Catholic Substance

Catholic Substance is a simple website with a simple mission. We want to glorify God and work for the salvation of souls according to His Holy Will.

We offer videos developed to help further explain the rich doctrines of the Holy Catholic Church. We seek accuracy and depth in our teachings by striving for fidelity to the Magisterium. The Catholic Church, the Church Christ built for the sake of the salvation of the world has so much glorious treasure and inexpressible beauty that is often unexplored by the faithful. At Catholic Substance you can explore just a little of the great mystery and substance of our Faith. Join us!

We recommend watching the series in order.

The Most Holy Trinity  →   The Holy Church  →   Grace  →   The Sacraments

The Series on the Mass is entirely separate and does not directly build on any of these other mini-series.

Dominus vobiscum

The Lord be with you

Ad Iesum per Mariam

To Jesus through Mary

Ave Crux, spes unica

Hail to the Cross, our only hope

Si scires donum Dei

If you only knew the gift of God

Crux stat dum volvitur mundus

The Cross stands still while the world revolves around it.

Ad Te levavi animam meam

To you, Lord, I lift up my soul

Oremus por invicem

Let us pray for one another

Per aspera ad astra

Through the thorns to the stars

Salve Regina

Hail Holy Queen

Serviam

I will serve

Ora et Labora

Work and Pray

Regina Coeli

Queen of Heaven

Via Crusis

Way of the Cross

1

The Most Holy Trinity

The Most Holy Trinity is the most fundamental and profound mystery of our faith. Although we can never fully exhaust the doctrines of the Trinity because we can never fully understand the infinite and eternal God with our finite minds, we can begin to learn and appreciate our God more through study. In Heaven, the saints perfectly and always contemplate God at every moment; however, we don’t have to wait. The more we know Him, the more we can love Him. Begin now by joining us in this study on the Mystery of the Trinity.

2

The Holy Catholic Church

The Most Holy Catholic Church is unfortunately so often misunderstood or underestimated. She is the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ, the means of salvation for the world, the Mother of Christians… The Catholic Church, though so often condemned, is a most precious gift and creation of God that comes directly from Christ. We are truly blessed to be Catholic and we are truly blessed to be able to learn about the Church.

3

Grace

In order to more fully understand Catholic teaching, we must have a firm grasp on how She understands grace. Without it, salvation is not possible, supernatural works are not possible, pleasing God is not possible… We need grace for our spiritual lives like we need air for our physical lives. Join us as we investigate the depths of the Church’s teaching on grace. As Catholics, we should view reality in a way that always is in relation to the grace of God. 

4

The Sacraments

The seven Sacraments are the principle means of sanctifying grace for us. They are all instituted by Christ Himself and given to the Holy Catholic Church for the sake of the salvation and sanctity of the world. Without them, we have no principle means of grace nor of salvation. The more we come to understand their true effects and importance, the more we will appreciate them, frequent them and receive from them.
There are 2 episodes explaining some Theology of the Sacraments in general. Additionally, we have episodes for each of the 7 Sacraments that can all be found in the video window to the right or click on the Sacrament you wish to explore below.

Baptism
Confirmation
The Most Holy Eucharist
Sacrament of Penance
Holy Orders
Holy Matrimony
Anointing of the Sick

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is a source of ineffable riches. Through Baptism, we enter into the life of God, the Family of God, the Church of God, and union with God. Explore these sublime gifts from our God and so many others that are all produced through the Sacrament of Baptism

Confirmation

In these two videos we examine the Catholic Church’s teaching on the significance and depth of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Unfortunately, this Sacrament has been misunderstood and largely undervalued in recent years. It is time we Catholic equip ourselves with the valuable truths concerning this precious part of our faith.

The Most Holy Eucharist

The Most Holy Eucharist is the highest of the 7 Sacraments. The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ is truly the pinnacle of communion in which we can participate in this life. It is a foretaste of Heaven, a participation in the Sacrifice of Christ, a profession of the Resurrection and so much more. Learn all about what God continues to do for us in this most perfect Sacrament.

Sacrament of Penance

The Sacrament of Penance is one of the most necessary gifts of our good and generous God. Our consistent weaknesses and failures find their antithesis in the Mercy of God. Through this Sacrament, we cast ourselves into that great abyss. Therefore, these videos are meant to help relay the purpose, effects, theology and necessity of the Sacrament.

Holy Orders

St. Bonaventure describes the Sacrament of Holy Orders as the rank in God’s army that is ordered toward training the soldiers of Christ. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the majesty of God is so clear. He has elevated lowly and sinful persons by calling them and giving them the authority to command bread become the Body of Christ, to pardon the sins of sinners, to anoint those in gravely sick and vulnerable… God is marvelous and the more we learn about His 7 Sacraments, the more obvious is His grandeur.

Holy Matrimony

Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament that unique in its foretaste of the Heavenly life. Through this Sacrament, a man and a woman imitate the relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Holy Catholic Church. Therefore, learning more about Holy Matrimony aids our understanding of the Love of Christ for us.

Anointing of the Sick

Many saints have discussed the dangers of the soul at the end of life. The devil will work to steal a soul that belongs to God or keep a soul that belongs to him already. In God’s perfect providence, He offers us such refreshing strength through this Sacrament to keep us from despair, distress and infidelity. In these episodes, we investigate the marvelous effects of the Sacrament of Anointing as a true and certain support in our time of need.

