we find the primitive and pristine doctrines of the Catholic Faith. We discover a Paul who is Catholic, a theologian who is sacramental, a churchman who is hierarchical, a mystic who is orthodox.

Please watch this video to learn more about Saint Paul:

[youtube id=”CCuyPQG_g-M”]

[reminder]

The post Saint Paul was a Catholic Priest appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

1. disagreement with the sexual teachings of the Church
2. denial of God altogether
3. common Protestant objections against Mary, the Pope, or salvation and grace

I’ve made the mistake in the past of thinking that if I could “just get smarter” or “just read more books,” I’d somehow become a logical ninja able to convert the most hardened atheist or Protestant…

…but it’s just not true…

What I’ve learned over the years is that gaining theological knowledge is 100% necessary, but (and this an important but) acquiring daily positive habits are 100% more important.

Have you cultivated these necessary Christian habits? In this video, I’ll share the my opinion on the 5 most important “Life Habits” for not only transforming your own life, but the lives of those around you (especially those that disagree with you about Catholicism).

[youtube id=”BM8AurCFO8U”]

Having trouble watching the video in your browser or email? Please click here to watch the video.

Tomorrow, I’ll send a follow up video on how the essential Catholic intellectual tools (most of which are free) that every Christian should start using to gain in head knowledge after they have already committed to heart knowledge of the Most Holy Trinity through the revealed life and ministry of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

[reminder]

The post Do You Have the 5 Life Habits of a Convincing Catholic? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

It’s free and packed with information. I’m giving a LIVE personal presentation on how to share your Catholic faith with those who don’t agree and I’ll give you 7 reasons and tools to help you grow in Catholic theology. I’ll also be giving away free books to those that register. Every one who registers will also receive some downloadable resources.

In our last Catholic Webinar we had over 1,000 people. That’s once big Google Hangout webinar! Let’s make it 2,000 tonight.

Please join us. It’s super easy. All you have to do is click a link to join the live video chat room. You do have to register in order for it all to work. Here’s the link to register for tonight’s webinar:

Registration for “How to Defend the Catholic Faith and Tools to Study Catholic Theology: Live Webinar with Taylor Marshall”

The post You are Invited! Live Catholic Webinar with Taylor Marshall tonight appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

For today only, the Kindle ebook version of Sword and Serpent is 50% off at amazon.com (offer ends at midnight). More details at the end of this post:

Here are the winners:

Epic Selfie with copy of Sword and Serpent: Thomas McIntyre
(Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card)
Thomas McIntyre won the contest with a photo in Rome in front of the Colosseum (which is featured in the book).

Runner up was of Mari Webber (yes there’s also a “Mari” in the novel!) as she traveled Germany visiting the Christkindl Markets and various castles:

Official Sword and Serpent Beverage Creation Winner
(Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card)
Nicholas Trandem created not just a cocktail but a homebrewed ale recipe! Wow! It’s call the Saint George Dragonslayer Ale and you can find the detailed recipe here.

Granted I haven’t tasted it yet, but as a homebrewer, I’ve studied the malt profiles and hop additions and I’m pretty impressed!

Blog Post Winner: Nathan Barontini
(Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card + a promo link to your blog from my blog)
Nathan Barontini won with not just a post, but an interview with me about the book. You can read our interview by clicking here.

Bought Book Winner: Sarah Harder
(Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card)
Sarah Harder, whom I’ve met in real life, won the contest for those who simply bought a copy of the book. Way to go Sarah!

Facebook Winner: Alexandra Clark
(Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card)
Alexandra Clark won the random contest for posting about Sword and Serpent on Facebook. Thank you Alexandra!

Bought 4 Gifts Winner: Christopher Lushis
(Prize: an iPad Mini mailed to your house!)
Christopher Lushis was one of many who purchased multiple copies of the book to give away at Christmas.

Amazon Review Winner: Dan Cornell
(Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card)
Dan Cornell won the random contest for writing an amazon review. Thank you Dan and to all of you who wrote reviews. Dan also wrote a blog post review about Sword and Serpent that you can read here.

In order to celebrate the success of the book launch, the Kindle version of Sword and Serpent will be 50% off today until midnight. You can get the discounted Kindle version at 50% off today by clicking here.

[reminder]

The post The Official Saint George Beer and Pictures from Rome! appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

This is the claim of the homosexual historian John Boswell in his book Same Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe (Chicago).

Same Sex Marriage Liturgy = Adelphopoesis?

Boswell’s argument hinges on the existence of a liturgical ritual called adelphopoiesis. Adelphos means “brother.” Poesis means “making.” So the term in Greek literally means “brother-making.”

Now Boswell translated adelphopoesis as “same-sex union,” and made the case that these were homosexual unions sanctioned by the Church. You don’t have to be a great Greek scholar to get the agenda. Adelphopoesis most certainly does not translate as “same-sex union.”

