Podcasts about Franciscans

Patrick talks to several callers and addresses listeners' questions including: Theresa wants to know about Ayurvedic Body diet and how Catholics might look at this, Cayden wants to know why the Orthodox Church has more books in their bible than Catholics, and Michaela wants to know, what are Dominicans and Franciscans? In addition, Vincent brings up King Charles's visit to the Vatican and wonders if this is a sign that England is coming back to the Catholic Church. Patrick explains whether this is or is not likely. Theresa - Do you know anything Ayurvedic Body type diet and if that is okay for Catholics to do? Lisette - I went to kneel for the Eucharist and I was told to get up. Cayden - Why does the Orthodox Church have more books in the bible than Catholics? Michaela - What are Dominicans or Franciscans? Adam - Do Seventh Day Adventists believe that Jesus and St. Michael are the same people? Vincent - King Charles of England visits the Vatican. Is this a sign that England is coming back it to the Catholic Church?

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Cedarcrest Conference Centre in Belfountain, Ontario, on October 10, 2025.Today this has become a response for us in the Way of the Cross as we are introduced to each station. We are meant to look at the representation. Sometimes a picture, sometimes a painting. Sometimes just a simple cross.V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise YouR: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. (Rise)We will say it today. This idea of the 14 stations started by those who could not journey to Jerusalem to spiritually participate in Christ's Passion. Pilgrims in Jerusalem would process to various locations, praying and reading scripture at each spot. Franciscans became the custodians of the Holy Land sites. They would start these virtual representations in churches in Europe. They became standardized to 14 stations. 

Founder of the Franciscans

St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) continued the legacy of St. Anthony and was the Franciscan counterpart to Aquinas. He's called the second founder of the Franciscans, and the Prince of the Mystics, because he continued the mystical tradition of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and he preserves for us the mystical spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi, as well as being an important influence on later mystics, such as St. John of the Cross. Links Check out this three-part series on St. Bonaventure by Pope Benedict XVI (from 2010) Part 1: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9267 Part 2: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9271 Part 3: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9284 The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on St. Bonaventure: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2121-2/bonaventure.aspx SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/collections/new-releases/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian?variant=46258102337713 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/  

Learn how the "Mendicant Orders" sent monks and nuns into the cities to preach, teach, and serve the poor. 

Send us a textIndulgences are an important part of the Protestant-Catholic disagreement and can radically transform your faith and relation with God. In this video, Fr. James Dominic Rooney joins us to describe what indulgences are, arguments for indulgences, and how Christians can approach them. Fr. James Dominic Rooney is an assistant professor of philosophy at Hong Kong Baptist University, and my work is primarily in metaphysics, medieval philosophy, Chinese philosophy, and philosophy of religion. Support the show--------------------------If you would want to support the channel and what I am doing, please follow me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/christianityforall Where else to find Josh Yen: Philosophy YT: https://bit.ly/philforallEducation: https://bit.ly/joshyenBuisness: https://bit.ly/logoseduMy Website: https://joshuajwyen.com/

St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) was the friend and colleague of St. Thomas Aquinas. What Aquinas was to the Dominicans, Bonaventure was to the Franciscans. St. Bonaventure is known as the second founder of the Franciscans because he was important for the organization of the order, and for bringing forth and expanding upon St. Francis' spirituality.  Links Check out this three-part series on St. Bonaventure by Pope Benedict XVI (from 2010) Part 1: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9267 Part 2: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9271 Part 3: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9284 The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on St. Bonaventure: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2121-2/bonaventure.aspx SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian 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/  

Wednesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Apollinaris Franco; born in Old Castile, Spain, educated in law at Salamanca; he entered the Franciscans, and was sent to Japan in 1614; he served as superior of the Franciscan Mission until his arrest in 1617; he was imprisoned in Omura until 1622, and then was burned alive Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 9/10/25 Gospel: Luke 6:20-26

In this episode Scott treks thru the history of how an order of Franciscans sisters, and an F5 tornado, helped bring about the world famous Mayo Clinic.To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek)Thank you for your support!

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Texas democrats in Indiana call for state action to counter Texas GOP redistricting, as Newsom prepares November ballot measure; San Franciscans protest Israeli killing of Al Jazeera journalists, UN calls it grave breach of international law; Bernie Sanders announces measure to reverse Trump cuts to Social Security, on eve of program's 90th anniversary; MALDEF sues to challenge scholarship revocation of transgender athlete; United Educators San Francisco rally to protest payroll problems that left some educators unpaid; LA hosts CA mayors to discuss impact of ICE raids on their communities; Federal immigration policies threaten patient care and medical training, according to report in Journal of the American Medical Association The post Texas democrats call for state action to counter Texas redistricting; San Franciscans protest Israeli killing of Al Jazeera journalists – August 13, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, August 8, is the Memorial of St. Dominic of Guzman, who received the devotion of the Holy Rosary from the Blessed Virgin Mary. To St. Dominic is attributed the origin and spread of the holy rosary.As many Popes have historically stated, St. Dominic received the Rosary as a gift from the Blessed Virgin Mary during a vision in a forest near Toulouse, France, in 1206, on the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, to help combat the Albigensian heresy, which denied the goodness of the material world and the divinity of Christ.The saint and his Dominican Order, which he founded in 1215, actively promoted the Rosary, encouraging its use for both personal prayer and communal practice. He used it as a tool for evangelization and spiritual growth.Since the 15th and 16th centuries, many Dominicans have spread this devotion and remain to this day the chief promoters of the devotion around the world.For example, it was a Dominican pope, St. Pius V, who promoted the Rosary and instituted the Feast of Our Lady of Victory in 1571 (later renamed the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary in 1573 by Pope Gregory XIII).The Rosary remains a staple of Roman Catholic piety and is a favorite of many Catholics around the world.Alongside the Franciscans, the Dominicans became the most powerful Order in medieval times, giving the Church illustrious preachers, St. Vincent Ferrer, and contemplatives, Sts. Thomas of Aquinas and Pius V, and contributing immeasurably to maintaining the purity of the faith.Through the example of apostolic poverty and the preaching of the word of God, the Dominican Order was to lead men to Christ.Today, it's also important to remember that St. Dominic's mother, Blessed Jane (Joan or Joanna) of Aza, was beatified by Pope Leo XII in 1828, recognized for her example of motherly holiness, her charity to the poor, and miracles.As preserved in the Breviary: "During pregnancy, Dominic's mother dreamed she was carrying in her womb a little dog that held a burning torch between its teeth; and when she had given birth, it set the whole world on fire. By this dream, it was made manifest beforehand how Dominic would inflame the nations to the practice of Christian virtue through the brightness of his holy example and the fiery ardor of his preaching." The second son of Blessed Jane (Joan or Joanna) of Aza, Mannes, would follow his younger brother in the Order of Preachers, and later beatified.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!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, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Singing Our Faith: Ubi Caritas Deus Ibi EstScripture: Psalm 107:1–7, 33–43 (UMH 830)This week at Central UMC, we welcomed guest preacher Rev. Joanna Dietz, a deacon who ministers in the community—often at farmer's markets and public gatherings—where she makes visible the steadfast love of God.Rev. Joanna invited us to reflect on Psalm 107, a rich song of thanksgiving and reversal: deserts become springs, the lowly are lifted up, and the weary are led to a place to dwell. Through the lens of monastic life—from the chants of the Benedictines to the humble service of the Franciscans—we explored the tension and balance between personal holiness and social holiness.We learned how the early monks not only memorized all 150 psalms through chant but also lived out their faith through daily labor, hospitality, and care for the poor. Their monasteries became oases in the wilderness—places of song, prayer, and service.Rev. Joanna reminded us that in today's world of doomscrolling, division, and despair, we are still called to create oases of community and compassion. Like the psalmists, we name the desert places—loneliness, hunger, injustice—and trust in God's transforming love to bring about healing and abundance. Each of us is invited to consider the places we're called to act, speak out, and stand in solidarity with those on the margins.This is the rhythm of grace: worship and justice, prayer and protest, solitude and service. The question is not just How is it with your soul? but also How is it with your neighbor?

