Podcasts about tiber river

Beppe, a native Italian, started his journey in active travel over two decades ago and, with the help of his wife Heather, co-founded Tourissimo, one of the top adventure travel companies in Italy. With years of expertise designing cycling and adventure tours across all 20 regions of Italy, Beppe and Heather have the inside scoop on the most authentic and unforgettable experiences Italy has to offer.So grab your espresso (or a glass of vino Italiano), and let's explore Italy region by region!Northern Italy: Adventure, Culture, and Alpine BeautyLombardy (Lombardia)Running along the Swiss border, Lombardy is Italy's largest and wealthiest region—a land of striking contrasts and cultural riches. Home to nearly 10 million people, Lombardy contains 12 of Italy's largest cities: Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Mantua, Pavia, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Monza, Sondrio, and Varese. The region blends modern sophistication with old-world charm, from the fashion capital and bustling metropolis of Milan to the serene, postcard-perfect landscapes of Lake Como.Lombardy is dotted with some of Italy's most beloved lakes, including Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro, and many more. Picturesque villages like Bellagio offer sun-drenched escapes along Lake Como's shores, while the medieval towns of Bergamo and Mantova enchant visitors with cobblestone streets, sweeping views, and centuries of history.Culinary lovers will be spoiled for choice with Lombardy's 60 Michelin-starred restaurants—3 with three stars, 6 with two stars, and 51 with one star. Be sure to savor the region's iconic Risotto alla Milanese, a creamy saffron-infused dish that's a local staple. Wine enthusiasts won't want to miss a glass of Franciacorta, Italy's sparkling answer to Champagne.November is a wonderful time to visit, with cooler temperatures and fewer tourists. It's also the perfect season to explore Lombardy's slice of the Alps, where charming mountain towns await nestled among the peaks. For an unforgettable adventure, consider attending the 2025 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo!Tourissimo Tip– If you are flying into Milan, select the correct airport because Milan has two airports! For info, check out the following Tourissimo blog: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/avoid-this-common-travel-mistake-know-milans-two-airportsVenetoVeneto, the birthplace of Prosecco, Polenta, and the iconic Spritz, is a region rich in charm, culture, and culinary delights. Stretching from the Italian Riviera to the Venetian Pre-Alps and the stunning Dolomites, Veneto is home to both natural beauty and historic towns. Its capital, the enchanting floating city of Venice, is world-famous for its canals, gondolas, labyrinthine streets, and undeniable romance.Each of Venice's islands offers something special: admire the colorful houses of Burano, renowned for its lace-making traditions; visit Murano, celebrated for its centuries-old glassblowing artistry; and soak up the peaceful atmosphere of Torcello. Exploring these islands by vaporetto (water bus) offers a quieter, more authentic glimpse into Venetian life. Tourissimo Tip–For a few more suggestions, check out Tourissimo's blog on the Venetian Lagoon: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/our-favorite-destinations-in-the-venetian-lagoonBeyond Venice, Veneto boasts a treasure trove of picturesque towns. Verona, Padua, Vicenza, and Asolo each offer their own distinct history and beauty. Visit Castelfranco Veneto for a charming escape or head to Bardolino to enjoy a boat ride on Italy's largest lake, Lago di Garda. Stroll the waterfront in Castelletto sul Garda or circle the freshwater moat of Cittadella, a red-brick medieval town full of character.In the countryside, the hills of Prosecco promise stunning vineyard views, while the medieval town of Montagnana offers a taste of the past. Nature lovers can visit the volcanic Euganean Hills in Este, and cheese lovers shouldn't miss the small town of Asiago, home to one of Italy's most famous cheeses.Veneto's culinary scene shines with 34 Michelin-starred restaurants—2 with three stars, 3 with two stars, and 29 with one star. Indulge in local specialties like Bigoli in Salsa, a hearty Venetian pasta with anchovy sauce, and toast with a glass of Prosecco, Grappa, or the regional favorite, the Select Spritz. And don't forget—Venetians love to celebrate, so let loose and join the party!Tourissimo Tips–Another fun suggestion is Veneto Marostica, the City of Chess, where they do a living chess match with hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes every two years: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/marostica-the-city-of-chessPiedmont (Piemonte)Nestled at the foot of the Alps and bordered on three sides by the Mediterranean Sea, Piedmont is one of Italy's most underrated gems. With a diverse landscape that offers adventure and beauty year-round, this region is perfect for both winter skiing and summer hiking and biking, thanks to its stunning Alpine scenery.But Piedmont isn't just about breathtaking views—it's steeped in rich history and cultural significance. As the first capital of Italy, it boasts grand palaces, remarkable art, and sacred relics like the famed Shroud of Turin. The capital city of Turin is a vibrant hub, home to Europe's largest outdoor food market and the monthly Gran Balon flea market, a haven for vintage and antique lovers.Venture beyond the city and you'll discover a region bursting with charm and flavor. Tour the Langhe Hills, a paradise for vineyard visits, and sample Bagna Cauda, a warm anchovy and garlic dip beloved by locals. Wander the lakeside town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore, or stroll the cobbled streets of Neive, where views of rolling hills and storybook cottages create an unforgettable setting. In Asti, you can witness the September medieval horse races and visit the majestic Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e San Gottardo. For a true fairy-tale escape, head to Macugnaga in the valley of Monte Rosa, a perfect base for both skiing and hiking. And just outside of Turin lies the hidden gem of Lake Orta, a peaceful retreat away from the crowds.Piedmont's culinary scene is just as spectacular. With 35 Michelin-starred restaurants—2 with three stars, 3 with two stars, and 30 with one star—the region is a paradise for food lovers. Dine in Alba during white truffle season (September to January), and savor iconic regional dishes like Agnolotti del Plin and Coniglio Arrosto. Wine enthusiasts will be in heaven here—Piedmont is the land of Barolo, the "king of wines," and Barbaresco, two of Italy's most prestigious reds.Tourissimo Tips:Piedmont is home to the Slow Food movement: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/why-piedmont-is-renowned-for-its-slow-foodTourissimo Tip–Check out this blog for a guide to a day of eating in Turin: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/a-day-of-eating-in-turinTourissimo Tip–One of the Best Meals of Your Life will be at the Piazza Duomo in Alba!Emilia-RomagnaLocated in central Italy along the Adriatic coast, Emilia-Romagna is a vibrant and diverse region known for its perfect blend of “slow food” and “fast cars.” This area is considered both the culinary and automotive capital of Italy, offering rich traditions, warm hospitality, and unforgettable experiences.Food lovers will be in heaven here. Emilia-Romagna is the birthplace of iconic Italian delicacies such as Mortadella, Tortellini in Brodo, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Lambrusco, and egg-based fresh pastas like lasagna, tortellini, and tagliatelle. A visit to Parma lets you savor authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano and world-class Prosciutto, as well as enjoy the elegant Teatro Regio opera house.The region also has a need for speed—it's home to legendary automotive brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. For car enthusiasts, the Ferrari Museum in Modena is a must-see. Emilia-Romagna even has a dedicated cycling tourism office, and in summer 2023, it played host to several stages of the Tour de France, which began in nearby Florence.Beyond the food and cars, Emilia-Romagna offers a range of enchanting destinations. The capital city of Bologna is known for its Piazza Maggiore, the Two Towers, and the scenic Santuario Madonna di San Luca. In Ravenna, marvel at the dazzling, colorful mosaics and the historic San Vitale Basilica. Along the coast, vibrant seaside resorts like Cervia, Cesenatico, and Rimini create a lively, carnival-like party atmosphere from late May through September. For a more peaceful experience, explore the medieval gem of Brisighella, a lesser-known treasure full of charm.When it comes to fine dining, Emilia-Romagna doesn't disappoint. The region boasts 24 Michelin-starred restaurants, including one three-star, three two-star, and twenty one-star establishments. Visitors are often struck by the warmth and generosity of the locals—some of the most hospitable people in Italy—who express their love through exceptional food and outstanding service.Tourissimo Tips:Did you know that there is a whole other country within Emilia Romagna? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/san-marino-the-other-small-country-within-italyTourissimo Tip–Pietra di Bismantova was an inspiration for Dante: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/pietra-di-bismantova-the-inspiration-for-dantes-purgatoryTourissimo Tip–You can cross the Rubicon: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/crossing-the-rubiconTrentino-South TyrolNestled along Italy's northern border with Switzerland, Trentino–South Tyrol is a stunning mountainous region that blends Italian and Austrian influences, making it a top destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. With its striking Alpine scenery, exceptional cuisine, and rich cultural duality, this region offers the best of both worlds.The South Tyrol capital, Bolzano, is renowned for having the highest quality of life in Italy, combining the clean, efficient infrastructure often associated with Germany with the flavorful food and spirited lifestyle of Italian culture.Outdoor adventurers will be captivated by the Dolomites, with their dramatic limestone peaks—ideal for hiking, skiing, and breathtaking vistas. Don't miss the Alpe di Siusi, Europe's largest Alpine meadow, which is especially stunning in spring and summer. Explore shimmering Lake Garda and uncover the region's medieval past through spectacular castles like Schloss Tirol, Castel Roncolo, and Castel d'Appiano.Tourissimo Tip–An off-the-beaten-path outdoor paradise can be found in the Alps of Trentino. Check out the Val di Sole. This is one of the areas that Beppe and Heather regularly go to on their personal vacations in Italy: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-wild-dolomitesThe culinary offerings here reflect the region's unique blend of cultures. Traditional dishes range from Bratwurst and Goulash to Italian-style pastas with hearty meats like deer. Foodies should try Speck, a savory smoked ham, perfectly paired with a glass of Gewürztraminer, a fragrant white wine native to the area. The region also produces excellent white wines and lighter reds that pair beautifully with its alpine cuisine.When it comes to fine dining, Trentino–South Tyrol excels with 33 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three three-star, five two-star, and twenty-five one-star establishments, making it one of Italy's most impressive gourmet regions.LiguriaLocated along Italy's rugged northwestern coastline, Liguria—also known as the Italian Riviera—boasts dramatic cliffs, colorful seaside villages, and incredible culinary traditions. The region is best known for the five picturesque villages of Cinque Terre, as well as the glamorous resort towns of Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.Tourissimo Tip– If you visit the Cinque Terre, don't forget to look up, and hike up away from the crowds to see the heroic vineyards: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-heroic-winemaking-of-the-cinque-terreBecause of the narrow, winding roads with steep drop-offs, many travelers prefer to explore the region via the local train or by public or private boat. If you're planning to hike the famous trails, be aware that entrance permits are now required due to landslides and overtourism.In the regional capital of Genoa, dive into maritime history, visit the iconic San Lorenzo Cathedral, and wander the city's old port area. Just outside Genoa, discover the secluded San Fruttuoso Abbey, accessible only by boat or footpath. In Vernazza, one of the Cinque Terre towns, visit the Doria Castle and the beautiful Santa Margherita Church.Liguria is also a celebrity hotspot, and its cuisine is just as impressive as its scenery. Known as the birthplace of pesto, the region is famous for Pesto alla Genovese, made with a special local basil. Be sure to try the region's olive oil, garlic, cheeses, and exceptional seafood, especially the anchovies. Other regional specialties include Focaccia di Recco, a cheese-filled flatbread, and lighter olive oils that perfectly complement Ligurian dishes.For fine dining, Liguria is home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants, all with one star, offering refined cuisine rooted in the region's coastal and agricultural traditions.Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Friuli)Tucked between Veneto, Austria, and Slovenia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a lesser-known gem that offers a unique blend of Alpine landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and coastal charm. The region features part of the Dolomites, ideal for hiking, skiing, and capturing breathtaking scenery.The capital, Trieste, is a refined port city with a fascinating blend of Italian, Austro-Hungarian, and Slavic influences. Don't miss the Miramare Castle, perched over the sea with stunning views. In Cividale del Friuli, stroll through cobbled streets and sample Frico, a savory, crispy dish made of cheese and potatoes, best enjoyed with a glass of Schioppettino, a bold red wine native to the region.For outdoor adventures and relaxation, spend a beach day at Lignano Sabbiadoro, camp in Sistiana, bike the trails around Grado, or explore the ancient Roman ruins in Aquileia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to visit the enormous Grotta Gigante (Giant Cave), stroll through Unity of Italy Square, and tour the Revoltella Museum for modern art.Friuli-Venezia Giulia is also home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants, including two two-star establishments and five one-star venues, reflecting the region's quiet but impressive culinary scene.Tourissimo Tip– A hotel that Heather and Beppe love in Cormons is La Subida. It's a unique, high-end, and rustic property nestled in nature that boasts a 1-Michelin star restaurant: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/hotels-we-love-la-subidaAosta ValleyNestled in the northwestern tip of Italy, where it borders Switzerland and France, the Aosta Valley is Italy's smallest and highest region—a true mountain paradise. This alpine jewel is renowned for its dramatic snowcapped peaks, storybook castles, and a unique blend of French and Italian culture, as both languages are spoken here.The region is home to Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco), Europe's highest peak, which straddles the borders of Italy, France, and Switzerland. While the summit lies on the French side, visitors on the Italian side can experience the Skyway Monte Bianco, a breathtaking cable car ride offering panoramic views of the Alps.Key landmarks include the striking Matterhorn, the impressive Fénis and Savoy Castles, and the Bard Fortress, one of the largest and most remarkable fortifications in the Alps. After a day in the mountains, relax in one of the region's thermal spas, and indulge in Fonduta, a rich, velvety cheese fondue perfect for chilly alpine evenings.Wine lovers should sample the region's distinctive red mountain wines, especially Enfer d'Arvier, known for its bold flavor and high-altitude character.Tourissimo Tip–A fun tradition is the Friendship Cup, a communal cup of coffee: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-friendship-cup-of-valle-daostaCentral Italy: History, Art, and Rolling HillsTuscany (Toscana)Tuscany, the heart of the Renaissance, is a captivating region of rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, vineyards, and timeless art and architecture. Located just below Italy's northern regions, it's a haven for art lovers, history buffs, and food and wine enthusiasts alike. From Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino, the region offers a wide variety of world-class wines.The regional capital, Florence, is one of Italy's most walkable and safe major cities, making it ideal for solo travelers. Admire its architectural wonders while sipping on Chianti Classico and indulging in a local favorite—Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Must-see landmarks in Florence include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Galleria dell'Accademia, home to Michelangelo's David. For iconic views, head to Piazzale Michelangelo.Beyond Florence, explore the historic cities of Siena, Lucca, and San Gimignano, each offering its own charm. Don't miss the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Siena Cathedral, and spend time in the picturesque public squares like Piazza del Campo, Piazza della Signoria, and Piazza del Duomo.For off-the-beaten-path adventures, discover medieval hilltop villages such as Sorano, or head to the Maremma coast for scenic beaches and bold wines. Tuscany also shines in its culinary excellence, boasting 41 Michelin-starred restaurants—including 1 three-star, 5 two-star, and 35 one-star establishments.Tourissimo Tip–3 places in Tuscany you didn't know existed: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/three-places-in-tuscany-you-did-not-know-existedUmbriaUmbria, often called the "Green Heart of Italy," is the country's only completely landlocked region, nestled between Tuscany, Lazio, and Le Marche. Though it lacks large cities, Umbria more than makes up for it with breathtaking natural beauty, medieval towns, and a rich culinary tradition.One of Umbria's most impressive sights is the Cascata delle Marmore (Marmore Falls)—the second tallest waterfall in Europe. Nature lovers and photographers alike will be amazed by its dramatic 165-meter drop. The region is also home to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, one of Italy's most revered saints, and a major pilgrimage destination.Food lovers will delight in Umbria's hearty, earthy cuisine, featuring lentils, mushroom-based dishes, cured meats, and the prized black truffle (Tartufo Nero di Norcia). Pair these specialties with a glass of Sagrantino di Montefalco, a robust red wine unique to the region.Umbria's culinary excellence is further reflected in its four Michelin-starred restaurants: Casa Vissani, Vespasia, Ada, and Elementi. Each holds one Michelin star, offering refined takes on the region's rustic flavors.Tourissimo Tip–Norcia is definitely one of Italy's culinary gems: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/norcia-one-of-italys-culinary-gemsMarcheLocated in central Italy on the Adriatic side, Marche is a beautiful region with a population of 1 million people, known for its charming towns, rich history, and welcoming, hardworking culture. The region offers stunning destinations like Urbino and Ancona, along with pristine beaches such as Spiaggia della Due Sorelle, Parco Naturale Monte San Bartolo, Mezzavalle, and the Riviera del Conero, not to mention many picturesque nature reserves.Must-see landmarks include Castello di Gradara, Palazzo Ducale di Urbino, the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, Cattedrale di San Ciriaco, Tempio del Valadier, and the breathtaking underground Frasassi Caves. Marche's favorite cities and nearby towns also include Gubbio, Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, and Cascia.For those drawn to religious history, highlights include the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis, the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis, Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, and Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi, as well as the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia. History lovers should visit Rocca Paolina, Piazza IV Novembre, Fontana Maggiore, Piazza del Comune, and Grotta di Monte Cucco, while museums like Narni Sotterranea, the National Gallery, and Nobile Collegio del Cambio offer rich cultural experiences.This region is famous for its culinary tradition, especially its mastery of seafood, and is home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants — including Uliassi in Senigallia, proudly holding three Michelin stars, along with one two-star and five one-star establishments. No visit would be complete without tasting Olive all'Ascolana, fried stuffed olives that perfectly capture Marche's local flavor. All of this, combined with the region's natural beauty and warm, fun, and friendly locals, makes Marche a truly unforgettable destination in the heart of Italy.Tourissimo Tip–Ascoli Piceno, the town where the Ascoli olive is from, is beautiful, especially at night when it appears to glow: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/ascoli-piceno-the-italian-town-that-glows-at-nightLazioLazio, one of Italy's central regions, though often considered a southern region by Italians, is a place rich with history, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems. At its heart is the capital city of Rome, a destination overflowing with opportunities for exploration. Essential sites include the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and countless other remarkable attractions. No visit to Rome is complete without savoring its famous dishes, including Cacio e Pepe — a creamy cheese and pepper pasta — along with local favorites like Spaghetti alla Gricia, Pasta all'Amatriciana, and Pasta Carbonara, best enjoyed with a glass of crisp Frascati wine while taking in views of the Colosseum. Lazio as a whole has 107 two-star Michelin restaurants and 105 one-star restaurants. If you find yourself in the Trastevere neighborhood, there are many wonderful popular restaurants, including La Scaletta and Le Mani in Pasta.Another must-see is Vatican City, home to the Vatican and its world-renowned religious and artistic treasures. In December 2025, Rome will host the Jubilee, or Holy Year — a significant Catholic Church event focused on forgiveness, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal, held only once every 25 years and drawing pilgrims from across the globe.Beyond Rome, Lazio offers a beautiful coastline and peaceful countryside, perfect for travelers seeking quieter escapes. Among its hidden gems is Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman city that once served as the bustling port of Rome, located at the mouth of the Tiber River. With its blend of legendary landmarks, culinary traditions, religious significance, and off-the-beaten-path treasures, Lazio is a captivating region waiting to be explored.Tourissimo Tip–There's a wonderful project underway to create a cycle path around the perimeter of Rome: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/cycling-in-rome-grab-a-bike-and-bike-the-grabAbruzzoAbruzzo, known as Italy's green region, lies in the central-eastern part of the country and boasts a stunning combination of mountains, coastline, and unspoiled nature. Along the beautiful Trabocchi Coast, visitors can admire the historic trabocchi — ingenious wooden fishing structures built by fishermen centuries ago to safely fish the Adriatic waters, many of which have now been converted into charming seaside restaurants where you can dine on fresh seafood while suspended above the waves with sunsets as your backdrop. When it comes to dining, Abruzzo currently boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants; there are three 1-star restaurants and one 3-star restaurant. Food lovers shouldn't miss Arrosticini, the region's famous grilled lamb skewers, or a glass of bold Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red wine. Outdoor enthusiasts have countless opportunities for adventure, from swimming at the Stiffe Caves and strolling the Ponte del Mare to relaxing on the beaches of Riserva Naturale Guidata Punta Aderci and hiking to the iconic Rocca Calascio. Lakeside escapes await at Lago di Scanno and Lago di Barrea, while the towering Gran Sasso d'Italia and the expansive Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, and Lazio e Molise offer breathtaking scenery and pristine trails. The region is home to many national parks — Abruzzo, Lazio, Molise National Park, Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park, and Maiella National Park — perfect for hiking, biking, trail running, and spotting the highest peaks of the Apennine Mountain Range. Cyclists can enjoy the Bike to Coast cycle path, a 131 km (81.4 mile) route running along the Adriatic coast from Pescara to Vasto. History and architecture lovers will appreciate sites like Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio, Centro Storico di Sulmona, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, and the Medieval Village of Pacentro. For a uniquely tranquil experience, visit the enchanting Gardens of Ninfa. Abruzzo is also a fabulous winter skiing destination and keeps traditions alive with events like Transumanza, the seasonal migration of livestock, primarily sheep, between the high-altitude pastures of the region. With its mountain majesty, historic villages, flavorful cuisine, and coastal charm, Abruzzo offers something unforgettable for every traveler.Tourissimo Tips:More info on the trabocchi coast: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/abruzzos-trabocchi-coastAbruzzo Bike to Coast is a beautiful bike path along the coast: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/cycling-along-abruzzos-coastMoliseOne of Italy's most untouched and lesser-known regions, Molise is famously nicknamed “the region that doesn't exist,” though it's rich in history, traditions, and natural beauty. This quiet region offers a mix of beaches and mountains, including part of the National Park of Abruzzo within the Apennines mountain range, filled with abundant wildlife, hiking trails, and winter ski opportunities. Tourissimo Tip–The Region That Doesn't Exist: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-italian-region-that-doesnt-existThe capital city, Campobasso, is home to notable sites like Monforte Castle and several Romanesque churches, while the charming coastal town of Termoli draws visitors for its beaches, trabucchi (historic fishing huts now serving fresh seafood), and local specialties like brodetto, a traditional seafood stew. Along the Molise coast in Termoli, dining at a trabucchi offers fresh catches with a side of Adriatic views. History buffs should visit the Samnite ruins in the Pietrabbondante archaeological area, the well-preserved Saepinum Archaeological Area, and landmarks like Lago di Castel San Vincenzo, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Purification, Monforte Castle, and the Basilica of Saint Mary of Sorrow. A must-see is the Marinelli Bell Foundry, founded in 1339. It's the oldest continuously operating bell foundry in the world, Italy's oldest family business, and the official provider of bells to the Vatican. Food lovers can sample Cavatelli, a local pasta specialty, paired with Tintilia, a rare red wine unique to Molise. The region is also home to seven one-star Michelin restaurants and several local food tours that showcase its rustic culinary traditions. While Molise's quiet charm and untouched landscapes make it a special destination, visitors should note that English is not widely spoken, making it a truly authentic Italian experience for those eager to explore one of the country's hidden gems.Southern Italy: Sun, Sea, and Ancient WondersCampania The birthplace of Neapolitan pizza, the Mediterranean Diet, and Mozzarella di Bufala, Campania is one of Italy's most vibrant and culturally rich regions. Home to the bustling regional capital Naples (Napoli), it boasts some of the country's most iconic destinations, including Pompeii, the stunning Amalfi Coast, and the tranquil Cilento Coast.Along the sparkling, deep-blue waters of the Golfo di Napoli, you'll find must-visit coastal towns like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, as well as the famous islands of Ischia, Capri, and the colorful Procida. Visitors can hike the breathtaking Path of the Gods, explore the hauntingly preserved ruins of Archaeological Pompeii, forever shadowed by the gray cone of Mt. Vesuvius, and savor the region's culinary gems like ultra-fresh seafood and crisp Falanghina wine.History and culture lovers shouldn't miss Sansevero Chapel Museum, San Carlo Theatre, the Catacombs of San Gennaro, and the lush Villa Cimbrone Gardens. Campania also impresses with its historic castles, including the Royal Palace of Caserta, Ovo Castle, and Castello Aragonese d'Ischia. Wine enthusiasts should head to the province of Avellino, known for producing some of the best wines in southern Italy.Tourissimo Tip–Wine is also grown inland on the Amalfi Coast, and there are some vines that are 250 years old (pre-phylloxera): https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/old-vines-on-the-amalfi-coastNature lovers will be drawn to the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its biodiversity, dramatic landscapes, and cultural heritage, featuring ancient ruins like Paestum and Velia, the majestic Padula Charterhouse, and idyllic coastal villages.Campania is also a paradise for food lovers, home to 51 Michelin-starred restaurants, including one three-star, eight two-star, and forty-two one-star establishments. From world-famous landmarks to hidden treasures, Campania offers an irresistible blend of history, nature, food, and coastal charm.CalabriaWith its rugged coastlines, dramatic landscapes, and hidden treasures, Calabria is a must-visit region in southern Italy. Known for its bold flavors and rich culinary traditions, visitors should sample 'Nduja, a spicy, spreadable sausage paste, and the region's famous Calabrian chiles. The local cuisine embraces cucina povera, a tradition of simple, hearty dishes featuring handmade pasta made with just flour and water. Calabria offers a growing fine dining scene with six one-star Michelin restaurants. For nature lovers, Calabria is home to three stunning national parks — Sila, Aspromonte, and Pollino — ideal for hiking, wildlife spotting, and immersing in untouched landscapes. Along the coast, Capo Vaticano stands out as one of the world's most beautiful beaches, offering breathtaking views and crystal-clear waters. History buffs and castle enthusiasts can explore impressive fortresses like Castello Ruffo di Scilla, Castello Murat, Castello di Le Castella, and Castello Aragonese. Don't miss charming towns and villages such as Tropea, famous for its clifftop views and beaches, as well as Scilla, Pentedattilo, and Le Castella. With its authentic culture, stunning coastlines, flavorful cuisine, and rich history, Calabria remains one of Italy's most captivating yet underrated regions.Tourissimo Tip–Way off the beaten path, lies a  unique museum in Mammola, Calabria https://calabriastraordinaria.it/en/news/visit-to-musaba-the-sistine-chapel-of-calabriaPugliaKnown as the Maldives of Italy, Puglia is a sun-drenched region celebrated for its whitewashed hill towns, ancient olive groves, and miles of stunning coastline. With a dry Mediterranean climate and scenery that often feels more Greek than Italian, Puglia is famed for its beaches in Salento, crystal-clear waters, and charming seaside towns. One of its most iconic sights is the fairytale-like trulli houses of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This region is also a food lover's paradise, offering specialties like Orecchiette pasta with turnip greens, the classic Fave e Cicoria (fava bean purée with wild chicory), and fresh seafood paired with crisp vegetables. Wine lovers can savor Primitivo, a bold local red. For fine dining, the region boasts nine one-star Michelin restaurants, blending rustic flavors with refined culinary creativity.Puglia is dotted with unique cities and towns worth exploring, including Locorotondo, Otranto, Lecce, Monopoli, Ostuni, Gallipoli, Bari, Alberobello, and Polignano a Mare. Nature and history enthusiasts will enjoy visiting extraordinary sites like the Grotte di Castellana, the dramatic Cave of Poetry, the ancient Basilica San Nicola, and the scenic Gargano Peninsula. With its thousand-year-old olive trees, Puglia is the largest olive oil producer in the world, known for its strong, spicy oils. The locals here are famously warm and welcoming, going out of their way to make visitors feel at home.Puglia's blend of natural beauty, rich tradition, and heartfelt hospitality makes it one of Italy's most captivating and underrated destinations.Tourissimo Tip–Here are some of the gems of Puglia: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/some-of-the-gems-of-pugliaBasilicataBasilicata, a remote yet captivating region with a population of just 500,000, offers a wealth of unique experiences despite its secluded location. Among its most intriguing destinations are the ghost town of Craco and the ancient cave city of Matera, both steeped in history and cinematic charm. Other towns worth visiting include Maratea and Palombaroa, each offering its own cultural and scenic appeal.Tourissimo Tip–Matera is magical! https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/destination-highlight-matera-the-city-of-stonesThe region is rich in historical and religious landmarks, such as the Crypt of Original Sin with its remarkable frescoes, and the medieval Melfi Castle. Don't miss the towering Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Maratea, a striking monument that overlooks the Tyrrhenian coast.For a taste of local flavor, try Peperoni Cruschi—crispy, sun-dried peppers that are a beloved regional delicacy. Basilicata is also known for its exceptional wines, especially the bold, full-bodied reds of Aglianico del Vulture DOC, made primarily from the Aglianico grape. White wine lovers will appreciate the region's Greco di Tufo and Fiano varietals as well. Basilicata also has a total of 14 one-star Michelin restaurants. Adventurers can experience an adrenaline rush on The Angel's Flight, a giant zip line that offers stunning views and a thrilling ride through the Lucanian landscape.SicilySicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is a world of its own, offering a diverse landscape of coastlines, mountains, and magical towns such as Cefalù, Palermo, Taormina, Catania, Noto, Agrigento, and Syracuse. Palermo serves as the cultural and diplomatic capital of the region, while Catania stands as its business hub.A volcanic island and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sicily boasts a rich collection of cultural and natural treasures. Highlights include the awe-inspiring Valley of the Temples, the active volcano Mount Etna, the stunning Duomo di Cefalù, and the picturesque islands of Stromboli, Bella, and Ortigia. The region is also home to the renowned Baroque Triangle in the Val di Noto region of southeastern Sicily, where the eight towns of Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa, and Scicli have been recognized by UNESCO for their outstanding examples of late Baroque architecture.Sicily's culinary scene is just as impressive. Indulge in traditional Sicilian cannoli, filled with sheep's milk ricotta cheese and always stuffed fresh to order. Take a street food tour to savor local favorites like arancini, and don't miss sipping on a glass of Nero d'Avola, one of Sicily's most famous wines. The region is also internationally celebrated for its top-tier agriculture and winemaking.For a taste of authentic Italian charm beyond the tourist trail, explore the towns featured in I Borghi Più Belli d'Italia—Italy's list of its most beautiful hidden gems. Tourissimo Tip–This is a great tip for all 20 regions of Italy. Find out more here: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-most-beautiful-small-towns-in-italyFood lovers will be delighted to know that Sicily is also home to 23 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three two-star establishments and twenty with one star.Tourissimo Tip–If you visit Corleone, you should definitely learn about the legacy of the Mafia. We in North America tend to have a romanticized view of the mafia, but for the locals, the history is more brutal. See some photos and learn more here: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/letizia-battaglia-groundbreaking-photojournalist-who-fearlessly-documented-the-mafia-in-her-native-sicilySardiniaSardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, is a rugged, rural paradise known for its natural beauty, deep-rooted traditions, and ancient history. The island is home to features like the Apennine Coast, the Adriatic Coast, and the Apennine Mountains. Most of Sardinia's population lives in the capital region of Cagliari, but much of the island remains untouched, offering visitors a glimpse into authentic Italian island life.One of Sardinia's most fascinating distinctions is that the Barbagia region is recognized as a Blue Zone—an area with an unusually high number of centenarians. This longevity is attributed to the region's healthy diet, active lifestyle, and strong sense of community. For outdoor enthusiasts, inland Sardinia offers some of the best biking and hiking experiences in all of Italy.Tourissimo Tip–What is a Blue Zone? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/blue-zoneThe island's coastlines are just as enticing. Costa Smeralda is often described as paradise on earth, with stunning beaches like Spiaggia di Tuerredda, Cala Goloritzé, and Spiaggia di Porto Giunco perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Don't miss the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park (Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena), a protected area with crystal-clear waters and pristine landscapes.Charming towns such as Alghero, Bosa, and Cagliari add to the island's appeal. Many of Sardinia's towns are nestled in the mountains located in the island's center, offering a peaceful and scenic escape.Cultural and historical attractions abound. Must-see sites include the Nora Archaeological Park, Bastione di Saint Remy, Parco Archeologico Naturalistico di Santa Cristina, and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari. For an unforgettable natural wonder, venture into the Frecce delle grotte srl and Neptune's Grotto, stunning sea caves accessible by boat or stairs carved into cliffs.Sardinia is also home to a unique ancient civilization. Scattered across the island are over 7,000 nuraghe—megalithic stone structures built during the Nuragic Age (c. 1900–730 BC). These mysterious, tower-like buildings are the island's most iconic symbol, and some scholars believe there were once over 10,000 nuraghe structures in total.Religious architecture also impresses, with highlights like the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e Santa Cecilia, the Church of the Holy Trinity of Saccargia, and the Basilica di San Simplicio showcasing Sardinia's spiritual and artistic heritage.Sardinian cuisine reflects its mountainous geography. Surprisingly, for an island, the diet leans more toward land-based ingredients than seafood. Signature dishes include Porceddu (roast pig), Fregola (a traditional Sardinian pasta), and the adventurous Casu marzu—a sheep's milk cheese intentionally infested with live maggots and considered a local delicacy. Sardinia also holds 16 one-star Michelin restaurants.To accompany these flavors, try a glass of Cannonau red wine, known for its high polyphenol content and potential health benefits, or the refreshing Vermentino white wine, perfect for warm Mediterranean days.Tourissimo Tip–Magic Trick or Pasta Making? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/magic-trick-or-pasta-making From the Alps to the Mediterranean, each Italian region is a world of its own. Want to see it all? Check out Tourissimo's amazing trip planning and Italian information at tourissimo.travel! Buon viaggio!From the Alps to the Mediterranean, each Italian region is a world of its own. Want to see it all? Check out Tourissimo's amazing trip planning and Italian information at tourissimo.travel! Buon viaggio! 

