Podcasts about franciscan

Trusting that God will provide, Ignatius begs and travels through Rome and Venice before finally reaching Jerusalem. He longs to remain in the Holy Land and help souls, but the Franciscan authorities order him to leave — forcing him to surrender even this deeply cherished desire. About the Series We are bringing you the entire text of “The Autobiography of St. Ignatius Loyola” in podcast form. Over 12 episodes, join our pilgrimage guides Fr. Jack Bentz, SJ, and Cameron Bellm as we make our way through this spiritual classic. The series premiered on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, with episode 2 dropping Friday, July 31 — the Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola. These first two episodes and the remaining 10 episodes (dropping on subsequent Fridays) will all appear here on the AMDG podcast feed. The series is edited by Frank Tuson, who also composed all the music you hear on the podcast. The podcast uses a translation of the “Autobiography” by Fr. Parmananda Divarkar, SJ. The text is read by Fr. George Drance, SJ. Produced by Mike Jordan Laskey. "The Autobiography of Saint Ignatius Loyola Podcast," a special-edition series of AMDG, is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Friends of the Rosary,Today, August 27, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Monica (333-387), who, through prayer and tears, gave the great Augustine to the Church of God.We also celebrate today the feast of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Franciscan, and the feast of Mary, Health of the Sick.St. Monica prayed, endured, hoped, and trusted God for years, especially for the conversion of her son, Saint Augustine, one of her three children, as well as for Navigius and Perpetua, who later became a nun.At about the age of sixteen, Augustine fell in with bad companions and took a concubine. Monica greatly desired that her son become a Christian, and for this she labored long—praying, pleading, weeping.To her joy, Augustine was baptized in Milan by Saint Ambrose at the age of thirty-two. She died in Ostia in 387. Augustine praised God for his mother: “Graciously you heard her, and you did not despise her tears when they flowed down from her eyes and watered the earth beneath, in whatsoever place she prayed.”St Monica was born in Tagaste, northern Africa, and died in Ostia, near Rome. Monica was a Christian, but her husband Patricius was a pagan and a man of loose morals. Monica's virtues and prayers, however, converted him, and he was baptized a year before his death. When her son, Augustine, joined the Manichean sect and went astray in faith and morals, Monica's tears and prayers for her son were incessant. She followed him to Milan, where Augustine went to teach, and there continued to storm heaven with her prayers for her son.In today's readings from the Gospel, Saint Paul reminds the Corinthians that God has enriched them with grace and will keep them firm to the end. In parallel, Jesus tells His disciples to stay awake and be ready, like faithful servants waiting for their master. Ultimately, God asks us to stay awake in love, keep doing what is right, and trust His timing.We ask Lord Jesus to give us the patient faith of Saint Monica, helping us to stay awake in prayer, faithful in our duties, and steady in hope while we wait for His grace to bear fruit.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

Full Text of Readings Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Lectionary: 424 The Saint of the day is Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Story of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Pope Pius XII established this feast in 1954. But the Blessed Virgin Mary's queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary's Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” As in all the mysteries of Mary's life, she is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share in Jesus' kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence in court. In the fourth century Saint Ephrem called Mary “Lady” and “Queen.” Later Church fathers and doctors continued to use the title. Hymns of the 11th to 13th centuries address Mary as queen: “Hail, Holy Queen,” “Hail, Queen of Heaven,” “Queen of Heaven.” The Dominican rosary and the Franciscan crown as well as numerous invocations in Mary's litany celebrate her queenship. The feast is a logical follow-up to the Assumption, and is now celebrated on the octave day of that feast. In his 1954 encyclical To the Queen of Heaven, Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus' redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection, and because of her intercessory power. Reflection As Saint Paul suggests in Romans 8:28–30, God has predestined human beings from all eternity to share the image of his Son. All the more was Mary predestined to be the mother of Jesus. As Jesus was to be king of all creation, Mary, in dependence on Jesus, was to be queen. All other titles to queenship derive from this eternal intention of God. As Jesus exercised his kingship on earth by serving his Father and his fellow human beings, so did Mary exercise her queenship. As the glorified Jesus remains with us as our king till the end of time (Matthew 28:20), so does Mary, who was assumed into heaven and crowned queen of heaven and earth.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of Readings Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 420 The Saint of the day is Saint Louis of Toulouse Saint Louis of Toulouse's Story When he died at the age of 23, Louis was already a Franciscan, a bishop, and a saint! Louis's parents were Charles II of Naples and Sicily, and Mary, daughter of the King of Hungary. Louis was related to Saint Louis IX on his father's side and to Elizabeth of Hungary on his mother's side. Louis of Toulouse of Toulouse showed early signs of attachment to prayer and to the corporal works of mercy. As a child he used to take food from the castle to feed the poor. When he was 14, Louis and two of his brothers were taken as hostages to the king of Aragon's court as part of a political deal involving Louis's father. At the court, Louis was tutored by Franciscan friars under whom he made great progress both in his studies and in the spiritual life. Like Saint Francis he developed a special love for those afflicted with leprosy. While he was still a hostage, Louis decided to renounce his royal title and become a priest. When he was 20, he was allowed to leave the king of Aragon's court. He renounced his title in favor of his brother Robert and was ordained the next year. Very shortly after, he was appointed bishop of Toulouse, but the pope agreed to Louis's request to become a Franciscan first. The Franciscan spirit pervaded Louis. “Jesus Christ is all my riches; he alone is sufficient for me,” Louis kept repeating. Even as a bishop he wore the Franciscan habit and sometimes begged. He assigned a friar to offer him correction—in public if necessary—and the friar did his job. Louis of Toulouse's service to the Diocese of Toulouse was richly blessed. In no time he was considered a saint. Louis set aside 75 percent of his income as bishop to feed the poor and maintain churches. Each day he fed 25 poor people at his table. Louis of Toulouse was canonized in 1317 by Pope John XXII, one of his former teachers. His liturgical feast is celebrated on August 19. Reflection When Cardinal Hugolino, the future Pope Gregory IX, suggested to Francis that some of the friars would make fine bishops, Francis protested that they might lose some of their humility and simplicity if appointed to those positions. Those two virtues are needed everywhere in the Church, and Louis shows us how they can be lived out by bishops.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Clare of Montefalco, 1268-1308; born in Montefalco, Italy; as a young woman, she joined a convent of Franciscan tertiaries; her sister Joan was the abbess, and when she died, Clare succeeded her; she led an austere life, devoted to the Passion of Christ, and His Cross; when she died, an image of the cross was found imprinted on her heart, and her body remained incorrupt Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/17/26 Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22

