Podcasts about Church Fathers

Joel Settecase breaks down two major stories through a biblical worldview:1️⃣ Trump ends the Israel–Hamas war and frees the hostages.2️⃣ Phil Vischer (VeggieTales) dodges the question: Is abortion ever justified?From geopolitics to morality, Scripture speaks clearly to peace, justice, and the value of every human life.TOPIC 1: TRUMP ENDS THE ISRAEL–HAMAS WARSources:World News Group: https://wng.org/roundups/free-at-last-1760391913The Daily Wire: https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-freed-the-hostages-and-secured-a-ceasefire-heres-whats-next-for-gazaBible: Romans 12:15; Matthew 5:9; John 16:33; Ephesians 2:14–16; Galatians 3:28–29; Colossians 3:11Takeaway: We celebrate peace, but true peace only comes through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.TOPIC 2: IS ABORTION EVER JUSTIFIED?Sources:Phil Vischer Twitter thread (Oct. 11–14, 2025)Church Fathers on Abortion: https://www.churchfathers.org/abortionAllie Beth Stuckey debate: https://x.com/benshapiro/status/1977415916519665677Bible: Exodus 21:22–25; Psalm 139:13–14; Psalm 51:5Takeaway: Life begins at conception. Abortion is intentional killing—murder in God's eyes.Final Thought: Whether peace in the Middle East or life in the womb, every issue finds clarity in Scripture. Understand the Word. Believe it. Live it.Join the Hammer & Anvil Society → https://thethink.institute/societyPartner with The Think Institute → https://thethink.institute/partner#WorldviewLegacyToday #NewsdayTuesday #TheThinkInstitute #ChristianWorldview #Apologetics #Israel #Abortion #Bible

In this episode of the Faith & Family Bible Study, Steve Wood explores one of the most awe-inspiring truths of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ not only created all things—He continues to sustain and hold the universe together by His divine power. Drawing from Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3, and Nehemiah 9:6, Steve shows that Christ's sustaining word keeps every atom, star, and living thing in existence. Through Scripture, Church Fathers, and even modern atomic science, we see that the same power that spoke creation into being now preserves it moment by moment. What would happen if Christ's sustaining power ceased, even for an instant? And how should this truth shape the way we live in holiness, hope, and awe of our Savior's continual presence in creation? Don't miss today's powerful episode. For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.  

What do we learn about disability and the resurrection body from the works of Flannery O'Connor? The Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer (Associate Professor of Theology and Bioethics at Concordia University Irvine and author of "Disability and the Resurrection Body in Light of the Works of Flannery O'Connor" in the Concordia Theological Quarterly) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about who Flannery O'Connor was and the Southern Grotesque style she wrote, what value we find in reading things that shock us to reality, how Flannery O'Connor reacts to the Enlightenment personal autonomy mindset through her writing, what we learn from her perspective on disability and suffering, what we learn from Scripture and the Church Fathers on suffering and the resurrection, and where we find our ultimate hope. Download a PDF of Dr. Stiegemeyer's article at ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/StiegemeyerDisabilityAndTheResurrection.pdf or find the landing page for the article at media.ctsfw.edu/Text/ViewDetails/21656. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

In this powerful episode of Luke21, Steve Wood unpacks one of the most sobering and misunderstood passages in the Book of Revelation — the rise of the Beast. Drawing from Revelation 12 and 13, Steve explores how the ancient conflict of Genesis 3:15 unfolds through history, reaching its climax in the appearance of the Antichrist — a deceptive “pseudo-Christ” who presents himself as the world's Great Monarch. Discover why this world leader will seem like a dream come true — bringing promises of peace, prosperity, and unity — yet will ultimately embody the greatest deception in human history. Steve connects these prophecies to Daniel's visions, early Church Fathers, and modern Church teaching, including insights from Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Karol Wojtyła (St. John Paul II). For more resources on biblical prophecy, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.

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/

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Trevor Lipscombe to discuss Catholic University of America publishing the dissertation that Pope Leo wrote long before becoming pope. Other guests include Fr. John Gavin with more thoughts on Christian maturity from the Church Fathers, and Kevin Schmiesing with This Week in Catholic History. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** St. Francis of Assisi’s Prayer for Enlightenment Almighty, eternal, just, and merciful God, grant us in our misery [the grace] to do for You alone what we know You want us to do, and always to desire what pleases You. Thus, inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened, and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, may we be able to follow in the footprints of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And, by Your grace alone, may we make our way to You, Most High, Who live and rule in perfect Trinity and simple Unity, and are glorified God all-powerful forever and ever. Amen. ***** More on the Catholic University of America publishing the dissertation of the future Pope Leo can be found here. Neena Gaynor is online at ascensionpress.com. Fr. Philip Larrey is online at philiplarrey.com. Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In these dark times, we must fight evil with the most powerful weapons we have.The Rosary is foremost among them.Join the Great Rosary Campaign today at: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com.The Great Rosary Campaign was a yearlong mission for the conversion of cultural leaders.Due to popular demand, and the inherent value of praying the Rosary and doing penance for conversions, the Great Rosary Campaign will remain a pillar of Eternal Christendom's weekly content. Every Sunday, we will continue to announce a weekly call to pray and do penance for both non-Catholics and Catholics.THIS WEEK of the Great Rosary Campaign, we will pray for the conversion of faculty and students at "The Master's Seminary," which was founded by the well-known protestant (and oftentimes very anti-Catholic) pastor John MacArthur, who died earlier this year. May he rest in peace. We have heard from sources in the know that there has been increased interest in reading the Church Fathers among both faculty and students, and some have either decided to convert, or are close.The SUGGESTED PENANCE this week is a 24 hour water fast, adjusted for your state in life.Countless Saints and Popes have told us that the Rosary is incredibly powerful for three things in particular:Keeping the FaithMoral renovationConversions of non-CatholicsThe Great Rosary Campaign is also based on several biblical themes and principles.First, PRAY FOR OUR BRETHREN. “Pray for one another…” (Jas. 5:16). “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).Second, PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:43-44).Third, PRAY FOR ALL MEN, PARTICULARLY LEADERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITY. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, or kings and all who are in high positions…” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).Fourth, GOING INTO BATTLE WITH THE ARK. When the ancient Israelites came to Jericho, God didn't tell them to besiege the city. Instead, He told them to march around it with the Ark of the Covenant seven times, and on the seventh the walls would fall. We will now "march" in prayer for seven days with the New Ark of the Covenant, Our Lady, through the Rosary. We pray in hope that on the seventh day, a day especially devoted to Our Lady (Saturday), extraordinary graces of conversion will be given to those we are praying for.Fifth, EVANGELISM AND APOLOGETICS = LOVE + ARGUMENTS + PRAYER + PENANCE. Ultimately it is God who reveals Himself to a soul, and empowers them to say "yes" to Him by His grace. He chooses to use us, but He does not have to. We must remember that as we evangelize and defend the Faith, our arguments will be fruitless unless informed by love (charity), and reinforced by prayer and penance.Sixth, RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL. “Do not return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing" (1 Pet. 3:9).Sign up to take part in the Great Rosary Campaign today: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com