In this episode, join us as we dive into our recent adventure in Rome. From ancient pathways to culinary delights, we explored the city with curiosity and appreciation for its rich history and vibrant culture. Highlights from Our Rome Trip: The Pantheon Experience: Visiting the Pantheon was a remarkable highlight. Now requiring an entrance fee to manage crowds, the process was smooth with pre-purchased tickets and audio guides providing insightful historical narratives. We appreciated the serene atmosphere and the awe-inspiring architectural beauty of this ancient temple. Stroll Along the Tiber River: Our exploration continued with a leisurely walk along the Tiber River to Ponte Fabricio, a bridge that has stood in place since 62 BC! Discovering Trastevere: In Trastevere, we immersed ourselves in the authentic local vibe. The Basilica Santa Maria captivated us with its intricate features and stunning artwork. Lunch at d'Enzo: Our meal at d'Enzo in Trastevere was perfetto! We observed a couple more focused on photographing their food than savoring it, a stark contrast to our own appreciation for the culinary delights before us. Vespa Tour of Rome: A three-hour Vespa tour allowed us to cover significant ground, visiting iconic sites like Circus Maximus. We marveled at the ingenuity of Roman engineering and the stories these ancient structures tell. Evening Wrap-Up: Our day concluded with an aperitivo and a delightful dinner at a family-run restaurant. We enjoyed a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, which perfectly rounded off our day of exploration. Stay tuned for more stories about our time in Rome, including Tomasso's Carbonara marathon. We look forward to sharing more insights and reflections in upcoming episodes. Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook 

In this episode of the Professor Liberty Podcast, Mr. Palumbo kicks off a new series called "The Ancients" with a look at the Romans. Our host explores how its geographic advantages, such as its strategic location along the Tiber River and the Seven Hills, contributed to its rise. Through the lens of the founding myth of Romulus and Remus, the episode highlights Rome's success, driven by diplomacy, military excellence, and pragmatic governance. Mr. Palumbo examines how Rome's ability to form alliances, adapt its military tactics, and adjust its political structures allowed it to thrive and dominate for over a thousand years, shaping much of the modern western world.

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Battle of the Sauces: A Tale of Friendship and Pasta in Trastevere Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/battle-of-the-sauces-a-tale-of-friendship-and-pasta-in-trastevere Story Transcript:It: È un giorno assolato nella città eterna di Roma, terra di caffè espresso, linee di stendipanni svolazzanti nei vicoli, moto vocianti e sugo rosso sulle tovaglie a quadretti.En: It is a sunny day in the eternal city of Rome, land of espresso coffee, fluttering clotheslines in the alleyways, noisy scooters, and red sauce on checkered tablecloths.It: Nel cuore di Trastevere, un antico quartiere di strade acciottolate e fresche ombre, c'è un piccolo ristorante il cui profumo di cucina italiana viaggia fino al Tevere.En: In the heart of Trastevere, an ancient neighborhood of cobblestone streets and cool shadows, there is a small restaurant whose aroma of Italian cuisine travels all the way to the Tiber River.It: Qui, si radunano tre amici: Giovanni, Sofia e Luca.En: Here, three friends gather: Giovanni, Sofia, and Luca.It: Sono già a tavola con le loro pizze, ma non riescono a concentrarsi sul cibo.En: They are already at the table with their pizzas, but they can't focus on the food.It: Non stanno discutendo di politica, né di calcio, ma il loro argomento è altrettanto acceso se non di più.En: They are not discussing politics or soccer, but their topic is just as intense if not more so.It: Stanno discutendo appassionatamente su quale sia il miglior sugo per pasta italiano.En: They are passionately discussing what the best Italian pasta sauce is.It: Giovanni, il più alto e robusto, sostiene a gran voce che non c'è nulla di meglio del classico ragù alla bolognese.En: Giovanni, the tallest and stoutest, loudly asserts that there is nothing better than the classic Bolognese ragù.It: La sua voce grava sull'aria calda come un campanile, i suoi gesti sono ampi e convinti.En: His voice hangs heavy in the warm air like a bell tower, his gestures are broad and convinced.It: Sofia, la più piccola, con i capelli raccolti in un disordinato chignon, batte il pugno sul tavolo enunciando la superiorità del sugo all'arrabbiata.En: Sofia, the smallest, with her hair pulled up in a messy bun, pounds her fist on the table declaring the superiority of arrabbiata sauce.It: È piccante, è vivace, è Roma, dice.En: It's spicy, it's lively, it's Rome, she says.It: Il suo sorriso contagia persino i camerieri che passano di corsa con vassoi di pasta fumante.En: Her smile even infects the waiters rushing by with trays of steaming pasta.It: Infine, c'è Luca.En: Finally, there is Luca.It: Gli occhi gentili, i capelli scuri, sembra più tranquillo dei suoi due amici.En: With kind eyes and dark hair, he appears calmer than his two friends.It: Gli piace il sugo alla carbonara, afferma con calma.En: He likes carbonara sauce, he calmly states.It: È cremoso, è ricco, è romantico.En: It's creamy, it's rich, it's romantic.It: Mentre parla, le persone intorno sembrano quasi affascinate dalla dolcezza della sua voce.En: As he speaks, the people around him seem almost captivated by the sweetness of his voice.It: La conversazione diventa più animata e fa da eco alle risate e alle chiacchiere degli altri tavoli.En: The conversation becomes more animated, echoing laughter and chatter from the other tables.It: La battaglia gastronomica raggiunge l'apice quando decidono di organizzare una sfida per determinare il miglior sugo.En: The gastronomic battle reaches its peak when they decide to organize a challenge to determine the best sauce.It: Ognuno avrà un giorno per cucinare il suo favoloso piatto di pasta e farlo assaggiare agli altri.En: Each will have a day to cook their fabulous pasta dish and have the others taste it.It: Nei giorni successivi, la cucina diventa un campo di battaglia.En: In the following days, the kitchen becomes a battlefield.It: Pentole ribollenti, stoviglie tintinnanti e il magico aroma del sugo che si insinua in ogni angolo della casa.En: Boiling pots, clattering dishes, and the magical aroma of sauce seeping into every corner of the house.It: Tutti si impegnano con passione e determinazione.En: Everyone engages with passion and determination.It: Durante le cene, il calore della fraternità si mescola con il piacere della buona tavola.En: During the dinners, the warmth of friendship blends with the pleasure of good food.It: Ridono, discutono, condividono racconti mentre assaporano ogni boccone.En: They laugh, they discuss, they share stories while savoring every bite.It: E dopo ogni pasto, votano il miglior piatto del giorno.En: After each meal, they vote for the best dish of the day.It: Alla fine, non c'è un vincitore.En: In the end, there is no winner.It: Perché oltre i gusti, le ricette, le tradizioni, il vero vincitore è l'amicizia.En: Because beyond tastes, recipes, traditions, the true winner is friendship.It: Realizzano che la bellezza della pasta non risiede nel sugo, ma nel piacere di condividerla con le persone che ami.En: They realize that the beauty of pasta lies not in the sauce, but in the joy of sharing it with the people you love.It: Questa profonda verità distilla sulle loro risate, negli abbracci amichevoli, negli sguardi di comprensione che si passano.En: This profound truth distills in their laughter, in friendly embraces, in glances of understanding they exchange.It: Si sono ritrovati in un angolo di Roma, sotto il cielo azzurro e il sole caldo, a ridere, a discutere, a godersi il cibo e l'uno l'altro.En: They found themselves in a corner of Rome, under the blue sky and warm sun, laughing, discussing, enjoying food and each other.It: Hanno scoperto che il miglior sugo per la pasta è quello condito con la gioia, l'amore e l'amicizia.En: They discovered that the best pasta sauce is the one seasoned with joy, love, and friendship.It: E questa, è la più bella delle scoperte culinarie.En: And this, is the most beautiful culinary discovery. Vocabulary Words:sunny: soleggiatoeternal: eternocity: cittàespresso coffee: caffè espressoclotheslines: stendipannialleyways: vicolinoisy: rumorosiscooters: scootercobblestone: acciottolaterestaurant: ristorantearoma: profumocuisine: cucinafriends: amicidiscussing: discutendopassionately: appassionatamentesauce: sugoclassic: classicospicy: piccantelively: vivacecreamy: cremosorich: riccoromantic: romanticolaughter: risatebattle: battagliachallenge: sfidacooking: cucinarefabulous: favolosodish: piattofriendship: amiciziajoy: gioia

Fluent Fiction - Italian: The Gelato Quest: Discovering Rome's Sweet Treasures Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-gelato-quest-discovering-romes-sweet-treasures Story Transcript:It: Quando il sole si dipingeva d'oro l'antica Roma, il nostro amico Mario si avventurava nelle sue suggestive viuzze con un solo pensiero in mente: trovare il miglior gelato della città.En: When the sun painted ancient Rome in gold, our friend Mario ventured into its charming alleyways with one thought in mind: finding the best gelato in the city.It: Mario era un uomo comune, dalla capigliatura riccioluta e con una leggera pancia data dal suo amore per il buon cibo.En: Mario was an ordinary man, with curly hair and a slight belly from his love of good food.It: Sua moglie diceva sempre che "l'amore passa per lo stomaco" e lui ne era la prova vivente.En: His wife always said that "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" and he was living proof of it.It: Ama la Roma antica, i suoi monumenti storici, la brezza del Tevere e soprattutto le piccole gelaterie artigianali nascoste nei vicoli più reconditi.En: He loved ancient Rome, its historical monuments, the breeze from the Tiber River, and especially the small artisanal gelaterias hidden in the most secluded alleyways.It: Un giorno, in una tiepida giornata di agosto, intraprese la sua missione: perdendosi nel labirinto di stradine romane alla ricerca del gelato perfetto.En: One day, on a warm August day, he embarked on his mission: getting lost in the labyrinth of Roman streets in search of the perfect gelato.It: Con una mappa della città in mano e gli occhi pieni di determinazione, Mario si avventurò nelle strade strette e tortuose di Roma.En: With a map of the city in hand and determination in his eyes, Mario ventured into the narrow and winding streets of Rome.It: Passava fra negozi colorati, fontane maestose e ristoranti affollati, sentendo l'inconfondibile eco delle risate e delle voci della gente.En: He passed by colorful shops, majestic fountains, and crowded restaurants, hearing the unmistakable echo of laughter and voices of the people.It: Prova i gelati uno dopo l'altro, dal pistacchio alla fragola, dal cioccolato alla nocciola.En: He tried gelatos one after the other, from pistachio to strawberry, from chocolate to hazelnut.It: Tutti buoni, ma nessuno sembrava raggiungere l'eccellenza del gusto che Mario cercava.En: All good, but none seemed to reach the excellence of taste that Mario was looking for.It: Il calore del pomeriggio si intensificò e Mario stava perdendo le speranze.En: The heat of the afternoon intensified, and Mario was losing hope.It: Tuttavia, la sua passione per il gelato e l'amore per la sua città lo spinsero a non rinunciare.En: However, his passion for gelato and love for his city drove him not to give up.It: Trovò infine un piccolo vicolo che non aveva notato prima, stretto e leggermente ombroso.En: He finally found a small alley that he hadn't noticed before, narrow and slightly shady.It: Alla fine del vicolo, vide una piccola gelateria, nascosta come un tesoro prezioso.En: At the end of the alley, he saw a small gelateria, hidden like a precious treasure.It: Entrando, rimase incantato dal profumo dolce e avvolgente che lo accolse.En: Upon entering, he was enchanted by the sweet and enveloping aroma that welcomed him.It: Ordinò un cono con cioccolato fondente e panna.En: He ordered a cone with dark chocolate and whipped cream.It: Quando prese il primo morso, i suoi occhi si illuminarono.En: When he took the first bite, his eyes lit up.It: Quello era esattamente il sapore che cercava!En: That was exactly the flavor he was looking for!It: Un perfetto equilibrio tra dolcezza e cremosità.En: A perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess.It: I sapori danzavano in bocca, che narra la storia antica del cacao e del latte mescolati insieme.En: The flavors danced in his mouth, telling the ancient story of cocoa and milk mixed together.It: Sentì come se avesse finalmente raggiunto il suo obiettivo.En: He felt as if he had finally achieved his goal.It: In quel momento, capì che la bellezza della sua avventura non stava solo nel trovare il miglior gelato, ma anche nel viaggio per scoprirlo.En: In that moment, he realized that the beauty of his adventure lay not only in finding the best gelato but also in the journey of discovering it.It: Corse a casa felice e soddisfatto, nella speranza di portare sua moglie a provare il gelato il giorno seguente.En: He rushed home happy and satisfied, hoping to bring his wife to taste the gelato the next day.It: E magari, passare ancora una volta attraverso il labirinto di stradine che tanto amava, ora non più un mistero.En: And perhaps, to pass once again through the maze of alleyways he loved so much, now no longer a mystery.It: E così, anche giunta la sera, la città di Roma continuò a vivere nelle sue stradine, aspettando che il giorno dopo altri avventurieri, proprio come Mario, decidessero di perdersi nel suo incantevole labirinto alla ricerca del gelato perfetto.En: And so, even as evening approached, the city of Rome continued to live in its streets, waiting for the next day for other adventurers, just like Mario, to decide to get lost in its enchanting labyrinth in search of the perfect gelato. Vocabulary Words:the: ilsun: solepainted: dipingevaancient: anticaRome: Romafriend: amicoventured: si avventuravacharming: suggestivealleyways: viuzzethought: pensierofinding: trovarebest: migliorgelato: gelatocity: cittàordinary: comuneman: uomocurly: ricciolutahair: capigliaturaslight: leggerabelly: pancialove: amoregood: buonfood: cibowife: mogliesaid: dicevaway: passaheart: cuorestomach: stomaco

Links: RUNUR athletics runur.run code: runur_mrp20  Free UCAN sample pack: UCAN.co/mrpUse code MRP for 20% off! Hey there, fellow running enthusiasts! Welcome back to the Marathon Running Podcast, where every stride counts and every mile is a victory lap. I'm Letty, your trusty host, and today, I am absolutely buzzing to dive into the epic saga of our recent Rome Marathon 2024 adventure! Picture this: the ancient city of Rome, steeped in history and vibrant energy, serving as the backdrop for our most exhilarating challenge yet. But what made this marathon truly special? Well, folks, it marked a significant milestone in the running journey of none other than my dear brother, Steven. That's right – his very first marathon! Joined by an eclectic crew of friends and fellow running aficionados, we embarked on this epic odyssey together. From the cobbled streets of the city center to the sprawling parks and picturesque vistas along the Tiber River, every step was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of collective determination. But let me tell you, it wasn't all smooth sailing – oh no! We faced our fair share of peaks and valleys along the way. From battling through cramps and fatigue to basking in the sheer exhilaration of crossing the finish line, each twist and turn of the course brought with it a new adventure and a fresh wave of camaraderie. As we reflect on our Rome Marathon 2024 journey, we're filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude. Pride in our achievements, both individual and collective, and gratitude for the unwavering support and encouragement of our fellow runners. So, dear listeners, join us as we lace up our shoes, relive the highs and lows, and celebrate the indomitable spirit of the running community. This is one marathon recap you won't want to miss! Stay tuned, folks – the adventure awaits! Support our podcast and check out our RunSwag Tshirts ·       Our website: ⁠www.marathonrunningpodcast.com⁠ ·       Our Instagram: ⁠@runningpodcast⁠ ·       Our Amazon Storefront: ⁠Amazon Storefront⁠ ·       Join our Facebook group: ⁠SpeedStriders Facebook Group⁠ ·       Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@RunningPodcast

Welcome to the Instant Trivia podcast episode 1124, where we ask the best trivia on the Internet. Round 1. Category: Dr. Alex' Old-Time Feel-Good Medicine Show 1: Muscles inflamed?Joints in pain?Dr. Alex' Youth Elixir clears away the ol' rheumatiz, or osteo- this (and it ain't "porosis"!). arthritis. 2: Make your mucous membranes merry and mirthful! Enjoy Dr. Alex' Cure-All to fight these, be they duodenal or gastric. ulcers. 3: Ate too much MSG or feelin' a megrim, or one of these, comin' on? Beta-blocker, shmeta-blocker! Try Dr. Alex' Head Cream!. migraine. 4: For this inherited trait in men, sure, you can use Propecia--or my amazing new "Trebektophan". baldness. 5: Step right up!I got me an "L" of an ointment for the chronic lower back pain known as this 7-letter malady. lumbago. Round 2. Category: VAcation Spots. With V in quotes 1: A town 14 miles southwest of Paris developed around this 17th century palace that tourists flock to. Versailles. 2: Covering only 44 hectares, this country is found on the west bank of the Tiber River. Vatican City. 3: Ferdinand III made this city his royal residence in 1248, maybe to be near his barber. Seville. 4: The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe in this state welcome skiers as well as superfans of "The Sound of Music". Vermont. 5: Brothers of the Sword merged with the Teutonic Knights and conquered this Baltic nation in the 13th century. Latvia. Round 3. Category: 5 Guys Named Moe 1: Last name of Moe of the Three Stooges. Howard (real name Moses Horvitz). 2: Moe Strauss founded this auto parts chain along with Manny Rosenfield and Jack Jackson. Pep Boys. 3: Major league catcher Moe Berg was also a WWII spy for this agency, precursor of the CIA. OSS (Office of Strategic Services). 4: Term for the type of country music Moe Bandy plays, the clubs where he began, or the "Queen" he sang of in 1981. Honky Tonk. 5: This "Kool" rapper's album "How Ya Like Me Now" began a rivalry with LL Cool J. Kool Moe Dee. Round 4. Category: Cable Dramas 1: Please refer to this actor as "Boss", his title role on a Chicago-set drama. Kelsey Grammer. 2: Denis Leary has to deal with fires and ghosts as Tommy Gavin on this show. Rescue Me. 3: CIA officer Claire Danes suspects that a U.S. marine sergeant is working for al Qaeda on this Showtime drama. Homeland. 4: Starz entered the arena with an ultra-bloody take on this character once played by Kirk Douglas. Spartacus. 5: The Starz series about this title swordsman has subtitles like "Blood and Sand" and "Gods of the Arena". Spartacus. Round 5. Category: The Lost World. With World in quotation marks 1: The American League's Boston Pilgrims won the first of these in 1903. World Series. 2: This NYC complex is noted for its huge twin towers of 110 stories each. World Trade Center. 3: Peter Jennings hosts this show on ABC. World News Tonight. 4: Abbreviated the WTO, it promotes and enforces international commerce laws. World Trade Organization. 5: A giant panda is the symbol of this international organization. the World Wildlife Fund. Thanks for listening! Come back tomorrow for more exciting trivia!Special thanks to https://blog.feedspot.com/trivia_podcasts/ AI Voices used

Part 3 of the grief travel story takes place in Trastevere, the Jewish Ghetto of Rome, and an island in the Tiber River. This episode includes: A funeral in one of Rome's oldest churches A 2000 year old bridge Heroism at a hospital during WW2 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karen-wyatt/message

On today's episode, Pastor Brandon Myers of Christ the King Reformed Baptist Church joins me for a chilled out conversation along the banks of the Tiber River. What are some areas of appreciation and even possible alignment with Romanists in common cause for the common good? What hath Papists to do with "separated brethren"? Well, our conversation covers four broad areas of possible cooperation with our Roman Catholic friends. Join me with your preferred cigar and adult beverage on the banks of the Tiber as we scratch the surface on culture, common ground, and co-belligerency with our Roman Catholic friends. 

