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A podcast about the Fathers and Doctors of the Church—the foundational figures of Christian history. A production of CatholicCulture.org, hosted by Jim Papandrea (formerly by Mike Aquilina). Currently covering all the Doctors of the Church! Seasons: 1: Church Fathers 2: Early Ecumenical Councils 3: Cities of God 4: Heresies 5: Doctors of the Church
- 181 - 5.46 St. Irenaeus of Lyons: Doctor of Unity
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 125 - 202) was the first true theologian after the apostles. He was the first to clearly articulate the doctrine of consubstantiality: that the Father and the Son are of the same divine substance, are the same divinity, and are equally eternal.
Links
For a general introduction to St. Irenaeus of Lyons, See Mike Aquilina's episode 10 of this podcast: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/irenaeus-lyon-putting-smack-down-on-heresy/
The Letter of the Churches of Vienne and Lyons to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia: https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/viennalyons.html
Irenaeus of Lyons, The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/irenaeus_02_proof.htm
The episode on docetism: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/43-heresies-docetics-s-humanity/
The episode on gnosticism: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/45-heresies-gnosticism-christ-as-cosmic-mind/
The episode on modalism: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/47-heresies-modalism-god-as-monad-with-three-names/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
For more on this Doctor of the Church, in historical context, see Dr. Papandrea's book - Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 11 Nov 2026 - 31min - 180 - 5.45 St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Doctor of The Little Way
St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 - 1897) is the youngest Doctor of the Church, but wrote more than some of the other Doctors. She has been called a doctor for the new millennium, and offers a striking contrast from our culture's obsession with being rich and famous, by giving us an example of holiness as seeking to be poor and anonymous.
Links
The writings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (The Institute of Carmelite Studies) - https://www.icspublications.org/search?type=product&q=Lisieux
The Story of a Soul - From St. Thérèse's Original Notes - https://ascensionpress.com/products/story-of-a-soul-the-autobiography-of-st-therese-of-lisieux-catholic-classics
OR: https://www.icspublications.org/products/story-of-a-soul-the-autobiography-of-st-therese-of-lisieux
Her Last Conversations - https://www.icspublications.org/products/st-therese-of-lisieux-her-last-conversations
Pope St. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter The Science of Divine Love (1997) - https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1997/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_19101997_divini-amoris.html
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 28 Oct 2026 - 24min - 179 - 5.44 St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Doctor of Merciful Love
Called "The Little Flower," and "St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus," St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 - 1897) is our most recent doctor of the Church. She only lived to be 24 years old, but in her short life she became an example of humble service and redemptive suffering. Links The writings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (The Institute of Carmelite Studies) - https://www.icspublications.org/search?type=product&q=Lisieux The Story of a Soul - From St. Thérèse's Original Notes - https://ascensionpress.com/products/story-of-a-soul-the-autobiography-of-st-therese-of-lisieux-catholic-classics OR: https://www.icspublications.org/products/story-of-a-soul-the-autobiography-of-st-therese-of-lisieux Her Last Conversations - https://www.icspublications.org/products/st-therese-of-lisieux-her-last-conversations Pope St. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter The Science of Divine Love (1997) - https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1997/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_19101997_divini-amoris.html SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/ Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Fri, 16 Oct 2026 - 23min - 178 - 5.43 St. Alphonsus Liguori: Prince of the Moralists
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696 - 1787) is one of the most popular and widely-read spiritual writers of all time, and yet his most significant contribution to the Church was his moral theology, including the guidance he gave to clergy for hearing confessions.
Links
AUDIO BOOK - Liguori's Uniformity With God's Will - https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-alphonsus-liguori-uniformity-with-gods-will/?repos=6&subrepos=0&searchid=2680738
Classics of Western Spirituality, Alphonsus Liguori: Selected Writings - https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/3771-2/alphonsus-de-liguori.aspx
Liguori's Duetto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYyHfHbHRxc
Pope St. John Paul II Apostolic Letter Spiritus Domini on St. Alphonsus Liguori (1987) - https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritus-domini-8413
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Tue, 22 Sep 2026 - 21min - 177 - 5.42 St. Alphonsus Liguori: Most Zealous Doctor
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696 - 1787) was a priest, bishop, spiritual director, retreat leader, musician and composer. Co-founder of the Redemptorists, he was a teacher of prayer, and a very popular confessor, who knew how to bring people to repentance.
Links
Liguori's Duetto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYyHfHbHRxc
Pope St. John Paul II Apostolic Letter Spiritus Domini on St. Alphonsus Liguori (1987) - https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritus-domini-8413
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 09 Sep 2026 - 29min - 176 - 5.41 St. Francis de Sales: Doctor of Analogies
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) has been called a spiritual director by correspondence, for his many letters, and for the fact that he was a pioneer of Catholic publishing, spreading his pamphlets across Switzerland, writing for the spiritual growth of the laity.
Links
AUDIOBOOK - An Introduction to the Devout Life - https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-francis-de-sales-introduction-to-devout-life-full/?repos=6&subrepos=0&searchid=2667242
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on St. Francis de Sales: Rerum Omnium Perturbationem (1923) - https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4950&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2667245
Article on the teaching of St. Francis de Sales on predestination - https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/most/getchap.cfm?worknum=214&chapnum=22&id=2078&repos=7&subrepos=0&searchid=2667248
The book: The Sign of the Cross - https://sophiainstitute.com/product/the-sign-of-the-cross/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 26 Aug 2026 - 18min - 175 - 5.40 St. Francis de Sales: The Gentleman Doctor
What St. Peter Canisius and St. Lawrence of Brindisi did for Germany, St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) did for Switzerland. Born just three years after John Calvin died, St. Francis de Sales found the Catholics of Geneva a persecuted minority, but by the time he was finished there, the region was mostly Catholic again.
Links
AUDIOBOOK - An Introduction to the Devout Life - https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-francis-de-sales-introduction-to-devout-life-full/?repos=6&subrepos=0&searchid=2667242
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on St. Francis de Sales: Rerum Omnium Perturbationem (1923) - https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4950&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2667245
Article on the teaching of St. Francis de Sales on predestination - https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/most/getchap.cfm?worknum=214&chapnum=22&id=2078&repos=7&subrepos=0&searchid=2667248
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 12 Aug 2026 - 17min - 174 - 5.39 St. Robert Bellarmine: Father of the Poor
St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) was a man known for his generosity. He was also well known for his writings on topics of spirituality, which were widely popular and were read by both Catholics and Protestants.
Links
Article "St. Robert Bellarmine's Influence on the Writing of the Declaration of Independence": https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=6607
Article: "St. Robert Bellarmine, Galileo and Heliocentricity": https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-robert-bellarmine-galileo-and-heliocentricity/
Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. Robert Bellarmine (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9554
Robert Bellarmine: Spiritual Writings - https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2875-6/robert-bellarmine.aspx
Way of the Fathers Podcast episode 4.13 - "Pelagianism and the Seeds of Calvinism" - https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/413-heresiespelagianism-and-seeds-calvinism/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 22 Jul 2026 - 25min - 173 - 5.38 St. Robert Bellarmine: Prince of Apologists
At the height of the Counter-Reformation, St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) was one of the most influential apologists of the time. He openly debated with King James I of England, and his most famous book of apologetics was outlawed in England, but still became a best-seller. He was also responsible for an updated translation of the Vulgate which became the Church's official Latin Bible for centuries.
Links
Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. Robert Bellarmine (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9554&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2663992
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 08 Jul 2026 - 17min - 172 - 5.37 St. Lawrence of Brindisi: Doctor of the Incarnation
St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619) was a Preacher, spiritual director, missionary, diplomat, confidant of princes and emperors, Papal Emissary, military chaplain, Provincial Vicar of the Capuchins, and Vicar General of the Franciscan order. Called the greatest preacher in the history of the Church, during his lifetime people treated him like a rockstar. He was also one of the most prominent Catholic apologists of his generation.
Links
Excerpt from The Image of Lutheranism: https://romanseraphicbooks.substack.com/p/st-lawrence-of-brindisi-vs-lutheranism
Excerpt from The Mariale: https://www.franciscan-archive.org/laurentius/lau01005.html
Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. Lawrence of Brindisi (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9578&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2658399
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 18min - 171 - 5.36 St. Lawrence of Brindisi: The Apostolic Doctor
St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619) was one of the early Capuchins, the first Capuchin to be named a Doctor of the Church, and the third Franciscan so named, after St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Bonaventure. Just as the Discalced Carmelites were reformers within the Carmelite order, the Capuchins were reformers within the Franciscan order. St. Lawrence was also a popular preacher, a genius scholar, with a command of at least 10 languages, and the leading Catholic apologist of his day.
Links
Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. Lawrence of Brindisi (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9578&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2658399
Was the Date for Christmas Originally a Pagan Holiday? Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/fzjIsL1FGEc?si=P6Yt8WvH-BEjQ3E0
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 10 Jun 2026 - 22min - 170 - BONUS: Poetry of St. John of the Cross w/ Carla Galdo
In a bonus episode originally published on the Catholic Culture Podcast (Sept. 5, 2023), Thomas Mirus interviews Carla Galdo about the poetry of St. John of the Cross, who recites some of the poems in Spanish and English.
St. John of the Cross is not only one of the Church's greatest mystics, but also one of the most important figures in the Spanish poetic tradition. A new book of translations of St. John's poems, brought into English by contemporary bilingual poet Rhina Espaillat, gives us a chance to discover or rediscover this singular spiritual and artistic master.
Carla Galdo joins the podcast to discuss Espaillat's translations of St. John of the Cross. Comparing them with earlier translations by Roy Campbell (a friend of Tolkien and Lewis) provides opportunity to highlight various approaches and problems in translating poetry. Carla and Thomas also discuss common misconceptions about the dark night of the soul, and John's use of the classic mystical symbolism of bride and bridegroom representing the relationship between the soul and God.
Links
The Spring that Feeds the Torrent: Poems by St. John of the Cross, Translated by Rhina P. Espaillathttps://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p135/The_Spring_that_Feeds_the_Torrent%3A_Poems_by_St._John_of_the_Cross%2C_Translated_by_Rhina_P._Espaillat.html
St. John of the Cross: Poems, trans. Roy Campbell https://clunymedia.com/products/poems
Musical setting of "El pastorcico" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se0fcCvKqzY
Well-Read Mom https://wellreadmom.com
SUBSCRIBE to the Catholic Culture Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/
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Wed, 03 Jun 2026 - 1h 29min - 169 - 5.35 St. John of the Cross: Master In the Faith
St. John of the Cross (1542 - 1591)
What St. Thomas Aquinas did for philosophy and systematic theology, St. John of the Cross did for mysticism. He brought mystical theology to a plateau, gleaning from the mystics who came before him, and making it accessible to those who want to follow in the contemplative life.
Links
Check out this Catholic Culture podcast about St. John of the Cross' poetry, including readings of some of his poems in Spanish and English: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/166-poetry-st-john-cross-w-carla-galdo/
Pope St. John Paul II Apostolic Letter, Maestro en la Fe (1990): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5724&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2644080
Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. John of the Cross (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9548&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2644080
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross: https://www.icspublications.org/collections/homepage/products/the-collected-works-of-st-john-of-the-cross
The song "Living Flame" on the album Held by Love by Songs in His Presence: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014C17NW/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 27 May 2026 - 25min - 168 - 5.34 St. John of the Cross: The Mystical Doctor
St. John of the Cross (1542 - 1591) Arguably the most famous of the mystics, St. John of the Cross is well known for the concept of the "dark night of the soul." He was the "first friar" of the Discalced Carmelites, co-founder of the reform movement with St. Teresa of Avila, and one of the greatest Spanish poets of all time.