Along the same lines, Allan Tulchin in his article “Same-Sex Couples Creating Households in Old Regime France: The Uses of the Affrèrement,” (Journal of Modern History: September 2007) made his case that Latin liturgy of affrèrement (Latin title is Ordo ad fratres faciendum, literally “Order for the making of brothers”) was a medieval “same-sex union” recognized by Europe and the Church.  Affrèrement allowed two men to share living quarters, pool their finances, and have recognition from the state and church as an economic unit.

To muddy the waters, same-sex marriage advocates have coupled Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus as the patron saints of this alleged arrangement. These two men were known in Byzantine history to be holy men with a great brotherly affection for one another. They are mentioned in the Greek liturgy of adelphopoesis, and Boswell argues that they were likely an early same-sex pair joined together in homoeroticism.

Regrettably, modern scholars feel that sexuality must be the incentive for any relationship in history. David and Jonathan or Sergius and Bacchus are “proof” that religious male friends were secret lovers between the pages of history.

Adelphopoesis or Affrèrement was Not Homoerotic

Boswell’s analysis fails when we recall that both Catholic Europe and Orthodox Byzantium punished homosexuality with death (Byzantine codes of law call for convicted homosexual men to be burned). Boswell is right, though. There is ample evidence of homosexuality in the medieval era. Unfortunately for him, the Christian and liturgical norms never reveal the slightest tolerance for homosexual acts.

In the middle of the 1000’s you have Saint Peter Damian’s book Liber Gomorrhianus circulating with a crying condemnation of both homosexuality and masturbation among the clergy.

Saint Hildegard of Bingen in the 1100s wrote against lesbian acts in her work Scivias.

The same condemnation against homosexuality is reiterated in penitential manuals and again by Saint Thomas Aquinas in the 1200s. In the 1300s, the heretical reform sect of the Lollards in England cited priestly celibacy as a cause of homosexuality in society.

Saint Peter Damian and Saint Hildegard’s explicit teachings over explicit acts certainly reveal that homosexuality was practiced among the laity, the clergy, and the religious – even the women religious. So Boswell is correct in identifying homosexual activity in his period. He is simply wrong in pointing to adelphopoesis as a sanctioned form of homosexuality.

It would be odd for both a civil society and a universal religion to criminalize homosexual acts on one hand, but also provide a “wink-wink” liturgy in order to establish a sexual relationship between two men on the other hand.

Understanding Adelphopoesis as a Kind of Monasticism

The formation of a social unit in which food, finances, and shelter are shared is not unique to matrimony. The Christian tradition also established monastic brotherhoods where men would gather to share all possessions, income, and shelter equally. These social units were protected liturgically, ecclesiastically, and civilly.

Adelphopoesis is the same kind of arrangement – but more suited for two men who wished to live in the world. The liturgies for Adelphopoesis or Affrèrement from the ninth to the fifteenth  centuries establish pneumatikous adelphous or “spiritual brothers.” Chastity is assumed. If the Emperor Theodosius ruled that homosexual acts received the punishment of being burned to death, I don’t think that such a society would have assumed that “spiritual brothers” were anything more than consecrated men pooling their resources for the common good.

Could the arrangement of adelphopoesis be abused by homosexual men seeking to find a civil form of tolerance? Of course! Did it ever happen. Probably. Men have used monasteries to cloak improprieties and escape the glare of the society. Read Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales for more details.

The take away is that adelphopoesis never was intended to be a “same-sex marriage” for homosexuals, even if Boswell translated it that way…

[reminder]Had you heard of this debate over adelphopoesis? Are you now able to explain the truth about it?[/reminder]

Please share this post on Facebook.

The post Same Sex Medieval Marriage – Dr Marshall Reveals the Fraud appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

As you know, these saints were removed from the liturgical calendar and so you quite often hear people claim that Saint George or Saint Christopher are no longer saints. We’re going to look at this question from a historical, liturgical and theological point of view. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ll definitely explain why George is depicted with a dragon and why would should take that seriously. So if you’ve wondered “What’s up that dragon?” this is the podcast for you.

Click to Listen: #060: Is Saint George Still a Saint?

(This podcast is out of order because I goofed and made two Episode 57’s! So this episode which was announced as 57, has been moved and renumbered as Episode 60. Sorry about the confusion.

  If the audio player does not show up in your email or browser, please click here to listen.

• Proverb of the week: Prov 23:31-32
• Featured Segment: Is Saint George still a Saint?
• Announcements:
  • Looking for a solid Advent Devotion this year. Give a gift to Christ. Consecrate yourself to Mary with the 33 day consecration. We have everything need for it at 33Mary.com. Please visit 33mary.com and sign up.
  • My new book Sword and Serpent is coming out around December 1 in time for Christmas!!!

Please watch my new book trailer for Sword and Serpent:

• Tip of the week: Skitch
• Latin word of the week: Draco

Are you enjoying this podcast? Please share it on Facebook by clicking here.

Please Share Your Feedback:

• 270,967 downloads on iTunes as of today.
• SHOUT OUT: A huge “shout out” to all 253 (!) of you who wrote amazing 5-star reviews at iTunes. Please rate this podcast by clicking here and then click “View in iTunes.” From there you can leave a review. I appreciate you for this! Thank you!
• SUBSCRIBE: Please subscribe (FREE) to this podcast in iTunes and get a new podcast every Wednesday.
• SURVEY: Please view our Podcast Listener Poll by clicking here.

