Mystagogy

In this session, Barbara examines an epic document by Pope St. Paul VI on how to present Jesus to people in this post-modern moment. In this apostolic exhortation titled Evangelii Nuntiandi , the Pope considers challenges to sharing the faith as well as all the elements of fully Catholic evangelization. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.Support the show

In this session, we will consider the nature of the relationship of the Church to science using the key document by Pope Pius XII that has the ominous title, “Concerning Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine The Foundations of Catholic Doctrine”  (Humane Generis).  In this work, the Pope lays out the vital role that the Church plays in the world and in the sciences through her moral guidance and teaching.  Among other topics, he lays out the Church's official view of evolution and polygenism.  You can peruse a copy of the document here.Pope St. John Paul II returns to the issues raised in Humane Generis and clarifies the Church's relationship to science in his famous speech to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences “On Evolution.”  You can read the short speech here.This presentation will be a fascinating consideration of the Church's actual teaching on the origins of our species.  It will be of particular interest to anyone who is interested in science or works in a scientific related field. Our guest presenter for the evening will be Dr. Michael Goodrich, a member of St. Stephen's parish and a theoretical physicist.Support the show

In this session, guest speaker Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi gives an  overview of magisterial teaching in the 20th century on the use of music in the liturgy. Dr. Nicolosi is a professor of music, philosophy, psychology and the Great Books. She has her doctorate in philosophy from Santa Croce University in Rome. Support the show

The survey of key papal teachings in the modern era continues with an overview of “The Splendor of Truth” (Veritatis Splendor) by St. John Paul II.  Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi provides insight into this document on the moral life, which takes up the themes of man's ability to discern good from evil, the nature of evil, the role of human freedom and conscience, and the authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in guiding persons who are seeking truth in these areas.  

In this session, we consider the extraordinary role that the Christian family plays in the sanctification of the world.  Written in 1981, The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World was the second Apostolic Exhortation written by this great pope, and it continues to have much to say about the nature and vocation of those united in family life. 

In this episode, Barbara considers one of the two dogmatic documents issued by Vatican II.  A statement of profound mercy, Lumen Gentium (“The Light to the Nations”) considers the question of universal holiness and salvation. Questions addressed in this key text include:  “What is necessary for salvation?”  “Who can be saved?” and “What does holiness look like for the different members of the Church?” 

We continue our survey of key papal teachings of the 20th century by considering Pope St. Pius 10th brilliant encyclical On the Doctrine of the Modernists.  Our guest presenter for the evening is Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi.  Dr. Nicolosi has a Masters in philosophy from Boston College and her doctorate in Philosophy from Santa Croce University in Rome.  Her doctoral studies focused on the work of St. Thomas Aquinas.  Dr. Nicolosi also has a Masters in theology from Santa Croce, and a Masters in Cognitive Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.  She currently teachers Honors courses and music history at Regent University.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

We continue our survey of key magisterial teachings for the modern era by breaking open The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (“Apostolicam Actuositatem“) of Vatican II.  Born in the heart and writing of Pope Pius XI, the Council Fathers issued a formal  call to holiness for all lay men and women, and proposed a new authority for the laity in all things related to the temporal sphere.  We will consider a little history of the development of the decree, and then discuss its main points.

We begin our fourth series in the Mystagogy program: ten weeks dedicated to “The Riches of Magisterial Teaching.”  We will break open together some of the key papal documents that have guided the Church in the modern age. Here is a link to a flyer with the entire schedule.  Please do share with your family and friends.We begin the summer with the brief but seminal encyclical by Pope St. Paul VI, Of Human Life (Humanae Vitae).  Promulgated in July 1968, the work has proven to be prophetic in so many realms as to modernity's assault on the family and the true nature of sexuality.  We will discuss why the work shook the Church and the world  and explore the amazing “why” behind the most ignored and vilified, yet central Catholic Church teaching for our time. We will also consider keynotes of Pope St. John Paul II's follow-up to Humanae Vitae in his lifelong reflection called “The Theology of the Body.”We are blessed to have an amazing guest presenter to kick-off our summer series.  Sr. Helena Raphael Burns, fsp is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation of Roman Catholic Sisters founded to communicate God's Word through the media. She has an  M.A. in Media Literacy Education; a B.A. in theology and philosophy from St. John's University, NYC; studied screenwriting at UCLA and Act One-Hollywood; and holds a Certificate in Pastoral Youth Ministry. Sr. Helena wrote and directed a documentary on the life of the Church's new media saint, Blessed Father James Alberione: MediaApostle.com and is a co-producer on The40Film.com.  She has written a Theology of the Body curriculum used in her online TOB Certificate Course through Sacred Heart College, Peterborough, ON, Canada. Sr. Helena gives Media Literacy & Theology of the Body workshops and courses to youth & adults all over Canada and the U.S., and believes that media can be a primary tool for sharing God's love and salvation. She is a dual citizen, Canada/USA: an international woman of mystery.