Fr. Christopher Walsh joins Patrick to discuss the Spirituality of St. Ignatius (3:25) Who was St. Ignatius of Loyola? What was his role in the Catholic Country reformation? What are the spiritual exercises? (18:45) Frank - I've been out there 42 years. It's been the biggest help of my life. It has meant so much to me and my life. (21:14) Break 1 Why are retreats helpful for us in our lives? (25:23) Elizabeth - I was involved in a program recently. It's Ignition. It's through the Los Altos retreat center. What is the missionary spirit of Saint Ignatius? (34:46) Break 2 Carlos - I never went on an Ignatian retreat, but went to Formed and had Franciscans for teachers. Jesuits in college. Asked for proof that God exists...proved the existence using Thomas Aquinas. What is the importance of education in Ignatian spirituality? (41:16) what are the Ignatian Rules for Discernment? What are some of the prayers of Saint Ignatius? Resources: The Ignatian Adventure - By: Kevin O'Brien, SJ https://store.loyolapress.com/the-ignatian-adventure

A new poll by the Chronicle reveals that about three quarters of San Franciscans are satisfied with Mayor Lurie's performance so far. For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Margie Shafer spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 388The Saint of the day is Saints John Jones and John WallSaint John Jones’ and Saint John Wall’s stories These two friars were martyred in England in the 16th and 17th centuries for refusing to deny their faith. John Jones was Welsh. He was ordained a diocesan priest and was twice imprisoned for administering the sacraments before leaving England in 1590. He joined the Franciscans at the age of 60 and returned to England three years later while Queen Elizabeth I was at the height of her power. John ministered to Catholics in the English countryside until his imprisonment in 1596. He was condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. John was executed on July 12, 1598. John Wall was born in England but was educated at the English College of Douai, Belgium. Ordained in Rome in 1648, he entered the Franciscans in Douai several years later. In 1656 he returned to work secretly in England. In 1678, Titus Oates worked many English people into a frenzy over an alleged papal plot to murder the king and restore Catholicism in that country. In that year Catholics were legally excluded from Parliament, a law which was not repealed until 1829. John Wall was arrested and imprisoned in 1678, and was executed the following year. John Jones and John Wall were canonized in 1970. Reflection Every martyr knows how to save his/her life and yet refuses to do so. A public repudiation of the faith would save any of them. But some things are more precious than life itself. These martyrs prove that their 20th-century countryman, C. S. Lewis, was correct in saying that courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, that is, at the point of highest reality. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsTuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 384The Saint of the day is Saint Gregory Grassi and CompanionsSaint Gregory Grassi and Companions’ Story Christian missionaries have often gotten caught in the crossfire of wars against their own countries. When the governments of Britain, Germany, Russia, and France forced substantial territorial concessions from the Chinese in 1898, anti-foreign sentiment grew very strong among many Chinese people. Gregory Grassi was born in Italy in 1823, ordained in 1856, and sent to China five years later. Gregory was later ordained bishop of North Shanxi. With 14 other European missionaries and 14 Chinese religious, he was martyred during the short but bloody Boxer Uprising of 1900. Twenty-six of these martyrs were arrested on the orders of Yu Hsien, the governor of Shanxi province. They were hacked to death on July 9, 1900. Five of them were Friars Minor; seven were Franciscan Missionaries of Mary—the first martyrs of their congregation. Seven were Chinese seminarians and Secular Franciscans; four martyrs were Chinese laymen and Secular Franciscans. The other three Chinese laymen killed in Shanxi simply worked for the Franciscans and were rounded up with all the others. Three Italian Franciscans were martyred that same week in the province of Hunan. All these martyrs were beatified in 1946, and were among the 120 martyrs canonized in 2000. Reflection Martyrdom is the occupational hazard of missionaries. Throughout China during the Boxer Uprising, five bishops, 50 priests, two brothers, 15 sisters and 40,000 Chinese Christians were killed. The 146,575 Catholics served by the Franciscans in China in 1906 had grown to 303,760 by 1924, and were served by 282 Franciscans and 174 local priests. Great sacrifices often bring great results. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 383The Saint of the day is Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and CompanionsBlessed 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, 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, 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

Korzo jumps around to a few topics including the Iran/Israel ceasefire, an article about Lake Minnetonka from a San Francisco outlet, a TikTok user snooping on Matt Gaetz's texts during a flight, and the slumping Twins during a visit with with Audra Martin of FanDuel sports.

Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, 1195-1231; joined the Augustinians at a young age, and then the Franciscans; he became recognized as a great man of prayer and a great Scripture and theology scholar, Anthony became the first friar to teach theology to the other friars; soon, he was called to preach to the Albigensians in France; after leading the friars in northern Italy for three years, he made Padua his headquarters;in the spring of 1231 Anthony withdrew to a friary at Camposampiero where he had a sort of treehouse built as a hermitage; he fell ill on June 13, 1231, and died at Padua Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/13/25 Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32

Full Text of ReadingsTuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 360The Saint of the day is Saint JoachimaSaint Joachima's Story Born into an aristocratic family in Barcelona, Spain, Joachima was 12 when she expressed a desire to become a Carmelite nun. But her life took an altogether different turn at 16 with her marriage to a young lawyer, Theodore de Mas. Both deeply devout, they became secular Franciscans. During their 17 years of married life they raised eight children. The normalcy of their family life was interrupted when Napoleon invaded Spain. Joachima had to flee with the children; Theodore remained behind and died. Though Joachima re-experienced a desire to enter a religious community, she attended to her duties as a mother. At the same time, the young widow led a life of austerity and chose to wear the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis as her ordinary dress. She spent much time in prayer and visiting the sick. Four years later, with some of her children now married and younger ones under their care, Joachima confessed her desire to a priest to join a religious order. With his encouragement, she established the Carmelite Sisters of Charity. In the midst of the fratricidal wars occurring at the time, Joachima was briefly imprisoned and later exiled to France for several years. Sickness ultimately compelled her to resign as superior of her order. Over the next four years she slowly succumbed to paralysis, which caused her to die by inches. At her death in 1854 at the age of 71, Joachima was known and admired for her high degree of prayer, deep trust in God, and selfless charity. Joachima was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1940, and canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1959. Her liturgical feast is celebrated on August 28. Reflection Joachima understands loss. She lost the home where her children grew up, her husband, and finally her health. As the power to move and care for her own needs slowly ebbed away, this woman who had all her life cared for others became wholly dependent; she required help with life's simplest tasks. When our own lives go spinning out of control, when illness and bereavement and financial hardship strike, all we can do is cling to the belief that sustained Joachima: God watches over us always. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

BTW UNIATE OCA Theoretical CATHOLIC CONTRACEPTION official statement Inspired by Amish Bishops, Franciscans branch theories and Pastoral Benedictine brothers.