Links
Check out this Catholic Culture podcast about St. John of the Cross' poetry, including readings of some of his poems in Spanish and English: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/166-poetry-st-john-cross-w-carla-galdo/
Pope St. John Paul II Apostolic Letter, Maestro en la Fe (1990): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5724&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2644080
Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. John of the Cross (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9548&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2644080
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross: https://www.icspublications.org/collections/homepage/products/the-collected-works-of-st-john-of-the-cross
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 13 May 2026 - 16min - 167 - 5.33 St. Peter Canisius: Doctor of the Catechism
St. Peter Canisius (1521 - 1597) This restorer of the Catholic faith among the Germans and Swiss was responsible for standardizing the current form of the Hail Mary prayer. A champion of Catholic education, especially seminaries, he is an example for all teachers and apologists to follow.
Links
The book, A Small Catechism for Catholics, by St. Peter Canisius, S.J., English translation by Ryan Grant: https://mediatrixpress.com/product/a-small-catechism-for-catholics/
The Large Catechism on Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Catechism_of_St_Peter_Canisius/yTdZDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1
To find out more about St. Peter Canisius: A Champion of the Church: The Life of St. Peter Canisius - https://mediatrixpress.com/product/a-champion-of-the-church-the-life-of-st-peter-canisius/
Read the General Audience Address of Pope Benedict XVI (Feb. 9, 2011) dedicated to St. Peter Canisius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9550&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2626034
Read the Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, Militantis Ecclesiae (1897) on St. Peter Canisius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4886&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2626034
Get the current Catechism of the Catholic Church: https://catholicbooksdirect.com/products/catechism-of-the-catholic-church-complete-and-updated
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 - 18min - 166 - 5.32 St. Peter Canisius: Second Apostle of Germany
St. Peter Canisius (1521 - 1597) A counter-Reformation apologist and reformer, St. Peter Canisius wrote the first official Catholic Catechisms, and was responsible for major parts of Germany and Switzerland remaining Catholic.
Links
Read the Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, Militantis Ecclesiae (1897) on St. Peter Canisius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4886&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2626034
Read the General Audience Address of Pope Benedict XVI (Feb. 9, 2011) dedicated to St. Peter Canisius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9550&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2626034
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's book on private prayer and devotion in the early Church: Praying Like the Early Church: Seven Insights from the Church Fathers to Help You Connect with God - https://sophiainstitute.com/?product=praying-like-the-early-church
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 - 12min - 165 - 5.31 St. Teresa of Avila: La Madre
St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) St. Teresa was already being called a saint, and a doctor, within her lifetime. She was a visionary who suffered greatly from physical illness, and spiritual disappointment, when even some of her friends didn't believe that her mystical experiences were real. She eventually convinced the naysayers, founded 17 convents and reformed the Carmelite order, all in the face of extreme opposition, even from the Spanish Inquisition.
Links
Check out this article on St. Teresa's Teaching: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=7725&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2622568
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's book on private prayer and devotion in the early Church: Praying Like the Early Church: Seven Insights from the Church Fathers to Help You Connect with God - https://sophiainstitute.com/?product=praying-like-the-early-church
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 25 Mar 2026 - 16min - 164 - New Lives of the Popes podcast, and pilgrimage with Mike and Jim
Way of the Fathers hosts Mike Aquilina and Jim Papandrea get together with producer Thomas Mirus two big announcements: Thomas's new podcast Lives of the Popes (a sister podcast to Way of the Fathers), and Mike and Jim's second "Way of the Fathers Pilgrimage" in Rome and Assisi this October.
Lives of the Popes on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lives-of-the-popes/id1885968422
Lives of the Popes on CatholicCulture.org: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/category/lives-of-popes-podcast/
Join Mike and Jim on pilgrimage (not affiliated with Catholic Culture): https://www.206tours.com/cms/papandrea/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 - 26min - 163 - 5.30 St. Teresa of Avila: Doctor of Prayer
St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) St. Teresa of Avila was the first female Doctor of the Church. She was the co-founder (with St. John of the Cross) of the Discalced Carmelites. A reformer, and a mystic, her books on prayer taught the Church to go deeper, and her famous book, Interior Castle, is a spiritual classic.
Links
The song God Alone is Enough (based on the quote of St. Teresa of Avila) by John Michael Talbot: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B001C09350?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_AytLlUDfAEjJq9aZT0yQ9KBo5&trackAsin=B001C03R70
The song is on the album Simple Heart: https://troubadourforthelord.net/store/ols/products/simple-heart
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's book on private prayer and devotion in the early Church: Praying Like the Early Church: Seven Insights from the Church Fathers to Help You Connect with God - https://sophiainstitute.com/?product=praying-like-the-early-church
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 11 Mar 2026 - 18min - 162 - 5.29 St. John of Avila: The Master
St. John of Avila (1499 - 1569) At the dawn of the Protestant Reformation, St. John of Avila stood in a long and noble tradition of preachers for reform within the Catholic Church. His down-to-earth, but pull-no-punches preaching style brought people back to the sacraments, and he often found that after he preached, he spent the rest of the day hearing confessions.
Links
A selection of 8 sermons by St. John of Avila: My Burden is Light: Suffering and Consolation in the Christian Life, translated by Brandon Otto https://tanbooks.com/products/books/my-burden-is-light-suffering-and-consolation-in-the-christian-life/
The volume on St. John of Avila in the Classics of Western Spirituality series: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/4200-7/john-of-avila.aspx
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 25 Feb 2026 - 16min - 161 - 5.28 St. John of Avila: Apostle of Andalusia
St. John of Avila (1499 - 1569) In the aftermath of the reestablishment of Christendom in Spain, and at the dawn of the Protestant Reformation, St. John of Avila was a powerful and effective preacher for Catholic reform and evangelization. He brought the people of southern Spain back to the Church, and brought the clergy of southern Spain back to holiness.
Links
A selection of 8 sermons by St. John of Avila: My Burden is Light: Suffering and Consolation in the Christian Life, translated by Brandon Otto https://tanbooks.com/products/books/my-burden-is-light-suffering-and-consolation-in-the-christian-life/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 - 12min - 160 - 5.27 St. Catherine of Siena: Mystic of the Incarnate Word
St. Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380) was almost single-handedly responsible for bringing the Papacy back to Rome after the long Avignon Papacy. Her book, The Dialogue, demonstrates advanced theological understanding, and includes direction in how to progress in the spiritual life, and also the words of God spoken directly to her.
Links
The Dialogue, with Introduction: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2233-2/catherine-of-siena.aspx
For comparison, the Diary of St. Faustina: https://shopmercy.org/diary-of-saint-maria-faustina-kowalska.html
The letters of St. Catherine online: http://www.domcentral.org/trad/cathletters.htm
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 - 23min - 159 - 5.26 St. Catherine of Siena: Mother of a Thousand Souls
St. Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380) was a "third order" Dominican, spiritual advisor, and a mystic, but also a nurse, and a kind of free-lance politician. She wrote letters of advice (and criticism) to cardinals, bishops, and royalty. She negotiated peace (or tried to) between warring city states, and - like St. Hildegard before her - she had permission to preach and teach. Her "disciples" and spiritual advisees included women and men, laity and clergy.
Links
The letters of St. Catherine online: http://www.domcentral.org/trad/cathletters.htm
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 - 15min - 158 - 5.25 St. John Henry Newman: The Doctor of Friendship
St. John Henry Newman (1801 - 1890) - Arguably the most famous convert since St. Paul, St. John Henry Newman defined the method for discerning the difference between legitimate growth and development in the Church, as opposed to the kinds of change that are really a deviation from Tradition and a corruption. Sorting this out led him to lose his trust in the Anglican communion, and in Protestantism in general, and unite with the Catholic Church. He would eventually be a cardinal, and he has been named co-patron of Catholic education, and now there are Newman Centers on college campuses across the US and the UK.
Links
Check out St. John Henry Newman in Catholic Culture Audio Books - there are over 50 titles, including lectures, poems and meditations, and sermons. The entire text of The Idea of a University is also included. Click this link for the list of titles and links to the audio books: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/audiobook_newman_titles.cfm
St. John Henry Newman's reflections on the Blessed Virgin and Marian Doctrines: The Mystical Rose - https://scepterpublishers.org/products/mystical-rose?_pos=1&_sid=6251db2e1&_ss=r
Fr. Juan Velez' Holiness in a Secular Age: The Witness of Cardinal Newman - https://scepterpublishers.org/products/holiness-in-a-secular-age-the-witness-of-cardinal-newman?_pos=2&_sid=0e574e4ce&_ss=r&variant=40294599821
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 - 22min - 157 - The Most Dangerous Man in England: Newman and the Laity - Paul Shrimpton
Cross-posted from the Catholic Culture Podcast with Thomas V. Mirus.
Paul Shrimpton assisted in the process of making St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church. He joins the podcast to discuss his involvement in the process, and his new book from Word on Fire Academic, "The Most Dangerous Man in England": Newman and the Laity.
During his lifetime, Newman was a controversial figure within the Catholic Church in large part due to his views on the laity and his advocacy for their role in running Catholic schools. Shrimpton's book gives us a picture of Newman's view of the laity not only through his ideas, but through his practical endeavors in the world of education, his pastoral activity, and his deep and abiding friendships with many laypeople.
"The Most Dangerous Man in England": Newman and the Laity https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/the-most-dangerous-man-in-england
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Fri, 21 Nov 2025 - 1h 30min - 156 - 5.23 St. John Henry Newman: The Convert Doctor
St. John Henry Newman (1801 - 1890) was an Anglican priest and Oxford scholar who reasoned his way into the Catholic Church, with the help of the Church fathers. He spent the first part of his life and career as a Protestant, but once a Catholic, he made a lasting and significant contribution to Catholic thought and apologetics.
Links
Check out St. John Henry Newman in Catholic Culture Audio Books - there are over 50 titles, including lectures, poems and meditations, and sermons. The entire text of The Idea of a University is also included. Click this link for the list of titles and links to the audio books: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/audiobook_newman_titles.cfm
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/collections/new-releases/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian?variant=46258102337713
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 12 Nov 2025 - 26min - 155 - 5.22 St. Thomas Aquinas: The Common Doctor
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) - Aquinas brought the development of Catholic thought and theology to a plateau, navigating the middle path between Augustine and Pelagius; Anselm and Abelard; and even Plato and Aristotle. He's called the Common Doctor because the Church has affirmed that his teaching should be taught, and held up as the standard, in every school, university, and seminary.
Links
Check out this YouTube clip, How the Summa Replaced the Sentences as the Standard Theology Textbook, w/ Philipp Rosemann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0od3JXnbfYY
Also, check out this interview that St. Thomas' namesake - Thomas Mirus - did on the Catholic Culture Podcast with Matthew Minerd, about the education St. Thomas received and his responsibilities as a master of theology and his academic milieu: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/161-vocation-thomas-aquinas-matthew-minerd/
Three of St. Thomas' academic sermons are available as audio books on the Catholic Culture website: Beware of the False https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-beware-false/
Heaven and Earth Will Pass https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-heaven-and-earth-will-pass/
Send Out Your Spirit https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-send-out-your-spirit/
Mike Aquilina's Praying in the Presence of Our Lord with Thomas Aquinas: https://lambingpress.com/products/praying-in-the-presence-of-our-lord-with-st-thomas-aquinas
The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on Albert & Thomas: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/3022-X/albert-and-thomas.aspx
The Penguin Classics Thomas Aquinas: Selected Writings: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/260880/selected-writings-of-thomas-aquinas-by-thomas-aquinas/
The Aquinas Institute Online Complete Works of St. Thomas Aquinas: https://aquinas.cc/la/en/~ST.I
Pope Leo XIII, 1879 Papal Encyclical Aeterni Patris: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4861&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2570288
Pope Pius XI, 1923 Papal Encyclical Studiorem Ducem: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=4957
Pope St. John Paul II, 1998 Papal Encyclical Fides et Ratio: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=592&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2570289
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
For Dr. Papandrea's take on St. Anselm, Peter Abelard, and St. Thomas Aquinas on the Atonement, see Reading the Church Fathers: https://sophiainstitute.com/?product=reading-the-church-fathers
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 29 Oct 2025 - 38min - 154 - 5.21 St. Thomas Aquinas: The Angelic Doctor
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) - Student of St. Albert the Great, and friend of St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas brought theology and scholastic philosophy together in a way that remains the standard of Catholic thought to this day. In some ways, St. Thomas can be thought of as a second Augustine, who arguably even surpassed the great father of the Church, and brought Augustine's teaching to a more perfect culmination.
