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St. Robert Bellarmine: Defender of the Faith
(1542-1621)
On September 17th the Universal Church celebrates the feast day of St. Robert Cardinal Bellarmine. This Doctor of the Church was a scholar, preacher, apologist, author and "papal theologian". He was a powerhouse within the academic world, but was also a man of deep faith who loved the poor and performed the corporal works of mercy with great fervor.
There are many lessons we can learn from the life of St. Robert Bellarmine. One lesson that stands out is the love he had for learning. He knew his stuff! This leads me to ask the question, "Do you know your stuff?"
Are you able to defend the faith when others attack the teachings of the Church on matters of faith and morals? Do you know the basics of the spiritual life? Do you understand the Sacraments and the Holy Mass? The Catholic faith is the greatest gift God could ever give us. Let us not ignore this gift by willful ignorance but follow the example of St. Robert Bellarmine and learn as much as we can about our faith.
There are a number of Catholic resources that can help you know the Catholic faith better; try one of the following:
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church
- This Rock Magazine
- Catholic Answer Tracks
- St. Joseph Communications
- Ignatius Press
"Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason
for your hope,…" 1 Pet. (3:15)