Podcasts about dominicans

Patrick guides callers through questions on prayer, confession after decades away, and the transformative grace found in returning to the Church, highlighting moving personal testimonies of healing and renewed hope. Listeners hear honest guidance, practical steps, and the reassurance that no one is ever too far gone for forgiveness and spiritual renewal. Shirley - I went to Catholic school, and we prayed to St. Anthony. (00:24) Joseph - Why did Jesus spend time in hell? (08:41) Did Jesus Go to Hell? https://patrickmadrid.substack.com/p/did-jesus-go-to-hell *Kathy - I have been away from the Church for 20 years and I’ve started going back to Mass. What is the best approach to going to Confession? (15:07) Joshua - Isn't the fact that Moses wrote down what he did show that Protestants are right about their faith claims? (25:45) Aaron – I was away from the Church 20 years. I was happy to hear you make this recommendation. (29:29) Yolie - Mother Theresa experienced a lot of darkness before dying. What does Jesus mean when he said, “my God my God, why have you forsaken me?” (32:47) Patrick in Atlanta - We have Dominicans, Franciscans. What are these? Can you explain these religious groups? Are they denominations? (39:25) Nick - How does the Church feel about tattoos? (43:32) Tom - About the last line in the Memorare, “hear and answer me”, we always pray to Mary for intercession, but why pray this way?