What did ancient Jewish thinkers teach about the union of faith and reason? Before the rise of the great Church Fathers and Christian theologians, there stood a profound voice bridging Hebrew revelation and Greek philosophy Philo of Alexandria. For more online video courses check our website:  www.twinsbiblicalacademy.com/academy 

In this episode, Rita Saikali delves into the Gospel of St. Luke, focusing on the profound themes of Christ's mission, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the nature of division and conflict that arise from faith. Through the lens of early Church Fathers, she explores the metaphor of fire as a symbol of spiritual awakening, purification, and the challenges faced by believers. The discussion also touches on the concept of martyrdom and the transformative power of faith in the face of suffering.Christ's mission was to ignite a spiritual fire on earth.Division among families can arise from faith in Christ.The Holy Spirit empowers believers to spread the gospel.God's fire purifies sin and enlightens the faithful.Martyrdom is seen as a victory in the early Church.The teachings of early Church Fathers provide deep insights into faith.Faith can lead to both grace and fear depending on obedience.The fire of the Holy Spirit ignites passion and zeal in believers.Suffering for faith is a path to deeper communion with Christ.The legacy of martyrs inspires modern believers to live boldly. Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Gospel of St. Luke01:00 Understanding Christ's Mission and the Fire03:57 The Role of the Holy Spirit09:38 The Nature of Division and Conflict11:05 The Power of the Gospel16:05 Martyrdom and the Fire of Faith21:39 Reflections on Martyrdom and Personal Faith

Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkoutThis episode concludes a four-part series examining slavery, polygamy, and genocide in biblical texts. The discussion addresses remaining questions about the moral gap between Mosaic law and early Christian teaching, arguing that Scripture reflects a progressive moral pedagogy rather than an immediate ideal. The framework employs natural law theory and Eastern Orthodox theology to distinguish between morally impermissible slavery and morally acceptable servitude arrangements, while contextualizing Old Testament ethics within the Ancient Near Eastern cultural baseline from which God drew his people toward eventual Christian perfection.All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:20 Recapping the Slavery Episode 00:08:20 Recapping the Polygamy Episode 00:10:00 Recapping the Genocide Episode 00:11:27 Why a 4th Episode? 00:15:00 Slaying of Innocence 00:19:45 Possibility #1 00:20:30 Possibility #2 00:22:15 Possibility #3 00:23:40 The Rich Man and Lazarus 00:27:30 The Most Troubling Psalm 00:36:17 Lingering Concerns with Genocide 00:42:35 Are the Innocent Damned? 00:46:35 Loose Ends with Slavery 00:53:29 The Law and Moral Progress 01:00:50 Sensitivity of Moral Faculties 01:06:15 The Ideal of the Logos

Two of the important Church Fathers in the later fourth century are Cyril of Jerusalem and Epiphanius of Salamis. You may not know much about…

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Fr. Philip Larrey to share more thoughts on what the Church has to say about Artificial Intelligence. Other guests include Fr. John Gavin to continue our series on what the Church Fathers teach us about Christian maturity, and Kevin Schmiesing with This Week in Catholic History. Plus news, weather, sports, and a whole lot more… ***** Prayer for God’s Mercy by St. Jerome Show me, O Lord, Your mercy, and delight my heart with it. Let me find You whom I so longingly seek. Behold, here is the man whom the robbers seized, manhandled, and left half dead on the road to Jericho. Kind-hearted Samaritan, come to my aid! I am the sheep who wandered into the wilderness. Seek after me and bring me home again to Your fold. Do with me according to Your Will, that I may abide with You all the days of my life, and praise You with all those who are with You in heaven for all eternity. Amen. ***** Fr. Philip Larrey is online at philiplarrey.com. Bill Schmitt is online at onword.net. Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does God actually define worship in Scripture and the early Church? Modern Christianity often equates worship with sermons or emotionally moving music, but is this what Scripture and tradition teach? This catechesis digs deep into the biblical and historical roots of Christian worship. Drawing on the Old Testament sacrificial system, the words of Christ at the Last Supper, and the testimony of the early Church Fathers, we explore the true nature of worship as understood by the apostles and saints. You'll learn how worship in the Bible is always sacrificial, culminating in the Eucharist, not preaching. Discover why the Mass is not a Catholic invention but the divinely instituted fulfillment of ancient worship. This episode provides a rich theological and historical case for why true worship must be centered on the Eucharistic sacrifice, Christ's body and blood, made present at every Mass.   Get access to Patreon Only Deep Dive, Digital Downloads, Latin Learning Guides and More - Click Here (https://www.patreon.com/thelatinprayerpodcast).   A huge thank you to my patrons! To Support FishEaters.com Click Here (https://www.patreon.com/fisheaters) Please check out our Resources, Gift Ideas & Affiliate Links page: https://dylandrego.podbean.com/p/resources-gift-ideas-affiliate-links Join me and others in praying the Holy Rosary every day; here are the Spotify quick links to the Rosary: Joyful Mysteries https://open.spotify.com/episode/1yhnGJNSl67psg94j3si3s?si=7IjqIg2wQQaZTJTiDm-Dhw Sorrowful Mysteries https://open.spotify.com/episode/3P0nIdaLuEjesHRMklwfoj?si=6qF7JBYpRiG0ylwuOohFwA Glorious Mysteries https://open.spotify.com/episode/3t7lCF7nFQDR3py1jjTAE1?si=hBb_5Ne5Rwu-993nUUqHqg Luminous Mysteries https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vlAjEGgWPCI79K7Eylh31?si=Hue9USzkTf-L3wrXrK79MQ 15 Decade Rosary https://open.spotify.com/episode/2q33PXMrinZi6fkaV6X7vn?si=Jy_d2xLlTVihD5qa4fSH9g To follow me on other platforms Click on my LinkTree below. linktr.ee/dylandrego If you have any prayers you'd like to request, or comments and/or suggestions - please email me at latinprayerpodcast@gmail.com. Know that if you are listening to this, I am praying for you. Please continue to pray with me and for me and my family. May everything you do be Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. God Love You! Valete (Goodbye) This podcast may contain copyrighted material the use of which may not always have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advanced the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church for the promulgation of religious education. We believe this constitutes a "fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US copyright law, and section 29, 29.1 & 29.2 of the Canadian copyright act. Music Credit: 3MDEHDDQTEJ1NBB0

