“Today You Will Be with Me in Paradise”: The Good Thief, Salvation, and the Catholic Doctrine of Redemption
©2026 Victor R. Claveau, MJ Table of Contents Introduction Among the Seven Last Words spoken by Christ from the Cross, few possess the theological depth, pastoral tenderness, and salvific hope contained in the declaration addressed to the repentant thief: “Amen I say to thee: this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.” —Luke 23:43 […]
The Living Voice of Christ: The Magisterium and the Perpetuity of the Church
©2026 Victor R. Claveau, MJ Table of Contents Introduction: The Necessity of a Living Authority Let us begin plainly: if Christ came to teach, who ensures that His teaching remains intact? This question is not merely academic—it is foundational. Without a divinely instituted authority to preserve, interpret, and transmit doctrine, Christianity would fragment into competing […]
The Four Marian Dogmas
Victor R. Claveau, MJ Mother of God! What an ineffable title! The grace of the divine maternity is the key which opens up to the weak, human scrutiny the untold riches of Mary’s soul; as it is likewise a challenge commanding for her the utmost reverence of every creature. “She alone by her dignity transcends […]
Examples of Tradition.
Victor R. Claveau, MJ We know very little of the Patriarchs, who flourished before the Flood. From the contents of the Scriptures, which began to be written by Moses, they appear as the “preachers of justice” and the “protectors of Religion.” They did not write anything, because they were not even proficient in the art […]
Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3-12 See CCC §1024, 1721 The promises of happiness made by Christ to those who faithfully accept his teaching and follow his divine example. Preached in the Sermon on the Mount, they are recorded in St. Matthew (5:3-11) and in St. Luke (6:20-22). In Matthew, there are eight (or nine) blessings of a […]
DIVINE REVELATION
Victor R. Claveau, MJ Revelation, in its verbal sense, means a removal of the veil, and hence it means the manifestation of something that was hidden. For our purposes, revelation means the manifestation of a truth whether that truth could or could not have become known from other sources. If God communicates a truth to […]