We must destroy all the idols in our heart, all the ideologies which come out of hate, all the biases and prejudices which have us deny others their basic human dignity, as those idols get in the way of our relationship with God: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/idols-in-our-heart-jan-26/

Egotistical pride is a very insidious disease, leading people to do all kinds of evil, but the solution to it is not self-hatred: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/the-dangers-of-pride-and-self-hatred/ 

Sts Macarius the Great and Macarius of Alexandria both demonstrated the kindness and compassion all Christians should engage:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/the-christian-way-kindness-compassion-and-community/

For the feast of St. Antony the Great, my patron saint, I felt the need to reflect upon a couple of the saying attributed to him: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/wisdom-from-abba-antony-for-his-feast-day/

Christianity teaches us that to know ourselves fully, to know who we are as a person, we are to do that in and through our relationship with Christ: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/finding-our-purpose-self-discovery-through-christ/

Jesus’s Baptism is called the Theophany, because it is seen as one of the primary revelations of the Trinity in Scripture because at it, each of the persons of the Trinity make an appearance (or a kind of appearance): https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/jesus-baptism-unveils-the-mystery-of-the-trinity/

St. John the Baptist spoke for God, presenting to the world the God-man, making him not only to be a prophet, but the last of the pre-Christian prophets: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2025/01/john-the-baptist-the-last-prophet/

Paul’s zeal led him to do wrong, but also, when he saw the wrong he did, helped him change his ways, while Herod used religion as a tool for his own ambition: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/the-difference-between-paul-and-herod-zeal-vs-ambition/

Christ is born! How are to to glorify him? https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/from-manger-to-mission-living-christs-love/

God, by becoming human, joined the large, extended family of humanity through Mary: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/the-extended-family-humanitys-shared-journey/

I'm a Roman Catholic, so I imagine it will be different then the Modern Vernacular Mass I attend.

We are all called to the eschatological feast, but to get there, we have to take the path of the cross: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/called-to-the-feast/

Life is going to be full of trials and tribulations; anyone saying otherwise is trying to sell you something.  We must embrace them and use them to help develop ourselves and make ourselves better: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/embracing-trials-a-path-to-personal-transformation/

To engage tradition properly, we must not only learn what was said, but examine it critically, so that we can develop further as we deal with questions which those in the past could not or would not be able to answer:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/engaging-tradition-the-need-for-honest-reflection/

To engage tradition properly, we must not only learn what was said, but examine it critically, so that we can develop further as we deal with questions which those in the past could not or would not be able to answer:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/engaging-tradition-the-need-for-honest-reflection/

While we often look to and remember Mary, the Mother of God, we should not neglect her mother, St. Anne: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/a-journey-of-grace-the-story-of-mary-and-anne/

Despite the way many Christians like to act like they are being persecuted, history shows, Christians are often the source and cause of their own persecutions. We can see this in the case of St John of Damascus. The Caliph punished St. John of Damascus based upon lies which were spread concerning him, lies made up by Christians who hoped to have John silenced:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/christians-often-are-the-cause-of-their-own-problems/

Christian nationalism is threatening to bring the world to the edge of destruction, even as it threatens to undermine the basic rights of people in the countries in which it is emerging. Sergius Bulgakov’s By The Walls Of Chersonesus, written in 1922, offers us today the kind of insight we need to resist the nationalistic temptation so we can remain true to Christ:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/can-we-learn-from-bulgakovs-fight-against-nationalism/

While many know the Jesus Prayer with the words, “Lord Jesus Christ Son of God Have Mercy On Me a Sinner,” there is no specific formula which must be used:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/12/the-jesus-prayer/

Every Christian has their own unique gifts and calling, and they should discern is so as to find their focus in life: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/finding-our-focus/

Embracing the spirit of thanksgiving, finding something to be thankful for, looking for the good in the midst of all the suffering we experience, will give us strength and hope: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/thanksgiving-and-hope/

We are called to be peacemakers, but that also means, we must work for justice, and fight against our temptations: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/peace-and-the-spiritual-battle/ 

Too many Christians follow after Judas, thinking  they glorify Jesus as they betray his teachings, such as those working to bring the world to the edge of destruction:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/judas-apostle-friend-and-lover-of-christ/

Most Catholics, despite what some try to say, know what the eucharist is; what they don’t properly realize is the purpose of the eucharist: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/the-purpose-of-communion/

I’m very curious, I will soon go visit a Byzantine Church and figure out myself if they have there own Gift Shops but question to all of you Eastern Catholics here is what kind of Books do they carry in there shops other than Icons and Prayer ropes…

Do they have there own Eastern Catholic Books or they have most books that are in the Eastern Orthodox or do they vary both ways???

St. Gregory the Wonderworker, speaking on Origen and gratitude towards Origen, points out the way we should also have gratitude for those who helped us come to and understand our faith, which is not to say we need to elevate them as if they were perfect:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/st-gregory-the-wonderworker-reminds-us-to-be-grateful/

I have a question to all of the Eastern Catholics here, I’m on RCIA to a Noves Ordo Catholic Church but I would like to switch my Catechism to Eastern Catholic how can it be possible for me to switch and if the Byzantine Church does the RCIA as well???

Jesus said we should let the dead bury the dead, which means, we should be focused living in the present, taking care of our own present needs and the needs of those around us: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/care-for-the-living/