[reminder]What are other helpful ways that we can explain infant baptism? Do have any recommendations or advice to share?[/reminder]

The post #060: Is Saint George Still a Saint? [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

God made humans to be goal-oriented. Our ultimate goal is Heaven, but there are sub-goals along the way. Today I’ll share how I attain goals using the “S.M.A.R.T.” (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, time-bound) system of goal making. When I learned this system, it literally changed my life. I will also share how making these kind of goals for the New Year can lead to a breakthrough in any category with which you struggle: spiritual, marital, familial, economic, health, etc.

How to Make S.M.A.R.T. Goals for the New Year

Please watch the video below as explain how you can make goals for the New Year and make this next year the most productive of your life:

Are you having trouble seeing the video? Please click here to watch it.

[youtube id=”KqItF5Vs7DY”]

Do you have family and friends who need help with goals for the New Year? Please share this article on Facebook by clicking here.

[reminder]What’s your goal this year? What could you change this New Year with a system of written-down goals?[/reminder]

The post How to Make Unbreakable Goals for the New Year appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Secular magazines and “experts” on the History Channel love to gloat over Christians every December and “prove” how Christ was not born on December 25. Recently, the same “Christ wasn’t born on Dec 25” argument was taken up by Bill O’Reilly in his book Killing Jesus.

In order to offer a biblical and historical argument for Christ’s birth on December 25, I’m offering all my readers a Christmas gift. It’s a free ebook copy of my book God’s Birthday: Why Christ was born on Dec 25 and why it Matters. 

You can download the entire (short) book for free by clicking here. Here’s what you’ll get:

1. How to answer the 3 most common objections against a December 25 Birthday
2. A Biblical Argument from Luke’s Gospel locating Christ’s birth in late December
3. An analysis of Church Fathers who defended the birth of Christ on December 25
4. An explanation of how the Jewish historian Josephus got the dates wrong
5. How and why Christ was born on Dec 25 in the year 1BC

Please share this free book on Facebook by clicking here.

My new book on Saint George hit #1 Bestseller on Amazon.com!

Speaking of books and Christmas:

My new Christmas novel hit #1 Bestseller on amazon.com in two genres (Young Adult Religious Historical Fiction; and Action).

This novel Sword and Serpent about Saint George and Saint Nicholas is selling great and getting awesome reviews.

The first 3,000 copies are special edition printed versions with a bonus chapter about Saint Nicholas and a map! You can still order one and get it before Christmas! If you’d like to read sample chapters, read reviews, or get your own limited edition copy, please click here.

[reminder]

The post Was Christ was Born on December 25? Here’s how to answer objections appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

In this video I retell how I as a Protestant once (aggressively and rudely) challenged the Catholic philosopher Dr. Peter Kreeft in person and how Dr. Kreeft’s calm and researched replies demonstrated the BEST in Catholic apologetics and technique. Wouldn’t you know it – I’m Catholic now! I’ll also explain the 5 common mistakes that you might make and how to avoid them:

If you don’t see the video in your email or browser,
please click here to watch it.

If you don’t see the video in your email or browser,
please click here to watch it.

[reminder]

PS: You can get hours of videos like this and earn a Certificate in Catholic Theology or a Certificate in Catholic Apologetics by joining the New Saint Thomas Institute – an online member community with Catholic classes and thousands of Christians from over 25 nations! Don’t miss the enrollment window! Join now at: New Saint Thomas Institute.

The post 5 Common Mistakes Catholics Make When Defending the Catholic Church appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Like last year I have an improved list with more information on knives and how a lady can choose the right knife for the man in their life.

* If you received this post by email, you’ll want to click “Always Display Images” in your email client so that you can see the manly gift images.

When your man gets back to work after Christmas and someone asks, “So what did you get for Christmas?” let him say something more than “Oh you know, a couple of new shirts and a tie.”

Top Ten Manly Christmas Gifts for Men (drumroll)

Below is a guide for Manly Christmas Gifts for Men: your husband, brother, or grandpa. Seriously, you can’t wrong with the following ten gifts. They’re all winners. So here we go:

10) Cigarette Case for Business Cards

This is a new one for our 2014 Manly Christmas Gifts for Men. Almost every man carries his business cards in his wallet where they get rounded corners, warped, and stained. Those last 2 or 3 business cards in your wallet have been sat on thousands of times. Nobody wants that. So instead…

Place your business cards nicely in a cigarette case!

Nothing says “cool” like a cigarette case – but few men smoke cigarettes…so why not get one anyway and fill it with business cards?

1. First of all, your cards will remain fresh, crisp and unabused.
2. Secondly, you’ll look totally legit when you pull out an old school Victorian cigarette case and give someone your business card.

This gift idea is something that men will love and will later reflect, “Why didn’t I think of this earlier?”

Get him the Victorian Etched Cigarette Case by clicking here.

