All Roads Lead to Rome: On Becoming Roman Catholic (OCIA)
This podcast is for people interested in the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. It is especially helpful if you have only heard negative things about it, or if you are in an OCIA class.
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069 - Abortion
10/20/2026
069 - Abortion
This episode tackles abortion by stepping back from politics and asking the deeper question beneath it: what does it mean to be human? We look at the Catholic view through the lens of the Imago Dei, the Incarnation, the sacredness of life, human dignity, and the belief that every person has an eternal soul created by God. From that foundation, we argue that the Church’s teaching on abortion is not an isolated rule, but part of a consistent understanding of humanity that also shapes Catholic teaching on issues like assisted suicide, capital punishment, artificial intelligence, and the treatment of the weak and vulnerable. The episode also contrasts the Church’s anthropology with modern secular views influenced by nominalism, Darwinism, Marxism, and population-control thinking, arguing that these frameworks can reduce human life to preference, utility, or power. Along the way, this episode draws from Scripture, Catholic tradition, pastoral experience, and resources like Project Rachel and Catholic Charities to address both the moral seriousness of abortion and the need for compassion and healing. The central takeaway is that how we think about abortion reveals how we define humanity itself—and whether we see every human life as sacred, dignified, and made in the image of God. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on: Facebook: Instagram: X: YouTube: Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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068 - St. John of the Cross
10/13/2026
068 - St. John of the Cross
St. John of the Cross is one of the 38 Doctors of the Church and a towering figure in Christian mysticism. He was born into poverty and his life was marked by hunger, family hardship, betrayal, imprisonment, and physical suffering. He had every reason to become a bitter and angry man. Instead, he joined the Carmelite order and worked with St. Teresa of Ávila and the Discalced Carmelite reform. This episode explores his life, as well as his 4 major works: The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night of the Soul, The Spiritual Canticle, and The Living Flame of Love. It is from John of the Cross that we have the model of Purgation, Illumination, and Union as the model of spiritual development. If you are interested in Catholic spirituality, Christian mysticism, or learning how hardship can lead to holiness, St. John of the Cross offers a powerful reminder: to gain God, we must let go of ourselves and be transformed by love. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on: Facebook: Instagram: X: YouTube: Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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067 - The Battle of Lepanto and the Rosary
10/06/2026
067 - The Battle of Lepanto and the Rosary
This episode looks at the dramatic story of the Battle of Lepanto and its enduring connection to the Rosary. After setting the stage with the Ottoman threat in the Mediterranean, the fall of Rhodes, the defense of Malta, and the fragile politics of 16th-century Europe, the episode follows the formation of the Holy League under Pope Pius V. As the Ottoman navy advanced toward a possible conquest of Italy, Christians throughout Europe were called to prayer, especially through the Rosary, culminating in the fleet praying together before battle and Mass being offered aboard the ships on the morning of October 7, 1571. The Holy League, despite facing a larger Ottoman fleet, won a stunning victory at Lepanto after a sudden shift in the wind helped turn the battle. Pope Pius V attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, leading October 7 to become the “Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary” and we still mark this feast today. It is a fascinating story! Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on: Facebook: Instagram: X: YouTube: Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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066 - God's Holy Name
09/29/2026
066 - God's Holy Name
This episode explores why names matter—and why the holiest name of all is God’s own revealed name. God first reveals His name to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3, “I AM WHO AM,” it becomes one of the most important moments in Scripture, revealing not merely something God does, but who God is: existence itself. The episode also explains why Jewish and Christian tradition have treated God’s holy name with such reverence, often substituting “Adonai” or “LORD” rather than pronouncing His 4-letter Holy Name. Along the way, Dr. Bickford connects this teaching to Aquinas, the burning bush, the Tetragrammaton, the origins of the word “Jehovah,” and Jesus’ declaration in John 8: “Before Abraham was, I am.” This all may be new for you, but it has a very old history! Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on: Facebook: Instagram: X: YouTube: Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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065 - Monastic Orders
09/22/2026
065 - Monastic Orders