This week on Latinos Out Loud, Rachel La Loca sits down with comedian, trailblazer, and dear friend Sofia Negrón for a conversation filled with laughs, inspiration, and pride. Fresh off the success of the sold-out "Puerto Ricans vs. Dominicans" comedy show at New York City's iconic United Palace, Sofia shares what it was like bringing together two vibrant cultures for a night of unforgettable comedy and community. She also opens up about her bold leap from the corporate world into stand-up comedy, proving that betting on yourself can lead to incredible opportunities. The conversation goes beyond punchlines as Rachel and Sofia reflect on the power of collaboration, culture, and why when Latinos support one another, everybody wins. It's a heartfelt and hilarious episode about embracing your roots, chasing your dreams, and lifting up the community along the way. The ladies also react to a clip from Project Pulso's "Tía's Choice," diving into the age-old stereotype that all Latino men cheat. With plenty of laughs and real talk, Rachel and Sofia unpack cultural expectations, dating myths, and whether our tías really know best when it comes to relationships. In this episode: Sofia's sold-out Puerto Ricans vs. Dominicans show at United Palace Leaving corporate America to pursue comedy full-time Building community through laughter Why collaboration, not competition, is the real key to success Press play for laughs, motivation, and a reminder that when Latinos come together, we are unstoppable. #LatinosOutLoud #SofiaNegron #PuertoRicansVsDominicans #ComedyPodcast #LatinoComedy #UnitedPalace #LatinoCulture #StandUpComedy #PodcastLife #WhenLatinosWinWeAllWin #Curion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fr. Bonaventure Chapman came back to Tulsa, and the night before this recording he stood in front of a room of men and talked about prayer. Adam woke up the next morning, remembered what Father said, actually did it, and reported back that it helped. At least on that one day. Father took the win: one day works, that's great. The line that stuck was the smallest one in the whole talk. Do a little, habitually. When his spiritual directees hand him a Lenten list, he almost never crosses anything off, because each thing on the list is usually good. He just ratchets the quantity down so they don't run straight into failure. Thirty minutes of silent prayer a day sounds holy when you're writing it down. Lent is long. Start with five, and know that five minutes a day for a year is a lot of time.Sponsor: Select International Tours When Adam and Dave went looking for help leading their first pilgrimage, everybody they asked gave them the same name. Having used Select now, they can vouch for it. Wherever in the world you want to go, whether you're leading a pilgrimage or joining one, go to selectinternationaltours.com and see what they already have ready for you.The full talk on the prayer life is going to patrons, so if you want it, patreon.com/thecatholicmanshow. Everything that comes in goes back into the show. It is not yet feeding anybody's children. They haven't reached those levels of despair.Father's definition of prayer is the setup for the whole episode. Prayer is wasting time with God, because he's worth wasting time with. He learned to say it that way as a chaplain at Providence College, where the Dominicans each took a Division I team and he got women's basketball. He told them up front he wasn't their coach and wasn't there to fix anything. He was there to waste time on them, which is how you tell somebody they're worth something valuable to you. That's what he takes prayer to be. You're not the producing agent. You showed up, you set the time apart, and even if you never touch contemplation that morning, you did the thing you were there to do.Same logic runs through beauty. Adam still remembers standing in front of Michelangelo's David in Italy and getting hit by it harder than he expected, and he doesn't consider himself an art guy. Father used to teach philosophy of art out of Richard Wollheim's Painting as an Art, where Wollheim describes needing roughly 45 minutes in front of a single painting just to clear his head enough to see it. So Father assigned it. Thirty to forty minutes, one painting, write down what happens. He did it himself in front of a Twachtman winter scene at the National Gallery, wearing the habit, people staring. Thirty minutes in, the painting changed. The cold went warm and a house appeared that he had not been able to see. Art works on you the way truth and goodness work on you. You don't take it apart, you let it tell you something.Then the topic: ethics as praxis, not poesis. Why doing good is not like making a cake.Aristotle splits practical reason in two. Praxis is doing, and its target is the doer. Poesis is making, and its target is the thing made, the finished product sitting on the counter. We almost always think about the moral life in the second category, which is why we judge ourselves by outcomes. But nobody talks like that about actual making. If a man says he's a great cake maker and every cake he produces is garbage, that doesn't compute. The goodness of a maker is settled by the product. You're not allowed to say "I'm a good carpenter, the house just always falls down." Father's point is that a man can be a lousy cake maker, a lousy air traffic controller, a lousy software developer, and still be a good man. Mother Teresa was not, as far as anybody knows, a baker.So what makes a man good is what he does, not what he produces. Ethics comes from character, and character is habit. Virtue is the power to do the thing you're for. The knife is a good knife because it's sharp and heavy, and it's a good knife sitting in the drawer, not only while it's cutting. Honesty works the same way. You build the habit so that when somebody asks you a question you don't have to run the math. You just tell the truth and then deal with whatever comes.Dave pushed back on the ends and the means, and Father's answer is the hinge of the episode. Of course the ends don't justify the means, if by "end" you mean the external result. But the real end of the moral life is you. The good man is the end. Which means the end does justify the means, because the means are you, acting. There's almost no space between them in a person. A bad act always produces a bad result inside the man who does it, no matter how well the situation turns out.Adam raised the obvious objection: doesn't that collapse into egotism, where I'm just farming my own soul and calling it virtue? Father's answer is that acting is outward by nature. You don't tell the truth in a vacuum, you tell it to a person in a situation. You don't forgive in the abstract, you forgive somebody who may well take advantage of you afterward. The act reaches out even though the character it forms is yours. And for Aristotle the common good sits above the individual anyway. For us it's better still, because the highest good is a person you can actually be friends with, which Aristotle had no room for. He couldn't make sense of relating ethically to a god at all. Show him the Annunciation and he'd say Mary owes that being nothing, because you don't share a nature with it.Then the hard question. Where does the standard come from? Aristotle says virtue is a mean determined by reason as the prudent man would determine it, which sounds like a circle, and Father grants that it is one. Aristotle was an empiricist. He found out what a good knife was by handling knives, and he found out what a good man was by watching good men. The trouble is we might pick wrong and end up admiring power. St. Francis of Assisi would not have impressed Aristotle for one minute. Too humble, not magnanimous enough, not getting anything done. But we were handed the answer key. The saints are our moral exemplars, which is why Benedict XVI treated them as the living interpretation of the Gospel, and why Paul could say imitate me as I imitate Christ.The takeaway is practical, in the real sense of that word. When you're stuck, don't ask what result you can engineer. Ask what a good man does here. Socrates settled it in the Crito: we would rather suffer injustice than do it, because suffering is something that happens to you and doing is something that is you. Father uses the same test in the confessional. Was this a happening or a doing? Were you engaged in it, or did it land on you? Most of us don't sin out of malice. We sin out of weakness, backed into a corner where one small wrong thing looks like it solves the bigger problem. That's making, not doing. Your job was never to manufacture the good outcome. Your job was to be good.Raise your glass.TOPICS COVEREDFr. Bonaventure's talk to Tulsa men on the prayer life, and the full recording going to patronsWhy he cuts the quantity, not the items, when spiritual directees hand him a Lenten listStarting at five minutes of mental prayer instead of thirty, and why "Jesus did it, I can do it" is not a planSetting the time apart as the thing you actually owe, whether or not the prayer "produced" anythingPrayer as wasting time with God, because he's worth wasting time withChaplain to Providence College women's basketball, and telling a team you're there to waste time on themStanding in front of Michelangelo's David and getting hit harder than you expectedRichard Wollheim's 45 minutes in front of one painting, and the assignment Father gave his studentsThe Twachtman winter scene that changed at the 30 minute mark, and the house that appeared in itWhy art has to work on you, the way truth and goodness do, instead of being taken apartEthics as character, not as a list of oughts handed down from outsideAristotle in the lagoon: the naturalist who studied octopuses and asked what makes a thing a good oneWhat makes a knife a good knife, and why virtue means powerPraxis and poesis: doing aims at the doer, making aims at the thing made"I'm a good cake maker, I just can't make good cakes," and why that doesn't computeMother Teresa was probably not a baker, an air traffic controller, or a software developerWhy judging the moral life by results quietly turns you into a product manager of your own soulThe ends don't justify the means, except that the end is you, so in a sense they doWhy a bad act always produces a bad result inside the man doing itHabits as the content of character, and telling the truth without running the math firstIs this egotism? Why acting is outward facing even when the character formed is yoursAristotle's problem with the Annunciation, and why he couldn't be friends with a godKant versus Aristotle on what you owe a rational being that shows up in your roomVirtue as a mean determined as the prudent man determines it, and whether that's a circleAristotle the empiricist: finding the standard by watching people who actually live wellWhy St. Francis of Assisi would not have impressed AristotleThe saints as the answer key, and Paul saying imitate me as I imitate ChristPlato is great on triangles and terrible on toadsWhy you've never seen a real triangle,...

