Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on John the Baptist in Matthew 3 as the model for every Christian in public life. John is the greatest of the prophets and the least before Christ — a man who knows his gifts and vocation only in relation to the Lord. He baptizes with water for repentance, yet points entirely to the One who is mightier, whose baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire eclipses his own. John shows that magnanimity and humility meet in a life wholly ordered to Jesus. In a world of platforms and personalities, he teaches us to be great and small at the same time — always pointing to Christ, always finding ourselves in Him.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on on Matthew 24 and Jesus’ command to “stay awake.” Two men in the field, two women at the mill—both groups are working, alert, active, and yet Jesus says only one is truly awake. The difference is not physical awareness but spiritual attentiveness.It is possible to live a good life, fulfill duties, and still be asleep to the One who matters most. Prayer is not merely asking for things—it is the raising of the mind to God. By turning our thoughts to Jesus throughout the day, in love and recollection, we remain awake to His coming.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 23 and the three attitudes toward salvation revealed at the crucifixion. The rulers and soldiers claim Jesus must save Himself. The first criminal admits his need for salvation but still thinks Jesus must save Himself first. Only the good thief understands who Jesus is, turning to Him simply and humbly: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”Jesus has no need of salvation. He alone is Savior, and to be remembered by Him is to be united to Him—caught up into His loving knowledge and mercy. The one who entrusts himself to Christ receives what Christ alone can give: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

On this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology Podcast, Gideon Barr speaks with Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P., about the history of casuistry—its roots in the seminary, its limits, and how Veritatis Splendor and St. Thomas Aquinas renew moral theology by returning to Christ, virtue, and the life of grace.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 21 and the striking truth that we can speak with Jesus—and even discuss what He speaks about—yet still miss Him. In the Gospel, people focus on the temple’s beauty and signs instead of the Savior before them. So too in prayer, we can become absorbed by circumstances rather than by Christ Himself. Jesus never loses sight of His mission, our salvation, and the saints are simply those so captivated by Him that they forget themselves.

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Fr. Romanus Cesario, O.P., reflects on his Dominican formation before Vatican II and his lifelong teaching career. He discusses how Catholic theology shifted in the areas of moral theology, the sacraments, and ecumenism, and why renewal depends on returning to theology as a sacred science…

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on John 2 and Jesus driving the money changers from the temple. Far from mere anger, this moment reveals the true economy of divine worship. We often approach God with a spirit of exchange—offering prayers or promises in return for blessings—but Jesus overturns every form of spiritual bartering. In the economy of salvation, God gives 100% of Himself and invites us to give 100% of ourselves in return. Nothing less captures the fullness of His love or our response of faith.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on John 6 and Jesus’ words: “This is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life.” Salvation is not partial—it is the redemption of the whole person, body and soul. Seeing Christ is not mere sight, but the union of knowing and being known, faith leading to communion. In this life, we see through faith; in heaven, through glory. The Christian life is the journey of learning to see and know Jesus ever more clearly.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 18 and the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee prays to himself, comparing his goodness to others, while the tax collector simply cries out for mercy. In truth, salvation does not come through comparison or self-justification. We are not saved by being “good people,” but by receiving God’s mercy in humility. The one who looks to Jesus, not to himself, goes home justified.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 18 and the parable of the persistent widow and the dishonest judge. Jesus teaches the necessity of praying always, but the parable ultimately reveals something deeper about Him. The true parallel is not between God and the judge, but between Jesus and the widow—both are those who come. Jesus continually comes before the Father and continually comes for us, inviting us into His own prayer and faith. In Him, perseverance in prayer becomes participation in the very life of God.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on 2 Timothy 2 and St. Paul’s profound words, “Such is my gospel, for which I am suffering.” The gospel is not an abstract ideal or distant truth, but a deeply personal reality—my gospel, your gospel. Jesus came not to love us from afar, but to love us from within, to draw us into union with Himself. Every grace, every sacrament, every moment of His saving work is for us personally. The good news is not only about Jesus—it is Jesus, and He is yours.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 17 and the meaning of supernatural charity. Unlike natural love, which loves because of perceived goodness, charity loves because of God’s goodness, drawing us into the very life of Christ. Jesus reverses the master–servant dynamic: He feeds His disciples with His body and blood, washes their feet, and makes them His friends. The Christian life is not mere imitation but true union with Jesus, who gives Himself completely and unites us to His saving friendship.

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. Timothy Kearns shares his journey from a devout Baptist upbringing to entering the Catholic Church while at UT Austin. His love for Greek and Latin led him to study the Church Fathers and Augustine, eventually writing on De doctrina christiana at the Catholic University of America. No…

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 16 and the rich man’s plea for a sign from the dead. Jesus shows that miracles alone cannot compel faith, because faith is a gift received, not a conclusion of reason. Rationalism errs in making human reason the arbiter of supernatural truth, while fideism errs in denying the intelligibility of God’s revelation. True faith rests on Jesus himself, the Eternal Word made flesh, whose revelation is both beyond human discovery and yet fully receivable by our minds.