In this episode, we complete The Paradiso, and then have time for a bit of a debrief and discussion about our individual take-aways from the whole journey through hell, purgatory, and heaven.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

Mystagogy finally makes it to heaven! And it's literally out of this world. Our consideration of the last of the three parts of Dante's epic poem covers Cantos I-VIII.

Our consideration of Dante's Purgatorio concludes with his remedies for the sins of the flesh, and then moves onto the ascent into the earthly paradise which kicks off the greatest parade in the history of, well, history.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

A reflection on our Lenten day of recollection covered Dante's Purgatorio, Cantos X-XII, examining the sin of pride and proposing remedies to do battle with this devastating sin.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

In this session, we cover Cantos XIII, XV, XIII, XX, and XXI of The Purgatorio.  (Please note that we will skip the sin of pride in Cantos  X-XII as we will be covering that in another session). These cantos will consider healing remedies for the sins of envy, anger, sloth, and greed. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We enter the second phase of our journey through the afterlife as we begin Dante's Purgatorio.  This book is the heart of The Divine Comedy in fact and in spirit as it offers real and profound suggestions for reordering our spiritual lives.  To begin we will be considering Cantos I-VII of The Purgatorio, much of which is dedicated to considering those souls who just make it to salvation, whom Dante calls “the Late-Repentant.”  If you want a little help following the text, there is a very nice animated summary here.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

This episode is a discussion of the three temptations of Christ through the lens of the Grand Inquisitor in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

In this session, we complete our journey through Dante's Inferno, looking specifically at Cantos XVIII, XX, and XXIII-XXVIII.  Imagining the darkest paces in hell, Dante will compel us to consider sins of deceit, disloyalty, betrayal, deceit, and treachery. Our journey concludes with the encounter with Lucifer himself in the deepest circle of hell. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We continue our tour through Dante's Inferno  by examining the levels of hell reserved to sins of violence. Specifically, we discuss Cantos IX-XV. To supplement your reading, there are a myriad of dramatic versions of the Inferno online.  If you would like to hear the actual text of Canto X in the original Italian with some great Medieval graphics, click here.  There is also a very helpful presentation on Canto X with English subheadings here.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

This episode is a whirlwind tour through Dante's whirlwind of the sins of the flesh. We'll meet the Hoarders and the Wasters, the Gluttons, the Wrathful and the Sullen, and, of course, poor, pathetic, lustful Francesca and Paolo.  If you are reading along, we'll be considering Cantos V through VIII. Here is the version of the text we are using for this course:  The Divine ComedyAlso, I found a nice animated treatment of The Inferno that you might want to watch.  Check it out here.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We begin the third part in our five part series: a ten-week tour through Dante's epic spiritual poem, The Divine Comedy. An imaginative vision of hell, purgatory, and heaven, this ranks with the greatest narrative works ever written. Barbara will break open Dante's Divine Comedy in order to explore the themes of sin, suffering, virtue and holiness.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

In this episode, special guest presenter Dr. Michael Goodrich breaks open G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy, a book that many pastors and scholars consider the greatest work of modern apologetics.You can find an on-line copy of the text here. You may also listen to the book in an audio version.Dr. Michael S. Goodrich is a staff scientist in the Experimental Physics Computational group at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.  He holds B.S., M.S. degrees in Physics and a Ph.D. in Computational Modeling, all from Old Dominion University.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