Full Text of Readings Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 450 The Saint of the day is Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions' Story Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was born in Manila of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, both Christians. Thus he learned Chinese and Tagalog from them, and Spanish from the Dominicans whom he served as altar boy and sacristan. He became a professional calligrapher, transcribing documents in beautiful penmanship. He was a full member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary under Dominican auspices. He married and had two sons and a daughter. Lorenzo's life took an abrupt turn when he was accused of murder. Nothing further is known except the statement of two Dominicans that “he was sought by the authorities on account of a homicide to which he was present or which was attributed to him.” At that time, three Dominican priests, Antonio Gonzalez, Guillermo Courtet, and Miguel de Aozaraza, were about to sail to Japan in spite of a violent persecution there. With them was a Japanese priest, Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz, and a layman named Lazaro, a leper. Lorenzo, having taken asylum with them, was allowed to accompany them. But only when they were at sea did he learn that they were going to Japan. They landed at Okinawa. Lorenzo could have gone on to Formosa, but, he reported, “I decided to stay with the Fathers, because the Spaniards would hang me there.” In Japan they were soon found out, arrested, and taken to Nagasaki. The site of wholesale bloodshed when the atomic bomb was dropped had known tragedy before. The 50,000 Catholics who once lived there were dispersed or killed by persecution. They were subjected to an unspeakable kind of torture: After huge quantities of water were forced down their throats, they were made to lie down. Long boards were placed on their stomachs and guards then stepped on the ends of the boards, forcing the water to spurt violently from mouth, nose and ears. The superior, Fr. Gonzalez, died after some days. Both Fr. Shiwozuka and Lazaro broke under torture, which included the insertion of bamboo needles under their fingernails. But both were brought back to courage by their companions. In Saint Lorenzo Ruiz's moment of crisis, he asked the interpreter, “I would like to know if, by apostatizing, they will spare my life.” The interpreter was noncommittal, but in the ensuing hours Lorenzo felt his faith grow strong. He became bold, even audacious, with his interrogators. The five were put to death by being hanged upside down in pits. Boards fitted with semi-circular holes were fitted around their waists and stones put on top to increase the pressure. They were tightly bound, to slow circulation and prevent a speedy death. They were allowed to hang for three days. By that time Lorenzo and Lazaro were dead. Still alive, the three priests were then beheaded. In 1987, Pope John Paul II canonized these six and 10 others: Asians and Europeans, men and women, who spread the faith in the Philippines, Formosa, and Japan. Lorenzo Ruiz is the first canonized Filipino martyr. The liturgical feast of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions is celebrated on September 28. Reflection We ordinary Christians of today—how would we stand up in the circumstances these martyrs faced? We sympathize with the two who temporarily denied the faith. We understand Lorenzo's terrible moment of temptation. But we see also the courage—inexplainable in human terms—which surged from their store of faith. Martyrdom, like ordinary life, is a miracle of grace.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

YEИDRY is a Dominican-Italian artist whose newly released debut full-length album, Como Agua, takes a deep dive into Afro-Dominican rhythms. The album includes palos, bachata, merengue and boleros. Like many Dominicans, YEИDRY did not grow up with Afro-Dominican rhythms. As an adult, she discovered it was because of a dark, racist past in her country. In this Dominican takeover of Latino USA, Producer Jeanne Montalvo takes YEИDRY and Yasser Tejeda, another Dominican artist, to the oldest Dominican restaurant in Brooklyn, NY. Over a Dominican breakfast, the three of them will take you on a journey to learn about their country's difficult past, their quest to find their roots, and the reasons why Afro-Dominican music has been hidden in plain sight. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for ad-free listening, early-access and exclusive bonus episodes with the chisme behind Latino USA and all our podcasts: www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blessed Bertrand of Garrigues walked barefoot beside St. Dominic, founding the Dominican order town by hungry town. One of St. Dominic's first companions, Bertrand gave up comfort entirely to live in radical poverty and preach the truth across a region swept up in heresy. He went on to govern the Dominicans' first house in Paris and later serve as provincial of Provence, but he never stopped going out to preach himself — he died doing exactly that. "Bertrand kept walking beside Dominic anyway, because he believed the souls in front of him were worth every mile." Today's challenge is just the start. Grab our free Family Pack — a saint calendar, activity pages, and discussion questions for the whole family, plus more surprises along the way: https://shop.catholicsprouts.com/pages/every-days-a-feast-day-follow-along  