00:00-25:00: St. Bonaventure basketball legend Jim Baron chats about the impact of 1976-77 as a player and 1999-2000 as a head coach on his life and career, how big the NIT was back in the day, his sons being involved in the game, his Bonaventure experience as a student athlete with the Franciscans and the community and more. Plus, when he fell in love with the game on the streets of New York City, relationship building on and off the court and coaching against the Dream Team.

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Fifth Week of Easter Lectionary: 285The Saint of the day is Saint Theophilus of CorteSaint Theophilus of Corte's Story If we expect saints to do marvelous things continually and to leave us many memorable quotes, we are bound to be disappointed with Saint Theophilus. The mystery of God's grace in a person's life, however, has a beauty all its own. Theophilus was born in Corsica of rich and noble parents. As a young man, he entered the Franciscans and soon showed his love for solitude and prayer. After admirably completing his studies, he was ordained and assigned to a retreat house near Subiaco. Inspired by the austere life of the Franciscans there, he founded other such houses in Corsica and Tuscany. Over the years, he became famous for his preaching as well as his missionary efforts. Though he was always somewhat sickly, Theophilus generously served the needs of God's people in the confessional, in the sickroom, and at the graveside. Worn out by his labors, he died on June 17, 1740. He was canonized in 1930. Reflection There is a certain dynamism in all the saints that prompts them to find ever more selfless ways of responding to God's grace. As time went on, Theophilus gave more and more single-hearted service to God and to God's sons and daughters. Honoring the saints will make no sense unless we are thus drawn to live as generously as they did. Their holiness can never substitute for our own. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text!Welcome to the ad-free & extended version of Episode 77! As a premium member, we thank you for supporting the podcast.What if I told you that there is an 18th-century painting of the Virgin Mary, armed with an Aztec weapon and surrounded by the bloody violence of the Pueblo Revolt, hanging in the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe? And that the Virgin herself had appeared to a 6-year-old little girl to give a warning about the revolt, and this image of the Virgin would later become known as "The Virgin of the Macana." In our latest episode, we delve into the mythology surrounding the origin of this image and explore its relevance to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, as well as take a look at the presence of Mesoamerican warriors in Colonial New Mexico.All this and more, on this episode of the Tales From Aztlantis podcast!The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was a pivotal moment in which the Pueblo people of New Mexico rose up against Spanish colonists, driving them out and securing their independence for 12 years. During the uprising, approximately 21 Franciscans and nearly 400 colonists lost their lives. Interestingly, no artists of that time ever bothered to memorialize this significant event in their work. It wasn't until the later 18th-century that visual representations of the revolt began to emerge. One such image, a painting known as The Virgin of the Macana—is now housed in the New Mexico History Museum.Your Hosts:Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at the University of New Mexico, Harvard University, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.@kurlytlapoyawaRuben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus. Find us: Bluesky Instagram Merch: Shop Aztlantis Book: The Four Disagreements: Letting Go of Magical Thinking

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text!What if I told you that there is an 18th-century painting of the Virgin Mary, armed with an Aztec weapon and surrounded by the bloody violence of the Pueblo Revolt, hanging in the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe? And that the Virgin herself had appeared to a 6-year-old little girl to give a warning about the revolt, and this image of the Virgin would later become known as "The Virgin of the Macana." In our latest episode, we delve into the mythology surrounding the origin of this image and explore its relevance to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, as well as take a look at the presence of Mesoamerican warriors in Colonial New Mexico.All this and more, on this episode of the Tales From Aztlantis podcast!The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was a pivotal moment in which the Pueblo people of New Mexico rose up against Spanish colonists, driving them out and securing their independence for 12 years. During the uprising, approximately 21 Franciscans and nearly 400 colonists lost their lives. Interestingly, no artists of that time ever bothered to memorialize this significant event in their work. It wasn't until the later 18th-century that visual representations of the revolt began to emerge. One such image, a painting known as The Virgin of the Macana—is now housed in the New Mexico History Museum. Support the showYour Hosts:Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at the University of New Mexico, Harvard University, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.@kurlytlapoyawaRuben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus. Find us: Bluesky Instagram Merch: Shop Aztlantis Book: The Four Disagreements: Letting Go of Magical Thinking

Full Text of ReadingsFourth Sunday of Easter Lectionary: 51The Saint of the day is Saint Ignatius of LaconiSaint Ignatius of Laconi's Story Ignatius is another sainted begging brother. He was the second of seven children of peasant parents in Sardinia. His path to the Franciscans was unusual. During a serious illness, Ignatius vowed to become a Capuchin if he recovered. He regained his health but ignored the promise. When he was 20, a riding accident prompted Ignatius to renew the pledge, which he acted on the second time. Ignatius's reputation for self-denial and charity led to his appointment as the official beggar for the friars in Cagliari. He fulfilled that task for 40 years, despite being blind for the last two years. While on his rounds, Ignatius would instruct the children, visit the sick, and urge sinners to repent. The people of Cagliari were inspired by his kindness and his faithfulness to his work. Ignatius was canonized in 1951. Reflection Why did the people of Cagliari support the friars? These followers of Francis worked hard but rarely at jobs that paid enough to live on. The life of Ignatius reminds us that everything God considers worthwhile does not have a high-paying salary attached to it. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

00:00-25:00: St. Bonaventure basketball legend Jim Baron chats about the impact of 1976-77 as a player and 1999-2000 as a head coach on his life and career, how big the NIT was back in the day, his sons being involved in the game, his Bonaventure experience as a student athlete with the Franciscans and the community and more. Plus, when he fell in love with the game on the streets of New York City, relationship building on and off the court and coaching against the Dream Team.