Links
Three of St. Thomas' academic sermons are available as audio books on the Catholic Culture website: Beware of the False https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-beware-false/
Heaven and Earth Will Pass https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-heaven-and-earth-will-pass/
Send Out Your Spirit https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-send-out-your-spirit/
Also, check out this interview that St. Thomas' namesake - Thomas Mirus - did on the Catholic Culture Podcast with Matthew Minerd, about the education St. Thomas received and his responsibilities as a master of theology and his academic milieu: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/161-vocation-thomas-aquinas-matthew-minerd/
The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on Albert & Thomas: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/3022-X/albert-and-thomas.aspx
And, if you haven't already, check out the episodes on St. Thomas' teacher and mentor, St. Albert the Great, on this Way of the Fathers podcast:
Episode 5.17 St. Albert the Great: Universal Doctor: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/517-st-albert-great-universal-doctor/
Episode 5.18 St. Albert the Great: The Miracle of His Time: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/518-st-albert-great-miracle-his-time/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/collections/new-releases/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian?variant=46258102337713
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 - 24min - 153 - 5.20 St. Bonaventure: Prince of Mystics
St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) continued the legacy of St. Anthony and was the Franciscan counterpart to Aquinas. He's called the second founder of the Franciscans, and the Prince of the Mystics, because he continued the mystical tradition of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and he preserves for us the mystical spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi, as well as being an important influence on later mystics, such as St. John of the Cross.
Links
Check out this three-part series on St. Bonaventure by Pope Benedict XVI (from 2010) Part 1: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9267
Part 2: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9271
Part 3: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9284
The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on St. Bonaventure: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2121-2/bonaventure.aspx
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/collections/new-releases/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian?variant=46258102337713
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 24 Sep 2025 - 22min - 152 - 5.19 St. Bonaventure: The Seraphic Doctor
St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) was the friend and colleague of St. Thomas Aquinas. What Aquinas was to the Dominicans, Bonaventure was to the Franciscans. St. Bonaventure is known as the second founder of the Franciscans because he was important for the organization of the order, and for bringing forth and expanding upon St. Francis' spirituality.
Links
Check out this three-part series on St. Bonaventure by Pope Benedict XVI (from 2010) Part 1: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9267
Part 2: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9271
Part 3: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9284
The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on St. Bonaventure: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2121-2/bonaventure.aspx
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 10 Sep 2025 - 15min - 151 - 5.18 St. Albert the Great: The Miracle of His Time
St. Albert the Great (1206-1280) mastered every field of study available to him, from astronomy to zoology. He was called the "miracle of his time," not because he performed miracles, but because he was considered an authority - on the level of St. Augustine and Peter Lombard - even within his own lifetime. He was the mentor and teacher of a more famous doctor of the Church: St. Thomas Aquinas.
Links
For a great conversation about Peter Lombard's Sentences, check out this article, The Most Influential Theology Book Nobody Reads: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/195-most-influential-theology-book-nobody-reads-philipp-rosemann/
For the background on Pseudo-Dionysius, listen to this Way of the Fathers episode: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/who-was-pseudo-dionysius-areopagite/
The Classics of Western Spirituality volume which includes Albert & Thomas: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/3022-X/albert-and-thomas.aspx
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's book on ROME is revised and updated for the Jubilee year: ROME: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Eternal City - Second Edition: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385206643/rome-second-edition/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 27 Aug 2025 - 22min - 150 - 5.17 St. Albert the Great: Universal Doctor
St. Albert the Great (1206-1280) was one of the real geniuses of the middle ages, and was the teacher and mentor of St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Albert had mastered virtually every field of study available to him, and he is one of the most important bridges between ancient and medieval philosophy.
Links
For a complete, unbiased, and very accessible overview of the Crusades, see the book God's Battalions by Rodney Stark: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/gods-battalions-rodney-stark?variant=32216080351266
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's book on ROME is revised and updated for the Jubilee year: ROME: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Eternal City - Second Edition: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385206643/rome-second-edition/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 13 Aug 2025 - 16min - 149 - 5.16 St. Anthony of Padua: Hammer of Heresy
St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) is actually called the Hammer of Heretics, but the truth is that even in his uncompromising critiques of heresy, he had compassion for those who were led astray by the heresies, and he refused to engage in the personal attacks and name-calling that are so prevalent in apologetics, even among some other saints. So his homiletical hammer, as it were, was aimed more at the heresies than at the heretics. Listen in to find out why he's also the patron of people who have lost something.
Links
For more on how the Church fathers interpreted Scripture, see Reading Scripture Like the Early Church: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-scripture-like-the-early-church/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Dr. Papandrea's book on ROME is revised and updated for the Jubilee year: ROME: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Eternal City - Second Edition: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385206643/rome-second-edition/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 23 Jul 2025 - 22min - 148 - 5.15 St. Anthony of Padua: Doctor of the Gospel
St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) is called the Doctor of the Gospel, or the Evangelical Doctor, because he is known as both an expert in biblical interpretation, as well as one of the greatest preachers the Church has ever produced.
Links
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Dr. Papandrea's book on ROME is revised and updated for the Jubilee year: ROME: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Eternal City - Second Edition: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385206643/rome-second-edition/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 09 Jul 2025 - 12min - 147 - 5.14 The Music of St. Hildegard of Bingen w/ Margot Fassler
St. Hildegard of Bingen, 12th-century abbess, mystic, polymath, and Doctor of the Church, is best known to non-Catholics for something else – her music. We have more pieces of music by Hildegard than by any other medieval composer whose name we know. Her chants are beautiful, otherworldly, virtuosic and ahead of their time. Some of them were written for her morality play, the Ordo virtutum, which is also the first of its kind. Thomas Mirus (producer of Way of the Fathers and host of the Catholic Culture Podcast) interviews musicologist Margot Fassler about what makes St. Hildegard's music so special.
Links
Way of the Fathers episodes on St. Hildegard's life and works:
https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/512-st-hildegard-bingen-multimedia-visionary/
https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/513-st-hildegard-bingen-teutonic-prophetess/
St. Hildegard's letter to the Prelates of Mainz https://digfir-published.macmillanusa.com/mckay11eepages/mckay11eepages_ch9_4.html
Margot Fassler, Cosmos, Liturgy, and the Arts in the Twelfth Century: Hildegard's Illuminated Scivias https://www.pennpress.org/9781512823073/cosmos-liturgy-and-the-arts-in-the-twelfth-century/
All music used with permission from Benjamin Bagby & Sequentia, who have recorded her complete works. The specific pieces in this episode can be found on the albums Ordo Virtutum, Symphoniae, and Voice of the Blood. https://www.sequentia.org/projects/hildegard.html
DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
Mon, 30 Jun 2025 - 1h 01min - 146 - 5.13 St. Hildegard of Bingen: Teutonic Prophetess
St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a mystic, an anointed prophet, a reformer, theologian, poet, teacher, and preacher. Over eight centuries ago, she wrote, "Today the Catholic faith is in a state of agitation, on a global scale. The gospel limps its way around the world; the early Church fathers, who wrote so well, are ignored; people are apathetic; they refuse to read and taste the nourishment in the Scriptures."
Links
To get a sense of what the Cathars were all about, here's the Way of the Fathers episode on gnosticism: https://youtu.be/JYeyevLBF4I?si=rr0eWytzOAuHyPfH
Carmen Acevedo Butcher's Hildegard of Bingen: A Spiritual Reader: https://paracletepress.com/products/hildegard-of-bingen-doctor-of-the-church?_pos=1&_sid=82546e597&_ss=r
Playlist of Hildegard's Music on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nJez_L5_xEzOeIgUp4rEsPrdri_ZJIG-E
Playlist of Richard Souther's VISION: The Music of Hildegard von Bingen: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kAiH-A34ukq1uYyDEBJ3-Qpzwbxf0-U-Y
Margot Fassler's Cosmos, Liturgy, and the Arts in the Twelfth Century: Hildegard's Illuminated "Scivias" https://www.pennpress.org/9781512823073/cosmos-liturgy-and-the-arts-in-the-twelfth-century/
The Camrbidge Companion to Hildegard of Bingen: https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/literature/european-literature/cambridge-companion-hildegard-bingen?format=PB&isbn=9781108457811
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 25 Jun 2025 - 28min - 145 - 5.12 St. Hildegard of Bingen: Multimedia Visionary
St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a visionary, teacher, Abbess, composer, theologian, painter, and the first woman in history to be given papal approval to preach in public. Four centuries before the emergence of the "Renaissance Man," there was Hildegard of Bingen. Usually known mostly for her music (and rightfully so) there is so much more to this medieval mystic.
Links
To get a sense of what the Cathars were all about, here's the Way of the Fathers episode on gnosticism: https://youtu.be/JYeyevLBF4I?si=rr0eWytzOAuHyPfH
Playlist of Hildegard's Music on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nJez_L5_xEzOeIgUp4rEsPrdri_ZJIG-E
Margot Fassler's Cosmos, Liturgy, and the Arts in the Twelfth Century: Hildegard's Illuminated "Scivias" https://www.pennpress.org/9781512823073/cosmos-liturgy-and-the-arts-in-the-twelfth-century/
Carmen Acevedo Butcher's Hildegard of Bingen: A Spiritual Reader: https://paracletepress.com/products/hildegard-of-bingen-doctor-of-the-church?_pos=1&_sid=82546e597&_ss=r
The Cambridge Companion to Hildegard of Bingen: https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/literature/european-literature/cambridge-companion-hildegard-bingen?format=PB&isbn=9781108457811
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 11 Jun 2025 - 20min - 144 - 5.11 St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Arbiter of Christendom
St. Bernard of Claivaux (1090 - 1153 AD) was the founder of the Cistercians, a reform order of the Benedictines, and was one of the Church's true mystics. He opposed the "intentionalism" of the heretic Peter Abelard with his quip: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." He also opposed an anti-pope, corrected a king, brokered peace in Europe, and had to nuance the doctrine of "just war" in the face of Christian losses in the Crusades.
Links
Check out this article on St. Barnard of Clairvaux and the Active Life: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/bernard-clairvaux-and-active-life/?repos=6&subrepos=0&searchid=2539743
Here's the Classics of Western Spirituality volume on St. Bernard: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2917-5/bernard-of-clairvaux.aspx
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 28 May 2025 - 21min - 143 - 5.10 St. Bernard of Clairvaux: The Mellifluous Doctor
St. Bernard of Claivaux (1090 - 1153 AD) was born to be a knight, and grew up in a castle, but he chose to be a different kind of knight - a true prayer warrior - and he supported the invention of the Christian knight by endorsing the Knights Templar. He would be the founder of the Cistercians, a reform order of the Benedictines. He was a strong advocate of devotion to Our Lady, and of orthodox doctrine, and he would turn down the office of bishop in six different cities. Listen in to find out what "mellifluous" means!
Links
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 14 May 2025 - 16min - 142 - 5.9 St. Anselm of Canterbury: Father of Scholasticism
St. Anselm (1033 - 1109 AD) was Abbot of the monastery of Bec, and later, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was the first of the medieval scholastics, and the first real systematic theologian. His treatise, Cur Deus Homo brought together biblical and patristic themes related to salvation and the atonement to provide the Church with a comprehensive (up to that point) teaching on the Incarnation and the Atonement, known as the Satisfaction Theory of Atonement.