This week on Red State Update, Jackie and Dunlap wail in grief about: Dolly Parton, the only person left who could bring this country together, and her work with the oppressed, the underprivileged, and Porter Wagoner. Plus her movies, her songs, Tim Curry, and why Dolly's legacy goes beyond singin, actin, Dollywood, and Straight Talk. Plus Whorehouse, Jim Nabors, and how everyone's Mom's kitchen used to look like the Trio album cover. Friendships with Canada never last, but Lake America is forever Supreme Court don't seem to mind what Trump does with mail-in ballots, elections, democracy.  DOJ hires a lawyer once convicted of election-site hacking Wild horses couldn't keep Trump away — Protected wild horses are sold for slaughter while Trump lets beef imports come in from wherever, American farmers be damned, even if we got to do a Beef recall — 30,000 pounds of Argentine beef recalled after sale in Florida and Texas. ABC / Rosie / FCC — ABC is airing Rosie O'Donnell and suing Trump's FCC after previously kissin trump ass Secret Service is reportedly alarmed by Natalie Harp's letters. Trump will tear down the Kennedy Center if they don't put his name on it. Michael Cohen: still terrible Our health and what's left of it: RURAL Michigan hospitals closing or cutting services after Medicaid cuts. o   Measles — U.S. measles cases are at their highest level since 1991, with two deaths reported. RFK Jr. is tied to conspiracy-tinged comments about measles deaths. Byron Donalds blames spread on illegal immigration. ICE arrests — ICE arrests surged—they're arrestin people with no criminal convictions to make their dumb damn quotas.   More folks in immigrant camps  than ATL population Deaf migrants — Deaf migrants deported without sign-language interpreters A mile of border infrastructure in Big Bend reportedly costs more than the park's annual budget. Asylum visas — Administration actions include revoking visas for asylum seekers. Texas / Musk / Paxton — Elon Musk reportedly plans to spend $200 million to help Ken Paxton in Texas. Ohio Sleazebag Max Miller threatens his father-in-law with blackmail Georgia / Mike Collins — Mike Collins has another aide linked to racist stuff Alabama / Tuberville — Tuberville says he will not debate Doug Jones because he don't understand what debates are Gary / Memphis power Hegseth / Pentagon Hegseth hires trolls to go after enemies & critics while firing Stars and Stripes staff USS Doris Miller — They may name a carrier after Trump instead of Black WWII hero Doris Miller. USS Lincoln finally returning after a nine-month deployment. A sailor who jumped from a ship is reportedly facing discipline. Hegseth fired Gen. Randy George after Kid Rock flyover investigation. Sean Duffy show — nobody watchin this youtube crap. Finally something I identify with Sean Duffy about Spider-Man vs. Jake Lang in Minnesota. Jeffries / Kushner get together. These are the only two people left who will get along now that Dolly is gone. Trump approval — Trump approval stands at 35%, disapproval at 61%, net -26. That's real bad and yet should be worse. Darlene Graham, IRAN vs Economic D-Day, Mad Farmers Kehinde Wiley painting: State Dept takes down a painting of Dominicans in the Dominican embassy by the artist of Obama's presidential portrait. They called the paining "very woke" and "aesthetically terrifying." They took it down but first they hid it behind a tarp with a US flag on it. Leah Campos, Rachel Campos-Duffy's sister and Sean Duffy's sis-in-law, is the U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic, called it an example of "globalist and woke ideologies."  What is woke ideology? I know it when I see it. For more Dolly mourning, go get 20 Extra Minutes with Jackie and Dunlap at http://www.patreon.com/redstateupdate Art by Yoni Limor Photos by Robyn von Swank Music by William Sherry Jr. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, BlueSky    

For the first time since the 1990s, Chinese immigrants have surpassed Dominicans as New York City's largest foreign born population. CUNY Baruch College professor Kenneth Guest explains what is driving that growth, how Chinese communities are expanding beyond Manhattan's Chinatown and what the shift could mean for services, political influence and the future of immigrant New York. -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Photo Cred: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The sermon examines the profound impact of Pope Innocent III and the Fourth Lateran Council on medieval Christianity, highlighting key doctrinal developments such as transubstantiation and the mandatory annual confession for all believers. It details the formalization of the seven sacraments and the condemnation of heretical groups like the Waldensians and Albigensians, alongside the expansion of monastic orders like the Franciscans and Dominicans. The narrative further explores Innocent's authorization of crusades, including the controversial Fourth Crusade against Constantinople and the violent campaign against the Albigensians. Finally, the discussion transitions to Martin Luther's 95 Theses, identifying the abuse of indulgences as a primary catalyst for the Protestant Reformation and the subsequent shift toward the authority of Scripture alone.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, August 8, is the feast of St. Dominic of Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers, known as the Dominicans, in 1215. He received the Rosary from the Blessed Mother in the woods of Toulouse, in France.This 13th-century Spanish priest, born in Caleruega, Burgos, in 1170, emphasized scholarship and poverty. His mission was simple but demanding: preach the truth of the Catholic faith with clarity, holiness, poverty, and love for souls.He lived during a time when many people were confused by false teachings, especially in southern France. Dominic did not want preachers who loved winning debates more than saving souls. He wanted men formed by prayer, study, humility, and sacrifice.Dominic's instrument for saving souls and bringing people back to Christ through Mary was the Rosary—through meditation on the mysteries of salvation and preaching rooted in prayer.St. Dominic is a saint for times of confusion. He reminds us that when the world is noisy, the Church needs clear minds, clean hearts, disciplined prayer, and courageous love.He died on August 6, 1221, in Bologna, Italy.St. Dominic, preacher of truth, pray for us!Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠August 8, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

In his homily for the Memorial of Saint Dominic, Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, reflected on the remarkable life and mission of Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order. Even before Dominic was born, his life was surrounded by signs of a special calling. According to tradition, his mother, Blessed Joan of Aza, had a dream in which she saw a dog carrying a burning torch in its mouth, running throughout the world and setting it on fire. This image later became associated with the Dominicans, symbolizing their mission to spread the light and truth of the Gospel throughout the world.Catholic tradition also closely associates Saint Dominic with the Holy Rosary. According to this tradition, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and encouraged the use of the Rosary as a powerful means of prayer and evangelization. Through prayer and preaching, many conversions were attributed to his ministry, and devotion to the Rosary became an important part of the Dominican spiritual tradition.© 2026 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. All rights reserved.Readings for August 8th 2026: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/memorial-saint-dominic-priest ★ Support this podcast ★