Dominus vobiscum

The Lord be with you

Crux stat dum volvitur mundus

The Cross stands still while the world revolves around it

Ad Iesum per Mariam

To Jesus through Mary

Si scires donum Dei

If you only knew the gift of God

Ad Te levavi animam meam

To you, Lord, I lift up my soul

Ave Crux, spes unica

Hail to the Cross, our only hope

Oremus por invicem

Let us pray for one another

Per aspera ad astra

Through the thorns to the stars

Serviam

I will serve

Ora et Labora

Work and Pray

Regina Coeli

Queen of Heaven

Via Crucis

Way of the Cross

Salve Regina

Hail Holy Queen

The Most Holy Mass

The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is a most essential form of worship and means of salvation for the world. Through the Mass offered each day around the world, God blesses countless souls through His generosity. Truly, in the Mass we are able to be more united to Jesus in His life, death and resurrection; we are able to give due and right glory to God; we are able to offer Him a most pleasing sacrifice; we are able to receive countless and necessary graces for the salvation of souls. In this series, we express the beautiful teachings of the Church regarding her most perfect form of worship. Learn why we Catholics understand the Mass to be a rich and invaluable treasure of the Church. This series promises to offer instruction on the Mass that is deeper than a surface-level study and broader than a single-theme class.

Dominus vobiscum

The Lord be with you

Ad Iesum per Mariam

To Jesus through Mary

Si scires donum Dei

If you only knew the gift of God

Ave Crux, spes unica

Hail to the Cross, our only hope

Ad Te levavi animam meam

To you, Lord, I lift up my soul

Crux stat dum volvitur mundus

The Cross stands still while the world revolves around it

Oremus por invicem

Let us pray for one another

Per aspera ad astra

Through the thorns to the stars

Salve Regina

Hail Holy Queen

Regina Coeli

Queen of Heaven

Via Crusis

Way of the Cross

Ora et Labora

Work and Pray

Serviam

I will serve

Suggested Reading

For the Beginner of Theology:

  • The Catholic Catechism by Fr. John Hardon
  • Fundamentals of the Faith by Dr. Peter Kreeft
  • Life of Christ by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
  • The 7 Epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch
  • reatise on Purgatory by St. Catherine of Genoa
  • The Catechism of St. Pius X
  • The Catechism Explained by Spirago
  • Bearing False Witness by Rodney Stark
  • Making Sense out of Suffering by Dr. Peter Kreeft
  • The Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Dr. Brant Pitre
  • The Lamb’s Supper by Dr. Scott Hahn
  • Three to Get Married by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
  • Fundamentals of the Faith by Dr. Peter Kreeft
  • The Father’s Know Best by Jimmy Akin
  • The Real Story by Edward Sri and Curtis Martin
  • By What Authority by Shea

    For the Beginner of the Spiritual Life:

    • Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
    • The Way of Divine Love by Josefa Menendez
    • Come Holy Spirit by Fr. Ruotolo
    • A Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux
    • He Leadeth Me by Fr. Ciszek
    • The Three Conversions and the Three Ways of the Spiritual Life by Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange
    • The Art of Praying by Romano Guardini
    • Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre De Caussade
    • Union with God by Bl. Marmion
    • The Sinner’s Guide by Venerable Louis of Granada
    • Uniformity with God’s Will by St. Alphonsus Ligouri

     

    For the Proficient in Theology

    • Summa Theologiae by St. Thomas Aquinas
    • Fundamentals of Catholic Theology by Ludwig Ott
    • The Roman Catechism by Council of Trent
    • All Volumes of Theology by Pohle and Preuss
    • Fides Et Ratio by St. John Paul II
    • The Holy Spirit by Edward Leen
      Humanae Vitae by St. Paul VI
    • Right and Reason by Fagothy
    • A Handbook of Moral Theology by Koch
    • Scriptural Commentaries by Cornelius A. Lapide

      For the Proficient in the Spiritual Life:

      • On Loving God by St. Bernard of Clairveaux
        The Way of Perfection by St. Theresa of Aviles
      • Diary of Gemma Galgani
      • The Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola
      • The Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
      • Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwhich
      • The Cloud of Unknowing
      • Ascent of Mt. Carmel  by St. John of the Cross
      • The Greatest means of Salvation by St. Alphonsus Ligouri
      • Practice of Christian and Religious Perfection (3 volumes) by Alphonsus Rodriguez S.J.

        With a Marian Perspective:

        • The World’s First Love by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
        • True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis De Montfort
        • The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis De Monfort and Mary Barbour
        • The Jewish Roots of Mary by Dr. Brant Pitre
        • Hail Holy Queen by Dr. Scott Hahn
        • Behold Your Mother by Tim Staples

          For Priests and Seminarians:

          • In Sinu Iesu by a Benedictine monk
          • The Priest is Not His Own by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
          • All Volumes of Theology by Pohle and Preuss
          • On the Priesthood by St. John Chrysostom
          • The Priest: The Man of God by St. Joseph Cafasso
          • The Priest, His Dignity and Obligations by St. John Eudes
          • The Cure D’Ars by Trochu
          • The Liturgical Year (many volumes) by Dom Gueranger
          • Discernment Do’s and Don’t’s by Fr. George Elliott

            Catholic Fiction:

            • The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton
            • Manalive by G.K. Chesterton
            • By What Authority by Robert Hugh Benson
            • Come Rack, Come Rope by Robert Hugh Benson
            • The Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson
            • The Cardinal by Henry Morton Robinson
            • The Father Brown Series by G.K. Chesterton
            • The Fr. Elijah Series by Michael O’Brien
            • The Lord of the Rings Series by J.R. Tokien
            • Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
            • The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
            • The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
            • The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
            • Sword and Serptent Series by Dr. Taylor Marshall

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