Podcasts about Our Sunday Visitor

Arising from the McGrath Institute for Church Life, the Sullivan Undergraduate Saints Fellowship forms Notre Dame students as leaders in the study and spirituality of the saints. We launched this fellowship in 2025 with an inaugural cohort of 12 students selected from a pool of many, many applicants. As part of their fellowship, our saints fellows completed a course this past semester (with yours truly) on praying with the saints. Next year they will become leaders of other undergraduate students, as they form groups of students who pray together and serve together in a manner common to a saint each fellow selects. But in between the course they complete and the year of leadership they undertake, the whole cohort of 12 fellows, along with me and a chaplain, make a pilgrimage to immerse ourselves in the cultures that gave rise to particular saints––cultures which, in turn, these saints renewed and enriched. This year's pilgrimage was to France, specifically: Paris, Chartres, Lisieux, LeMans, Tours, and Lourdes. Today, two of our Sullivan Undergraduate Saints Fellows join me to talk about the meaning and significance of this pilgrimage with the saints. Macy Vance is a rising junior and Kate Apelian is a rising senior at Notre Dame, but really I should let them introduce themselves.Follow-up Resources:Learn more about the Sullivan Undergraduate Saints FellowshipCheck out the wildly popular “Saturdays with the Saints” lecture series“Pilgrimage and the Urgent Question of Faith,” by Leonard J. DeLorenzo, essay in the Church Life Journal“A pilgrimage of sacred art,” by Leonard J. DeLorenzo, article in Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly“Saints who flew, with Carlos Eire,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Encountering Christ on Pilgrimage, with Joan Watson,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Saints, for Real, with Meg Hunter-Kilmer,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“The Theology of the Saints, with Katie Cavadini and Leonard DeLorenzo,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Maria Morera Johnson and Barb Szyszkiewicz have a lively conversation about cooking with the family, offering some Mom hacks for encouraging young chefs. Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at CatholicMom.com, is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at FranciscanMom and her family's favorite recipes with nutrition information  at Cook and Count. Barb is the author of The Handy Little Guide to Prayer and The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, available from Our Sunday Visitor. Maria Morera Johnson, author of A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters who Taught Me to Age with Grace and My Badass Book of Saints. She writes about all the things that she loves. A cradle Catholic, she struggles with living in the world but not being of it, and blogs about those successes and failures, too.   Links for Show: Read all articles by Barb Szyszkiewicz. Read all articles by Maria Morera Johnson. Meatless Friday Recipes

Hi everyone. For today's episode I do not have a guest joining me; instead, I am just going to share with you directly. You see, my dad died a few weeks ago and just last week we celebrated his funeral Mass. I've written a few books over the years and I dedicated one of those books to my dad, who raised me. That book is about fostering communion with our beloved dead. The beloved dead now include my dad. So what I wanted to do today is share with you a portion of the book in remembrance of my dad, specifically the book's brief epilogue where I highlight five pastoral priorities for this communal task of fostering communion with the dead. These are priorities for those of us who mourn, for those who accompany – or should accompany – those who mourn, for families, for parishes. The book's is title Our Faithful Departed: Where They Are and Why It Matters, published by Ave Maria Press in 2022. After I share the epilogue with its five priorities with you, I then read my dad's obituary, which I wrote. Follow-up ResourcesOur Faithful Departed: Where They Are and Why It Matters, by Leonard J. DeLorenzoOur Faithful Departed Discussion Guide, a free resource for parishes, schools, families and friends.“Heaven in the Midst of Death, with Laura Kelly Fanucci,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Life is changed but something ended, with Stephanie DePrez,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Life in Death in Life, with Robert Cording,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Praying for the Dead, with John Cavadini,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In our previous episode of Church Life Today, I was joined by Professor Christie Kleinmann of Belmont University, who talked with me about her fascinating and truly original course on Strategic Public Relations for the Inklings (specifically, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Dorothy Sayers). This is a follow up to that previous excellent episode where things get even better because today I am joined by three of Professor Kleinmann's undergraduate students.Ryleigh Green is a senior at Belmont University who was part of the C. S. Lewis group in Professor Kleinmann's class.Jed Mangrum is a sophomore at Belmont who was part of the Tolkien group.And Adriana Alosno is a junior at Belmont who was part of the Dorothy Sayers group.I've done a lot of podcast episodes over the years, and this one is one of my favorites. Enjoy.Follow-up Resources:Learn more about The Inklings Project. Interested in applying as a fellow for 2026–26? Check out the call for applications here (due July 1, 2025). Check out the Dorothy Sayers Instagram account from the Sayers group in Prof. Kleinmann's course.Check out the C. S. Lewis Instagram account from the Lewis group in Prof. Kleinmann's course.Check out the J. R. R. Tolkien Instagram account from the Tolkien group in Prof. Kleinmann's course.Find syllabi from Inklings Project fellows in our free syllabus repository.Read and subscribe to the “Inklings Quarterly.”Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

“Habemus Papam.” We have a pope. We have a papa. We have a father.  The announcement of a new pope is a startlingly joyous and even spellbinding moment, when not just the faithful but also many who seemingly have no interest in the Church stop and cheer together. What is being proclaimed? What is the significance of the pope for the Church and, through the Church, for the world? What are we all struck by when the announcement echoes through the arms of St. Peter's square to every corner of the world?John Cavadini joins me today to talk about the announcement of the election of Pope Leo XIV. We hope this conversation offers you something a little different than what the typical news commentary on this historic occasion offers. Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

When plans to attend the canonization of Bl. Carlo Acutis shifted following the death of Pope Francis, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, traveled to Rome to report for Our Sunday Visitor, while Katie Prejean McGrady stayed in the U.S. to cover events for CNN and SiriusXM. In this special episode of Ave Explores, Katie and Fr. Patrick reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis, share personal stories of meeting him, and discuss what may lie ahead for the Church as the 2025 conclave approaches. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Have you ever thought about becoming a brand expert for C. S. Lewis or J. R. R. Tolkien? On the one hand, these seem like authors who need no introduction. On the other hand, how many people today really know the work of these towering 20th Century authors, beyond what made its way onto the silver screen? And what about one of the authors closely associated with them – Dorothy Sayers – who is far from well known in the general public but whose work is of similar creative and literary quality with her more famous friends and interlocutors?Maybe you haven't ever thought about launching a public relations campaign for one of these authors for the sake of a modern audience of young adults, but my guest today has. She is Christie Kleinmann, Professor of Public Relations at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Professor Kleinmann is one of a dozen fellows in our second annual cohort of the Inklings Project, run out of the McGrath Institute for Church Life. Along with the other eleven fellows who come from colleges and universities across the United States and in four foreign countries, Professor Kleinmann developed and offered a new course this spring that draws the work of the Inklings into her own area of expertise: strategic public relations. The students in her course were divided into three semester-long groups, which each took as their “clients” one of these three Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien, and Sayers. Today, Professor Kleinmann joins me to talk about the project of her course, the relevance of the Inklings, and the creativity of her students.This is the first of a two-episode set. The second episode will feature three of Professor Kleinmann's students, one from each of the three Inklings groups. Follow-up Resources:Learn more about The Inklings Project. Interested in applying as a fellow for 2026–26? Check out the call for applications here (due July 1, 2025). Check out the Dorothy Sayers Instagram account from the Sayers group in Prof. Kleinmann's course.Check out the C. S. Lewis Instagram account from the Lewis group in Prof. Kleinmann's course.Check out the J. R. R. Tolkien Instagram account from the Tolkien group in Prof. Kleinmann's course.Find syllabi from Inklings Project fellows in our free syllabus repository.Read and subscribe to the “Inklings Quarterly.” Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Good morning! On today's show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Dr. Matthew Bunson from EWTN News, Fr. Patrick Briscoe from Our Sunday Visitor, Teresa Tomeo from Catholic Connection and Brendan Hodge from The Pillar to look at the biggest stories headed into this week's conclave to elect a new pope. Fr. John Gavin also joins us to share more wisdom from the Church Fathers. Plus news, weather, sports and more…