We journey through the Franciscan Jubilee Year, exploring the relics, writings, and living legacy of St. Francis of Assisi eight centuries after his death.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, "a martyr of love," as St. Pope Paul VI described him, whooffered his life in exchange for the life of a husband and father of two sons, on August 14, at the German Nazi concentration and death camp of Auschwitz in Poland. The Polish 47-year-old Franciscan Conventual priest was killed by the Nazis with a lethal injection on August 14, 80 years ago.St. Kolbe, the founder of the worldwide evangelization movement, Militia Immaculatae, and a missionary in Japan in the 1930s, faithfully followed the path of Christ's sacrifice and His words in John's Gospel: “No one has a greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” –that we read today.The priest was arrested in February 1941 on charges of aiding Jews and the Polish underground and was imprisoned in Warsaw. He was deported to the death camp of Auschwitz, Poland, where he was stripped of his Franciscan habit and assigned prisoner number 16670. He was forced to do the most humiliating jobs, such as carrying dead bodies to the crematorium. Nevertheless, he continued his charity and priestly ministry, for which he was subjected to violent beatings by the guards.At the end of July 1941, when a prisoner escaped from Auschwitz, in retaliation, the deputy camp commander picked up 10 men to be starved to death in an underground bunker to deter further escape attempts. When one of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, "My wife! My children!", Kolbe volunteered to die in his place, arguing he was a Catholic priest and older than Gajowniczek, 41. The deputy commander accepted the offer.The Polish priest and others were thus locked up in the "starvation bunker" without food and water. There, Kolbe led the prisoners in prayer. Prison guards found him standing or kneeling in the cell and looking calmly at those who entered. After they had been starved and deprived of water for two weeks, only Kolbe remained alive.The prison authorities administered him a lethal injection of carbolic acid. Kolbe is said to have raised his left arm and calmly waited for the injection. Before dying, he pronounced the two words, “Ave Maria”, the final pledge of a life entrusted to the Immaculate Conception. His remains were cremated on 15 August, the feast of the Assumption of Mary.During his visit to Poland in 2016, Pope Francis visited the " starvation bunker " on July 29, where Kolbe breathed his last in Auschwitz. After a moment of silence and reflection, he left, signing the visitors' book with a brief prayer: “Lord, have mercy on your people, Lord, forgive us for so much cruelty”.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 14, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Who is the St. Francis of Assisi? Was he a hippie Jesus lover? Why is it that his life, still today, carries such a significant meaning in the Christian life? We host 3rd order Franciscan and Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Birmingham, AL to walk us through his devotion and knowledge of St. Francis.

Full Text of Readings Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr Lectionary: 417 The Saint of the day is Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe's Story “I don't know what's going to become of you!” How many parents have said that? Maximilian Mary Kolbe's reaction was, “I prayed very hard to Our Lady to tell me what would happen to me. She appeared, holding in her hands two crowns, one white, one red. She asked if I would like to have them—one was for purity, the other for martyrdom. I said, ‘I choose both.' She smiled and disappeared.” After that he was not the same. He entered the minor seminary of the Conventual Franciscans in Lvív–then Poland, now Ukraine—near his birthplace, and at 16 became a novice. Though Maximilian later achieved doctorates in philosophy and theology, he was deeply interested in science, even drawing plans for rocket ships. Ordained at 24, Maximilian Mary Kolbe saw religious indifference as the deadliest poison of the day. His mission was to combat it. He had already founded the Militia of the Immaculata, whose aim was to fight evil with the witness of the good life, prayer, work, and suffering. He dreamed of and then founded Knight of the Immaculata, a religious magazine under Mary's protection to preach the Good News to all nations. For the work of publication he established a “City of the Immaculata”—Niepokalanow—which housed 700 of his Franciscan brothers. He later founded another one in Nagasaki, Japan. Both the Militia and the magazine ultimately reached the one-million mark in members and subscribers. His love of God was daily filtered through devotion to Mary. In 1939, the Nazi panzers overran Poland with deadly speed. Niepokalanow was severely bombed. Kolbe and his friars were arrested, then released in less than three months, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. In 1941, Maximilian Mary Kolbe was arrested again. The Nazis' purpose was to liquidate the select ones, the leaders. The end came quickly, three months later in Auschwitz, after terrible beatings and humiliations. A prisoner had escaped. The commandant announced that 10 men would die. He relished walking along the ranks. “This one. That one.” As they were being marched away to the starvation bunkers, Number 16670 dared to step from the line. “I would like to take that man's place. He has a wife and children.”“Who are you?”“A priest.” No name, no mention of fame. Silence. The commandant, dumbfounded, perhaps with a fleeting thought of history, kicked Sergeant Francis Gajowniczek out of line and ordered Fr. Kolbe to go with the nine. In the “block of death” they were ordered to strip naked, and their slow starvation began in darkness. But there was no screaming—the prisoners sang. By the eve of the Assumption, four were left alive. The jailer came to finish Kolbe off as he sat in a corner praying. He lifted his fleshless arm to receive the bite of the hypodermic needle. It was filled with carbolic acid. They burned his body with all the others. Maximilian Mary Kolbe was beatified in 1971 and canonized in 1982. Reflection Maximilian Mary Kolbe's death was not a sudden, last-minute act of heroism. His whole life had been a preparation. His holiness was a limitless, passionate desire to convert the whole world to God. And his beloved Immaculata was his inspiration. May we mirror his bravery and his unblemished love for God as we navigate our own faith journeys.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

St. Francis of Assisi—one of the most influential saints of the last millennium—is introduced in this first of a two-part series, as Bishop Wack explores the historical context of his life, his conversion from wealthy merchant's son to penniless disciple, and the early growth of the Franciscan movement. He also highlights Francis's love for the Church and the Eucharist, his call to reform through poverty and humility, and the enduring impact that led to his rapid canonization and an 800-year legacy of inspiration.