In this week's episode of Platemark (s3e38), host Ann Shafer talks with Jillian Ross, collaborative master printer and publisher with an eponymous imprint, Jillian Ross Print, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.   Ross returned to her native Saskatoon after many years in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she was the master printer at the David Krut Workshop (DKW) from 2003 to 2020.  There, she worked with over 100 South African and international artists, most notably William Kentridge. Ross and partner Brendan Copestake founded Jillian Ross Print in 2021 in Saskatoon, where they continue working on collaborative projects in South Africa as well as developing new relationships abroad.   Ross has collaborated with William Kentridge since 2006 on major, complicated, and multi-part print projects, including the Triumphs and Laments Woodcuts (2016–21), The Universal Archive (2011–15), The Noses (2006–10) at DKW, and the recently released Studio Life Gravures (2020–22) from Jillian Ross Print (co-published with DKW). Her collaboration with Kentridge continues.   Other recent projects include a partnerships with Latitudes Online, South African artists Cinthia Sifa Mulanga and Puleng Mongale, and the technical team at The University of Alberta in Canada. Ross recently realized an exhibition, William Kentridge: The Colander, at Griffin Art Projects in Vancouver, BC, with curator Lisa Baldissera, the Kentridge Studio, and David Krut Projects in Johannesburg.   Throughout her work, particularly in the publicly accessible open-studio format of DKW at Arts on Main in Johannesburg, Ross has promoted and enhanced artist, collector, and public knowledge of printmaking through mentorship, educational workshops, and knowledge sharing.   Episode image: Lucy MacGarry   USEFUL LINKS https://www.jillianrossprint.com https://www.instagram.com/jillianrossprint_/ https://www.facebook.com/jillian.ross.520 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianrossprint https://www.griffinartprojects.ca/exhibitions/william-kentridge-the-colander https://latitudes.online/artworks.html https://latitudesartfair.com/about-the-event/ https://remaimodern.org/about/remai-modern-museum/   Jillian Ross working on William Kentridge's photogravure plates at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. Jillian Ross (on ladder) working on William Kentridge prints at David Krut Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa. William Kentridge looks at a print with (from l-r) Brendan Copestake, David Krut, Jillian Ross, Roxy Kaczmarek, and Kim-Lee Loggenberg. Jillian Ross (right) inspecting proofs with (from l-r) Sarah Judge, David Krut, and William Kentridge at David Krut Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa. William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). Studio Life: Hope? On special offer, 2022. Photogravure and drypoint with Arakaji Natural Gampi and White Gampi MM20 chine collé on Hahnemühle Natural White 300gsm paper. Sheet: 17 3/10 × 21 3/10 in. (44 × 54 cm.); plate: 9 ¼ x 16 ½ in. (23.4 x 42 cm.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). Universal Archive: Big Tree, 2012. Linoleum cut on 15 sheets of Encyclopedia Britannica pages. Sheet: 82 x 90 cm. (32 ¼ x 35 3/8 in.); image: 77 x 72.4 cm. (30 3/8 x 28 ½ in.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). Nose: #25, 2009. Drypoint, etching, and liftground aquatint. Plate: 35 x 14.9 cm. (13 ¾ x 6 in.); sheet: 40 x 35 cm. (15 ¾ x 13 ¾ in.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). Triumphs and Laments: Refugees, 2018–19. 26 woodcuts printed on 77 sheets. Overall: 188 x 350 cm. (74 x 137 ¾ in.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. Jillian Ross creating assembly instructions, charts, and maps for Kentridge's Triumphs and Laments, 2018–19. Jillian Ross working on the complicated print Triumphs and Laments: Refugees, 2018–19, by William Kentridge. 26 woodcuts printed on 77 sheets. Overall: 188 x 350 cm. (74 x 137 ¾ in.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). Triumphs and Laments: Mantegna, 2016–17. Relief printed from 13 woodblocks and 1 linoleum cut on Somerset Velvet Soft White 300 gsm. Overall: 76 ¾ x 78 3/8 (195 x 199 cm.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. William Kentridge | The Colander. Exhibition curated by Lisa Baldiserra. Griffin Art Projects, Vancouver, BC. May 29–September 4, 2021. William Kentridge and DKW printer Kim-Lee Loggenberg. A scene from William Kentridge's Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot. Giorgio Morandi (Italian, 1890–1964). Grande natura morta con la caffettiera (Large Still Life with Coffeepot), 1933, printed later. Etching. Plate: 11 11/16 x 15 3/8 in. (29.7 x 39 cm.); sheet: 15 1/16 x 20 1/8 in. (38.3 x 51.1 cm.). Published by Calcografia Nazionale, Rome. Museum of Modern Art, New York. William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). Eight Vessels, 2020–21. 4-plate photogravure with hand painting. 64 x 96 cm. (28¾ x 39¼ in.). Published by Jillian Ross. William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). Studio Life: Hope? On special offer, 2022. Photogravure and drypoint with chine collé. Sheet: 17 3/10 × 21 3/10 in. (44 × 54 cm.); plate: 9 ¼ x 16 ½ in. (23.4 x 42 cm.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. William Kentridge in studio. Components of William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). Eight Vessels, 2020–21. 4-plate photogravure with hand painting. 64 x 96 cm. (28¾ x 39¼ in.). Published David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. David Krut watches William Kentridge work in his studio on Eight Vessels. Installation view of William Kentridge | The Colander. Exhibition curated by Lisa Baldiserra. Griffin Art Projects, Vancouver, BC. May 29–September 4, 2021, featuring Triumphs and Laments: Refugees, 2018–19. 26 woodcuts printed on 77 sheets. Overall: 188 x 350 cm. (74 x 137 ¾ in.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. William Kentridge's Triumphs and Laments, Tiber River. William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). Tree (17), 2022. Direct gravure with drypoint on gampi chine with red pencil. 563.5 x 62.9 cm. Published by David Krut Workshop and Jillian Ross Print. Cinithia Sifa Mulanga (South African, born 1997). Vulnerable, 2022. Direct gravure with photogravure on chine collé and collage. Plate: 40.5 x 30.2 cm.); sheet: 51 x 40.5 cm.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. Puleng Mongale signing the edition of Grounded, 2021. Photogravure with etching with color roll on surface Gampi chine collé. 48.5 x 62.5 cm. Co-published by Latitudes Online and Jillian Ross Print. William Kentridge (South African, born 1955). The Old Gods Have Retired, 2022. Photogravure with liftground aquatint, direct gravure, drypoint and chine collé with found ledger paper and hand painting. Sheet: 175 x 210 cm. Co-published by David Krut Projects and Jillian Ross Print. Jillian Ross assembling a multi-part Kentridge print. William Kentridge working on Mantegna from the Triumphs and Laments series. Latitudes Online website. Shepstone Gardens, site of the RMB Latitudes Art Fair. Johannesburg, South Africa. RMB Latitudes Art Fair. Johannesburg, South Africa. Remai Modern Museum, Saskatoon, Sasketchawan. Nick Cave (American, born 1959).  Spinner Forest, 2020. Installation view at Remai Modern, 2023. Photo: Carey Shaw. Chad Cordiero and Sbongiseni Khulu printing one of 77 elements for Kentridge's Triumphs and Laments: Refugees, 2018–19. 26 woodcuts printed on 77 sheets. Overall: 188 x 350 cm. (74 x 137 ¾ in.). Published by David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa. Robyn Penn prints in process. Lithographs on Awagami Kitkata chine collé pn Zerkall White. Each: 76 x 63.5 cm. Published by Jillian Ross Print. William Kentridge at work. William Kentridge and David Krut inspect an impression of Tree (17).

Lianne is a French Canadian living in New Brunswick who's been in more MLMs than she can keep track of. From a couple of solid US-based standards, to some exclusive Canadian brands even I had never heard of, Lianne paints us a picture of a young woman trying to find her place in the world with the limited resources available to her. Past abusive relationships, the uncertainty of Military life, and working emotional baggage made Lianne resilient and strong, so a couple of Pyramid Schemes aren't going to keep her down, just don't promise her a hat. Show Notes: In Memory of Jessie Lee Ward - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeXPvj5ixZM Newborn Feathers - https://www.reddit.com/r/antiMLM/comments/bf10bz/mixed_mlm_messages_from_newborn_feathers/ Dragon's Den CA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragons%27_Den_(Canadian_TV_series) Tiber River - https://www.reddit.com/r/antiMLM/comments/knj9ml/no_why_are_you_an_mlm_curse_you_tiber_river/ Tiber River Wrongful Termination Lawsuit - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/tiber-river-naturals-wrongful-termination-lawsuit-pregnancy-1.5921770 Out of MLM - https://outofmlm.info/ Cultish by Amanda Montell - https://amzn.to/3Q7owx9 Dr. Steven Hassan's BITE Model - https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/ Ponzinomics by Robert L. FitzPatrick - https://amzn.to/3q16oJb How can you help? Report false income and health claims here: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ Or go to: https://www.truthinadvertising.org You can also report to your state Attorney General's office! https://www.naag.org/find-my-ag/ Not in the U.S.? Go here: https://www.ftc.gov/policy/international/competition-consumer-protection-authorities-worldwide Support the Podcast! Join the Patreon! - https://www.patreon.com/robertablevins Buy me a Taco and leave a note!

In the year 312, two claimants to the Roman imperial throne met outside the walls of Rome near a bridge that crossed the Tiber River.  The subsequent battle that followed was not that different from many other Roman battles that had been fought over the centuries.  However, the implications of that battle have long-reaching ramifications that have shaped the world for the past 1700 years.  Learn more about the Battle of Milvian Bridge and how it changed the world on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Draft Kings Step into the thrilling world of sports and entertainment with DraftKings, where every day is game day! Join the millions of fans who have already discovered the ultimate destination for fantasy sports and sports betting. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code EVERYTHING to score two hundred dollars in bonus bets instantly when you bet just five dollars! Newspapers.com Newspapers.com is like a time machine. Dive into their extensive online archives to explore history as it happened. With over 800 million digitized newspaper pages spanning three centuries, Newspapers.com provides an unparalleled gateway to the past, with papers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and beyond. Use the code “EverythingEverywhere” at checkout to get 20% off a publisher extra subscription at newspapers.com. Noom  Noom is not just another diet or fitness app. It's a comprehensive lifestyle program designed to empower you to make lasting changes and achieve your health goals. With Noom, you'll embark on a personalized journey that considers your unique needs, preferences, and challenges. Their innovative approach combines cutting-edge technology with the support of a dedicated team of experts, including registered dietitians, nutritionists, and behavior change specialists. Noom's changing how the world thinks about weight loss. Go to noom.com to sign up for your trial today!   ButcherBox ButcherBox is the perfect solution for anyone looking to eat high-quality, sustainably sourced meat without the hassle of going to the grocery store. With ButcherBox, you can enjoy a variety of grass-fed beef, heritage pork, free-range chicken, and wild-caught seafood delivered straight to your door every month. ButcherBox.com/Daily  Subscribe to the podcast!  https://link.chtbl.com/EverythingEverywhere?sid=ShowNotes -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Peter Bennett & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

https://www.patreon.com/GnosticInformant Thank you existing Patrons. The Etruscans, who lived primarily in the region now known as Tuscany, emerged around the 8th century BCE. They had a significant impact on the early Roman civilization and were eventually absorbed by the Romans. There were also various Italic tribes, including the Latins, Sabines, and Samnites, who lived in the Italian peninsula from around the 2nd millennium BCE. The Latins were the tribe from which the Romans emerged. Starting from the 8th century BCE, the Greeks established colonies in southern Italy and Sicily, an area that was often referred to as Magna Graecia. Aeneas, a legendary figure of both Trojan and Roman mythology, is renowned as the son of the divine Aphrodite and mortal Anchises. A part of Troy's royal lineage and a kin of Hector, Aeneas was a distinguished defender of his city during the Trojan War, demonstrating martial prowess second only to Hector himself. Homer's work subtly hints at Aeneas' discontent with his secondary role, thereby giving rise to a later narrative that posits Aeneas as a conspirator in Troy's betrayal to the Greeks. However, a more prevalent version of his story portrays Aeneas as the helm of the Trojan survivors following the Greek conquest of Troy. Regardless of these divergent accounts, the common thread in all the narratives is the survival of Aeneas, enabling him to be woven into the fabric of Roman mythology. The connection of Homeric heroes to Italy and Sicily can be traced back to the 8th century BCE, coinciding with the era when Homer's epics are believed to have transitioned into written form. Greek colonies, established in Italy and Sicily during this period and the ensuing century, often claimed lineage from figures central to the Trojan War. Aeneas, in particular, was associated with various locales and dynasties, notably within the region of Latium. As the Roman Empire expanded throughout Italy and across the Mediterranean, Roman authors imbued with a sense of patriotism sought to craft a mythological tradition that would simultaneously infuse their land with historical grandeur and subdue an underlying resentment towards Greek cultural hegemony. Aeneas, in his role as a Trojan adversary of the Greeks, and with a post-war narrative open to interpretation, was uniquely suited to embody the mythical precursor to the inception of Roman supremacy. Composed circa 29-19 BCE, Virgil's Aeneid narrates across 12 books the mythic establishment of Lavinium, the precursor to Alba Longa and Rome, by the Trojan hero Aeneas. As Virgil recounts, when the Greeks seized Troy, a resilient Aeneas was instructed by the apparition of Hector to escape and initiate a significant city abroad. Mustering his family and followers, Aeneas secured the penates— household deities—of Troy. However, amidst the chaos of evacuation from the burning city, his wife vanished. Her spirit later appeared to him, revealing his destiny to venture to a land in the west where the Tiber River coursed. Thus began Aeneas's epic journey, with stops in Thrace, Crete, and Sicily, and fraught with a plethora of trials culminating in a shipwreck near Carthage on the African coast. Here, he was hospitably received by Dido, the bereaved queen. As he narrated his tale, they fell in love and he delayed his journey until a stern reminder from the god Mercury refocused him on his ultimate objective: Rome. Wracked with guilt, he immediately deserted Dido, who subsequently ended her own life. Resuming his voyage, Aeneas eventually reached the mouth of the Tiber. #gnosticinformant #ancientrome #documentary #4k #rome #religion --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gnosticinformant/message

'The Radiance of Rome,' is a cozy sleepy story that whisks you away to the captivating heart of Rome, Italy. Narrated by a female voice, let this calm bedtime story for grown-ups immerse you in the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of the ancient city. The radiance of moonlit piazzas, historic landmarks aglow, and the sparkling Tiber River, soothe you before you return to a stone guesthouse, Casa Pietra, and fall asleep. Immerse yourself in this enchanting fusion of storytelling, calm music, and meditation for a restful and rejuvenating bedtime experience. It's time to dream away. Original Music, Script, Voiceover, and Production by Michelle Hotaling, Dreamaway Visions LLC 2023 All Rights Reserved Michelle's Sanctuary is a place where you may enjoy high quality SLEEP STORIES and GUIDED SLEEP MEDITATIONS completely FREE with a focus on mental vacations, sleep hypnosis, manifestations, and using your imagination to enjoy relaxing adventures before bedtime. Grown ups deserve bedtime stories too!  This channel was started with the intention of helping others find balance, a good night's rest, and stay aligned with aspirations and goals in life. We are all part of this human existence together and the more than we become mindful individuals, the better we make this world and our personal experiences in this world.  Having firsthand experience with anxiety, insomnia, and a strong desire to connect with my higher self and live my best life, I have tailored these recordings in ways that I have personally found helpful.   This channel is not a replacement for consultations with a doctor or medical professional but can help you find more balance and a healing night's sleep. I always welcome comments, feedback & suggestions. Social media & Contact Information - Interact with Michelle here: www.michellessanctuary.com TWITTER: http://twitter.com/michsanctuary INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/michellessanctuary FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michellessanctuary/ TIKTOK: http://www.tiktok.com/@michellessanctuary Email: michellessanctuary@gmail.com If you would like to support this channel and help keep new content coming: https://www.paypal.me/michellessanctuary https://www.venmo.com/michellehotaling https://www.buymeacoffee.com/michsanctuary Digital Downloads and Streaming Options- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6KSw0pmfwv0mZwb0DLlNLA iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/michelles-sanctuary/1343585415 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B079JCXBDG/michelle's-sanctuary Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/michellessanctuary --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michelles-sanctuary/support

July 18: Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest1550–1614In the U.S.A. this Optional Memorial is transferred to July 18Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of hospitals, nurses, and the sickA one-man Red Cross who burned with love for the sickLike so many saints, Camillus de Lellis ran hard in whatever direction he was heading. When he was a soldier, he ran hard toward the noise of battle. When he was a gambler, he ran hard toward the betting tables. When he was a sinner, he ran hard toward his taste of the day. And when he had a conversion, he ran hard toward the tabernacle. And there, finally, he stopped running. Once he found God, he stayed with Him. Today's saint spent long hours with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Silent contemplation fueled his soul, and he motored through each day with a high-octane love for the sick and the dying, which attracted numerous followers, led to the founding of a religious order, and eventually made Camillus a saint.As a physically large teenager, Camillus became a soldier, alongside his soldier father, to fight the Turks. In the army he learned to gamble, an addiction that matured with him and which ultimately reduced him to abject poverty. At a low point in his life, he volunteered to work at a Franciscan monastery that was under construction and became inspired by a monk to seek admission to the order. But they wouldn't take him. Camillus had a serious leg wound that refused to heal. He would have been more burden than blessing, so he moved on. He went to Rome to care for the sick in a hospital where he had previously been a patient. But he was repelled by the inadequate medical care, the moral deprivation of the nurses, and the lack of spiritual attention given to the patients. Camillus decided something better was needed for the sick and found the solution when he looked in the mirror.Camillus was inspired by his saintly spiritual director, Saint Philip Neri, to establish a company of consecrated men who would serve the sick purely out of love for God. They served in the hospital of the Holy Spirit, still found today on the Tiber River close to the Vatican. Camillus and his co-workers earned a reputation for providing excellent medical care, for indefatigable service, and for doing their work with an intense spirit of prayer. While carrying out this demanding apostolate, Camillus also attended seminary and was ordained a priest in 1584. As the years passed, more men joined, new houses were established in other cities, and the rule for the Order of Clerks Regular, Ministers of the Infirm (M.I.), simply known as the Camillians, was approved by the Pope in 1591.Father Camillus instituted medical reforms that were rare for his time in regard to cleanliness, diet, infectious diseases, the search for cures, and the separation of healthcare administration from healthcare itself. When his order expanded to other countries, they even staffed a medical field unit accompanying soldiers in battle, an important innovation. This, together with his order's habit bearing a large, simple, red cross on the front, made Camillus a precursor of the modern Red Cross.Saint Camillus was practical as well as mystical. He wanted the best, physically, spiritually, and morally, for all those he cared for. Every patient was his Lord and Master. No patient, no matter how diseased, foul, dirty, or rude, was beyond his care. Along with his religious brothers, he even took a special fourth vow to care for those with the plague who might infect him. Two Camillians died of the plague in Camillus' own lifetime. “More love in those hands brother” was his constant refrain to his confreres. His example resonated, and the work of the Camillians continues today in various countries. After his order was firmly established, Saint Camillus succumbed to various diseases in 1614 in Rome. Soon after his death, two doctors from Holy Spirit Hospital came to examine the body, as Camillus was already considered a saint. They cut open his chest wall and removed his heart. An eyewitness wrote that his heart was huge, and as red as a ruby. Camillus was canonized in 1746, and a large statue of him adorns a niche in the central nave of St. Peter's Basilica. Along with Saint John of God, who was also a soldier, Saint Camillus is the patron saint of hospitals and the sick. Just a few hundred feet from the tourist hordes crushing to enter the Pantheon in the heart of Rome, the modestly sized but luxurious baroque church of Saint Mary Magdalene fronts a small piazza. Inside, usually alone, and resting in peace, are the remains of Saint Camillus de Lellis.Saint Camillus, you knew the rough life of the soldier, gambler, and wanderer. Because of your experiences, you practiced great empathy for the outcast, the sick, and the dying. Help us to be like you, to translate our empathy into action, and to be motivated primarily by love of God.

Rome eventually became the heart of one of the largest and most powerful empires the world has ever known, but in the beginning, it was just a collection of villages on the Tiber River. How those villages merged and became a city, then a state, is one of the crucial stories in human history.Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World in hardcopy, ebook, or audiobook (read by Patrick) here: https://bit.ly/PWverge. And check out Patrick's new review podcast of the TV series Rome: https://bit.ly/PWromeListen to new episodes 1 week early, to exclusive seasons 1 and 2, and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistoryPlease support us by supporting our sponsors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Gospel of John 15-21                                               Part Four – Speaking Truth to Power By Louie Marsh, 5-7-2023   Intro – last week bad sermon – sorry no refunds! Last slide Sowell quote.   1) Jesus PROTECTED the disciples and suffered the consequences himself.   ·       He REINFORCES his identity.   4Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.   ·       He FREES the disciples from any consequences.    7So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”   ·       He protects them from THEMSELVES.   10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” 12So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.   2) Jesus spoke PUBLICLY, he had no secret agenda.   19The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”   3) Jesus clearly DEFINED who & what he is.   33So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”   ·       Jesus Kingdom CHANGES our focus & values.   4) Jesus came to speak and defend the TRUTH.   PILATE   Pontius Pilate is believed to have hailed from the Samnium region of central Italy. According to the traditional account of his life, Pilate was a Roman equestrian (knight) of the Samnite clan of the Pontii (hence his name Pontius.)   Pontius Pilate served as the prefect of Judaea from 26 to 36 A.D. Pilate died in 39 A.D. The cause of his death remains a mystery but the fact that he lived cannot be disputed. During a 1961 dig in Caesarea Maritima, Italian archeologist Dr. Antonio Frova uncovered a piece of limestone inscribed with Pontius Pilate's name in Latin, linking Pilate to Emperor Tiberius's reign.   In 26 A.D. the Roman Emperor Tiberius appointed Pontius Pilate prefect of the Roman provinces of Judaea, Samaria and Idumæa, although Pilate is best known for his leadership of Judaea. While the typical term for a Roman prefect was one to three years, Pilate was to hold his post as the fifth Roman procurator for 10 years. In assuming his position, Pontius Pilate succeeded Valerius Gratus.   Protected by Sejanus, Pilate incurred the enmity of Jews in Roman-occupied Palestine by insulting their religious sensibilities, as when he hung worship images of the emperor throughout Jerusalem and had coins bearing pagan religious symbols minted. This caused riots and eventually most of the shields bearing the Emperors likeness were taken down. But not all of them.   As a Roman prefect, Pontius Pilate was granted the power of a supreme judge, which meant that he had the sole authority to order a criminal's execution. His duties as a prefect included such mundane tasks as tax collection and managing construction projects. But, perhaps his most crucial responsibility was that of maintaining law and order. Pontius Pilate attempted to do so by any means necessary. What he couldn't negotiate he is said to have accomplished through brute force.   The circumstances surrounding Pontius Pilate's death in circa 39 A.D. are something of a mystery and a source of contention. The Samaritans reported Pilate to Vitellius, legate of Syria, after he attacked them on Mount Gerizim in 36 AD. He was then ordered back to Rome to stand trial for cruelty and oppression, particularly on the charge that he had executed men without proper trial. According to Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, Pilate killed himself on orders from the emperor Caligula. Other accounts say he was sent into exile and committed suicide of his own accord.   Some traditions assert that after he committed suicide, his body was thrown into the Tiber River. Still others believe Pontius Pilate's fate involved his conversion to Christianity and subsequent canonization. Pontius Pilate is in fact considered a saint by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.   According to the Biblical Archeology Society, “early Christians saw Pilate in a very different way. Augustine hailed Pilate as a convert. Eventually the Greek Orthodox and Coptic faiths, named Pilate and his wife saints. And when Pilate first shows up in Christian art in the mid-fourth century, he is juxtaposed with Abraham, Daniel and other great believers.”   The ancient historian Eusebius supports this claim by saying Pilate converted after seeing the many wonders that occurred after Jesus' death, even reporting it to Tiberius. In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church their feast day is June 25.   37Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.” (John 18:1–40, ESV)   ·       How badly do I want the truth?    

Rorate Caeli recently claimed Pope Francis decided to issue Traditionis Custodes, restricting the Latin Mass, because of Taylor Marshall’s plot to throw the “Pachamama idols” into the Tiber River with the assistance of his friend Alexander Tschugguel. Is this the likely reason for the restrictions?