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Dr. Matthew Bunson from EWTN News, Fr. Patrick Briscoe from Our Sunday Visitor, Teresa Tomeo from Catholic Connection and Brendan Hodge from The Pillar to look at the biggest stories headed into this week’s conclave to elect a new pope. Other guests include Fr. John Gavin with more wisdom from the Church Fathers, and Kevin Schmiesing with This Week in Catholic History. Plus news, weather, sports and more… ***** Prayer for priests O Jesus, I pray Thee for Thy faithful and fervent priests; for Thy unfaithful and tepid priests; for Thy priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Thy tempted priests; for Thy lonely priests; for Thy dying priests; for the souls of Thy priests in purgatory. But above all I commend to Thee the priests dearest to me; the priest who baptized me; the priests who absolved me from my sins; the priests at whose Masses I assisted, and who gave me Thy Body and Blood in Holy Communion; the priests who taught and instructed me, or helped and encouraged me; all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way, particularly N. O Jesus, keep them all close to Thy Heart, and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity. Amen. ***** Dr. Andrew Swafford is online at ascensionpress.com. Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Easter! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell discuss the complex reality of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, and mourning the passing of Pope Francis. Guests include Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB, to lead us in prayer for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father, Fr. Patrick Briscoe from Our Sunday Visitor on how the Church and the world are reacting to his passing, and Dr. Matthew Bunson on the preparations being made to lay him to rest. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** Prayer for the Dead God our Father,Your power brings us to birth,Your providence guides our lives,and by Your command we return to dust. Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,their lives change but do not end.I pray in hope for my family,relatives and friends,and for all the dead known to You alone. In company with Christ,Who died and now lives,may they rejoice in Your kingdom,where all our tears are wiped away.Unite us together again in one family,to sing Your praise forever and ever. ***** Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we say the name “God”, have we assumed too quickly that we know what we mean? We use that word quite regularly, without much strain or prolonged consideration, as if the meaning of the word were self-evident. But what if you had to explain – indeed, translate – the word “God” into a language that had no such concept? That would force you, I think, to really reckon with what you mean and what you assume when you use that word: the name, “God”. That is not merely an intellectual exercise; that was in fact the experience of the 16th and 17th Century Jesuit missionary, Matteo Ricci. His primary mission was to China, where he strove to bring and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who often had not only a different language but also a different imaginary landscape than that which European Christians were accustomed to.In our episode today, the eminent scholar of the Sino-Western Exchange, Professor Anthony Clark, talks with me about Matteo Ricci, evangelization, inculturation, and the legacy of dialogue. Anthony Clark is Professor of Chinese History at Whitworth University, where he also holds the Edward B. Lindaman Endowed Chair, and he directs the Oxford Lewis-Tolkien Program, the Rome History and Culture Program, the area of Asian Studies, and the Study in China Program. He joins me today, in studio, while visiting Notre Dame to deliver a lecture titled “In the Footsteps of Dialogue: China and the Legacy of Matteo Ricci.” Follow-up Resources:Find out more about Professor Anthony Clark at his website: https://anthonyeclark.squarespace.com/China's Saints: Catholic Martyrdom During the Qing (1644–1911), by Anthony Clark“China's Religious Awakening after Mao,” by Ian Johnson, article in Church Life Journal“Religion in China, with Ian Johnson,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Jim and Joy speak about the unique practices of the Easter Season with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, Editor at Our Sunday Visitor magazine, and also take audience calls on the topic.

ShownotesWe've spoken about saints frequently here on the podcast and most recently had a conversation with Belinda Terro Mooney about how powerful the saints are especially on their feast days. From Saint Blaise who is known for curing throats to Carlo Acutis, also known as the digital saint, we've learned there's a saint for just about everything. But how do we even find out about these saints? Is it through our own personal struggles and a quick Google search? Or do these saints somehow find us just when they know we need them the most? Our Guest Allison Gingras is an author, podcaster, and social media evangelist. Allison's books include Encountering Signs of Faith from Ave Maria Press and the Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women from Our Sunday Visitor, with the newest title, Jesus Heals. Allison is the Director of Digital Evangelization for Family Rosary and Catholic Mom. You can learn more at ReconciledToYou.com.Links from the showS4 E8 The Healing Power of Saints with Belinda Terro MooneyS1 E6 Our Saint Posse: Saint Faustina with Allison GingrasAllison's website, ReconciledToYou.com33 Days to Merciful Love StigmataBlessed Solanus CaseySt. AmeliaScripture2 Corinthians 5:18Prayer for Jennifer's friend and his mother, as she heals from shoulder surgery.Journaling QuestionsDo you have a special relationship with any of the saints?What were you surprised to learn about Saint Gemma Galgani?Who are the members of your “Saint Posse”?Which part of Allison's testimony spoke to you from this episode?What is your mourning glory?Be sure to check out our website, www.mourningglorypodcast.com. There you will find links to all of our episodes as well as resources to help you on your journey.