Bruce and Kris McGregor speak with Sr. Joan Mueller about St. Clare of Assisi and the radical Franciscan gift of poverty. This special In Conversation episode explores Clare's courage, her partnership with St. Francis, her care for the poor, and her lifelong struggle to preserve the “privilege of poverty.” The post St. Clare of Assisi – In Conversation with Sr. Joan Mueller – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Bruce and Kris McGregor speak with Sr. Joan Mueller about St. Clare of Assisi and the radical Franciscan gift of poverty. This special In Conversation episode explores Clare's courage, her partnership with St. Francis, her care for the poor, and her lifelong struggle to preserve the “privilege of poverty.” The post St. Clare of Assisi – In Conversation with Sr. Joan Mueller – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Today’s Topics: Father Thomas Czeck, OFM Conv., joins Terry 1) Gospel – Luke 6:36-38 – Jesus said to His disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry and Father Thomas discuss the Marian Foundations of Franciscan Spirituality and Saint Maximilian Kolbe

The Franciscan Church in Bratislava is the city's oldest preserved church that has remained in continuous use to this day. Its history is inseparably linked with the history of Bratislava and the former Kingdom of Hungary. In this programme, we explore its rich past, the major historical events associated with it, and the life of the Franciscan community, which has been present here for nearly eight centuries. As part of our economic series Young Money, produced in cooperation with the National Bank of Slovakia, this episode explores the future of euro banknotes. Why is the European Central Bank redesigning them after more than twenty years? What themes are being considered, how can the public take part in the selection process, and what will the new banknotes mean for Europeans? We discuss the reasons behind the redesign, the role of security features, and the future of cash in an increasingly digital world.

Fr Peter George Flynn is joined by Sister Colette, a Poor Clare from his own native Galway, to mark St Clare's feast. She tells the story behind her convent's supposed emergency bell, what it meant that Clare wrote the first religious rule ever composed by a woman, and how a deathbed visit from the Pope […] L'articolo The Franciscan Hour – The First Rule Written by a Woman – Fr Peter George Flynn OFMConv and Sr Colette OSC proviene da Radio Maria.

As humans increasingly turn to AI for moral guidance and answers to life's biggest questions, the lines between technology and religion are blurring—even leading some in Silicon Valley to wonder if AI might have a spiritual life of its own or be destined to change the world's religious landscape. What does the impulse to see a god in the machine reveal about our enduring hunger for meaning, belonging, and spiritual growth?Dave explores these questions and more with psychologist Paul Bloom, author Elizabeth Oldfield, and theologian Paolo Benanti in a discussion recorded live at the 2026 Aspen Ideas Festival.Paul Bloom is a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale University. He's also the author of seven books, including his latest “Psych: The Story of the Human Mind.” Elizabeth Oldfield hosts “The Sacred” podcast, dedicated to conversations about being human, finding wisdom, building a more tolerant society, and what spirituality and religion might offer in answer to those questions. She is also the author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times.Paolo Benanti is a professor of moral philosophy at Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome and a professor of technology ethics at Seattle University. A Franciscan priest and leading global voice on AI ethics, he advises the Vatican on emerging technologies and the rise of generative AI and chatbots.

Fr Peter George Flynn marks the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels by explaining the Porziuncola indulgence, available this weekend at parish churches everywhere rather than only Franciscan ones. He traces how the privilege travelled from a tiny chapel outside Assisi, through a centuries-long tangle of papal decrees restricting it to friars, poor clares […] L'articolo Catechesis – An Indulgence for Everyone: The Porziuncola – Fr Peter George Flynn OFMConv proviene da Radio Maria.

Fr Peter George Flynn is joined by Fr Patrick Corkery and Edwin Fernandez — two Jesuits — for an episode he titles “the worst decision a Franciscan ever made”: the suppression of the Society of Jesus in 1773 by Pope Clement XIV, himself a Conventual Franciscan. The episode moves between the bond between St Francis […] L'articolo The Franciscan Hour – The Worst Decision a Franciscan Ever Made – Frs Peter George Flynn OFMConv, Patrick Corkery and Edwin Fernandez SJ proviene da Radio Maria.

Ready to rediscover Colorado's statehood story? To commemorate the state's 150th anniversary on August 1, 2026, Lost Highways hit the road for an all-new, three-part series asking what happens to our sense of our state when we rethink its starting points. We're kicking things off with "Expedition 1776," tracking the epic journey of two Franciscan priests through what became Colorado. While the thirteen colonies were busy declaring independence in the East, these two men were leading an expedition through treacherous canyons, surviving on porcupine meat, and relying on Ute guidance to map the rugged American West. They were searching for a shortcut to California, but their journey offers something much bigger: a look at an alternate Western history playing out on a the other side of the continent. Join us in welcoming back hosts Noel Black and Tyler Hill as we explore the empires, the maps, and the "what-ifs" of our statehood story.

Fr Peter George Flynn opens from Croke Park — in his Franciscan habit, giving out Miraculous Medals at the All-Ireland Football Final — including the moment RTÉ cameras zoomed in on a young man in the stands still wearing the medal he had just been handed. The episode takes up John 3:3-8 and the question […] L'articolo Catechesis – Bringing Our Lady to Croke Park – Fr Peter George Flynn OFMConv proviene da Radio Maria.

On a special edition of Connecting the Diocese, host Clint Berge speaks with Bishop Emeritus William Callahan, Father Conrad Targonski, and Sister Sarah Hennessey about how St. Francis of Assisi shaped their vocations and key Franciscan themes: living the Gospel, mission, the San Damiano Cross, the Canticle of the Creatures (its 800th anniversary), providence, joy […]

This special episode initially ran early in 2025 but I wanted to bump it up for those of you who missed it and also because I honestly think Richard Rohr is worthy of a re-listen. If you're not already familiar with Richard Rohr, he's a wonderful Franciscan friar, the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, and one of my most profound teachers. I really loved and highly recommend his book The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage. In this conversation, he helps us to make sense of disorder, evil, anger, and grief—while also helping us to truly grow. For the show notes, head to eliseloehnen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uncover the layered spiritual meaning behind the Lord's Prayer through the wisdom of Saint Francis and Saint Bonaventure. Father Peter George Flynn breaks down the seven petitions, linking them to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and the defeat of deadly sins. Celebrating the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis, this broadcast revitalizes foundational Catholic […] L'articolo The Franciscan Hour – Understanding the Our Father – Frs Peter George Flynn OFMConv proviene da Radio Maria.

