This unique program reveals how the riches of the Eastern Catholic Churches - their liturgies, spirituality and relevancy - are a gift to the whole Church and to today's world.
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Listeners of Light of the East that love the show mention:The Light of the East podcast is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Byzantine tradition and Eastern Catholicism. Led by the knowledgeable and engaging Father Loya, this podcast offers a wealth of information on liturgy, spirituality, theology, and praxis. As someone new to the Byzantine tradition, I have found Fr. Loya's pastoral tone and his ability to engage with American and global culture through a lens of faith to be both refreshing and enlightening. Through his teachings, I have gained a deeper understanding of scripture and tradition.
One of the best aspects of The Light of the East podcast is Fr. Loya's ability to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western traditions within the Catholic Church. He emphasizes complementarity between the "two lungs" of the Church, highlighting shared saints and spiritual practices. This approach fosters unity among Catholics of different rites and helps to dispel any misconceptions or divides that may exist between them. Fr. Loya's deep respect for both Eastern and Western traditions is evident throughout his teachings, making this podcast an excellent resource for anyone seeking a broader understanding of Catholicism as a whole.
Another positive aspect of this podcast is its inclusion of traditional chant during teachings. The beautiful hymns that accompany Fr. Loya's messages add depth and richness to the overall experience. They create an atmosphere conducive to reflection and prayer, enhancing the listener's spiritual journey.
One potential drawback of The Light of the East podcast is its length. Some episodes could benefit from being longer, as they often leave listeners wanting more in-depth exploration on certain topics. However, this can also be seen as a positive aspect as it leaves room for further exploration on one's own or encourages listeners to seek out additional resources.
In conclusion, The Light of the East podcast is a treasure trove for those interested in delving into the Byzantine tradition and Eastern Catholicism. Father Loya's teachings provide valuable insights into the liturgy, spirituality, and theology of the Eastern Church, while also fostering unity and understanding between Eastern and Western traditions within Catholicism. The inclusion of traditional chant adds an extra layer of beauty to the podcast. Although some episodes could be longer in order to explore topics more extensively, overall, this podcast is a gem that enriches the spiritual lives of its listeners.
On thousand seven hundred years ago, 318 bishops gathered in a town in what today is the nation of Turkey to make a statement that is as relevant today as it was one thousand seven hundred years ago.
As a new Pope has ascended the Chair of St. Peter, Our Lord ascends into Heaven. We will Look at these two "Ascensions" from the perspective of Eastern Christian spirituality.
Today the parish that has brought you the "Light of the East" is celebrating its 25th anniversary. We will look at the character of an Eastern Catholic Church through Annunciation Byzantine Catholic parish in Homer Glen, IL.
We are halfway through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the sending down of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. It is a week filled with miracles, martyrs and Apostles
The story of the Pontificate of Pope Francis will likely unfold for some time. We will look at the legacy of Pope Francis in respect to the Eastern Catholic Churches.
On the Sunday after Pasca, both lungs of the Church converge at the theme of God's mercy. For the Latin rite, it is Divine Mercy Sunday. For many Eastern churches it is the Sunday of Doubting Thomas.
As we have died with Christ, we now rise with Him in his bodily resurrection making all things new not just 2,000 years ago, but even at this very moment and forever.
In many Eastern Catholic Churches Lent has ended. But a separate and more ancient period of fasting has begun, the Week of the Bridegroom.
On this Sunday of Lent in many Eastern Catholic Churches a woman is put before our eyes who is a model of repentance, reverence for the Eucharist and hope for women experiencing shame.
The Great Spiritual Master, St. John Climacus will take us higher and higher on his Ladder of Divine Ascent. The first two rungs of this ladder will be renunciation and obedience.
Does abstaining from meat, dairy, sweets, wine, oil, iPhones and entertainment and adding more prayer seem unreasonable? It is actually the norm that Lent seeks to bring us back to.
Short but mighty, brief but powerful, the Prayer of St. Ephrem is the official prayer of the Great Fast in the Byzantine Catholic Church exposing our demons yet pointing to virtues.
If one picture is worth a thousand words, then the worth of a holy icon is priceless. Through the ages those who defended holy images against detractors are heroes of the True Faith.
'Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress.' The words of Adam and Eve as Lent, the season of the Great fast, now begins in the Eastern Catholic Churches.
A loving God would not really send someone to hell forever, would he? Why do Catholics pray do dead people? Learn what the Eastern Catholic Churches say about these and other related questions.
The Scripture parable of the Prodigal Son is our story - a choice for the delusion of ideology or a choice for reality, right reason and our ultimate glorious destiny.
Pope St. John Paul II reminds us that the Catholic "breathes with both lungs east and west." There are actually 21 different, ancient and venerable ways to be Catholic
In a temple, the Elder Simeon holds Christ in his hands and then asks to be dismissed from this world. What do we say with God entering our entire being.
Ah yes, the good old days of the Church, bar fights over who was the greatest among three great Fathers of the Byzantine Church. I know! Let's celebrate all three of them on the same day!
