To believe in God is the most fundamental affirmation of our faith and everything we do should flow from this belief. But we don’t just believe in one God among many, either as preference, or in exclusive relationship, or even as one above all other gods. “I am God, and there is no other …” No, we declare our faith in ONE, unique God; i.e. there is only one God.

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As an extension of this faith, we profess that God’s oneness means there is no division in God; God doesn’t have parts, nor is God a mixture of substances: God is GOD and nothing else. Which also means that nothing else can be God; Creation is not God (a belief called Pantheism); the collective spirits of persons aren’t God (or godsparks divided among us, elements of this idea are found in Gnosticism and Hinduism); no is anything else. This faith in God’s oneness, we share with Judaism and Islam who have guarded this fundamental faith with devotion above all else.

Jesus affirms we must love ONE LORD with all our heart, and with all our mind, and with all our strength. He also reveals that he himself is “the Lord.” But our confession of Jesus as Lord and the Holy Spirit as “Lord and giver of life” introduces no division in our faith in One God. God is one in nature, and essence, and substance. There are Three Divine persons, but they are inseparable in what they are, “consubstantial”, which is God. The Trinity is One.

What does faith in ONE God mean for us?
God the creator’s Oneness reveals his greatness and majesty; nothing else in our life is God, and therefor nothing in our life should be revered as God is revered. If God is one, then there is only one source of everything we are and everything that have, and thus to God alone we give our ultimate thanks. If God alone is one, and we are all made in the image and likeness of God, then there is a unity and incomparable dignity among all persons that we must live by. If God alone made all things, then we must treat all of Creation only in ways that bring us closer to God, and detach ourselves from anything that turns us away from God.

It means trusting God in every circumstance, no matter the adversity:
“Let nothing trouble you /
Let nothing frighten you
Everything passes
God never changes
Patience obtains all
Whoever has God
Wants for nothing
God alone is enough.”
—St Teresa of Avila

To learn more about the God’s ONENESS, you can read more in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, HERE.

This year (2022) we consecrated our Campus to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. You can actively participate and renew this consecration daily through a short consecration prayer to Mary, found below, a spiritual practice I highly recommend. And if you’re interested in reading/praying the Campus Consecration, you can find that on this page as well.

To explore a more in-depth consecration to Mary check out the links in this post.

Daily Consecration to Mary

My Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely to you, and, in proof of my affection, I give you my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Since I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession. Amen.

Consecration of UNC Asheville to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Trinity, Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the University of North Carolina at Asheville into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the university to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this campus and for the academic excellence and flourishing of its students which has been its heritage. 

Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, have mercy on our Catholic Campus Ministry at UNCA. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our Chancellor, the Deans and on all the administrators and professors of our university. 

Through the intercession of Mary, Seat of Wisdom, grant us a fruitful academic semester born of wisdom and knowledge. Have mercy on the pursuits of all here in knowledge and skills, in growth of mind, body, and spirit. Protect the students. Foster the precious gift of many religious vocations. 

Through the intercession of our mother, Comfort of the Afflicted, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners–on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our mother, patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our campus and ourselves to your sorrowful and immaculate heart. 

O Sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from injustice, disaster and sickness. 

Protect us from all harm. O sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. 

Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

As the Catholic Campus Minister at UNCA, I affirm that all LGBTQ+ persons are loved, affirmed, and welcomed by Catholic Campus Ministry, and that LGBTQ+ members of our UNCA Catholic Community are unequivocally valued. We are committed to be more accepting and to ensure the inclusion, voices and perspectives of those who our society and even the hierarchy and members of the Church often push away. God’s desire is that in Jesus Christ, ALL persons may be drawn into communion with God and each other, overcoming all barriers. We seek to embody that divine desire.

Often actions and proclamations of the hierarchy of the Church cause pain and suffering to LGBTQ+ individuals and must leave them wondering “Where is there a place for me in the Church?” At Catholic Campus Ministry at UNCA, the answer is HERE YOU HAVE A PLACE.

You have a place in our community of faith where you are one of the Mystical Body of Christ, and without you we would be broken and incomplete. This is just as true for everyone at UNCA: God desires union with you through faith in the Redemptive Mission of Word of God made flesh, Jesus Christ, and the Sacraments of the Church that effect that union.

To our LGBTQ+ friends, specifically, I stress again that Catholic Campus Ministry at UNCA is enriched by your presence, your gifts, your ministry and leadership. The Catholic Community at UNCA sees you, values you, and recognizes that you are a gift from God with the full dignity of someone made in the image and likeness of the Divine.

Your Servant in Christ,

David Mayeux
Catholic Campus Minister

QUESTION: If Buddhism is technically a philosophy and not a religion, is it a sin to meditate in a Buddhist temple? How much could one practice Buddhism without renouncing the Lord?

Continue reading “Discord Q&A: Buddhist Meditation”

Our Discord channel is our own little Areopagus where students come to ask questions “We wish to know therefor what these things mean?” regarding matters of faith. From time to time, I publish here their questions with my slightly edited and expanded answers.

QUESTION: Abel was the first person to die in the Bible, so I need to know does anyone else think it might be reasonable to assume that Cain didn’t know Able would die?

Continue reading “Discord Q &A: Cain and Abel”