Catholic theology and Catholic biblical scholarship have been companions through the centuries, but the travelling has not always been comfortable. Catholic theology untethered from the life of the Church or the biblical sources can lead to an excess of enthusiasm (as I witnessed growing up in Central and South America); drinking too deeply into historical critical biblical methodologies can leave both students and their teachers with a shipwrecked faith.

“In this world you will have trouble.” In the Upper Room of Passover before Calvary’s offering, Jesus comforted his disciples. There will be suffering, he reminded them; there will be persecution, some would face martyrdom. There was no saccharine happiness — no beige discipleship — that would forever mark their footsteps. There would be trouble.

COLORADO SPRINGS. On Jan. 11, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs was host to a gathering of catechists, religious education leaders, and clergy working on the implementing of changes and revisions to the way interested candidates come to the Catholic faith. After an introduction from Bishop Golka, presenters walked through the new Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for use at parishes in the United States.

Sometimes in the midst of all the familial, commercial and year-end activities that are a part of the holidays, our spiritual life can take a bit of a hit. Here are some book recommendations that might help remind us all about why this season should be filled with wonder and joy, and not simply frenzy.

Those of us who regularly interact with non-Catholic Christians and others who have left the Catholic faith are often puzzled about how to communicate accurate information about Catholicism in a manner that is readily digestible. We either overwhelm friends or inquiring relatives with long explanations or recommend books that are dauntingly theological; other times we are too simplistic or find ourselves ducking the difficult aspects of the faith.