Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study 2026 April 29

In today’s Council of Catholic Men, we picked up our Bible study with 1 Peter 4, reflecting on Peter’s urgent call to cease from sin, practice mutual charity, and glorify God in all things—even in suffering. We explored cross-references throughout Scripture (Ephesians 4, Proverbs 10 and 11, Romans 12, Hebrews 13, Philippians 2, and 1 Corinthians 4) that deepen Peter’s exhortations on hospitality without murmuring, stewardship of God’s manifold grace, and the sober reality that the just are saved “with difficulty,” urging perseverance and joyful endurance when reproached for the name of Christ. We then turned to the Catechism (St. Peter Canisius) on the Eighth Article of the Creed—“I believe in the Holy Ghost”—highlighting the Spirit as Paraclete, pledge of our inheritance, and giver of diverse gifts for the one Body (Ephesians 1, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 12).We closed with the moving account from St. Alphonsus de Liguori of the early martyrs St. James the Deacon, St. Marianas the Lector, and companions under Valerian—witnesses who embraced their crosses with visions of hope and steadfast courage. Their fidelity challenges us to live charitable, prayerful, Spirit-led lives, confident that Christ, the just Judge, will reveal his glory and reward those who suffer for his name.