The Layman's Lantern emblem THE LAYMAN'S LANTERN
Lantern over an open book, within a radiant halo
Lucerna Memoriae · Lamp of Memory

Apologetics

Apologetica · The Reasoned Defense of the Faith

Apologetics is not argument for argument's sake. It is an act of charity — a willingness to give an honest account of what we believe and why.

Raphael, Disputation of the Holy Sacrament (1509–1510), Stanza della Segnatura, Vatican City

"But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you." — 1 S. Peter 3:15, Douay-Rheims
Nothing found under that lamp. Try another word — or clear the search to see all topics.

Sources & Further Reading

Fontes

Magisterial

  • Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed.
  • Vatican I, Dei Filius (1870) — faith and reason
  • Vatican I, Pastor Aeternus (1870) — papal infallibility
  • Vatican II, Dei Verbum (1965) — divine revelation
  • Bl. Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854) — the Immaculate Conception
  • Council of Trent — justification; indulgences
  • Second Council of Nicaea (787) — veneration of images

Patristic

  • St. Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians (c. 96)
  • St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letters (c. 107–110)
  • St. Justin Martyr, First Apology (c. 155)
  • St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (c. 180)
  • Tertullian, On the Crown (c. 211) — prayers for the dead
  • Origen, Commentary on Romans (c. 233)
  • St. Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit (c. 375)
  • St. Jerome, Against Helvidius (383)
  • St. Augustine, Confessions; De Genesi ad Litteram
  • St. John Damascene, On the Divine Images (c. 730)

Philosophical & Scriptural

  • St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae — the Five Ways
  • St. Vincent of Lérins, Commonitorium (c. 434)
  • The Didache (1st century)
  • All Scripture quotations: Douay-Rheims Bible

Browse and search the full Catholic Bible on this site: Douay-Rheims Bible →