IMAGE CREDIT Elza Fiúza/Abr, CC BY 3.0 BR, via Wikimedia Commons LINKS Vatican bio of Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich STEINER: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_steiner_l.html  Leonardo Ulrich STEINER on FIU's Cardinals Database (by Salvador Miranda): https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios2022.htm#Steiner  Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich STEINER on Gcatholic.org: https://gcatholic.org/p/5762                    Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich STEINER on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bulst.html   Archdiocese of Manaus on Gcatholic.org: https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/mana1.htm?tab=info       Archdiocese of Manaus on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dmanb.html   2022 Aleteia.org profile of Cardinal-Elect Steiner: https://aleteia.org/2022/08/26/a-red-hat-for-the-amazon-basin/  2022 Vatican News profile of Cardinal-Elect Steiner (Portuguese): https://www.vaticannews.va/pt/igreja/news/2022-05/presidencia-da-cnbb-sauda-os-novos-cardeais-do-brasil.html  Special Assembly for the Pan-Amazon Region–list of participants: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2019/09/21/0723/01479.html  2017 La Stampa coverage of the Amazon Synod (archived version): https://web.archive.org/web/20190618142401/https://www.lastampa.it/2017/10/15/vaticaninsider/eng/world-news/a-synod-for-the-indigenous-peoples-of-south-america-bu6BcrTX8a4HWl645ztM6O/pagina.html Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20200202_querida-amazonia.html  Ecclesiastical Conference of the Amazon on Gcatholic.org: https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/organizations/j02.htm  The Revealer.org profile of Sister Manso Pereira: https://therevealer.org/in-the-amazon-religious-women-lead-the-way/  2023 America Magazine report of indigenous women leaders from the Ecclesiastical Conference of the Amazon meeting with Pope Francis: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/06/06/women-deacons-indigenous-pope-francis-meeting-245437 2023 National Catholic Reporter piece on women ministering in the Amazon: https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/sisters-model-womens-diaconal-ministry-amazon  Cruxnow coverage of 2022 delegation of bishops (including Archbishop Steiner) meeting with Pope Francis to discuss violence in Amazonia: https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-americas/2022/06/brazilian-bishops-discuss-violence-in-the-amazon-with-pope-francis    Thank you for listening, and thank my family and friends for putting up with the time investment and for helping me out as needed. As always, feel free to email the show at Popeularhistory@gmail.com  If you would like to financially support Popeular history, go to www.patreon.com/Popeular. If you don't have any money to spare but still want to give back, pray and tell others– prayers and listeners are worth more than gold!   TRANSCRIPT Welcome to Popeular History, a library of Catholic knowledge and insights.   Check out the show notes for sources, further reading, and a transcript.   Today we're discussing another current Cardinal of the Catholic Church, one of the 120 or so people who will choose the next Pope when the time comes.   The thirteenth of sixteen children, Leonardo Ulrich STEINER was born on November 6, 1950 in Forquilhinha, a community in Brazil's second southernmost state of Santa Catarina. He's our third Brazilian Cardinal, but he won't be our last, in fact one of his cousins is fellow Brazilian Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns.   Leonardo joined the Franciscans in 1972 at the age of 21, making his solemn profession in ‘76. In a pattern we've seen before, he studied philosophy and theology in Brazil, then went to Rome for more advanced studies, obtaining a licentiate and then a doctorate from the Antonianum. I don't know if I've emphasized the Franciscan affiliation of the Antonianum before, but it's certainly there–the Anthony it's named after is the Franciscan Anthony of Padua, after all.   When Leonardo was ordained in 1978, it was carried out by his Cardinal-cousin I mentioned earlier, fellow Franciscan and then-Archbishop of São Paulo Cardinal Arns. He did pastoral work for a while, then he served as a formator at, uh, a seminary. From 1986 till 1995 Father Steiner was Master of Novices at, *a* seminary, presumably the same one, though that's not especially clear. The third source I checked for this particular detail described the posts he took up at the Antonianum in Rome in 1995 as the result of a transfer between institutions, so it I guess can rule that out as our mystery institution. While at the Antonianum, he served as a secretary–I expect the high level kind–and as a professor of Philosophy. He was in Rome for several years before moving back to southern Brazil in 2003.   Back home, he served both as a pastor and lecturer, this time at the Bom Jesus Faculty of Philosophy, “bom” meaning "good” or I would perhaps suggest “sweet Jesus” as the more familiar English phrase with a close meaning.   In 2005, Father Steiner's white phone rang and he learned he was being made Bishop-Prelate of São Félix. His episcopal consecration was carried out by none other than his longserving cousin, Cardinal Arns, who had been fully retired for years by that point, but apparently didn't mind making it a family affair. By the way, the voice on the other end of that white phone must have been fairly shaky, because Pope John Paul II died in the few months between the appointment and Bishop Steiner's actual consecration.   Oh, also, did you catch that Prelate part of “Bishop-Prelate”? You see, São Félix was not and actually still is not a full-on diocese, rather it's at an intermediate sort of state called a “Territorial Prelature”. To give you an idea of why it's in an unusual state canonically, let me give you some stats. São Félix covers an area larger than England, with a total population of a bit under 200,000. At the time of his consecration, Bishop-Prelate Steiner had about ten priests to work with to address the spiritual needs of about 130,000 Catholics.   The relatively sparse population is due to São Félix being on the edge of the Amazon Rainforest. This was not Bishop-Prelate Steiner's last contact with Amazonia. In May 2011 he became secretary general of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference, a post he held for the next eight years, and later on in 2011 Bishop-Prelate Steiner was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the capitol, Brasília, working alongside Cardinal da Rocha, who we discussed in fall 2023.   In 2017 Pope Francis announced the Synod on the Amazon, something which Bishop Steiner had apparently personally handed Pope Francis a document requesting on behalf of the Brazilian bishops. The Synod was duely held in 2019, and had a special focus on the indigenous peoples of the area, who, to quote Pope Francis, are “often forgotten and without the prospect of a serene future”. Another substantial issue is the ecology of the matter, with Pope Francis being known as an environmentalist before and certainly no less so after his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si, which called out the Amazon specifically as in need of special care.   Bishop Steiner notably did *not* participate in the synod. I was fully expecting to say he had, and maybe I missed something, but the list of hundreds of official participants is linked in the show notes, and he's not on it. In reality his delivery of the bishop's request for the Synod was probably due to his formal role in the overall Bishop's conference and not due to his own connection to the region, which at this point was minor.   However, despite that narratively inconvenient historical fact, later that year Bishop Steiner did become a full-on Amazonian bishop, being appointed the Archbishop of Manaus in the rather pointedly named Brazilian state of Amazonas. There he got to experience the staffing and geographic issues he had seen in his Bishop-Prelate days on a larger scale: there's a reason the Amazon Synod discussed things like allowing for married priests to help with the shortages, something which was much discussed in media coverage but was in truth only a minor topic in the Synod itself.   One real fruit of the Amazon Synod was the establishment of the Ecclesiastical Conference of the Amazon. Adding yet another organizational wrinkle to the megacluster of organizational wrinkles that is the Catholic Church, an *Ecclesiastical* Conference functions like a Bishop's Conference, but is not limited to Bishops. In 2022, Archbishop Steiner became its First Vice-President. In yet another example of the organizational wrinkling I just joked about, I don't mean he's the first person to hold that office, instead, “First Vice-President” is his actual title, as the Ecclesiastical Conference actually has multiple Vice-President roles.   I've been fairly brief and matter-of-fact in my descriptions here, so I want to end on a more human note, as there is real struggle in Amazonia. So let's hear from another Vice-President of the Ecclesiastical Conference, Sister Manso Pereira.   A descendent of the Kariri Brazilian tribal group, Sister Manso Pereira recently related a conversation she had with the Karipuna people about the danger  they face from armed groups of illegal logging and mining companies. Quote:    “We sleep well when you are here, because you're with us.' I said, ‘Why? If they come for you to kill you, they're going to kill me, too.' And they said, ‘We know if you went missing, the church would come looking for you. They would know you were gone.'”   In 2022, Pope Francis made Archbishop Steiner the first Cardinal from the Amazon region, also adding him to the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life.   Leonardo Ulrich STEINER  is eligible to participate in future conclaves until he turns 80 in 2030.   Today's episode is part of Cardinal Numbers. Stay tuned to see if today's Cardinal gets selected  for a deeper dive in the next round! Thank you for listening; God bless you all!