This episode picks up right where Part 1 left off, as Jennifer continues her conversation with her friend and longtime travel companion Kirsten Dickerson in her home in London. Kirsten opens up about what came after Raven + Lily - the quiet grief of walking away from something she had built her identity around, and the winding season that followed: a global nonprofit, a string of retreat centers renovated by hand, a painting practice she never expected to fall back in love with, and a handful of countries that eventually led her to a feature-length documentary. It's a conversation about what it looks like to keep saying yes even when the next step isn't clear, and about the people that have been along for the ride the whole way.

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) William discusses the great Franciscan, Saint Bonaventure (Giovanni di Fidanza), Doctor of the Church.  The Seraphim (Burning Ones), are the highest order of Angels before the throne of God.  Saint Bonaventure is called the “Seraphic Doctor” because of his burning love for God

Fr Peter George Flynn turns to Shakespeare's Franciscan friars — more of them than any other religious figure across his 37 plays — moving from the Duke disguised in a habit in Measure for Measure to Friar Lawrence's well-intentioned sleeping potion in Romeo and Juliet. The episode also introduces the real friar operating in London […] L'articolo The Franciscan Hour – Shakespeare's Franciscans – Frs Peter George Flynn OFMConv proviene da Radio Maria.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, July 15, is the Memorial Day of Saint and mystic Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (1221-1274), a thirteenth-century Italian saint, known as the Seraphic Doctor.As the General of the Franciscan Order, he consolidated the institution and was even considered a second founder.Teacher and preacher, he was a unique personality, beloved by God and men alike, who attracted everyone who saw him.Unsurpassed in sanctity, wisdom, and eloquence, he was gifted, as with a skill of accomplishing things. St. Bonaventure had not only a winning disposition, but a heart full of love, pious, charitable, and rich in virtue and wisdom.His contemporaries are said to have believed that no one was "more handsome, more holy, or more learned" than he.In philosophy, he was the principal leader of the Platonic-Augustinian school of Franciscan thought; as such, he stood opposed to the Aristotelianism that was making its way into the schools of the time (represented by Thomas Aquinas).Bonaventure's Life of St. Francis was a favorite book of the Middle Ages.Dante had already included him among the inhabitants of his "Paradise."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• ⁠June 15, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

In today's homily, Fr. Tyler Mentzer, MIC, explores the timeless wisdom of St. Bonaventure, who teaches that Christian perfection comes not through knowledge alone, but through the burning love of Jesus Christ. Discover the Franciscan path of prayer, humility, grace, and total union with God.Fr. Tyler Mentzer reminds us that holiness is not reserved for theologians or mystics. Every Christian is invited to this same journey. The path to perfection is simple, though demanding: reject sin, cultivate humility, live a holy life, pray fervently, meditate on Christ's Passion, and allow God's grace to inflame your heart. As St. Bonaventure teaches, the goal is not merely to know about God, but to become so united with Him that love itself transforms us.Readings for July 15th 2026: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071526.cfm ★ Support this podcast ★

Full Text of Readings Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 391 The Saint of the day is Saint Bonaventure Saint Bonaventure's Story Perhaps not a household name for most people, Saint Bonaventure, nevertheless, played an important role in both the medieval Church and the history of the Franciscan Order. A senior faculty member at the University of Paris, Saint Bonaventure certainly captured the hearts of his students through his academic skills and insights. But more importantly, he captured their hearts through his Franciscan love for Jesus and the Church. Like his model, Saint Francis, Jesus was the center of everything—his teaching, his administration, his writing, and his life. So much so, that he was given the title “Seraphic Doctor.” Born in Bagnoregio in 1221, Saint Bonaventure was baptized John, but received the name Bonaventure when he became a Franciscan at the age of 22. Little is known about his childhood, but we do know that his parents were Giovanni di Fidanza and Maria Ritell. It seems that his father was a physician and a man of means. While Saint Francis died about five years after the saint's birth, he is credited with healing Bonaventure as a boy of a serious illness. Saint Bonaventure's teaching career came to a halt when the Friars elected him to serve as their General Minister. His 17 years of service were not easy as the Order was embroiled in conflicts over the interpretation of poverty. Some friars even ended up in heresy saying that Saint Francis and his community were inaugurating the era of the Holy Spirit which was to replace Jesus, the Church, and Scripture. But because he was a man of prayer and a good administrator, Saint Bonaventure managed to structure the Order through effective legislation. But more importantly, he offered the Friars an organized spirituality based on the vision and insights of Saint Francis. Always a Franciscan at heart and a mystical writer, Bonaventure managed to unite the pastoral, practical aspects of life with the doctrines of the Church. Thus, there is a noticeable warmth to his teachings and writings that make him very appealing. Shortly before he ended his service as General Minister, Pope Gregory X created him a Cardinal and appointed him bishop of Albano. But a little over a year later, while participating in the Second Council of Lyon, Saint Bonaventure died suddenly on July 15, 1274. There is a theory that he was poisoned. Saint Bonaventure left behind a structured and renewed Franciscan Order and a body of work all of which glorifies his major love—Jesus. Reflection Bonaventure so united holiness and theological knowledge that he rose to the heights of mysticism while remaining a very active preacher and teacher, one beloved by all who met him. To know him was to love him; to read him is still for us today to meet a true Franciscan and a gentleman.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

When 18-year-old Clare fled her family to become the world's first Franciscan nun, she committed to a lifetime of poverty, austerity, and caring for the poor. So when a powerful man tried to rewrite all the rules, Clare was faced with an impossible choice - defy the Pope or deny her own conscience. Then when Princess-turned-Abbess Agnes of Bohemia learned of Clare's struggle, she too joined the fray - two nuns against the patriarchy in the fight of their lives. Our guest is Kathleen Brady, award-winning author of Francis and Clare: The Struggles of the Saints of Assisi. Music featured in this episode provided by Elthin, Schola Gregoriana Pragensis, Anonymous III, and Farya Faraji & World Musicians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) William discusses Blessed John Duns Scotus, (ca 1265 – 1308), born in Scotland, brilliant Franciscan theologian, Mariologist, and defender of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Jennifer sits down with her friend and travel companion Kirsten Dickerson, founder of Artist & Nomad, in Kirsten's garden flat in London. Kirsten opens up about the moments that quietly rearranged her life: a family that lost nearly everything, a mother she wasn't sure she could hold onto, and a faith that kept nudging her toward the next unlikely yes - from the sorority halls of Baylor University to the bustling streets of Calcutta. What emerges is the origin story behind the life Kirsten has built. “Noticing leads to wonder. Wonder leads to gratitude.” - Kirsten Dickerson