By his wounds. His wounds are the source of healing. Our wounds are the wounds that are healed by his wounds. Our wounds may even become the source of healing for others because we have been healed by his wounds. What an unimaginable mystery. Wounds heal. Healing from wounds. Have we considered the magnificence or the near-unbelievability of this reality?Let's put that question another way: “By what means may I understand and experience Christ's wounds not just in juridical terms, as the providential means by which God chose to ‘take away' sin, but as the living source of a remedy by which sin is cured and humanity's wounds, my wounds, are healed?” By what means may I understand and experience that? Indeed, that is the central question in the book my guest today has authored. The book is Healing Wounds, and the author is Bishop Erik Varden, a Cistercian monk who is bishop of Trondheim, Norway.In addition to Healing Wounds, Bishop Varden is author of other works like Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses and The Shattering of Loneliness: On Christian Remembrance. Bishop Varden joins me today in studio during a longer teaching and lecturing visit to the University of Notre Dame.Follow-up Resources:Healing Wounds, by Bishop Erik VardenChastity: Reconciliation of the Senses, by Bishop Erik VardenThe Shattering of Loneliness: On Christian Remembrance, by Bishop Erik VardenChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this episode of the Moral Imagination Podcast I speak with Fr. J. Augustine Wetta about his book Humility Rules: Saint Benedict's Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem. The world teaches us to assert ourselves, to follow our passions, to speak up, talk back, “get yours,” don't let anyone stand in your way. But it doesn't really work. As Tyler Durden proclaims in Fight Club: “We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact.”In contrast to the world's and Fight Club's response (which we won't talk about), Fr. Augustine looks at the Rule of St. Benedict and his ladder of humility as a guide for real happiness and true self-esteem, which comes not from self-assertion, but from self-denial, selflessness, serving others, and not being a slave to one's own will and desires. We discuss Fr. Augustine journey from a lifeguard, surfer, and rugby player to a Benedictine monk, and some of his stories teaching high school students, and throwing himself into a rosebush. In his Rule for monks, St. Benedict explains that any progress toward holiness, happiness, and relationship with God and others must be grounded in humility. He describes humility as a ladder – with one side as the soul and the other as the body. …if we want to reach the highest summit of humility, if we desire to attain speedily that exaltation in heaven to which we climb by the humility of this present life, then by our ascending actions we must set up that ladder on which Jacob in a dream saw angels descending and ascending (Gen 28:12). Without doubt, this descent and ascent can signify only that we descend by exaltation and ascend by humility. Now the ladder erected is our life on earth, and if we humble our hearts the Lord will raise it to heaven. We may call our body and soul the sides of this ladder, into which our divine vocation has fitted the various steps of humility and discipline as we ascend. (St. John's Abbey) Fr. Augustine goes through each of the steps on the ladder of humility * Fear of God * Self-Denial * Obedience * Perseverance * Repentance * Serenity * Self-Abasement* Prudence * Silence * Dignity * Discration* Reverence The book is excellent. It is morally and spiritually serious and entertaining. I laughed out loud several times.Fr. Augustine offers apparently outlandish advice to to people struggling with anxiety, worry, and broken relationships* Don't speak up* Be someone's doormat* Don't follow your dreams* Put your worst foot forward And gives “homework” to practice each of the steps including:* Make no excuses next time you are reprimanded * Clean a toilet * Say thank you next time someone tells you something you already know * The next time you see something not done your way - leave it be if it worksIn addition to Humility Rules we discuss a number of topics including:· His book on decision making called , Pray, Think, Act: Make Better Decisions with the Desert Father· Joy cannot be grasped, but is the fruit of love and self-denial.· St. John Cassian and his writings on the eight vices – including the vice of self-esteem, and why focusing on ourselves prevents us from building good relationships and finding happiness.· Challenges of modern life, particularly the impact of digital distractions on mental health and spiritual well-being· The difference between contemporary meditation practices with traditional Catholic contemplative prayer.· The importance of cultivating an attitude of reverence and gratitude· The role of obedience in spiritual growth – and why it's probably not a good idea to throw oneself into a rosebush.· How chastity requires us to see others as persons and subjects, not objects for use· St. Benedict's rule on Silence, how silence increases mental clarity and attention to others, and the magnificent quote from Dom Paul Delatte OSB Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict“The fundamental purpose of silence is to free the soul, to give it strength and leisure to adhere to God.It delivers us from the low tendencies of our nature and of fixing us in the good.“Biography Augustine Wetta is a monk of Saint Louis Abbey in Saint Louis Missouri. He has two degrees in Theology from Oxford University, a BA in Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations from Rice University, and an MA in English from Middlebury College. For twenty years, he has taught English, Classics, and Theology at the Priory School, in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he also coached rugby and served as Director of Chaplaincy.  In 2019, he was named a Portsmouth Institute Senior Fellow.  He writes for Our Sunday Visitor, and hosts a blog entitled "Disagreement" with Islamic social activist Umar Lee, and frequently appears on EWTN and Saint Joseph Radio.In 2014, he was awarded the Judson Jerome Poetry Award and the Bill Baker Award for Fiction at the Antioch Writers Workshop (the first author in the history of the conference to win both). In 2015, he was awarded the Taliaferro Award for Memoir Writers at the San Francisco Writers Conference, where he was also a finalist for the Emerging Writer Award.He is the author of several books: * Pray, Think, Act a book on decision-making based on the sayings of the Desert Fathers* The Eighth Arrow, a fantasy prison-break set in Dante's Inferno * Saving Grace, an illustrated children's book about a three-legged turtle.* Humility Rules: A 12 Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem which has sold over 100,000 copies and has been translated into five languagesThe son of an artist (Jean Carruthers Wetta) and a historian (Frank Wetta), Father Augustine was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1971, but grew up in Galveston, Texas. There he learned to surf and developed an enormous ego as a lifeguard on the Galveston Sheriff Department Beach Patrol. During this time, he also worked as a professional juggler (“The Flying Fettuccinne Brothers”) and as an archaeologist (at the Agora in Athens). He remains an avid surfer. In fact, if you Google “surfing monk” his is the first name that comes up—along with a news report about how he was nearly eaten by a shark. Themes/Chapters of the Interview* 00:00 Introduction to Father Augustin Weta* 03:07 Exploring Humility and Self-Esteem* 05:55 St. Benedict's Ladder of Humility* 09:13 Fr. Wetta's Journey to Monastic Life* 12:03 The Role of Self-Denial* 14:52 The Importance of Silence* 18:11 Art, Beauty, and Truth* 21:04 Fear of God and Genuine Self-Esteem* 30:06 The Struggle with Digital Distractions* 34:12 The Importance of Silence in Modern Life* 37:29 Meditation vs. Contemplation: A Spiritual Perspective* 41:39 Understanding Lust and Chastity* 49:00 The Role of Reverence in Spiritual LifeResources J Augustine Wetta: Humility Rules: St. Benedict's 12-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem J Augustine Wetta: Pray, Think, Act: Make Better Decisions with the Desert FathersPhilokalia Volume 1 - This is an amazing collection and it includes St. John Cassian on the Eight Vices Other Books related to the rule of St. Benedict Dom Paul Delatte, OSB —his Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict is long and detailed but incredibly impressive and deep. Honestly it is probably not worth it unless you Here is the quote on silence from Dom Delatte that I refer to in the episode and I use a lot - especially in thinking about cultivating silence, but also in our age of over-information. I also recommend a visit to a Benedictine Abbey if you can. I have not visited St. Louis Abbey, but I have visited Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma several times. You can learn more about them here and get CDs of their chanting if you are interested. Photo Credit: Courtesy Augustine Wetta OSB Get full access to The Moral Imagination - Michael Matheson Miller at www.themoralimagination.com/subscribe

Dr. Matthew J. Ramage is Professor of Theology at Benedictine College where he is co-director of its Center for Integral Ecology. His research and writing concentrates especially on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, the wedding of ancient and modern methods of biblical interpretation, the dialogue between faith and science, and stewardship of creation. In addition to his other scholarly and outreach endeavors, Dr. Ramage is author, co-author, or translator of over fifteen books, including Dark Passages of the Bible (CUA Press, 2013), Jesus, Interpreted (CUA Press, 2017), The Experiment of Faith (CUA Press, 2020), From the Dust of the Earth: Benedict XVI, the Bible, and the Theory of Evolution (CUA Press, 2022). His most recent book, The Essential Guide to Ratzinger: The Man and his Message is available through Our Sunday Visitor.For more information on Dr. Ramage's work, visit his website, www.matthewramage.com.Today's show was sponsored in part by SockReligious.