What is logic, and how is it different from mere thinking? In this edition of In Focus, Dr. Timothy Kearns presents the classical art of reasoning—tracing concepts, propositions, and syllogisms; the parts of logic (demonstration, dialectic, rhetoric, and poetics); and common fallacies—while situating them within Greek, medieval, and modern traditions. F…

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 16 and the surprising words of Jesus about dishonest wealth and prudence. The children of this world show shrewdness in passing things, but Christians are called to an even greater order that embraces both temporal and eternal realities. Prudence is right reason in action, the virtue that orders small and great matters alike toward God. To live with prudence is to recognize that everything from money to family to worship is ordered to Him who is wisdom itself.

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. Kenneth Kemp reflects on his formation as a Catholic philosopher and his contribution to the series with an article on evolution and the Catholic response to it. He discusses his upbringing in Iowa, studies in Russian and linguistics at Georgetown and the University of Texas, his serv…

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on John 3 and the meaning of salvation in Christ. Jesus is not sent to condemn but to save, and condemnation only arises when we remain apart from Him. To meet Jesus as He truly is means to encounter Him as Savior, open-armed and giving eternal life. Every aspect of our lives is invited into His transforming love.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Wisdom 9 and the Catholic vision of body and soul. The body is not evil, but part of our God-given nature, created to be ordered with the soul toward Him. The Christian life is goodness orientation, a movement of the whole person—body, soul, mind, and heart—toward God who is goodness itself.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 14, where Jesus calls us to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. In the spiritual life, we are all poor and broken, yet the great banquet of Christ is for us. Even our distractions and weaknesses in prayer can become instruments that draw us closer to Him, because Jesus never turns away those who come to Him in need.

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. Christopher Kaczor reflects on his formation as a Catholic philosopher and his contribution to the series with an article on moral systems. He discusses his education at Boston College and the University of Notre Dame, the influence of mentors like Peter Kreeft, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Ralph McInerny, and his current work at Loyola Marymount University and with Word on Fire. The conversation explores virtue ethics, contemporary moral debates, and the enduring relevance of the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Hebrews 12: Endure your trials as discipline, for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines. The Lord is the Master Teacher, Christ the Divine Teacher. There is no part of the Christian life which is not ordered to our holiness. Even sin, even brokenness, even weakness for the Christian has a salvific meaning. Not even our sins can keep us from our Lord, because in the sacrament of penance it is exactly because of our sin that we draw near to Jesus.

What are the major moral systems, and how do they shape today’s ethical debates? In this edition of In Focus, Dr. Christopher Kaczor examines four foundational approaches to ethics—duty-based, consequentialist, nihilist, and virtue ethics—through the thought of Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Tracing the phi…

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 12, where Jesus asks: Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. Our Lord’s words are so surprising, so shocking, perhaps even scandalous, yet reveal that unity is not true unity unless it’s unity in something. Jesus has come to make Himself the only center of all saving reality, uniting all who are in Him with bonds stronger than even that of husband, wife, father, or son. In Christ alone, He Himself is our peace, our goodness, our unity.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 12, where Jesus warns: You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. But what is most pressing, he says, is not only Christ’s final coming, but the fact that our Lord Jesus comes even now. The Christian life is lived in the perpetual constant now, where God dwells and grace is given. The only place to find Jesus is here. The only time to find Jesus is now. To live in the present is to live with Jesus.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 12, where our Lord tells the parable of the rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. In this Gospel passage, Jesus reveals that money and resources can’t make one happy—they are ordered to other things. The Christian is reminded that the truth of the Christian life is a truth... founded in reality, and that sin is not broken rules and broken commandments—it’s disorder that frustrates and harms the human person. Jesus warns us not to store up treasures for themselves, but be rich in what matters to God. Whether in abundance or poverty, the saint says: I have Jesus.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on Luke 11, where Jesus begins with a striking phrase: “Suppose one of you has a friend.” In this Gospel passage, Christ explores the complexities of human friendship, exposing the double privation we often experience—having nothing to give and receiving nothing in return. Yet this need draws us toward something deeper. Jesus reveals Himself as the wisest and best friend, one who deprives us of nothing and gives Himself entirely. In this parable, we are invited to see that salvation is not abstract—it is personal, healing, and found in divine friendship with Christ.

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. John Brungardt discusses his formation as a Catholic philosopher and his contribution to the series with Natural Philosophy: An Introduction. He reflects on his education at Thomas Aquinas College and the Catholic University of America, the influence of thinkers like Charles De Koninc…

What is natural philosophy, and why does it matter today? In this edition of In Focus, Dr. John Brungardt explores the meaning, scope, and enduring significance of natural philosophy—the ancient discipline that investigates change, motion, and the principles of the physical cosmos. Drawing on the insights of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas, Brungardt t…

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel accounts of Martha, who appears in both Luke 10 and John 11. Often seen as overshadowed by her sister Mary, Martha is revealed as a woman of deep insight—attuned to the relationships around her. But Jesus does not leave her in the realm of observation. Instead, He draws her into personal union, speaking directly to her: “Do you believe this?” Her response—“Yes, Lord, I have come to believe”—becomes a model of faith. In this encounter, we see that God’s love is never distant or abstract; it is personal, transformative, and meant for each of us. Jesus calls not only Martha but all of us into intimate communion with Himself.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel of Luke, where a scholar of the law asks Jesus the question at the heart of every human life: What must I do to inherit eternal life? At first, the scholar and Jesus appear to agree—but something deeper is revealed. The scholar seeks to justify himself, reducing salvation to something achievable by his own effort. But divine life is not earned or engineered—it is a gift. In this meditation, Fr. Cajetan explores the profound distinction between natural love and divine charity, and how Jesus Himself is the “this” that leads to eternal life. We cannot save ourselves—but we can receive the One who saves.