Join Jacobs PremiumJoin the book club (use code LEWIS)This week Dr. Jacobs tackles the Eastern Orthodox perspectives on hell, divine providence, and human nature at Northern Arizona University. This conversation explores how Eastern patristic theology differs from Western Christianity on topics including original sin, the fall of man, Christ's descent into Hades, and the possibility of universal salvation. Jacobs traces his journey from philosophical opposition to Christianity through his discovery of the Church Fathers, addressing common objections to Christian theology based on moral intuitions and examining whether eternal damnation contradicts God's goodness. We also have a little tag on Mormonism and the Great Apostasy at the end. All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro 00:02:07 Background on Dr. Jacobs 00:14:56 The standard Western view of hell 00:18:33 The Eastern patristic perspective 00:32:19 God's providence and goodness 00:40:06 Death & Hades in Eastern thought00:49:19 Death as both enemy and mercy 00:53:50 Genesis & the fall 01:13:06 Universal salvation & God's will 01:35:03 Steel-manning nominalism 01:38:53 Christ not knowing the day or hour01:46:03 Mormonism & the Great Apostasy 

(5:15) Bible Study: Luke 11:42-46 What is Justice? Romans 2:1-11 Father Tackles this hard passage to understand. (25:03) Break 1 (26:19) Letters: Father shares some letters which he received physically, explains one of the titles of our Lady and answers the meaning of the word Logos. Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com (36:26) Break 2 (38:08) Word of the Day Partiality (39:28) Phones: Grant - I have two daughters, and they want to be altar servers, and I want to know what the right call is. Tom - who's obedience makes us righteous? is it Jesus or is ours? Gail - Is it ok for a lay person to do a communion service or is it just a deacon? Delores- I went to the cemetery and brought home the old flowers to be replaced with new ones. My friends said I was bringing evil spirits. is this a real thing?

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOMIn this episode, we finally dive into the writings of the Church Father who "red pilled" me on the Catholic Church while I was still a protestant: St. Ignatius of Antioch. He was ordained by the Apostles, and barely 70 years after Christ's Ascension wrote astoundingly Catholic things about: the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, apostolic succession, the authority of the priesthood, the Christian altar, the necessity of unity, the greater authority of the Roman Church, and even the very name of the one true Church: the "Catholic Church." Today we are publishing Part 1 of this two-part series in honor of his feast day on October 17.VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://eternalchristendom.com/BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITIONWe are a non-profit, and all gifts are tax-deductible. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free:https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS AT ETERNAL CHRISTENDOM BOOKSTOREhttps://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIAX: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharlesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/DIVE DEEPERCheck out Eternal Christendom's "Becoming Catholic," where you'll find more than 1 million words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic:https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/SUBSTACKSubscribe to our Substack: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 - Introduction03:24 - Help Us Build Eternal Christendom04:11 - Discovering St. Ignatius of Antioch11:04 - Letter to the Ephesians27:28 - Letter to the Magnesians39:10 - Eternal Christendom Bookstore39:38 - Letter to the Trallians48:40 - Letter to the SmyrnaeansLISTEN ON APPLEhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eternal-christendom-podcast/id1725000526LISTEN ON SPOTIFYhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3HoTTco6oJtApc21ggVevu

Happy feast of St. John Henry Newman! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Mike Aquilina to discuss how the Church Fathers impacted Newman’s conversion. Other guests include Fr. Philip Larrey with more on what the Church has to say about artificial intelligence, and pastoral counselor Kevin Prendergast on the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of October. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** Prayer of St. John Henry Newman May the Lord support us all the day long,Till the shades lengthen and the evening comes,and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over,and our work is done.Then in his mercy may he give us a safe lodging,and holy rest, and peace at the last. ***** Fr. Philip Larrey is online at philiplarrey.com. Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: DEC 18, 2018EPISODE 251:Craig Allert is a scholar specializing in Patristic Fathers, those early Christian thinkers who lived and wrote just after the end of the apostolic age to (roughly 451 AD). On today's episode we talk with Craig about his work in analyzing how the early church fathers understood and interpreted Genesis One. We talk about the ways they approached Genesis One and how modern researchers use and abuse what the fathers said about Genesis in debating divergent views of creationism.Book:  Craig Allert, Early Christian Readings of Genesis One: Patristic Exegesis and Literal Interpretation

Brendon Naicker traces the forgotten language of the veil — from Genesis to Corinth, from the Church Fathers to the modern age — uncovering how the simple act of covering the head in worship reveals a profound theology of creation, gender, and divine order. Drawing on voices from Augustine and Tertullian to Aquinas, Calvin, Bonhoeffer, and Barth, this reflection shows that the covering is not about fabric but about glory; not about control but about reverence. Through Scripture, history, and prayer, Naicker invites the Church to recover a theology of embodied worship — where the body once again tells the truth of the soul and creation is seen as the visible grammar of divine grace. #LivingTheology #BrendonNaicker, #VeiledGlory, #TheologyOfWorship, #CreationOrder, #BiblicalTheology, #ChristianTradition, #HeadCovering, #EmbodiedFaith, #ChurchHistory, #PatristicWisdom, #ReformedTheology, #ApostolicTradition, #SpiritualFormation, #HolinessAndOrder

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell continue their series with Fr. John Gavin, S.J., on what the Church Fathers have to say about Christian maturity. Other guests include Stephanie Mann to discuss St. John Henry Newman’s conversion ahead of his feast day, and Kevin Schmiesing with This Week in Catholic History. Plus news, weather, sports, and a whole lot more… ***** Prayer for Help from Jesus Lord, in every need let me come to You with humble trust saying, “Jesus, help me.”In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations, Jesus, help me.In hours of loneliness, weariness, and trials, Jesus, help me.In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles, and sorrows, Jesus, help me.When others fail me and Your grace alone can assist me, help me.When I throw myself on Your tender love as a father and savior, Jesus, help me.When my heart is cast down by failure at seeing no good come from my efforts, Jesus, help me.When I feel impatient and my cross irritates me, Jesus, help me.When I am ill and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely, Jesus, help me.Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls, and shortcomings of every kind, Jesus, help me and never forsake me.Amen. ***** Chris Faddis is online at solidarityhealthshare.org. Jeff Cavins is online at ascensionpress.com. Derek Rotty, author of Prophet of Hope: Fulton Sheen Responds to the Modern World Fr. Carter Griffin, author of Forming Families, Forming Saints Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Logos Podcast, Fr. Max and Fr. Joseph dive deep into the meaning of the Old Law and the New Law — drawing from Scripture, the Church Fathers, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Is the God of the Old Testament different from the God of the New Testament? Did Jesus come to abolish the law, or to fulfill it? And why does St. Thomas say the New Law is actually more demanding than the Old?Together, the priests unpack the Torah, the Ten Commandments, the sacrificial system, and the judicial laws of Israel — and show how all of these find their fulfillment in Christ, the Law of Freedom and the Law of Love. You'll learn why the grace of the Holy Spirit is at the heart of Christian life, how to avoid common misunderstandings between Catholics and Protestants, and what it means to live interiorly with God's Spirit today.If you've ever wondered about the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament, this conversation will give you clarity, challenge your assumptions, and inspire you to go deeper in the Catholic faith.Topics covered:- Misconceptions about Old vs. New Testament God- The purpose of the Old Law (moral, liturgical, judicial)- Why the Old Law was incomplete- Prophecies of a New Law in Ezekiel- St. Thomas Aquinas on the grace of the Holy Spirit- Why the New Law is harder — yet possible through grace- What it means to live the Law of Love todayChapters0:00 – Introduction2:10 – The Topic 2:55 - Augustine Institute Ad4:45 - The Topic 7:40 – Misconceptions About the Law9:00 – What Is the Old Law?13:45 – Why God Gave the Law18:00 – The Limits of the Old Law22:40 – Promise of a New Law25:20 – What Is the New Law?27:30 – Moral, Liturgical, and Judicial Laws in Christ35:00 – Is the New Law Harder?41:00 – The Law of Freedom and Love47:40 – Infinite Mercy, Infinite Demands48:50 – Practical Takeaways49:27 – Closing & BlessingConnect with Logos Podcast:Website: http://www.logos-podcast.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3PCPWBvNcAbptX17PzlC2x?si=BkEHS4vGSf-xmMlDFcpZ2QApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/logos-podcast/id1560191231YouTube: @logospodxastInstagram: @logospodxastPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/logospodcastSponsored by the Augustine InstituteApply now: https://www.augustine.edu/logosSupport the show