9) Timeless Thermos for the Outdoors

This one was a huge hit in last year’s 2013 Christmas Gifts for Men. I have had several women walk up to me and say, “Thanks for recommending the thermos last year. My husband loved it.”

This “Manly Christmas Gift” also has a backstory:

I was fly-fishing in Montana last year. It was fun, but it was cold. I was catching monster trout, but my body temp was diving.

Our fishing guide pulled out three timeless thermoses from his bag. They could have been 100 years old. They were beautiful. He offered us coffee or, get this, hot chicken broth to drink from these old beautiful thermoses. I don’t drink coffee, so I reached for the chicken broth. Wow. It warmed me from the outside in.

I admired the fly fishing guide’s amazing collection of thermoses. “They just don’t make them like that anymore.”

Well now they do. Check out this beautiful thermos from Stanley for only 24.99.

8) Old School Shaving Razor

This is a big hit every year. If you want your man to feel like a total stud, get him this manly Christmas gift. It’s an old school shaving kit just like your grandfather used to use. Real Badger hair brush. Soap bowl. Cool stainless thing to hang your razor up to dry.

Still not convinced? Check this out. Soon-to-be-Saint John Paul II used a razor just like this:

By the way, the badger hair brush will smell like a wet animal the first several times he uses it. It’s okay, the smell goes away after a few uses. It’s all part of the manly appeal. He feels cool, you get to pet his clean, smooth face. Everybody wins.

Here it is at amazon: old school shaving kit.

7) Money Clip that also holds Credit Cards

I love this money clip. I finally gave up the big fat back-breaking leather wallet and now carry this minimal lightweight money clip. It holds my drivers license, my concealed carry gun license, and my business and personal cards. I don’t know how I lived without this clip before.

This money clip is the perfect stocking stuffer for teens and men:

Here it is amazon: Money clip that holds credit cards.

6) Kindle Fire HD from amazon.com

The post Top 10 Manly Christmas Gifts for Men (2014 Edition) appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

I’ve put together a new free resource called the “Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.” Over the years, I have read the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let me save you some time and filter it all down to the best of the best. The crème de la crème of theology books. It’s sorted by topic: Scripture, Philosophy, Mariology, etc.

Click here to see it: Top 100 Catholic Books: The Catholic Life Time Reading Plan.

An apology and a little favor to ask…

I always get uncomfortable when it comes to promoting books. There are literally 17,925 of you that get these regular updates from me and I don’t want to crowd your email box with things that sound like commercials. But I am so passionate about this new project and I think it could become important to you.

Speaking of books, please allow me to ask you to help me with something:

1) As you know Young Adult fiction for teens is becoming more sexualized and more morally confusing. The plots in teen books increasingly center on sex and the villains are sometimes the heroes. Young people need better reading options.

2) To answer this need, I have just published a Young Adult Catholic Historical Fiction Novel titled Sword and Serpent: A Retelling of Saint George and the Dragon.  This new book is a fun, wholesome foray into Roman history, martyrdom, and virtue that avoids being preachy or overly pious. It’s an epic that retells the legend of Saint George in a way that might surprise you.

3) This new novel Sword and Serpent has debuted as #1 in its category on amazon – thanks to you to the readers who have supported me in this endeavor. As of today it’s holding at #2. I would REALLY like to see a CLEAN Catholic Young Adult novel win the day, and I’d be grateful for any help you can give me: Please tell friends about the book, read a copy, or tell people on Facebook. My biggest supporters are you – my current readers at this blog. If you could please huddle around me and help me lift up this novel, I’d be really grateful.

4) Okay, end of book promo stuff. You guys are the best supporters and let me send out a special “thank you” to the hundreds of you that have already read Sword and Serpent, and have already written so many amazing views reviews on amazon.

Here’s a link to the book: Sword and Serpent – A Retelling of Saint George and the Dragon.

Saint George pray for us!!!
Taylor

PS: Please read some of the reviews at amazon.com by clicking here.

The post 100 Top Catholic Books You Should Read Before You Die – Lifetime Reading Plan appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Edel is an event for mothers who need a break. It’s a chance to form meaningful connections with like-minded women. It’s an opportunity to hear inspiring speakers who will encourage you in your vocation. It’s a weekend to explore Charleston, SC and toast new friends.

Joy missed last year’s Edel because we were traveling but she didn’t want to miss this year’s Edel – plus Joy loves South Carolina.

Way to go to Jennifer Fulwiler and the all the organizers of Edel. Get your tickets here. They will likely sell out in the first day!

A special congratulations to Jennifer Fulwiler. Her amazing book Something Other Than God made it to the semi-finals on Good Reads in the “Memoirs” genre for 2014. This is huge! She is up against the likes of Hilary Clinton and Rob Lowe. Dang. Way to be a Catholic witness Jennifer!

[reminder]Are you going to Edel? Leave a comment below. Joy Marshall wants to meet you there![/reminder]

The post My wife is going to Jen Fulwiler’s Edel Gathering! appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

So after they went to bed, I nightly sipped on a snifter of Grand-Marnier and typed out the life and adventures of the historical Saint George. It’s finally being published for this Christmas with the title: Sword and the Serpent.