How should Catholics think about UFOs? How can the Church respond to evolving scientific discoveries? What are the boundaries for Catholic belief?These are the kinds of questions at the heart of a new documentary short film produced by The McGrath Institute for Church Life. "Edge of Belief: UFOs, Technology & The Catholic Imagination," explores the outer limits of belief.Today, the film's producer, who is also my friend and colleague, Professor Brett Robinson, joins me to talk about this project: its aims, its audience, and its intrigue. Follow-up Resources:"Edge of Belief: UFOs, Technology & The Catholic Imagination," “The Next Wave of Artificial Intelligence and Our Humanity, with Stephanie DePrez,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“A Very Short Introduction to the History of Catholic Debates about the Multiverse and Extraterrestrial Intelligence,” by Paul Thigpen, article at Church Life Journal“What Can Catholic Theology Say about Extraterrestrials,” by Chris Baglow, article at Church Life JournalChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Gloria Purvis is an author, commentator, public scholar, and the host and executive producer of The Gloria Purvis Podcast. Through her media presence, she has been a strong Catholic voice for life issues, religious liberty, and racial justice. She was Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic of the Year for 2020.She presented a powerful video series entitled Racism, Human Dignity and The Catholic Church through the Word on Fire Institute. She was part of a groundbreaking, exclusive interview with Pope Francis with a delegation from America Media.Most recently, she delivered one of the keynote speeches at the historic National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is the Inaugural Pastoral Fellow at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame University and recently received Honorary Doctorates in Humane Letters from the University of Portland in Oregon and Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities USA. We talked today about our Christian responsibility not only to avoid acting unjustly, but also to actively oppose injustice.Listen to an extra segment on our Patreon page.

 The McGrath Institute for Church Life, together with the John S. and Virginia Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics, is hosting a homily contest on preaching the Blessed Virgin Mary. We invite ordained Catholic bishops, priests, and deacons to submit a five-to-seven-minute homily (in either English or Spanish) for one of three Marian solemnities: the Annunciation (March 25), the Assumption (August 15), or the Immaculate Conception (December 8).Winning homilies will draw on a homiletic methodology that brings together careful treatment of Scripture (including the lectionary and the various propers of the Mass of the day) with a spiritual exegesis that unveils the meaning of the Marian feast for the lives of the faithful today. We have more information about this competition and means for submitting homilies in our show notes for this episode. Today on the show, Msgr. Michael Heintz of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and Notre Dame's Department of Theology joins me to talk about the craft of preaching, the importance of Mary in the life of the Church, and renewing the sacramental imagination of the faithful.  Follow-up Resources: Announcing the Preaching Mary Homiletic Competition. Submissions should be emailed to ndcl@nd.edu no later than March 25, 2025. The Marten Program at the University of Notre Dame.Reading Backwards: Figural Christology and the Fourfold Gospel Witness, by Richard B. Hays (mentioned in the episode)“On the Formation of Future Priest, with Msgr. Michael Heintz,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Thirty years ago, in both Evangelium Vitae and his Letter to Women, John Paul II issued a clear call for the genius of women to be “more fully expressed in the life of society as a whole, as well as in the life of the Church” (Letter to Women10). Throughout his papacy, in fact, JPII emphasized women's “prophetic character,” calling on them to be “witnesses” and “sentinels” — guardians of the sacred gift of life and the order of love (Mulieris Dignitatem 29; Homily at Lourdes2004).This vision for women, clarified and proclaimed in the late twentieth century especially, has yet to be fully realized. Catholics in contemporary America face distorted narratives about women from both poles of our divided culture. By revisiting and extending John Paul II's thought we come upon the opportunity to offer a positive countervision to, on the one hand, the growing anti-feminism in some Catholic circles and, on the other hand, the widely-held perception that the Church is anti-woman.The McGrath Institute for Church Life is hosting a conference that aims to help develop that positive countervision.“True Genius: The Mission of Women in Church and Culture” will take place March 26 to March 28, 2025, on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. It boasts a stellar roster of speakers, including Helen Alvare, Sr. Ann Astell, Erika Bachiochi, Angela Franks, Sarah Denny Lorio, Sr. Theresa Alethia Noble, Leah Libresco Sargeant, and my guest today, Abigail Favale. Abigail and I are colleagues in the McGrath Institute, and she is the conference convener and orgranizer.Registration for the “True Genius” conference is now open, and we have links to more conference information and registration available in our show notes. Show Notes:“True Genius: The Mission of Women in Church and Culture” conference information and registration “Can the Feminine Speak?” by Abigail Favale, article in Church Life Journal “Hildegard of Bingen's Vital Contribution to the Concept of Woman,” by Abigail Favale, article in Church Life Journal“No Woman Is Only Woman: Distilling the Feminine Genius from Stereotypes,” interview with Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble on The Catholic WomanChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Ken talks with Jerry Windley-Daoust “Imagine You Walked with Jesus: A Guide to Ignatian Contemplative Prayer” (Our Sunday Visitor) and Sister Josephine Garrett, CSFN “Wilderness Within: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” (Ave Maria Press). Jerry's book available at: Our Sunday Visitor – Imagine You Walked with Jesus: A Guide to Ignatian Contemplative Prayer and Sister Garrett's book […] L'articolo Meet the Author with Ken Huck – February 13, 2025 – Jerry Windley-Daoust “Imagine You Walked with Jesus: A Guide to Ignatian Contemplative Prayer” and Sister Josephine Garrett, CSFN “Wilderness Within: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” proviene da Radio Maria.