Links
To read Anselm's Cur Deus Homo online: https://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ans/ans117.htm
To read several of the most important works of St. Anselm, get the book Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/anselm-of-canterbury-the-major-works-9780199540082?q=Anselm%20major%20works&lang=en&cc=us
For more on the medieval scholastics, the atonement, and St. Anselm, see the book Reading the Church Fathers: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Mon, 21 Apr 2025 - 28min - 141 - 5.8 St. Anselm of Canterbury: Doctor of the Atonement
St. Anselm (1033 - 1109 AD) was Abbot of the monastery of Bec, and later, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was the first of the medieval scholastics, and the first real systematic theologian. In many ways, St. Anselm is the bridge between St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Links
To read Anselm's Cur Deus Homo online: https://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ans/ans117.htm
To read several of the most important works of St. Anselm, get the book Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/anselm-of-canterbury-the-major-works-9780199540082?q=Anselm%20major%20works&lang=en&cc=us
For more on the medieval scholastics, the atonement, and St. Anselm, see the book Reading the Church Fathers: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 09 Apr 2025 - 17min - 140 - 5.7 St. Peter Damian: Monitor of the Popes
St. Peter Damian (1007 - 1072 AD) was an advisor to, and sometimes corrector of, Popes, Emperors, and Kings. Through his writings he was a reformer of the clergy, and the monasteries, especially calling out and confronting immorality among the clergy. He was a member of the first college of cardinals as we know it today, and took part in wrestling away from royals and nobles the power to appoint Popes, restoring the process of papal elections.
Links
Listen to the Catholic Culture audio book of St. Peter Damian's The Lord Be With You: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-peter-damian-lord-be-with-you/
Listen to previous episodes of The Way of the Fathers on the subject of the validity of the Sacraments:
Episode 4.8 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 1: The Good): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/48-novatian-good-bad-ugly-pt-1-good/
Episode 4.9 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 2: The Bad and the Ugly): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/49-novatian-part-2-bad-and-ugly/
Pope St. Stephen and the Sacraments: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/pope-st-stephen-and-sacraments/
Fr. Owen J. Blum's Dissertation - St. Peter Damian: His Teaching on the Spiritual Life: https://www.faithandfamily.pub/st-peter-damian-his-teaching-on-the-spiritual-life/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 26 Mar 2025 - 31min - 139 - 5.6 St. Peter Damian: The Medieval Jerome
St. Peter Damian (1007 - 1072 AD) is another one of our lesser-known Doctors of the Church, and yet he was, in his time, a man who could give advice to the Popes, and call for reform in the clergy and in the monasteries. Known as a Catholic reformer (long before the Protestant Reformation), he confronted clergy immorality, simony and lay investiture, as well as corruption in the process of the election of Popes, and he was a member of the first college of cardinals, as we know it today.
Links
Listen to the Catholic Culture audio book of St. Peter Damian's The Lord Be With You: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-peter-damian-lord-be-with-you/
Listen to previous episodes of The Way of the Fathers on the subject of the validity of the Sacraments:
Episode 4.8 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 1: The Good): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/48-novatian-good-bad-ugly-pt-1-good/
Episode 4.9 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 2: The Bad and the Ugly): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/49-novatian-part-2-bad-and-ugly/
Pope St. Stephen and the Sacraments: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/pope-st-stephen-and-sacraments/
Fr. Owen J. Blum's Dissertation - St. Peter Damian: His Teaching on the Spiritual Life: https://www.faithandfamily.pub/st-peter-damian-his-teaching-on-the-spiritual-life/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 - 23min - 138 - Sicilian Pilgrimage with Mike Aquilina and Jim Papandrea
The Holy Father has proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee year, and pilgrims are already flocking to Rome to cross the thresholds of the major basilicas, and to visit the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul. Original host of the Way of the Fathers podcast, Mike Aquilina, and current host of the podcast, James L. Papandrea, talk about jubilee and pilgrimage, and introduce listeners to the first (of hopefully many) Way of the Fathers pilgrimage. If you're interested in going on pilgrimage to Sicily, December 1-11, 2025, with Mike, and Jim, and Fr. Kevin Barrett, you can find more information at this link: https://www.206tours.com/cms/stpaulcenter/aquilina/ Why Sicily? "Sicily," said Goethe, "is the key to everything." It was the site where Plato imagined his perfect republic. Sicily gave Rome its first taste of Empire. Homer set much of his Odyssey in Sicily: Scylla and Charybdis, the forge of Hephaestus … It's the land of the Cyclops, the place where Icarus hit the ground when his wings began to melt. St. Paul spent three days there. For St. Augustine it was a land of wonders — a mountain that burned always and was not consumed. For St. Basil it was a synonym for luxury. Sicily was the definition of Hellenic. It was profoundly Latin. It was the land that gave the Church its Greek popes. It was the land that gave the Church its virgin-martyrs, Agatha and Lucy. For those who suffer ailments of the eye or breast, it is a pilgrim destination. It's Byzantine. It's Roman. It's Phoenician and African. It's stubbornly Christian through years of Muslim rule. It's Norman. It's Spanish. It's stunningly beautiful. The food is amazing. It's where the Godfather movies were filmed. In December it will be warm there and offer unusual wares and delights for Christmas shoppers. Consider joining Catholic author Mike Aquilina, historian James L. Papandrea, and Fr. Kevin Barrett on a unique pilgrimage, co-sponsored by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, 206 Tours, and the Apostolate for Family Consecration. (This pilgrimage is not run by CatholicCulture.org.) SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
Mon, 03 Mar 2025 - 30min - 137 - 5.5 St. Gregory of Narek: Doctor of Mercy
St. Gregory of Narek (c. 945-1003), was an Armenian saint: a monk, scholar, poet, and hymn writer. Praised as a saint by Pope St. John Paul II, who called by him the "great Marian doctor of the Armenian Church," St. Gregory of Narek was officially proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015–one of the most recent additions to the list of the Doctors of the Church.
Links
Listen to our Way of the Fathers episode on the heresy of Eutyches and monophysitism: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/416-heresieseutyches-monophysitism-drop-in-ocean/
Listen to our Way of the Fathers episode on the heresy of rebaptism: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/410-heresies-rebaptism-and-donatists/
Listen to a lecture by musicologist Dr. Haig Utigjian on St. Gregory's Odes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xleJO1xra08
(The lecturer sings an example of a (later) melody at about minute 36)
The book, The Doctor of Mercy: The Sacred Treasures of St. Gregory of Narek, by Michael Papazian: https://litpress.org/Products/8501/The-Doctor-of-Mercy
A collection of books about St. Gregory of Narek, including the above: https://litpress.org/Products/SGNSET/The-Works-of-St-Gregory-of-Narek
The English translation of St. Gregory's book of prayers: The Book of Lamentations: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9993085340
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 26 Feb 2025 - 26min - 136 - 5.4 St. Gregory of Narek: Patron Saint of Armenia
In the first episode on St. Gregory of Narek (c. 945-1003), Dr. Papandrea introduces one of the newest additions to the list of Doctors of the Church. Gregory was an Armenian monk, scholar, poet, and saint, who was praised by Pope St. John Paul II.
Links
Listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Christianity in Armenia - The Way of the Fathers episode 3.9 Ejmiastin and Christian Armenia: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/39-cities-god-ejmiatsin-and-christian-armenia/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 12 Feb 2025 - 12min - 135 - 5.3 St. Bede: The Father of English History
In this second episode on St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735 AD), Dr. Papandrea talks about the literary legacy of this Doctor of the Church. Bede is not only considered the "father of English history," but also the "father of English education." Although he is now most famous for his Ecclesiastical History of England, his contribution to the Church is actually much greater than that.
Links
The Oxford book - St. Bede: The Ecclesiastical History of the English People; The Greater Chronicle; Bede's Letter to Egbert - https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ecclesiastical-history-of-the-english-people-the-greater-chronicle-bedes-letter-to-egbert-9780199537235?q=978-0199537235&cc=us&lang=en
The Classics of Western Spirituality book - The Venerable Bede: On the Song of Songs and Selected Writings - https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/4700-7/the-venerable-bede.aspx
The Ancient Christian Texts book - Latin Commentaries on Revelation - https://ivpress.com/latin-commentaries-on-revelation
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
For more on the interpretation of the Book of Revelation in the Early Church, see Dr. Papandrea's book, The Wedding of the Lamb: A Historical Interpretation of the Book of Revelation - https://wipfandstock.com/9781608998067/the-wedding-of-the-lamb/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 29 Jan 2025 - 21min - 134 - 5.2 St. Bede the Venerable: Monk and Scholar
In this episode, the first in our series on the Doctors of the Church, Dr. Papandrea introduces you to St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735 AD). He lived in a Benedictine monastery from the age of seven, and he wrote the first scholarly history of England and its conversion to Christianity. He is considered the "Father of English History" and the patron saint of historians
Links
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book, Praying Like the Early Church: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-like-the-early-church/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 15 Jan 2025 - 15min - 133 - 5.1 The Doctors of the Church–Introduction
With this episode, we begin our new series on the Doctors of the Church. What is a Doctor of the Church? Are all Doctors also saints? What makes a person a Doctor of the Church? All these questions, and more, will be answered, as well as some hints at what you can expect from this series. Get ready to sample the fruit of some of the greatest minds the Church has ever produced!
Links
To listen to our episode 4.13 on Pelagianism: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/413-heresiespelagianism-and-seeds-calvinism/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book, Praying Like the Early Church: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-like-the-early-church/
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 01 Jan 2025 - 15min - 132 - St. Boethius: Church Father and Medieval Scholar
St. Severinus Boethius was a man with one foot in the ancient world and one foot in the middle ages. He is another one of our lesser-known fathers who were anything but forgotten among the medieval scholastics. In this episode, Dr. Papandrea introduces another enigmatic but highly influential Church father. This is the last episode of our interim series on "Forgotten Fathers" - the next episode of The Way of the Fathers will introduce us to the Doctors of the Church, and begin our new series on the Doctors.
Links
If you need a refresher on Arianism, listen to episode 4.11 in our series on The Heresies: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/411-heresies-arianism-man-who-became-god/
To read Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/14328/14328-h/14328-h.htm
To read Boethius' On the Trinity: https://www.logicmuseum.com/authors/boethius/boethiusdetrinitate.htm
Here's the video with an interpretation of the reconstruction of Boethius' songs: https://youtu.be/w-tALWHHUaE?si=YSyNj-gFt3TIMWAp
For more general information on the historical context of the early Church, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 11 Dec 2024 - 18min - 131 - Who Was Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite?
