In the introduction, Pope Francis names two inspirations for this encyclical. The first is St. Francis himself, who was also the inspiration for his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si and indeed the inspiration for his entire pontificate. The second is the Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, by whom the pope has “felt particularly encouraged” and with whom in Abu Dhabi he signed a joint declaration, the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, that stated, “God has created all human beings equal in rights, duties and dignity, and has called them to live together as brothers and sisters” (5).

Fratelli Tutti is a social encyclical, that is, it concerns the Church’s social doctrine, which is a part of the Church’s long-standing moral teaching. Social morality is present throughout all of Scripture. In the Old Testament, God often repeats the command to treat the most vulnerable—the widow, the orphan, the poor, the foreigner—with preferential justice and mercy. God also calls his people to radical economic justice, including the forgiveness of all debts every fifty years and the prohibition on charging any interest on loans. 

The necessity of social morality isn’t reduced in the New Testament; rather the opposite is true. Jesus identifies himself with the most vulnerable and is clear that our treatment of them is the criteria for our eternal salvation: “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me” (Matthew 25:45). As the letter of St. James makes clear, this bar for how we are expected to treat the poor is not lowered as the Church grows: 

Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. (James 5:1-4)

Church Tradition has long incorporated this message of charity as well, with St. Ambrose writing in the fourth century, “You are not making a gift of what is yours to the poor man, but you are giving him back what is his. You have been appropriating things that are meant to be for the common use of everyone. The earth belongs to everyone, not to the rich.” Likewise, St. John Chrysostom taught that “Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. the goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.”

In 1891, Pope Leo XIII formally compiled the social and economic teachings of the past centuries into his encyclical Rerum Novarum to address the oppression of laborers and the rise of new ideologies in the modern industrial society. Since then, popes of every generation have contributed to the Church’s social teaching, responding to the needs of their time and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The Church’s social teaching comprises a body of doctrine, which is articulated as the Church interprets events in the course of history, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, in the light of the whole of what has been revealed by Jesus Christ” (CCC 2422).

In this context, Fratelli Tutti is the work of the Holy Father reading the signs of the times and, assisted by the Holy Spirit, proposing solutions. This encyclical is an invitation to “dream together” of a world firmly grounded on the dignity of all persons, and this invitation isn’t just extended to Christians, but to everyone: “Although I have written it from the Christian convictions that inspire and sustain me, I have sought to make this reflection an invitation to dialogue among all people of good will” (6).

Through Pope Francis, God is showing us the antidote to the viruses of selfishness, violence, and prejudice so prevalent in the world and in our own hearts. The pope prompts us to reject “a mindset that despises the limit that another’s value imposes” (Let Us Dream 34). This attitude that refuses to accept the dignity of others is tragically present in all of us. 

I invite you to join me in a new workshop where we will explore this important and inspiring encyclical. This workshop will help you understand the Church’s social teaching and participate more in building the Kingdom of God in this world.

This workshop will help you understand what the Church’s social doctrine has to say about the world we live in today. More than that though, the goal of this workshop is to encourage you to apply this teaching to your own life. Pope Francis acknowledges that this teaching seems "wildly unrealistic" (FT 127). Nevertheless, this workshop is an invitation to revisit your own political values and to ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and reconsider your choices in order to empower you to live “a way of life marked by the flavor of the Gospel” (FT 1).

This is a five-part live workshop that will be held virtually on Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14, and Nov 21 at 7:30-9:00pm (EST).

Register!

This workshop is for anyone who wants to deepen their faith, including catechists, ministers, and clergy who want to enhance their ministry and connect with a supportive community of learners. Whether you're looking to renew your love for Jesus, find a deeper sense of belonging, or grow in your relationship with God, the Fratelli Tutti Workshop is the perfect opportunity for you. In this workshop, you will have:

• the freedom to participate as you want  

• the opportunity to learn and grow within a small group 

• a non-judgemental space that proclaims and invites, never imposes

• the skills to read and understand papal documents 

• the chance to ask and discuss any questions that you have

This workshop is open to everyone, but members of Father's Heart Academy will have access to it for half the price!