How old is the earth? Is it billions of years old, or does Scripture, history, and observable science point to a much younger age?In this episode of Faith of the Fathers, we explore the age of the earth from a Young Earth Creation (YEC) perspective:

As a former metalhead and guitarist, I wrestled with that question after becoming Catholic. In this video, I explore what great thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, the Church Fathers, and St. Thomas Aquinas actually said about music, emotion, and virtue — and how those insights might apply to modern music like heavy metal.

In this episode of the Cold-Case Christianity Broadcast, J. Warner Wallace describes the ancient non-Christian evidence for the life of Jesus. What would we know about Jesus if we lost every possible Christian document (including the New Testament and writings of the Church Fathers)? What would the earliest unfriendly Greek, Roman, Syrian and Jewish historical documents tell us about Jesus?

What would we know about Jesus if we lost every possible Christian document (including the New Testament and writings of the Church Fathers)? What would the earliest unfriendly Greek, Roman, Syrian and Jewish historical documents tell us about Jesus?

Read OnlineAs Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him,  “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Luke 9:57–58At first, this appears to be an unusual response from our Lord. This person appeared to be committing himself to follow Jesus wherever Jesus led. But rather than complimenting the would-be follower, Jesus indicates that there is nowhere for this man to follow Him. Instead, he would have to follow Him into the unknown. Why would Jesus say this? Did He not want the man to follow Him?One thing that this passage teaches us is that Jesus was able to read the souls and the intentions of those whom He encountered. Apparently, what the man said was not exactly his true intention. In commenting upon this passage, several Church Fathers point out that the man said what he said not out of a deep desire to follow Christ, but so that he would look good in the eyes of those around Jesus. Jesus knew his true intention, and therefore told the man that if he wanted to follow Him, he would have to follow Him into the unknown. Jesus then spoke to two others about following Him, and each time He challenged them to follow Him without reservation.The call to follow our Lord is absolute. We cannot halfheartedly follow Him. We cannot follow Him for selfish reasons. The choice to follow our Lord begins with Him calling to us interiorly. We must hear His clear voice and invitation. The invitation we will receive will be one that asks everything of us. Jesus will never call us to give half of our lives to Him, or even most of our lives to Him. His call is one that demands everything. By demanding everything from us, our Lord is actually giving everything to us. We are only made whole when we give everything to Him and follow Him without reserve. This is the starting point.The choice to follow Jesus will also be done in a certain secrecy. It's not that we try to hide our choice to follow Him; rather, we must follow Him with the right intentions. We do not do so because we want others to praise us, admire us, or look up to us. We do not do so to boost our spiritual ego. We follow Him because we have heard Him call and have chosen to respond to that call in the way we are called. Therefore, every choice to follow Jesus must begin in the secrecy of our interior life of prayer.Once our commitment is firmly established, it will often become visible to others, but that must never be a motivating factor. Once we are firmly committed to follow Christ, there must be no turning back. Jesus concludes today's Gospel by saying, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.” The choice to follow Christ requires a death to certain things in our lives. As our journey moves forward, there will be temptations to return to our old ways. We will remember the delights of past sins, feel the draw to other paths, and might even experience the demand of absolute fidelity to be too much. These experiences must be continuously rejected as temptations and lies. We must never look back to what we gave up and must always look forward to that which our Lord is calling us. Second-guessing our choice to follow Jesus will be a very real temptation at times; therefore, our resolve must never waver. Reflect, today, upon the depth of your own decision to follow Jesus. First, consider whether or not you have heard this radical and absolute call echo within the depths of your soul. Only there, in the secrecy of your interior life, will you hear God speak. Second, consider your motivations for following Jesus. Do you do so to look good in the eyes of others? Or do you do so out of love of God? Third, consider whether your commitment is total. It is not enough to give most of your life to Christ; He demands everything. Finally, ponder also the fact that there will be many temptations along the way to return to your former sinful way of life. Allow your resolve to eliminate those temptations and continuously recommit yourself to the journey to which you have been called. My demanding Lord, You have called me to a radical commitment of my entire life to follow You. I hear Your voice and choose to say “yes” to Your invitation. Please free me from all selfish motives in life, and give me the resolve I need to follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image via Adobe Stock Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Good morning, and happy feast of St. Jerome! On today’s show, we welcome EWTN’s Dr. Matthew Bunson to talk about the life and holiness of this Church Father and Doctor of the Church, who translated the Latin Vulgate. Jeff Cavins will tell us about the second covenant in Salvation History, the one with Noah, plus Kris McGregor with this week’s selection from the Office of Readings. Fr. Boniface Hicks – Personal Prayer Marlon de la Torre – KnowingIsDoing.org Jeff Cavins – ascensionpress.com/collections/the-bible-timeline-the-story-of-salvation-2025 Fr. Augustine Wetta – Humility Rules Fr. Robert Nixon – Solitude and Silence: The Cloister of the Heart, by Thomas a Kempis Dr. Matthew Bunson – https://www.ewtn.com/tv/shows/doctors-of-the-church Steve Ray – CatholicConvert.com Kris McGregor – DiscerningHearts.com Ken Craycraft – Citizens Yet Strangers Neena Gaynor – ascensionpress.com/mercy Fr. Philip Larrey – Humanity 2.0See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we dig deep into the role of the Church Fathers and how Catholics should understand their authority. We start with the classic criteria—antiquity, orthodoxy, sanctity, and ecclesiastical approbation—and then explore what that means both individually and collectively. Individually, the Fathers are private theologians: brilliant, holy, and zealous for truth, but not infallible. […]