It’s historical fiction. If you like Roman history, adventure, mystery, and well, Catholic saints, you’re going to love this book. It’s not magical – it’s supernatural, with miracles, relics, and even some bilocation.

Please take a moment to watch the book trailer for Sword and Serpent (the book won’t be published till December):

[youtube id=”qu87sTohexE”]

Are you having trouble seeing this video in your browser or email? Please click here to watch it.

Would you like for us to let you know when the novel is released? If so please enter your name below and we’ll email you to let you know. (Your email address will be secure and will be used for nothing other than for letting you know about Sword and Serpent.)

[callout]Please share this post on Facebook and help spread the word on this book I know will shape and inspire both Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Click here to share.[/callout]

The post Video Preview of My New Saint George Novel appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The post Sword and Serpent [Book] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Christmas commercialism strikes us even before Thanksgiving begins!

I want to recommend to you what I’ll be doing this Advent in preparation for Christmas: 33mary.com. It’s a free online Advent devotional that combines Advent with the 33 Day Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, made popular by Saint Louis de Montfort and Father Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory. We are calling it 33Mary.com. It will guide you day by day with teachings from the Saints and provide the necessary prayers to complete the 33 Day Total Consecration. Even if you’ve done it before, this is a great time to renew your consecration.

What is Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary?

Pope Saint John Paul II popularized the method of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. His papal motto was Totus Tuus meaning “Totally Yours.” He explained that his papal motto was the fruit of his own 33 Day Total Consecration to Mary. He was totally Mary’s because he wanted to be totally for Jesus. Saint John Paul II said that his  own 33 Day Total Consecration was the “decisive turning point” of his life before becoming Pope.

Why You Should Try 33Mary.com

It all boils down to Christ’s words on the cross: “Behold your mother!” This statement of Christ echoes again in every century and every decade. If we want to enter into His incarnation, birth, death, and resurrection, Mary’s presence is recommended by Christ Himself. As we prepare to celebrate His birth at Christmas, who better than Mary to lead us?

How We Made 33Mary.com So Easy

If you’ve ever done the 33 Day Consecration or tried it, you know that it can be confusing. There are various prayers to keep track of and you have to keep up with which day you’re on. Also, you need to carry a book with you. To simplify this devotion, we have created a free resource for you that makes it so much easier. We will email you the prayer and short saint reading every day. It’s that easy. You don’t have to remember a book, page numbers, or even what day it is. We do all that for you.

How this Total Consecration Works

For 33 days you’ll receive an inspirational quote or teaching from a Catholic Saint about Mary and her importance in your life as a follower of Christ. It begins on November 22 and the 33 days end on December 24. On Christmas morning, you (and perhaps your friends and family) will make a formal consecration of your life, soul, gifts, prayers, faith, works, and future to Jesus through the hands of Mary. Don’t worry, we provide these prayers for you. It’s a very beautiful experience.

How to Sign Up for 33Mary.com for FREE

Our goal is to have 10,000 people sign up and consecrate their lives to Jesus through Mary using the template promoted by Saint John Paul II. Last year at the New Saint Thomas Institute we did “Mary Advent Videos” and we wanted to do something even bigger this year. By the way, it’s completely free and you don’t need to be a Member of the New Saint Thomas Institute to participate.

• We also have bonus gifts for everyone who signs up: a digital copy of my book God’s Birthday: Why Christ was born on December 25.
• And a surprise gift on Christmas morning that will be emailed to you.

Please sign up by visiting 33Mary.com.

And most importantly – please tell your friends and family members. If we are going to meet our goal of 10,000 consecrations to Mary this Advent we need your help to get the word out. Please share this post on Facebook and encourage others to sign up.

Have a great Advent, but make your plan now to do something special. Otherwise Advent will come and go before you know it!

Visit 33Mary.com in order to receive this free devotional service.

The post #1 Catholic Advent Devotional: 33 Day Total Consecration to Mary for Advent appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Other than the greats (like the Lord of the Rings trilogy) our spiritual lives can benefit tremendously from reading good Catholic fiction. This isn’t necessarily fiction written by Catholics (though that can be very beneficial), but these are books that openly talk  about the Faith and have a clear “sacramental” message.

Please take a moment to watch the video below as I list the best works of Catholic fiction (other than the Lord of the Rings trilogy) in the past century:

[youtube id=”dddqv68XArc”]

Are you having trouble seeing this video in your browser or email? Please click here to watch it.

[reminder]Do you agree with my list or think I missed a book that should be included?[/reminder]

[callout]Do you have a bookworm friend that would like to hear about this list, or would add to it? Please share this post on Facebook by clicking here.[/callout]

The post Top 5 Catholic Novels (other than the Lord of the Rings) appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The book is my fictional retelling of a young (Saint) George and his journey to Rome with his companion (Saint) Christopher. It presents a supernatural world of relics, persecution, prayers, ascetics, and dark demonic powers. And yes, it does have a final battle between George and “the dragon” named Molech – but the ending will surprise you!