Don't miss this chance to experience a transformative journey with like-minded individuals who share your faith. Join me!

Register!

**This article was adapted from the Fratelli Tutti Study Guide that I edited and cowrote three years ago along with several contributors from Where Peter Is.

Registration is now open for the Fratelli Tutti Workshop!

This is a five-part live workshop that will be held virtually on Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14, and Nov 21 at 7:30-9:00pm (EST).

Register!

Do you want to understand some of the biggest problems in the world through the light of the Gospel? Do you desire to help build the Kingdom of God is this world? Do you want to better integrate the Church’s radical social teachings into your life?

I invite you to join me in a new workshop where we will explore Pope Francis's Encyclical on fraternity and social friendship, Fratelli Tutti. This workshop will help you understand the Church’s social teaching and participate more in building the Kingdom of God in this world.

This workshop will help you understand what the Church’s social doctrine has to say about the world we live in today. More than that though, the goal of this workshop is to encourage you to apply this teaching to your own life. Pope Francis acknowledges that this teaching seems "wildly unrealistic" (FT 127). Nevertheless, this workshop is an invitation to revisit your own political values and to ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and reconsider your choices in order to empower you to live “a way of life marked by the flavor of the Gospel” (FT 1).

“It is my desire that, in this our time, by acknowledging the dignity of each human person, we can contribute to the rebirth of a universal aspiration to fraternity. Fraternity between all men and women…Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travelers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all” (FT 8).

This workshop is for anyone who wants to deepen their faith, including catechists, ministers, and clergy who want to enhance their ministry and connect with a supportive community of learners. Whether you're looking to renew your love for Jesus, find a deeper sense of belonging, or grow in your relationship with God, the Fratelli Tutti Workshop is the perfect opportunity for you. In this workshop, you will have:

• the freedom to participate as you want  

• the opportunity to learn and grow within a small group 

• a non-judgemental space that proclaims and invites, never imposes

• the skills to read and understand papal documents 

• the chance to ask and discuss any questions that you have

This workshop is open to everyone, but members of Father's Heart Academy will have access to it for half the price!

Don't miss this chance to experience a transformative journey with like-minded individuals who share your faith. Join me!

Register!

Are you feeling alienated from Catholic culture? Are you looking for more compelling answers to your questions about Church teaching? Are you searching for a more beautiful and compelling Catholicism?

Discover the truth and hope of Church teachings through a comprehensive study of magisterial documents, access to Paul Fahey’s podcasts and articles, and a supportive community of learners.

• Faithful workshops

• Become a better catechist

• Cancel anytime

1. Discover

Explore self-paced courses, podcasts, and resources to deepen your formation.

2. Meet

Get access to a private membership of fellow students to share insights and outlooks.

3. Learn

Join workshops to ask questions and share feedback as you grow in the faith.

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About Father’s Heart Academy

Are you feeling alienated from Catholic culture?

• Are you looking for more compelling answers to your questions about Church teaching?

• Are you searching for a more beautiful Gospel?

• Do you want to learn more about the Church’s teachings and improve your catechist skills?

Welcome to Father’s Heart Academy.

The mission of Father's Heart Academy is to present Church teachings in light of the Kerygma, the proclamation of God's goodness and desire for us, and walk with you through the Church's actual teachings. Our program is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of magisterial teachings.

In addition to studying magisterial documents, at Father’s Heart Academy, you’ll have access to Paul Fahey’s podcast and articles, and be a part of a community to discuss them.

Each month, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet with Paul to discuss a particular topic, recent podcast, or current events in the Church. We also offer seminars on specific topics and magisterial documents.

Join Father’s Heart Academy and rediscover the beauty and truth of the Gospel. Learn how to use the Church’s texts in your daily life, grow in your faith, and become a better and effective catechist.

