Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study 2026 June 17

In today’s Council of Catholic Men we begin bible study with 1 John 3, reflecting on God’s fatherly love that makes us His children, the call to holiness, and the stark contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil. We dwell on the command to love one another in deed and in truth, explore how abiding in Christ transforms our lives, and consider the confidence we gain before God when we keep His commandments. We read through cross-references across Scripture—from Genesis, Isaiah, the Gospels, and Paul’s letters—to clarify tough verses on sin, grace, and perseverance, emphasizing authentic charity and obedience rooted in faith.We then turn to St. Peter Canisius’s Large Catechism on the Tenth Article of the Creed—“the forgiveness of sins”—to consider Christ’s gift of the keys, the authority to bind and loose, and the commission to forgive sins given to the apostles, especially St. Peter and his successors. We read Matthew 16 and John 21 to see Peter’s primacy, and conclude with a moving reading from St. Alphonsus de Liguori on the martyrdom of Saints Nicander and Marcian (June 17), whose steadfast witness—and the courageous faith of their families—call us to persevere in love and fidelity to Christ. Next week, we’ll begin 1 John 4.