Ron Ash Articles

Born in Renaissance Florence and drawn to Rome by a divine calling, St. Philip Neri transformed a city — not through power or politics, but through friendship, laughter, and an extraordinary love of God. Known as the Apostle of Rome, his life and the religious community he founded continue to shape Catholic spirituality to this day.

Though not named in the Gospels, St. Anne — mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus — holds a profound place in Catholic faith and tradition. Her story is inseparable from the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and her legacy as a model of faithful, prayerful parenthood continues to inspire millions of Catholics around the world.

What does it mean to truly love someone? Through the lens of Ezekiel 33:7–9, Matthew 18:15–20, and Romans 13:8–10, we explore how Scripture calls us to love boldly — with honesty, accountability, and a heart set on restoration. It all flows from the two greatest commandments Jesus gave us: love God with everything you have, and love your neighbor as yourself.

In 301 AD, Armenia became the world's first Christian nation. Explore the journey of the Apostles who brought the Gospel, the story of St. Gregory the Illuminator, and how the Armenian Apostolic Church compares to the Roman Catholic Church — and why it all still matters today.

He was the apostle history almost forgot — overshadowed by a traitor's name, laboring in lands beyond the edges of the known world. Yet Saint Jude Thaddaeus became one of the most beloved intercessors in the Catholic Church. Discover the life, mission, and martyrdom of the Apostle of the Impossible, his forgotten role in bringing Christianity to Armenia, and why millions still turn to him when all hope seems lost.

A Catholic reflection on the Scriptural relationship between Moses, Elijah, and Christ at the Transfiguration, citing Scripture and Church teaching.

Catholics don’t worship the saints — they ask them to intercede, the same way you might ask a friend to pray for you. The difference between latria (worship, due to God alone) and dulia (veneration, given to holy persons) is not a medieval loophole; it’s a distinction rooted in Scripture, affirmed by Aquinas, and supported by Revelation 5:8, where the glorified saints are shown presenting the prayers of the faithful before God. A clear, Biblical explanation of what Catholics actually believe — and what they don’t.

Critics say Purgatory has no Biblical foundation. But 1 Corinthians 3 describes someone “saved, but only as through fire.” Matthew 12:32 implies some sins can be forgiven in the age to come. The Roman catacombs contain prayers for the dead dating to the 2nd century. Read carefully in the Greek, Scripture makes a stronger case for Purgatory than most people realize — and the Catholic Church has always known it.

Catholics don’t believe they earn salvation — but they do believe that grace, faith, and human cooperation belong together in the one story Scripture tells. The only place in all of the Bible where the phrase “faith alone” appears is James 2:24 — and it’s used to deny it. A clear, Scripture-grounded examination of what the Catholic Church actually teaches about justification, the sacraments, and why salvation is a covenant, not a one-time transaction.

Critics point to Matthew 23:9 — “call no man your father” — as proof that calling priests “Father” contradicts Scripture. The same verse also says “call no man teacher.” The Apostle Paul called himself a spiritual father in 1 Corinthians 4:15. Stephen addressed the Sanhedrin as “brothers and fathers” in Acts 7:2. A close look at what Jesus was actually condemning — and what the earliest Christians actually practiced.

No other Apostle receives a new name from Jesus. No other Apostle is given the keys of the kingdom. No other Apostle is told to “feed my sheep” — all of them. Peter’s primacy is not a Catholic invention; it is woven into every layer of the New Testament, from the first encounter on the shore of Galilee to the final chapter of Acts. A thorough biblical examination of why Christ built His Church on Peter — and why that rock still stands.

Can our deceased loved ones still reach us through angels? The Catholic Church offers a nuanced, scripturally grounded answer — one that distinguishes what angels truly are, what the Church teaches about communicating with the dead, and where genuine consolation actually comes from. If you've ever wondered whether a sign, a dream, or a sudden sense of peace was a message from someone you've lost, this is the answer the Church gives.