This academy is a collaboration with SmartCatholics.

Enter the Academy

When I first read the Holy Father’s 2018 exhortation on holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate, I was deeply struck by his criticism of what he calls contemporary Pelagianism.

Francis’s teaching challenged so much of how I understood holiness and has brought me real clarity and freedom the more that the Lord has let it take root in my mind and heart.

The pope says that a marker of this new Pelagianism is the centering of the human will in our growth in holiness and the de-centering of grace. Grace isn’t absent, but it’s seen as something added onto our efforts.

In contrast, Francis taught that “nothing human can demand, merit or buy the gift of divine grace, and that all cooperation with it is a prior gift of that same grace.” He goes on to say, “Even the desire to be cleansed comes about in us through the outpouring and working of the Holy Spirit.”

This Pelagianism can be very subtle and disguises itself in sincere striving for holiness.

One place where I often find it is when Catholics talk about virtue. I regularly hear virtues presented as if growing in a particular virtue is like learning to play a musical instrument. If I set my mind to the task and practice every day then I will make myself more capable, more free, to play the piano. Likewise, if I set my mind to the task, discipline my behavior, and build new habits, then I will make myself more patient or more chaste.

In other words, I often hear the virtuous life presented as a kind of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Growing in virtue means simply changing my thoughts, my behavior, and building good habits. Then voila! I’m virtuous. And at first glance it seems like the Catechism supports this self-help idea of growing in virtue when it says, “The moral virtues are acquired by human effort” (CCC 1804).

However, the Catechism also teaches that “The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God” (CCC 1803). Growing in virtue is becoming more like God. That challenges the “virtue is like learning an instrument” ideas because, if I step back for a second, I quickly realize that I cannot pray often enough, take enough old showers, or do anything at all to make one cell in my body more divine.

Rather, as the Church prays during the Easter Vigil, “only at the prompting of Your grace do the faithful progress in any kind of virtue.”

Growth in virtue, holiness, is always first and primarily God’s work. My effort is always and only in response to what God has already started and sustaining.

It is Christ who first changes our desires so that we want to be virtuous, It is Christ who gives us the strength to respond to that desire with our choices. It is Christ who uses our cooperation to make us more free to respond in the future.

In Gaudete et Exsultate, Pope Francis teaches that God initiates, sustains, and makes fruitful all good works—and that anything other than that is Pelagianism.

This authentic, anti-Pelagian, understanding of holiness is one of the things that we will discuss as we study this marvelous document in the upcoming Gaudete et Exsultate Workshop!

Register!

This four-part live workshop will be held virtually on May 30, June 6, June 13, and June 20 at 7:30-9:00pm (EST).

This workshop is for anyone who wants to deepen their faith, including catechists, ministers, and clergy who want to enhance their ministry and connect with a supportive community of learners. Whether you're looking to renew your love for Jesus, find a deeper sense of belonging, or grow in your relationship with God, the Gaudete et Exsultate Workshop is the perfect opportunity for you. In this workshop, you will have:

• the freedom to participate as you want  

• the opportunity to learn and grow within a small group 

• a non-judgemental space that proclaims and invites, never imposes

• the skills to read and understand papal documents 

• the chance to ask and discuss any questions that you have

This workshop is open to everyone, but members of Father's Heart Academy will have access to it for half the price!

Don't miss this chance to experience a transformative journey with like-minded individuals who share your faith. Join me!

Register!

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Registration is now open for the Gaudete et Exsultate Workshop!

This four-part live workshop will be held virtually on May 30, June 6, June 13, and June 20 at 7:30-9:00pm (EST).

Register!

Do you desire to become what God created you to be? Do you want to know what it means when the Church says you are called to be holy, to be a saint? Do you want to understand how to discern the next step that God is calling you to in your spiritual life?

I invite you to join me in a new workshop where we will explore Pope Francis's pivotal Apostolic Exhortation on the call to holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate. This workshop will help you understand and participate in God’s incredible plan for your life!

