A podcast about the Fathers and Doctors of the Church—the foundational figures of Christian history. A production of CatholicCulture.org, hosted by Jim Papandrea (formerly by Mike Aquilina). Currently covering all the Doctors of the Church! Seasons: 1: Church Fathers 2: Early Ecumenical Councils 3: Cities of God 4: Heresies 5: Doctors of the Church
Latest episodes
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23 min
5.44 St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Doctor of Merciful Love
Called "The Little Flower," and "St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus," St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 - 1897) is our most recent doctor of the Church. She only lived to be 24 years old, b…
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22 min
5.43 St. Alphonsus Liguori: Prince of the Moralists
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696 - 1787) is one of the most popular and widely-read spiritual writers of all time, and yet his most significant contribution to the Church was his moral…
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29 min
5.42 St. Alphonsus Liguori: Most Zealous Doctor
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696 - 1787) was a priest, bishop, spiritual director, retreat leader, musician and composer. Co-founder of the Redemptorists, he was a teacher of prayer, an…
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18 min
5.41 St. Francis de Sales: Doctor of Analogies
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) has been called a spiritual director by correspondence, for his many letters, and for the fact that he was a pioneer of Catholic publishing, spread…
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17 min
5.40 St. Francis de Sales: The Gentleman Doctor
What St. Peter Canisius and St. Lawrence of Brindisi did for Germany, St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) did for Switzerland. Born just three years after John Calvin died, St. Franci…
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26 min
5.39 St. Robert Bellarmine: Father of the Poor
St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) was a man known for his generosity. He was also well known for his writings on topics of spirituality, which were widely popular and were read by…
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17 min
5.38 St. Robert Bellarmine: Prince of Apologists
At the height of the Counter-Reformation, St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) was one of the most influential apologists of the time. He openly debated with King James I of England,…
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19 min
5.37 St. Lawrence of Brindisi: Doctor of the Incarnation
St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619) was a Preacher, spiritual director, missionary, diplomat, confidant of princes and emperors, Papal Emissary, military chaplain, Provincial Vica…
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23 min
5.36 St. Lawrence of Brindisi: The Apostolic Doctor
St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619) was one of the early Capuchins, the first Capuchin to be named a Doctor of the Church, and the third Franciscan so named, after St. Anthony of…
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1 h 29
BONUS: Poetry of St. John of the Cross w/ Carla Galdo
In a bonus episode originally published on the Catholic Culture Podcast (Sept. 5, 2023), Thomas Mirus interviews Carla Galdo about the poetry of St. John of the Cross, who recites…
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26 min
5.35 St. John of the Cross: Master In the Faith
St. John of the Cross (1542 - 1591) What St. Thomas Aquinas did for philosophy and systematic theology, St. John of the Cross did for mysticism. He brought mystical theology to a p…
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17 min
5.34 St. John of the Cross: The Mystical Doctor
St. John of the Cross (1542 - 1591) Arguably the most famous of the mystics, St. John of the Cross is well known for the concept of the "dark night of the soul." He was the "first…
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19 min
5.33 St. Peter Canisius: Doctor of the Catechism
St. Peter Canisius (1521 - 1597) This restorer of the Catholic faith among the Germans and Swiss was responsible for standardizing the current form of the Hail Mary prayer. A champ…
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12 min
5.32 St. Peter Canisius: Second Apostle of Germany
St. Peter Canisius (1521 - 1597) A counter-Reformation apologist and reformer, St. Peter Canisius wrote the first official Catholic Catechisms, and was responsible for major parts…
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16 min
5.31 St. Teresa of Avila: La Madre
St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) St. Teresa was already being called a saint, and a doctor, within her lifetime. She was a visionary who suffered greatly from physical illness, an…
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27 min
New Lives of the Popes podcast, and pilgrimage with Mike and Jim
Way of the Fathers hosts Mike Aquilina and Jim Papandrea get together with producer Thomas Mirus two big announcements: Thomas's new podcast Lives of the Popes (a sister podcast to…
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19 min
5.30 St. Teresa of Avila: Doctor of Prayer
St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) St. Teresa of Avila was the first female Doctor of the Church. She was the co-founder (with St. John of the Cross) of the Discalced Carmelites. A…
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16 min
5.29 St. John of Avila: The Master
St. John of Avila (1499 - 1569) At the dawn of the Protestant Reformation, St. John of Avila stood in a long and noble tradition of preachers for reform within the Catholic Church.…
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13 min
5.28 St. John of Avila: Apostle of Andalusia
St. John of Avila (1499 - 1569) In the aftermath of the reestablishment of Christendom in Spain, and at the dawn of the Protestant Reformation, St. John of Avila was a powerful and…
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23 min
5.27 St. Catherine of Siena: Mystic of the Incarnate Word
St. Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380) was almost single-handedly responsible for bringing the Papacy back to Rome after the long Avignon Papacy. Her book, The Dialogue, demonstrates…