We still need help with the title. Please leave a comment below with name suggestions. A short line from the Bible would be great. Here are some examples from Revelation:

“And the great dragon was thrown down”

“That Ancient Serpent”

“The Deceiver of the Whole World”

“the dragon gave his power”

“And they worshiped the dragon”

“The Mouth of the dragon”

“Leviathan the fleeing serpent”

“Sons and Daughters to Molech” (Jer 32:35)

“The Children to Molech” (Leviticus 20)

“Kill This Dragon” (from Daniel)

Please leave a comment below with your title suggestions. Your suggestions don’t need to be biblical…just really, really cool.

We will limit the titles to the top 5 and then run a contest.

If we choose your novel title, you’ll get 3 free signed copies of the George novel and your name inside the book in the acknowledgements!

The post Contest: Name Taylor’s new Saint George novel and win appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The manuscript is now being edited and prepared by Dr. Shannon Valenzuela at Sister Muses. The book should be ready soon!!!

What do you think of the concept above? Most people asked for the addition of “Saint” to the title Saint Augustine in 50 Pages even though the original Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages did not have it.

We also changed the subtitle from “The Quick Layman’s Guide” to “The Layman’s Quick Guide” since it’s not really the Layman who is being “quick.”

[reminder]Augustine looks a little solemn or angry but I like how he matches the Aquinas on the previous book. What do you think?[/reminder]

The post Saint Augustine in 50 Pages Prototype Image appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

If you’re like me, you think of simplicity through the lens of Saint Benedict or Saint Francis. Consequently, I think that I already know it and understand. So for me, it shakes my earth when I read it through fresh pagan eyes. Marcus Aurelius (the old man king in the the movie Gladiator) was an Emperor of Rome. He was also a warrior, entrepreneur, emperor, and philosopher. Yes, he was responsible for persecuting Christians. Let’s just bracket that for now.

What I like about this book is watching the gears of a Roman Emperor spin around. It’s fascinating. It reaffirms what’s best of the Catholic virtue tradition. It also reveals the shortfalls of Roman Stoicism (on which I have a secret intellectual crush).

If you like thinking of virtue as “athletics” you will jive with this book:

Great quotes from Meditations:

You will find rest from vain fancies if you perform every act in life as though it were your last.
II, 5.

A man should be upright, not kept upright.
III, 5.

Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.
III, 7.

Remember that man lives only in the present, in this fleeting instant; all the rest of his life is either past and gone, or not yet revealed. Short, therefore, is man’s life, and narrow is the corner of the earth wherein he dwells.
III, 10.

Remember this— that there is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed in the performance of every act of life.
IV, 32.

Get the book now and start reading. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius at amazon.com.

The post Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: Book Club Entry appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

My goal was to finish researching and writing the book by the feast day of Saint Augustine on August 28, 2014. I worked hard on it and put the finishing touches on it on August 29. Do you know how hard it is to squeeze Augustine into 50 pages? 

Please Listen Here: Your Voicemail about the Book

Here’s a short 1 minute voicemail I recorded to you telling you about the book: Click here to listen to it: Taylor’s Voicemail to you about your free book.

Augustine in 50 Pages Table of Contents

Here’s a sneak at the title page for the book:
SAINT AUGUSTINE IN 50 PAGES title page.pdf

When will you get this Free Book?

The book is finished. But as you know, I am the royal king of typos (it’s a common theme in the comments box. My dad is dyslexic. Maybe I have a little bit of it.) So I need to get this Augustine manuscript professionally edited and cleaned up. Whenever that is finished, you’ll have this free book in your hands. Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages will go into paperback version and will be available for purchase at amazon soon.

If you still want a free copy of Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages, sign up and get it here.

Godspeed, Taylor Marshall PS: I shared this on Facebook, but I really felt that Saint Augustine was in the room with me when I wrote this book. It was a very supernatural sensation. The closest experience I’ve had as an author was writing The Catholic Perspective on Paul and my new fictional novel about Saint George, Saint Christopher, and Saint Nicholas (due after Thanksgiving). [reminder]Should the new title be SAINT Augustine in 50 Pages or just Augustine in 50 Pages? The reason I ask is that Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages doesn’t have the “Saint” in front of it.[/reminder]

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The post Saint Helen: A recommended book, Evelyn Waugh’s Helena appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

This is a sneak preview of my second (new) Ox Talk Podcast. Also, for the first time ever, my lovely wife Joy joins me on the microphone in this podcast. You won’t want to miss this one!

Click to Listen: Podcast #039: How Was the Bible Assembled

If audio player does not show up in your email or browser, please click here to listen.

New Announcements:

1. There is now a “waiting list” to join the New Saint Thomas Institute. There are currently 232 people waiting to join our New Saint Thomas Institute. If you would like to reserve your spot on our waiting list, receive priority enrollment, and get reduced tuition, please learn more by clicking here.
2. Today is a special public preview of “Ox Talk Podcast” – a special podcast for Members of the New Saint Thomas Institute.
3. My wife Joy co-hosts today’s show.