“Jesus doesn't put burdens on us,” says Jean-Pierre Ducharme, O.F.M. “Jesus invites us into a relationship where we are graced and blessed by God.” Continuing our series on Preaching for Missionary Discipleship, host Ricardo da Silva, S.J. welcomes Jean-Pierre Ducharme, O.F.M., Minister Provincial of the Holy Spirit Province, Canada. He makes the case for homilies that center the relationship Jesus invites us into — one of freedom and joy — rather than dwelling on sin and placing undue burdens on the congregation. Timecodes: 0:00 Preaching shouldn't burden people 4:05 A synodal style of preaching 7:31 Reading: Matthew 13: 21-43; Jesus' parables of the kingdom of heaven 9:26 Jean-Pierre's homily 17:32  A sermon vs. a homily 20:21 All preachers must talk about grace 22:03 Focusing on mission in our preaching 27:45 Homilies should only make one point --- Support this podcast by becoming a subscriber. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠americamagazine.org/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Full Text of Readings Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 384 The Saint of the day is Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions' Story Not much is known of the early life of Emmanuel Ruiz, but details of his heroic death in defense of the faith have come down to us. Born of humble parents in Santander, Spain, he became a Franciscan priest and served as a missionary in Damascus. This was at a time when anti-Christian riots shook Syria and thousands lost their lives in just a short time. Among these were Emmanuel Ruiz, superior of the Franciscan convent, seven other friars, and three laymen. When a menacing crowd came looking for the men, they refused to renounce their faith and become Muslims. The men were subjected to horrible tortures before their martyrdom. Emmanuel Ruiz, his brother Franciscans and the three Maronite laymen were beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1926. Reflection The Church in Syria has known persecution throughout its history. Yet it has produced saints whose blood was shed for the faith. Let us pray for the Church in Syria.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Saturday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Independence Day in the U.S. Optional Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, 1271-1336; given in marriage at the age of 12 to Denis, king of Portugal; she helped pilgrims, strangers, the sick, the poor—in a word, all those whose need came to her notice; Elizabeth of Portugal long sought peace for her husband with God, and was finally rewarded when he gave up his life of sin; after the death of her husband, Elizabeth retired as a Franciscan tertiary to the monastery of the Poor Clares in Coimbra; from there, she brought about a lasting peace between her son Alfonso, now king of Portugal, and his son-in-law, the king of Castile Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/4/26 Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