Prayerfully reading and discussing what Pope Francis teaches will help you see the “subtle enemies of holiness” and better discern how grace is working in your life and in the lives of others. Along with myself and a small community of learners, you will come to see that God’s desire, in the concreteness of your particular life and vocation, to transform you into Christ.

“Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self. To depend on God sets us free from every form of enslavement and leads us to recognize our great dignity” (Gaudete et Exsultate 32).

This workshop is for anyone who wants to deepen their faith, including catechists, ministers, and clergy who want to enhance their ministry and connect with a supportive community of learners. Whether you're looking to renew your love for Jesus, find a deeper sense of belonging, or grow in your relationship with God, the Gaudete et Exsultate Workshop is the perfect opportunity for you. In this workshop, you will have:

• the freedom to participate as you want  

• the opportunity to learn and grow within a small group 

• a non-judgemental space that proclaims and invites, never imposes

• the skills to read and understand papal documents 

• the chance to ask and discuss any questions that you have

This workshop is open to everyone, but members of Father's Heart Academy will have access to it for half the price!

Don't miss this chance to experience a transformative journey with like-minded individuals who share your faith. Join me!

Register!

Like St. Peter’s words to Jesus in John 6, “To whom else shall we go?”, I think the Eucharist is the anchor for Catholics across the political and theological spectrums that keeps them in the Church when they may have a laundry list of reasons for wanting to leave. If I really believe that the Eucharist really is Jesus, how can I walk away?

This baseline, almost instinctual faith, that Catholics have about the Eucharist is important, essential. But I think it’s only the first step in understanding, and participating in, the mystery of the Eucharist.

Last summer, Pope Francis published an Apostolic Letter about the Eucharist titled Desiderio Desideravi or “I have earnestly desired.”

The title comes from the Gospel of Luke where Jesus says to his Apostles, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Lk 22:15). Pope Francis says, “No one had earned a place at that Supper. All had been invited. Or better said: all had been drawn there by the burning desire that Jesus had to eat that Passover with them” (DD 4).

God’s desire for everyone—and for you personally—is the focus of the pope’s letter. The pope is inviting the Church to reflect, not on the debates about who should or shouldn’t be allowed to receive Communion, but on God’s relentless desire to encounter you through the Eucharistic Liturgy. Francis says:

“Christian faith is either an encounter with Him alive, or it does not exist. The Liturgy guarantees for us the possibility of such an encounter. For us a vague memory of the Last Supper would do no good. We need to be present at that Supper, to be able to hear his voice, to eat his Body and to drink his Blood. We need Him. In the Eucharist and in all the sacraments we are guaranteed the possibility of encountering the Lord Jesus and of having the power of his Paschal Mystery reach us” (DD 10-11).

This Easter, I am inviting you to join me in a workshop where we will explore this.

By prayerfully reading and discussing what Pope Francis teaches about the Mass, you will not only grow in your own love for the Eucharist but you will be more prepared to share that devotion with others. Along with myself and a small community of learners, you will come to see the Mass as the privileged place to encounter Jesus, experience his healing love, and be divinized, that is, as St. Augustine said, “become Christ himself.” 

This workshop will help you understand and participate in the Mass as a life-giving encounter with God's relentless desire for you.

Register Here!

This workshop is for anyone who wants to deepen their faith, including catechists, ministers, and clergy who want to enhance their ministry and connect with a supportive community of learners. Whether you're looking to renew your love for Jesus, find a deeper sense of belonging, or grow in your relationship with God, the Desiderio Desideravi workshop is the perfect opportunity for you. In this workshop, you will have:

• the freedom to participate as you want  

• the opportunity to learn and grow within a small group 

• a non-judgemental space that proclaims and invites, never imposes

• the skills to read and understand papal documents 

• the chance to ask and discuss any questions that you have

This three-part live workshop will be held virtually on April 13, April 20, and April 27 at 7:30-9:00pm (EST).