Why should we study what the Church Fathers taught? Flame (Grammy-Nominated and Stellar Award-Winning rap artist and author of Extra Nos: Discovering Grace Outside Myself and his newest book, Because Jesus Taught It: Christianity through the Eyes of the Church Fathers) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about where the idea for his newest book began, who the Church Fathers are, and why he chose to study what they taught. He shares what he found when he began studying them, how this knowledge influenced what he believes and confesses today, and what was most challenging and compelling about reading the Church Fathers. As a bonus for this episode, 3rd-7th grade students in the Quest program at St. Mark's Lutheran School in Eureka, MO join Andy and Sarah as co-hosts to ask Flame their own questions. Find everything from Flame at extranosacademy.com, including his podcast "The Study." Find his latest book at cph.org/because-jesus-taught-it-christianity-through-the-eyes-of-the-church-fathers. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Happy Feast of the Archangels! On today’s show, Matt and Anna welcome back Mike Aquilina to talk more about the how the Church Fathers’ devotion to them, especially to St. Michael. Fr. John Gavin will explain the difference between the “image” and “likeness” of God, in which we are made. And Stephanie Mann will mark the anniversary of the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in England. Plus news, weather, sports and more! Kevin Schmiesing – A Catholic Pilgrimage Through American History Karlo Broussard – KarloBroussard.com Fr. John Gavin – Growing Into God Mike Aquilina – FathersOfTheChurch.com Teresa Tomeo – TravelItalyExpert.com Fr. Sebastian Walshe – StMichaelsAbbey.com Jim Cavnar – Cross Catholic Outreach Stephanie Mann – SupremacyAndSurvival.blogspot.com Jeff Cavins – ascensionpress.com/collections/the-bible-timeline-the-story-of-salvation-2025 Dr. Benjamin Lewis – International Commission on English in the Liturgy Matthew Becklo – The Way of Heaven and EarthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What role do historic confessions play in the life of the Church today—and why should we care? In this episode we welcome Dr. D. Blair Smith, President and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC and author of Reformed Confessionalism (P&R Publishing). We explore the theological, pastoral, and spiritual value of the Reformed confessions—not as artifacts of a bygone era, but as living instruments for the Church's health and faithfulness. From the Church Fathers to the Westminster Assembly, Dr. Smith draws out the continuity and vitality of confessional Christianity, highlighting how confessions serve as tools for Christian formation, doctrinal clarity, and ecclesial identity. Topics include: Why every church is a “confessing church”—whether it admits it or not The relationship between Scripture and subordinate standards How confessions function pastorally and devotionally The dangers of doctrinal minimalism in the modern church How Reformed confessions express catholicity, not sectarianism Encouragement for pastors and churches seeking to recover confessional depth Whether you're a church leader, seminarian, or thoughtful layperson, this episode offers a compelling case for embracing confessionalism as a rich, living tradition that grounds the Church in biblical truth and historic continuity. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 05:21 Writing This Book 08:06 The Confessing Church 13:32 Promoting Unity 19:59 The Relationship between Confessions and Systematic Theologies 26:19 Challenges Facing Confessional Churches Today 31:50 For the Entire Church 36:02 Examples of How the Confessions Guide the Church 42:40 The Usefulness of Confessions for Church Planting and Revitalization 49:26 Conclusion This is Christ the Center episode 926 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc926)

The Greek word Pneuma.Sumo rants about the church fathers and online Catholics. Everyone needs their own personal head canon to be valid.Hallucinations on both sides, what can you do?Kavi's adventures living in Africa.Suspicious detailed text messages from Charlie Kirk's shooter.Who is winning on either side? The public is stupid and so is A/B testing.The Eternal Return.College sports and Sumo used to be a frat bro.The universe is made of language and language has degraded over time.Charlie Kirk's extravagant funeral and Erika Kirk.Forgiveness, how does it work, did Erika Kirk really forgive Charlie Kirk's shooter?What Tom Bombadil really is and the job of a poet.The Download.Maybe the rapture really did happen last Tuesday.Tylenol and autism.LinksBuzz Aldrin on Conan Saying the Moon Landing Was an AnimationMore Linkswww.MAPSOC.orgFollow Sumo on TwitterAlternate Current RadioSupport the Show!Subscribe to the Podcast on GumroadSubscribe to the Podcast on PatreonBuy Us a Tibetan Herbal TeaSumo's SubstacksHoly is He Who WrestlesModern Pulp

Gavin Ortlund explores how the Church Fathers interpreted the days of creation in Genesis 1, revealing both diversity and depth in early Christian thought.Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth. Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.SUPPORT:Tax Deductible Support: https://truthunites.org/donate/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truthunitesFOLLOW:Website: https://truthunites.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.unites/X: https://x.com/gavinortlundFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage/

On The Patrick Madrid Show, a caller named Jared voices a concern shared by many Catholics today: could the Church ever change her teaching on homosexuality? With so many voices online casting doubt, Jared – himself a convert – wonders if he had put his trust in something that might shift under pressure. Patrick Madrid responds with clarity and conviction: the Church’s teaching on sexual morality has been consistent for 2,000 years and will never change. From the words of Jesus to the writings of St. Paul and the unbroken witness of the Church Fathers, the truth about chastity, purity of heart, and God’s plan for human love remains constant. While individuals may push for compromise, their opinions cannot overturn what Christ Himself established. Patrick reminds you that human nature hasn’t changed. The temptations of lust, pride, and rebellion existed 1,000 years ago just as they do today. Yet the Church stands firm, built on the rock of Christ’s promise that the “gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Even in times of scandal, upheaval, or confusion, the truth remains unshaken. If you're feeling anxiety or fear, Patrick encourages you to focus less on what dissenting voices say and more on living faithfully. We can't control how others act, but we can only be responsible for our own decisions. He urges you to stay close to the sacraments, pray the Rosary, and trust Jesus’ promise that His Church will endure. As he put it, “If you stick with Jesus, you stay in the truth, you persist... everything is going to be okay. Jesus said so, and I believe it.” Patrick recommends Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe, a book that helps you find peace and trust in God, even when storms rage around you. His message is clear: truth does not bend to culture, and the Catholic Church will never change her teaching on homosexuality – because it is the teaching of Christ Himself.

