As an avid gardener I am constantly amazed how God uses the natural world as a living parable of the supernatural order. My garden includes 15 grape vines which in summer literally explode with new shoots and foliage. Every vine dresser knows that in order to produce large and abundant grapes vigilant pruning is required, so I spend many hours cutting back excess foliage. While thus engaged I am constantly mindful of Christ’s teaching, “I am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does He prunes so that it bears more fruit.” (Jn 15:1,2)

What I never fully understood until I began raising vines was just how few branches on a vine actually produce fruit. I have seen new shoots, or suckers, which can run for 8 or 10 feet without ever sprouting a single runty grape cluster. In fact, I have noticed with certain varieties that 90% of shoots which branch off from the main vine will never produce a single grape. These must all be cut away in order to redirect the vine’s energy into the branches that are actually forming fruit. And pruning is not a one time thing but a continual process throughout the entire growing season. In other words, the vast majority of any vine’s growth is ultimately removed and cast into the mulch pile. It is no accident that Our Lord used the analogy of dressing vines because his listeners in that intensive grape growing culture around the Mediterranean would have clearly understood his meaning, namely that “Many are called but few are chosen.”

It is not enough to simply know about Christ or even to believe in Him in a casual or haphazard way. To wear the label of a nominal Catholic or a Christian who has “accepted the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior” is to be like that long branch with lots of beautiful leaves but no fruit. For those whose faith is all about interior feelings yet have nothing concrete to show for it, they are like those barren branches cut away from the source of life which is the vine. “What good is it my brothers if someone says he has faith but does not have works?… So also faith of itself, without works, is dead.” Jas 2:14;17)

The vine dresser is still not out of the woods after a season of constant pruning, however, as I learned the hard way. For those fortunate branches which may be forming luscious clusters of fruit there are still more obstacles. As the grapes ripen, birds are ever watchful and will pluck at the individual grapes the moment they begin to sweeten. I have experienced whole clusters stripped bare to unsightly stems if protective netting was not applied in time. Mildew, mites, and other invasive pests can cause substantial damage as well so that it becomes a running battle to protect the grapes. Strong winds can cause whole branches laden with fruit to break off and wither before ripening. In other words, even for those branches that are fruit bearing, half or more of the crop may not make it to harvest.

Jesus was certainly aware of the challenges of grape culture and He expected his disciples would understand his meaning. The road to salvation is tortuous and winding. It requires not only initial enthusiasm for the Gospel but constant perseverance in the faith until our moment of death. This is only possible, of course, by cooperation with the graces that God provides in order that we may persevere. No one can do it alone but only by remaining in Christ, not in word only but in word and deed. “Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.” (Jn 15:6)

But Christ did not leave us helpless against the powers of nature that constantly conspire to cleave us from the true vine nor those demons who, like wild birds, try to pluck the fruits of our growing faith away from us before it fully ripens. In fact He gave us His Church which supports us just as a sturdy trellis supports the vine branches. Every now and then Christ also gives that Church, a pastor of extraordinary wisdom and charity. At this moment of great confusion and division within the ecclesial body He has sent us Bishop Athanasius Schneider, a devout prelate who just produced a new catechism titled “CREDO – Compendium of the Catholic Faith.”

If any single volume could appear, in a most timely manner, to clear the fog which seems to be enveloping our Church (and the ‘woke’ insanity in the world) CREDO is that book. It is the most comprehensive and clearly written explanation of the Catholic faith yet written. Bishop Schneider clears the air on many of the ambiguous or erroneous opinions floating around today’s Christian circles in a direct, yet always kindly way. For example, he explains the difference between evangelization and proselytism or, how natural religion differs from supernatural religion. He articulately addresses questions such as, Who is guilty of the sin of apostasy? or, Why must Catholics be warned against Yoga and similar practices? It is both contemporary and timeless, covering topics and questions answered by the early Church Fathers all the way up to modern day concerns regarding the New Age movement, Freemasonry, and Globalism.

I only recently discovered this book and was mesmerized by the depth and extent of its coverage of authentic Catholic teachings. I literally had to force myself to put it down. Every serious Catholic, especially those with children at home or even in college, should have this definitive resource on their shelf. Published less than a year ago by Sophia Press, CREDO makes the official “Catechism of the Catholic Church” feel lightweight by comparison. Robert Cardinal Sarah has heartily endorsed CREDO adding, “that we must be profoundly grateful to Bishop Schneider for this faithful, succinct, profound, and truly up-to-date exposition of the teachings of the Catholic Church.”

As you know, I rarely if ever do commercials, but today’s Christian families are living through a perilous period of history, and so I make an exception to fully endorse and recommend the acquisition of this tremendous resource. It could well save the faith of your children, and you certainly want each one of them to grow up to become a branch which bears good and abundant fruit in the Lord, against all the odds. And I am certain that CREDO will greatly improve their odds.

Francis J. Pierson +a.m.d.g.