In the year 312, two claimants to the Roman imperial throne met outside the walls of Rome near a bridge that crossed the Tiber River.  The subsequent battle that followed was not that different from many other Roman battles which had been fought over the centuries.  However, the implications of that battle have long-reaching ramifications that have shaped the world for the past 1700 years.  Learn more about the Battle of Milvian Bridge and how it changed the world on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Subscribe to the podcast!  https://link.chtbl.com/EverythingEverywhere?sid=ShowNotes -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Darcy Adams Associate Producers: Peter Bennett & Thor Thomsen   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EverythingEverywhere Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ Everything Everywhere is an Airwave Media podcast. Please contact sales@advertisecast.com to advertise on Everything Everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the summer, much of Europe faced a string of extreme heat waves and a devastating drought.  As a result, many reservoirs and rivers have shrunk back to reveal historical structures and relics that, in some cases, date back thousands of years.  Once-submerged villages, ships, and bridges have re-emerged this year. In northwest Spain, a […]

Synopsis It happens to all of us: you're in some public space and overhear someone say something that strikes you as memorable, oddly poetical, or perhaps even moving. The American composer Lisa Bielawa and soprano Susan Narucki started collecting such overheard phrases, and created a musical work incorporating them. Commenting on the phrases, Bielawa says, "I noticed… people often say things… that help locate themselves in space and time: 'Last time I ate here by myself' or 'Remember – it was snowing horribly? And she was holding the dog?'” Or nostalgic phrases like “We used to have a house here, but then my father lost his job. I never go there now.” The resulting composition for soprano and 12 instrumentalists, entitled “Chance Encounter,” was designed to be performed in a public spaces as well, with the performers arriving and leaving at different times and from different directions, taking up positions scattered around the site, with the soprano singing the overheard phrases as she strolls among them. This unusual work received its premiere performance at Seward Park in New York City on today's date in 2008. Since then, “Chance Encounter” has been performed in Rome on a walkway along the banks of the Tiber River, and in other public spaces in places ranging from Venice to Vancouver. Music Played in Today's Program Lisa Bielawa (b. 1968): Chance Encounter –Susan Narucki, soprano; The Knights (Orange Mountain Music 7004)

The Brothers of Italy party, which won the most votes in Italy's national election, has its roots in the post-World War II neo-fascist Italian Social Movement. Keeping the movement's most potent symbol, the tricolour flame, Giorgia Meloni has taken Brothers of Italy from a fringe far-right group to Italy's biggest party. A century after Benito Mussolini's 1922 March on Rome, which brought the fascist dictator to power, Meloni is poised to lead Italy's first far-right-led government since World War II and Italy's first woman premier. How did post-facism begin in Italy? The Italian Social Movement, or MSI, was founded in 1946 by Giorgio Almirante, chief of staff in Mussolini's last government. It drew fascist sympathisers and officials into its ranks following Italy's role in the war when it was allied with the Nazis and then liberated by the Allies. Throughout the 1950-1980s, the MSI remained a small right-wing party, polling in the single digits. But historian Paul Ginsborg has noted that its mere survival in the decades after the war "served as a constant reminder of the potent appeal that authoritarianism and nationalism could still exercise among the southern students, urban poor and lower middle classes". The 1990s brought about a change under Gianfranco Fini, Almirante's protege who nevertheless projected a new moderate face of the Italian right. When Fini ran for Rome mayor in 1993, he won a surprising 46.9 per cent of the vote - not enough to win but enough to establish him as a player. Within a year, Fini had renamed the MSI the National Alliance. It was in those years that a young Meloni, who was raised by a single mother in a Rome working-class neighbourhood, first joined the MSI's youth branch and then went on to lead the youth branch of Fini's National Alliance. Does that mean Meloni is a neo-facist? Fini was dogged by the movement's neo-fascist roots and his assessment that Mussolini was the 20th century's "greatest statesman". He disavowed that statement, and in 2003 visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Israel. There, he described Italy's racial laws, which restricted Jews' rights, as part of the "absolute evil" of the war. Meloni, too, had praised Mussolini in her youth but visited Yad Vashem in 2009 when she was a minister in Silvio Berlusconi's last government. Writing in her 2021 memoir I Am Giorgia, she described the experience as evidence of how "a genocide happens step by step, a little at a time". During the campaign, Meloni was forced to confront the issue head-on, after the Democrats warned that she represented a danger to democracy. "The Italian right has handed fascism over to history for decades now, unambiguously condemning the suppression of democracy and the ignominious anti-Jewish laws," she said in a campaign video. How did the Brothers of Italy emerge? Meloni, who proudly touts her roots as an MSI militant, has said the first spark of creating the Brothers of Italy came after Berlusconi resigned as premier in 2011, forced out by a financial crisis over Italy's soaring debt and his own legal problems. Meloni refused to support Mario Monti, who was tapped by Italy's president to try to form a technocratic government to reassure international financial markets. Meloni couldn't stand what she believed was external pressure from European capitals to dictate internal Italian politics. Meloni co-founded the party in 2012, naming it after the first words of the Italian national anthem. "A new party for an old tradition," Meloni wrote. Brothers of Italy would only take in single-digit results in its first decade. The European Parliament election in 2019 brought Brothers of Italy 6.4 per cent - a figure that Meloni says "changed everything". As the leader of the only party in opposition during Mario Draghi's 2021-2022 national unity government, her popularity soared, with Sunday's election netting it 26 per cent. But what about the party's logo? The party has at the centre of its logo the red, white and green flame of the original MSI that remained when the movement became the National Alliance. While less obvious than the bundle of sticks, or fasces, that was the prominent symbol of Mussolini's National Fascist Party, the tricolour flame is nevertheless a powerful image that ties the current party to its past. "Political logos are a form of branding, no different than those aimed at consumers," said Rutgers University professor T Corey Brennan, who recently wrote Fasces: A History of Rome's Most Dangerous Political Symbol. He recalled that when Almirante made his final MSI campaign pitch to voters in the 1948 election at Rome's Spanish Steps, he put the party's flame symbol on top of the obelisk and illuminated it with floodlights. "You can make whatever you want out of a flame, but everybody understood that Almirante was making a deep emotional appeal to keep the spirit of fascism alive," he said. How do Italians feel about it? In general, the party's neo-fascist roots appear to be of more concern abroad than at home. Some historians explain that by noting certain historical amnesia here and Italians' general comfort living with the relics of fascism as evidence that Italy never really repudiated the Fascist Party and Mussolini in the same way Germany repudiated National Socialism and Hitler. While Germany went through a long and painful process of reckoning with its past, Italians have in many ways simply turned willful blindness to their own. Historian David Kertzer of Brown University notes that there are 67 institutes for studying the Resistance to Fascism in Italy, and virtually no centre for studying Italian Fascism. In addition, Mussolini-era architecture and monuments are everywhere: from the EUR neighbourhood in southern Rome to the Olympic training centre on the Tiber River, with its obelisk still bearing Mussolini's name. The Italian Constitution bars the reconstitution of the Fascist party, but far-right groups still display the fascist salute and there continues to be an acceptance of fascist symbols, said Brennan. "You don't have to look very hard for signs," Brennan said in a phone interview. "Fully a quarter of all manhole covers in Rome still have the fasces on them." Does that mean Italians support facism? If history is any guide, one constant in recent political elections is that Italians vote for change, with a desire for something new seemingly overtaking traditional political ideology in big pendulum shifts, said Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute of International Affairs. Tocci said the Brothers of Italy's popularity in 2022 was evidence of this "violent" swing that is more about Italian dissatisfaction than any surge in neo-fascist or far-right sentiment. "I would say the main reason why a big chunk of that - let's say 25-30 per cent - will vote for this party is simply that it's the new kid on the block," she said. Meloni still speaks reverently about the MSI and Almirante, even if her rhetoric can change to suit her audience. This summer, speaking in perfect Spanish, she thundered at a rally of Spain's hard-right Vox party: "Yes to the natural family. No to the LGBT lobby. Yes to sexual identity. No to gender ideology." Back home on the campaign trail, she projected a much more moderate tone and appealed for unity in her victory speech Monday. "Italy chose us," she said. "We will not betray it, as we never have." - Nicole Winfield, APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle shares her story of growing up in Manitoba and starting her own business, only to go into business with one of her vendors, only to then adjust the business model to become an incredibly successful direct selling brand - made in Winnipeg!   What an inspiring story that you will want to hear!   Show Notes: https://elaineskitchentable.com/149   Connect with Michelle: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiberrivernaturals Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiberriver Website: https://www.tiberriver.ca  Connect with Elaine: Website: https://elaineskitchentable.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elainetancomeau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainetancomeau/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElainesKitchenTable Twitter: https://twitter.com/chatwithelaine Get a free chapter from Elaine's book, Sell Your Passion: https://elaineskitchentable.com/book/ Episode Sponsor: Episode Sponsor: UPS, visit https://www.ups.com/ca/en/business-solutions/grow-your-business.page to save up to 50% on your shipping!

West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy is Now Open! 8am-9am PT/ 11am-Noon ET for our especially special Daily Specials; Blue Moon Spirits Friday!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, the documents seized from Mar a Lago are the “crown jewels” of the intel community.On the rest of the menu, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals voted to uphold a Jim Crow voting law that Mississippi's white-supremacist leaders adopted in 1890 in an attempt to disenfranchise Black residents for life; a Nebraska high school shuttered the school's award-winning fifty-four year old student newspaper just days after its last edition that included articles and editorials on LGBTQ issues; and, widespread voting machine tampering during the primaries by Trump activists is causing a concern for the fall election.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where Myanmar's military junta arrested a former British ambassador and her husband, and are holding them in a prison labor camp, for not filing out a change of address form on time; and, Italy's worst drought in seventy years has exposed the piers of an ancient bridge over the Tiber River once used by Roman emperors.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“Structural linguistics is a bitterly divided and unhappy profession, and a large number of its practitioners spend many nights drowning their sorrows in Ouisghian Zodahs.” ― Douglas Adams "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Show Notes & Links:https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/26/2118894/-West-Coast-Cookbook-amp-Speakeasy-Daily-Special-Blue-Moon-Spirits-Fridays

August 24: Saint Bartholomew, ApostleFirst CenturyFeast; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of bookbinders, butchers, and leather workersThe Church conquered an imperfect world due to the heroic witness of the ApostlesLittle is known with certainty about today's Apostle, and perhaps Saint Bartholomew is just fine with that. If he were like Saint John the Baptist, he would want Christ to increase and himself to decrease. It is possible, although not certain, that Bartholomew is the same Apostle as Nathaniel. Bartholomew means “Son of Tolmai” and is not a name, technically, but a patronymic, like the Scandinavian “son” found in “Anderson” or “Erikson.” The Bartholomew of Matthew, Mark, and Luke may describe the man known in the Gospel of John more correctly as Nathaniel. Bartholomew is paired with Philip in some Gospel lists, which corresponds, interestingly, with Philip being an old friend of Nathaniel in John's Gospel. But so little is known with certainty about the Apostles that these conjectures will likely never be resolved.After his appearance in the Gospels, Bartholomew first resurfaces almost three hundred years later in the works of Eusebius, a bishop and church historian who wrote around 300 A.D. Eusebius relates a story about a Christian teacher traveling in India who is told that an Apostle, presumably Bartholomew, had preached there long before him and had brought a Hebrew Gospel with him. Equally vague traditions have Bartholomew evangelizing in Persia, Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. The details of his death likewise dissipated in the fog of ancient history. One tradition holds that he was flayed alive, a story reflected in Michelangelo's Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel, which depicts Bartholomew holding his own skin. Because of this tradition, Bartholomew is the patron saint of tanners. History holds that Bartholomew's relics are in the church named after him on an island in Rome's Tiber River.The Nicene Creed states that we believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. The Church, then, is an object of faith in the same way that God is an object of faith. She is not the end result of a world-wide community of believers or merely a forum for belief. She gathers. She is not gathered. The Church is the mother of Christians, not their offspring. The Church is more than a carrier of faith, more than a train whose cargo barrels through the centuries transporting the heavy freight of the Gospels and tradition to diverse cultures. The Church not only bears a message, then, She is the message.Unfortunately, the Church's sins and failings are, for many, the primary obstacle to belief in Christ. It is not just that the Church's holiness is not apparent. It is that Her unity is questioned due to deep theological divisions. And Her members' struggles for power, wealth, and prestige also obscure a more pristine Christian faith which She should project. But to think that the Church could be sublimely holy, totally unified, and pristinely sinless is to dream. The Church exists in the world, reflects the world's dramas, and suffers from Her same sins. We do not believe in the Church because She is perfect, but because there is nothing else like Her. She is unique. She is better than any alternative. If we expect from the Church the Sacraments, we will never be disappointed.Today's saint lived and evangelized in the era of the dreamy early church, when the fire of Christ's love burned hottest, when the Gospel was as fresh as baked bread, and when gusts of the Holy Spirit blew through the Apostles' hair. And yet…Bartholomew still had his skin slowly peeled from his body by a sharp knife, or was crucified, or both. The world was wicked in the first century too, and so the Church had problems in that era as well. Just read the letters of Saint Paul. The Church was born into a rough pagan world and still exists in a rough, though different, secular world. Saint Bartholomew died at the hands of imperfect pagans for an imperfect Church. Yet the imperfect, primitive Church persevered in her infancy because of the witness and sacrifice of many saints. The imperfect, modern Church will continue to persevere in Her adulthood because of our witness and sacrifice today.Saint Bartholomew, help all Christians to see in your example of martyrdom a heroic witness to perseverance in the face of difficulty, of fidelity in the face of doubt, and of courage in the face of timidity. May we have just a portion of what you had in such abundance.

July 14: Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest1550–1614In the U.S.A. this Optional Memorial is transferred to July 18Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of hospitals, nurses, and the sickA one-man Red Cross who burned with love for the sickLike so many saints, Camillus de Lellis ran hard in whatever direction he was heading. When he was a soldier, he ran hard toward the noise of battle. When he was a gambler, he ran hard toward the betting tables. When he was a sinner, he ran hard toward his taste of the day. And when he had a conversion, he ran hard toward the tabernacle. And there, finally, he stopped running. Once he found God, he stayed with Him. Today's saint spent long hours with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Silent contemplation fueled his soul, and he motored through each day with a high-octane love for the sick and the dying, which attracted numerous followers, led to the founding of a religious order, and eventually made Camillus a saint.As a physically large teenager, Camillus became a soldier, alongside his soldier father, to fight the Turks. In the army he learned to gamble, an addiction that matured with him and which ultimately reduced him to abject poverty. At a low point in his life, he volunteered to work at a Franciscan monastery that was under construction and became inspired by a monk to seek admission to the order. But they wouldn't take him. Camillus had a serious leg wound that refused to heal. He would have been more burden than blessing, so he moved on. He went to Rome to care for the sick in a hospital where he had previously been a patient. But he was repelled by the inadequate medical care, the moral deprivation of the nurses, and the lack of spiritual attention given to the patients. Camillus decided something better was needed for the sick and found the solution when he looked in the mirror.Camillus was inspired by his saintly spiritual director, Saint Philip Neri, to establish a company of consecrated men who would serve the sick purely out of love for God. They served in the hospital of the Holy Spirit, still found today on the Tiber River close to the Vatican. Camillus and his co-workers earned a reputation for providing excellent medical care, for indefatigable service, and for doing their work with an intense spirit of prayer. While carrying out this demanding apostolate, Camillus also attended seminary and was ordained a priest in 1584. As the years passed, more men joined, new houses were established in other cities, and the rule for the Order of Clerks Regular, Ministers of the Infirm (M.I.), simply known as the Camillians, was approved by the Pope in 1591.Father Camillus instituted medical reforms that were rare for his time in regard to cleanliness, diet, infectious diseases, the search for cures, and the separation of healthcare administration from healthcare itself. When his order expanded to other countries, they even staffed a medical field unit accompanying soldiers in battle, an important innovation. This, together with his order's habit bearing a large, simple, red cross on the front, made Camillus a precursor of the modern Red Cross.Saint Camillus was practical as well as mystical. He wanted the best, physically, spiritually, and morally, for all those he cared for. Every patient was his Lord and Master. No patient, no matter how diseased, foul, dirty, or rude, was beyond his care. Along with his religious brothers, he even took a special fourth vow to care for those with the plague who might infect him. Two Camillians died of the plague in Camillus' own lifetime. “More love in those hands brother” was his constant refrain to his confreres. His example resonated, and the work of the Camillians continues today in various countries. After his order was firmly established, Saint Camillus succumbed to various diseases in 1614 in Rome. Soon after his death, two doctors from Holy Spirit Hospital came to examine the body, as Camillus was already considered a saint. They cut open his chest wall and removed his heart. An eyewitness wrote that his heart was huge, and as red as a ruby. Camillus was canonized in 1746, and a large statue of him adorns a niche in the central nave of St. Peter's Basilica. Along with Saint John of God, who was also a soldier, Saint Camillus is the patron saint of hospitals and the sick. Just a few hundred feet from the tourist hordes crushing to enter the Pantheon in the heart of Rome, the modestly sized but luxurious baroque church of Saint Mary Magdalene fronts a small piazza. Inside, usually alone, and resting in peace, are the remains of Saint Camillus de Lellis.Saint Camillus, you knew the rough life of the soldier, gambler, and wanderer. Because of your experiences, you practiced great empathy for the outcast, the sick, and the dying. Help us to be like you, to translate our empathy into action, and to be motivated primarily by love of God.

Julie and Dani eat dinner in a charming restaurant across the Tiber River in Trastevere, where they use a few colorful Italian idioms and are first “hungry as a wolf” and then “full as an egg.” Dani learns about some more (weird) food rules in Italy!In the roundtable, Elisa and Erin savor three classic Roman recipes and Elisa takes us step-by-step through the grammatical structure of the deceivingly simple-sounding word “farcela.”To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Dani and Luca go to a popular Roman summer festival along the Tiber River, where their date is interrupted, first by friends and then by a slap! In our roundtable, we learn about “the misery of the pork” and how it's used by Italians to express surprise or frustration, or both! Elisa also demystifies “proprio,” which is a veritable Swiss army knife of Italian words. [In fact, in our subscriber bonus notes, we offer 15 examples of how to use it!]To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Episode 161 – Paul’s Places – Part 2: When in Rome Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script: From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. God chose me to be an apostle, and he appointed me to preach the good news … This letter is to all of you in Rome. God loves you and has chosen you to be his very own people. Romans, chapter 1, verses 1 and 7, Contemporary English Version ******** VK: Hello! I’m Victoria K. Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. We’re very grateful that we are able to be with you today as we continue forward with our new series on Anchored by Truth. We’ve entitled this series “Paul’s Places.” By “Paul” we’re referring to the Apostle Paul who wrote at least 13 of the books out of the 27 books that comprise the New Testament. The Apostle Paul, of course, started out life named “Saul.” But the “fire breathing” rebel Saul was converted on the road to Damascus by an encounter with the risen Christ. Then in Acts, chapter 13, verse 9, the writer of Acts, Luke, tells us that “Saul” was also called “Paul.” To help us learn more about “Paul’s Places” we have RD Fierro back in the studio. RD is an author and the founder of Crystal Sea Books. RD, why did you want to call this series “Paul’s Places?” RD: Well, before I comment on that I would like to add to your thanks to the listeners for tuning in today – whether they’re listening on the broadcast or podcast. We’re grateful for anyone who devotes part of their day or week with us. We wanted to do this series because while most Christians know that several of the books in the New Testament are named after places … VK: 9 books to be exact – and among those 9 books there are 7 different places named because two of the named cities received two letters from Paul. RD: Right. 21 of the books of the New Testament are essentially just letters that the writer sent either to a person or to a group such as a particular church. You often hear those letters referred to as “epistles” – but those epistles really are just a form of letter not any different from the same kind of letters sent today. VK: Though none of those letters were sent by email. RD: Right again. The best scholarship tells us that all of the books in the New Testament were written in the 1st century AD with the majority probably written between 45 to 65 AD. So, those 21 letters were sent by three different writers. The Apostle John wrote 3 epistles. The Apostle Peter wrote 2 epistles. 2 epistles were sent by Jesus’ half-brothers Jude and James. Paul wrote 13 of the remaining 14 epistles or letters and the author of the epistle to the Hebrews is not named. Many scholars think Paul also wrote it but since Hebrews does not name its writer that isn’t a certainty. And some scholars believe another figure from the early church such as Apollos or Barnabas may have written Hebrews. VK: And 9 of Paul’s 13 epistles are named in the Bible by the destination to which the epistle was sent. And there are 7 different destinations. RD: Yes. In the order in which they are included in the New Testament those so-called Pauline epistles were sent to churches in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Colossae. VK: 6 of the 7 destinations named are cities and 1, Galatia, was a region similar in size to a small American state. 3 of those cities are located in what would be the nation of Greece today. 2 of those cities and Galatia are located in what would be the nation of Turkey Greece today. And Rome, of course, was located in the same place then as it was today in Italy. RD: Yes. Corinth, Philippi, and Thessalonica are located in modern day Greece. But in Paul’s day Philippi and Thessalonica were located in a region called Macedonia and Corinth was located in a region called Achaia. Ephesus, Colossae, and Galatia were all located in modern day Turkey. And, as you said, Rome is right where Rome has always been. VK: And today we want to focus on the epistle to the Romans. So, what are we hoping to see as we examine each of these epistles in turn? RD: Well, first of all I want people to focus on the fact that, contrary to some uniformed critics, the Bible is not filled with “myths and fairy tales.” It is true that the Bible reports on supernatural events in the same way that it reports on mundane or secular matters. And as we often say on Anchored by Truth we can have confidence in the Bible’s reports about supernatural matters because in areas where we can directly test the Bible’s historical and geographic accuracy we see that the Bible writers were accurate. VK: It’s a very simple principle. If we have a friend who we know to be honest and truthful and then one day that friend tells us they saw something extraordinary our first impulse should be to trust their report. We can trust their report because we have a track record and history with that person that tells us that person consistently tells the truth. Naturally, the opposite might be true. If we know somebody who consistently lies then we might have reason to doubt them, even if occasionally they tell us something that is true. RD: Right. Character matters. And when the Bible’s character is tested in ways we can verify it always stands up to the test. VK: So, one of the reasons we are doing this series is to help people see that the geography of the Bible is real, reliable geography. That is not true with some books that claim to have come from God, is it? RD: No. But in keeping with our long-standing practice on Anchored by Truth we do not normally criticize other works by name. Our practice is to proclaim the truth of the Bible, the Word of God, for the same reason new bank tellers are trained to recognize counterfeit bills by being handed lots of genuine ones. When you know what’s genuine you can spot the counterfeits. Also, frankly, the time we have for these shows is limited so we’re not going to give any time to discussing the errors of others. We focus on demonstrating that Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. VK: But the basic point stands. As we will see throughout this series not only can you find the locations to which the epistles were sent on maps of the time, the situations discussed within the individual letter correspond to what we know about the character and culture of the location. RD: Exactly. So, we are starting with the epistle, the letter, to the church in Rome because it is the first in order in most modern Bibles after the 4 gospels and the book of Acts. Now no one holds that the order of the epistles as they appear in the New Testament is inspired. But the order, nevertheless, helps us see how the earthly church fathers felt about that book. And Romans occupies the first position not because it was the first one written but because of its importance and the importance of the church that was located in what was the most important city in the Roman Empire. VK: The book of Romans has been placed first pretty much since the time the New Testament was assembled in the 4th century AD. It has held this place in the sacred canon, even though many commentators believe that the Galatians, First Corinthians, and perhaps First and Second Thessalonians were written before it. RD: Right. Romans contains the most complete treatment of the major doctrines of the Christian faith that is found in any of the epistles. In Romans Paul discussed the doctrines of regeneration, justification, sanctification, and the need for evangelism. He discussed such weighty themes as judgment, God’s wrath against sin, man’s universal rebellion, and the primacy of faith for reconciliation between man and God to be possible. Yet with all the weighty matters he undertook in the book of Romans Paul still made sure that he provided some of the most comforting language that is found in the entire Bible. VK: I’m sure you’re thinking of that famous section from chapter 8 of Romans, especially the part contained in verses 31 through 39. “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? … Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. … in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s from the New International Version. RD: Yes. So, in and amongst all the principles and doctrine Paul included in Romans he never lost sight of the need to be encouraging to his readers. So, the book of Romans includes some of the most sobering observations in all of scripture … VK: Like, “There is none who does good, no, not one.” That’s Romans 3:12 in the New King James Version. RD: Yes. In that line Paul was quoting Psalm 14:3. But in addition to all the sobering language Paul also gave us so much encouragement like the assurance that nothing can separate us from God’s love and we are more than conquerors through the God that loves us. So, Romans contains these great discussions of these great themes but in Romans Paul also took great pains to discuss the relationship between gentiles and Jews with respect to Christianity. Chapters 9 through 11 contain one of the most thorough explanations in the Bible of the Jewish roots of Christianity and how God now views Jews and Gentiles with respect to the church. VK: And essentially Paul tells us that anyone who places their faith in Jesus for salvation, whether they are a Jew or Gentile, will be saved. Paul notes that even though Israel was God’s “chosen people” and was the original recipient of God’s word that even in the Old Testament there was the promise that someday God’s plan of salvation would include the gentiles. RD: Yes. Paul took more time in the book of Romans to discuss the interaction between Jews, gentiles, the church, and the history of salvation than in any other book. VK: So, we can be sure that one reason he did that was because the Roman church was composed of Jewish and gentile believers. But Rome, of course, was a long way from the Holy Land. Why would there have been so many Jews in Rome? RD: In 63 BC the Roman general Pompey the Great overran Judea. When he did he sent a large number of Jewish prisoners to Rome to be sold as slaves. But the Romans found out it was not easy to control them. The Jews persevered resolutely and obstinately in adhering to their faith and rites of their religion. Eventually the Romans chose to give them their freedom and assigned them a place in the vicinity of the city across the Tiber River. They built a town which was principally inhabited by Jews. And we know from history that Judaism was even one of the religions that the Romans accepted officially – so much so that the Jews were exempt from worshipping Caesar which most citizens of the empire were not. So, in Rome there were plenty of Jews, some of whom obviously came to accept Christ as the Messiah. These believers along with the gentile converts comprised the Roman church in Paul’s time. VK: So, this explains why Paul would have taken such pains to go into the relationship between Jews, gentiles, and the church. There were probably lots of discussions within the Roman church as to “who had to do what” or “who was to blame for what.” This was long before the New Testament existed. Undoubtedly, there was a great deal of confusion about some issues that today we almost take for granted. RD: Right. And Paul either knew about the differences from reports he received or quite likely he could have guessed that any church comprised of Jewish and gentile believers would have had certain questions. It’s apparent from Romans that at the time Paul wrote to the church he had not yet personally been there. VK: Although later he would go to Rome in person after he was arrested in Jerusalem and, as a Roman citizen, he appealed to the emperor to hear his case. We hear about that episode in chapters 24 through 28 of the book of Acts. RD: Yes. Most commentators believe Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans between 55 and 57 AD with many believing it was in 57 AD. VK: Why is that? RD: Around 52 or 54 AD the Roman Emperor Claudius banished all Jews from Rome. Acts 18:2 tells us that Paul first met a husband and wife named Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth. Acts 18:2 tells us that Paul met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth and that they had left Rome because of that decree. So, this had to have occurred after the year 52 ad. In Acts 18:19, we are told that Paul left Corinth accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla and subsequently Paul left them at Ephesus. Paul then made a journey through the neighboring regions, and then returned to Ephesus. That’s reported in Acts 19:1. Paul then remained at Ephesus at least two years. In the Epistle to the Romans Paul sends his salutation to Aquila and Priscilla. So, by the time Paul wrote Romans Aquila and Priscilla had returned at Rome. So, Romans could not have been written until after Aquila and Priscilla had left Ephesus and returned to Rome. That would have to have been at least three years after the decree of Claudius in 52 or 54 AD. VK: But we also have some other clues as to the timing of Romans. We know that when Paul wrote this Epistle to Romans, he was about to depart for Jerusalem to take them a collection taken up by the churches in Macedonia and Achaia which had been made for the poor. That’s in Romans 15:25-26. And Paul said that when he had done this, he intended to go to Rome. That’s Romans 15:28. So, that gives us further clues as to the timing of when Romans was written. RD: Right. Now, by looking at the book of Acts again, we can determine when this occurred. In Acts Paul said he sent Timothy and Erastus ahead of him into Macedonia, while he remained in Asia for a while. That’s Acts 19:22. After this (Acts 20:1-2), Paul himself went into Macedonia, passed through Greece, and remained there about three months. On this journey it is almost certain that Paul went to Corinth, the capital of Achaia. Romans was written at Corinth. After Paul was in Corinth Paul set out for Jerusalem where he arrested and became a prisoner. He remained a prisoner for two years. That’s Acts 24:27. Then after those 2 years he was sent to Rome about 60 AD. Allowing all of the time for traveling and his 2 year imprisonment, it must have been about three years after he finished Romans until the time when he actually reached Rome. Taken all together this means the Epistle to the Romans must have been written about 57 AD. VK: How do we know Paul wrote the epistle to the Romans while he was in Corinth? RD: The Epistle to the Romans mentions, Phoebe, a member of the church at Cenchrea. Cenchrea was the port of the city of Corinth, about seven or eight miles from the Corinth. Paul commends Phoebe to the Roman Christians. Phoebe probably carried the letter. Remember in Romans Paul sends his greetings to Aquila and Priscilla, two people he knew very well. Paul could easily have told Phoebe that when she went to Rome to seek out Aquila and Priscilla and give them the letter. At a minimum Phoebe accompanied those who had the letter. Furthermore, in Romans 16:23, Gaius is spoken of as the host of Paul. Gaius lived in Corinth and Paul had baptized him. Erastus is also mentioned as the chamberlain of the city where the Epistle to the Romans was written. And in 2 Timothy Erastus is mentioned as having his home at Corinth. Put all this together and there is strong evidence that Romans was written at Corinth about the year 57 AD. VK: And at that time Rome was pretty much at the peak of its power. So Paul wrote the most complete description of the doctrines and principles of the Christian faith to a church located in the most important city in the Roman Empire. And, of course, the Roman Empire was where God began the distribution of the gospel. Later and throughout history, including today, the gospel has spread far beyond the boundaries of the old Roman Empire but God chose to begin the gospel’s spread within the Roman Empire. So, at the time Paul wrote Romans we can be very sure he knew he was writing an important letter to the church located in the most important city of his time. All that fits together very well. Paul knew his letters would circulate beyond his initial recipient or audience. And he knew people from all over the empire would travel to and through Rome. So, it was simply good common sense for him to ensure that the epistle, the letter, he wrote to the church in Rome was a thorough discussion of the foundations of the Christian faith. But we don’t really know what prompted Paul to write the letter, do we? RD: No. Paul does not give us the specifics of his initial impulse. But I think we can use what Dr. John Gerstner used to call our “sanctified imagination” and come up with a plausible scenario. VK: Well, you are a fiction writer. RD: I am. So, in my imaginative world here is at least one possible scenario. We know from Acts, chapter 18 that after Paul had met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth they all travelled to Ephesus together. That made sense. They were all tent makers and in addition to their ministry needs they may have been looking for a good place for Aquila and Priscilla to re-establish their business. Ephesus was one of the primary business centers within the Roman Empire and it was the primary business center for what the Romans called Asia. We know from Acts 18:19 that Paul left them in Ephesus when he went back to Israel to conclude what is called his second missionary journey. Well, sometime after Paul left them Aquila in Ephesus they returned to Rome. Likely after Claudius was no longer emperor (he died in October 54 AD) things calmed down in Rome enough for them to return. VK: And having spent a year or two with Paul they were now well trained in the Christian faith. So much so, that in Acts 18:24 through 27 we hear, “Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor a and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. … When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” That’s the New International Version. RD: Right. So, after Aquila and Priscilla returned to Rome naturally they would have found other believers and joined a church. Well, sometime later they probably learned that Paul was on his 3rd missionary journey and was going to be in Corinth. So, it’s entirely possible they asked him if he could come to Rome. Corinth is a relatively short boat ride away from Rome so from a travel standpoint that would make sense. VK: And Paul wanted to go to Rome but right then he couldn’t. In Acts, chapter 18, verses 23 through 26 we hear “I have been longing for many years to visit you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.” RD: Exactly. So, Paul couldn’t go to Rome at that point. So, he did the next best thing. He sat down and wrote a comprehensive letter to the church where his good friends and former ministry partners were located. And Paul had a reliable person he could trust with the letter: Phoebe. VK: And Phoebe lived in a port city so she may very well have travelled frequently, even to Rome. She may have had her own business since in Romans, chapter 16, verses 1 and 2 Paul says, “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you…” RD: Right. The point is when you look at the details of the people, the places, the larger political and cultural setting, Paul’s writing the letter he did to the church in Rome makes perfect sense. VK: Sometimes I think people may think that when the Bible writers were inspired to write the books that are in Bible they get the impression that the writer heard a voice from the clouds, had a bright light shined on them, and heard the command “Write.” God sometimes deals with people that way, but more often God does his work through ordinary people using ordinary means. RD: Right. The letter to the church in Rome was a real letter written by a real man to real people – people just like us. Next time we’re going to expand on this theme a bit more but for today we want people to realize that, like all of the Bible, Paul’s letter are perfectly consistent with what we know about the larger context in which they were written. VK: This sounds like a great time for a prayer. Today, let’s listen to a prayer for the missionaries of our time – the people that today carry the gospel to the farthest corners of the world just as the Apostle Paul carried it to corners of the world he knew. ---- PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES VK: Before we close we’d like to remind our audience that a lot of our radio episodes are linked together in series of topics so if they missed any episodes in this series or if they just want to hear one again, all of these episodes are available on your favorite podcast app. To find them just search on “Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books.” If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not perfect but our Boss is!” (Opening Bible Quote from the Contemporary English Version) Romans, chapter 1, verses 1 and 7, Contemporary English Version Romans 1 Barnes' Notes (biblehub.com)