This episode explores the rich and sometimes confusing world of Catholic monastic orders. Beginning with the desert fathers and early Christian ascetics, it traces the development of monastic life through figures like St. Anthony the Great, St. Benedict, St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and Mother Teresa. Along the way, he explains why different religious orders exist, what their different charisms are, and how their lives of prayer, service, poverty, education, evangelization, and sacrifice have shaped the Church and preserved Christian civilization. The episode also highlights major Catholic orders including the Benedictines, Cistercians, Carthusians, Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, Carmelites, Salesians, Missionaries of Charity, Daughters of Charity, and Poor Clares. There is a spiritual power of monastic life, a value to silence and contemplation, and the remarkable commitment of those who devote themselves fully to God and service. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on: Facebook: Instagram: X: YouTube: Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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064 - Why We Suffer
09/15/2026
064 - Why We Suffer
Why do we suffer? This episode explores the Catholic understanding of suffering not as proof against God, but as something God can use for a higher good. Dostoevsky’s book, Notes From the Underground is cited as an example of the argument that humans are built for challenge, not comfort. This episode compliments Episode 16 and its examination of the Book of Job and Paul’s explanation of suffering in Romans 5. It also looks at the uniquely Catholic idea of redemptive suffering: the belief that our pain can be united with the suffering of Christ and offered for the good of others. From the crucifix as the central symbol of Christianity to the examples of saints like Thérèse of Lisieux, Padre Pio, and Bernadette Soubirous, the episode encourages you to see suffering not as meaningless or merely punitive, but as an opportunity for trust, transformation, and deeper participation in Christ’s saving work. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on: Facebook: Instagram: X: Youtube: Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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063 - The Theology of the Body
09/08/2026
063 - The Theology of the Body
This episode marks the 1- year anniversary of this podcast! Thank you for your support!! The greatest challenge facing the Church today is one of Anthropology: “What does it mean to be human?” The secular culture thinks the body, like everything else, is just something we can change and manipulate any way we choose to. Drawing on Pope St. John Paul II’s landmark Wednesday audiences from 1979-1984, this episode explores his “Theology of the Body” which argues that the human body reveals both the spiritual and divine, why marriage and celibacy both point toward God’s eternal plan, and how Catholics are called not to repress desire but to redeem it. This episode continues and examines the dignity of the body, the meaning of sexuality, and the hope of forgiveness and holiness in Christ. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on: Facebook: Instagram: X: Youtube: Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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062 - Practicing the Presence of God
09/01/2026
062 - Practicing the Presence of God
Lots of people “talk” about the faith, but the Carmelite Monk, Brother Lawrence, lived it in such a profound way that he inspired the spiritual classic, The Practice of the Presence of God. In a world of modern skepticism, doubt, and the intellectual search for certainty, Brother Lawrence showed what trust and love can accomplish. Brother Lawrence’s holiness was expressed through simple, daily work—first in the monastery kitchen and later repairing sandals after illness made kitchen work impossible. His practice was to treat every action as prayer: scrubbing pots, mopping floors, enduring pain, and serving others were all done with God and for God. The episode emphasizes that this approach was not sentimental or easy; it required trust, discipline, and a constant turning of the heart back to God. His example challenges us to stop treating faith as something reserved for church or study and instead make every moment an act of worship, love, and surrender. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on: Facebook: Instagram: X: Youtube: Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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061 - Peak Morality or Dying Empire
08/25/2026
061 - Peak Morality or Dying Empire
Many non-Catholics argue that Catholic morality is outdated irrelevant. Using the Letter To Diognetus from the very early years of Christianity, this episode shows that many modern Western values resemble the moral assumptions of the late Roman Empire rather than genuine progress. The Letter to Diognetus shows Christians were distinct from surrounding pagan culture not because of language, nationality, or appearance, but because of their values: they honored marriage, protected children, restrained bodily desires, obeyed civil law while living for heaven, and accepted persecution rather than compromise. The episode connects that ancient contrast to today’s cultural debates, especially around family, human dignity, abortion, sexuality, individualism, and the role of the state. Dr. Bickford argues that Catholic moral teaching has remained consistent while societies and empires often drift into decadence before decline. We are to expect misunderstanding or ridicule as part of the cost of discipleship. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on: Facebook: Instagram: X: Youtube: Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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060 - Hell