You can't take a souvenir from Hell into Heaven; likewise, you can't fit the realities of Heaven into Hell. That is Gospel truth for C. S. Lewis, especially as he imagines the separation between Heaven and Hell, vice and virtue, corrupt loves and the fullness of joy in his brief, brilliant eschatological novel, The Great Divorce. As we make the turn from Lent and Passion Week to the glory of Easter, Josh McManaway returns to the program to share a conversation with Leonard DeLorenzo about a book they both love.Follow-up Resources:Learn more about The Inklings Project, a new intercollegiate initiative that invites people to pursue meaning and joy by entering the world of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the other Inklings at inklingsproject.org.“Giving Up Descartes for Lent,” by Josh McManaway, essay in Church Life JournalThe Chronicles of Transformation: A Spiritual Journey with C. S. Lewis, edited by Leonard J. DeLorenzo (Ignatius Press, 2022)Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this episode, Bobby and Khalil are joined by special guest Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, as they dive into the works of the great theologian and doctor of the church, St. Thomas Aquinas, and why he is revered as one of the greatest Catholic theologians and philosophers of the faith. ___________________________________________________________________________ ✴️

“The Gospel is not some vague palliative, it's a man raised from the dead.” The Pro-Life Movement has, for several decades now, remembered the dead, principally those children lost to abortion, with a hope for a new culture of life raised from those tragedies. And yet the story of the Pro-Life Movement is primarily told by its enemies, who regularly reduce the movement to caricatures and sound-bites, leveling into a collection angry objections and hostile tactics. The story of the pro-life movement––both its past and its present unfolding into the future––has not really been told as a coherent and full narrative. And so my guest today and his collaborators have set out to chronicle America in the age of abortion and emphasize the response of the pro-life movement as an unparalleled model for social and political resistance. It is a work that seeks to reckon with our dead in obedience to the man raised from the dead. Praise Her in the Gates – Dispatches for a Pro-Life Nation is a longform (multi-episode, multi-season) audio journal released on January 22, 2025. Its creator, the artist Brian Kennedy, joins me today to talk about the original work and what it offers to us, whether we count ourselves as members of the pro-life movement or not. It is a work arising from the Catholic imagination, with which things otherwise neglected or forgotten are perceived, revered, mourned, and praised.Follow-up Resources:Lydwine Substack, home of Praise Her in the Gates (first episodes released January 25, 2025)“The Ghost Outside,” essay by Brian Kennedy“Vandals at the Golden Gate, Part One,” essay by Brian Kennedy“How Americans Understand Abortion, Part 1, with Tricia Bruce,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“How Americans Understand Abortion, Part 2, with Tricia Bruce,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Mary O'Callaghan on Disability Selective Abortions,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Ken talks with Mike Aquilina “Fathers of the Faith: Saint Athanasius” and “Fathers of the Faith: Saint John Chrysostom” (Our Sunday Visitor) and Elise Crawford Gallagher “Holy Ambition: Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home” (Ave Maria Press). Mike's book available at: https://www.orderosv.com/Search?q=aquilina  and Elise's at: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/holy-ambition  Follow Mike at: https://fathersofthechurch.com/    Follow Catholic Women in Business at: https://catholicwomeninbusiness.com/ L'articolo Meet the Author with Ken Huck – January 9, 2025 – Mike Aquilina “Fathers of the Faith: Saint Athanasius” and “Fathers of the Faith: Saint John Chrysostom” and Elise Crawford Gallagher “Holy Ambition: Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home” proviene da Radio Maria.

Agentic AI is a term that will be new to many people. If we were to think of artificial intelligence in waves, the first wave was about making predictions and the second wave was about generating content. This third wave, known as Agentic AI, is far more sophisticated. It is about AI agents performing complex tasks and making decisions. That might sound like the beginning of a dystopian novel or an apocalyptic film, but in reality it has much more to do with how we engage in the consumer marketplace or with service providers, or really just about how we go through our day-to-day lives doing our day-to-day tasks.Our episode today is the beginning of a conversation about what is taking place with the increasing integration of AI into our society and, in light of this, what is important for our own human and interpersonal development. My guest is my longtime friend who has been on our podcast before, Stephanie DePrez. For the past several years, Stephanie has been working for a company investing heavily in Agentic AI, while also continuing to pursue her career in opera and comedy in Germany. She reached out to me after listening to our recent episodes on the encyclical Dilexit Nos, which is of course all about the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to talk about what the growth in Agentic AI means for our humanity. Follow-up Resources:“Dilexit Nos – Part 1, a conversation with Joshua McManaway and Melissa Moschella,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Dilexit Nos – Part 2, a conversation with Abigail Favale and Brett Robinson,” podcast episode via Church Life Today “In Search of a Full Life: A Spiritual and Practical Guide,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Life is changed but something ended, with Stephanie DePrez,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayFind out more about Stephanie DePrez's work in opera, comedy, voice coaching, and writing at stephaniedeprez.com. “What is Man that AI Is Mindful of Him?”, by Jeffrey Bishop, essay via Church Life Journal Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this conversation, Will Wright speaks with Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP about his book 'Entering Heaven on Earth: The Signs, Symbols, and Saints of Catholic Churches,' which explores the signs, symbols, and saints of Catholic churches. They discuss the importance of meditation in the Rosary, the significance of sacred architecture and art, and the role of beauty in worship and liturgy. Father Lew shares his personal journey of faith and the impact of beauty in churches, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and the theological implications of beauty in the Catholic tradition. In this conversation, Fr. Lawrence Lew OP and Will Wright explore the significance of Catholic churches, their architecture, and the symbols within them as a means to deepen faith and understanding. They discuss the importance of mystery in liturgy, the ongoing journey of learning about faith, and how beautiful church spaces can enhance the experience of encountering God. The dialogue emphasizes the role of catechesis in appreciating the signs and symbols of the Church, ultimately aiming to inspire a Eucharistic revival and a deeper connection to the divine.Buy this new book from Our Sunday Visitor! - [https://www.orderosv.com/product/entering-heaven-on-earth-the-signs-symbols-and-saints-of-catholic-churches]Our Catholic churches are filled with an abundance of signs and symbols, some of which you may have never noticed or understood. The sacred art, architecture, and artifacts of a church building proclaim the Real Presence of Christ, dwelling among us in the Blessed Sacrament. The saints within a church are witnesses to Eucharistic living, and we can identify them through various symbols that tell us about their lives, their works, and their witness to the presence of God.In Entering Heaven on Earth, Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP, shows you how to decode the signs and symbols found in our churches and to identify the saints depicted in them. This richly illustrated book filled with photographs the author has taken of churches from around the world will help you to see the churches you worship in or visit from a fresh perspective and to remember the true purpose of a church building.A church is a visible expression of heaven come down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. It is always, first of all, a place for the Christian people to assemble for the sacred liturgy and celebrate the Eucharist. For the beauty of nature, the creativity and craft of mankind, the good works of the virtuous and the just are all brought together in a church building to remind us of the graced activity of God among us.Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.gooddistinctions.com