Saturday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Dominic, 1170-1221; Dominic studied arts and theology at the University of Palencia; he was appointed a canon regular of the Cathedral of Osma, ordained, and made prior in 1201; in diplomatic service to his bishop, he traveled across the Pyrenees to southern France several times, and encountered heretical communities, specifically, the Albigensians; Dominic and others attempted to bring the heretics back to the Catholic faith; he organized his followers, and the Order of Preachers--the Dominicans--grew to be a large family of friars, nuns, and third order laity Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/8/26 Gospel: Matthew 17:14-20

Full Text of Readings Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest Lectionary: 412 The Saint of the day is Saint Dominic Saint Dominic's Story If he hadn't taken a trip with his bishop, Saint Dominic would probably have remained within the structure of contemplative life; after the trip, he spent the rest of his life being a contemplative in active apostolic work. Born in old Castile, Spain, Saint Dominic was trained for the priesthood by a priest-uncle, studied the arts and theology, and became a canon of the cathedral at Osma, where there was an attempt to revive the apostolic common life described in Acts of the Apostles. On a journey through France with his bishop, Dominic came face to face with the then virulent Albigensian heresy at Languedoc. The Albigensians–or Cathari, “the pure ones”–held to two principles—one good, one evil—in the world. All matter is evil—hence they denied the Incarnation and the sacraments. On the same principle, they abstained from procreation and took a minimum of food and drink. The inner circle led what some people regarded as a heroic life of purity and asceticism not shared by ordinary followers. Saint Dominic sensed the need for the Church to combat this heresy, and was commissioned to be part of the preaching crusade against it. He saw immediately why the preaching crusade was not succeeding: the ordinary people admired and followed the ascetical heroes of the Albigenses. Understandably, they were not impressed by the Catholic preachers who traveled with horse and retinues, stayed at the best inns and had servants. Saint Dominic therefore, with three Cistercians, began itinerant preaching according to the gospel ideal. He continued this work for 10 years, being successful with the ordinary people but not with the leaders. His fellow preachers gradually became a community, and in 1215 Dominic founded a religious house at Toulouse, the beginning of the Order of Preachers or Dominicans. Dominic's ideal, and that of his Order, was to organically link a life with God, study, and prayer in all forms, with a ministry of salvation to people by the word of God. His ideal: contemplata tradere: “to pass on the fruits of contemplation” or “to speak only of God or with God.” Reflection The Dominican ideal, like that of all religious communities, is for the imitation, not merely the admiration, of the rest of the Church. The effective combining of contemplation and activity is the vocation of truck driver Smith as well as theologian Aquinas. Acquired contemplation is the tranquil abiding in the presence of God, and is an integral part of any full human life. It must be the wellspring of all Christian activity.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Saint Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Dominican Order, dedicated his life and the mission of the order to preach the Gospel and educate the faithful in the truth. This blogcast explores “To Praise, To Bless, To Preach" from the Ad Infinitum blog, written by Ryan Corey and read by Meghan Abando.“What is truth?” (John 18:38). That short and, on the surface, simple question that Pilate asked Jesus is a question that is all too familiar to the hearts of many people today. In this world, we are surrounded by “truths,” each promising their own way to honor, peace, prosperity, and ultimate happiness as the fulfillment of one's desires. We live in a world that says, “you have your truth, and I have my truth,” with each person striving after happiness on their own terms. However, when each person searches after their own truth, there is no real absolute truth. In fact, there is no truth at all, only a myriad sea of endless self-satisfaction. In this darkness we find ourselves today, a shining star and exemplar can be found in the life and spirit of the early thirteenth-century saint, Dominic de Guzmán, whom the Church celebrates today. St. Dominic, a man filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, knew the Truth as an incarnate person, Jesus Christ. He so loved Truth itself, that he lived to set the world aflame with love for and knowledge of it. St. Dominic, a wise and learned man, who was known for selling his expensive books to provide for the poor, left us no writings of his own. Instead, we know everything about the life of this holy man from those who knew him best and from the living witness of the order he founded, the Order of Preachers - the Dominicans. One of the mottos of the Dominican Order is “Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare.” In English, this means, “To Praise, To Bless, To Preach,” and it was in this manner of constant praising, blessing, and preaching that Dominic lived his life.While traveling through Southern France, St. Dominic was devastated to see that the region had been consumed by the Albigensian heresy. The Albigensians believed that the material world was evil, and that only the spirit world was good. For them, God could never have become flesh. The Incarnation and the Crucifixion were only illusions for them. St. Dominic was beset with grief for these people; they had been deceived away from the Truth he loved. Rather than abandon those who had fallen to this error, St. Dominic so loved them that he began preaching against this heresy in 1205. For a man who was known to speak only to God or about God, he had little success in stopping Albigensianism in his time. Undeterred by failure, St. Dominic had a grand vision for the future of the small band of preachers he had gathered to himself. In a time when preaching primarily focused on morals and priests were quite uneducated in dogmas of the Faith, Dominic wanted his preachers to be studious and well-educated to combat heresy in service to the Church. Study then, is one of the Dominican's most powerful tools, and it is also their life-sustaining nourishment. In study, one allows themself to draw so closely to the Truth, that their minds are illumined with the Light of Christ. In sacred study, one does not discover the Truth; rather, study opens one's heart to receive it. Not too long after founding the Order of Preachers in 1215, Dominic, having his brothers gathered in Toulouse, France, announced that he was sending them out to preach and establish Dominican houses throughout Europe. Dominic knew that when the Truth had made its dwelling in one's heart, it cannot be locked away there, or in Toulouse for that matter. Filled with the love and knowledge of God in their hearts, Dominic sent his brothers off to set the world on fire. Armed with the praise of God on their lips, they became a blessing to all they encountered, sanctifying the world around them, through the preaching of the Truth that is Jesus Christ, whom they preached till death. The fruits of this sending forth are evident in my own life. I am blessed to live right across the street from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. where the friars receive much of their formation. From there, Truth sets to work in their hearts in many different expressions, be that in a new episode of the Godsplaining podcast, some bluegrass from the Hillbilly Thomists, or the ministry of my own chaplaincy at The Catholic University of America, the fruits of today's Dominicans are countless. However, all of them have their source in the spirituality of one traveling preacher from northern Spain. May we all learn from the example of St. Dominic, who lived his life to praise, to bless, and to preach in the name of the Truth that he loved. St. Dominic, pray for us! Author:Ryan worked as a summer associate at the Catholic Apostolate Center, where he assisted on the newsletter, blog, podcasts, videos, and various other projects. Ryan is a student at The Catholic University of America studying Philosophy and Theology. He is involved with Campus Ministry, the Knights of Columbus council, and he is currently serving as a member of the College Councils Advisory Board for the Knights. Ryan is originally from Chester County, Pennsylvania. Resources:Listen to On Mission: Religious BrothersBrowse the Feast Day SiteRead the Ad Infinitum blog  Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