In this episode, Barbara Nicolosi Harrington reflects on He Leadeth Me, the spiritual autobiography of Father Walter Ciszek, SJ. This book is one of the most vital and powerful Catholic testimonies of the 20th century. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Today's episode is a presentation on Polyphony as a development from the tradition of Gregorian chant.Our guest presenter is Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi.  Dr. Nicolosi has a PhD in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy. She studied music composition for two years at the Claremont Graduate School in California and completed the certificate program in Gregorian Chant at Catholic University in Washington, DC.  After directing the college choir at Magdalen College in Warner, NH for seven years, Dr. Nicolosi now teaches music history and honors courses at Regent University.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Gregorian Chant has been called "one of the richest and most subtle art forms in music - indeed in the music of any culture." (Catholiceducation.org)  Pope Francis has exhorted the People of God, "Together, devote yourselves better to song as an integral part of the Liturgy, with Gregorian chant inspiring you as the first model." (Address to Society of St. Cecilia, 9/28/2019)This Mystagogy session provides an in-depth consideration of the history and nature of this ancient but defining aspect of our tradition as Catholics.  To prepare for our discussion, here is a link to some recordings of famous Gregorian chants by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos.Our special guest presenter for the discussion is Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi.  Dr. Nicolosi has a PhD in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy. She studied music composition for two years at the Claremont Graduate School in California and completed the certificate program in Gregorian Chant at Catholic University in Washington, DC.  She was the director of the college choir at Magdalen College in Warner NH for seven years. Dr. Nicolosi is now teaching music history and honors courses at Regent University. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We will be breaking open the classic Academy Award-winning film, Babette's Feast.  The National Catholic Register wrote that the film is "a quiet celebration of the divine grace that meets us at every turn, and even redeems our ways not taken, our sacrifices and losses."You also may want to read the original short story on which the film is based.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

In this session, we continue our tour through Evelyn Waugh's stunning literary classic, Brideshead Revisited, making our way through the cast of characters by considering Julia, Cordelia, Bridey, and Charles. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We will be reading and discussing together the classic work that National Review called, "The greatest 20th century work on time and grace."  Brideshead Revisited is that rare novel that marries style and substance powerfully.  The prose is engaging and loaded with memorable lines and phrases.  All this is in service to a serious attempt to lay out in a narrative all the ways that the Sacramental life "ruins" a person for mere worldliness. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We continue our consideration of the wonderful spiritual poem and testimony by Francis Thompson, "The Hound of Heaven."Here is a copy of the poem to read.Or, you may prefer listening to it in audio version.Also, here is a modern, animated adaptation that might help you into the work. Slide presentation

We begin our fall series with the work that G.K. Chesterton called, "the greatest poem ever written in modern English," namely, Francis Thompson's devastating piece, "The Hound of Heaven."  J.R.R. Tolkien credited this work with having a significant influence on his masterpiece trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, noting that the poem is "one of the most profound expressions of mature spiritual experience."  Dorothy Day was also strongly impacted by Thompson's poem writing: "It is one of those poems that awakens the soul, and recalls to it the fact that God is its destiny."Here is a copy of the poem to read.Or, you may prefer listening to it in audio version.Also, here is a modern, animated adaptation that might help you into the work.

We examine the conversion of Saint Augustine as he describes it in Books 8 and 9 of his Confessions.You can find the text online by clicking here. 

We continue exploring the Confessions of Saint Augustine – "the Doctor of Grace" – by discussing Books 5, 6 and 7. You can find the text online by clicking here.  