When people hear about the undergraduate theology program at the University of Notre Dame they are genuinely astonished. They had no idea that that many students were choosing to study theology. Each year, the number of students grows. What is going on? Why are students so interested? What does this tell us about evangelization, and hope for the Church, in the Church?My guest today is my friend and colleague, Professor Anthony Pagliarini, who is the director of the undergraduate theology program at Notre Dame. In this capacity, not only does he teach hundreds of students annually in the classroom, he also meets with, learns from, and advises all the students who declare theology majors or minors at Notre Dame. He'll help us learn about what is going on in Notre Dame's theology program and why it is happening.Follow-up Resources:Notre Dame Theology Department website“What happened to these Catholic college students after they took a required theology course,” article in Aleteia by Leonard DeLorenzo“Encouraging students to ‘Take a Second Look' at Notre Dame,” about a new initiative with Notre Dame theology to re-propose the Catholic faithChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

For years now, modern-day sexual ethics has held that “anything goes” when it comes to sex—as long as everyone says yes, and does so enthusiastically. So why, even when consent has been ascertained, are so many sexual experiences filled with frustration and disappointment, even shame? The truth is that the rules that make up today's consent-only sexual code may actually be the cause of the sexual malaise—not the solution. In Rethinking Sex, reporter Christine Emba shows how consent is a good ethical floor but a terrible ceiling. She spells out the cultural, historical, and psychological forces that have warped the idea of sex, what is permitted, and what is considered “safe.”  Reaching back to the wisdom of thinkers like Thomas Aquinas and Andrea Dworkin, and drawing from sociological studies, interviews with college students, and poignant examples from her own life, Emba calls for a more humane philosophy, one that starts with consent but accounts for the very real emotional, mental, social, and spiritual implications of sex. With a target audience that clearly includes sexually active young adults, Emba tries to help us imagine what it means to will the good of others and thereby discover greater affirmation and fulfillment.Follow-up Resources:Rethinking Sex: A Provocation, by Christine Emba“In Search of a Full Life: A Practical and Spiritual Guide,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationships, with J.P. DeGance,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Letter to a Young Catholic: How to have sex,” article by Leonard J. DeLorenzo in Our Sunday Visitor“The End of Friendship, with Jennifer Senior,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Happy Thanksgiving! Today Deacon Harold talks Deacon Dominic Cerrato who Cerrato is Director of the Office of the Diaconate for the Diocese of Joliet, Editor of Our Sunday Visitor's The Deacon magazine, and Director of Diaconal Ministries. He has taught theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost, and Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He has over 40 years of experience in catechetical and pastoral ministry on both the diocesan and parish levels. Deacon Dominic possesses a BA in Theology from Franciscan University, a MA in Theology from Duquesne University, where he also completed his Ph.D. coursework. In 2009, he was awarded a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the Graduate Theological Foundation. Ordained in 1995 as the first permanent deacon of the Diocese of Steubenville at the age of 35, Deacon Dominic is a national speaker, author, and retreat master. Beyond scholarly papers and popular articles, he has published several books on diaconal theology and spirituality. He is also a novelist and recently published the historical fiction Battle in the Pacific. In 2020, he was appointed by Pope Francis to an international papal commission to study the question of women and the diaconate with Also looking into Soulful Psalm 81:10-13.

Flying is impossible. Well, not strictly impossible, because we fly in airplanes and hot air balloons, but you know what I mean: human beings can't fly. It's impossible. Except here's the thing: a good number of people –– hundreds, maybe thousands –– have sworn, upon penalty of damnation, that they have witnessed people flying, or at least levitating. People like Teresa of Avila and Joseph of Cupertino. About saints like these, a nearly overwhelming number of testimonies say the same thing over and over: “they flew”. If flying is impossible, then the history of saints who flew is a history of the impossible. And that is the book my guest wrote. The book is They Flew: A History of the Impossible. The author and my guest is the esteemed scholar Dr. Carlos Eire, the T. L. Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies at Yale University. In addition to They Flew, Professor Eire is the author of several other important and award-winning books, including Waiting for Snow in Havana, which won the National Book Award, War Against Idols, A Very Brief History of Eternity, and Reformations: The Early Modern World, 1450–1560. Professor Eire joined us at the University of Notre Dame to deliver a lecture in our Saturdays with the Saintsseries, and a link to the recording of that lecture is included in this episode's show notes.Follow-up Resources:They Flew: A History of the Impossible, by Carlos Eire“The Trouble with Levitation and Bilocation,” by Carlos Eire, journal article in Church Life JournalChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Katie Prejean McGrady. Katie shares about her heart for the religious vocations of the Church and the joy found in loving and being loved by folks within the different callings. Katie and Alissa also chat about: The sacred middle, and the normal everyday CatholicBeing invitational in how we live our faithThe beauty of living an integrated faithThe golden thread of connectivity within the ChurchCatholicism as who we are and what we do"Uncle" Tim DolanHow the different vocations within the Church need and compliment one anotherKatie Prejean McGrady is a speaker, award-winning author, and host of The Katie McGrady Show on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM. She hosts three podcasts: Ave Explores from Ave. Maria Press, Like a Mother with Our Sunday Visitor, and Family Mass Prep on Hallow, which she co-hosts with her husband Tommy. Katie serves as a member of the working group on youth. and young adult ministry for the USCCB. Katie has hosted the National Catholic Youth Conference and spoken at Steubenville Youth and Adult Conferences and around the country for over a decade. She lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with her husband and daughters, Rose and Clare.he Steubenville Youth and Adult Conferences. She lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with her husband and daughters, Rose and Clare.Find our more about Katie's work on Facebook, Instagram, or her website.

Notre Dame professors Abigail Favale and Brett Robinson join me today to talk about Pope Francis's new encyclical, Dilexit Nos: On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ. This is the second of two conversations on the encyclical that we are featuring on Church Life Today, each with faculty colleagues of mine from the McGrath Institute for Church Life. In this episode, we will talk about poetry and symbolism, artificial intelligence and algorithms, the importance of memory, the human person as a living union, and more. Abigail Favale is Professor of the Practice at Notre Dame, where her academic expertise brings her to the intersection of theology, literature, and women's studies. Brett Robinson is Associate Director of Outreach and Associate Professor of the Practice in the McGrath Institute for Church Life. He leads a number of initiatives in our institute, especially ones related to Catholic media studies.Follow-up Resources:Dilexit Nos: On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus ChristPart 1 of the conversation on the new encyclical, with Melissa Moschella and Joshua McManaway, podcast episode via Church Life Today“The Sacred Heart of the New Encyclical,” by Leonard DeLorenzo, essay in Church Life Journal “Some Human Beings Carry Remnants of Other Human Beings in Their Bodies,” by Kristin Collier, essay in Church Life JournalOn the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by the Sisters of CarmelChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

My special guest this week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider is Michael Heinlein, editor of Simply Catholic, a ministry of Our Sunday Visitor and he is a frequent contributor to OSV. Our focus is his captivating book “Glorifying Christ” on the life and times of Cardinal Francis George, the late archbishop of Chicago.