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday in the Octave of Easter Lectionary: 266The Saint of the day is Saint Pedro de San Jos BetancurSaint Pedro de San José Betancur's Story Central America claimed its first saint with the canonization of Pedro de San José Betancur. Known as the “Saint Francis of the Americas,” Pedro de Betancur is the first saint to have worked and died in Guatemala. Pedro very much wanted to become a priest, but God had other plans for the young man born into a poor family on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Pedro was a shepherd until age 24, when he began to make his way to Guatemala, hoping to connect with a relative engaged in government service there. By the time he reached Thavana, he was out of money. After working there to earn more, he got to Guatemala City the following year. When he arrived, he was so destitute that he joined the breadline that the Franciscans had established. Soon, Pedro enrolled in the local Jesuit college in hopes of studying for the priesthood. No matter how hard he tried, however, he could not master the material; he withdrew from school. In 1655, he joined the Secular Franciscan Order. Three years later, he opened a hospital for the convalescent poor; a shelter for the homeless, and a school for the poor soon followed. Not wanting to neglect the rich of Guatemala City, Pedro began walking through their part of town ringing a bell and inviting them to repent. Other men came to share in Pedro's work. Out of this group came the Bethlehemite Congregation, which won papal approval after Pedro's death. A Bethlehemite sisters' community, similarly founded after Pedro's death, was inspired by his life of prayer and compassion. He is sometimes credited with originating the Christmas Eve posadas procession in which people representing Mary and Joseph seek a night's lodging from their neighbors. The custom soon spread to Mexico and other Central American countries. Pedro died in 1667, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in Guatemala City on July 30, 2002. Calling the new saint an “outstanding example” of Christian mercy, the Holy Father noted that Saint Pedro practiced mercy “heroically with the lowliest and the most deprived.” Speaking to the estimated 500,000 Guatemalans in attendance, the Holy Father spoke of the social ills that plague the country today and of the need for change. “Let us think of the children and young people who are homeless or deprived of an education; of abandoned women with their many needs; of the hordes of social outcasts who live in the cities; of the victims of organized crime, of prostitution or of drugs; of the sick who are neglected and the elderly who live in loneliness,” he said in his homily during the three-hour liturgy. The liturgical feast of Saint Pedro de San José Betancur is celebrated on April 25. Reflection As humans, we often pride ourselves on our ability to reason. But as Pedro's life shows, other skills may be an even more crucial element of our humanity than a clever mind: compassion, imagination, love. Unable to master studies for the priesthood despite his efforts, Pedro responded to the needs of homeless and sick people; he provided education to the poor and salvation to the rich. He became holy—as fully human as any of us can ever be. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Second Week of Lent Lectionary: 234The Saint of the day is Blessed John of ParmaBlessed John of Parma's Story The seventh general minister of the Franciscan Order, John was known for his attempts to bring back the earlier spirit of the Order after the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. He was born in Parma, Italy, in 1209. It was when he was a young philosophy professor known for his piety and learning that God called him to bid good-bye to the world he was used to and enter the new world of the Franciscan Order. After his profession, John was sent to Paris to complete his theological studies. Ordained to the priesthood, he was appointed to teach theology at Bologna, then Naples, and finally Rome. In 1245, Pope Innocent IV called a general council in the city of Lyons, France. Crescentius, the Franciscan minister general at the time, was ailing and unable to attend. In his place he sent Friar John, who made a deep impression on the Church leaders gathered there. Two years later, when the same pope presided at the election of a minister general of the Franciscans, he remembered Friar John well and held him up as the man best qualified for the office. And so in 1247, John of Parma was elected to be minister general. The surviving disciples of St. Francis rejoiced in his election, expecting a return to the spirit of poverty and humility of the early days of the Order. And they were not disappointed. As general of the Order, John traveled on foot, accompanied by one or two companions, to practically all of the Franciscan convents in existence. Sometimes he would arrive and not be recognized, remaining there for a number of days to test the true spirit of the brothers. The pope called on John to serve as legate to Constantinople, where he was most successful in winning back the schismatic Greeks. Upon his return, he asked that someone else take his place to govern the Order. At John's urging, Saint Bonaventure was chosen to succeed him. John took up a life of prayer in the hermitage at Greccio. Many years later, John learned that the Greeks who had been reconciled with the Church for a time, had relapsed into schism. Though 80 years old by then, John received permission from Pope Nicholas IV to return to the East in an effort to restore unity once again. On his way, John fell sick and died. He was beatified in 1781. The liturgical feast of Blessed John of Parma is celebrated on March 20. Reflection In the 13th century, people in their 30s were middle-aged; hardly anyone lived to the ripe old age of 80. John did, but he didn't ease into retirement. Instead he was on his way to try to heal a schism in the Church when he died. Our society today boasts a lot of folks in their later decades. Like John, many of them lead active lives. But some aren't so fortunate. Weakness or ill health keeps them confined and lonely—waiting to hear from us. Saints Francis and Clare: Something Old, Something New Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Differences between Franciscans and Jesuits? Is the excommunicated still Catholic? Are parables obscure in purpose? Join us for Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

Differences between Franciscans and Jesuits? Is the excommunicated still Catholic? Are parables obscure in purpose? Join us for Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Second Week of Lent Lectionary: 233The Saint of the day is Saint Salvator of HortaSaint Salvator of Horta's Story A reputation for holiness does have some drawbacks. Public recognition can be a nuisance at times—as the confreres of Salvator found out. Salvator was born during Spain's Golden Age. Art, politics, and wealth were flourishing. So was religion. Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus in 1540. Salvator's parents were poor. At the age of 21, he entered the Franciscans as a brother and was soon known for his asceticism, humility, and simplicity. As cook, porter, and later the official beggar for the friars in Tortosa, he became well known for his charity. He healed the sick with the Sign of the Cross. When crowds of sick people began coming to the friary to see Salvator, the friars transferred him to Horta. Again, the sick flocked to ask his intercession; one person estimated that 2,000 people a week came to see Salvator. He told them to examine their consciences, go to confession, and to receive Holy Communion worthily. He refused to pray for those who would not receive those sacraments. The public attention given to Salvator was relentless. The crowds would sometimes tear off pieces of his habit as relics. Two years before his death, Salvator was moved again, this time to Cagliari on the island of Sardinia. He died at Cagliari saying, “Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.” He was canonized in 1938. The liturgical feast of Saint Salvator of Horta is celebrated on March 18. Reflection Medical science is now seeing more clearly the relation of some diseases to one's emotional and spiritual life. In Healing Life's Hurts, Matthew and Dennis Linn report that sometimes people experience relief from illness only when they have decided to forgive others. Salvator prayed that people might be healed, and many were. Surely not all diseases can be treated this way; medical help should not be abandoned. But notice that Salvator urged his petitioners to reestablish their priorities in life before they asked for healing. Your field guide to flying saints. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Differences between Franciscans and Jesuits? Is the excommunicated still Catholic? Are parables obscure in purpose? Join us for Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

Join Deacon Tom and Mary Jane Fox as they explore the history, significance, and personal reflections on the Stations of the Cross. Learn how this powerful devotional practice serves as a spiritual pilgrimage and how praying the stations can deepen your faith and understanding of Christ's suffering. During our journey, you will: Explore how the Stations became a beloved Catholic tradition. See how this devotion serves as a spiritual pilgrimage. Discover its power to deepen faith and bring hope. Continue Your Journey: Visit the official webpage of this episode and download a free Pilgrim Guidebook Written by Deacon Tom Fox, K.C.H.S. Jewel for the Journey: "The Way of the Cross alone defeats sin, evil and death, for it leads to the radiant light of Christ's resurrection and opens the horizons of a new and fuller life. It is the way of hope, the way of the future." - Pope Francis Learn more at PilgrimCenterOfHope.org/Journeys Help us spread hope! PilgrimCenterOfHope.org/Donate Do you like what you hear? Become a Missionary of Hope by sponsoring a week of Journeys of Hope, click here to get started.

