Father Fessio in Five

Today's theological vocabulary word: "prolepsis." How Adam and Eve's sin caused entropy BEFORE they were even created and, more importantly, how Jesus redeemed the whole universe BEFORE he was born.

A big question: Why would God create death? Why do things fall apart? Is it because of the Fall, because of sin? Then what about the brontosaurus? Here's a first approach at making sense of what scientists call the law of entropy.

How are all those self-help videos on Instagram working for you? Not great, you say? Don't worry. Mary's Magnificat shows us psychology done the right way—with God front and center.

Most of us have forgotten how to praise and, therefore, how to be happy. Let's change that right now. How? The Psalms.

Jesus' parable of the treasure buried in the field:  What is this treasure? Well, what if WE are that treasure, and God "sells all he has" to get US?

Confused about the Old Testament? The Son of God sure has an interesting solution!

We have all felt it: God isn't answering my prayers. But guess what. He IS—if we'd just open our eyes to see it.

"Be perfect"? According to the original Greek, this is possible only if we first know WHAT we are.

In this emotional interview (from the FORMED BOOK CLUB Podcast), Father Fessio tells the story of his long-time mentor, the great Cardinal Henri de Lubac, S.J., whom John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have all cited as a major influence.  De Lubac's cause for canonization is currently being opened by the bishops of France.

Jesus does not want greatness. He wants smallness. Just ask John the Baptist—and Mary.

Join the club.  But Jesus has an important message for the overachievers out there:  learn to LOVE. 

We've found the real lost Ark of the Covenant. It's been sitting right under our noses all these centuries.

Ask any celebrity: Famous people are the saddest on earth. Yet so many of us still long for fame. Here's the only way to get what you're REALLY looking for. (Hint: It isn't surgery.)

It's better to be human than to be an angel.

Ever hear of Angelius Silesius? This obscure mystic poet will let you in on a secret about Mary—and about how God works in all of us. (Yes, German can be beautiful.)

The ancient Jews and ancient Greeks approached God through numbers. What can they teach us now?

"Matchmaking" shows abound. Teenagers wept over Taylor Swift's last breakup. Why? Ancient Hebrew secret: relation is everything—even for God Himself.

Is God all-transcendent and mysterious, or is God close and loving? Just four short Hebrew words from Psalm 63 crack the code.

Imagine a language of only consonants. Rather, imgn lngg f nly cnsnnts. That's what God wanted for the whole Old Testament. Was He out of his Mind?

There's nothing like the sound of voices reverberating in a big, empty church. But Mary's heart was even more resonant than that. Can you hear the Divine Harmony?

The Rosary: Some live for it; some fall asleep to it. But for Mary, it was something far, far, far more real. 

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם! Oh, you don't know Hebrew, you say? Well, it's what Jesus (and Mary) used to pray.

God makes things—constantly. And he loves it. Why don't we?

Yes, we are dumb as dogs—or dumber. But God wants to teach us.