Full Text of Readings Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 382 The Saint of the day is Saint Elizabeth of Portugal Saint Elizabeth of Portugal's Story Elizabeth of Portugal is usually depicted in royal garb with a dove or an olive branch. At her birth in 1271, her father Pedro III, future king of Aragon, was reconciled with his father James, the reigning monarch. This proved to be a portent of things to come. Under the healthful influences surrounding her early years, she quickly learned self-discipline and acquired a taste for spirituality. Thus fortunately prepared, Elizabeth was able to meet the challenge when at the age of 12, she was given in marriage to Denis, king of Portugal. She was able to establish for herself a pattern of life conducive to growth in God's love, not merely through her exercises of piety, including daily Mass, but also through her exercise of charity, by which she was able to befriend and help pilgrims, strangers, the sick, the poor—in a word, all those whose need came to her notice. At the same time she remained devoted to her husband, whose infidelity to her was a scandal to the kingdom. Denis, too, was the object of many of her peace endeavors. Elizabeth of Portugal long sought peace for him with God, and was finally rewarded when he gave up his life of sin. She repeatedly sought and effected peace between the king and their rebellious son Alfonso, who thought that he was passed over to favor the king's illegitimate children. She acted as peacemaker in the struggle between Ferdinand, king of Aragon, and his cousin James, who claimed the crown. And finally from Coimbra, where she had retired as a Franciscan tertiary to the monastery of the Poor Clares after the death of her husband, Elizabeth set out and was able to bring about a lasting peace between her son Alfonso, now king of Portugal, and his son-in-law, the king of Castile. Reflection The work of promoting peace is anything but a calm and quiet endeavor. It takes a clear mind, a steady spirit and a brave soul to intervene between people whose emotions are so aroused that they are ready to destroy one another. This is all the more true of a woman in the early 14th century. But Elizabeth had a deep and sincere love and sympathy for humankind, an almost total lack of concern for herself, and an abiding confidence in God. These were the tools of her success.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Kara talks to Father Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan friar, theologian and AI ethics adviser to the Vatican, about why AI has become a central concern for the Catholic Church. They discuss Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on AI, the Church's role in shaping a more human-centered debate and why Benanti sees today's AI race as a question of power, democracy, belief and human dignity. Kara presses him on Silicon Valley's influence, Peter Thiel's views on the Antichrist and whether the Vatican can serve as a public square for global AI debate. Plus: can the Church help unite countries around shared global safeguards? Come see Kara live in DC. She is sitting down with Former Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on July 16 at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center, and you can be in the room. ⁠Register now⁠. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the supernatural seeps into our world, it doesn't just leave behind fear—it can also leave sickness. From shadowy visitors to ominous dreams, some eerie paranormal encounters suggest that the price of witnessing the unknown may be paid in flesh and blood.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/SupernaturalSicknessREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/hp3ua63cFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: When the supernatural intrudes into our lives, it's not just our minds that are affected. We'll delve into a few bizarre cases where individuals fell gravely ill after brushes with the paranormal. Is it coincidence? Or something more sinister? And could these illnesses be due to the paranormal literally draining us of life? (Supernaturally Sick, Paranormally Poisoned) *** Helen Duncan made a living from conducting séances—until her uncanny knowledge of classified World War II tragedies spooked British authorities. (Britain's Last Witch) *** Jeremy Bentham was a philosopher whose ideas about mortality and utility extended beyond death. Bentham's wish for his body to be preserved and displayed as an "auto-icon" – so it could be seen publicly by all. And while his wishes were granted, it came with a few hiccups along the way… mostly with his poor head. (The Strange Story of Mr. Bentham's Corpse) *** Annie Dorman was discovered lifeless with a gunshot wound, sending shockwaves through her tight-knit community. Suicide seemed improbable, leaving detectives baffled and family perplexed. Was it a crime of passion, an accident, murder… or truly suicide? In a similar case, just a few years later, in the serene countryside of Greenwich, New York, the lifeless form of Maggie Hourigan is found, floating in a tranquil pool, speculation runs rampant. Were these cases suicide, as hastily concluded, horrible accidents… or sinister murders? (The Mysterious Deaths of Annie Dorman and Maggie Hourigan) *** AND MORE!CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:02:11.442 = Show Open00:04:40.830 = Supernaturally Sick, Paranormally Poisoned00:21:39.741 = The Mysterious Deaths of Annie Dorman and Maggie Hourigan ***00:34:55.265 = Britain's Last Witch ***00:43:19.651 = The Strange Story of Mr. Bentham's Corpse00:54:21.727 = Eccentric Habits of History's Elite ***01:04:25.454 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Supernaturally Sick, Paranormally Poisoned” by Nick Redfern for Mysterious Universe:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/6bu93dju“The Mysterious Deaths of Annie Dorman and Maggie Hourigan” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder By Gaslight:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/meu37k4m; https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4y9mn9a4“The Strange Story of Mr. Bentham's Corpse” by Melissa Sartore for Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yt6uetju“Britain's Last Witch” by Parissa Djangi for National Geographic: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8by87t“Eccentric Habits of History's Elite” by John Munoz for ListVerse: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdh2dw3x(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: April 17, 2024Weird Darkness gathers five accounts in this episode: people who fell gravely ill within days of a paranormal encounter, two unsolved deaths of young women in the late nineteenth century, a wartime medium jailed for witchcraft, a philosopher who arranged to have his own corpse put on permanent display, and the private oddities of history's most famous figures.It opens with the argument that anemia and anorexia-like wasting can follow a paranormal encounter within hours or days. The Franciscan monk Joseph McCabe, who died in 1955, catalogued dozens of people who developed anemia soon after nighttime visits he blamed on the Mesopotamian demons Lilu and Lilitu. Albert Bender, the Bridgeport, Connecticut man who launched the Men in Black mystery in the early 1950s, endured migraines, stomach pain, memory lapses, and sharp weight loss after three phantom figures ordered him to drop his UFO research, then recovered, married, and lived to 94. In 1982, a fourteen-year-old named Robbie watched a flat black shadow crawl across his bedroom ceiling in Beckenham, Kent, was hospitalized with meningitis, and months later collapsed from acute anemia. Jim Harpur opened his door to two black-eyed children outside Orlando, Florida in March 2008 and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes three weeks afterward. In Nova Scotia, Michelle came down with severe ulcerative colitis two days after a vivid Slenderman dream in January 2017. The longest case belongs to Alison, a seventeen-year-old in Texas who shed roughly twenty pounds in six weeks in 1998 while a tall, pale Woman in Black appeared at her bedside each night, starting days after she and two friends used a Ouija board; sea salt and sage spread through the house ended the visits, and she recovered.From there, the episode turns to two deaths that juries could not explain. Maggie Hourigan, a 19-year-old servant in Greenwich, New York, was found floating face-down in a roadside pool on October 20, 1889; a first autopsy by Dr. S. Walter Scott ruled drowning and suicide, but a second team found a head wound inflicted before she entered the water, and Dr. Scott later sued the New York Sun for libel over its coverage and won a $6,000 settlement. Eight years later and a state away, 18-year-old Annie Dorman was found shot dead in her half-brother John Dorman's farmhouse near Cobb's Creek, Philadelphia, on September 1, 1897; the rusty pistol that killed her sat unused on a high shelf the five-foot-tall victim could not reach without standing on furniture that had not been moved, it had been fired five times, and the coroner ruled she was shot by a person unknown.Next comes Helen Duncan, the Scottish medium nicknamed Hellish Nell, who produced ectoplasm and channeled spirit guides named Peggy and Albert at séances across wartime Britain. In May 1941 she announced the loss of the H.M.S. Hood before the public knew, and that November she described the sinking of the H.M.S. Barham, which the government withheld until January 1942. Authorities arrested her at a Portsmouth sitting and tried her at London's Old Bailey beginning March 23, 1944 under the 1735 Witchcraft Act; a jury convicted her on April 3, and she became the last person imprisoned under that law, serving her sentence at Holloway Prison while Winston Churchill dismissed the case as obsolete tomfoolery.After that, the episode examines Jeremy Bentham, the English philosopher born in 1748 who asked that his body be dissected, preserved, and displayed as what he called an auto-icon. Dr. Thomas Southwood Smith carried out the dissection three days after Bentham died on June 6, 1832, but his attempt to preserve the head with sulfuric acid and an air pump left it leathery and discolored, so a wax replacement by the French artist Jacques Talrich was fitted to the seated skeleton. The figure went on display at University College London, where students stole the real, shriveled head in 1975 and returned it after the university paid £10 against their £100 charity demand; the head later served as a soccer ball before being moved to a climate-controlled storeroom in 2002.The episode closes with ten eccentric routines of the wealthy and famous. Howard Hughes wore tissue boxes over his feet and wrote a manual instructing employees how to prepare and serve a can of peaches; Nikola Tesla fed pigeons in New York parks and called one white pigeon his muse; Salvador Dalí napped in a chair holding a key over a metal plate so its clatter would wake him; Marlon Brando dropped ice into hot coffee to drink it at once; Queen Elizabeth I whitened her skin with a mix of white lead and vinegar; Andy Warhol ate McDonald's nearly every day for two decades; Benjamin Franklin sat naked by open windows for what he called air baths; Michael Jackson traveled with a pet elephant named Gypsy on his Bad tour; Charles Dickens walked miles through London at night to feed his writing; and Albert Einstein gave up socks because his shoes already covered his feet.