Starting with Augustus's Mausoleum from 28 BC, to the Ponte Fabricio from 62 BC, to Teatro Marcello finished in 13 BC makes you think twice about all that has taken place since. Walking across the Tiber River in 2021, on a bridge that was built 2083 years beforehand is not something you get to do every day. Several buildings, theaters, porticos and even the bridge that crosses the Tiber, are from the 1st century BC. It's almost impossible to remember the dates and history of these sites as you are standing on them, or walking over them, but one thing is for sure, you will always remember that you did. Rome is a very special city for so many reasons, but in my opinion, the fact that all of these historical sites are still there, and so well maintained (considering the amount of people from around the world who descend upon Rome year after year) is a testament to the Italian people. They respect their history and their pride is clearly evident. I am Kimberly Holcombe and I am a travel planner and lover of all things Italian. I lived in Italy for six years as a fashion photographer, and fell head over heels for the people and the culture. I plan private trips to anywhere in Italy for individuals, couples, families and small groups of friends. https://instagram.com/kimberlysitaly?utm_medium=copy_link (Instagram) https://www.kimberlysitaly.com (Website) https://www.facebook.com/ItalianTripsbyKimberly (Facebook )

In Roman mythology, the twin brothers Romulus and Remus created the city of Rome. The killing of Remus by his twin, along with other tales from their story, have inspired artists throughout the ages. Since ancient times, the image of a she-wolf suckling the twins has been a symbol of the city of Rome and the ancient Romans. The story of the twin brothers is believed to have been told before the founding of Rome. This is because the earliest written account of the myth dates back to the 3rd century BC.The pair were the children of Mars and Rhea, and their story is often told by authors such as Virgil wherein they were born in order to create Rome. Modern scholarship approaches the stories of Romulus and Remus, with the retelling being based on the various versions presented by Roman historians. Other narratives suggest that these are popular or folkloric traditions, while some remain inscrutable in their meanings.They were often described by poets and painters to be well built, tall and had the classic physical features of the classical Mediterranean man. They had dark curly hair and physically dominant in stature.They are descendants of Aeneas, who were responsible for discovering Italy. Romulus and Remus were related to Aeneas through Numitor, who was the king of Alba Longa and their mother's father. Before they were conceived, his reign was usurped by Amulius, who was the brother of Mars.Amulius inherited the treasury of Alba Longa from Numitor. He wanted to avoid a conflict of power, so he killed the male heirs of Numitor and forced Rhea to become a Vestal Virgin. Vestal Virgins were priestesses of Vesta, patron goddess of the hearth; they were charged with keeping a sacred fire that was never to be extinguished and to take vows of chastity.Some legends suggest that Mars appeared and laid with Rhea, while others suggest that Hercules was her partner. It is also possible that she was raped by an unknown man, and that she gave birth to her sons. It was custom for a Vestal Virgin to be condemned to death if she betrayed her vows, however, since Amulius feared the wrath of Hercules or Mars, he did not want to stain his hands with the blood of her children.Amulius ordered the execution of the twin brothers by throwing them into the Tiber River. He believed that since they would die without being killed by the sword, they would be spared from punishment by the gods. He ordered a servant to carry out the death sentence, but in every scenario of this myth, the servant takes pity on the twins and spares their lives. The servant, then, places the twins into a basket onto the River Tiber, and the river carries the boys to safety.Being characters that were exclusive to the Roman mythology and among the few characters that were not influenced by the Greeks, they do not have any alternate names.  The city of Rome was named after the victorious brother Romulus who fought with his brother over the location of the new city.The twins were not blessed with any powers or super human capabilities. They however had established themselves as leaders with the command over the people within their armies.The story of Romulus and Remus have been told and retold from various perspectives in modern cinema, television and have inspired numerous books and novels. There have been claims that the biblical story of Cain and Able was heavily inspired by the legend of Romulus and Remus.Read about them at https://mythlok.com/romulus-remus/

People have a long history of trying to control water, like when the Roman emperor Plumpus Crackus built the Cloaca Maxima (only one of those names is made up) to transfer sewage into the Tiber River. From irrigating fields to building canals to damming waterways to bringing water into our buildings, we've engineered more and more complex ways to tame water. And in so doing, we've changed the environment, both aquatic and terrestrial, and we've changed the course of human history. What we do with water matters even more in the era of global warming. Can we learn to treat this most precious of resources in a way that achieves sustainability? Beware of severe pun overshoot in this episode.Support the show (https://www.postcarbon.org/supportcrazytown/)

After a meteor impacts near the Tiber River in Italy, a strange substance within it would forever change the planet and all of Humanity.  We delve into the first conflict between the GDI and the Brotherhood of Nod and explore the European Theater of the war. Join us as we Lore Together. We're proudly part of the Boss Rush Games Network! Check them out, and the rest of the podcasts over at bossrushgames.com Music: "Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy is Now Open! 8am-9am PT/ 11am-Noon ET for our especially special Daily Specials; River City Hash Mondays!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, in a Senate subcommittee hearing, multiple Senators compared Facebook to “Big Tobacco.”Then, on the rest of the menu, tens of thousands of women marched in over six hundred sixty towns and cities across the country against the Texas anti abortion law; the mayor of Huntington Beach, California called the large oil spill there an “environmental catastrophe;” and, the Fed vice chair traded out of bond funds and into stocks on the eve of the Powell Pandemic Statement.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where Polish police confiscated the computer equipment of a journalist who has investigated the country's right-wing government; and, fire destroyed part of the historic “Iron Bridge” spanning the Tiber River in Rome.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"I was never a spy. I was with the OSS organization. We had a number of women, but we were all office help." -- Julia Child~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Show Notes & Links: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/10/4/2055943/-West-Coast-Cookbook-amp-Speakeasy-Daily-Special-River-City-Hash-Mondays

Beginning in the eighth century B.C., Ancient Rome grew from a small town on central Italy's Tiber River into an empire that at its peak encompassed most of continental Europe, Britain, much of western Asia, northern Africa and the Mediterranean islands. After 450 years as a republic, Rome became an empire in the wake of Julius Caesar's rise and fall in the first century B.C. The long and triumphant reign of its first emperor, Augustus, began a golden age of peace and prosperity; by contrast, the Roman Empire's decline and fall by the fifth century A.D. was one of the most dramatic implosions in the history of human civilization. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/alastair-ross/message

Florence, it takes less then 3 hours to reach Florence by train from Rome and Florence is a small walkable town, so you don't need transportation to get around, however, you can still take a taxi when you get tired. Anyway, Florence is small, but to make the best out of your visit, it's advisable to hire a guide. Your guide would meet you at the train station, which is in the center of the city, ant take you on 3-hour tour covering the city's major highlights. Of course, you can extend your time with the guide to include a large museum in your tour, like the Uffizi or Pitti Palace. Pompeii and Amalfi Coast, for a small group with less than 3 people, it is convenient to take a train from Rome to Naples and, once there meet a driver/guide for the tour along the beautiful, world famous, coast. For larger groups, going on this day trip with a driver-guide starting from Rome is more convenient than doing part of the trip by train. First because you don't have to worry about finding your way to the train station and all that, and also because the cost of the train tickets added the fare for the driver-guide for the tour along the coast from Naples, for a group of 4 people, equals the cost of the driver-guide for the day. I need to bring to your attention that, though the driver-guide may be well experienced and speaking good English, he cannot take you on a tour inside the excavations of Pompeii, you'll need to hire a local guide for this.  Orvieto and Assisi, it's not possible to do this by train in a day, this is something you need to hire a driver/guide for. The drive to Orvieto takes less than 1.5 hours and, once there, you can enjoy visiting the Cathedral which is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy and strolling around this beautiful, quaint, small town. After a quick lunch break, you get back in the minivan and head for Assisi taking the scenic route along the course of the Tiber River. If time allows it, you can stop briefly in Todi on the way. Once in Assisi, you'll visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and that of St. Francis. Your driver-guide, though well experienced and speaking good English, cannot take you on a tour inside the basilicas, you'll need to hire a local guide for this. https://mybesttour.com/tour/car-tour/#daytrips (https://mybesttour.com/tour/car-tour/#daytrips)  In addition to the possible destinations mentioned in the answers to Question 6 (Day 3), Tivoli, Castelgandolfo and Ostia Antica, which can be combined into a full day excursion, hereunder we list several other places 1 or 2 hours away from Rome:  Tivoli, Villa D'Este and Hadrian's Villa. Besides Villa D'Este, there's also another place to visit in Tivoli and that's Hadrian's Villa. The tour of Villa D'Este takes about an hour and a half, the tour of Hadrian's Villa takes just as long, and the two are a few kilometers apart. Therefore, it's almost impossible to visit both places in a half-day, but in 6 hours you can do it and you also have time for some lunch between the two visits.   The Catacombs an Castelgandolfo. This is another 6-hour tour covering the Catacombs which are in Rome, but far from the center, and Castelgandolfo which is about 30 minutes away from the city. Castelgandolfo is a lovely small town on top of the rim of volcanic lake and it's been the popes' summer residence since the 17th century. The area is called the Alban Hills or Roman Castles and it's always been renowned for the good food and wines, so it wouldn't be bad idea to have lunch in one of the many good restaurants in the area. Wine lovers can walk around the town's wine shops and sample the local wines. https://mybesttour.com/tour/car-tour/#6hour (https://mybesttour.com/tour/car-tour/#6hour) The Park of Monsters and Tarot Garden. The Park of Monsters is a sort of private amusement park built in the 16th century in the lovely region of Umbria and it takes about an hour and a half to reach it from...

Episode Overview: In the 12 century B.C., after the ancient city of Troy fell following the Greek's cunning trick with the Trojan Horse, a number of Trojans escaped with a fleet of ships. After years of wandering in search of a new home, the Trojans endured a particularly treacherous episode of violent weather and rough waves in the Mediterranean, a storm which nearly destroyed their fleet. When they finally landed on the banks of the Tiber River to take shelter, the women soon decided that they had had enough of the aimless wandering. The men, however, were intent on returning to the ships and continuing with their mission as soon as the storm passed. According to Virgil, what the women did next altered the course of Western history. Listen to this episode of Classic Influence now and discover how a crafty and courageous use of leverage won the day for the women and changed the future of ancient Rome. This episode also reveals some of the most useful ways of thinking about leverage, how leverage can heighten your odds of success, and a handful of simple, easy-to-implement examples of leverage that you can adapt to your own goals in support of your own effort and will to succeed.

Columns, thorns, and superscriptions, oh my! This episode is a deep-dive--not into the Tiber River but rather the almost 2000 year history of the Ponte Sant'Angelo in Rome, Italy. It includes background on the bridge's ancient past, a little dip into the biography of Gianlorenzo Bernini, and even an excursus on the bridge's appearance in cinematic masterpieces (ahem...)such as Angels & Demons. Come for the angels, stay in spite of my professed desire to become enmeshed in a murder-mystery situation.

Where did Valentine's Day Come From?The history of Valentine’s Day—and the story of its patron saint—is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient riteThe Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Still others insist that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded by Claudius II outside RomeOther stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl—possibly his jailor’s daughter—who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and—most importantly—romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France. While some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial—which probably occurred around A.D. 270—others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. (Lupercalia was an ancient pagan festival held each year in Rome on February 15. Although Valentine’s Day shares its name with a martyred Christian saint, some historians believe the holiday is actually an offshoot of Lupercalia. Unlike Valentine’s Day, however, Lupercalia was a bloody, violent and sexually-charged celebration awash with animal sacrifice, random matchmaking and coupling in the hopes of warding off evil spirits and infertility.) (No one knows the exact origin of Lupercalia, but it has been traced back as far as the 6th century B.C.According to Roman legend, the ancient King Amulius ordered Romulus and Remus—his twin nephews and founders of Rome—to be thrown into the Tiber River to drown in retribution for their mother’s broken vow of celibacy. A servant took pity on them, however, and placed them inside a basket on the river instead. The river-god carried the basket and the brothers downriver to a wild fig tree where it became caught in the branches.

This week I give my guests a week off, as I open up to you about how I came to the Catholic Faith from my Cradle Catholic Years, till my Protestant years until I finally crossed the Tiber River back home to Sweet Rome. I will take you through the journey and I will also lay out my observation of the Church toady and into the future. Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Weekly Podcast Alert below: www.thecatholictoolboxshow.com

Ep. 123: Lisa Bielawa, composer and vocalist. Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan. In this podcast Bielawa talks about a recent project called Broadcast from Home, work with Philip Glass, time at Yale, various major projects and much more. Composer, producer, and vocalist Lisa Bielawa is a Rome Prize winner in Musical Composition and takes inspiration for her work from literary sources and close artistic collaborations. Her music has been described as “ruminative, pointillistic and harmonically slightly tart,” by The New York Times. She is the recipient of the 2017 Music Award from the American Academy of Arts & Letters and was named a William Randolph Hearst Visiting Artist Fellow at the American Antiquarian Society for 2018.  Bielawa consistently executes work that incorporates community-making as part of her artistic vision. She has created music for public spaces in Lower Manhattan, the banks of the Tiber River in Rome, on the sites of former airfields in Berlin in San Francisco, and to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Her music has recently been premiered at the NY PHIL BIENNIAL, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, SHIFT Festival, and Naumburg Orchestral Concerts, among others. She will have her second residency as a performer/composer at John Zorn’s venue The Stone in March 2020. Orchestras that have championed her music include the The Knights, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, American Composers Orchestra, and the Orlando Philharmonic. Premieres of her work have been commissioned and presented by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Rider, Seattle Chamber Music Society, American Guild of Organists, and more.  Bielawa began touring as the vocalist with the Philip Glass Ensemble in 1992 and in 2019 she became the inaugural Composer-in-Residence and Chief Curator of the Philip Glass Institute at The New School. In 1997 Bielawa cofounded the MATA Festival, which celebrates the work of young composers, and for five years she was the artistic director of the San Francisco Girls Chorus.  She received a 2018 Los Angeles Area Emmy nomination for her unprecedented, made-for-TV-and-online opera Vireo: The Spiritual Biography of a Witch's Accuser, created with librettist Erik Ehn and director Charles Otte. Vireowas filmed in twelve parts in locations across the country and features over 350 musicians. Vireo was released on CD/DVD in 2019 (Orange Mountain Music) and she is also recorded on the Tzadik, TROY, Innova, BMOP/sound, Supertrain Records, Sono Luminus, and Cedille labels. For more information about Lisa Bielawa please visit: www.lisabielawa.net © Let's Talk Off The Podium, 2020

Great NT Profiles Part 15Homework Tips Checklist for ParentsPONTIUS PILATERelated Scriptures:• Luke 13:1-5; Matthew 27:1-28; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:42; Acts 3:13-15; 4:27-31; 13:28-33; 1 Timothy 6:13-16• Pontius Pilate was the fifth governor (prefect) of the Roman province of Judea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 CE. It is believed he hailed from the Samnium region of central Italy.• Pilate appears in the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus and the• Jewish philosopher Philo.• In the New Testament, he is at best opportunistic, culturally insensitive, and often cruel.Governorship• Jesus was crucified during Pilate’s governorship, which lasted from 26 to 36 C.E.• Pilate was appointed by Tiberius himself known for anti-Jewish sentiments.• Pilate was known for his lack of respect for the Jewish population and cruelty (Luke 13:1-5)Clash with the Jewish Population• Pilate is known to have treated Jewish customs with contempt.• Almost immediately upon his arrival in Palestine in A.D. 26, he was at odds with the Jews.• There are three major clashes.Clash 1• His first act of provocation was the introduction into Jerusalem of Roman standards with embossed figures of the emperor.• Previous prefects had been careful not to offend Jewish religious views by not allowing any sign of emperor worship when the troops entered Jerusalem.• This act aroused great indignation and as a result the Jews sent a delegation to Caesarea who pled for five days for the removal of the standards.Clash 2• Pilate seized funds from the national treasury known as the Corbonas in order to construct an aqueduct.• Later when Pilate visited Jerusalem, the Jews met him with anger.• He orders his soldiers to mingle among the crowd dressed as civilians with hidden clubs.• On a prearranged signal, they drew their clubs and began to beat the protestors, killing many.Clash 3• In AD 36 a Samaritan false prophet promised his followers that he would show them the sacred vessels, which, according to tradition, Moses had buried on Mount Gerazim.• Many believed him and gathered with arms at the foot of the mountain. Pilate blocked the projected route with heavily armed infantry.• Some of the followers were killed in battle, others imprisoned, and others executed.Dismissal• The Samaritans complained to Vitellius, prefect of Syria, who shortly afterwards sent Marcellus to take temporary charge of Judea, ordering Pilate to report to Tiberius.The Gospel PortraitAll four Gospels portray him as a vacillating judge.The Trial of Jesus• The Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate early on Friday morning of the passion week (Matt. 27:1-2, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38).Barabbas• All four Gospels show an interest in the release of Barabbas.Only in Matthew• Only in Matthew does Pilate wash his hands to symbolize his innocence (27:24)• Only in Matthew do “all the people” cry, “His blood be on our heads and on the heads of our children” (27:25)Only in Luke• Only in Luke does Pilate declare Jesus “innocent”. Luke emphasizes it three times.• Pilate (23:4)• Herod Antipas (23:11)• Roman centurion (23:47)Only in John• John’s account shows Pilate desperate to release Jesus. (John 18:31).• Pilate finally gave in to the pressure of the Jewish leaders when they threatened him with the accusation of not being a friend of Caesar (John 19:12).Questions of History• Pilate seems to disappear from history after his rule.• According to Josephus and the Roman historian Tacitus, Pilate was removed from office and sent back to Rome.• According to some traditions he was executed by Emperor Caligula or committed suicide, with his body thrown into the Tiber River.• The early church father Tertullian claimed he became a follower of Jesus and tried to convert the emperor to Christianity.