In addition to studying Desiderio Desideravi in April, there will also be workshops on Pope Francis' life changing teaching about holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate this summer and the Church’s newest social encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, this fall. These workshops are open to everyone, but members of Father's Heart Academy will have access to them for half the price!

Join me!

Register Here!

Registration is now open for the Desiderio Desideravi Workshop!

This three-part live workshop will be held virtually on April 13, April 20, and April 27 at 7:30-9:00pm (EST).

Register Here!

Do you want to fall more in love with Jesus in the Eucharist? Do you seek a deeper understanding of the Mass, overflowing with God's love and goodness? Do you desire to experience the liturgy as a moment of healing and transfiguration?

I invite you to join me in a workshop this Easter, where we will explore Pope Francis's new Apostolic Letter about the Eucharistic Liturgy, Desiderio Desideravi. This workshop will help you understand and participate in the Mass as a life-giving encounter with God's relentless desire for you.

By prayerfully reading and discussing what the Church actually teaches about the Mass, you will not only grow in your own love for the Eucharist but you will be more prepared to share that devotion with others. Along with myself and a small community of learners, you will come to see the Mass as the privileged place to encounter Jesus, experience his healing love, and be divinized, that is, as St. Augustine said, “become Christ himself.” 

This workshop is for anyone who wants to deepen their faith, including catechists, ministers, and clergy who want to enhance their ministry and connect with a supportive community of learners. Whether you're looking to renew your love for Jesus, find a deeper sense of belonging, or grow in your relationship with God, the Desiderio Desideravi workshop is the perfect opportunity for you. In this workshop, you will have:

• the freedom to participate as you want  

• the opportunity to learn and grow within a small group 

• a non-judgemental space that proclaims and invites, never imposes

• the skills to read and understand papal documents 

• the chance to ask and discuss any questions that you have

These workshops are open to everyone, but members of Father's Heart Academy will have access to them for half the price! In addition to studying Desiderio Desideravi in April, there will also be workshops on Pope Francis' life changing teaching about holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate this summer and the Church’s newest social encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, this fall

Don't miss this chance to experience a transformative journey with like-minded individuals who share your faith. Join me!

Register Here!

Father's Heart Academy is now open!

Enter the Academy

Are you feeling alienated from Catholic culture? Are you looking for more compelling answers to your questions about Church teaching? Are you searching for a more beautiful Gospel?

The mission of Father's Heart Academy is to present Church teachings in light of the Kerygma, the proclamation of God's goodness and desire for us, and walk with you through the Church's actual teachings, clearing away any added opinions and rules. 

As a student at Father's Heart Academy, you will:

• Be a part of a community of folks who hunger for a God of love and goodness and who desire to know more about the Church’s teaching

• Have access to an online forum where you can discuss my podcast and articles with me and the rest of the community 

• Be invited to student-only monthly virtual meetups with me to discuss a particular topic, recent podcast, or current event in the Church

• Be able to participate in private seminars about Church documents

• Have early access to new resources I’m working on

You will also get a 50% off discount to my Desiderio Desideravi Workshop in April and all future workshops this year! In addition to studying Desiderio Desideravi, I will also be leading a workshop on Pope Francis' life changing teaching about holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate this summer and the Church’s newest social encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, this fall.

Father’s Heart Academy is for any Catholic who wants to grow in their relationship with God and the Church. It is also perfect for catechists and ministers who want to experience life-giving catechesis in order to share it with others.

Don't let the personal opinions of online apologists or clerics cloud your understanding of Church teachings. Join Father's Heart Academy and discover the beauty and truth of the Gospel. 

Become a student for only $10 a month. Sign up here!

Enter the Academy

Do you want to fall more in love with Jesus in the Eucharist? Do you seek a deeper understanding of the Mass, overflowing with God's love and goodness? Do you desire to experience the liturgy as a moment of healing and transfiguration?