Past Episodes of the Show:

The post #039: How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me) appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Check out these new devotional cards. Many of you may remember my friend Steven Nelson. He has designed the book covers for all my published books.

Well Steven recently started a new project designing and printing Catholic devotional materials at his online shop “Holy Name Holy Face.” He’s made some cool looking holy cards that don’t look like your normal cheap holy cards:

So far he’s made a handful of items ranging from devotional cards to printed prayers and novenas. Steven is hoping to expand his catalogue with other devotional prints and items. They look pretty cool. Please show him your support, and check out his store here: Holy Name Holy Face.

Speaking of Steven Nelson, look what just arrived: the first ever paperback version of Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages arrived from the printers yesterday! Steven Nelson designed the cover – which looks fantastic. More news on the new version of Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages paperback coming soon. Till then, you can still get the ebook version for free.

The post Holy Name and Holy Face Cards! appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The post Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages: A Layman’s Quick Guide to Thomism [Book] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Please check it out and if you’ve read it already, please leave a review of the book by clicking here.

The post The Eternal City is back in print appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The Romance of Religion: Religious vs. Spiritual

Like a crusading preacher of the Middle Ages, Father Longenecker stands at the gates of our city begging us to join him in battle. The Romance of Religion trumpets the notes of love, sacrifice, and mystery. In an age where everyone wants to be “spiritual but not religious,” Father Longenecker challenges us to take up the cross of the only religion with romance: Christianity.

This is a great book for those of you that struggle with “being religious” and the temptation to “just be spiritual.” It also reminded me that the Gospel is radical and places a 100% claim on my soul. In short, if  your life is not a spiritual adventure, you’re not living the message of Christ. Life is Christ is the most epic journey that you can experience. Also, if you a man who has grown up under an “effeminized” portrait of Christ, you need to read this book right away.

To read a sample of Fr Longenecker’s The Romance of Religion from amazon.com, please click here. I highly recommend getting it and reading it. 5 stars.

The post Are you a Romantic Roman Catholic? The Romance of Religion appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

First, thank you to everyone (all 1,279 of you!!!!) who went over to Facebook and “Liked” our New Saint Thomas Institute Facebook page! Thank you so much! And welcome to all the new NSTI Premium Members who have joined this week!

We have our winners. My wife Joy drew them. Each winner will receive in the mail a brand new $197 five volume Summa theologiae by Thomas Aquinas:

Father Jason Borkenhagen from Parson, Kansas
Premium Member of NSTI

and

Coleen Austin, Mother of 5
Charter Member of NSTI and “Liked” NSTI on Facebook

Congratulations Coleen and Father Borkenhagen!!!

I’m so grateful for those of you that participated. Our NSTI Facebook page went from 600-something “Likes” to, get this, 1,935 “Likes.” Wowzers. Way to go guys!

We will be doing more drawings in the future, so don’t worry if you didn’t win.

ad Jesum per Mariam,

Taylor

PS: Father, I have your address, but Coleen, I don’t have your mailing address. Please send it to me at taylor@taylormarshall.com.

And if you really want a Summa, here’s the video on why you should get this version that I’m giving away:

Here’s the link to get this exact Summa at amazon.com.

The post Announcing the Two Winners of the 5 Volume Summas!!! appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The post What Did the Saints Say about Social Justice? Recommended Book! appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Formerly, January 1st was the feast of the “Circumcision of our Lord” but this was changed by His Holiness John XXIII. I think that it was changed so as to not offend Jews, but I hardly see the occasion for offense (Jesus was Jewish after all!).

I like the old title of “Circumcision of our Lord,” since Christ would have been circumcised on the eighth day after his birth–January 1 is the eighth day after Christmas. For this reason, the Gospel lesson tells of His circumcision. Mystically speaking, the circumcision of Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Law and the “down payment” of His future passion and death. It’s the first bloodletting of the Messiah.

* 1 January is listed in canon 1246 §1 of the Code of Canon Law as a Holy Day of Obligation, on which, as the following canon 1247 states, “the faithful are obliged to assist at Mass, to abstain from such work or business that would inhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body”. The bishops of some nations have transferred to feast to the following Sunday. It is currently observed on 1 January in Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, and the United States.

• Heaven and Hell, Eden and Gehenna in Judaism and Catholicism
• Orthodox Judaism and Purgatory
• The Crucified Rabbi as Part of a Trilogy (and the Other Two Books)

Please also explore Taylor’s books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

The post New Year’s Day is a Holy Day of Obligation (and the Circumcision of Christ) appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The post The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins of Catholic Christianity [Book] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Those who have been raised Catholic may not be aware of the common objections that Protestants stack up against Catholics. One of the most potent is the argument that the Blessed Virgin Mary cannot be without sin because Saint Paul the Apostle wrote:

“For all have sinned and do need the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, D-R)

Doesn’t Saint Paul here say that all humans are guilty of sin? Why then do Catholics seem contradict Sacred Scripture and claim that Mary is exempted from Saint Paul’s inerrant and inspired words?