Peter and Paul are often depicted together in iconography in a circle, embracing one another in a brotherly hug with expressions of affection. In contrast, images of Romulus and Remus, the mythological twins, are usually facing away from each other. According to legend, Romulus and Remus, after whom the city of Rome was named, were abandoned at birth and cast into the Tiber River. When they grew up, the twins embarked on a quest to found their own city. Romulus and Remus disagreed about which hill to build their city on. Eventually, Romulus just started digging a ditch around the Palatine Hill and building a wall. Remus mocked his brother’s work, and in a fit of anger Romulus killed him; Rome and her empire were founded on fratricide. Now contrast this with the re-founding of Rome through the spread of Christianity by Sts. Peter and Paul. If anyone had a cause for strife and division, it was these two. Paul was the chief persecutor of the early Christians led by Peter. These two, at first, had little in common. It took divine action to make these enemies into brothers. Peter and Paul were ultimately bound together in a bond stronger than blood: the love of Christ. Subscribe to Daily Mental Prayer by Email Support and Donate Shop my Catholic Art --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shalonecason1/message

In this episode, Michelle Lalonde, president and chief officer of growth and happiness at Tiber River, speaks with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about how her company experienced a drastic increase in its direct sales division and adapted a new direct sales model that has been thriving during the pandemic. So much so, that they plan on using that same approach when entering the U.S. market in late 2020/early 2021. Tiber River formulates and manufactures an eco-friendly line of personal care products. The company has two retail spa locations in Winnipeg, which were recently rebranded as coteries. With over 1,800 ambassadors across the country, the company was identified as one of Canada's fastest growing companies on the 2019 Growth 500 list. 

Alexander Tschugguel – the young Austrian man who threw the Pacha idols into the Tiber River talks to Dr. Taylor Marshall about having contracting the Corona Virus, being hospitalized, and then about his recovery. Follow and learn more about Alexander Tschugguel’s work at St Boniface Institute: http://www.boniface-institute.com/ Support at St Boniface Institute Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bonifaceinsti… Watch this new podcast episode by clicking here: Or listen to the audio mp3 here: If you’d like to order a copy of Taylor’s new book Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, you can order it in Hardback, Kindle, or Audiobook. Check out Patreon Patron Benefits for Donating to Dr Taylor Marshall’s Show! All these video discussions are free. Do you want to recommend a show, get signed books, and show support? Here's how: click on Patreon Patron link: Become a Patron of this Podcast: I am hoping to produce more free weekly podcast Videos. Please help me launch these videos by working with me on Patreon to produce more free content. In gratitude, I'll send you some signed books or even stream a theology event for you and your friends. Please become one of my patrons and check out the various tier benefits at: https://www.patreon.com/drtaylormarshall If the audio player does not show up in your email or browser, please click here to listen. If you find this podcast episode helpful, please share this podcast on Facebook. Get more from the Taylor Marshall Show: * Read Taylor Marshall’s historical fiction Sword and Serpent Trilogy. * Download the Study Guide at: http://swordandserpent.com * Take classed with Dr Marshall at the New Saint Thomas Institute. Please visit newsaintthomas.com for more details. Please Share Your Feedback for Taylor Marshall Show: * I'd love to read your feedback: While you listen to today's podcast, would you please take 30 seconds to write a review? Please click here to Rate this Podcast! * iTunes: 3,549,958 downloads * Youtube: 10,311,915 downloads * SHOUT OUTS: A huge “shout out” to all 1,692 of you who wrote amazing 5-star reviews at iTunes. Please rate this podcast by 

Alexander Tschugguel – the young Austrian man who threw the Pacha idols into the Tiber River talks to Dr. Taylor Marshall about having contracting the Corona Virus, being hospitalized, and then about his recovery. Follow and learn more about Alexander Tschugguel’s work at St Boniface Institute: http://www.boniface-institute.com/ Support at St Boniface Institute Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bonifaceinsti… Watch […] The post 387: He Had Corona Virus and Recovered: Alexander Tschugguel talks to Dr. Taylor Marshall [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Do you enjoy this show? Want more premium content delivered to you weekly? Would you like to be part of a supportive community of catholics around the world? Learn about Coffin Nation here: www.coffinnation.com ************************************************************* Two months ago, Alexander Tschugguel (chu-goo-gle) was almost a complete unknown, apart from pro-life activism in his native Vienna, Austria. All that changed when he released the video his removal of five Pachamama idols that sat at the side altar of the church of Santa Maria of Transpontina in Rome marching them on the ancient Ponte Sant'Angelo over the Tiber River and knocked them, one by one, into the drink.   For rest of show notes go to: www.patrickcoffin.media/show Facebook: @patrickcoffin.media Twitter: @patrick_coffin

Today we do our first LIVE episode where we talk about buckets of poop, a conspiracy involving the Pope, and then we hunt the dreaded Bagman! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/user?u=18482113   MERCH STORE!!! https://www.redbubble.com/people/deadrabbitradio/works/35749420-dead-rabbit-radio?asc=u   Help Promote Dead Rabbit! Dual Flyer https://i.imgur.com/OhuoI2v.jpg "As Above" Flyer  https://i.imgur.com/yobMtUp.jpg   'Absolutely disgusting': Toronto police search for suspect in a string of attacks with 'liquefied fecal matter' https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/11/26/toronto-police-man-liquefied-fecal-matter-assaults/4314711002/   Man, 23, arrested in alleged feces-throwing incidents https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/11/26/another-person-assaulted-with-fecal-matter-monday-night-near-u-of-t.html   Police seeking assistance in two separate investigations into assaults, John P. Robarts Research Library, University of Toronto, and College Street and University Avenue area http://torontopolice.on.ca/newsreleases/45953   Man wanted in Assault investigation, Scott Library - York University http://torontopolice.on.ca/newsreleases/45954   Four Exorcists Urge Day of Fasting, Prayer and Reparation Dec. 6 http://www.ncregister.com/blog/breedail/four-exorcists-urge-day-of-fasting-prayer-and-reparation-dec.-6   “Pachamama” has become the new Catholic insider “Who am I to judge?” https://cruxnow.com/amazon-synod/2019/10/pachamama-has-become-the-new-catholic-insider-who-am-i-to-judge/   The Pachamama Pope https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/the-pachamama-pope/   Amazon Synod: Ecological ritual performed in Vatican gardens for pope’s tree planting ceremony https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/indigenous-ritual-performed-in-vatican-gardens-for-popes-tree-planting-ceremony-60523   Pope Francis apologizes that Amazon synod 'Pachamama' was thrown into Tiber River https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/10/25/pope-francis-apologises-that-amazon-synod-pachamama-was-thrown-into-tiber-river/   Were ‘Pachamama’ statues absent from Amazon Synod’s closing Mass after bishops’ resistance? https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/were-pachamama-statues-absent-from-amazon-synods-closing-mass-after-bishops-backlash   100 priests, lay scholars call Pope Francis to repent for Pachamama idolatry at Amazon Synod https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/nearly-100-priests-lay-scholars-call-pope-francis-to-repent-for-pachamama-idolatry-at-amazon-synod   Catholic prof defends initiative calling Pope Francis to repent for Pachamama idolatry https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/prof-defends-initiative-calling-pope-to-repent-for-pachamama-idolatry   Pachamama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachamama   2019 Bolivian political crisis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Bolivian_political_crisis#Jeanine_%C3%81%C3%B1ez_presidency   Sack Man https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_Man   Zwarte Piet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet   Crime of Gádor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_of_G%C3%A1dor     Listen to the daily podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts!   ------------------------------------------------ Logo Art By Ash Black   "As Above" Art By Grant Scott   Dead Rabbit Skull By John from the SCAR Group   Halloween Monster By Finn   Opening Song: "Atlantis Attacks" Closing Song: "Bella Royale" Music By Dr. Huxxxtable Rabbitron 3000 created by Eerbud Thanks to Chris K, Founder Of The Golden Rabbit Brigade   http://www.DeadRabbit.com Email: DeadRabbitRadio@gmail.com Twitter: @DeadRabbitRadio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DeadRabbitRadio   Paranormal, Conspiracy, and True Crime news as it happens! Jason Carpenter breaks the stories they'll be talking about tomorrow, assuming the world doesn't end today.   All Contents Of This Podcast Copyright Jason Carpenter 2018 - 2019

A replay of LIVE Q&A with Alexander Tschugguel who threw the Pachamama Idols into Tiber River in Rome. Taylor and Alexander will Catholic Livestream together from his house. Bring your questions for a casual sit down Q&A for one hour. We took questions from the LiveStream. Watch this new podcast episode by clicking here: Or listen to the audio mp3 here: If you’d like to order a copy of Taylor’s new book Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, you can order it in Hardback, Kindle, or Audiobook. Check out Patreon Patron Benefits for Donating to Dr Taylor Marshall’s Show! All these video discussions are free. Do you want to recommend a show, get signed books, and show support? Here's how: click on Patreon Patron link: Become a Patron of this Podcast: I am hoping to produce more free weekly podcast Videos. Please help me launch these videos by working with me on Patreon to produce more free content. In gratitude, I'll send you some signed books or even stream a theology event for you and your friends. Please become one of my patrons and check out the various tier benefits at: https://www.patreon.com/drtaylormarshall If the audio player does not show up in your email or browser, please click here to listen. If you find this podcast episode helpful, please share this podcast on Facebook. Get more from the Taylor Marshall Show: * Read Taylor Marshall’s historical fiction Sword and Serpent Trilogy. * Download the Study Guide at: http://swordandserpent.com * Take classed with Dr Marshall at the New Saint Thomas Institute. Please visit newsaintthomas.com for more details. Please Share Your Feedback for Taylor Marshall Show: * I'd love to read your feedback: While you listen to today's podcast, would you please take 30 seconds to write a review? Please click here to Rate this Podcast! * iTunes: 3,549,958 downloads * Youtube: 10,311,915 downloads * SHOUT OUTS: A huge “shout out” to all 1,692 of you who wrote amazing 5-star reviews at iTunes. Please rate this podcast by clicking here. From there you can leave a review. I appreciate you for this! Thank you! How to Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Youtube: Apple/Mac Users: Please subscribe via iTunes by clicking here and then clicking on “View in iTunes.” Android Users: For listening to The Taylor Marshall Show on Android devices (free) using: * Android Stitcher app. * Android Beyond Pod app from th...

A replay of LIVE Q&A with Alexander Tschugguel who threw the Pachamama Idols into Tiber River in Rome. Taylor and Alexander will Catholic Livestream together from his house. Bring your questions for a casual sit down Q&A for one hour. We took questions from the LiveStream. Watch this new podcast episode by clicking here: Or […] The post 336: LIVE Q&A with Dr Marshall & Alexander (the Idol Dunker) Tschugguel appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/SUvVyXB50qo Alexander Tschugguel, a brave 26-year-old Catholic from Austria and convert to the Catholic Faith, granted TFP Student Action an exclusive interview about his decision to throw five pagan Pachamama idols into the Tiber River on the morning of Oct. 21, 2019. To the dismay of the faithful, the pagan indigenous idols were used during Vatican ceremonies surrounding the Pan-Amazonian Synod in Rome. Mr. Tschugguel’s prayerful action to remove the idols from the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina attracted worldwide attention, including the praise of numerous Catholic prelates. Download the show audio: https://tfpsa.podbean.com/ Interview topics:Amazon Synod (min 0:38)Paganism vs. Catholicism (min 2:44)Paganism put on the same level as Christianity (min 05:34)Mr. Tschugguel's decision to expel the Pachamamas (min 10:43)Expelling the Pachamama idols (min 17:13)The good reaction of the Catholic faithful (min 21:20)Lining up the Pachamamas and kicking them into the Tiber (min 26:33)Done under the patronage of St. Michael (min 28:01)Faithful Catholics need not fear (min 29:16)   Site: https://www.tfpstudentaction.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tfpstudentaction/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TFPStudentActionTwitter: https://twitter.com/tfpsa  

Please meet Alexander Tschugguel, one of the men who removed the idols from the Church of St Maria Traspontina and threw them into the Tiber River. This is his first interview and Alexander explains why he did it, who he is, and the crisis in the Catholic Church facing Austria and Europe. Please pray for […] The post 327: He Threw the Pachamama Idols into Tiber River: Dr Taylor Interviews Alexander Tschugguel [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Ellen analyzes two concurrent events of the past week: the throwing of the “Pachamama" statues into the Tiber River in Rome, and the trial of the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 in Brunswick, Georgia. What do these two events have in common? How are they different? And why are most Catholics likely to be interested in (or informed about) only one or the other?0:00 Background of the two events4:21 Similarities25:44 Differences45:08 A few thought experiments---the demonic---Maccabees---theft---occasions of sin52:30 Saint Boniface57:33 Saint Martin of Tours1:03:07 Tertullian's "On Idols"1:08:54 Extortion, Modernism, SalvationFind us at: www.catholicsagainstmilitarism.comPodcast/RSS feed: http://www.buzzsprout.com/296171Also mentioned on the podcast: Kings Bay Plowshares 7www.kingsbayplowshares7.org"Pachamama" videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoB_gjuZgf8&t=2sThe Catholic Peace Tradition by Ronald Mustohttps://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Peace-Tradition-Ronald-Musto/dp/0934977135The Doomsday Machine by Daniel Ellsberghttps://www.amazon.com/The-Doomsday-Machine/dp/B077NPHRKR/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+doomsday+machine&qid=1572365645&s=books&sr=1-1"On Idols," by Tertullianhttp://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0302.htm

Editors JD Flynn and Ed Condon, fresh from the Amazon Synod in Rome, discuss and dissect the week’s news. Topic this week include the Amazon Synod wrap-up; married priests; statues thrown in the Tiber River; journalism at the Synod; and much more. This week’s game comes courtesy of Twitter fan of the show Jonathan Sullivan, who at JD’s request created a brand-new game called "One of These Catholic Things is Not Like the Others." Shownotes: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-changes-name-of-secret-archive-to-vatican-apostolic-archive-53379 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/analysis-why-pachamama-took-a-dip-23186 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/amazon-synod-document-calls-for-married-priests-and-increased-roll-for-women-20862

Recently during the Amazonian Synod, 5 statues of the the Pachamama idol, the earth mother goddess, revered by the Amazonian people, were placed in a Chapel of the Carmelite Church of Santa Maria in Transportina, Rome. On October 21, these statues were taken and thrown into the Tiber River. This action was received with great joy by many Catholics, and statements of condemnation from the Vatican and Pope Francis. What are we to make of this event? How about us? Do we have any Pachamamas in our lives?   IN THIS EPISODE What is a Pachamama? Was it wrong for the men to take the Pachamama and throw them in the Tiber river? The danger of mixing indigenous religions with Catholicism. A case study of "mixing it up" in Haiti. What are the Pachamamas in our lives? EPISODE NOTES  Lifesmything is a podcast of beautysoancient.com

Taylor Marshall opens his hearts about his struggle with Pope Francis as Francis announces the retrieval of Pachamama Idols from Tiber River. He calls them “pachamama”. Watch this new podcast episode by clicking here: Or listen to the audio mp3 here: If you’d like to order a copy of Taylor’s new book Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, you can order it in Hardback, Kindle, or Audiobook. Check out Patreon Patron Benefits for Donating to Dr Taylor Marshall’s Show! All these video discussions are free. Do you want to recommend a show, get signed books, and show support? Here's how: click on Patreon Patron link: Become a Patron of this Podcast: I am hoping to produce more free weekly podcast Videos. Please help me launch these videos by working with me on Patreon to produce more free content. In gratitude, I'll send you some signed books or even stream a theology event for you and your friends. Please become one of my patrons and check out the various tier benefits at: https://www.patreon.com/drtaylormarshall If the audio player does not show up in your email or browser, please click here to listen. If you find this podcast episode helpful, please share this podcast on Facebook. Get more from the Taylor Marshall Show: * Read Taylor Marshall’s historical fiction Sword and Serpent Trilogy. * Download the Study Guide at: http://swordandserpent.com * Take classed with Dr Marshall at the New Saint Thomas Institute. Please visit newsaintthomas.com for more details. Please Share Your Feedback for Taylor Marshall Show: * I'd love to read your feedback: While you listen to today's podcast, would you please take 30 seconds to write a review? Please click here to Rate this Podcast! * iTunes: 3,133,950 downloads * Youtube: 10,311,915 downloads * SHOUT OUTS: A huge “shout out” to all 1,692 of you who wrote amazing 5-star reviews at iTunes. Please rate this podcast by clicking here. From there you can leave a review. I appreciate you for this! Thank you! How to Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Youtube: Apple/Mac Users: Please subscribe via iTunes by clicking here and then clicking on “View in iTunes.” Android Users: For listening to The Taylor Marshall Show on Android devices (free) using: * Android Stitcher app. * Android Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store. * Android Pock...

Taylor Marshall opens his hearts about his struggle with Pope Francis as Francis announces the retrieval of Pachamama Idols from Tiber River. He calls them “pachamama”. Watch this new podcast episode by clicking here: Or listen to the audio mp3 here: If you’d like to order a copy of Taylor’s new book Infiltration: The Plot […] The post 323: Pope Francis says Pachamamas Retrieved from Tiber River (Taylor Struggles and Reflects) [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The Pachamama idols were recently thrown into the Tiber River and some have criticized this response, which leads to the question: was it wrong? See the original video of a man throwing the Pachamama idols away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym48el2-tUs  

A Texas father is losing custody of his 7-year-old son James, who his mother insists is a trans girl named "Luna." Then, what being post-political means in a clown world gone crazy, and why Miley Cyrus is in trouble for saying "You don't have to be gay." And finally, several Pachamama idols that were in a Catholic church were thrown into the Tiber River. Some Catholics cheered this, others condemned it as "thievery," and many more wondered what they were doing in a church in the first place. Get your L. organic tampons, pads, and liners RIGHT NOW by going to visit www.ThisIsL.com/Lauren Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5) More criticism of President Trump for pulling troops out of Syria; 4) Republicans crash secret Democrat impeachment hearing; 3) Liberals condemn Trump for using the same word to describe impeachment that they used twenty years ago to describe Bill Clinton’s; 2) Catholics remove pagan statues from church in Rome, throw them in Tiber River; 1) A laser so powerful it could punch a hole in the fabric of the universe.

Today's Topics: Guest: Paul Clay baptized a dying friend in the hospital a few days ago who was in a coma 1) When may a lay person baptize https://catholicexchange.com/when-may-a-lay-person-perform-a-baptism 2) Lay people can always baptize https://canonlawmadeeasy.com/2016/07/07/laypeople-can-always-baptize/ "Canon 865 sec.2 “An adult in danger of death may be baptized if, with some knowledge of the principal truths of the faith, he or she has in some manner manifested the intention to receive baptism and promises to observe the requirements of the Christian religion." 2a) Diary of St Faustina 916 she baptized a Jew in the hospital without the person making any signs of faith. 3) Controversial Amazon Synod statues seized and thrown into the Tiber River https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-controversial-amazon-synod-statue-siezed-and-thrown-into-the-tiber-river-full-video

Is that Pachamama truly an “idol”? And did the act of throwing them in the Tiber River of Rome constitute the sin of theft? Both topics are discussed, as well as footage of the event and the recent Vatican Press Conference saying that the statues symbolize “fertility and Mother Earth.” Watch this new podcast episode by clicking here: Or listen to the audio mp3 here: If you’d like to order a copy of Taylor’s new book Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, you can order it in Hardback, Kindle, or Audiobook. Check out Patreon Patron Benefits for Donating to Dr Taylor Marshall’s Show! All these video discussions are free. Do you want to recommend a show, get signed books, and show support? Here's how: click on Patreon Patron link: Become a Patron of this Podcast: I am hoping to produce more free weekly podcast Videos. Please help me launch these videos by working with me on Patreon to produce more free content. In gratitude, I'll send you some signed books or even stream a theology event for you and your friends. Please become one of my patrons and check out the various tier benefits at: https://www.patreon.com/drtaylormarshall If the audio player does not show up in your email or browser, please click here to listen. If you find this podcast episode helpful, please share this podcast on Facebook. Get more from the Taylor Marshall Show: * Read Taylor Marshall’s historical fiction Sword and Serpent Trilogy. * Download the Study Guide at: http://swordandserpent.com * Take classed with Dr Marshall at the New Saint Thomas Institute. Please visit newsaintthomas.com for more details. Please Share Your Feedback for Taylor Marshall Show: * I'd love to read your feedback: While you listen to today's podcast, would you please take 30 seconds to write a review? Please click here to Rate this Podcast! * iTunes: 3,133,950 downloads * Youtube: 10,311,915 downloads * SHOUT OUTS: A huge “shout out” to all 1,692 of you who wrote amazing 5-star reviews at iTunes. Please rate this podcast by clicking here. From there you can leave a review. I appreciate you for this! Thank you! How to Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Youtube: Apple/Mac Users: Please subscribe via iTunes by clicking here and then clicking on “View in iTunes.” Android Users: For listening to The Taylor Marshall Show on Android devices (free) using: * Android Stitcher app. * Android Beyond P...

Is that Pachamama truly an “idol”? And did the act of throwing them in the Tiber River of Rome constitute the sin of theft? Both topics are discussed, as well as footage of the event and the recent Vatican Press Conference saying that the statues symbolize “fertility and Mother Earth.” Watch this new podcast episode […] The post 320: All things Pachamama – Is it an Idol? Was it Theft? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Dr Taylor Marshall explains how the Pachamama idols were thrown into the Tiber River and the history of Elijah, Saint Benedict, and Saint Boniface in destroying pagan idols. He also examines the history of the tomb of Romulus and its connection with the Church of St Maria Traspotina, which was polluted by these idols. Watch this new podcast episode by clicking here: Or listen to the audio mp3 here: If you’d like to order a copy of Taylor’s new book Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, you can order it in Hardback, Kindle, or Audiobook. Check out Patreon Patron Benefits for Donating to Dr Taylor Marshall’s Show! All these video discussions are free. Do you want to recommend a show, get signed books, and show support? Here's how: click on Patreon Patron link: Become a Patron of this Podcast: I am hoping to produce more free weekly podcast Videos. Please help me launch these videos by working with me on Patreon to produce more free content. In gratitude, I'll send you some signed books or even stream a theology event for you and your friends. Please become one of my patrons and check out the various tier benefits at: https://www.patreon.com/drtaylormarshall If the audio player does not show up in your email or browser, please click here to listen. If you find this podcast episode helpful, please share this podcast on Facebook. Get more from the Taylor Marshall Show: * Read Taylor Marshall’s historical fiction Sword and Serpent Trilogy. * Download the Study Guide at: http://swordandserpent.com * Take classed with Dr Marshall at the New Saint Thomas Institute. Please visit newsaintthomas.com for more details. Please Share Your Feedback for Taylor Marshall Show: * I'd love to read your feedback: While you listen to today's podcast, would you please take 30 seconds to write a review? Please click here to Rate this Podcast! * iTunes: 3,133,950 downloads * Youtube: 10,311,915 downloads * SHOUT OUTS: A huge “shout out” to all 1,692 of you who wrote amazing 5-star reviews at iTunes. Please rate this podcast by clicking here. From there you can leave a review. I appreciate you for this! Thank you! How to Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Youtube: Apple/Mac Users: Please subscribe via iTunes by clicking here and then clicking on “View in iTunes.” Android Users: For listening to The Taylor Marshall Show on Android devices (free) using: * Android Stitcher app. * Android 

Dr Taylor Marshall explains how the Pachamama idols were thrown into the Tiber River and the history of Elijah, Saint Benedict, and Saint Boniface in destroying pagan idols. He also examines the history of the tomb of Romulus and its connection with the Church of St Maria Traspotina, which was polluted by these idols. Watch […] The post 319: The Idols of Pachamama in Rome Are Destroyed and Cast Into the Tiber River [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

In this episode I am chatting with Allie DePaulo, who is a mover and a shaker and an incredible Network Marketing Leader with Tiber River a Canadian based company. Tune in to hear how Allie has built a business around customer service, and why she figures people are losing fortunes by not following up with their customers. We will share our own personal follow-up systems and why we think they are one of the keys to incredible customer service, which is a cornerstone to every Network Marketing business.

In this episode I am chatting with Allie DePaulo, who is a mover and a shaker and an incredible Network Marketing Leader with Tiber River a Canadian based company. Tune in to hear how Allie has built a business around customer service, and why she figures people are losing fortunes by not following up with their customers. We will share our own personal follow-up systems and why we think they are one of the keys to incredible customer service, which is a cornerstone to every Network Marketing business.

The Are Pacis (Altar of Peace) of Augustus is arguably the best preserved monument from the reign of Augustus (31 BC- AD 14). It is also in an impressive setting, centro Rome's latest museum creation, by architect Richard Meier, in traditionally Roman travertine stone, with massive windows and sunroof, matched with an integrated series of videos, panels, models, casts and lighting.  It is truly a rich, layered presentation of the reconstructed altar, product of a series of complex excavations spanning several centuries.  Darius presents the museum setting between the Tiber River and Mausoleum of Augustus (currently under restoration) and examines the altar and the history of the excavation that led to the creation of the Fascist museum, now updated with Meier's 21st century construction. 