Read Online“Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.” Luke 8:18Do you have much? Or little? According to Jesus' words, if you have much, then you will receive much more; but if you have little, then you will lose even what you have. Does this seem fair?Of course, our Lord is not speaking in worldly terms. He's not saying that if you have much money, then you will gain more, or if you are poor, then you will become poorer. Instead, Jesus is speaking about the grace that comes from understanding His holy Word. Notice that the passage above begins by saying, “Take care, then, how you hear.”To “hear” the Word of God implies that you truly receive what Jesus teaches. Hearing is not just hearing the words spoken with your ears. One early Church Father, Saint Bede, explains that truly hearing the Word of God with our minds leads us to love that Word, and loving the Word leads to understanding. This is not accomplished by an intellectual exercise alone, as if our natural gifts are the primary means by which we comprehend all that Jesus teaches. Rather, it comes through spiritual insight gained by the supernatural gift of the Spirit Who teaches us all things.If you want “more” understanding of the mysteries of God, then commit yourself to engaging the holy Scriptures with your mind. Read the Scriptures, ponder them and pray with them. It's easy to forget that the Word of God is a Living Word. This means that when we prayerfully immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, we are prayerfully encountering God Himself. God is alive in His holy Word. We meet Him, personally, and this happens only by a special grace that we must be open to receive.The beautiful aspect of this teaching of Jesus is that the more we understand His Word by this grace, the more we will immerse ourselves in it, and it will continue to grow within us. If, however, we devote little time to engaging the Word of God in prayer, we will begin to “forget,” so to speak, the spiritual depths of the wisdom of God. We will lose the little understanding we have and when this happens, we will be prone to engaging and accepting the many confusions and deceptions alive in our world.Reflect, today, upon your practice of prayerfully meditating upon the Scriptures. If this is not your current practice, resolve to make it so. Perhaps start with one of the Gospels and commit yourself to prayerfully reading it little by little every day. The goal is not to get through the books of the Bible. The goal is to enter into each book. Every chapter and every line provides us with a depth of spiritual insight and understanding just waiting to be given and received. Commit yourself to this holy practice, and you will be amazed at the spiritual riches our Lord bestows upon you.Living Word of God, my Lord and my King, I thank You for the way in which You come to me and all Your children through Your written Word. Fill me with a love for that Word so that I will daily engage my mind in the deep truths revealed within it. May I meet You, dear Lord, and grow in an understanding of Who You are and what You wish to reveal to me. Jesus, I trust in You.Didgeman, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

“Never Orthodox.” Famous last words.“I will never become Orthodox.”  And he meant it. He was days away from getting Sola Scriptura tattooed on his kneecaps—ink as conviction—when his closest friend, James St. Simon, entered the Orthodox Church. The line he'd sworn by began to wobble.What changed him wasn't a debate or a takedown. It was prayer.  Join Cloud of Witnesses discussion between Jeremy Jeremiah, Mario Andrew, James St. Simon, and special guest, Orthodox Catechumen, Eddie.  “My heart has always been about prayer,” Eddie says. “My Protestant background told me to pray. Orthodoxy showed me how to pray.” He found “step one” clarity—morning and evening prayers, psalms on the lips, a simple rule that steadied the heart when emotions ran thin. Prayer moved from improvisation to communion.Others recognized the same hunger. James realized his spontaneous prayers had drifted into performance—aimed at people, not God. Mario found freedom from the anxious loop of “Am I saying enough? Am I praying right?” The ancient patterns didn't smother the Spirit; they formed the heart—Scripture-soaked, Christ-centered, time-tested.Then came the moment Eddie couldn't shake. During the Divine Liturgy, his two-year-old tried to make the sign of the cross—clumsy, sincere, unforgettable.“This is why Christianity outlasts civilizations and fashions,” Eddie reflects. “It isn't just for us—it's for them, when we're gone.”The man who almost branded Sola Scriptura into his skin is now learning the rhythms of ancient Christianity—not rejecting Scripture, but receiving it within the prayer-shaped life of the Church. The vow “never Orthodox” didn't end in an argument. It ended in adoration.If you've ever said your own version of “never,” or longed for a prayer life that's deeper than resolve and stronger than mood, Eddie's journey is your invitation. Look again at the ancient paths.Subscribe for more stories that bridge ancient faith and modern discipleship, and consider supporting us on Patreon for uncut conversations and extended testimonies.Find an Orthodox Church near you today. Visit https://www.antiochian.org/home Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

From Platform to Pilgrimage: Pastor Ben, Cleave to Antiquity, and a Journey to the Apostolic FaithFaith over fame. Conviction over career. What would you give up to follow truth where it leads? These questions sit at the center of Pastor Ben's move from Protestant ministry into Eastern Orthodoxy—a decision he announced on his YouTube channel, Cleave to Antiquity.For years, Cleave to Antiquity was a thoughtful Protestant apologetics channel engaging Catholics and Orthodox Christians. So when Pastor Ben posted his conversion announcement on Cleave to Antiquity, many were stunned. The cost was immediate: he resigned his pastorate, lost followers, and faced criticism from former allies. As he admits, “It would be much more lucrative for me to remain Protestant.” Yet he chose faithfulness over familiarity.In this episode, Mario Andrew and Jeremy Jeremiah of Cloud of Witnesses react to Pastor Ben's announcement video from Cleave to Antiquity—pausing to consider what his story means for Christians wrestling with questions of unity, authority, and continuity. They highlight how Ben's journey combines heart and mind: a moment in prayer with Orthodox elements where he sensed a holy presence (a fragrance of incense, a gentle warmth), and an intellectual crisis where he could no longer defend certain Protestant positions in good conscience. Integrity demanded he follow the truth—even when it led away from comfort.Ben's path raises the questions many of us ask:Unity: How do we pursue oneness in Christ amid denominational fragmentation?Authority: Is it Scripture alone, or Scripture within the apostolic tradition?Continuity: Can today's faith and worship be traced to the early Church?As Pastor Ben enters the catechumenate—a season of learning before reception into the Church—he's reframing Cleave to Antiquity from teaching to learning, inviting his audience to explore the Fathers, the Creeds, and the liturgy with him. Mario and Jeremy reflect on how this posture of humility models the kind of discipleship the whole Church needs.If you've ever felt drawn toward Orthodoxy or the apostolic faith, or you're simply curious what's moving thoughtful Protestants in this direction, join us. Watch our reaction and discussion of Pastor Ben's Cleave to Antiquity announcement, pray for him in this transition, and consider exploring the ancient paths for yourself.Wherever you are on the journey, may Christ lead us all deeper into truth, unity, and love. Visit Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.com/ Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOMIn this episode, we cover an astounding discovery we made in the writings of the Church Fathers, particularly St. Justin Martyr: his description of Christian worship and belief about the Eucharist continues to match Catholic practice and theology to this very day.VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://eternalchristendom.com/BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITIONWe are a non-profit, and all gifts are tax-deductible. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free:https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS AT ETERNAL CHRISTENDOM BOOKSTOREhttps://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIAX: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharlesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/DIVE DEEPERCheck out Eternal Christendom's "Becoming Catholic," where you'll find more than 1 million words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic:https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro04:55 - Help us Build05:42 - St. Justin Martyr's "First Apology"11:27 - St. Justin Martyr's "Dialogue with Trypho"25:24 - ConclusionLISTEN ON APPLEhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eternal-christendom-podcast/id1725000526LISTEN ON SPOTIFYhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3HoTTco6oJtApc21ggVevu