We continue exploring the Confessions of Saint Augustine – "the Doctor of Grace" – by discussing Books 3 and 4. You can find the text online by clicking here.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We conclude our summer spirituality series with the work that has arguably meant more to more people than any other written work in human history, except only the Scriptures.  In his Confessions, St. Augustine – "the Doctor of Grace" –  takes us intimately into his confidence, holding nothing back about all the ways that he fled from God until he finally surrendered to Divine Love and Providence.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We will be considering Saint Thomas Aquinas's teaching on suffering from his Literal Exposition of the Book of Job. All-but-forgotten today, this monumental text was considered the greatest work of biblical exegesis in its time. For 200 years, it was the definitive interpretation of Job's story and a template for scholarly commentary on Scripture. We will discover that St. Thomas Aquinas believed a life story could tell us more about the meaning of suffering than a rational argument (as you would find in the Summa Theologica). He also believed (contrary to popular belief) that Job's story is not about patience in suffering, but rather, about God's teaching through His Divine Providence and Job's response. Tonight's presentation will be given by Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi, PhD.  Here is a snip from her professional bio: Dr. Nicolosi began her academic career with a bachelor's degree in the Great Books from Magdalen College in New Hampshire. She went on to receive a master's degree in philosophy from Boston College and then the PhD from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy. Dr. Nicolosi's specialty in philosophy is the narrative quality of human experience: we tell stories because we live stories. In addition to her work in philosophy, Dr. Nicolosi holds a bachelor's degree in sacred theology from Holy Cross and a bachelor's in biology from University of New Hampshire. She also has a master's in forensic psychology from Southern New Hampshire University and graduate studies in both music and creative writing. Dr. Nicolosi has been teaching at the university level for thirty-seven years. In 2017, she received the Teaching Excellence Award from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a three-time recipient of the Catholic Press Award. Of the fifteen years she lived in Europe, eight were spent in Italy, five in France, and two in Ireland. Having made the move to Virginia in 2020 to help care for her parents, Dr. Nicolosi is now teaching at Regent University. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We continue our spiritual tour through the Holy Mass and give particular emphasis to Jesus' gift of Himself in the Blessed Sacrament. Our primary text for discussion is a work by the wonderful 19th-century saint of the Eucharist, Saint Peter Julian Eymard.  You can find the work here. We also consider some ideas from Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist: Sacramentum Caritatis. Specifically, we cover Part III, “The Eucharist: a Mystery to Be Lived,” sections 70, 77, 84, 85, 89 and 90.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

This talk is the first part of a two-part consideration of the spirituality of the Mass and Holy Eucharist.  Our primary text for discussion of the Mass is the 20th century classic Meditations Before Mass by Father Romano Guardini, servant of God.  Guardini is a favorite author of both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis, among many others.  This talk focuses especially on the following sections:2. I - Stillness2.XVIII - The Congregation and the Church3. XXIV - The Memorial of the New Covenant3.XXVIII - Christ's Offering of Self3.XXXI - The Mass of the New CovenantBy way of a catechetical refresher on the Mass, here is a video to watch: https://www.goodcatholic.com/catholic-mass-described-by-st-justin-martyr/ The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

This session provides a consideration of Catholic spirituality in the contemporary moment by discussing chapters 6, 7 and 8 of the book Spiritual Passages by Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We complete our brief introduction to Saint Teresa of Avila's writings on prayer, picking up with the Third Mansion in The Interior Castle and continuing on to the Seventh Mansion.The Interior Castle  by St. Teresa of AvilaThe music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We continue our consideration of the spiritual metaphors of Saint Teresa of Avila, the Church's Doctor of Prayer.  We turn to her most famous spiritual work, The Interior Castle, and discuss the levels of prayer.  In this session, we look at the first three rooms of the castle.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

This week we launch a month in the company of the Church's great Doctor of Prayer, St. Teresa of Avila.  We will begin by reading the famous metaphor of the soul as a garden from her autobiography. With Don Quixote, The Book of Her Life is still considered to be the greatest work of Spanish letters. You can prepare for the discussion by reading Chapters 11-15 of her autobiography.The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

This week, we consider the nature and elements of Catholic prayer from The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), and also a short passage on the four ways to God from the book Psychology and Spirituality by Fr Benedict Groeschel, OFM.The readings are: CCC #31-35,  #2623-2643 and #2697-2719Psychology and Spirituality, pages 6-11The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

To kick off our summer series, we will reflect on some writings that go way back to the third century of Christendom.  While the Church was suffering under the Roman persecutions, hundreds of thousands of Christians fled into the desert first to survive, but then to encounter the Lord in simplicity, silence, Scripture, and prayer.  What they learned in the desert became the foundation for Christian spiritual practice, and the keynotes of the Desert Fathers are still very much the essence of what it means to grow in holiness as a Catholic.Program syllabusSayings of the Desert FathersThe music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.