In his rich history of Italy’s Tiber River, "Tiber: Eternal River of Rome," Bruce Ware Allen charts the main currents, mythic headwaters and hidden tributaries of one of the world’s most renowned waterways. He considers life along the river, from its twin springs high in the Apennines all the way to its mouth at Ostia and describes the people who lived along its banks and how they made the Tiber work for them. Take a trip with us backwards in time, down the banks of the Tiber.

sermon transcript Introduction A number of years ago, the Bible for Life Missions class was talking about the hidden and pervasive influence of culture and how we do not fully realize how it affects us. Those who have experienced different cultures on overseas mission trips realize how differently people approach basic things of life — food, clothing, shelter, interpersonal and societal relationships and more. The BFL teacher asked this question one morning: Does a fish know that it's wet? It is a humorous question, signaling a sense of pervasive influence around us at every moment of which we are not fully aware. It has to do with our inability to rise above our surrounding culture to see it as it really is, and even more, to see how it affects us, influencing our minds and hearts and the way we live every moment. To get above that to be able to see it, we need something from the outside. The deeper question is, do we realize the ways the world is influencing us the way the New Testament speaks of the world? Can we see the danger of the corrupting influence on our souls and flee to Christ for refuge, for cleansing, for ongoing transformation and protection? We are in mortal spiritual danger every moment from the world. The one asking the question about the fish is obviously human, standing outside of the sea, looking down on the fish with that perspective. The human is dry but knows what it is to swim and be wet. We are vastly above the fish, able to see its environment for what it is and to ask that interesting question. But we cannot do that for ourselves; we need someone outside of us to help us see. That is what the Holy Spirit does through Scripture. He is perfect, holy, above the world, looking down with objectivity, saying, “Let me reveal this world system that is pulling on your soul every moment; let me show you the world in all of its allure and enticing power and utter revulsive wickedness. Let me pull back the veil with this book of Revelation in ways that no other book of the Bible does. Let me unveil the great prostitute of Babylon, the world and all of its corrupting influence, in which we live and move and have our being.” 1 John 2:15-17 is the key text in the New Testament on the danger of the world, a partner text to our passage in Revelation 17. 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” That is the theme of Revelation 17 and 18. This world system will pass away, not in a benign way but under the judgment and wrath of God. The one who will survive is he who does the will of God. John warns us directly of this magnetic world system of lusts that attracts us off of the path of righteousness and holiness to serve sin. James also warns us of the same threat in different language. James 4:4-5 says, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” That is a difficult passage. “Spirit” could be the Holy Spirit or the human spirit with us; both could make sense in opposite ways. We will assume the former. The Holy Spirit who dwells within us is jealous over our affections. James uses the analogy of spiritual adultery — to go after the world is to be drawn away from what Paul calls, in 2 Corinthians 11, “sincere and pure devotion to Christ”, and to go after worldliness. James says to be in love with this present world is like committing spiritual adultery to God, like being a wandering unfaithful wife who cannot stay put and love and please her husband, and it provokes his spirit to jealousy. The prophet Hosea was commanded by God to marry a prostitute, Gomer. He had purchase her to be able to spend time with her, and then had to prevent her from leaving to pursue lovers. If we put ourselves in that story, we are not Hosea but Gomer, and we need protection — “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.” Seal it from the world and all its influence. In Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul tells us the origin of this evil, corrupted world system and why it is so evil and powerful: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” There is a spiritual kingdom of the air whose prince is Satan. He has crafted and set up this worldly, alluring system, singing a siren song to us as we navigate, calling us to wreck the the ship of our souls on the shoals of sin. That is happening every moment of our lives. Satan, the prince of the power of the air, is invisible, powerful, constantly surrounding us. Paul says the essence of life in this worldly system is to gratify the cravings of our flesh, those bodily drives and desires, the pleasures of the body and mind. That is the nature of the world. This world system has been working its devastation for millennia, and it is working right now. Are you aware of its influence, the daily assault on your soul? Do you know that Satan is pulling on you to cause you to depart from a path of sincere and pure devotion to Christ, to worldliness, pushing you to act and lust. Defying God, his holy laws, little by little, like the proverbial frog boiling in the pot, until you don't notice anymore? The Lesson Does a Fish Know It Is Wet? Does the fish know it is wet? Do we know how we are worldly? No chapters in the Bible so clearly reveal the world from the spiritual Heaven-down perspective as do Revelation 17 and 18. Chapter 17 unveils in vivid terms the mystery of Babylon the Great, portrayed in this apocalyptic vision as a prostitute riding the beast, dressed in luxury, drinking from a golden cup. It will give a sense of how she is right now. Chapter 18 will show us plainly how she will be at the end of the world, her outcome, the final demands, the fall of the world system called Babylon the Great. Both chapters contain a plain warning. Revelation 18:4: “Then I heard another voice from heaven say: ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues…’” The central application is a command to the people of God for holy separation from the surrounding world. So that we may know the end, the outcome of this system of elicits sin and pleasure and worldliness, that we may see where it is heading while there is time, and flee to Christ. ... A command to the people of God for holy separation from the surrounding world. So that we may know the end ... of this system of elicits sin and pleasure and worldliness, that we may see where it is heading while there is time, and flee to Christ. The Angel Reveals the Woman Revelation 17:1-2 begins, “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.’” Revelation ends with two women unveiled: the great horror or prostitute of Babylon in Revelation 17, and the radiant bride of Christ in Revelation 21. The language used to frame each woman is strikingly similar, in order to reveal them both plainly to understand their true nature. Here the vision is revealed and guided by one of the seven angels who poured out his bowls of judgment on the earth in Revelation 16. Revelation 17-18 are a pause and a parentheses to help us understand what is being judged. What is God pouring out his judgment on and why? Revelation 16 describes an overwhelming destruction, one that we can scarcely imagine. Life on earth will not be possible for long once the judgments are complete, right before the Second Coming of Christ. Revelation flashes back now to show us the enemy that Christ is fighting and will destroy with the breath of his mouth. After the third angel pours out his bowl on the earth and turned all the waters in the earth into blood, he celebrates the justice of that judgment with these words in Revelation 16:5-6: “You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” The world and its hatred for Christ and his people has shed their blood, has made martyrs of them. Revelation 17 describes the blood-thirsty woman, drunk with the blood of the saints. She drives the slaughter of God’s precious children and deserves to drink of blood for what she has done. One of the seven angels invites John to travel with him in the Spirit to see a prophetic vision: this prostitute who sits on many waters, filthy and alluring and wicked. With her the kings of the earth have committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth are made drunk with the wine of her adulteries. John goes away in the Spirit to see her. Revelation 17:3-4: “Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.” Revelation 21:9-11 uses similar language but very different content, inviting comparison: “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Who is the Woman? These two women are meant to be held side by side. It is a contrast — one alluring and enticing but filthy and wicked, the other radiant, majestic, holy, stunningly beautiful, shining with the glory of God — the prostitute versus the bride. Revelation 17:18 tells us who she is: “The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” She is also called Babylon the Great. She represents the collective group of individuals who are both allured and enticed by Satan’s appeal to the flesh, and enticing and alluring to others to sin with them. They live rebellious lives, being deceived and intoxicated with the world, and then become part of the problem. Jesus says whoever does not gather with me scatters. Babylon has a wandering corrupted heart and must be paid for all her affections and services. She is not faithful; she has no commitment to a bridegroom. By contrast, the bride of Christ is the church, the godly people from every tribe, language, people and nation, who have escaped the allure and corruptions of the world and have devoted themselves entirely body, soul and spirit to the bridegroom, to Christ, the lover of her soul. The Judgment of the Prostitute The lesson of this chapter is the judgment of the prostitute. First, her character is revealed. Second, when she is known, her judgment or punishment is revealed. The point is Revelation 18:4, that we will flee in disgust and fear from her and follow Christ and be protected by faith in Christ. The goal is to see the nature of the world and its alluring system of corruption and her future judgment. Revelation 17:1 “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.” God tells us through John that she is doomed to destruction so we flee the wrath to come. Initial Description She sits on many waters. Many of the greatest cities in the world, ancient cities of Tyre and Sidon, modern day cities like New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, are port cities because of the ease of commerce and trade. Revelation 18 shows the perspective of a ships’ captains who watch Babylon’s fall from afar. Verse 15 tells us what the waters represent. “Many waters” refers to the fact that her power and influence derives from the teeming mass of humanity worldwide. Revelation 17:15: “Then the angel said to me, ‘The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.’” Revelation 17:2 “With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” This world system allures people all over the world to sin through temptations. The angel initiates a vision with John to show him, and through him all Christians and every generation, the true nature of the harlot city of Babylon the Great. The Vision Journey to a Desert Revelation 17:3-36 provide the apocalyptic vision of a drunken woman riding a beast, symbolic language to describe this world system. Verse 3: “Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert.” Isaiah and many other prophetic books in the Old Testament use the desert as a picture of the judgment of God — sterility and fruitless deeds of darkness which Paul discusses. Nothing eternally good comes from this system of wickedness; it is the absence of God’s blessings and of life. The Woman Described Revelation 17:3-5: “There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: ‘MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.’” She is seated on a scarlet beast. Both the beast and the woman are scarlet, a vivid, lurid color, which reminds one of the shedding of the blood of the saints and prophets. The beast, the Antichrist, a tyrant, rules a geopolitical world system. We know that the beast has consolidated power into a worldwide geopolitical and military system. Sitting on the beast, the woman shows either that she is riding the beast where she wants it to go, like she is in charge, or that the beast is supporting her and enabling her to do the things she wants to do. The latter is a better fit, because toward the end of this chapter, the beast rises up and shreds her after using her for his own purposes. The beast, the Antichrist, is covered with blasphemous names, indicating that he openly embraces blasphemy. He demands to be worshipped as God, and he defies the true and living God, so he is blasphemous. Like the dragon, Satan, in the vision in Revelation 12, he has seven heads and ten horns. These represent the different kingdoms and nations that come together to make the beast’s empire, and it also represents the total harmony between Satan, the Antichrist, and the wicked world system together. The Antichrist supports the woman, enabling her to live a lifestyle of luxury, power and comfort. Her garments are purple and scarlet, symbols of wealth. In John’s day, purple dye was obtained from the secretions of mollusks — snails and clams — native to the Mediterranean Sea. Four species in particular give off a purple dye; it would take approximately 8000 of these small aquatic sea creatures to make a single gram of purple dye. Thus, purple cloth was extremely expensive and almost exclusively reserved for royalty and nobility — the wealthy and powerful in every nation. In addition, she is glittering with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She is holding a golden cup in her hand, a picture of wealth. She is drinking from the golden cup, a picture of ease and pleasure as she reclines on the beast. The cup is filled with abominable things and the filth of her adultery. She is drunk with illicit pleasure. Revelation 14:8 says, “A second angel followed and said, ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.’” She is drinking the wine that gives insanity. Since the word adultery is used, we can see her reclining at a raucous feast, getting drunk on wickedness, living out a life of pleasure and ease and immoral, sensual excess, especially sexual. In verse 5, she has a mysterious title written on her forehead, proclaiming her identity to John and through him to us, to the world. “Mystery. Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the Earth.” The word “mystery” refers to the special spiritual insight you need to understand this vision. Her identity and activity in the world are a spiritual mystery, hidden from us unless God reveals it. It may also refer to the secret mystery religions of the ancient near East, in which gaining ascendancy in circles of knowledge yielded access to more words of knowledge and higher levels. Jesus speaks of the prophetess Jezebel in Thyatira in his warning in Revelation 2, who is leading some of the church members to commit sexual immorality with her in secret. Jesus speaks of those who have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets. There is a hidden mystery to the allure and intoxication of their wickedness. For this reason, many evangelical interpreters think this woman represents a religious system or the religions of the world, immoral pagan religions that come together under the beast for a while, but then are replaced as the beast sets himself up in his own final religion. Nothing overtly points to religion in this chapter, so it seems to be safer to stay with the idea of worldliness here. There will be a religious impact, but the woman represents worldliness more than an organized pagan religion. She is called Babylon the Great. Babylon is a symbol of a worldwide pagan empire, the essence of human rebellion against God, begun in Genesis 10 by a hunter named Nimrod who founded the City of Babel. The people who lived there, the Babylonians, began to build a Tower of Babel to make a name for themselves and to show their own greatness and their own elevation, so God confused their languages. Babylon’s empire came down along the Fertile Crescent, ended the Assyrian Empire, and invaded the kingdom of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar, deporting the Jews into captivity and ending Jewish sovereignty in the Promised Land. Babylon, as was predicted under Isaiah and Jeremiah and other prophets was crushed and judged by God, but it happened over centuries. However, the spirit of Babylon rose up out of the ashes of the literal city of Babylon to move to wherever the dominant geopolitical, military, and economic power was centered. In time, according to church history and tradition, it became Rome. In 1 Peter 5:13, Peter says, “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.” “She who is in Babylon” is the church, the bride of Christ, in Rome. She is in Babylon because although the old city of Babylon is long gone — crushed, destroyed, razed — the spirit of Babylon has moved from place to place since Rome fell, and it is with us today. It is a vast unifying system of illicit pleasure, with an intelligence behind it, manipulating the appetites of the senses through food and drink and drugs and material possessions and luxuries and power on a worldwide scale. Drunk with Blood In Verse 6, she is drunk with the blood of the saints. Revelation 17:6: “I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.” The woman is drinking a mixed wine of adulteries and immoralities and illicit pleasure, but also the blood of the saints and prophets, the followers of Christ, whom she hates. They will not join in her immorality, so she heaps abuse on them and take pleasure in seeing them killed, getting drunk with their blood. The Romans were an example of this: they delighted in watching defenseless Christians be ripped to shreds by wild animals or killed by Gladiators; they could not get enough of it. John’s Reaction John’s reaction to this is amazement; he marvels. This is an important concept. We cannot know her unless God reveals her to us. John is surprised; he underestimates the wickedness of this woman, Babylon the Great. Let me apply this here: ask God to show you immediately with eyes of faith this world we live in, what it will look like on Judgment Day, to warn you away from this corrupting influence. The Interpretation The Angel Interprets The interpretation in verses 7-13 focuses exclusively on the beast and his horns. Revelation 17:7-8: “Then the angel said to me: ‘Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.’ The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.” The final phase of this world-wide godless system of domination will be under the reign of the final Antichrist. But every era of history sees waxing and waning types of such a reign. Empires rise and fall back into the dust in various versions of the same thing. John says the beast once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss. The word “Abyss” shows the demonic nature of all this. Revelation 9 tells of the deep pit, the Abyss, out of which this demonic invasion billows up. The woman is inspired and dominated by demons. The beast’s kingdom is demonic, and so is the world system. When Jesus returns, he will destroy the final phase of that empire. The astonishment could refer to the miracle in which the beast apparently receives a mortal wound but comes to life again. The whole world is astonished and worships the beast as a god. But the elect, those chosen from before the foundation of the world, whose names are written in Christ’s Book of Life, will not be deceived or take part in this. We know what is going on because he has told us. If you are elect, chosen, you are wise to flee all this in this present evil age. The Mystery of the Seven Hills Revelation 17:9-10: “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.” With prophetic visionary books like Revelation, Daniel or Matthew 24, the Little Apocalypse, whenever there is a call for wisdom, we must combine Scripture and its predictions with current events. Jesus said, “…when you see the abomination of desolation rising in the place where it ought not to be, then run for your lives.” That will be a current event in its time, something to be watching for; we do not run for our lives in every generation or every day. It is the same here. The final generation will know exactly what is happening. To John’s generation, the seven hills represented Rome, a city on the Tiber River, built on seven hills and nicknamed City of the Seven Hills, the dominating power of John’s era. Many protestant commentators from the Reformation on see the great prostitute of Babylon as the Roman Catholic Church and its corruption of the Gospel. However, that seems too narrow. The spirit of Babylon moves and does not focus only on the one city of Rome. We should want to critique the Roman Catholic presentation of the gospel (for example, do they preach the gospel of justification by faith alone?), but it is too narrow to pin this passage on Roman Catholicism. The spirit of Rome today is not only one of religion but also one of power, domination, wealth. The number seven, the Seven Hills, is symbolic as the number of completion. The hills represent man’s lofty ambitions, like the Tower of Babel, or Nebuchadnezzar on the roof of his palace, looking out over Babylon saying, “Is this not the great Babylon I have built for the praise of my glory?” Isaiah 2 says that the final day will come when the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established above all the other hills. All the lofty things — towers and tall trading vessels and oaks of Bashan — will be leveled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. The Seven Hills represent human pride and arrogance as they try to replicate the Tower of Babel in every generation, arrogantly defying God. Revelation 17:10-11: The Seven Hills “are also seven kings. [Clearly it is not only Rome, but a series of kings leading a series of empires, one after the other.] Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.” Empires arise one after the other. The United States has its place, as does the British Empire. Who knows what will come after the US is no longer the most powerful nation on earth. The spirit of Babylon will continue in every generation. Do not imagine that this nation is exempt, do not imagine that every inclination of the policy makers of Washington are only the glory of God and of his Christ all the time. The Horns The ten horns represent a coalition of final kings. They may or may not be alive right now, but they do not yet have their power in a way that can be identified. Revelation 17:12-13: “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.” The seven trumpets sound and bring ecological disaster on the earth in Revelation 8 and 9. People seek fresh water because one-third of the water is turned to blood at that point. Borders are destroyed, and out of the economic upheaval rise a coalition of leaders like in the United Nation. From that comes one man, the most Machiavellian leader ever, who is able through intrigue and assassination to take control. He then becomes a parody of Jesus, a king of kings and lord of lords, ruling over lesser kings who run their kingdoms and their areas. They come together to give him his power. They had not risen in John’s day; they may not yet have risen in our day; but they will make an alliance and rule the world for a very short time. This coalition of force will give their power and authority to the beast, who will use them to rule the world, but God will use them to gather the world together for one final battle. They think they are carrying out their own agenda but instead, God is using them. They have one purpose; they are of one mind: they serve the beast and fight against Christ and against his people. The Triumph Final Battle In Verse 14, “They will make war on the Lamb…” They are fighting Jesus, whom they hate. The ten kings and the beast will come together to try to kill Jesus, but they cannot get to him. So they go after Jesus’ people. They assemble to fight this one final battle. The remaining dissidents against the beast, the Antichrist, are believers, both Jewish and Gentile. They will not receive the mark of the beast. Many Jews may be consolidated in Jerusalem, the area of the Promised Land. The Antichrist comes with the ten kings — one giant army to fight the Lamb, with genocidal intentions toward the Jews, who are now believers in Christ. As predicted in Zechariah, God has taken away the blindness from their hearts and they have called on him and cried and mourn for him as for an only son. They turn at last to Christ, and the Lord loves them. The Lamb is Loyal The Lamb is loyal to his people; their names have been written in the Book of Life from before the foundation of the world. They have not received the mark of the beast; they will not bow the knee. They have very little power. In Revelation 16:16, the Antichrist pulls all of this power together in the most one-sided battle ever in history. “Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” Though one-sided, the outcome does not favor the Antichrist. War on the Lamb Revelation 19:19 “Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.” They come together to make war on the Lamb. Verse 14 says, “but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings…” Jesus cannot be defeated, and victory will not be difficult for him. He will not break a sweat. He will speak and they will be judged. It is that simple. The Purpose The Final Explanation God’s purpose in all of this is to consolidate and destroy evil. The woman is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth; the waters are the nations, peoples, multitudes, and languages. Revelation 17:16: “The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.” This is a challenging verse. The woman represents worldly pleasure. When it comes to pleasure and happiness, we must understand Satan’s intention: he has no interest in allowing any joy. In truth, he is anti-human in every respect — he hates the Antichrist, his own servants, and every human being. Satan is a thief who comes to steal and kill and destroy. The Antichrist is like Satan. The wealthy, luxurious, and powerful of the world have yielded their power to him but he does not love them or want them to have anything good. Under his rule, they will come to total ruin; they will be stripped and destroyed. He does not seek to bless and enrich and help them. The Antichrist is like Satan. The wealthy, luxurious, and powerful of the world have yielded their power to him but he does not love them or want them to have anything good. Under his rule, they will come to total ruin... In Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, an older demon advises a younger demon about tactics of temptation. On the topic of normal physical pleasure, Screwtape says to his nephew Wormwood, “Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal and satisfying form, we are, in a sense, on enemy territory. I know we [devils] have won many a soul through pleasure. All the same, it is [God’s] invention, not ours. [God] made the pleasures: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one. All we can do is encourage the humans to take the pleasures which [God] has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden. Hence we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, [reminding people] the least ... of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever-increasing craving for an ever-diminishing pleasure is the formula. ... To get the man’s soul and give him nothing in return — that is what really gladdens [Satan’s] heart.” Satan’s method is increasing enslavement to decreasing pleasure. Adolf Hitler represented this mindset to a degree. There was no pleasure in his life. He did not love food — he had an abstemious diet; and he seemed to have no sexual tendencies at all. He was a twisted, sick, strange individual who lusted only for military conquest and power. He ended his life in a reinforced concrete bunker, apart from anything beautiful or delightful, surrounded by the smoldering rubble-filled city of Berlin. The people who gave him his power yearned for prosperity and comfort and ended up with nothing; they ended up dead. God’s Plan God’s plan in all this is to draw out and collect all of the evil in one place to make it obvious and clear. That is happening now in human history. In the end, we will see how bad evil is. Their purpose is to give power to the beast, but God’s purpose overrides. Revelation 17:17: “For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled.” Romans 4, referring to Adam’s sin, says, “The law was added so that the trespass might increase. [God did that.] But where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more.” This whole thing is to educate the elect, the godly, so we can see evil and hate it and turn from it in the end. Application Christians: Flee Babylon Revelation 18:4-5: “Then I heard another voice from heaven say: ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.’” Ask God to show you that you are wet, surrounded by the world. The world has an influence on the way that you think and live — the way you think about money, time, your profession, your future, marital relations. You need first to see how it is, and ask God to give you a heart of repentance. Sexual immorality is a particular area of weakness for humans. Ask God to show you if you are violating your conscience in the sexual area. Ask him to grant you repentance and protection from sexual sin. Ask if you have any pattern of addictions in your life. Paul says all things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything. He also says in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” What does it mean for you to beat your body and make it your slave? What are your appetites? What are you addicted to? Ask God to give you freedom. Non-Christians: Flee to Christ For you who are not yet Christians, I urge you to flee to Christ, the world has an even greater influence on you than it does on the Christians. Flee the wrath to come in Christ, find in Christ, in his atoning work, in his blood shed, your forgiveness, your salvation. All: Understand Future Pleasures Finally, understand the future of this Babylonian system we living in, the future of pleasure. That pleasure is going to destruction, but there is a greater pleasure that is coming — the pleasure at the right hand of God, of knowing and dwelling with God and his Christ. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Closing Prayer Father, we thank you for the things that we have learned in this very difficult chapter. Help us to be aware of how the world is influencing us and drawing us away from holiness. Help us to stand firm and to fight and not allow ourselves to be corrupted and polluted by the world. Help us to help each other, men to help men, and women to help women. Help us to disciple each other and ask each other questions of accountability. Help us to pray for each other, and Lord, help us to yearn for the day when there will be no more evil, no more wickedness in this world. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

OVERVIEW William Kentridge’s large-scale new body of work, ‘Triumphs and Laments Woodcuts’, is described by Master Printer Jillian Ross and associate printers Sbongiseni Khulu and Chad Cordiero. THE HOSTS Jillian Ross – Introduces the Project Ross, the David Krut Workshop Master Printer, oversaw the project and conceptualized it closely with William Kentridge. Ross introduces the woodcut series, it’s history, concept and each exhibiting artwork. Sbongiseni Khulu – A Personal Perspective Sbongiseni, a David Krut Printer, reflects on the uncertainty and complexity inherent in a print workshop-artist working relationship. Sbongiseni explains an error on Kentridge’s Mantegna and how this resolved, revealing what it is like to work with Kentridge. Chad Cordeiro – The Wood Chad, a David Krut Printer, explains the complex technical aspects of choosing and carving wood as well as the sudden mishaps that arise which make printing a highly skilled task! BACKGROUND ‘Triumphs and Laments Woodcuts’ consists of three large-scale woodcuts, ‘Mantegna’, ‘The Flood’ and ‘Lampedusa’, based on the initial drawings of the artist’s monumental 'Triumphs and Laments' frieze across the Tiber River in Rome. The exhibition also showcases a state proof of ‘Mantegna’ with William Kentridge's edits pinned onto it; the original woodblocks used to print ‘The Flood’ - which will continue to be used – and an exploded version of ‘Lampedusa’ which shows the woodcut unassembled as it is made on various papers and stitched together. Each print is made from multiple blocks of wood, prepared from a variety of wood timbers, and printed on several sheets of paper that, when assembled, fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Some sheets were cut at sharp angles, others torn. Pieces were also attached to the work by Kentridge in the last stages of production and allowed for overlaps of image and movement. The works are so complex, guidelines for assemblage are provided on a map made on acetate and an accompanying instruction manual. www.davidkrut.com

Our penultimate Mini-Session interview from 'Next Up: The LA River' pairs Renee Dake Wilson with Alexander Robinson. Dake Wilson, principal at Dake Wilson Architects, was appointed by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti to serve as Vice President on the city's volunteer-based Planning Commission—an array of professionals who make recommendations between communities and the city on planning projects. On the commission, she's worked particularly with proposals to change the height and density limits on development in Elysian Valley, aka Frogtown—the neighborhood along the LA River that has become a major node in the city's ongoing gentrification discussion. Robinson, while teaching at USC as an assistant professor, runs the Office of Outdoor Research and just recently completed a term as a Rome Prize recipient, researching the Tiber River as it relates to LA's and other cities' river infrastructures. He has also previously worked with Mia Lehrer's office on LA River projects.