Send us Fan MailWe trace the life of St. Junipero Serra from Mallorca to Mexico to Alta California, following the spiritual source that powers his missionary zeal. We keep coming back to the same foundation he lived by: the Eucharist, the sacraments, Marian devotion, and a daily willingness to carry the Cross. • Serra's legacy as a missionary and Apostle of California • Early life in Mallorca and a vocation shaped by Franciscan poverty • Eucharistic devotion and daily Mass as the center of mission • Marian devotion as guidance and strength in hardship • The cost of evangelization through suffering, travel, and opposition • Mission work in Mexico, catechesis, and compassionate ministry • Arrival in Alta California and the founding of Mission San Diego de Alcalá • The mission system as a spiritual and practical framework for forming communities Visit our online store to find the tools you need to grow in holiness. Let's journey in faith, together.Saint Junipero Serra Store ItemsOpen by Steve Bailey Support the showJourneys of Faith brings you Super Saints PodcastsChat with US 24/7 Ask us anything https://chatting.page/mjxs9aerrtgm3lmpndlcepmbyosntrjnDownload Journeys of Faith App for Iphone or Android FREE https://journeysoffaith.com/pages/download-our-appPlease consider subscribing to this podcast or making a donation to Journeys of Faith Help us Grow!Journeys of Faith is blessed to provide Catholic media, including podcasts and inspirational content, free of charge across multiple media platforms for viewers and listeners around the world. While access to this content remains free, there are significant and continually increasing costs associated with producing, hosting, and distributing these programs. Your support helps us continue sharing the beauty of the Catholic faith with souls everywhere. We want to reach more souls and you can help us do that by becoming a Mission Angel. Make a Donation Any AmountRefer a FriendYou can help us ...

Wednesday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Junipero Serra, 1713-1784; Spanish priest and Franciscan missionary; an explorer and colonist of California, and founder of the missions of California; his missionary efforts earned him the title of “Apostle of California” and “The Father of the California Missions” Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/1/26 Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34

Full Text of Readings Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 379 The Saint of the day is Saint Junipero Serra Saint Junipero Serra's Story In 1776, when the American Revolution was beginning in the east, another part of the future United States was being born in California. That year a gray-robed Franciscan founded Mission San Juan Capistrano, now famous for its annually returning swallows. San Juan was the seventh of nine missions established under the direction of this indomitable Spaniard. Born on Spain's island of Mallorca, Serra entered the Franciscan Order taking the name of Saint Francis' childlike companion, Brother Juniper. Until he was 35, he spent most of his time in the classroom—first as a student of theology and then as a professor. He also became famous for his preaching. Suddenly he gave it all up and followed the yearning that had begun years before when he heard about the missionary work of Saint Francis Solano in South America. Junipero's desire was to convert native peoples in the New World. Arriving by ship at Vera Cruz, Mexico, he and a companion walked the 250 miles to Mexico City. On the way Junipero's left leg became infected by an insect bite and would remain a cross—sometimes life-threatening—for the rest of his life. For 18 years, he worked in central Mexico and in the Baja Peninsula. He became president of the missions there. Enter politics: the threat of a Russian invasion south from Alaska. Charles III of Spain ordered an expedition to beat Russia to the territory. So the last two conquistadors—one military, one spiritual—began their quest. José de Galvez persuaded Junipero Serra to set out with him for present-day Monterey, California. The first mission founded after the 900-mile journey north was San Diego in 1769. That year a shortage of food almost canceled the expedition. Vowing to stay with the local people, Junipero Serra and another friar began a novena in preparation for St. Joseph's day, March 19, the scheduled day of departure. On that day, the relief ship arrived. Other missions followed: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luís Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782). Twelve more were founded after Serra's death. Junipero made the long trip to Mexico City to settle great differences with the military commander. He arrived at the point of death. The outcome was substantially what Junipero Serra sought: the famous “Regulation” protecting the Indians and the missions. It was the basis for the first significant legislation in California, a “Bill of Rights” for Native Americans. Because the Native Americans were living a nonhuman life from the Spanish point of view, the friars were made their legal guardians. The Native Americans were kept at the mission after baptism lest they be corrupted in their former haunts—a move that has brought cries of “injustice” from some moderns. Junipero Serra's missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death from non-Christian native peoples. Through it all his unquenchable zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight till dawn. He baptized over 6,000 people and confirmed 5,000. His travels would have circled the globe. He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief at his death. He is buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel, and was beatified in 1988. Pope Francis canonized him in Washington, D.C., on September 23, 2015. Reflection The word that best describes Junipero Serra is zeal. It was a spirit that came from his deep prayer and dauntless will. “Always forward, never back” was his motto. His work bore fruit for 50 years after his death as the rest of the missions were founded in a kind of Christian communal living by the Indians. When both Mexican and American greed caused the secularization of the missions, the Chumash people went back to what they had been—God again writing straight with crooked lines.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619) was a Preacher, spiritual director, missionary, diplomat, confidant of princes and emperors, Papal Emissary, military chaplain, Provincial Vicar of the Capuchins, and Vicar General of the Franciscan order. Called the greatest preacher in the history of the Church, during his lifetime people treated him like a rockstar. He was also one of the most prominent Catholic apologists of his generation. Links Excerpt from The Image of Lutheranism: https://romanseraphicbooks.substack.com/p/st-lawrence-of-brindisi-vs-lutheranism Excerpt from The Mariale: https://www.franciscan-archive.org/laurentius/lau01005.html Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. Lawrence of Brindisi (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9578&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2658399 SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/ Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/  

Of the millions of victims of the Black Death, one was a teenager named Joseph ben Meir Abulafia, who died of the plague in Toledo in 1349 alongside his new wife. His tombstone was inscribed as a conversation with the dead: "I am the man who has seen desolation and destruction, blood and pestilence. The days of my youth were cut short suddenly, in the prime of my life." His unnamed mother survived, left alone and childless, her days filled with "bitter weeping." That inscription is one of seventy-six medieval tombstones from Toledo's Jewish cemetery that preserve the most personal voices of history's deadliest pandemic, a catastrophe that killed an estimated 100 million people in six years and whose aftershocks lasted for centuries. Today's guest is Thomas Asbridge, author of The Black Death: A Global History of Humanity's Most Devastating Pandemic. We discuss how a minor Venetian merchant's business papers, preserved by his widow in a convent, reveal that the medieval trade networks which kept cities fed were also purpose-built to spread epidemic disease across thousands of miles. We look at why the Byzantine emperor wrote about his fourteen-year-old son's death with clinical detachment, how a Franciscan intellectual who had questioned whether other worlds existed died carrying holy water through plague-ravaged Messina, and why the only European king killed by the Black Death was besieging Gibraltar with dreams of marching to Jerusalem when the plague found his camp. The pandemic's most devastating long-term consequences were felt not in Europe but in the Muslim world, where the once-invincible Mamluk Empire was broken by recurrent outbreaks and eventually conquered by the Ottomans, and that this forgotten collapse may have been the true hinge point that set the West on its path to global dominance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) William discusses the first Franciscan Martyrs, who journeyed to preach the Gospel to the Saracens, were ordered to leave by the Muslim Sultan, refused and were then beheaded for the Faith