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Bishop Athanasius Schneider delivers a powerful message of hope and clarity for Catholics navigating the complexities of modern faith. Drawing from his deep knowledge of Church history and tradition, he illuminates the unbroken chain of teaching that connects today's believers directly to the apostles through the early Church Fathers."There is only one truth," Bishop Schneider declares with conviction, explaining that what makes Catholic faith distinct is its remarkable continuity across the centuries. He illustrates this through the example of St. Irenaeus, a second-century bishop who could trace his spiritual lineage directly to the Apostle John. This living connection between the apostolic age and our own time offers profound reassurance that authentic Catholic teaching remains unchanged despite cultural shifts and contemporary confusion.For those troubled by apparent contradictions or ambiguities they encounter in today's Church, Bishop Schneider offers practical wisdom: "When we are confused, please read the old catechisms. There is the crystal clear Catholic faith." Also, the Early Church Fathers, including St. Ignatius of Antioch's seven letters, St. Augustine's Confessions, and works by St. Justin Martyr and St. Basil on the Holy Spirit. The conversation explores Bishop Schneider's book "Matins with the Fathers," which provides commentary from Church Fathers on daily Scripture readings. Visit and Learn From Bishop Athanasius Schneider Here!: GloriaDei.ioReady to join the 20% who actively build a civilization of love? Download the Claymore Battle Plan at jp2renew.org and subscribe Jack's SubStack for access to our weekly formation materials. Your heart was made for more than anxiety—it was made for truth.Follow us on X! Contact us info@jp2renew.orgKeep Charlie Kirk and his family in your prayers!Support the show

After beginning a personal relationship with Jesus as a teenager, Joshua Mangels felt a call to ministry and eventually became an Assemblies of God pastor. As he studied the Church Fathers, he discovered a sacramental worldview that was completely new to him, and he had to know more. Initially, he and his wife hesitated to dig deeper for fear of risking their ministry. However as Joshua began teaching about the Fathers to his congregation, more of his members became interested in Catholicism. They connected with the Byzantine Eparchy of Phoenix, and some of the Mangels' congregation entered the Catholic Church along with them.

The Book of Psalms is far more than ancient poetry—it's the prayerbook of the Church and a vital guide for encountering Jesus. In this episode, we interview Chad Bird, author and scholar who specializes in teaching the Old Testament to Christians. We ask a variety of questions related to his newest book "Untamed Prayers." We explore why the Psalms are essential for Christians today. We discuss how the New Testament interprets the Psalms, the connection between David and Jesus, and how to see Christ even in Psalms that aren't quoted in the New Testament. We also talk about the beauty of reading the Psalms in Hebrew, the intentional structure of the book, and how the Church Fathers used the Psalms for formation and devotion. From wrestling with the language of enemies to learning how to pray through every season of life, this episode is a call to dive deeper into the Psalms and meet Jesus there.Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master's degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has contributed articles to Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Modern Reformation, The Federalist, Lutheran Forum, and other journals and websites. He is also the author of several books, including The Christ Key & Limping with God.Untamed Prayers - 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms: https://a.co/d/eeZ9ilMChapters0:00–1:08 Intro1:09–3:29 Why Psalms is important3:30–7:06 How the New Testament interprets Psalms7:07–11:45 Thinking about David and Jesus11:46–16:19 Seeing Jesus in Psalms even if the chapter isn't quoted in the New Testament16:20–22:31 Insights from Reading Psalms in Hebrew22:32–31:14 Intentional ordering of Psalms31:15–34:11 Psalms as the prayerbook of the Church34:12–37:50 Church Fathers and Psalms37:51–41:30 Prayerbook of the soldiers of Christ41:31–45:38 Encountering Jesus in Psalms45:39–53:04 Understanding “enemies” in Psalms53:05–56:34 Admonishment to read the PsalmsJoin our Bible Study: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights WHERE TO FIND US Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRSNQ7xVw7PjQ5FnqYmSDA Website: ⁠https://www.hebrewbibleinsights.com

Who are the “righteous remnant”? Do the animals on the ark have a special significance? Cale shares a key phrase for the entire flood narrative, some incredible insights from the early Church Fathers, and much more!

Read Online“Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.'” Luke 5:37–39This short parable comes at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. He just called Levi, the tax collector, to become one of His disciples, and then Levi invited Jesus to dine at his home with other tax collectors and sinners. When the scribes and Pharisees saw this, they objected and challenged our Lord. In response, Jesus tells this parable as a way of explaining that He came to call everyone to change and to experience a new transformation of their life.The “new wine” spoken of in this parable is the grace poured forth from the Cross. Remember that blood and water sprung forth from His side as He hung upon the Cross. This has been symbolically understood as the grace and mercy given to us from the Cross, which is transmitted today through the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Baptism transforms us into a new creation, and, as a new creation in Christ, we must desire the new wine of the Most Holy Eucharist so as to be daily transformed by our Lord.Many of the Church Fathers point out that the “old wine” that many prefer is a reference to those who wanted to continue living according to the old law. This is especially true of the scribes and Pharisees to whom Jesus was speaking this parable. Jesus was bringing them a new teaching and preparing them for a new grace. But they rejected it, preferring the old life they were living.One thing this tells us is that if we are to receive this new wine of the grace of God, we must be ready and willing to abandon our old selves and become new. Change can be hard. Even as evangelized Christians who are already living in the grace of Christ, we will be continually called to a deeper and deeper change in our lives. Too often we can easily become complacent and content with the life we are living. When that happens, it will hinder our Lord from pouring the new wine of His grace into our souls in ongoing superabundance.How do you deal with change in life? If you want to grow in holiness, you can be certain that change is the only constant in life. We must become new creations each and every day, growing, being more fully transformed, changing our ways, giving up the old and embracing that which is ever new. This requires a certain amount of courage as we come face-to-face with the daily need to be changed by grace. It means daily death to our old self and daily becoming a new creation in God.Reflect, today, upon the courage it takes to change. What is it in your life that you may be afraid to change? What “old wine” do you prefer over the “new wine” of God's grace? What old habits or attachments do you have that our Lord wants you to let go of? Face the changes God wants for you with courage and trust, and You will indeed become more fully the new creation in Christ you are meant to be.My most merciful Lord, I know You call me to continual change in my life. Please give me the courage I need to face all that I need to detach from in life and all that hinders me from becoming the glorious new creation You have called me to become. Pour forth Your abundant grace into my life, dear Lord, making me into Your new and glorious creation in grace. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Paolo Veronese, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Whether you're familiar with Augustine or not, chances are you've encountered Calvinism and its core doctrines—especially the idea of unconditional election. Perhaps you have Reformed friends who hold to the belief that God has sovereignly chosen some individuals for salvation and others for damnation, entirely apart from their will or actions. This deterministic view of salvation has become deeply embedded in much of Western Christianity. But what if we could trace this theological development to a specific moment in church history? What if we could say, with confidence, when and how this view was introduced—and argue that it was not part of the original Christian faith?On today's show, we take a critical look at one of the most influential figures in Christian history: Augustine of Hippo. We're joined by Dr. Ken Wilson, Oxford-trained scholar and author of The Foundations of Augustinian Calvinism. In his historical research, Dr. Wilson demonstrates how Augustine's later theology— particularly his embrace of determinism and unilateral grace — marked a significant departure from the teachings of earlier Church Fathers and laid the foundation for what would become Calvinistic theology.To learn more on the topic, please read the notes included for this week's episode.Visit https://www.lfbi.org/learnmore