Rome's Trastevere district is the place to immerse yourself in the crustier side of the Eternal City. Tucked between the Tiber River and the Janiculum Hill, this neighborhood feels worlds away from the rest of Rome. Take a slow wander and train your eyes to see Roman life more intimately. You'll experience fascinating churches, local trattorias and pastel-colored lanes draped with laundry. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rome's Trastevere district is the place to immerse yourself in the crustier side of the Eternal City. Tucked between the Tiber River and the Janiculum Hill, this neighborhood feels worlds away from the rest of Rome. Take a slow wander and train your eyes to see Roman life more intimately. You’ll experience fascinating churches, local trattorias and pastel-colored lanes draped with laundry. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Michelle Lalonde & Adriana De Luca - Tiber River Naturals by Food & Friends with Larry

sermon transcript Introduction This is the last sermon in Matthew. Matthew is a powerful testimony of the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and we come, one last time, for the third time now, to Jesus' incredible words in Matthew 25, commonly known as "the sheep and the goats". We've already had a kind of an expository overview of these words, Matthew 25:31-46, in a previous sermon. Last week, we zeroed in specifically on the doctrine of hell, and what these dreadful, these terrifying words mean, "Depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” But this week, I want to talk about “mercy ministry” from as a starting point from the sheep and the goats. By "mercy ministry" I mean caring for the needy around us, for those that are hurting, those that are hungry, thirsty, those that are broken down by life, that we would minister to them. All my Christian life, I must be honest, I have struggled with the obligation that scripture lays on the people of God to care for the poor and needy of the world. I would say it wasn't until I went overseas on a series of mission trips that I really saw scenarios of poverty that just hit me at a deeper level and made me realize how far I had to grow in this area. I'm not saying there's not poverty in America, but you really do have to go overseas to see the way that some people are living in this world and have it just reach down into your heart and convict you and transform you, and that's, at least in my case, that's what had to happen. In the summer of 1986, I went on a short-term mission trip to Kenya. There were different phases to the summer 10-week mission trip. We did a variety of ministries, and then we had one final week, where we all gathered, the 40-50 of us who had been scattered all over the country. We reassembled one last time for one week of final teaching and prayer and decompression and all that, in Mombasa, which is a port city on the Indian Ocean in Kenya. A strong Muslim presence is in this sprawling city. Part of that time, I guess a day or so into our time there, some of us took a trip in a rented van to drive through the city, a kind of a tour of this historic city of Mombasa. It was a comfortable van, it was air-conditioned, it was pleasant, and we rode through one of the poorest areas of town, and I felt like I was in some kind of an air-conditioned bubble riding through a sea of poverty. It became somewhat of a metaphor of my American Christian way of living, that I actually could live the rest of my life that way. I just could just move right through life in an air-conditioned bubble and see but not really interact with the desperately poor and needy people around me. The next summer I went to Pakistan, 1987, and there were beggars everywhere. I had never really seen beggars like we saw in Pakistan. We would go to the bank and cash our traveler's checks to get local currencies, so we could do various things, and as soon as we come out of the bank, there would be at least five people coming and just relationally assaulting us, not physically, but just there with their needs and wanting money. Since we didn't speak a common language, they would point to their mouths and to their stomachs saying that they were hungry. So, I asked a missionary, "What should we do?" He told us that you need to understand that a lot of these beggars are really just working for a beggar syndicate, and they take the money and give it to... Somewhat like a prostitution ring, give it to an overlord who then cares for them out of that. I said, "Okay, but they're still coming to us." He said, "Well, one thing you might want to do is go and buy some fresh bread and just have it with you." So, I did, and that was delicious bread. Beggars would come up, they would point to their stomachs, and I would pull out the bag with the bread. I'd let them smell the bread, and I'd offer them some bread, and one man as I handed him bread, took it and threw it on the ground and walked away. I must tell you that there was a sinful relief inside me when he did it, because it confirmed this little sense, I had that there weren't genuinely needy people, but there was just a show of need. That was until about three minutes later, when a woman came up with a young child, pointing to her stomach, I gave her the bread, she divided it in a half, immediately ate it, and so did her child. Those are the tough ones, aren't they? They're real, and they really live out there, and they're really hungry and we can feed them. There's the problem. What do we do with them? I've come to the conclusion that the Lord Jesus Christ does not want us to come to a safe, neat, easy evangelical formula answer to the problem of poverty in the world. This sermon is not going to be that. I'm going to give you a series of biblical priorities, but you know what's going to happen. It will be easy for you to look at each of these five priorities as an escape valve so that you don't need to sacrifice for the poor and needy. It's not what I'm doing, because in each case, I'm going to give you the Biblical priority and then say, "But it doesn't mean such and such." Mercy Ministry Jesus' example compels action. It's a call to a life of mercy ministry. 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." Jesus means, I think, to bring us to a point of desperation concerning the overwhelming physical needs of people all around us. I don't mean ultimate desperation, but that we would despair in our usual system of self-reliance. The problem is bigger than we can solve, it swallows up any individual, it swallows up any local church, it swallows up even a nation. I don't know how many billion dollars of American aid have gone down to Haiti, but it's somewhat like a sink hole down there, and you could multiply it by 10 and the problems would still be there. I'm not saying that there's not legitimate things that can be done with money, I'm just saying the problems are bigger than any of us, and the Lord means to stand in front of us and confront us with the problem. I think about the account of the feeding of the 5000 as one of the few things in the everyday life and ministry of Jesus that makes it to all four Gospels. Very few of his events before his arrest and trial and his last week make it in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but the feeding of the 5000 does. After Jesus administered to these people, it says in Matthew chapter 14, "When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, this is a desolate place, and the day is now over. Send the crowds away in the villages so they can go buy themselves some food. But Jesus said to his disciples, ‘They don't need to go away, you give them something to eat.’” In John's account, Jesus initiates the whole question. “Where are we going to buy bread so that all these people may eat?" He initiates the question and John tells us very poignantly, Jesus did this only to test them, Philip in particular, because He already knew what He was going to do. That is incredibly revealing for me, Jesus actually intends to test us in this matter of poor and needy ministry. He stands in front of you, and He brings you to a fork in the road and He tests you. He says, "What are you going to do?" He watches to see what we'll do, and I think He means to strip us of self-reliance because the problem's too big for us. He means for us to do what Jesus did when the little boy gave his five loaves and two fish. He took them and he looked up to heaven and He thanked God for what had been provided, and then He miraculously fed the 5000 plus the women and children. This is the test. Will we face the huge overwhelming needs, and will we look upward to God and then act or will we not? That’s the test. The issue of ministry to poverty-stricken people stands over us, it probes our hearts to prove how much sin is still in us. Christ does not mean for us to escape by means of a clever sermon or a formula or something that says, "You don't need to really do this for these reasons." He's going to be probing you the rest of your life about this. He does not mean for us American evangelicals to take an air-conditioned van ride through our time here in the world while other people are suffering. He means for us to tell the driver to stop, get out and go minister. There are two compelling passages in the scripture that keep this issue in front of me. There are a number of them that allude to it, but these two are the most powerful. One of them is the passage on the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, and the other is the sheep and the goats teaching that we're focusing on this morning. Let's look briefly at the Good Samaritan. What happens is a teacher of the law comes up to Jesus and asked, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus then, in a very surprising way, gives him the law, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself." But it says the lawyer wanted to justify himself, so he asked, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus then tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, a man on the road from Jericho who is beaten by some robbers and left stripped and bleeding by the side of the road. A priest and a Levite, both of them see the man. Jesus makes it plain that they see him, but they pass by on the other side and do nothing for the man lying there in the gutter. But a Samaritan man sees him, takes care of him even at the point of great cost and inconvenience. Tim Keller, who's a pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian New York City, wrote a book on mercy ministry, says, "We all live on the Jericho Road. You're on the Jericho Road every day of your lives. We're surrounded by opportunities to minister to people who are suffering, beaten by life and lying bleeding by the side of the road. We all have a tendency to want to justify ourselves and thus excuse ourselves from sacrificial ministry to the poor and needy, and to be like the priest and Levite who see the need and pass by on the other side, go about our business. If we are honest, then we can all see our own sinful omissions in the priest and Levite who pass by on the other side, and we are convicted by the Good Samaritan who allows himself to be interrupted, whatever his business was, gets diverted out of his life course and goes and takes care of this man.” Now remember some key issues of the parable. The question at hand is, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Is that a topic of interest to you? Let me ask another question, is Jesus' opinion on that topic of interest to you? How is it then that Jesus talking about the Good Samaritan and taking care of poor and needy is an answer to that question? Clearly, Jesus felt the parable of the Good Samaritan was relevant to this line of inquiry. Jesus teaches in some mysterious way that full obedience to the law of Moses is required to inherit eternal life. Once we are more fully instructed by the rest of the New Testament, indeed the whole Bible, we recognize that none of us can be or ever has been fully obedient to the law of Moses, except one man, Jesus Christ, who fully obeyed those two commandments, and who saves us by His righteousness, who saves us by His obedience to the law and by His death on the cross for our disobedience. Turn the whole thing around, and guess what, you know where you are in the parable of the Good Samaritan? You're the guy who got beaten and is laying by the side of the road, and Jesus is the Good Samaritan who comes and saves you. But that's not enough, is it? Clearly, Jesus is saying, "What does it mean to love your neighbor?" At some point, you're no longer the man beaten by the side of the road, you are one of those individuals walking by who sees the need. Then you must become like Jesus, you must imitate Him, because the love of Christ constrains you, compels you, it's in you now, and you're thinking like Jesus. That's what I get out of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Notice that the expert in the law also is seeking to justify himself asking, "Now who is my neighbor?" That just shows the tendency we have to get out of the situation, to evict and not do anything in that situation. Jesus said at the end, "Go and do likewise." Are we to take that at His word? The second instance is the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25. These are some of the most powerful words I've ever heard in my life. My sister at her wedding asked me to read scripture at her wedding, and she chose this passage of scripture. I was amazed. At the rehearsal I was surrounded by a lot of her non-Christian friends, and they were reading also. Then I got up and read this passage. You could have heard a pin drop. It was like the wedding rehearsal just came to a stop. I wanted to say, "I want you to know I didn't choose this passage for a wedding." My sister did, but my sister has a heart for the poor and needy, she wanted it read in her wedding, and I did read it at her wedding. "When the son of man comes in His glory and all His angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He'll put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then He will say to those on His right, ‘Come you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes, and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you, a stranger invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick in prison and go to visit you? The king will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison, and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, or a stranger needing clothes or sick or in prison and not help you? ‘And he will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” This passage places mercy ministry in the context of the end of the world. I said before, this is not a parable. This is what will happen. You see what I'm saying? It is what will happen. He's going to separate the people like a shepherd separating sheep from the goats, but it's not a parable, this is going to happen. And the issues couldn't be more intense, heaven and hell, eternity in heaven, eternity in hell, is the outcome, and the basis for the separation here seems to be what you did and didn't do in life. We've already covered that there's a difference between being saved by works and being assessed by works. But Jesus here assesses by works, and the key issue here was what we call "ministry to felt needs or mercy ministry", simple things, somebody's hungry and you feed them. Central to that is Jesus' clear identification with poor and needy people. "I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me." Some have said this proves what the social gospel folks say is the universal fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man, that we are all in the family together. We're all in one family and Jesus sees it that way. I actually don't think so, and I'm going to talk more about that later. Jesus earlier in Matthew's Gospel has already identified his family. He was told that his mother and his brothers were waiting outside for him. He said, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, He said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." I don't think Jesus had forgotten that by the time He got to chapter 25, but we need to understand at this point it's all over. The sheep are the sheep, and the goats are the goats, and we know who the family of God is. Jesus identifies Himself with His church. He identifies himself with the sheep, He identifies Himself with his people. Remember Saul of Tarsus breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. Jesus intervenes with these words, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It's my body. I am the head. You're hurting me." Conversely, then anyone who helps brothers and sisters in Christ, they're helping Jesus. This does not mean that we should only minister to Christians, I'm going to talk more about that, but Jesus is identifying in this way. So, this is the "sheep and the goats" teaching. These are the two great passages that are in front of me that keep “mercy ministry” constantly on my mind. There are others but these are the two big ones. What is our context here? We've looked at the context in Matthew, what is our context in history? Let me say, before I talk about historical context, throughout 20 century of church history, the church has on and off again, struggled to keep two things together. Ministry of word and ministry of deed, or the true Gospel and truly Christian outreach to the poor and needy. The church has struggled to keep the two together. Sometimes it's been all one and not the other, sometimes all the other and not the one. Frequently, neither one. But the church has struggled to keep the true Gospel producing true genuine ministry to the poor and needy. The early church didn't seem to struggle with it. I'm talking about Acts chapter 2. Peter preaches the Pentecost sermon, 3000 are baptized, added to the number that day. Right away, they devote themselves to the apostles' teaching, so they come in through the preaching of the gospel, and they right away are busy with doctrine, they're getting the apostles' teaching. They devote themselves to that and to the fellowship, that's the sharing together, the breaking of bread and the prayer. Everyone's filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs are done by the apostles, almost always mercy ministry, just done supernaturally, caring for sick people, dying people, that kind of thing, the apostles doing miracles. All the believers were together and had everything in common, selling their possessions and goods they gave to anyone as he had need. There you have apostolic teaching and a solid mercy ministry going on both inside and outside the walls of the church. So also, the early Christians during the time of the persecution of the Roman Empire. It's told that the Roman Christians would go along the Tiber River in Rome and pick up babies that had been abandoned there, infanticide. They were seeking to kill unwanted babies, and the Christians would go and scoop them up and raise them. Julian, the apostate, the evil pagan emperor who wanted to go back to paganism after Christianity had taken root in the Roman Empire, commented ruefully on what he called "the Galileans", that's what he called the Christians. "Not only do they care for their own poor and needy, but ours as well. We are having trouble competing with these people." That was the nature of the early church. But over the centuries, through the medieval Roman Catholic church era the gospel was lost. People lost the gospel. They didn't understand how a sinner is made right with God. Frequently, when they would sin, they would go and confess their sins to a priest and the priest would give them good works to do to reduce time in purgatory. Friends, there is no purgatory, there's heaven and hell, but the priest would say, "You know, you can reduce your time in purgatory if you just do some good deeds." The good works were either religious works like the saying of prayers, or the caring for the poor and needy, and this way, you could reduce your time in purgatory. The Reformation, through Martin Luther and Calvin and others, reclaimed the gospel, and the 16th century and on saw a growth again of a beautiful relationship between the true Gospel and a healthy mercy ministry of the poor and needy. Right on through the time of George Whitfield and John Wesley, who cared for orphans in Georgia, and others who just cared for the poor and needy in England, all kinds of combination of good preaching and good mercy ministry. The Moravians sold themselves into slavery in the West Indies so that they could share the gospel with slaves. There was William Wilberforce who understood the gospel well, and for 26 years fought to get rid of slavery and the slave trade in the British Empire. The Rise of Social Gospel But then in the 19th and 20th century we had the social gospel. People came in and they did not understand, through Darwinism and liberal theology and all that, they lost the gospel in a different way. They became universalistic. They basically said, "Anybody and everybody is going to heaven, that's not the issue. The issue is the world's a really bad place because we don't understand how much God loves us, we don't understand how good God is and how we should be loving each other [social gospel]. We need to stamp out societal ills and evils and try to make the world a better place." Charles Sheldon wrote his book, In His Steps, in which he asked the famous question, "What would Jesus do?" But he was an advocate of what we call Christian socialism, and definitely a part of that social gospel movement. The central problem with the social Gospel is they didn't understand how a sinner is made right with God. They didn't understand the need sinners have to be saved. As a result of that, fundamentalists over-reacted, they said that the liberals have lost the gospel, the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, the miracle workings of Jesus and all that. We've got to protect these fundamentals of the gospel and not do anything that these social gospelers are doing. So, they pulled in and worked on the doctrine, but they were in a different kind of bubble, not interacting with the outside world, trying to protect the gospel, so they didn't do those kinds of mercy ministries. Recently in the evangelical world, we've seen a change, people have gotten back. First it was moral issues like prayer in the schools, 10 Commandments, abortion and other things. Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship got into the prisons and started ministering to people at that level, and you started to see more and more evangelicals getting involved in mercy ministry, and I think in a healthy way. There are role models, especially in urban churches, like I've already mentioned, Redeemer Presbyterian, Tim Keller's church there in Manhattan, and 10th Presbyterian of Philadelphia, and John Piper's efforts at racial reconciliation in Minneapolis. So where does that leave us now? We live in a technologically advanced world, in which images of an earthquake in Haiti or floods in Pakistan can be right on your iPhone immediately as soon as they happen. We see more than ever before, the crushing burdens of this sin cursed world and the trouble we're in. Also, in the US and in other places in the Western world there's economic uncertainty, more and more unemployed people, a different kind of homeless people, some with college degrees, but are underemployed or unemployed. More and more troubles in churches just like ours, where people are really financially needy. The present administration, the Obama administration, I think sees increasingly a role of government in solving those problems, and that's really a fork in the road, the question, "Are we going to see bigger and bigger and bigger government answering these problems, or is there a different solution?" I think there's a different solution, I think the church is at the centerpiece of what God wants to do to solve these problems in the world. Among Christians, especially younger Christians, we're seeing more and more of a zeal to do a kind of physical ministry of the poor and needy, disconnected from the gospel and the exclusivity of Christ. Lots of college students who have no commitment to Christ at all want to do things to give something back, or they just feel good building homes for the homeless. CNN has a little spot every week called CNN's Heroes of the Week. I went on their website and found out who it was this week, it was a guy who builds bridges in Kenya. So, I'm back to Kenya again. There he is building bridges. He's built 46 bridges to help with local flooding and other things, but no mention of Christ. He may be a Christian. I don't know, I tried to find out whether he was. There's no mention, it doesn't seem relevant. That's where we live right now. People who are energetic and excited to do good works, but like back in the Kennedy days with the Peace Corps and all that, wanting to do exciting things with the United Nations or whatever, but no connection directly to the gospel. Christians can get involved, but the gospel's not at the center. We may be kind of oozing slowly back into a social gospel again. Priority of Gospel in Mercy Ministry That's just laying the land. What priorities do I want to give you quickly to try to sort these things through? As I look through scripture, I'm going to give you five, and instead of giving the applications at the end of the sermon, I'm going to do it as I make these points. The first priority concerning ministry to the poor and needy is justification before ministry. You must be born again before you can do anything God sees as good. That's the priority. You don't have any good works until you come to faith in Christ. There are really only two religions in the world: The religion of salvation by grace through faith in Christ and the religion of good works, and at the center of that religion of good works is usually some kind of ministry of the poor and needy. Ministry to the poor and needy will not save you on judgement day. Now you can read the sheep and the goats and say, "I don't see faith in Jesus anywhere here." That's where scripture has to interpret scripture, the gospel is clear that we must believe in Jesus, to trust in Him for the salvation of our souls. “By grace we have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it's the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.” Jesus comes to His apostles the night before His crucifixion, and He's there washing their feet. He comes to Peter and Peter has no interest in having Jesus wash his feet. He asked one of those obvious questions, "Are you about to wash my feet?" I think he was probably the seventh or eighth apostle, I don't know. "Yes Peter, I'm going to wash your feet." Actually, he said, "What I'm doing now you do not understand but later you will." The deeper answer. "Later you will understand the significance of the foot washing." "Never Lord, you shall never wash my feet." Jesus said, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." So first, Jesus has to wash you, then you can wash each other's feet. The Son of Man came not to be served. He doesn't need you; you need Him. “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” The first priority then is you must be born again, you must be justified through faith in Christ, therefore come to Christ. Look to Christ, look to His blood shed on the cross. Don't try to earn your salvation by getting involved in the community or Habitat for Humanity, or any of these other good things, don't do that first. First come to the cross. But this doesn't mean that faith which is apart from works stays apart from works. The faith that justified is never apart from works. It always produces good works. Because when you are born again, you are spiritually united with Jesus and through the Spirit, his intentions and personality and his love start to pulsate through your soul, and you can't help but love the poor and needy if you're really a Christian. There's just going to be good works flowing through a faith that genuinely justifies, but first, you must be born again. The second gospel priority is ministry to the soul above ministry to the body. It is a higher priority for Christians to minister to the soul which will endure forever, than to the body which is destined for the grave. If you're already going to the "But that doesn't mean" part, hang on, okay, let me make my point and then I'll say, "But that doesn't mean... " There are three passages that teach me this priority. First, Matthew 16:26, "What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" Or what could a man give in exchange for his soul?” Here, Jesus plainly puts the value of the soul as higher than any physical thing. If you took a homeless man from the streets of Chicago, gave him a new set of clothes, fed him for a year, gave him a job's training program, enabled him to get a good solid job, and he kept that job and became middle class, healthy, strong, and didn't love Jesus and died and went to hell, what would it profit him? What good is it? The second passage that teaches me this is after the feeding of the 5000. The next day the people were looking for another meal. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you're looking for me, not because you saw a miraculous sign, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not labor for the food that spoils but for the food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you." Stop thinking about your stomach. Stop thinking about your body. It is temporary. That's what Jesus is saying. Ecclesiastes 6:7 says, "All man's efforts are for his mouth yet his appetite is never satisfied." I don't think Ecclesiastes 6:7 is saying all man's efforts should be for his mouth, it's just saying that's what they tend to be. Or in Philippians 3, Paul says, "For as I have often told you before and now say again, even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." Jesus is urging everyone, both the lost, the needy, and Christian workers and evangelists, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well. That's not one of the three key passages, I just slipped that one in there, but put your mind first on the spiritual things and let the other things come. What is that third and final passage? Some men brought to Jesus in Matthew 9:2, a paralyzed man, a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, "Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven." What was Jesus' priority there? Ministry to the felt need. What was the felt need? Freedom from paralysis. Jesus goes to the heart of the matter. "Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven." Let me ask you a question, if that's all Jesus had done, I don't mean just any person, now this is Jesus, the Judge of all the Earth, declaring that man's sin is forgiven, would that have been enough for the paralyzed man that day? Is that a valid ministry, if he had sent him home paralyzed, but forgiven of all of his sins? I tell you it is a valid ministry, because within the promise that his sins will be forgiven is the promise of resurrection to a glorified life, in which not just paralysis, but every disease and pain and suffering will be healed. Jesus in effect said, "I'll get to your paralysis by and by." He actually did it right away because they're saying, "This fellow is blaspheming. Who has the right to forgive sins?" Jesus said, "So that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on Earth to forgive sins,” he said to the man, "Rise and walk." Therefore, we must put a priority on gospel ministry, a ministry of the Gospel above ministry to the body. The gospel is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes. Our good example will not save anyone's souls. I think a lot of you have a wonderful example, you have a sweet countenance, your face looks delightful, you are pleasant, you are patient, you are tender-hearted, you have a sweet tone of voice. I can just tell you there are non-Christians that can do better at all that stuff than you. The difference between you and them is you have the gospel, and they don't. So, in the midst of all of our ministry to the body must be a commitment to share the gospel as often as we can. There's a supposed quote and I've quoted it before, from St. Francis of Assisi, I actually don't think he said it, but some people say he did, "Preach the gospel, use words if necessary." Have you heard that before? Oh, my goodness. Where do they come up with this stuff? "Preach the gospel, use words if necessary." And I lampooned it probably a year or two ago, saying it's like saying, "Feed the hungry, use food if necessary." I think food is necessary to feed the hungry, don't you? I think the words of the gospel are necessary to preaching the gospel, and that's the only thing that's going to save souls. However, this does not mean that we don't minister to the body. Frankly, if we're not ministering to the body, how can we say the love of God is in us? Jesus ministered to the body. He just put a priority over the soul, that's all. 1 John 3, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" James says, "Suppose one of you has food and clothing and all kinds of the world's goods, and you see a brother without food or clothing, and you say, ‘Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well-fed’, but does nothing for his physical needs, what good is that?" Both James and John are saying the same thing. Faith without deeds is dead. There must be deeds. I'm just saying in the middle of the deed doing let's preach the gospel. The third gospel priority is ministry to believers above ministry to unbelievers. Galatians 6:10 is the key verse, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the household of faith." We see in the sheep and the goats, Jesus identifies with His people, "These are my brothers, these are my sisters, you cared for me by caring for them." What's interesting is Christians see Jesus in everything anyway, all the time, that's what we do. The law of Moses isn't just the law of Moses, or some letters engraved in a stone, Jesus is the law, and therefore we see Him in all of these encounters. He's at the center of it all. But the commands and examples of benevolence in the New Testament always focus primarily on church members helping other church members. It's true. Look it up. Over and over, its church caring for church. The gospel was moving so rapidly and advancing so much that someone went from non-Christian to Christian quickly, they went from non-Christian with tremendous needs to Christian with tremendous needs quickly. That's the best way to do it, friends. Let's lead them to Christ and then take care of their tremendous needs. Oh, how sweet would that be. This does not mean we should not minister to outsiders; it says in Galatians 6:10, "Let us do good to all people, just especially those who belong to the household of faith." If a Good Samaritan was going by, let's say he were a Christian, and this guy's lying by the side of the road, is he going to kneel down and say, "I need to see some spiritual credentials, please? Are you a Christian? Have you come to faith in Christ? Let me share the gospel with you, okay?" When Jesus was engaging frequently with the people, first it was preaching, then feeding the 5,000. What I'm saying is put a mental doctrinal priority on the preaching of the gospel, while you minister to the needs of the body. The fourth gospel priority, a little arcane, I'm not going to spend much time on it, but there are a lot of people talking about doing good to the city, a lot of urban ministry. They tend to be what I call "post-millennial", in other words, as you get better and better and better, as we preach the gospel, more and more, the city is going to get brighter and shinier and better and better, if we can just plant more trees and have more gardens and just cover over more graffiti and all that will solve the problems. Well, you know what's going to happen, have you seen those pretty little parks five years later? A Christian knows what's going to happen five years later. Actually, a Christian knows what's going to happen at the end of the world. It's all going to burn. Every little gospel island that we set up is just an oasis of hope pointing to a future city that will not be destroyed. Hebrews 11 says, "We are aliens and strangers here, and we're looking forward to a better city with foundations that are never going to go away." The people who say that we should do good to the city are saying, "Well, Jeremiah said the exiles, they should pray for the shalom or the peace of the city, the well-being of the city and settle in there. You're going to be there for seven years, do good to the city." Yes, but what they forget to notice is that the same prophet, Jeremiah said, "I want you to know what's going to happen to Babylon, it's going to be destroyed. So, while you do good to the city, keep in mind that someday it's going to be a burning heap of rubble where even the jackals will not live." We should realize that if we set up an urban ministry center, it might get vandalized. The computers might get stolen. The stuff we do feels temporary because the physical stuff really is temporary. That's why we're going to put our hope on the eschatological city that we're building, the new Jerusalem by the ministry of the gospel. Be hope-filled people, don't get discouraged easily. Finally, ministry to the poor above ministry to the rich. This is convicting for us. Luke 14:12-14, "Then Jesus said, 'When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors. If you do, they may invite you back, and so you'll be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the cripple, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’” Reach out to those who can't pay you back, that's what Jesus is saying. That doesn't mean you can't have friends over for lunch. I'm just saying, where is the sacrificial ministry to people who are difficult to love and who seem to be a bottomless pit? You've got to do it with a hope that Jesus at the resurrection of the righteous will repay you. Let's focus on those. Find a ministry that causes you to get out of an air-conditioned bubble If you've been doing that, get out of that and go out in the streets and minister to people who are hurting. Counseling ministry will be another one. It's not just financial, sometimes people's lives are just falling apart, they may be wealthy materially, but they're hurting, hurting, hurting in their marriages. Let's get out of the air-conditioned bubble, let's minister as Jesus did.