Full Text of ReadingsAsh Wednesday Lectionary: 219The Saint of the day is Saint John Joseph of the CrossSaint John Joseph of the Cross' Story Self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward greater charity—as the life of Saint John Joseph shows. John Joseph was very ascetic even as a young man. At 16, he joined the Franciscans in Naples; he was the first Italian to follow the reform movement of Saint Peter Alcantara. John Joseph's reputation for holiness prompted his superiors to put him in charge of establishing a new friary even before he was ordained. Obedience moved John Joseph to accept appointments as novice master, guardian and, finally, provincial. His years of mortification enabled him to offer these services to the friars with great charity. As guardian he was not above working in the kitchen or carrying the wood and water needed by the friars. When his term as provincial expired, John Joseph dedicated himself to hearing confessions and practicing mortification, two concerns contrary to the spirit of the dawning Age of Enlightenment. John Joseph of the Cross was canonized in 1839. Reflection John Joseph's mortification allowed him to be the kind of forgiving superior intended by Saint Francis. Self-denial should lead us to charity—not to bitterness; it should help us clarify our priorities and make us more loving. John Joseph is living proof of Chesterton's observation: “It is always easy to let the age have its head; the difficult thing is to keep one's own” (G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, page 101). Six Books on Saints to Savor Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsTuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 342The Saint of the day is Blessed Sebastian of AparicioBlessed Sebastian of Aparicio's Story Sebastian's roads and bridges connected many distant places. His final bridge-building was to help men and women recognize their God-given dignity and destiny. Sebastian's parents were Spanish peasants. At the age of 31, he sailed to Mexico, where he began working in the fields. Eventually he built roads to facilitate agricultural trading and other commerce. His 466-mile road from Mexico City to Zacatecas took 10 years to build and required careful negotiations with the indigenous peoples along the way. In time Sebastian was a wealthy farmer and rancher. At the age of 60, he entered a virginal marriage. His wife's motivation may have been a large inheritance; his was to provide a respectable life for a girl without even a modest marriage dowry. When his first wife died, he entered another virginal marriage for the same reason; his second wife also died young. At the age of 72, Sebastian distributed his goods among the poor and entered the Franciscans as a brother. Assigned to the large (100-member) friary at Puebla de los Angeles south of Mexico City, Sebastian went out collecting alms for the friars for the next 25 years. His charity to all earned him the nickname “Angel of Mexico.” Sebastian was beatified in 1787 and is known as a patron of travelers. Reflection According to the Rule of Saint Francis, the friars were to work for their daily bread. Sometimes, however, their work would not provide for their needs; for example, working with people suffering from leprosy brought little or no pay. In cases such as these, the friars were allowed to beg, always keeping in mind the admonition of Francis to let their good example commend them to the people. The life of the prayerful Sebastian drew many closer to God. Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio is the Patron Saint of: Travelers Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs Lectionary: 326The Saint of the day is Saint Paul Miki and CompanionsSaint Paul Miki and Companions' Story Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, immediately killing over 37,000 people. Three and a half centuries before, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers, and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits, and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple artisans, and servants, old men and innocent children—all united in a common faith and love for Jesus and his Church. Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.” When missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. But after establishing themselves they found that thousands of Christians lived around Nagasaki and that they had secretly preserved the faith. Beatified in 1627, the martyrs of Japan were finally canonized in 1862. Reflection Today, a new era has come for the Church in Japan. Although the number of Catholics is not large, the Church is respected and has total religious freedom. The spread of Christianity in the Far East is slow and difficult. Faith such as that of the 26 martyrs is needed today as much as in 1597. hbspt.cta.load(465210, '8a35daeb-7f77-4f4e-969d-24608789362a', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Paul Miki and companions, the Japanese martyrs; in 1597, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki; among them were priests, brothers, and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits, and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan; while hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki preached to the people, forgiving his executioners; when missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860's, they found that thousands of Christians around Nagasaki had secretly preserved the faith Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/6/25 Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 318The Saint of the day is Saint Thomas AquinasSaint Thomas Aquinas' Story By universal consent, Thomas Aquinas is the preeminent spokesman of the Catholic tradition of reason and of divine revelation. He is one of the great teachers of the medieval Catholic Church, honored with the titles Doctor of the Church and Angelic Doctor. At five he was given to the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino in his parents' hopes that he would choose that way of life and eventually became abbot. In 1239, he was sent to Naples to complete his studies. It was here that he was first attracted to Aristotle's philosophy. By 1243, Thomas abandoned his family's plans for him and joined the Dominicans, much to his mother's dismay. On her order, Thomas was captured by his brother and kept at home for over a year. Once free, he went to Paris and then to Cologne, where he finished his studies with Albert the Great. He held two professorships at Paris, lived at the court of Pope Urban IV, directed the Dominican schools at Rome and Viterbo, combated adversaries of the mendicants, as well as the Averroists, and argued with some Franciscans about Aristotelianism. His greatest contribution to the Catholic Church is his writings. The unity, harmony, and continuity of faith and reason, of revealed and natural human knowledge, pervades his writings. One might expect Thomas, as a man of the gospel, to be an ardent defender of revealed truth. But he was broad enough, deep enough, to see the whole natural order as coming from God the Creator, and to see reason as a divine gift to be highly cherished. The Summa Theologiae, his last and, unfortunately, uncompleted work, deals with the whole of Catholic theology. He stopped work on it after celebrating Mass on December 6, 1273. When asked why he stopped writing, he replied, “I cannot go on…. All that I have written seems to me like so much straw compared to what I have seen and what has been revealed to me.” He died March 7, 1274. Reflection We can look to Thomas Aquinas as a towering example of Catholicism in the sense of broadness, universality, and inclusiveness. We should be determined anew to exercise the divine gift of reason in us, our power to know, learn, and understand. At the same time we should thank God for the gift of his revelation, especially in Jesus Christ. Saint Thomas Aquinas is a Patron Saint of: Catholic Colleges and UniversitiesEducators/TeachersPhilosophers/TheologiansStudents Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Today is the feast of Saint Angela Merici, a woman who was orphaned when she was 15 and join a third order of Franciscans. She eventually felt called to help with the education of young girls. Check out this reflection to hear what she did about this call.