Notre Dame professors Melissa Moschella and Joshua McManaway join me today to talk about Pope Francis's new encyclical, Dilexit Nos: On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ. The encyclical is a call to renew our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and, thereby, to become more fully, more completely, more authentically human, especially in our love for God and love of neighbor. This conversation is the first of two that we will host on our show with my faculty colleagues in the McGrath Institute for Church Life, each of whom has a distinct area of expertise.Melissa Moschella is the newest member of our McGrath Institute for Church Life faculty, where she is Professor of the Practice. She is a philosopher whose work spans the fields of ethics, political philosophy, and law, as well as natural law theory, biomedical ethics, and the family. Josh McManaway has joined me on several episodes before. He is Assistant Professor of the Practice in the McGrath Institute for Church Life, where he is also the program director of the Savoring the Mystery preaching program, and academic director of the “Take a Second Look” initiative, which helps young adults rediscover the beauty and riches of Catholicism. A theologian, Josh is an expert on the Early Church and is currently finishing up a book on the Apostles' Creed.Follow-up Resources:Dilexit Nos: On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ"The Sacred Heart of the New Encyclical," by Leonard DeLorenzo, essay in Church Life Journal “Praying into the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with Fr. Joe Laramie,” podcast episode via Church Life today Five-part series on the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Leonard DeLorenzo, via Our Sunday VisitorPart 1: “Contemplating the Mysteries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”Part 2: “Five Ways to Foster Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus”Part 3: “How to Conform to the Love of Jesus”Part 4: “Meet the Saints Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus”Part 5: “What Is Behind the Theology of the Sacred Heart?”“Are Jansenists Among Us?” by Sean Blanchard, essay in Church Life JournalChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

My special guest this week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider is Michael Heinlein, editor of Simply Catholic, a ministry of Our Sunday Visitor and he is a frequent contributor to OSV. Our focus is his captivating book “Glorifying Christ” on the life and times of Cardinal Francis George, the late archbishop of Chicago.

My special guest this week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider is Michael Heinlein, editor of Simply Catholic, a ministry of Our Sunday Visitor and he is a frequent contributor to OSV. Our focus is his captivating book “Glorifying Christ” on the life and times of Cardinal Francis George, the late archbishop of Chicago.

My special guest this week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider is Michael Heinlein, editor of Simply Catholic, a ministry of Our Sunday Visitor and he is a frequent contributor to OSV. Our focus is his captivating book “Glorifying Christ” on the life and times of Cardinal Francis George, the late archbishop of Chicago.

In her 1936 book, The Secret of Childhood, Maria Montessori writes that “We must wake up to the great reality that children have a psychic life whose delicate manifestations escape notice and whose pattern of activity can be unconsciously disrupted by adults.” The approach to education that Montessori established sought to remove such unnecessary disruptions while cultivating a fruitful environment wherein children could discover the world, grow toward the maturation of their God-given capacities, and experience the wonder and responsibility of real freedom. Montessori schools have since been established all across the United States and indeed across the world, including here in my own hometown of South Bend, Indiana. The conversation on our episode today will focus on one such school, St. Joseph Montessori, which is in fact a Catholic Montessori school for children ages 2.5 to 6. My guest is Dr. Elizabeth Capdevielle, who is a board member of St. Joseph Montessori, and who, as a trained Montessori educator, will help us learn more about the Montessori approach, the anthropological underpinnings of this education, and the correspondence of Montessori education to a Catholic vision of the world and the human person.In addition to serving on the board at St. Joseph Montessori, Beth is an assistant teaching professor at the University of Notre Dame, where she teaches in the University Writing Program. Follow-up Resources:St. Joseph Montessori, South Bend, IN“Joy and Parenting,” by Claire Fyrvquist, Co-founder of St. Joseph Montessori, journal article in Church Life JournalThe Secret of Childhood, by Maria MontessoriThe Absorbent Mind: A Classic Education and Child Development for Educators and Parents, by Maria Montessori“Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, with Mary Mirrione,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayThe episode is sponsored by Saints Mary's Press, smp.org/bibles. Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

The Vigil Project is a nonprofit Catholic apostolate and collective of musical artists dedicated to leading people to an encounter with God through music. Their work stretches from the liturgy to everyday life, from Sunday worship and Feast Days to Tuesday afternoons waiting in a carpool line. Their goal is to offer and support excellence and reverence in music in all of these moments. The Vigil Project has ten albums available, they create communities for Catholic musicians, and they offer retreats and courses for musicians and music leaders. Today the Vigil Project's Director of Mission Advancement joins me to talk about the work of their apostolate and the people they serve. Andrew Goldstein is himself a Catholic musician who, for ten years, served as a church music director. Before coming to the Vigil Project, he co-founded Seattle's critically acclaimed chamber music series, Emerald City Music. He has also led chamber music festivals, and worked to guide orchestras and opera houses.After our conversation today, stick around till the very end of this episode so you can hear one of the devotional songs that Andrew shared with us from The Vigil Project, one which appears on their album “True Presence.” Follow-up Resources:Visit The Vigil Project online at thevigilproject.com.The Vigil Project's monthly newsletter is available at thevigilproject.com/subscribeLearn about the Catholic Musician Community at catholicmusician.org.The song at the end of this episode comes from the album, “True Presence.” Stream that album on any service, here. Their full catalog of music is available at thevigilproject.com/listenLearn more about the Catholic Musician Retreat at thevigilproject.com/catholic-musician-retreatLearn more about the Meaning of Music film project at thevigilproject.com/meaningofmusicChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Maria Johnson and Barb Szyszkiewicz are joined by Catholic Mom contributor and author, Karen Estep, for a fun conversation about Fall memories and traditions. Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at CatholicMom.com, is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at FranciscanMom and her family's favorite recipes with nutrition information  at Cook and Count. Barb is the author of The Handy Little Guide to Prayer and The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, available from Our Sunday Visitor. Karen Estep is the host of the podcast Stand, Kneel, Now What? In coming home to the Catholic faith as an adult she hopes to share her love of the Church on a daily basis. Karen has been shown many graces through the Sacraments even through all of her blunders. She hopes to help other adults navigate their faith journey as well.   Maria Morera Johnson, author of My Badass Book of Saints, Super Girls and Halos, and Our Lady of Charity: How a Cuban Devotion to Mary Helped Me Grow in Faith and Love writes about all the things that she loves. A cradle Catholic, she struggles with living in the world but not being of it, and blogs about those successes and failures, too.   Links for Show:  Read all articles by Barb Szyszkiewicz. Read all articles by Karen Estep. Read all articles by Maria Morera Johnson.