A good Benedictine monk recently wrote to me with the following:

That’s a great question that both Catholics and Protestants might be asking. Let’s begin by looking at the context. In the first half of his epistle to the Romans, Saint Paul is constructing an argument that Jews are not de facto saved by being Jewish. By the time Paul gets to chapter three of Romans, he has established that both Jews and Gentiles need Christ for salvation. Paul’s arguments are always leading toward Christ. Paul’s intent is to establish the universal need for Christ. Jews sin. Gentiles sin. Both groups need the Messiah in order to be saved.

Now the question regarding Romans 3:23 requires us to ask to whom does the “all” refer in “all have sinned.” All of humanity?

I cannot mean “all of humanity” since clearly Christ did not sin. Although Christ is a Divine person, he did have a human will and His human will did not sin.

So then, does Romans 3:23 refer to “all humans excepting Christ”? Not even this solution works because while infants are conceived with original sin, they do not commit personal sins until they reach the age of reason. Here Paul is not referring to original sin, but to the committal of personal sins.

So far, Paul’s statement proves to be conditional – it would exclude both Christ (of original sin and actual sin) and children (of only of personal sins). So then, since there are exceptions to the statement of Romans 3:23, we can assume another exception – the Blessed Virgin Mary would be excepted of both original sin and personal sins (and for that matter Jeremias, St John the Baptist, and St Joseph of personal sins, as well – but I’ve discussed that elsewhere).

Moreover, since the Apostle Paul makes the argument of Christ as the “New Adam” in Romans 5, we might assume that such an argument in Romans would presume the “New Eve” of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Paul does not address Mary here because his argument intends to convince Jews and Gentiles to live alongside each other in one Catholic Church in Rome – not two distinct “churches.”

So that’s the Catholic way of reconciling Romans 3:23 regarding the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

ad Jesum per Mariam,

Taylor

PS: You may have wondered why Saint Paul seems to say so little about the Blessed Virgin Mary. I examine this apparent silence (I say apparent) and I also describe Paul’s Mariology in my book: The Catholic Perspective on Paul. I think that it may contain the only contemporary Catholic presentation of Paul’s Mariology in the English language.

Do you enjoy reading Canterbury Tales by Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It’s free. Please click here to  sign up by Email. Please also explore Taylor’s books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

[reminder]

The post Did St Paul Say: All Have Sinned…Except for Jesus and Mary? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The post So I’ve Written a Novel about Saint George and the Dragon… appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The post The Catholic Perspective on Paul: Paul and the Origins of Catholic Christianity [Book] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Did you know that historical Dracula was Catholic and the vampire myth is a depiction of Eucharistic theology demonized? This is one reason why “vampire fiction” is so successful. It draws on the human desire to live forever, but it does it from the point of view of lust and predatory behavior.

The post Vampires and the Holy Eucharist appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

You can read the whole interview here.

Below is a sampling of the interview:

We recently had the opportunity to interview Taylor Marshall concerning his new book The Crucified Rabbi. The book is getting rave reviews and the subject matter is extremely interesting. As we approach the holy season of Lent, there is no better time than the present to get a copy of this wonderful new book!

Our interview:

Tell us about your motivation to write your new book.

When I was an Episcopalian priest doing a hospital visit, I met a Jewish rabbi who informed me that when a fellow Jew is suffering, they often invoke the name of that person’s mother in prayer with the belief that it provokes God’s mercy. This intrigued me, especially as to how it might relate to the Catholic practice of invoking the name of Mary—since she is the mother of the suffering servant Jesus Christ. This breakthrough led to many others. Eventually I was convinced that only Catholicism could truly account for the Jewish heritage of Christ and the Apostles. I renounced my Episcopalian ministry and became Catholic.

Writing the book was probably both a faith experience and an academic one. Can you speak to those two points?

Doing research for this book certainly confirmed for me that Christ and the Catholic Church fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. Christ, Mary, and the Apostles were Jewish—Catholicism preserves the vestiges of its Hebraic origins.

From an academic point of view, the most challenging task was to present the material in a non-threatening way. I was very careful to write a book that would not offend or put off Jews. My goal was to write a book that Catholics could share with their Jewish friends. The Crucified Rabbi makes a compelling argument for Christ, without being triumphalistic.

What main points or ideas would you like readers of your book to come away with?

There are two points that I would like readers to discover in The Crucified Rabbi. First, that Jesus of Nazareth perfectly fulfills the Hebrew Scriptures as the Messiah and King of the Jews. I list over 300 prophecies from the Old Testament and show that Jesus fulfills everyone of them. It’s really quite remarkable. Secondly, The Crucified Rabbi demonstrates that only Catholicism (not Protestantism) can truly account for the Jewish prophecies pertaining to the Messiah’s kingdom on earth.

You can read the whole interview here from Aquinas and More.

Please support Aquinas and More by purchasing The Crucified Rabbi through them. Also, please consider writing the first review of the book over at Aquinas and More.

Cale Clarke’s review of the book: The Crucified Rabbi by Taylor Marshall

The post Aquinas and More Book Interview with Taylor Marshall appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The post The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity (Origins of Catholic Christianity Trilogy) [Book] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.