Matt Swaim joins with highlights from tonight's The Journey Home on EWTN! Laura Slavis of The Becket Fund discusses the case of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and the State of New York. T's Two Sense looks back on today's Gospel from Matthew. Plus, Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald shares how Catholic missionaries are bringing hope to the homeless of Baltimore.

Full Text of Readings Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest Lectionary: 405 The Saint of the day is Saint Ignatius of Loyola Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Story The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on hand during his convalescence, Ignatius whiled away the time reading a life of Christ and lives of the saints. His conscience was deeply touched, and a long, painful turning to Christ began. Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat near Barcelona. He remained for almost a year at nearby Manresa, sometimes with the Dominicans, sometimes in a pauper's hospice, often in a cave in the hills praying. After a period of great peace of mind, he went through a harrowing trial of scruples. There was no comfort in anything—prayer, fasting, sacraments, penance. At length, his peace of mind returned. It was during this year of conversion that Ignatius of Loyola began to write down material that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises. He finally achieved his purpose of going to the Holy Land, but could not remain, as he planned, because of the hostility of the Turks. Ignatius of Loyola spent the next 11 years in various European universities, studying with great difficulty, beginning almost as a child. Like many others, his orthodoxy was questioned; Ignatius was twice jailed for brief periods. In 1534, at the age of 43, he and six others—one of whom was Saint Francis Xavier—vowed to live in poverty and chastity and to go to the Holy Land. If this became impossible, they vowed to offer themselves to the apostolic service of the pope. The latter became the only choice. Four years later Ignatius of Loyola made the association permanent. The new Society of Jesus was approved by Pope Paul III, and Ignatius was elected to serve as the first general. When companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens, and penitents. He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society. Ignatius of Loyola was a true mystic. He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, Ad majorem Dei gloriam—“for the greater glory of God.” In his concept, obedience was to be the prominent virtue, to assure the effectiveness and mobility of his men. All activity was to be guided by a true love of the Church and unconditional obedience to the Holy Father, for which reason all professed members took a fourth vow to go wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls. Reflection Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg in 1517. Seventeen years later, Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society that was to play so prominent a part in the Catholic Reformation. He was an implacable foe of Protestantism. Yet the seeds of ecumenism may be found in his words: “Great care must be taken to show forth orthodox truth in such a way that if any heretics happen to be present they may have an example of charity and Christian moderation. No hard words should be used nor any sort of contempt for their errors be shown.” One of the greatest ecumenists was the 20th-century German Jesuit, Cardinal Augustin Bea.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Today the Church recognizes the exceptional men, women, and even children who accepted the ultimate sacrifice for the Christian faith in China between the years of 1648 and 1930.  Their story could be said to have started in the 600's when monks arrived in China from Syria. Unfortunately, these monks not only carried silk to be traded with the Chinese people, but also the Nestorian heresy which denies the divinity of Christ. The Chinese emperor welcomed the monks and permitted them to share their faith. Over the next couple of centuries, churches were built and converts were made. Persecutions began in the 8th century, however, until almost all the Nestorian Christians were vanguished.  The Spanish Dominican priest, Fr. Francisco de Capillas, arrived in China in the mid-1600's after spending twenty years in the Philippines. He was successful in winning over many converts and started a lay order of Dominicans. The tolerant Ming Dynasty was then replaced by the Qing Dynasty and persecutions began again in earnest. Fr. De Capillas was arrested for “teaching false doctrine” and opposing the new emperor. He was beheaded while praying the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary in 1647. Persecutions settled down after Fr. de Capillas' death, but that changed in 1707 when the Pope Clement XI issued a decree forbidding ancestor worship. The Emperor used this as an excuse to expel all Christian priests, confiscate church lands, and close all churches. By the end of the 18th century, there were only one hundred thousand Christians left in the country and they had to practice their faith in secret.  Fr. Augustine Zhao Rong, whose name is attached to today's memorial, was a Chinese soldier ordered to accompany a French Bishop, John Gabriel Turin Dufresse, to his imprisonment and martyrdom. Zhao Rong was impressed with the Bishop's gentle demeanor and courage. Upon the completion of his duty, he asked to be baptized. He progressed in the faith until he was the first native Chinese to be ordained a priest. Fr. Augustine was later arrested, tortured, and died of his injuries in prison.  Other persecutions followed, the worst during the Boxer Revolution in 1900, which produced eighty-six martyrs including many religious sisters, priests, catechists, and other laity. The final two martyrs honored today died in 1930.  In his canonization homily, Pope John Paul II said:  Today the Church is grateful to her Lord, who blesses her and bathes her in light with the radiant holiness of these sons and daughters of China… Young Ann Wang, a 14-year-old, withstood the threats of the torturers who invited her to apostatize. Ready for her beheading, she declared with a radiant face: “The door of heaven is open to all,” three times murmuring: “Jesus.” And 18-year-old Chi Zhuzi, cried out fearlessly to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: “Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian.”  May our prayers join the prayers of our Christian brothers and sisters in China as they continue to inspire new converts to the faith. St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, pray for us.  Blessings, Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R. 