Whenever you see "Pseudo-" in front of a name like this, it means we don't really know who the person was. This Church father wrote under the name of Dionysius the Areopagite, a convert of St. Paul mentioned in the book of Acts. But the documents attributed to him were written hundreds of years later. Nevertheless, this unknown pseudonymous author was hugely influential for some of the most important fathers and doctors of the Church. The medieval scholastics and mystics found these writings especially inspiring.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on other anonymous Church fathers: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/episode-6-whats-in-name-anonymous-texts-from-early-church/
To go deeper into the case of Dionysius the Areopagite, with some more cautions about this author's theology and its use throughout history, see the New Advent article: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05013a.htm
To read Pseudo-Dionysius' treatise, The Divine Names: https://ccel.org/ccel/rolt/dionysius/dionysius.iv.ii.html
To read Pseudo-Dionysius' treatise, The Mystical Theology: https://ccel.org/ccel/rolt/dionysius/dionysius.v.html
For more general information on the historical context of the early Church, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 27 Nov 2024 - 17min - 130 - Egeria the Pilgrim and the Stations of the Cross
Egeria (or Etheria) was a woman who embarked on a three-year pilgrimage to the Holy Land, in the late fourth century. From her "pilgrimage diary" (actually fragments from her letters to her "sisters" back in Spain) we learn much about liturgy in Jerusalem. There we can see the beginnings of the lectionary, and the seeds of the Stations of the Cross. In this episode, Dr. Papandrea also talks about the history of the spiritual discipline of pilgrimage itself.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on the city of Jerusalem, Episode 3.2: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/32-cities-god-jerusalem-city-origin/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Cyril of Jerusalem, Episode 34: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/cyril-jerusalemmystery-and-mayhem/
To read the fragments from Egeria's "diary" (letters): https://www.ccel.org/m/mcclure/etheria/etheria.htm
For more on the historical context of the early Church in the fourth century, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 - 15min - 129 - Rufinus of Aquileia and the Apostles' Creed
Rufinus is mostly known as the translator of Origen, and the opponent of St. Jerome in the controversy over Origen. But he also wrote an important commentary on the Apostles' Creed, which is on Dr. Papandrea's list of "state of the art documents," patristic works that succinctly showcase the state of the development of doctrine at the time they were written.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episodes on Origen, Episode 19: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/life-origen-most-controversial-christian-ever/
and Episode 20: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/origen-part-2-hero-heretic-or-hybrid/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Jerome, Episode 37: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/37jerome-curmudgeonly-commentator/
To read Jerome's Letter to Rufinus of Aquileia: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2887&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2376957
To read Rufinus' Apology (reply to Jerome): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2887&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2471912
To read Rufinus' Commentary on the Apostle's Creed: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2889&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2471912
For more on the historical context of the early Church, including the development of the Christian Bible, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 23 Oct 2024 - 21min - 128 - Pope St. Stephen and the Sacraments
After the controversies in the mid-third century, in the aftermath of the persecution of the emperor Decius and the schism of Novatian, Pope St. Stephen was instrumental in clarifying the Church's theology of the sacraments of Baptism and Penance and Reconciliation. What is required for a valid baptism? What is the solution for falling away into mortal sin? Who may offer the absolution of the Church and by what authority? Are confession and penance to be done publicly, or privately? Should we rebaptize Protestants coming into the Catholic Church? What if I "backslide"? Should I get baptized again? Is it OK to baptize in an alternate formula, like "Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer?" These questions, and more, were answered during the papacy of Stephen of Rome, which served to formalize and standardize the sacraments as we still know them today.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Cyprian of Carthage, contemporary and sometimes opponent of Pope St. Stephen: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-18-short-happy-life-cyprian-carthage/
For more on the third century context in the history of the early Church, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 09 Oct 2024 - 20min - 127 - Father Caius and the Tomb of St. Peter
Caius was a priest in Rome, in the third century. He wrote that if one comes to Rome, one can visit the shrines at the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul. These tombs had been known and visited since the apostle's deaths, and are known to this day - they are in the same place where Caius knew them. The tomb of St. Paul is directly under the main altar of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which was built on the site of the first memorial chapel, which was itself built on the site of the original shrine. The tomb of St. Peter is directly under the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. The present St. Peter's Basilica, built in the renaissance, was built on the same site as the original St. Peter's, which was commissioned by the emperor Constantine in the fourth century. The tomb has always been directly under the altar.
Links
To read the fragments that we have from Caius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1724&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2464384
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Hippolytus, contemporary of Caius and antagonist of Pope St. Zephyrinus: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-17the-long-strange-trip-hippolytus-rome/
For more on the third century context in the history of the early Church, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 25 Sep 2024 - 26min - 126 - Athenagoras the Athenian: Apology Not Accepted
The early Christian apologist Athenagoras may not be as famous as some of the other Church fathers, but he's a great example of someone who started out as an apologist against Christianity, but when he actually learned what the apostles and the Church taught, he was converted. He teaches us about the doctrines of the Trinity, and the Resurrection.
Links
To read Athenagoras' A Plea for the Christians: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1656&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2421225
To read Athenagoras' On the Resurrection of the Dead: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1657&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2421225
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Justin Martyr: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/justin-martyr-everything-good-is-ours/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Melito of Sardis: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/episode-11-melito-and-parting-ways/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Minucius Felix: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-11-minucius-felix-and-great-novel-antiquity/
For a short explanation of the word "consubstantial," see the video: "What Does Consubstantial Mean?": https://youtu.be/P9SGuaN-xjU?si=VaB4U3n6pZVdxsHp
For more on Athenagoras and the other apologists in the context of the history of the early Church, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
For more on the doctrine of the Trinity in the early Church, see the book: Trinity 101: Father, Son, Holy Spirit: https://www.liguori.org/trinity-101.html
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 11 Sep 2024 - 22min - 125 - Papias of Hierapolis and the Book of Revelation
In the first episode of an interim series on lesser known fathers, Dr. Papandrea introduces one of the "apostolic fathers," Papias of Hierapolis. We only have fragments of his writings, but those fragments started a controversy over the authorship of the book of Revelation and the Johannine letters. Papias is a good example of how the Church fathers, as individuals, were not right about everything - Papias was wrong in his methodology for interpreting the Book of Revelation, among other things, but he gives us some important clues into the authorship and writing of the Gospels.
Links
To read some of the fragments of Papias' Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1609&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2418437
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Ignatius of Antioch: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/episode-4-ignatius-antioch-to-know-jesus-christ-our-god/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on Polycarp of Smyrna: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/episode-5-st-polycarp-and-social-network/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode on the fourth century historian Eusebius of Caesarea: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-25eusebius-history-from-wrong-side-history/
For more on Papas and the apostolic fathers, in the context of the history of the early Church, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
For Dr. Papandrea's take on the Book of Revelation, see the book: The Wedding of the Lamb: A Historical Approach to the Book of Revelation: https://wipfandstock.com/9781608998067/the-wedding-of-the-lamb/
To watch Dr. Papandrea's short video on the early hierarchy of the Church and the definitions of the Greek words for the clergy, see: Did The Original Church Have Bishops?: https://youtu.be/bXQ0UYfN9a0?si=SxFVGcfkiME9jlXa
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 28 Aug 2024 - 36min - 124 - A message for Way of the Fathers listenersSat, 17 Aug 2024 - 01min
- 123 - 4.18 The Heresies—Conclusion: So Then, What is Orthodoxy?
Throughout this series, Dr. Papandrea has been outlining the major heresies of the early Church, defining them in contrast to the orthodoxy of mainstream Catholicism. So after all of this, what can we say about orthodoxy (correct doctrine) in general? How do we know it when we see it, and how to we define it? What is the role of orthodoxy in the development of doctrine and the tradition of the Church?
Links
For an overview of the information in this series on the heresies, along with HELPFUL CHARTS showing the heresies and how they differ from orthodoxy, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
For an overview of the heresies using the analogies of popular culture, super heroes, and science fiction characters, see the book: From Star Wars to Superman: Christ Figures in Science Fiction and Superhero Films: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/from-star-wars-to-superman/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 14 Aug 2024 - 23min - 122 - 4.17 The Heresies—Iconoclasm and the Art-Smashers
Does the devotional use of Christian art and iconography break the commandment against worshiping idols? How and where does one draw the line between legitimate reverence and idolatrous worship? In this controversy - as is often the case - the heresy is a criticism of an ancient practice. And you may be surprised to learn that the related tradition of the veneration of relics is even older!
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 56 on John of Damascus: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/56john-damascus-last-witness-to-lost-world/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 2.8 on The Second Council of Nicaea: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/28-picture-this-iconoclasm-and-second-nicaea/
For a bit more on the icon controversy in context, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 24 Jul 2024 - 27min - 121 - 4.16 The Heresies—Eutyches and Monophysitism: A Drop in the Ocean
The pendulum swings one more time as Eutyches overreacts against Nestorius, and emphasizes the union of the two natures in Christ, to the point of blurring the distinction between them. In this conception of the Person of Christ, the divine nature so overwhelms the human nature that Jesus' humanity is absorbed and cancelled out like a drop of oil in the ocean. This solution corrected Nestorius' separation of the two natures, but it went too far and compromised the integrity of his human nature and, even more than Apollinarius before him, described a Jesus who was not really fully human.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 46 on Cyril of Alexandria: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/46cyril-alexandria-fifth-century-man-from-uncle/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 48 on Leo the Great: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/48leo-great-who-roared-with-voice-peter/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 2.5 on The Council of Chalcedon: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/25-chalcedon-firm-foundation-for-doctrine-christ/
To read the Tome of Leo (Letter to Flavian): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2133&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2409252
To listen to the audiobook of the Tome of Leo: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-leo-great-tome-leo/
To read Cyril of Alexandria's On the Unity of Christ: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_christ_is_one_01_text.htm
For more on the christological controversies in context, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 10 Jul 2024 - 34min - 120 - 4.15 The Heresies—Nestorianism: Two People in One
The pendulum swings again as Nestorius overreacts against Apollinarius, and emphasizes the distinction between the two natures in Christ, to the point of describing a radical separation of natures. It was as if Nestorius was saying that Christ is not one Person, but two - a divine Person and a human Person, united only as long as the human will submits to the divine will. This solution corrected Apollinarius' diminished human nature, but it divided the life and actions of Christ into two, even to the point of claiming that Mary was not the Mother of his divine nature.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 45 on John Cassian: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/045john-cassian-monk-on-move-solitary-in-city/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 46 on Cyril of Alexandria: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/46cyril-alexandria-fifth-century-man-from-uncle/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 2.4 on The Council of Ephesus: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/24-ephesus-mother-all-controversies/
To read John Casein's On the Incarnation of the Lord Against Nestorius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2097&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2405100
To read Cyril of Alexandria's On the Unity of Christ: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_christ_is_one_01_text.htm
For more on the christological controversies in context, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 26 Jun 2024 - 28min - 119 - 4.14 The Heresies—Apollinarius and Monothelitism: The Word in a Human Suit
Apollinarius tried to say that Jesus could not have sinned because his human nature had no will of its own. In doing this, he stumbled onto a heresy called Monothelitism ("one-will" christology), which would become a huge controversy later. But a Christ without a human will would be a Christ who is not fully human. He would only be wearing a human body like a costume, but he would not be truly human.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 30 on Gregory of Nazianzus: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/gregory-nazianzen-greatness-in-passive-voice/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 2.3 on The Council of Constantinople: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/23-first-constantinople-capital-council/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 54 on Maximus the Confessor: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/54maximus-confessor-where-east-and-west-meet/
To read Gregory of Nazianzus' First Letter to Cledonius Against Apollinarius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2459&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2402862
To read Gregory of Nazianzus' Second Letter to Cledonius Against Apollinarius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2463&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2402862
For more on the christological controversies in context, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
For more on the concept of the will of God as it relates to God's sovereignty, human free will, and the submission of the human will to the will of God, see the book: Praying Like the Early Church: Seven Insights from the Church Fathers to Help You Connect with God: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-like-the-early-church/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 12 Jun 2024 - 24min - 118 - 4.13 The Heresies—Pelagianism and the Seeds of Calvinism
Pelagius was so optimistic about human nature and the freedom of the will that he went so far as to deny the reality of original sin and the need for infant baptism. Saint Augustine corrected Pelagius and his followers, but in the heat of the debate he went a bit too far in in the opposite direction, and proposed a doctrine of election that the Church ultimately did not embrace. This episode explores, not only the problems with Pelagianism, but also the problems with its opposite, and the ways in which Saint Augustine inadvertently laid the foundation for the later heresy of Calvinism.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 38 on Augustine of Hippo (part 1): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/38augustine-part-1-misspent-youth-and-conversion/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 39 on Augustine of Hippo (part 2): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/39augustine-part-2-mob-made-bishop-makes-his-mark/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 40 on Augustine of Hippo (part 3): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/40augustine-part-3-last-days-and-end-age/
To read St. Augustine's Confessions: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3102&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2399020
To read St. Augustine's On the Proceedings of Pelagius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3308&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2399018
To read St. Augustine's On the Spirit and the Letter: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3305&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2399019
To read St. Augustine's On Grace and Free Will: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3302&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2399021
To read St. Augustine's On the Soul and its Origin: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3311&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2399023
To read St. Augustine's Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3287&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2399022
For more on the controversy over Pelagianism, St. Augustine's rebuttal of it, and the Council of Orange, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
For more on the concept of the will of God as it relates to God's sovereignty, human free will, and the submission of the human will to the will of God, see the book: Praying Like the Early Church: Seven Insights from the Church Fathers to Help You Connect with God: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-like-the-early-church/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 22 May 2024 - 44min - 117 - 4.12 The Heresies — The "Spirit-fighters" and the Aftermath of Nicaea
After the Council of Nicaea, all the same questions that had been asked of the Son of God, were now asked of the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit divine, and worthy of worship? Does worship of the Holy Spirit compromise monotheism? Some who reluctantly accepted the divinity of the Son still refused to accept the divinity of the Spirit, and so they continued to reject the doctrine of the Trinity - these were called "Spirit-fighters." This controversy led to the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in the year 381 AD, and to the completion of the Nicene Creed.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 29 on Basil of Caesarea: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/29basil-and-beginning-christian-social-thought/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 30 on Gregory of Nazianzus: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/gregory-nazianzen-greatness-in-passive-voice/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 31 on Gregory of Nyssa: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/gregory-nyssa-zero-to-hero/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 2.3 on The Council of Constantinople: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/23-first-constantinople-capital-council/
To read On the Holy Spirit by Basil of Caesarea: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2544&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2396265
To read the Letter to Ablabius "On Not Three Gods" by Gregory of Nyssa: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2311&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2396270
To read On the Holy Trinity by Gregory of Nyssa: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2310&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2396271
To read The Fifth Theological Oration, On the Holy Spirit by Gregory of Nazianzius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2444&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2396268
For more on the "Spirit-fighters" and the Cappadocians in their historical context, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
And if you want a deep scholarly dive into the Arian Controversy with all its factions, and the aftermath of the Council of Nicaea, the best book to read is Nicaea and its Legacy, by Lewis Ayres.
