Fortitude Goes Beyond Courage
As noted previously in this series, grace perfects nature. So we saw that the natural virtue of Prudence is elevated by grace in the gift of Counsel.
April 23, 2026
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Welcome to the website of Catholic author Mark Shea! Read his recent musings on the blog, or purchase his books from the store.
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Counsel: A Gift Given Us Through the Church
So many of us seem to think that while the faith insists on being incorrigibly public and common to all Catholics, it is also “private,”
April 22, 2026
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Counsel: Prudence Raised to a Supernatural Level
Counsel (aka “Right Judgment) is the third of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that we receive in Confirmation. The gift of Counsel has
April 21, 2026
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Understanding Awaits Those Who Turn to the Lord
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he often had a hard time being understood. The Gospels record numerous moments in which he made cryptic remarks that either
April 20, 2026
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Dive into the Sheavings
Hail Mary: Pray for Us Sinners
One of the most mysterious rifts to have developed in the Christian world is the rift between those who pray to the saints in glory or for the dead in Christ and those who regard all this as utterly sinister. The rift is, of course, of extremely recent vintage, historically
Confirmation: The Gift of Counsel
Proverbs 15:22 tells us, “Without counsel plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.” One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit given in Confirmation is the gift of Counsel. That’s a gift that can work in a couple of different ways and it is one of which the
Strong Enough for Hope
I’m a big believer in unforeseen catastrophes and the crushed hopes of mice and men. The Titanic sinks and most people say “How could this happen?” I say, “Figures.” I’m the guy who listens for the other shoe to drop, who looks for the downside of Paradise, who keeps his guard up
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About Mark Shea
Greetings! I’m Mark P. Shea, a Catholic author and blogger who’s also done a spot of podcasting and even acting here and there, as well as radio and TV work. My latest book, The Church’s Best-Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching was published in September 2020 by New City Press. Other works include By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition (Ignatius), Mary, Mother of the Son, This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence (Christendom), and Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did (Basilica), Salt and Light: The Commandments, the Beatitudes, and a Joyful Life (Servant), The Heart of Catholic Prayer: Rediscovering the Our Father and the Hail Mary (Our Sunday Visitor) and The Work of Mercy: Being the Hands and Heart of Christ (Servant).
I can also be found on Facebook (here and here) and Twitter. If you like my work and want to see more of it, please become one of my supporters on Patreon…..
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