Fr Peter George Flynn is joined by Fr Rory Doyle, vocations director for the Conventual Franciscans in Ireland and Great Britain, who gave up a civil engineering career in Galway to join an order that hadn't had a new vocation in twenty years. The episode covers how he knew the Dominicans weren't right for him […] L'articolo The Franciscan Hour – Advice for a Possible Religious Vocation – Frs Peter George Flynn and Rory Doyle OFMConv proviene da Radio Maria.

We should not rush the work of grace, but rather trust in God's care of our souls. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca reflect on the virtues of patience and perseverance, and teach us how to wait on the Lord with confidence and peace. Today, we are reading Part 2: Seventh Letter, Eighth Letter, and Ninth Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics

Brother Lawrence reminds us that holiness is not found in extraordinary experiences, but in simple and consistent attentiveness to God's presence. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca reflect on the gift of holy conversation, the role of Christian friendship in the spiritual life, and the peace that comes from surrendering ourselves completely to God. Today, we read Part 2: Fifth Letter and Sixth Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Devotions are meant to lead us into loving communion with God. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca explain how practices like the Rosary, novenas, and spiritual reading can help lead us into God's presence. They also encourage us not to lose sight of the One those practices are meant to draw us toward. Today, we are reading Part 2: Third Letter and Fourth Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics

This week we are back with part two of our mammoth session with Fr Conor McDonough OP, an exceptional Research Ireland funded PhD researcher in Classics, University of Galway. Conor tells us all about the new mendicant orders in 13th century Ireland: the Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites and Augustinians. Conor explains that these new orders were like 'networks of mass communication' and that friars are kind of like itinerant and urban monks. We hear tales of decline and reform, the Fourth Lateran Council, ethnic tensions, the encroaching black death, and attempts to establish an Irish university in the 1320s.Suggested reading and resources:Treasure Ireland Youtube series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdPbRZbumpDdJjMBmh_wlGVdx_rQVH38O- Ó Clabaigh, Colmán, ‘The Church, 1050–1460', in Brendan Smith (ed.), The Cambridge History of Ireland. 1. 600–1550 (Cambridge, 2018), 355–384- Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB, The Friars in Ireland, 1224-1540, Dublin: Four Courts, 2011.- Yvonne McDermott, ‘Women as patrons and benefactors of the friars in medieval Connacht', Journal of Medieval Monastic Studies, vol. 8 (2019), pp. 235-266.- Edel Bhreathnach, ‘The mendicant orders and vernacular Irish learning in the late medieval period', Irish Historical Studies, vol. 37, no. 147 (2011), pp. 357-375.Regular episodes every month (on a Friday)Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.comProducer: Tiago Veloso SilvaSupported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University & Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland.Views expressed are the speakers' own.Logo design: Matheus de Paula CostaMusic: Lexin_Music

Prayer is less about having extraordinary experiences and more about faithfully turning our hearts toward God throughout the day. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca unpack what they call Brother Lawrence's “Little Way” — a life of gentle attentiveness to God in every moment. Today, we are reading Part 2: First Letter and Second Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics

How do we actually practice the presence of God in our lives? Fr. Gregory and Rebecca explore how prayer is not meant to be confined to just the chapel or a quiet hour in the morning, but woven into cooking meals, opening laptops, caring for children, working, studying, and everyday responsibilities. Today, we are reading Part 1: Third Conversation and Fourth Conversation. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics

Holiness is not about completing a checklist—it's about love. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca explain what it means to act “purely for the love of God" and how we can foster the interior confidence that God is always present to us, loving us in and through all the moments of our lives. Today, we are reading Part 1: Second Conversation. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics

Do you actually trust God with your life? In this first conversation, Brother Lawrence invites us to begin the spiritual life by trusting in God's providence rather than relying on techniques or various devotions. Through a simple reflection on a winter tree, he shows us how God is already at work, patiently bringing about growth in our lives. Today, we are reading Part 1: First Conversation. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics

