Council of Catholic Men: Catechism and Bible Study of the Catholic Church

Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study 2026 A.D. October 14 75 The Apocalypse of Saint John the Apostle Chapter 12 "The vision of the woman clothed with the sun: and of the great dragon her persecutor" Hope; Our Father; What is the sum of our Lord's Prayer? October 18 Feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist In this episode, we walked through Revelation 12 and its dramatic vision of the woman clothed with the sun, the great red dragon, and the battle led by St. Michael. We reflected on the traditional footnote that sees the woman first as the Church and, by allusion, also as Our Blessed Lady. From there, we wrapped up our catechism study on the Lord’s Prayer through St. Peter Canisius, focusing on how the prayer perfectly teaches us both to ask for what is good and to seek deliverance from evil. We also began our reading for the upcoming October 18 feast of St. Luke the Evangelist from Jacobus de Voragine’s The Golden Legend. We explored Luke as physician, evangelist, companion of St. Paul, and careful witness to the life of Christ, along with the rich symbolism of the ox, man, lion, and eagle. The reading drew in voices like St. Jerome, St. Bernard, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, and Richard of St. Victor to show how Luke’s life, Gospel, and mission have been understood in the Catholic tradition.

Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study 2026 A.D. October 7 74 The Apocalypse of Saint John the Apostle Chapter 11 "He is ordered to measure the temple: the two witnesses" Hope; Our Father; "Deliver us from evil" October 11 Feast of the martyrs Saints Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus, martyred in Cilicia. In this episode, we opened with prayer and continued our study of Saint John’s Apocalypse by reading chapter 11, reflecting on the measuring of the temple, the mission and martyrdom of the two witnesses, and the sounding of the seventh trumpet as heaven proclaims the reign of Christ. We also noted the traditional footnote identifying the two witnesses with Enoch and Elias, then turned to the final petition of the Our Father—“deliver us from evil”—through the Catechism of St. Peter Canisius, drawing together its teaching on prayer, confidence in God, and the need to ask according to His will with supporting passages from Scripture. To close, we read from St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Victories of the Martyrs, focusing on the witness of Saints Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus ahead of their October feast. Their steadfast endurance under torture became a meditation on courage, fidelity, and the grace God gives to those who suffer for Christ. We ended, as always, in prayer, asking for perseverance, purity of heart, and trust in God’s mercy.

Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study 2026 A.D. September 30 73 The Apocalypse of Saint John the Apostle Chapter 10 "The cry of a mighty angel: he gives John a book to eat." Hope; Our Father; "Lead us not into temptation" September 30 feast of Saint Jerome In this episode, we continue our Bible study through chapter 10 of the Apocalypse of Saint John, focusing on the mighty angel, the little book, and the striking image of John being told to eat the book. We reflect on how the sweetness in the mouth and bitterness in the belly points to the way we are meant to receive the word of God deeply, allowing it to enter the interior life through prayer, meditation, and faithful obedience. We also follow the chapter’s footnotes and cross-references into Daniel and Ezekiel to see how Scripture interprets Scripture and how God prepares His servants to prophesy with both consolation and suffering. From there, we turn to the section on hope and the sixth petition of the Our Father, “Lead us not into temptation,” drawing on the catechetical teaching attributed to Saint Peter Canisius and a wide range of scriptural references on temptation, perseverance, spiritual warfare, and victory through Christ. To close, we read from The Golden Legend for the feast of Saint Jerome, reflecting on his love of Sacred Scripture, his ascetic life, his translation work, and the enduring witness of a saint who gave himself entirely to the word of God.

Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study 2026 September 23 72 Apocalypse Chapter 9 "Locusts come forth from the bottomless pit: the vision of the army of horsemen." Hope; Our Father; "Forgive us our trespasses" September 26 feast of the martyrdom of Saints Cyprian, magician; and Justina, virgin In this episode, we continue our Wednesday catechism and Bible study by walking through Revelation chapter 9, reflecting on the trumpet judgments, the locusts from the bottomless pit, the army of horsemen, and the hard truth that many still refuse repentance even in the face of divine chastisement. We also read from the chapter footnotes and scriptural cross-references, drawing out how the Church has understood these difficult apocalyptic images and how they point us back to fidelity, penance, and the danger of idolatry and error. We then move into the Large Catechism of Saint Peter Canisius on the fifth petition of the Our Father, “forgive us our trespasses,” and spend time on the Christian duty to forgive from the heart, even when we have been deeply wronged. To close, we read from Saint Alphonsus de Liguori’s Victories of the Martyrs, covering the story of Saints Cyprian and Justina as a striking witness to conversion, purity, steadfast faith, and the triumph of God’s mercy over sin and the powers of darkness.

Council of Catholic Men Catechism and Bible Study 2026 September 16 71 Apocalypse Chapter 8 "The seventh seal is opened, the angels with the seven trumpets." Hope; Our Father; "Give us this day our daily bread." September 19 Feast of the martyrdom of St. Januarius "The miracle of his blood." and companions. In this episode, we open in prayer and continue our Bible study in Revelation chapter 8, reflecting on the opening of the seventh seal, the silence in heaven, and the first four trumpet judgments. We then turn to St. Peter Canisius’s large catechism and meditate on the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread,” considering both our material dependence on God and, even more importantly, the spiritual nourishment he gives through his word, wisdom, and the Blessed Sacrament. Along the way, we read through a wide range of Scripture passages—from Matthew, Amos, Sirach, Proverbs, John, James, the Psalms, Deuteronomy, Genesis, and 1 Timothy—to deepen the meaning of daily bread as the sustenance of both body and soul. To close, we read from St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Victories of the Martyrs and consider the witness of St. Januarius and his companions ahead of his September 19 feast. We reflect on martyrdom, fidelity under persecution, and the long tradition of devotion surrounding St. Januarius in Naples, including the well-known account of his blood liquefying. We end by praying the Our Father together and asking God to keep us faithful, nourished, and steadfast in hope.