Praise God! We are so happy you are interested in this Blog!
Here is some information on why and how this blog exists, as well as what it hopes to accomplish!
Community: Discord offers a unique opportunity for Catholics to connect when an in-person community is unavailable. Our aim is to create a virtual space centered on charity, mission, and faith, fostering a sense of communion that surpasses other online communities.
Information: In an era where technology is increasingly relied upon, we acknowledge the risk of misinformation. Our mission is to counter this trend by curating and sharing the best online resources, providing reliable answers to significant questions about faith, God, life, and love.
Interactive: Recognizing the importance of user-friendly technology, we commit to creating an online experience that not only ensures ease of use but also embodies goodness and beauty. Our goal is to engage users in a meaningful way, addressing their deepest longings and facilitating a closer connection to Christ.
At Vivat Agnus Dei, our mission is to lift high the Lamb of God (cf. John 1:29), drawing hearts to encounter the truth, beauty, and love of God, who alone fulfills the deepest longing of the human heart (cf. CCC 1; 27). Through our content, we hope to inspire a deeper love for Jesus Christ and a full embrace of His saving mission, lived entirely within His Body, the Catholic Church (cf. CCC 774; 781).
We humbly acknowledge that while Vivat Agnus Dei seeks to echo and promote the teachings of the Catholic Church, we are not an official Catholic entity, nor are we authorized to speak in the name of the Catholic Church or act on her behalf (cf. CIC 300; CCC 85-87). We are lay faithful striving to share content that conforms to the truth safeguarded by the Church, but our work carries no canonical or Magisterial authority. We do not claim a monopoly on truth, which belongs supremely to God and is entrusted to the Church as a whole universally, rather than totally to certain individuals even the Pope (although infallible in "ex cathedra" teaching) (cf. John 14:6; CCC 2032), but we strive diligently to ensure that what we share is in harmony with that truth. Our mission is but one small effort among many, and we joyfully direct readers to other faithful Catholic resources that share in this work. Therefore, if one finds something we have shared or said to be at variance with the Church, please notify us immediately, since we are fallible and sinners.
Our hope is not merely that people come to assent intellectually to the doctrines of faith, but that they fall in love—not first with propositions, but with the beauty and love of God Himself, man’s true end and fulfillment (cf. Summa Theologica I-II, q.1, a.8; CCC 1). The very premise of this site is a witness to the truth that no human system or created thing can satisfy the hunger of the human soul. Man, made for God, remains restless without Him (cf. CCC 30). God is not merely loving but is love itself (cf. 1 John 4:8). In turning to Him, we do not find condemnation, but mercy and healing (cf. John 3:17; CCC 1847). Without God, man becomes enslaved—to self, to worldly desires, and to the forces opposed to truth and goodness (cf. CCC 407). Yet God, in His boundless love, does all to rescue us from these enemies (cf. John 10:10).
As St. Paul teaches, "none of us lives as his own master" (Romans 14:7). We must choose God not as a distant ruler but as our friend and lover (cf. John 15:15), for He alone satisfies the human heart. True happiness is found not in abundance or activity, but in sharing in the divine life He offers (cf. CCC 221).
Even our designs, like the t-shirt quoting John 6:51—"the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh"—point to Christ as the true Passover Lamb and Eucharistic sustenance for our journey. And John 1:11 reminds us that sin blinds us, but through this mission, may hearts be opened anew to receive and love God.
May Vivat Agnus Dei, and the faithful use of technology, bring truth, goodness, and beauty to others, inspiring all to encounter God more deeply through prayer, the sacraments, and full communion with His Church (cf. CCC 849; 1072).
"People who put themselves before the sun get tanned. People who put themselves before the Eucharist become saints."