The calendar of the Church seems to be in a lull at this time, and, we are in the dog days of winter. Yet, in the Byzantine Liturgical calendar this time sparkles with brilliant saints.
Almighty God raises up in each age, certain persons who turn the Church and the world on its axis. Pope Benedict XVI in our age and the desert monastics in an early age are some examples.
As though being born and laid in a manger in Bethlehem was not humbling enough, Our Lord chose to lower himself in the lowest spot on the Earth's surface, the river Jordan. There he would be baptized for our sake and God as Trinity would be revealed.
There was no room at the Inn for the Holy Family traveling to Bethlehem. Is there room in Iowa for a Byzantine Catholic priest and his community? Find out, from our special guest.
All families have their story, from sinners to saints, so it is with the family of Jesus Christ. But God still works out His divine plan which is the miracle of this season.
St. Pope John Paul II described monasticism as the "reference point for all the baptized." During this season, we return to our baptism through, monasticism. Our special guest will explain.
Do not celebrate Christmas. That's Right. Do not celebrate Christmas. Rather, rely on the Church's preparation for Christmas to help you enter the mystery of the Incarnation and be transformed by it."
As we draw near to the Nativity of Our Lord, we look back on the ancestry of Christ and the many foretellings and prefigurements of Christ in the Old Testament.
So which are you...? A 'Rad Trad', a Pro-Popolo Novus Ordo or maybe Ad Orientum Novus Ordo, or just plain confused and fed up? The Eastern Catholic Churches are here to help.
Those who Confess best will far surpass the rest. So, how do we Confess best in the Eastern Catholic form of this healing Sacrament of Confession?
With only a few weeks of each other, two giants have been lost to the Church in these modern times. How does this concern or impact the Eastern Catholic Churches?
Pope St. John Paul II reminds us that the Catholic Church breathes with both lungs East and West. There are actually 21 different ancient and venerable ways to be Catholic.
Do you want to remain hopeful, faithful and negotiate through the strife, division and confusion of our times? Look into the timeless wisdom of the Church's liturgy and saints.
In America, it is difficult for Catholics to vote with a complete sense of peace and confidence due to life issues, In this regard, Eastern Liturgy and the Catholic Catechism can bring some perspective.
When an evil force seeks to destroy a culture, it destroys the imagery of that culture. Imagery makes present the soul of a culture, just as it does in the Catholic Church
'So ancient yet so new. How late have I found Thee.' The words of St. Augustine to Our Lord might also be the words of those who have found a place within the Eastern Catholic Churches.
Every Eastern Christian church has its own ancient and indigenous chant which is sung by the faithful during liturgical services. This gives cantors a special place in Eastern Christian Liturgy.
Our children have gone back to school and so are we. We begin our school year with the question: What is the THE difference between the Eastern Rites and the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church?
An often aske question is "What is THE difference between an Eastern Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church?" We will attempt to offer a simple answer for this not so simple question.
As the horizontal bar and the vertical bar converge to form the Cross, ancient Byzantine liturgical texts converge with a modern era prophet to explain the mystery of the Cross.
The Eucharistic Congress has passed. So where are we now in terms of a... Eucharistic revival? And... what might the Eastern Catholic Churches contribute to this question?
The spirituality of the Eastern Christian Churches although ancient influenced the writing of the contemporary science fiction book. Author Mary Jessica Woods will be with us to talk about her new book and the influence behind it.
'So ancient yet so new. How late have I found Thee.' The words of St. Augustine to Our Lord might also be the words of those who have found a place WITH the Eastern Catholic Churches.
So which are you...? A 'Rad Trad,' a Pro-Popolo Novus Ordo or maybe Ad Orientum Novus Ordo, or just plain confused and fed up? The Eastern Catholic Churches are here to help.
The raging of the sea, the raging of nations, fire in the sky just some of the warnings of the End Times. Are the End Times really near? The answer is both yes and we don't know
We are not PC here at 'Light of the East Radio.' We are BC, Byzantine Catholic. But there are some questions from RCs that are not very PC to pose to a BC. Is this making sense?
There is in our times a big round painful hole in the very soul of Western civilization. It could very well be that is the Eastern Catholic Churches that can help fill that hole.
We can have full confidence that a Church whose dogma's came about from Councils and not from a mere person is indeed the fullness of the Body of Christ on Earth.
The once common in the understanding and devotion to the Eucharist in both the Eastern and Western lungs of the Church are today vividly retained in the Eastern Catholic Churches.
'So ancient yet so new. How late have I found Thee.' The words of St. Augustine to Our Lord might also be the words of those who have found a place within the Eastern Catholic Churches.
We revisit a fundamental question that is often asked and often not well understood. What exactly is meant by the different Rites of the Catholic Church? How and why are they different?
The once common in the understanding and devotion to the Eucharist in both the Eastern and Western lungs of the Church are today vividly retained in the Eastern Catholic Churches.