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 08 May 2024 - 28min - 116 - 4.11 The Heresies — Arianism: A Man Who Became a God
Arianism was the fourth century evolution of adoptionism, in which Arius made a concession to the mainstream by accepting a quasi-divinity in Jesus Christ. But this was an acquired divinity, an earned divinity, and a divinity that was less than that of the Father. The controversy led to the first worldwide (ecumenical) council of bishops, the Council of Nicaea, in the year 325 AD, and it ultimately led to the crafting of the Nicene Creed, as the Church's definitive statement of orthodox faith.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 23 on Alexander of Alexandria: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-23-alexanders-lagtime-stand/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 24 on Athanasius of Alexandria: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-23athanasius-against-world/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 2.2 on The Council of Nicaea: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/22-council-nicaea-first-and-foremost/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 33 on Ambrose of Milan: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/33ambrose-milan-how-church-regards-state/
To read the letter from Alexander of Alexandria to Alexander of Byzantium (Constantinople): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1823&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2393434
For an introduction to Athanasius' many writings against Arianism: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3085&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2393444
To listen to the full text of St. Augustine's On Christian Doctrine as an audio book: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-augustine-de-doctrina-christiana-full/
For more on the Arian controversy in its historical context, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
For a line by line explanation of the Nicene Creed (with cameo appearances by Batman and Superman), see the book: Trinity 101: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: https://www.liguori.org/trinity-101.html
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 - 45min - 115 - 4.10 The Heresies — Rebaptism and the Donatists
In the aftermath of the persecutions, controversies arose over the sacraments, which required clarification of the Church's sacramental theology. Out of those controversies, new schisms emerged which had a correct understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity, but incorrect understandings of ecclesiology (the doctrine of the Church) and incorrect understandings of what makes a sacrament valid and effective. The significance of these schisms cannot be overstated, since it is still true to this day that the practice of rebaptism is one of the most prevalent acts of schism against the universal Church, and one of the greatest barriers to unity.
Links
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 18 on Cyprian of Carthage: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-18-short-happy-life-cyprian-carthage/
To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 39 (the 2nd of 3) on Augustine of Hippo & the controversies: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/39augustine-part-2-mob-made-bishop-makes-his-mark/
To read the anonymous document On Rebaptism: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1729&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2390688
To read St. Augustine's treatise, On Baptism, Against the Donatists: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3294&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2390773
To read St. Augustine's letter, The Correction of the Donatists: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3296&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2390689
For more on the controversy surrounding the third and fourth century schisms and the implications for the Sacraments, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
For all the details on Novatian, see the book: Novatian of Rome and the Culmination of Pre-Nicene Orthodoxy: https://wipfandstock.com/9781606087800/novatian-of-rome-and-the-culmination-of-pre-nicene-orthodoxy/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 10 Apr 2024 - 29min - 114 - 4.9 Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Part 2 (The Bad and the Ugly)
In this second part of a two-part series on Novatian of Rome, Dr. Papandrea discusses the flawed sacramental theology and ecclesiology of Novatian, which led to a schism that not only lasted for centuries, but created a new situation in which a faction could be orthodox with regard to the doctrine of the Trinity, yet not within the mainstream of the Church and her Tradition (i.e., Christian, but not Catholic).
Links
To read the document Against Novatian (possibly by Pope Sixtus II): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1727&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2386777
To read the correspondence between Pope Cornelius and Cyprian of Carthage regarding Novatian: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1749&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2386779
For all the details on Novatian, see the book: Novatian of Rome and the Culmination of Pre-Nicene Orthodoxy: https://wipfandstock.com/9781606087800/novatian-of-rome-and-the-culmination-of-pre-nicene-orthodoxy/
For more on the controversy surrounding Novatian's schism and the development of the sacrament of Confession, Penance, and Reconciliation, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Tue, 26 Mar 2024 - 36min - 113 - 4.8 Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Part 1 (The Good)
Novatian of Rome is an extremely important, but conflicted, character in the early Church. On the one hand, he clarified and helped define the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity, preparing the Church for the ecumenical councils. On the other hand, he was the central figure of a schism in a controversy over the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. In this first part of a two-part series on Novatian, Dr. Papandrea discusses the positive contributions of Novatian, as a Church father, and as the subject of his doctoral dissertation.
Links
To read Novatian's letters to Cyprian (letters #29 and #30 from "the Roman clergy" were written by Novatian): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1770&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2383234
For more information on Cyprian of Carthage, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 18: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-18-short-happy-life-cyprian-carthage/
For more information on those Church fathers who were significantly influenced by Novatian, listen to Mike Aquilina's episodes 26 (Hilary of Poitiers), 23 (Alexander of Alexandria), 24 (Athanasius of Alexandria), and 33 (Ambrose of Milan).
For more on the historical context of the third century and the sacraments, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
For all the details on Novatian, see the book: Novatian of Rome and the Culmination of Pre-Nicene Orthodoxy: https://wipfandstock.com/9781606087800/novatian-of-rome-and-the-culmination-of-pre-nicene-orthodoxy/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 13 Mar 2024 - 37min - 112 - 4.7 The Heresies – Modalism: God as a Monad with Three Names
Modalism denies the distinctions between the three Persons of the Trinity, so that God is presented as, not a Trinity at all, but rather a monad with three names. Modalism can be expressed chronologically (the Father became incarnate as the Son) or functionally (the names describe activities like Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer), but either way, in modalism the Son IS the Father in disguise, which ultimately denies the real humanity of Jesus Christ and the reality of his passion.
Links
For more information on Irenaeus of Lyons, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 10: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/irenaeus-lyon-putting-smack-down-on-heresy/
To read Irenaeus of Lyons' Demonstration of the Apostolic Teaching: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/irenaeus_02_proof.htm
For more information on Tertullian, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 13: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/tertullian-and-theology-sarcasm/
and Episode 14: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/tertullian-man-who-forged-words-and-invented-freedoms/
To read Tertullian's Against Praxeas: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1670&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2368544
For more information on Hippolytus, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 17: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-17the-long-strange-trip-hippolytus-rome/
To read Hippolytus' Refutation of All Heresies: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1706&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2371969
For more detail on the heresy of modalism, and an introduction to Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, and Novatian, see the books: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
and Trinity 101: Father, Son, Holy Spirit: https://www.liguori.org/trinity-101.html
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 28 Feb 2024 - 40min - 111 - 4.6 The Heresies – The Enigma of Origen and Origenism
Whether Origen is considered a father of the Church, or a heretic, depends on whom you ask. But everyone agrees he may have been just a bit too smart for his own good. At best, he tried in vain to out-gnostic the gnostics, at worst, he was too influenced by gnosticism. In the end, the Fifth Ecumenical Council declared him a heretic. In this this episode, Dr. Papandrea gives evidence why Origen should not be considered a father of the Church, but should be considered a heretic, but in the end, you decide!
Links
Make sure to listen to Mike Aquilina's episodes on Origen, Episode 19: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/life-origen-most-controversial-christian-ever/
and Episode 20: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/origen-part-2-hero-heretic-or-hybrid/
For more information on Epiphanius of Salamis, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 35: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/35epiphanius-salamis-passion-for-pure-doctrine/
To read Jerome's Letter to Rufinus of Aquileia: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2887&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2376957
To read the Canons of the Fifth Ecumenical Council (the Second Council of Constantinople) 553 AD: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3812.htm
Also check out this article by Thomas Mirus on Origen's theology https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/church-fathers-origens-theology/
and this one on Pope Benedict XVI on Origen's thought: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=7548
For more detail on the controversy over Origen in context, and related topics, see the book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 14 Feb 2024 - 26min - 110 - 4.5 The Heresies – Gnosticism: Christ as Cosmic Mind
The heresy of docetism evolved into a complicated web of schools of mythology, which we lump together under the name of gnosticism. These all still denied the real humanity of Christ, though in two distinct ways. Docetic gnosticism continued the trend of seeing Christ as a phantom, with no real tangible body. "Hybrid" gnosticism made concessions to the accounts of a tangible body of Jesus, but called it an ethereal, or luminous, body - in other words, not a true material flesh and blood body.
Links
For more information on Clement of Alexandria, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 16: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/clement-alexandria-teacher-in-new-kind-school/
To read Clement of Alexandria's Exhortation to the Heathen: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1658&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2371968
For more information on Irenaeus of Lyons, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 10: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/irenaeus-lyon-putting-smack-down-on-heresy/
To read Irenaeus of Lyons' Demonstration of the Apostolic Teaching: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/irenaeus_02_proof.htm
For more information on Hippolytus, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 17: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-17the-long-strange-trip-hippolytus-rome/
To read Hippolytus' Refutation of All Heresies: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1706&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2371969
For more information on the gnostic gospels, listen to Mike Aquilina's episode "Apocrypha Now!…": https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/apocrypha-now-on-myth-lost-gospels/
To read some of the gnostic writings, see the Primary Sources tab on Dr. Papandrea's home page (scroll down to Infancy Gospel of Thomas and following): https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/primary-sources-links/
For more detail on the heresy of gnosticism, see the books: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
and The Earliest Christologies: Five Images of Christ in the Post-Apostolic Age: https://www.ivpress.com/the-earliest-christologies
For more on gnosticism (and the other heresies) and Science Fiction, see the book: From Star Wars to Superman: Christ Figures in Science Fiction and Superhero Films: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/from-star-wars-to-superman/
For more on the doctrine of the Resurrection Body and its relationship to anthropology, see the book: What Really Happens After We Die?: There WILL Be Hugs in Heaven: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/what-really-happens-after-we-die/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 24 Jan 2024 - 50min - 109 - 4.4 The Heresies – Adoptionism: Christ as Anointed Prophet
In the third century, the heresy of the Ebionites evolved into a more general form of adoptionism, still denying the divinity of Christ, and now emphasizing his status as an anointed, but adopted, son of God, much like the kings and prophets of the Old Testament. Adoptionism is also known as "dynamic monarchianism," in part for its claim that it was preserving the oneness (monarchy) of God by denying the divinity of Christ.
