MSI Press Blog

  A Catholic perspective Catholic theology is surprisingly clear on a question that troubles many believers: Can someone who does not believe in God receive a blessing from Him? The answer is yes — and not reluctantly, not barely, but fully, freely, and without hesitation. God blesses because God is good , not because the recipient meets a belief threshold. 1. Blessings begin in God, not in us A blessing is not a merit badge. It is not a reward for faith, nor a prize for good behavior. In Catholic teaching, a blessing is an expression of God’s benevolent will , His desire that a person flourish, be protected, be healed, or be drawn toward the fullness of life. If blessings depended on belief, Jesus would never have healed: the Roman centurion’s servant, the daughter of the Syro‑Phoenician woman, or the ten lepers, nine of whom never returned to thank Him. God’s goodness is not gated by human categories. 2. God’s providence embraces everyone Catholic theology calls this common gra...

  Hinduism and Christianity both seek union with the Divine, yet they imagine that union in profoundly different ways. One sees God as personal and incarnate; the other as infinite and manifold. Both traditions ask the same question — What is ultimate reality? — but answer it through distinct visions of the sacred. 1. The Nature of God Christianity teaches one God — personal, eternal, and revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hinduism speaks of the Brahman , the infinite, formless reality underlying all existence. Within Hinduism, God can appear as many deities — Vishnu, Shiva, Devi — each expressing aspects of the one divine source. Christianity insists on one divine personhood; Hinduism embraces divine multiplicity within unity. 2. Creation and the World Christianity sees creation as a deliberate act of God — the world is distinct from its Creator. Hinduism sees creation as an emanation of Brahman — the world is not separate from the Divine but a manifestation of it. In ...

“My grace is enough for you, For in weakness power reaches perfection.” --St. Paul   I’m in the business of compassionate healing. As a psychologist, my patients come to me in emotional and mental pain. They feel broken and want to be whole. They want relief from their suffering--their depression, anxiety, tempers, compulsions, and disturbing obsessions. Coming to me, they ask me to witness their suffering and bring them relief. Two questions often haunt them: “Why is this happening to me? How can I fix it?” In their desperation, they look for answers from me, whom they consider “the expert.” Contrary to their expectations, I direct those questions back to themselves and assure them, “You have the answers, but don’t know it yet.” I invite them to pay close attention to their own experience, to listen to the subtle voices speaking within, and to engage in open and honest dialogue with themselves. For many, that is a new experience. These voices have been drowned out by the...