College students really love The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. Both Josh McManaway and I have taught this book in undergraduate courses, with great success. Josh has used this book in a theology course on “Conversion,” and I have used it in a course on “The Catholic Imagination.” Since Josh and I really enjoyed creating an episode earlier this year about C. S. Lewis's The Great Divorce, we wanted to create this episode about another book we both love, and our students love, too. So here's our discussion on The End of the Affair.Follow-up Resources:“C.S. Lewis's ‘The Great Divorce': a discussion with Josh McManaway,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Quantity and the Politics of Prayer,” by Chase Padusniak, essay via Church Life Journal (dealing, in part, with The End of the Affair)The End of the Affair by Graham Greene (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition), which Josh and Lenny cite in this episode.Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Maria Morera Johnson and Barb Szyszkiewicz welcome Catholicmom.com contributor Rebecca Martin, author of Love in the Eternal City. Rebecca W. Martin, a trade book Acquisitions Editor for Our Sunday Visitor and Assistant Editor at Chrism Press, lives in Michigan with her husband and too many cats. A perpetually professed Lay Dominican, Rebecca serves as editor for Veritas, a quarterly Lay Dominican publication. Her children's book Meet Sister Mary Margaret will release in fall 2023 from OSV Kids. Links in the Show: Love in the Eternal City Meet Sister Mary Margaret Read all articles by Rebecca W. Martin.

Purpose and meaning, healing and growth, community and fellowship—these values have traditionally been found in church. Though they are leaving the pews in droves, young adults are still seeking these spiritual benefits. Based on five years of qualitative and quantitative research,Defiant Hope, Active Love offers practical recommendations for making faith communities more hospitable to the next generation. The editor of the book and lead researcher in the project joins me today to talk about his team's findings and where to go from here.Jeff Keuss is a professor of Christian ministry, theology, and culture at Seattle Pacific University, where he also previously served as director of the University Scholars Honors Program and associate dean of graduate studies for the seminary. Follow-up Resources:Defiant Hope, Active Love: What Young Adults Are Seeking in Places of Work, Faith, and Community, edited by Jeff KeussPivot NW Research, where you can find more about the study, the book, and additional resources.“In Search of a Full Life: A Practical and Spiritual Guide,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Rethinking Work, with Paul Blaschko,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Becoming the Adult in the Room, with Sarah Pelrine,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationship, with J.P. De Gance,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Wouldn't it be fascinating if the most current social science research discovered not some new and unheard-of things but rather ancient and even biblical truths? The nonprofit organization Communio is reporting that this is indeed what is happening. Through their Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationships, they have found that family structure is the most important indicator for the religious commitment of those raised in that home. Alongside that, of course, we regularly find people who do better in school, who are more successful in work, who are healthier, and who can manage relationships better on their own. It is as if we humans were created for stable, committed relationships and called to procreate from this marital commitment.J.P. De Gance, the founder and president of Communio, joins me today to discuss the work he and his team have been doing and how their work can help equip churches to evangelize through healthy relationships and marriage. J.P. is also the co-author of the book, Endgame: The Church's Strategic Move to Save Faith and Family in America. You can find out more about J.P. and Communio at their website, communio.org. Follow-up Resources:Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationship from CommunioEndgame: The Church's Strategic Move to Save Faith and Family in America by John Van Epp and J.P. De Gance.“The State of the Family in America, with Brad Wilcox,” podcast episode via Church Life Today Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Maria Morera Johnson and Gabriella Ribeiro discuss novenas with Allison Gingras, author of The Handy Little Guide to Novenas. Allison Gingras (ReconciledToYou.com) considers herself a new media evangelist. Authoring The Handy Little Guide to Novenas (OSV), Encountering Signs of Faith (Ave Maria Press) and the Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women (Our Sunday Visitor), which includes a new title in 2025, Jesus Heals. Allison is Director of Digital Evangelization for Holy Cross Family Ministries.    Links in Episode: The Handy Little Guide to Novenas (OSV) Allison's author page Read all articles by Allison Gingras.  

“The call to parenting will never be an easy one. To have your heart walk around outside your body means that your heart will be bumped and bruised along the way. It is not a vocation to be pursued in isolation. What parents need is a network of support, a village.” So begins the epilogue of Holly Taylor Coolman's new book, Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children. What she presents in her wise, practical, and spiritually enriching work is a vision for cherishing children as a gift and guest. To do this, we must learn how to depend on and draw life from others, while creating a community where we share in the responsibility for one another's wellbeing. Holly joins me today to talk about this call to parenting, the ongoing discernment necessary for responding to that call, and the challenges and blessings of raising children and caring for other peoples' children in today's day and age. Follow-up Resources:Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children, by Holly Taylor Coolman.“The Church's Call to Foster Care, with Holly Taylor Coolman,” podcast episode via Church Life Today.“Amid Plagues: The Church's Call to Foster Care and More,” by Holly Taylor Coolman, article in Church Life Journal.“The Invention of Parenting,” by Holly Taylor Coolman, article in Church Life Journal.Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this special episode, we share nine practical tips for how to prioritize faith when you go off to college. This is different than just trying to “keep your faith,” which is itself possibly a losing proposition. Rather than trying to “keep” something you are afraid of losing, focus on stretching, enriching, and building on what you already have, just like you stretch, enrich, and build on what you learned in high school classes when you go into college classes. While this episode is directed specifically to young adults who may be going off to college (either for the first time or returning for a new year), it is also beneficial for young adults who are doing something other than college, or for not-so-young-adults who live in the world in other ways.Follow-up Resources:“Nine Ways to Kickstart Your Faith in College,” by Leonard DeLorenzo. This is the essay on which this episode is built, which also includes interviews with college students and alums.In Search of a Full Life: A Spiritual and Practical Guide, by Leonard DeLorenzo. “Forming an Intentional College Culture, with Joe Wurtz,” podcast episode via Church Life Today.“Becoming the Adult in the Room, with Sarah Pelrine,” podcast episode via Church Life Today.Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Heidi Hess Saxton is a seasoned veteran in the publishing world, with a wealth of experience under her belt. Recently, Our Sunday Visitor released her latest book, Stories of the Eucharist: A Family Treasury of Saints and Seekers. In this podcast episode, Heidi joins Fr. Edward to share her journey to believing in the Eucharist as a convert, and to recount inspiring stories of diverse saints within the Catholic tradition. After listening, make sure to grab a copy of her book: https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/product/stories-of-the-eucharist-a-family-treasury-of-saints-and-seekers

Heidi Hess Saxton taught her children that their guardian angels only leave them once each week--it is during the Eucharist that they gather around the throne of Heaven and make their offerings of prayer. Like our guardian angles, our lives are meant to be beautiful offerings to God. In this podcast, listen to Heidi as she shares stories of her conversion and from her experience of motherhood, as well as wisdom that she has learned throughout her lifetime. (Heidi's children are all adopted and now adults!)  Learn how to open your heart to the merciful touch of Christ and make your life a beautiful offering.  Heidi's newest book “Stories of the Eucharist: A Family Treasury of Saints and Seekers" is available now!