Links
For more information on Justin Martyr, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 9: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/justin-martyr-everything-good-is-ours/
To read Justin Martyr's First Apology: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1610&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2368540
For more information on Irenaeus of Lyons, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 10: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/irenaeus-lyon-putting-smack-down-on-heresy/
To read Irenaeus of Lyons' Demonstration of the Apostolic Teaching: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/irenaeus_02_proof.htm
For more information on Tertullian, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 13: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/tertullian-and-theology-sarcasm/
and Episode 14: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/tertullian-man-who-forged-words-and-invented-freedoms/
To read Tertullian's Against Praxeas: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1670&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2368544
Read the Vatican document, Instruction on Certain Aspects of the "Theology of Liberation": https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19840806_theology-liberation_en.html
For more detail on the heresy of adoptionism, see the books: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
and The Earliest Christologies: Five Images of Christ in the Post-Apostolic Age: https://www.ivpress.com/the-earliest-christologies
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 10 Jan 2024 - 47min - 108 - 4.3 The Heresies – Docetics & Marcionites: Denying Christ's Humanity
For the second heresy, Dr. Papandrea examines the opposite extreme from the first: these are the Docetics, including the most famous docetic teacher, Marcion and his followers. They concluded that Christ was a god, not necessarily different from the many other gods or demigods in the Greco-Roman pantheon, but that he was not really a human.
Links
For more information on Polycarp of Smyrna, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 5: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/episode-5-st-polycarp-and-social-network/
To read Polycarp of Smyrna's Letter to the Philippians: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1626&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2365055
To listen to Polycarp of Smyrna's Letter to the Philippians: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-polycarp-letter-to-philippians/
For more information on Ignatius of Antioch, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 4: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/episode-4-ignatius-antioch-to-know-jesus-christ-our-god/
To read Ignatius of Antioch's Letter to the Smyrnaeans: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1633&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2365056
To listen to Ignatius of Antioch's Letters to the Smyrnaeans: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-ignatius-antioch-letter-to-smyrnaeans/
For more information on Irenaeus of Lyons, listen to Mike Aquilina's Episode 10: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/irenaeus-lyon-putting-smack-down-on-heresy/
For more detail on the heresy of docetism and the Marcionites, see the book: Reading the Early Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 27 Dec 2023 - 31min - 107 - 4.2 The Heresies – Judaizers and Ebionites: Denying Christ's Divinity
Is Jesus Christ God? Is he a man? Is he both? Spoiler alert: the mainstream Church answered with the both/and, but the factions on the fringes tended to choose one or the other. For our first heresy, we take a look at the Ebionites, and their New Testament-era predecessors, the so-called Judaizers. These concluded that Jesus Christ was a mere human. A human who became a prophet perhaps, but just a human.
Links
For more information on Ignatius of Antioch, see Mike Aquilina's Episode 4: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/episode-4-ignatius-antioch-to-know-jesus-christ-our-god/
To read Ignatius of Antioch's Letter to the Magnesians: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1629&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2351277
To listen to Ignatius of Antioch's Letter to the Magnesians: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-ignatius-antioch-letter-to-magnesians/
For more information on Irenaeus of Lyons, see Mike Aquilina's Episode 10: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/irenaeus-lyon-putting-smack-down-on-heresy/
For more detail on the Ebionite heresy, see the book: The Earliest Christologies: Five Images of Christ in the Post-Apostolic Age https://www.ivpress.com/the-earliest-christologies
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 - 32min - 106 - 4.1 The Heresies - Introduction to the Series
I am honored to be picking up the Way of the Fathers podcast where my good friend, Mike Aquilina, left off. In season 4 of The Way of the Fathers, we'll be looking at the heresies of the early Church, and how the Church fathers confronted and refuted them. This first episode is the introduction to the series, where I define some terms and tell you what you can expect as we trace through the early centuries of Christianity, tracking chronologically the alternatives to orthodoxy that were proposed, debated, and shown to be inconsistent with Scripture and prior tradition.
Links
For more detail on the Church fathers and the heresies of the early Church, see my book: Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine, from Sophia Institute Press (2022) https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, on YouTube - The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Join the Original Church Community on Locals: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/
Wed, 22 Nov 2023 - 20min - 105 - The future of Way of the Fathers: Mike Aquilina and Jim Papandrea in conversation
After 99 wonderful episodes by Mike Aquilina, Way of the Fathers is getting a new host! We are sad to see Mike go, but excited about his hand-picked successor, Jim Papandrea. In this conversation, Mike introduces Jim to the listeners and these two friends and collaborators talk about their love for all things Patristic.
Please help CatholicCulture.org - and Way of the Fathers - to continue in the new year. Donate now and your gift will be matched! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Jim Papandrea's website https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/bio/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
Wed, 08 Nov 2023 - 39min - 104 - 3.13 Cities of God: Last and Lasting Lessons
Christianity conquered cities one by one, not by arms or propaganda, but by the quiet witness of ordinary lives well lived. Worldly power yielded before the prayers of the saints and the blood of the martyrs. What can we learn from the first evangelization as we work our witness today?
Links
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Christianity-Marginal-Religious-Centuries/dp/0060677015/
Rodney Stark, Cities of God: The Real Story of How Christianity Became an Urban Movement and Conquered Rome https://www.amazon.com/Cities-God-Christianity-Movement-Conquered/dp/0061349887/
Wayne Meeks, The First Urban Christians: The Social World of the Apostle Paul https://www.amazon.com/First-Urban-Christians-Social-Apostle/dp/0300098618
Thomas A. Robinson, Who Were the First Christians? Dismantling the Urban Thesis https://global.oup.com/academic/product/who-were-the-first-christians-9780190620547
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com/
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org/
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Wed, 25 Oct 2023 - 22min - 103 - 3.12 Cities of God: Carthage, African Christian Genesis
Western Christianity—Latin Christianity—began in Africa and made its way across the sea to Italy. All the great orthodox Latin writers of the first through third centuries were African. The distinctive western liturgy was likely a product of Roman Africa. Christianity came to Africa at a time of literary renaissance, and the Church is still the beneficiary of that particular Christian culture.
Links
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Mike Aquilina, Africa and the Early Church: The Almost-Forgotten Roots of Catholic Christianity https://catholicbooksdirect.com/products/africa-and-the-early-church-the-almost-forgotten-roots-of-catholic-christianity
J. Patout Burns Jr., Robin M. Jensen, Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs https://www.amazon.com/Christianity-Roman-Africa-Development-Practices/dp/0802869319
Thomas Oden, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity https://www.amazon.com/Africa-Shaped-Christian-Mind-Rediscovering/dp/0830837051/
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com/
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org/
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Wed, 11 Oct 2023 - 21min - 102 - 3.11 Cities of God: Ravenna, Capital on the Swamp
From Rome to Milan to Ravenna, the Western capital moved—searching for the site least vulnerable to barbarian incursion. And wherever the capital moved, money followed. And where there's money, there's monumental art, science, and literary culture. In Ravenna there were great figures such as Galla Placidia and Peter Chrysologus. Today, the early Christian art and architecture of Ravenna are among the world's great treasures. It's one of the few places on earth where you can walk into a church and have almost the same experience one of the Fathers of the Church would have had.
Links
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Judith Herrin, Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe https://www.amazon.com/Ravenna-8211-Capital-Late-Antiqui/dp/0691153434/
Fr. Félix López, S.H.M., "Mary in the writings of St. Peter Chrysologus" https://www.homeofthemother.org/en/resources/virgin-mary/fathers/10150-mary-in-the-writings-of-st-peter-chrysologus
Peter Chrysologus, "Each One of Us Is Called To Be Both a Sacrifice To God and His Priest" https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=173
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com/
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org/
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Wed, 27 Sep 2023 - 20min - 101 - 3.10 Cities of God: Constantinople (Not Istanbul)
In a short span of time, in the fourth century, Byzantium made the leap from a relatively insignificant harbor city to the de facto capital of the world. Constantine moved there from Rome and gave his empire a new (and Christian) founding. He also laid the foundations for a political milieu that made "Byzantine" a byword meaning complicated, bureaucratic, and corrupt. Constantinople's laws, for better and worse, circumscribed the movements and actions of many of the later Fathers.
Links
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Eusebius, Life of Constantine 3.54 https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2881
Socrates Scholasticus, The Ecclesiastical History 1.16 https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2884
John Julius Norwich, A Short History of Byzantium https://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Byzantium-Julius-Norwich/dp/0679772693/
Thomas Madden, Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World https://www.amazon.com/Istanbul-City-Majesty-Crossroads-World/dp/0670016608
They Might Be Giants, "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" https://youtu.be/0XlO39kCQ-8?si=MvE92tpEJcFeYDlx
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com/
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org/
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Wed, 13 Sep 2023 - 23min - 100 - 3.9 Cities of God: Ejmiatsin and Christian Armenia
As if an interest in patristics isn't strange enough, in this episode we're getting still more exotic. We're entering the world of Armenian patristics. We're visiting the ancient city of Ejmiatsin—leaping over the barriers of language (and even alphabet) to encounter the heroes too often neglected in the histories. This is the story of St. Gregory the Illuminator and his contemporaries, and the Church they founded. Armenia also became a great center of learning and so houses translations of many Greek and Syriac works that would otherwise be lost.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Mike Aquilina, "Ancient Christian capital rises again in stunning New York exhibit" https://angelusnews.com/voices/ancient-christian-capital-rises-again-in-stunning-new-york-exhibit/
Helen C. Evans, ed., Armenia: Art, Religion, and Trade in the Middle Ages https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/Armenia_Art_Religion_and_Trade_in_the_Middle_Ages
Society for Armenian Studies, Digital Resources https://societyforarmenianstudies.com/2018/02/12/armenian-studies-digital-resources/
Robert W. Thomson, Five Studies in Armenian Patristics https://archive.org/details/thomson-studies-1964-1982
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com/
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org/
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Wed, 30 Aug 2023 - 20min - 99 - 3.8 Cities of God: Lugdunum, the French Connection
Faith came to France very early and very strong. It seems likely that traders brought the Gospel from distant Smyrna (modern Izmir in Turkey) to Lugdunum (modern Lyon). The blood of martyrs was seed. Blandina, a sickly slave, emerged from her trials an epic hero, honored forever. Irenaeus, the globetrotting scholar-bishop, arose as the second century's greatest theologian.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Museum and ruins of Lugdunum https://lugdunum.grandlyon.com/en/
The Letter of the Churches of Vienna and Lugdunum to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1934
Eusebius, Church History, Book 5 (including the deeds of Irenaeus) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1998
Richard Krautheimer, Three Christian Capitals: Topography and Politics https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_-Rk0fpRIKLAC
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com/
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org/
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Tue, 15 Aug 2023 - 21min - 98 - 3.7 Cities of God: Edessa Starts with the Abgar Score
In Edessa—the borderlands of the Empire—we make our first encounter with Syriac Christianity. Its origins are shrouded in mist, and within the mist we meet the indistinct figures of heretics, saints, and a king who is both historic and mythic.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Labubna, Acts of Addaeus (Addai), https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1907
Various, Extracts from Various Books Concerning Abgar the King and Addaeus the Apostle https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2865
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com/
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org/
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Mon, 31 Jul 2023 - 19min - 97 - 3.6 Cities of God: Ephesus, a Church and Its Riots
Ephesus was home to one of the Wonders of the World; and it's the setting for one of the most dramatic moments in the itineraries of the Apostles: the riot of the silversmiths. It was also the location of one of the most dramatic moments in the age of the Fathers: the riotous council that condemned Nestorius.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Socrates Scholasticus, Church History (Book VII) https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/26017.htm
Jerome Murphy O'Connor St. Paul's Ephesus: Texts and Archaeology https://www.amazon.com/St-Pauls-Ephesus-Texts-Archaeology/dp/081465259X
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com/
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org/
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Wed, 12 Jul 2023 - 21min - 96 - 3.5 Cities of God: Alexandria: Library and Lighthouse of Christian Learning
Alexandria was cultural capital of the ancient world — and the ancient Church. It had the greatest library on the planet and a state-subsidized community of scholars. It was the city where theology first developed as a science. The Alexandrians had their own distinctive way of interpreting Scripture, developed over centuries by giants: Clement, Origen, Athanasius, Cyril. Its influence on the development of Christianity was profound and permanent.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Jean-Yves Empereur, Alexandria: Jewel of Egypt https://www.amazon.com/Discoveries-Alexandria-Jewel-Egypt/dp/0810991012/
Michael Grant, The Ancient Mediterranean https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Mediterranean-Meridian-Michael-Grant/dp/0452010373/
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com/
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org/
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Thu, 29 Jun 2023 - 23min - 95 - 3.4 Cities of God: Rome between Time and Eternity
No one would have guessed when Rome was founded that it would become anything important. But it became the capital of a vast empire and earthly center of the universal Church. It is the destination of the Acts of the Apostles — a place consecrated by martyrs' blood, a city to which the Fathers ventured as pilgrims, a city whose Church and bishop spoke with a singular authority.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Margherita Guarducci, The Primacy of the Church of Rome https://ignatius.com/the-primacy-of-the-church-of-rome-pcrp/
Rod Bennett, Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words https://ignatius.com/four-witnesses-fwecp/
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
Please donate to this podcast! http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Thu, 15 Jun 2023 - 22min - 94 - 3.3 Cities of God: Antioch, the City of Lights
Antioch, in so many ways, was the place where the lights first went on. It was the first city in the ancient world to have street lamps and unending night life. It was the city where the disciples were first called Christians. And it blazed brightly for centuries, in the lives and words of the Fathers: Ignatius, Theophilus, John Chrysostom.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/D.S. Wallace-Hadrill, Christian Antioch: A Study of Early Christian Thought in the East https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Antioch-Study-Early-Thought/dp/0521094364
Christine Kondoleon, Antioch: The Lost Ancient City https://www.amazon.com/Antioch-Christine-Kondoleon/dp/0691049327/
Glanville Downey, History of Antioch https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691652184/history-of-antioch
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Thu, 25 May 2023 - 21min - 93 - 3.2 Cities of God: Jerusalem, the City of Origin
Jerusalem, the holy city — a city built with compact unity and beloved by the Apostles — was the first home of the Christian Church. Sacred to the Jews, it was for the early Christians a pilgrim destination. Melito and Egeria and Gregory of Nyssa visited there. Cyril reigned there as bishop. John of Damascus moved there. In any consideration of Christian communities, it must come first, because it was the origin and the model for all that came afterward.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, The Early Church in Jerusalem https://ffhl.org/early-christian-church-jerusalem/
History of the Church in Jerusalem https://www.atlantaserbs.com/learnmore/history/Jerusalem-church.htm
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
Please donate to this podcast: http://www.CatholicCulture.org/donate/audio/
Wed, 10 May 2023 - 21min - 92 - Mike Aquilina Q&A on early Christianity
For those who missed the YouTube livestream Q&A with Mike Aquilina on May 8th, 2023, here is the audio. It was a lively conversation where Mike fielded viewer questions about important cities of the early Church, early evidence for papal primacy, the role of charity in the early Church, Origen, the providential role of easy travel for the spread of the Gospel in the first centuries, and more.