Friends of the Rosary,Today, May 26, is the Memorial of St. Philip Neri (1515-1595), a gracious, cheerful saint, and Rome's apostle of the sixteenth century.Born in 1515 to a wealthy Florentine family, the young Filippo Neri was brought up with a classical education by the Dominicans of the Monastery of San Marco.His unique charism was his burning love of God, a love that he communicated to all. So ardently did this fire of divine love burn that in his twenty-ninth year, the beating of his heart broke two ribs. It was a wound that never healed.A great educator of youth, Philip Neri, often visited the seven principal churches of Rome. He spent entire nights at the catacombs, near the tombs of the martyrs, meditating on heavenly things. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and burned with an unbounded love for mankind.As a confessor, he was in great demand; among his penitents was St. Ignatius. To perpetuate his life's work, St. Philip founded the Congregation of the Oratory, a society of secular clergy without religious vows.The purpose was to kindle piety among the faithful through social gatherings that included entertainment and religious instruction.Goethe, who esteemed him highly, called him the "humorous saint."He died on the feast of Corpus Christi.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠May 26, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence is known to be Pope Leo XIV's favorite spiritual book—what makes this text so special? In this pre-launch episode, Fr. Gregory Pine and Rebecca Dougherty introduce season 5 of Catholic Classics. Together, they explain the significance of the book, unpack the life of Brother Lawrence, and provide an overview of the book's structure and key themes. Whether you're new to the life of prayer or looking to deepen it, this classic text helps everyone cultivate a constant awareness of God's presence in our lives. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics.

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of Pope St. Pius V, 1504-1572; born in Italy, and joined the Dominicans at the age of 14; he held various offices in the Inquisition and at age 62 was elected to the papal chair; he implemented the reforms of the Council of Trent, reinforced treasured traditions such as reciting the Daily Office, and standardized the Mass by issuing a new missal Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/30/26 Gospel: John 13:16-20

Dave Uebbing informs on the Hawthorne Dominican lawsuit against the State of New York. Dr. George Delgado updates Heartbeat International's Defense of Abortion Pill Reversal, and Jonathan Saenz fill us in on a federal court updating the Texas law requiring display of the Ten Commandments. Plus, Newman Guide News with Kelly Salomon shares how commencement speakers at Newman Guide Colleges model fidelity, generosity, and hope.

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Peter Gonzales, 1190-1246; born in Spain, he entered the Dominicans and became chaplain and confessor of King St. Ferdinand of Castile; he preached a campaign against the Moors, and then cared for the captured Muslims; he also cared for sailors, who dubbed him Thelmo, after St. Elmo Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/14/26 Gospel: John 3:7b-15

The conversation continues with reactions pouring in from fans after the controversial ending to Team USA's win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. While the missed strike calls remain a major talking point, the hosts shift into a deeper discussion about what the game revealed about the tournament itself—both the excitement it creates and the flaws that still exist in how it's structured. Listeners call in to debate whether the Dominicans truly got robbed, how much the missed calls actually mattered, and whether teams should simply execute better in big moments. The discussion expands into ideas for improving the WBC, including whether later rounds should be played as short series instead of single elimination games. Along the way, the hosts highlight the incredible energy from Dominican fans in the stadium and why the passion surrounding international baseball continues to make the event feel unique despite its imperfections.

That's the real-world question Sandy McIlree and Tricia dig into as they unpack a major rideshare update: Uber's nationwide feature that lets women riders match with women drivers—including options to reserve ahead or set it as a default preference. It's a conversation rooted in everyday reality, safety, and the uncomfortable truth that women often have to stay “on high alert” in situations men may never think twice about. And yes—Tricia delivers one of the most unforgettable (and strangely empowering) lines of the episode: “Practice your throat punch… Nobody ever expects a throat punch.”

In this episode of Gracias, Come Again, we sit down with actor, comedian, and stand-up comic Jason Andors, a New York City native whose career has spanned decades in the U.S. comedy and acting world, and who is now going viral across the Dominican Republic under his beloved alter ego, El Tiguere Vacano. Jason takes us back to his upbringing in NYC, born to Jewish parents but raised in a city that shaped his deep connection to Black and Latino culture. He opens up about a journey that surprises many, from being a trained ballet dancer, to performing on the Black comedy circuit, to ultimately finding a second home and a second chapter in the Dominican Republic. We go all the way into la cultura. Jason talks about how he fell in love with the DR, how the island embraced him right back, and how he now lives there part-time creating viral content that Dominicans genuinely love. He shares stories of acting alongside legendary Dominican actor Manny Perez, finding real love on the island, his appreciation for Dominican women and Dominican food, and even how he got his two elderly Jewish parents to jump into skits that ended up going viral. The conversation also highlights his nonprofit work and his deep commitment to giving back to the Dominican Republic through building homes, giving away toys, and supporting communities in need. Jason speaks from the heart about why his desire to give back to the island is bigger than words, and how important it is for him to show respect, not exploitation. We talk about the moment he decided to fully lean into becoming “Dominican,” from doing dembow, to immersing himself in neighborhoods that even some locals avoid, all in the name of understanding the culture from the inside out. Jason also shares what it was like being a judge on Dominicana's Got Talent, and how surreal it feels to be embraced everywhere he goes, with fans stopping him for photos and love. This episode is funny, honest, and deeply cultural. It shows how Dominicans and Latinos embrace anyone who truly loves and respects the culture, and how Jason Andors is not playing Dominican culture, he is living in it, celebrating it, and making people laugh along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.