Author Archives: vplopez
The Body of Christ at the Organ and Cellular Level: The Circulatory System
I have been reflecting on how the imagery of the Church as the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12 and elsewhere) resonates at all levels of the human body. This idea first struck me while waiting in line to receive … Continue reading
Mary, the Completion of Redeemed Humanity
While contemplating the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary, I was struck by the parallels between the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus and the Assumption and Coronation of Mary. Hence the following musings: When God created humankind in His image and … Continue reading
Handmaid of Your Handmaid
Luke 1:38 from the Vulgate: “dixit autem Maria ecce ancilla Domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum” Vanessa: “Ecce ancilla ancillae tuae (Behold, I am the handmaid of Your Handmaid).”
Contra Sola Scriptura, from Peter Kreeft
I just love a good analogy. Here is one I recently came across in Catholic Christianity, Peter Kreeft’s summary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This is from his section 7, “Faith and Scripture,” and is given to illustrate one … Continue reading
NFP Leads to Vocations?
We once had a young seminarian over for dinner, and I asked him if his fellow seminarians were willing to speak the truth about the evils of contraception to their flock (something I see many current priests unwilling to do). … Continue reading
The Sign of the Moth
As the moth is drawn irresistibly towards a light, sometimes resulting in its death, so we must let ourselves be drawn irresistibly towards God, who is Light (1 John 1:5), which will result in the death of our sinful selves…and … Continue reading
My Weekly Prayer Intentions
Several years ago, I came up with this weekly schedule of prayer intentions that correlates with the mysteries of the rosary. Throughout each day I offer my “prayers, works, joys, and sufferings” for the following intentions. On Mondays we meditate on … Continue reading
Catholic and Christian: Surprise!
An important step on my journey to the Catholic Church was finding and reading Catholic and Christian: An Explanation of Commonly Misunderstood Catholic Beliefs by Alan Schreck (the 1984 version). It was the summer of 1999, and I was preparing … Continue reading
Life is a Parable
As Father David Kuetner explained in a homily at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church (Sunday, June 17, 2012), Jesus taught so much in parables because life is itself a parable. A parable is a story about something that we are familiar … Continue reading
My Journey to the Catholic Church
(The original version of this piece appeared in Fuller Theological Seminary’s student publication, the Semi, in 2004 under the title “From Campus Crusade to Catholicism.”) In the summer of 1999, I flew to Colorado to attend Campus Crusade for Christ’s … Continue reading
Summa Vanessae 