Too often we see the gloom of our culture, a world fractured by division that stems from so many sources they are too numerous to count, and we become despondent; that is, we begin down the road of despair.

Salvation, according to Catholic teaching, is an entirely gratuitous gift of grace from God. We can’t do it on our own.

Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. . .

Fr. Elliott gives several straightforward, simple, and practical steps to better understanding God’s call for you in your life. Too often the discernment process is clouded in mysticism or rooted too heavily on emotion. We may wait for a glaring sign from God, a literal booming voice from heaven, before deciding what vocational path to take. Fr. Elliott’s steps, rather, help young people to hear “the still, small voice” that God often uses to speak to us.

Here’s the thing about Catholic teaching: it is precise and has been honed over two thousand years. Rarely is there a way to improve upon the words. Catholic doctrine is the most precisely articulated system of thought in the history of mankind. It is therefore appropriate to dive into what the Church teaches about faith and obedience rather than merely question the meaning of a confusing phrase.