Carlo Acutis, born in London on May 3, 1991, to a wealthy Italian family, displayed a remarkable interest in religious practice from a young age. Despite his parents not being particularly religious, Acutis' curiosity was nurtured by the family's Polish babysitter, leading him to request his First Communion at the age of seven. He became a frequent communicant and made weekly confessions, citing figures like Francis of Assisi, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, Dominic Savio, Tarcisius, and Bernadette Soubirous as his role models. Apart from his spiritual pursuits, Acutis actively engaged in social causes, supporting friends with divorcing parents and defending disabled peers from bullies. Described as a "computer geek," he created a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles worldwide. Diagnosed with leukemia, Acutis offered his suffering for Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Church, emphasizing the plight of others who endured greater pain. He passed away on October 10, 2006, at 6:45 AM, succumbing to fulminating acute promyelocytic leukemia, and was laid to rest in Assisi as per his wishes.
Our Request to Him: We ask your prayers in heaven Blessed Carlo, that this site and those it connects to draw those that view them through Beauty, Goodness, and Truth toward Christ in(to) the fullness of the Christian faith and that our Purpose (given below) be accomplished according to God's Will.
Pope Saint John Paul II (Karol Józef Wojtyła), born on May 18, 1920, served as the Pope of the Catholic Church from 1978 until his passing on April 2, 2005. Elected after the brief papacy of John Paul I, he endeavored to enhance the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. John Paul II addressed various theological topics, including the New Evangelization, the true meaning of marriage, Theology of the Body, abortion, artificial contraception, and celibacy. As a theologian, John Paul II showed unwavering commitment to orthodoxy and evangelization, making significant contributions to the Church's intellectual and doctrinal tradition. His teachings emphasized the importance of upholding traditional beliefs while actively spreading the Gospel. His legacy marks him as a prominent figure in the Church's theological and evangelistic history.
Our Request to Him: Pope Saint John Paul II, we implore your prayers for this site and its authors, that it may serve as a vessel for the New Evangelization, allowing Christ to reach His people. We particularly seek your intercession for the preservation of orthodoxy and the promotion of the beauty of the faith to all who encounter it. May this site be a manifestation of our prayers, continually yielding spiritual fruit for those who read our publications, enabling them to hear the voice of God and experience His love.
Vivat Agnus Dei
Initially chosen for its easy Latin translation, the name Agnus Dei, meaning "The Lamb of God" in English, proved remarkably providential. Coined by John the Baptist in John 1:36, this title intricately unifies God's revelation from Genesis to Revelation through the person and mission of Jesus, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity incarnate, and His Body, the Church. The term takes on profound significance in Revelation, portraying the Lamb standing as if slain. However, the Latin term "vivat," meaning "He lives," transforms the narrative. Consequently, the site's name signifies Christ's continuous self-offering in love, grace, and sacrament to those He cherishes. This perpetual giving persists beyond His death, embracing His resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father, and the sending of His Spirit to unite and guide the Church. Remarkably, this divine bestowal transcends mortality, as death holds no dominion over Him. The name encapsulates the enduring vitality of Christ's love and the unbroken connection between the heavenly realms and the earthly pilgrimage of His Church, illuminating a profound theological journey from death to everlasting life.
For greater depth and elaboration click here...
Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam
This motto is borrowed from the Jesuit Order. The motto, translated from Latin, means "for the Greater Glory of God". This is short for "A Website and Blog for Networking the best of Catholic Resources and Information for the Greater Glory of God".
We propose topics through prayerful reflection on our common life experiences or academic works, shaping introductions during Holy Hours with provocative language and specific claims.
The body, inspired by prayer, synthesizes personal insights and the wisdom of the faith, as much as possible as provided by Documents and Saints. These citations allow our readers the opportunity for further study of a proposition/topic.
Conclusions, formed in prayer, summarize key points and address the post's relevance to our individual lives.
Sometimes we include poetry, inspiring prayer, and complementing the text.
Each post includes a visually relevant image edited for social media, linking to a provocative line summarizing the main point.
Utilizing electronic resources, we hope to extend the beauty of faith to the public square, drawing viewers into compelling aspects of Christian life.
Print and/or share the posters below.
Have them scan the Code with their Camera or QR Code app!
Phone: Tap and hold -> click save image
Computer: Right click -> save image as...