“How can bodily resurrection exist if the universe itself will end?” This question opens a fascinating exploration of faith and theology, alongside discussions on why invoking Jesus' name is believed to stop abductions, and whether psychotropic drugs impact our free will. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:55 – How can bodily resurrection exist if the universe itself will end? 16:05 – Why does invoking Jesus' name stop abductions? 28:39 – Do psychotropic drugs affect our free will? 42:00 – Why did early Church Fathers appeal to Scripture instead of papal authority? 47:52 – If God is perfect and needs nothing, why create humans and angels who could fall? 51:12 – Why must children be raised by biological parents, but adoption is allowed?

“Who Thought the Eucharist Was Just Symbolic? ” This episode delves into the early Church’s beliefs about the Eucharist, exploring questions like the origins of the symbolic view and whether early Church Fathers spoke symbolically. We also tackle the significance of “breaking bread” in the early Church and the implications of transubstantiation. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:30 – Where did the symbolic view of the Eucharist come from? 05:13 – Didn't some early Church Fathers speak symbolically about the Eucharist? Doesn't that challenge the idea of unanimous early belief? 07:30 – Didn't the disciples fail to object during the Last Supper because they understood Jesus metaphorically? 09:00 – If “breaking bread” was common in the early Church, doesn't that just suggest a fellowship meal, not a literal body and blood? 15:25 – The Eucharist doesn’t seem to do anything to believers? 20:30 – How Do I Properly Receive the Eucharist? 21:50 – How does transubstantiation actually work—and why does it rely on medieval Aristotelian philosophy rather than Scripture? 29:05 – How do we know that the early Church actually believed in transubstantiation and not just a spiritual or symbolic presence? Why does the Catholic View win out? 35:22 – The priesthood is against going directly to God. We don't need Earthly priests. 42:20 – Does the Eucharist cause more division than Unity? 48:08 – Is the Eucharist just an adaptation of pagan rituals?

Fr. Mike shows us from our reading of Jeremiah that when we give our hearts and minds over to idols we become foolish. The way of man is not in himself, we need the Lord to guide and correct us. In Ezekiel, we read about the vision of the measuring of the temple and Fr. Mike shows us how the early Church Fathers would read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament. Today's readings are Jeremiah 10-11, Ezekiel 40, and Proverbs 15:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

A caller named Marianne asked Patrick Madrid how to explain to her evangelical son-in-law that Mary remained a virgin her whole life, especially since he believes the Bible says Jesus had brothers in the literal sense. The Teaching in a Nutshell Catholic dogma says Mary was a virgin before the conception of Jesus, during His birth, and after His birth for the rest of her life. Jesus was her only child. This belief isn’t just Catholic tradition; Patrick argues it’s what the Bible itself supports when understood correctly. The ‘Brothers of Jesus’ Problem Many Protestants point to verses like: Matthew 13:55 - “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?” Mark 6:3 - Similar listing of “brothers” of the Lord. Patrick explains: In the Bible, “brother” (adelphos in Greek) has a wide range of meanings. It can mean biological brother, but also cousin, nephew, or even close family friend. Example: In Genesis 14:14, Lot is called Abraham’s “brother”, but we know from other passages that Lot was actually Abraham’s nephew. The Famous “Until” Verse Critics love to quote Matthew 1:25: “[Joseph] had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son.” -Some assume “until” means they started relations afterward. -But in biblical usage, “until” (heōs in Greek) does not mean a change afterward. -Patrick’s analogy: “Grandma didn’t take her medicine until she died.” That doesn’t mean she took it after! The ‘Firstborn’ Title Luke 2:7 calls Jesus Mary’s “firstborn.” Skeptics think that means there must have been a “second-born.” Not so! In Jewish law, firstborn is a legal term for the child who opens the womb, whether or not more children follow. Even an only child is still the “firstborn” in biblical and legal language. A Cross-Shaped Clue At the crucifixion (John 19:26-27), Jesus entrusted His mother to John, not to one of His “brothers.” If Mary had other biological sons, this would have been unthinkable in Jewish culture; her care would automatically go to them. The fact that Jesus chose John is silent but strong proof that Mary had no other children. The Early Church’s United Voice From the very beginning, Christians, including those who personally knew the Apostles, unanimously affirmed Mary’s perpetual virginity. No significant leader questioned it until the mid-4th century, when a man named Helvidius claimed otherwise. St. Jerome, a brilliant Scripture scholar and translator, wrote an entire work Against Helvidius, dismantling every argument point-by-point. Even Luther & Calvin Agreed Here’s a surprise for many Protestants: Martin Luther and John Calvin, the founders of the Reformation and fierce opponents of Catholicism, both affirmed Mary’s perpetual virginity. They didn’t accept it because the Catholic Church said so; they accepted it because the biblical and historical evidence for it was airtight. Why the Disagreement Today? Patrick brings up that many modern Christians reject this teaching for one simple reason: “If the Catholic Church teaches it, it must be wrong.”They then go hunting for Bible verses that seem to contradict it. But none of those verses, when understood in context, actually prove Mary had other children. Mary’s perpetual virginity isn’t an “extra Catholic add-on.” It’s rooted in Scripture, confirmed by history, defended by the early Church Fathers, and even upheld by the first Protestant Reformers. For anyone truly willing to look at the evidence, and not just react against Catholicism, the case is clear: Mary was, is, and always will be the Virgin Mother of Jesus.

This week, Father John Whiteford is back with us to explore some topics in and around the false theology of dispensationalism. While it may be nearing the end of its cycle, there are still many faithful Christians that believe in this false teaching. We explore why this came about, the pre-tribulation rapture, the funding of Hamas by Netanyahu, the claim that modern men can better translate Scripture than the Church Fathers, and much more. Sponsors: Fox n Sons Coffee: Code: BUCK15 Podsworth App: Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Get the new Counterflow T-shirt before it sells out! Visit  or send $30 via PayPal to buck@counterflowpodcast.com with your size and shipping address! Donate to the show here:   Visit my website:   Audio Production by Podsworth Media:   Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!