Where are theological notes and censures discussed in the Church’s tradition? Fr. Dylan Schrader traces the development of this important tool in Catholic theology, highlighting early modern scholastics like Francisco Suárez, Robert Bellarmine, and the Salmonte Censas, as well as more recent figures such as Constantine Coser and Sisto Cardacchini. He al…

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus declares that the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. At first glance, it seems God is in need—but in truth, He needs nothing. Out of sheer goodness and love, God freely chooses to involve us in His saving work. Our labors are not burdens but privileges, grounded in divine initiative. God does not depend on us—but He delights to work through us.

What role do theological notes play in the life of faith? In this video, Fr. Dylan Schrader explores how these notes help clarify the Church’s teachings—distinguishing what must be believed from what may be debated. Drawing on the tradition of the Church, he highlights how theological notes serve both obedience and understanding, offering guidance amid …

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel of Matthew, where Peter professes Jesus as the Christ—not by insight or reason alone, but by grace. Every act of faith, hope, and love is made possible because God acts first. The Church, the papacy, and our own return to Christ are never of human origin—they are the work of God, who draws us to himself.

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Fr. Dylan Schrader recounts his path to the priesthood and his theological formation, shaped by a diverse religious upbringing, seminary education, and academic research. From his early years at a high school seminary to studies at Conception Seminary College and the Catholic University of America, Fr. Schrader reflects on the intellectual and spiritual influences that led to his doctoral work on the motive of the Incarnation. The conversation explores the role of Latin in Catholic theology, the insights of the Carmelites of Salamanca, and the enduring task of theology in service to the Church. Throughout, Fr. Schrader’s vocation emerges as one grounded in tradition, animated by rigorous study, and directed toward the deepening of faith through reason.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, highlighting how the Eucharist is not a human invention but a gift received from the Lord. In the Mass, we don’t merely recall Christ’s sacrifice—we proclaim it, and through the sacraments, Christ himself comes to us, unchanged and always relevant.

What are theological notes, and why do they matter? In this edition of In Focus, Father Dylan Schrader examines the history, function, and enduring value of theological notes and censures in Catholic theology. Drawing on the Church’s magisterial tradition, moral and canonical distinctions, and the legacy of the Second Vatican Council, Schrader shows how…

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, showing how justification by faith brings about real peace with God—not symbolically, but truly. Through grace and the sacraments, God pours his divine life into us, transforming us from within.

Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. reflects on the Gospel of John, showing how Jesus breaks through fear and locked doors to give us his peace—personally and powerfully. That same peace reaches us today through the sacrament of confession, where Christ forgives sins and gives us himself.

Summary

In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. Daniel Keating reflects on his article on deification and offers a personal account of the formation—spiritual, intellectual, and ecclesial—that has shaped his theological vocation. From his early years in Cleveland to his Jesuit education, studies at Oxford, and life in Christ…

Fr. Cuddy reflects on the Gospel of Luke, showing how the Ascension is not Christ’s departure but the fulfillment of the Father’s promise. From heaven, Jesus remains present—working through the Holy Spirit and the sacraments to bring salvation to all, in every time and place.

What does it mean to become “partakers of the divine nature”? In this edition of In Focus, Dr. Daniel Keating explores the rich Christian doctrine of deification—from its biblical foundations to its development in the early Church. Drawing on Scripture, the Church Fathers, and sacramental theology, Keating traces how deification is not merely symbolic b…

What does it mean to keep Christ’s word? Fr. Cuddy explores love, obedience, and true union with Jesus—not from a distance, but in sacramental communion.

In this reflection on John 13, we consider what makes the “new commandment” truly new. Jesus calls us not merely to love, but to love as He loves—a supernatural love made possible only through grace.

Executive Director Gideon Barr and General Editor Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. share the story behind the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology—its mission, growth, and vision for the Church. They touch on key projects like the Catholic Handbook series, the global reach of the website, and how ECT makes rich, faithful theology accessible to anyone seeking deeper understanding.

In this reflection on John 10, Fr. Cajetan Cuddy explores the Christian’s identity—not as self-invented, but as revealed by Christ Himself. Theology becomes the way we see clearly: faith seeking understanding, shaped by the Shepherd who knows His sheep.

Discover the key figures and foundational texts—like Veritatis Splendor and The Sources of Christian Ethics—that have shaped modern Catholic moral theology and renewed the Church’s understanding of freedom, virtue, and the moral life.

Fr. Ryan Connors explains how Catholic moral theology can only be truly understood in light of Christ, the sacraments, and the Church's complete theological vision.