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 308The Saint of the day is Saint Berard and CompanionsSaint Berard and Companions' Story Preaching the gospel is often dangerous work. Leaving one's homeland and adjusting to new cultures, governments and languages is difficult enough; but martyrdom caps all the other sacrifices. In 1219, with the blessing of Saint Francis, Berard left Italy with Peter, Adjute, Accurs, Odo and Vitalis to preach in Morocco. En route in Spain, Vitalis became sick and commanded the other friars to continue their mission without him. They tried preaching in Seville, then in Muslim hands, but made no converts. They went on to Morocco where they preached in the marketplace. The friars were immediately apprehended and ordered to leave the country; they refused. When they began preaching again, an exasperated sultan ordered them executed. After enduring severe beatings and declining various bribes to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, the friars were beheaded by the sultan himself on January 16, 1220. These were the first Franciscan martyrs. When Francis heard of their deaths, he exclaimed, “Now I can truly say that I have five Friars Minor!” Their relics were brought to Portugal where they prompted a young Augustinian canon to join the Franciscans and set off for Morocco the next year. That young man was Anthony of Padua. These five martyrs were canonized in 1481. Reflection The deaths of Berard and his companions sparked a missionary vocation in Anthony of Padua and others. There have been many, many Franciscans who have responded to Francis' challenge. Proclaiming the gospel can be fatal, but that has not stopped the Franciscan men and women who even today risk their lives in many countries throughout the world. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Brother Francisco OSB is a solemnly professed monk at St. Vincent Arch Abbey.Benedictines follow the Rule of St. Benedict, emphasizing community and prayer.The vows of obedience, stability, and conversion of life are central to Benedictine life.St. Vincent Arch Abbey is known for its active ministry and community involvement.Brother Francisco's journey to monastic life began with a strong sense of community at St. Vincent College.Prayer must include specific time and place for it to be effective.Lectio Divina is a key practice in Benedictine prayer life.The connection between Benedictines and Franciscans is historically significant.A prayerful life requires intentionality and a turning of the heart towards God.Brother Francisco emphasizes the importance of scripture in prayer. The essence of prayer is rooted in humility and surrender.Younger generations seek deeper theological understanding from the church.Authenticity in faith is crucial for engaging youth.Distinctive religious symbols can spark meaningful conversations.Community support is vital for a fulfilling religious life.Joy in service is a key aspect of religious vocation.Prayer is the foundation for discernment in one's vocation.Engaging with the youth requires addressing their genuine questions.The church must adapt to attract younger members effectively.Discernment involves both prayer and practical action. Produced, Edited and mixed by Paul R. Long, OFSFor further Information visit our Website OurWalkTogether.comor contact: PaulLongOFS@gmail.com

Full Text of ReadingsChristmas Weekday Lectionary: 206The Saint of the day is Most Holy Name of JesusThe Story of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Although Saint Paul might claim credit for promoting devotion to the Holy Name because Paul wrote in Philippians that God the Father gave Christ Jesus “that name that is above every name” (see 2:9), this devotion became popular because of 12th-century Cistercian monks and nuns but especially through the preaching of Saint Bernardine of Siena, a 15th-century Franciscan. Bernardine used devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus as a way of overcoming bitter and often bloody class struggles and family rivalries or vendettas in Italian city-states. The devotion grew, partly because of Franciscan and Dominican preachers. It spread even more widely after the Jesuits began promoting it in the 16th century. In 1530, Pope Clement V approved an Office of the Holy Name for the Franciscans. In 1721, Pope Innocent XIII extended this feast to the entire Church. Reflection Jesus died and rose for the sake of all people. No one can trademark or copyright Jesus' name. Jesus is the Son of God and son of Mary. Everything that exists was created in and through the Son of God (see Colossians 1:15-20). The name of Jesus is debased if any Christian uses it as justification for berating non-Christians. Jesus reminds us that because we are all related to him we are, therefore, all related to one another. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFourth Sunday of Advent Lectionary: 12The Saint of the day is Blessed Jacopone da TodiJacopone da Todi's Story Jacomo or James, was born a noble member of the Benedetti family in the northern Italian city of Todi. He became a successful lawyer and married a pious, generous lady named Vanna. His young wife took it upon herself to do penance for the worldly excesses of her husband. One day Vanna, at the insistence of Jacomo, attended a public tournament. She was sitting in the stands with the other noble ladies when the stands collapsed. Vanna was killed. Her shaken husband was even more disturbed when he realized that the penitential girdle she wore was for his sinfulness. On the spot, he vowed to radically change his life. Jacomo divided his possessions among the poor and entered the Secular Franciscan Order. Often dressed in penitential rags, he was mocked as a fool and called Jacopone, or “Crazy Jim,” by his former associates. The name became dear to him. After 10 years of such humiliation, Jacopone asked to be received into the Order of Friars Minor. Because of his reputation, his request was initially refused. He composed a beautiful poem on the vanities of the world, an act that eventually led to his admission into the Order in 1278. He continued to lead a life of strict penance, declining to be ordained a priest. Meanwhile, he was writing popular hymns in the vernacular. Jacopone suddenly found himself a leader in a disturbing religious movement among the Franciscans. The Spirituals, as they were called, wanted a return to the strict poverty of Francis. They had on their side two cardinals of the Church and Pope Celestine V. These two cardinals though, opposed Celestine's successor, Boniface VIII. At the age of 68, Jacopone was excommunicated and imprisoned. Although he acknowledged his mistake, Jacopone was not absolved and released until Benedict XI became pope five years later. He had accepted his imprisonment as penance. He spent the final three years of his life more spiritual than ever, weeping “because Love is not loved.” During this time he wrote the famous Latin hymn, Stabat Mater. On Christmas Eve in 1306, Jacopone felt that his end was near. He was in a convent of the Poor Clares with his friend, Blessed John of La Verna. Like Francis, Jacopone welcomed “Sister Death” with one of his favorite songs. It is said that he finished the song and died as the priest intoned the “Gloria” from the midnight Mass at Christmas. From the time of his death Brother Jacopone has been venerated as a saint. Reflection His contemporaries called Jacopone, “Crazy Jim.” We might well echo their taunt, for what else can you say about a man who broke into song in the midst of all his troubles? We still sing Jacopone's saddest song, the Stabat Mater, but we Christians claim another song as our own, even when the daily headlines resound with discordant notes. Jacopone's whole life rang out our song: “Alleluia!” May he inspire us to keep singing. Click here for more on Blessed Jacopone! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Paul, Robert, and Liz take a break from their conversations around the passion of Jesus to reflect on Christmas, and in particular, the story of the first live nativity, created by Francis of Assisi. "Francis of Asissi was probably the first person in the church to be completely enamored with, very particularly, the person of Jesus. It just ignited his whole life. He'd been a soldier and had a breakdown after that, as a young man in his early 20s, but then became enchanted with the person of Jesus. By the time he died in his 40s, there were 30,000 Franciscans at their annual conference. His love for Jesus was transformative on the whole medieval mind. He was the first person to create a live nativity scene, and it changed how we celebrate Christmas. Because up till then the book of Matthew, with its portrayal of the wise men, was dominant in the Christmas story, and now, the shepherds came in and got some play." "Francis' nativity shows what can happen if you fall in love with the person of Jesus!" "For Mary and Joseph, plans keep changing. I mean, they were going to get married and have a baby, as far as we know, in Nazareth, and they had to return for the census. I'm sure in their imagination they were going to have a baby in a better place and they ended up in a manger. Then were going to stay in Bethlehem and an angel came to Joseph and said, ‘Get out of here.' They had to go to Egypt, and then, even then, they were going to return to Nazareth and the angel appeared to Joseph again. Joseph gets a lot of angel appearances, by the way!"