We're a week into CatholicCulture.org's May fundraising campaign. Generous donors have offered a $50,000 matching grant, so any donation you make by May 24 will double in value! You can donate on our website or PayPal (tax-deductible). Donation links below:
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
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We'll be doing more YouTube livestreams where viewers will be able to interact, ask questions and prompt discussion via the live chat box. Upcoming livestreams:
5/15, 8pm ET—Thomas Mirus & James Majewski (hosts,Catholic Culture Podcast, Catholic Culture Audiobooks, Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast)
5/22, 8pm ET—Phil Lawler & Jeff Mirus (CatholicCulture.org writers)
Tue, 09 May 2023 - 1h 36min - 90 - 3.1 Cities of God: Introduction to Series 3
With this introductory episode we begin our exploration of the cities where the Fathers lived and taught. At first these were cities that raged against the Gospel and persecuted the Church. The Fathers brought them to faith. Each city was different from all the others—and each became more perfectly itself through its encounter with Jesus Christ. We can learn from the history.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized https://www.amazon.com/Rabbles-Riots-Ruins-Ancient-Evangelized/dp/1621646785/Fustel de Coulanges, The Ancient City https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:xs159yz4591/00002552_mixed.pdf
John Julius Norwich, Cities that Shaped the Ancient World https://www.amazon.com/Cities-that-Shaped-Ancient-World/dp/0500293406/
Rodney Stark, Cities of God: The Real Story of How Christianity Became an Urban Movement and Conquered Rome https://www.amazon.com/Cities-God-Christianity-Movement-Conquered/dp/0061349887/
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Wed, 26 Apr 2023 - 17min - 89 - Patristic Pilgrims' Progress
Christianity is the odd religion that does not require pilgrimage, but Christians do it anyway, and in great numbers, as they have since the earliest days of the Church. Many of the early Fathers made the journey to the holy sites. They trekked to the Holy Land to walk in Jesus' footsteps and to Rome to honor Peter and Paul. How can we follow their example?
LINKS
Mike Aquilina's 2023 pilgrimage to Rome https://www.pilgrimages.com/mikeaquilina/
Margherita Guarducci, The Primacy of the Church of Rome https://www.amazon.com/Primacy-Church-Rome-Documents-Reflections/dp/0898709229/
The Pilgrimage of Etheria [or Egeria] https://archive.org/details/pilgrimageofethe00mccliala
Jas Elsner and Ian Rutherford, Pilgrimage in Graeco-Roman and Early Christian Antiquity: Seeing the Gods https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrimage-Graeco-Roman-Early-Christian-Antiquity/dp/0199237913/
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Wed, 12 Apr 2023 - 14min - 88 - The Mother of All Vigils
'Twas the night before Easter, and all through the Church every heart was stirring. The early Christians kept a Vigil that made a lasting impression. The symbols were elemental: fire, water, darkness, nakedness, music, dramatic preaching, surprising chalices, and more-than-marathon endurance. Prepare for your Easter Vigil by learning about theirs.
LINKS
Melito of Sardis, Peri Pascha https://sachurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/On-Pascha-Melito-of-Sardis.pdf
Melito of Sardis, Peri Pascha (another translation) https://www.kerux.com/doc/0401A1.asp
Eusebius of Caesarea, On the Celebration of Easter https://tertullian.org/fathers/eusebius_on_easter.htm
St. Augustine, Sermon 227 https://stanselminstitute.org/files/SERMON%20227.pdf
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Wed, 22 Mar 2023 - 15min - 87 - Work of Human Hands: The Fathers and the Revaluing of Labor
Plato scorned manual labor. Aristotle believed that "no one who leads the life of a worker or laborer can practice virtue." Plotinus, Celsus, and Herodotus agreed that work was ignoble and contemptible. Pagan religion reflected these precepts of the philosophers. In such a world, Christianity seemed revolutionary. The churches were full of laborers, who worshipped a Laborer—and whose Scriptures preserved NOT the syllogisms of philosophers, but the stories of people who got jobs done. Implicit in the writings of the Fathers is a radical and new idea: a theology of work.
LINKS
Paul Veyne, A History of Private Life, Volume I: From Pagan Rome to Byzantium https://www.amazon.com/History-Private-Life-Pagan-Byzantium/dp/0674399749/
Jose H. Gomez, All You Who Labor: Towards a Spirituality of Work for the 21st Century https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndjlepp/vol20/iss2/11/
Mike Aquilina, Work, Play, Love: How the Mass Changed the Life of the First Christians https://catholicbooksdirect.com/products/work-play-love-how-the-mass-changed-the-life-of-the-first-christians
Mike Aquilina, How Christianity Saved Civilization ...And Must Do So Again https://catholicbooksdirect.com/products/how-christianity-saved-civilization-and-must-do-so-again
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Wed, 08 Mar 2023 - 22min - 86 - Sicily: The Fathers Long Before the Godfathers
To Plato it was an island paradise. To Cicero it was the beginning of the Roman Empire. To Basil it was a name synonymous with luxury. To Augustine it was a place of natural marvels: a mountain that burned perpetually, but was never consumed. To Gregory the Great it was a shrine to his favorite martyrs. Modern Christians know Sicily mostly from the Godfather movies, so they know nothing of its rich Christian history. Till now. Listen up.
Links
John Julius Norwich, Sicily: An Island at the Crossroads of History https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sicily/UECODQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=john%20julius%20norwich%2C%20sicily&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover
M.I. Finley, A History of Sicily https://archive.org/details/historyofsicily00finl_0
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Tue, 21 Feb 2023 - 20min - 85 - The Deep Roots of Consecrated Life
As long as there's been Christian faith, there have been ascetics—athletes of prayer—and these athletes, both female and male, have sought ways to live in intentional community. Experiments in communal life went on in every corner of the Empire—in Egypt, Palestine, Rome, Cappadocia, Athens, Antioch, Africa—and involved the greatest names in the early Church.
LINKS
Tertullian, On the Veiling of Virgins https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1699
Ambrose of Milan, Concerning Virgins https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2092
Ambrose of Milan, Concerning Widows https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2070
Gregory of Nyssa, On Virginity https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2272
Augustine of Hippo, Of Holy Virginity https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3280
John Cassian, Institutes https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2106
Palladius, Lausiac History https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/palladius_lausiac_02_text.htm
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Wed, 08 Feb 2023 - 23min - 84 - Denis & the Menaces: 3rd-century Pandemic, War, Climate Change
Denis (aka Dionysius) the Great, in the years he was bishop, faced many of the terrors of the ancient world, all while the empire was persecuting Christians to the death. He saw his congregations reduced by death and defection. He saw the ranks of the clergy reduced to just a handful of priests. Yet he lived to see the day when the Church of Alexandria in Egypt revived to become a world leader once again.
LINKS
Eusebius, Church History Church History (Book VI) https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250106.htm
Eusebius, Church History Church History (Book VII) https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250107.htm
Kyle Harper The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire https://www.amazon.com/Fate-Rome-Climate-Disease-Empire/dp/0691192065/
William H. McNeill, Plagues and Peoples https://www.amazon.com/Plagues-Peoples-William-H-McNeill/dp/0385121229/
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Wed, 25 Jan 2023 - 11min - 83 - The African Roots of Western Christianity
Western Christianity is fundamentally African in the way that Eastern Christianity is fundamentally Greek. It was in Africa that a vigorous Christian Latin culture first developed. Carthage had a Latin liturgy for a full century before Rome switched over from Greek. Africa gave the Church great saints and Fathers such as Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Cyprian, Arnobius, Lactantius—and the greatest of all: Augustine. For a Western Christian, to know early African Christianity is to know one's own roots.
LINKS
Mike Aquilina, Africa and the Early Church: The Almost-Forgotten Roots of Catholic Christianity https://www.amazon.com/Africa-Early-Church-Almost-Forgotten-Christianity/dp/1645852598/
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Wed, 11 Jan 2023 - 14min - 82 - From Controversy to the Calendar: The Lord's Baptism
The calendar is a catechism. Every feast is a lesson in doctrine. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, like Christmas, rose to prominence at a time of deep division in the Church, as some Christians disputed Jesus' true divinity. Both celebrations served as a kind of credal statement—and they still do today.
LINKS
Kilian McDonnell, OSB, The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan: The Trinitarian and Cosmic Order of Salvation https://www.amazon.com/Baptism-Jesus-Jordan-Trinitarian-Salvation/dp/0814653073
Cardinal Donald Wuerl and Mike Aquilina, The Feasts: How the Church Year Forms Us as Catholics https://www.amazon.com/Feasts-Church-Year-Forms-Catholics/dp/080413992X/
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Thu, 29 Dec 2022 - 22min - 81 - The Scandal of the Virgin Martyrs
In Greek and Roman epics, the heroes are men who conquer by violence. But in early Christianity the epic heroes were often heroines — specifically those who had suffered violence rather than submit to a patriarchy that despised them for what they were. The virgin martyrs refused to conform to society's idea of womanhood. In a time of demographic winter, they refused to marry and bear children for the good of the empire. They consecrated their lives to Christ instead. Thus they were seen as a threat to traditional family values. What would happen to the world if all women began to behave like Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, and Anastasia?
LINKS
St. Ambrose, Concerning Virginity https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/34071.htm
St. Jerome, Letter 130 https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001130.htm
Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org
DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Wed, 14 Dec 2022 - 21min
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