This year commemorates 800 years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, and Father Dave welcomes Jon Sweeney to discuss this saint's lessons for the modern world. Jon is Religion Editor and Associate Publisher at Monkfish Publishing, as well as the author of many books on Franciscan spirituality including his latest, "Experiencing God: 36 Ways According to Saint Francis of Assisi."  

Full Text of Readings Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 364 The Saint of the day is Saint Anthony of Padua Saint Anthony of Padua's Story The gospel call to leave everything and follow Christ was the rule of Saint Anthony of Padua's life. Over and over again, God called him to something new in his plan. Every time Anthony responded with renewed zeal and self-sacrificing to serve his Lord Jesus more completely. His journey as the servant of God began as a very young man when he decided to join the Augustinians in Lisbon, giving up a future of wealth and power to be a servant of God. Later when the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs went through the Portuguese city where he was stationed, he was again filled with an intense longing to be one of those closest to Jesus himself: those who die for the Good News. So, Saint Anthony of Padua entered the Franciscan Order and set out to preach to the Moors. But an illness prevented him from achieving that goal. He went to Italy and was stationed in a small hermitage where he spent most of his time praying, reading the Scriptures and doing menial tasks. The call of God came again at an ordination where no one was prepared to speak. The humble and obedient Anthony hesitantly accepted the task. The years of searching for Jesus in prayer, of reading sacred Scripture and of serving him in poverty, chastity, and obedience had prepared Saint Anthony of Padua to allow the Spirit to use his talents. Anthony's sermon was astounding to those who expected an unprepared speech and knew not the Spirit's power to give people words. Recognized as a great man of prayer and a great Scripture and theology scholar, Saint Anthony of Padua became the first friar to teach theology to the other friars. Soon he was called from that post to preach to the Albigensians in France, using his profound knowledge of Scripture and theology to convert and reassure those who had been misled by their denial of Christ's divinity and of the sacraments. After he led the friars in northern Italy for three years, he made his headquarters in the city of Padua. He resumed his preaching and began writing sermon notes to help other preachers. In the spring of 1231 Saint Anthony of Padua withdrew to a friary at Camposampiero where he had a sort of treehouse built as a hermitage. There he prayed and prepared for death. On June 13, he became very ill and asked to be taken back to Padua, where he died after receiving the last sacraments. Saint Anthony of Padua was canonized less than a year later and named a Doctor of the Church in 1946. Reflection Saint Anthony of Padua should be the patron of those who find their lives completely uprooted and set in a new and unexpected direction. Like all saints, he is a perfect example of turning one's life completely over to Christ. God did with Anthony as God pleased—and what God pleased was a life of spiritual power and brilliance that still attracts admiration today. He whom popular devotion has nominated as finder of lost objects found himself by losing himself totally to the providence of God. May Saint Anthony's holy life help us see with renewed faith God's forgiveness and unconditional love for each of us! If we as believers understood as clearly as Anthony the depth of God's love for each of us, surely our love for Christ would grow stronger.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of Readings Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Lectionary: 170 The Saint of the day is Blessed Jolenta of Poland Blessed Jolenta of Poland's Story Blessed Jolenta was the daughter of Bela IV, King of Hungary. Her sister, St. Kunigunde, was married to the Duke of Poland. Jolenta was sent to Poland where her sister was to supervise her education. Eventually married to Boleslaus, the Duke of Greater Poland, Jolenta was able to use her material means to assist the poor, the sick, widows, and orphans. Her husband joined her in building hospitals, convents, and churches so that he was surnamed “the Pious.” Upon the death of her husband and the marriage of two of her daughters, Jolenta and her third daughter entered the convent of the Poor Clares. War forced Jolenta to move to another convent where despite her reluctance, she was made abbess. So well did Jolenta serve her Franciscan sisters by word and example, that her fame and good works continued to spread beyond the walls of the cloister. Her favorite devotion was the Passion of Christ. Indeed, Jesus appeared to her, telling her of her coming death. Many miracles, down to our own day, are said to have occurred at her grave. Reflection Blessed Jolenta's story begins like a fairy tale. But fairy tales seldom include the death of the prince and never end with the princess living out her days in a convent. Nonetheless, Jolenta's story has a happy ending. Her life of charity toward the poor and devotion to her Franciscan sisters indeed brought her to a “happily ever after.” Our lives may be short on fairy tale elements, but our generosity and our willingness to serve well the people we live with lead us toward an ending happier than we can imagine.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619) was one of the early Capuchins, the first Capuchin to be named a Doctor of the Church, and the third Franciscan so named, after St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Bonaventure. Just as the Discalced Carmelites were reformers within the Carmelite order, the Capuchins were reformers within the Franciscan order. St. Lawrence was also a popular preacher, a genius scholar, with a command of at least 10 languages, and the leading Catholic apologist of his day. Links Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. Lawrence of Brindisi (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9578&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2658399 Was the Date for Christmas Originally a Pagan Holiday? Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/fzjIsL1FGEc?si=P6Yt8WvH-BEjQ3E0 SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/ Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/    

This episode originally aired February 8, 2015. Contemporary theologian and author Father Richard Rohr discusses how we can reconnect to our true self by overcoming the many ways in which our ego blocks our path. A Franciscan priest for more than 40 years and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Father Richard has firsthand understanding of how silence and meditation, deeper spiritual intuition and the inherent experience of love can lead to transformational discoveries within oneself. According to Father Richard, within each of us lies the true self and the false self. The true self, he says, is what religion often calls the soul—your eternal essence. The false self is the persona you create for yourself. Father Richard believes your goal in life is to find and manifest your true self. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.