Welcome back to our podcast! This Advent season, we've been delving into the profound mystery of the incarnation—the incredible truth that Jesus chose to come to us in the flesh. This exploration has been deeply influenced by my studies with the Franciscans, prompting me to reflect on the idea that Jesus would have chosen this path even without the fall. What does this mean for us? We're also taking a closer look at a fascinating intersection of science and faith. Recently, we came across a compelling article on microchimerism—an astonishing phenomenon where cells from a fetus can move across the placenta, creating a lasting connection between mother and child. This discovery opens the door to a theological conversation that resonates with our celebration of the incarnation: What does it imply about the relationships we form and the depth of God's presence with us? To explore these questions, we are excited to welcome the Rev. Dr. Amy Peeler, an Associate Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and an Associate Rector at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. With her expertise and insights, we'll unpack the implications of being intimately connected through the miracle of life and consider what it means to have a God who desires to walk among us. So, sit back and join us as we journey through these ideas, celebrating the incredible closeness of God with us during this special season.Links: Connect with Rev. Dr. Amy Peeler https://amypeeler.com/She Can Teach https://secure.qgiv.com/for/themarcellaproject/event/shecanteachaustin/Nurturing the Soul: Spiritual Growth through Franciscan teachings: https://www.themarcellaproject.com/books-and-bible-studiesArticle: Microchimerism: A new concepthttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6714269/

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time-Thanksgiving Lectionary: 506, 943-947The Saint of the day is Saint James of the MarcheSaint James of the Marche's Story Meet one of the fathers of the modern pawnshop! James was born in the Marche of Ancona, in central Italy along the Adriatic Sea. After earning doctorates in canon and civil law at the University of Perugia, he joined the Friars Minor and began a very austere life. He fasted nine months of the year; he slept three hours a night. Saint Bernardine of Siena told him to moderate his penances. James studied theology with Saint John of Capistrano. Ordained in 1420, James began a preaching career that took him all over Italy and through 13 Central and Eastern European countries. This extremely popular preacher converted many people–250,000 at one estimate–and helped spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. His sermons prompted numerous Catholics to reform their lives, and many men joined the Franciscans under his influence. With John of Capistrano, Albert of Sarteano, and Bernardine of Siena, James is considered one of the “four pillars” of the Observant movement among the Franciscans. These friars became known especially for their preaching. To combat extremely high interest rates, James established montes pietatis—literally, mountains of charity—nonprofit credit organizations that lent money on pawned objects at very low rates. Not everyone was happy with the work James did. Twice assassins lost their nerve when they came face to face with him. James died in 1476, and was canonized in 1726. Reflection James wanted the word of God to take root in the hearts of his listeners. His preaching was directed to preparing the soil, so to speak, by removing any rocks and softening up lives hardened by sin. God's intention is that his word take root in our lives, but for that we need both prayerful preachers and cooperative listeners. Enjoy this Thanksgiving meditation on Saints Philemon and Apphia! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 489The Saint of the day is Blessed John Duns ScotusBlessed John Duns Scotus' Story A humble man, John Duns Scotus has been one of the most influential Franciscans through the centuries. Born at Duns in the county of Berwick, Scotland, John was descended from a wealthy farming family. In later years, he was identified as John Duns Scotus to indicate the land of his birth; Scotia is the Latin name for Scotland. John received the habit of the Friars Minor at Dumfries, where his uncle Elias Duns was superior. After novitiate, John studied at Oxford and Paris and was ordained in 1291. More studies in Paris followed until 1297, when he returned to lecture at Oxford and Cambridge. Four years later, he returned to Paris to teach and complete the requirements for the doctorate. In an age when many people adopted whole systems of thought without qualification, John pointed out the richness of the Augustinian-Franciscan tradition, appreciated the wisdom of Aquinas, Aristotle, and the Muslim philosophers—and still managed to be an independent thinker. That quality was proven in 1303, when King Philip the Fair tried to enlist the University of Paris on his side in a dispute with Pope Boniface VIII. John Duns Scotus dissented, and was given three days to leave France. hbspt.cta.load(465210, '271f0e97-0cc5-40ab-98e0-75c78489c4b8', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); In Scotus's time, some philosophers held that people are basically determined by forces outside themselves. Free will is an illusion, they argued. An ever-practical man, Scotus said that if he started beating someone who denied free will, the person would immediately tell him to stop. But if Scotus didn't really have a free will, how could he stop? John had a knack for finding illustrations his students could remember! After a short stay in Oxford, Scotus returned to Paris, where he received the doctorate in 1305. He continued teaching there and in 1307 so ably defended the Immaculate Conception of Mary that the university officially adopted his position. That same year the minister general assigned him to the Franciscan school in Cologne where John died in 1308. He is buried in the Franciscan church near the famous Cologne cathedral. Drawing on the work of John Duns Scotus, Pope Pius IX solemnly defined the Immaculate Conception of Mary in 1854. John Duns Scotus, the “Subtle Doctor,” was beatified in 1993. Reflection Father Charles Balic, O.F.M., the foremost 20th-century authority on Scotus, has written: “The whole of Scotus's theology is dominated by the notion of love. The characteristic note of this love is its absolute freedom. As love becomes more perfect and intense, freedom becomes more noble and integral both in God and in man” (New Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 1105). Learn more about John Duns Scotus! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 487The Saint of the day is Saint Nicholas Tavelic and CompanionsSaint Nicholas Tavelic and Companions' Story Nicholas and his three companions are among the 158 Franciscans who have been martyred in the Holy Land since the friars became custodians of the shrines in 1335. Nicholas was born in 1340 to a wealthy and noble family in Croatia. He joined the Franciscans, and was sent with Deodat of Rodez to preach in Bosnia. In 1384, they volunteered for the Holy Land missions and were sent there. They looked after the holy places, cared for the Christian pilgrims, and studied Arabic. In 1391, Nicholas, Deodat, Peter of Narbonne, and Stephen of Cuneo decided to take a direct approach to converting the Muslims. On November 11, they went to the huge Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem and asked to see the Qadix—Muslim official. Reading from a prepared statement, they said that all people must accept the gospel of Jesus. When they were ordered to retract their statement, they refused. After beatings and imprisonment, they were beheaded before a large crowd. Nicholas and his companions were canonized in 1970. They are the only Franciscans martyred in the Holy Land to be canonized. Their liturgical feast is celebrated on November 14. Reflection Francis presented two missionary approaches for his friars. Nicholas and his companions followed the first approach—live quietly and give witness to Christ—for several years. Then they felt called to take the second approach of preaching openly. Their Franciscan confrères in the Holy Land are still working by example to make Jesus better known. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media