I invite you to join me in a workshop this April, where we will explore Pope Francis's new Apostolic Letter about the Eucharistic Liturgy, Desiderio Desideravi. This workshop will help you understand and participate in the Mass as a life-giving encounter with God's relentless desire for you.

By prayerfully reading and discussing what the Church actually teaches about the Mass, you will not only grow in your own love for the Eucharist but you will be more prepared to share that devotion with others. Along with myself and a small community of learners, you will come to see the Mass as the privileged place to encounter Jesus, experience his healing love, and be divinized, that is, as St. Augustine said, “become Christ himself.” 

This workshop is for anyone who wants to deepen their faith, including catechists, ministers, and clergy who want to enhance their ministry and connect with a supportive community of learners. Whether you're looking to renew your love for Jesus, find a deeper sense of belonging, or grow in your relationship with God, the Desiderio Desideravi workshop is the perfect opportunity for you. In this workshop, you will have:

• the freedom to participate as you want  

• the opportunity to learn and grow within a small group 

• a non-judgemental space that proclaims and invites, never imposes

• the skills to read and understand papal documents 

• the chance to ask and discuss any questions that you have

These workshops are open to everyone, but members of Father's Heart Academy will have access to them for half the price! In addition to studying Desiderio Desideravi in April, there will also be workshops on Pope Francis' life changing teaching about holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate this summer and the Church’s newest social encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, this fall

Don't miss this chance to experience a transformative journey with like-minded individuals who share your faith. Join me this April!

Subscribe to this newsletter for more information about the launch date and to be the first to register!

Subscribe now

“Before our response to his invitation — well before! — there is his desire for us. We may not even be aware of it, but every time we go to Mass, the first reason is that we are drawn there by his desire for us. For our part, the possible response — which is also the most demanding asceticism — is, as always, that surrender to this love, that letting ourselves be drawn by him. Indeed, every reception of communion of the Body and Blood of Christ was already desired by him in the Last Supper.” (Desiderio Desideravi 6).

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I’m thrilled to announce my newest project - Father's Heart Academy!

Are you feeling alienated from Catholic culture? Are you looking for more compelling answers to your questions about Church teaching? Are you searching for a more beautiful Gospel?

The mission of Father's Heart Academy is to present Church teachings in light of the Kerygma, the proclamation of God's goodness and desire for us, and walk with you through the Church's actual teachings, clearing away any added opinions and rules. Our program is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of magisterial teachings.

This spring we will study Desiderio Desideravi, Pope Francis’ new Apostolic Letter about the Eucharistic Liturgy. And that's just the beginning! In May/June we will study Pope Francis' foundational teaching about holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate. And in August/September we will study Fratelli Tutti, the Church’s newest social encyclical that presents the antidote for the world’s social problems. We will study each of these documents as a group, with time for teaching, discussion, personal reflection, and prayer.

In addition to studying magisterial documents, at Father's Heart Academy, you'll have access to my podcast and articles, and be a part of a community to discuss them. Each month, you'll also have the opportunity to virtually meet up with me to discuss a particular topic, recent podcast, or current event in the Church. We also offer seminars on specific topics and documents.

Father’s Heart Academy is for any Catholic who wants to grow in their relationship with God and the Church. It is also perfect for catechists and ministers who want to experience life-giving catechesis in order to share it with others.

Don't let the personal opinions of online apologists or clerics cloud your understanding of Church teachings. Join Father's Heart Academy and discover the beauty and truth of the Gospel. Learn how to use the Church’s texts in your daily life and grow in your faith.

Father’s Heart Academy will launch at the end of the month. Stay tuned here for more information and updates about registration. Details and schedules are coming soon!

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Subscribers, I would love your feedback! What do you think? What questions do you have about the content and upcoming courses? What’s the number one thing this academy could do to help you grow in your faith? Please comment below!

Enter the Academy