08/18/2026
060 - Hell
Hell is one of the most avoided topics in Christian life. This is true even though Jesus talked of judgment, separation and hell in 21 of 39 parables. The episode also walks through some of the most influential images of hell in Western thought, including Dante’s Inferno, Milton’s Paradise Lost, and C.S. Lewis’s reflections in The Problem of Pain and The Screwtape Letters. From fire and torment to frozen isolation, “darkness visible,” and doors locked from the inside, these images point toward the Catholic understanding of hell as definitive self-exclusion from communion with God. The episode closes by turning to Scripture and the Catechism, reminding listeners that hell is not meant to be a fascination or fear tactic, but a serious call to choose God freely, live faithfully, and stay on the road to Rome. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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059 - Thomas Aquinas
08/11/2026
059 - Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas, the greatest Theologian in Christian history, was once called the “Dumb Ox” in school by other students. This episode starts with his noble upbringing near Aquino and his dramatic entrance into the Dominican Order to his studies under Albert the Great and his lasting impact on Catholic thought. He is one of the 38 “Doctors of the Churh” and is known both as the Universal Doctor and the Angelic Doctor. The episode also explains why Aquinas remains so central to Catholic theology 800 years after his death. We look, especially the Summa Theologica, his integration of Aristotle with Christian doctrine, his treatment of virtue, the sacraments, and the existence of God, and the ongoing importance of Thomistic thought today. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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058 - Papal Infallibility
08/04/2026
058 - Papal Infallibility
Papal Infallibility is one of the most misunderstood Catholic teachings. The pope is not a monarch who can simply declare anything true, nor is every papal comment automatically infallible. Instead, papal infallibility is rooted in the Catholic understanding of the Deposit of Faith, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the Church’s responsibility to preserve and clarify what Christ entrusted to her. The episode walks through the distinction between settled doctrine, theological debate, and changeable Church customs, then shows how the Magisterium serves as the Church’s teaching office. It then explains the three narrow conditions required for an infallible papal statement: it must be made from the chair of Peter, concern faith or morals, and define doctrine for the whole Church. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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057 - The Importance of Tradition
07/28/2026
057 - The Importance of Tradition
This episode explores why Tradition matters so deeply in the Catholic Church and why it is often viewed very differently in Protestant communities. It contrasts two foundational ways of thinking: Epistemic Realism, which assumes objective truth and meaning, and Nominalism, which treats truth as more individual and self-defined. This philosophical difference helps explain why Catholics look to Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium together, while Protestants often emphasize personal interpretation of Scripture. It also introduces the Catholic idea of the “Deposit of Faith,” which is the complete revelation entrusted by Christ to the Apostles and safeguarded by the Church through history. The Magisterium serves this deposit rather than invents new doctrine. The Holy Spirit protects the Church in matters of faith and morals through the doctrine of infallibility. This episode also discusses the role of saints and Church history, and the recurring challenges of heresy, corruption, and the current crises in postmodernism. The episode closes by presenting Tradition as the living inheritance that offers clarity, continuity, and a path toward objective truth. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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056 - The Lectionary
07/21/2026
056 - The Lectionary
The Lectionary is an organized schedule of Scripture readings used at Mass throughout the world. It is a 3 year cycle that was developed in the 1960s, after Vatican II and replaced a 1 year cycle of readings. There is a second lectionary for daily Mass readings. So, the Scripture readings you hear at any mass are not chosen by the priest. They are part of a carefully developed cycle that ensures you will hear most of the Bible read in church over the course of the cycle. This episode also compares the Catholic Lectionary with the Protestant Revised Common Lectionary, showing how many Protestant denominations often hear the same or similar readings because their system is based on the Catholic model. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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055 - Teresa of Avila and the Interior Castle
07/14/2026
055 - Teresa of Avila and the Interior Castle
St. Teresa of Avila’s spiritual masterpiece, The Interior Castle, describes the spiritual life as a journey thorough seven rooms of a castle. This episode gives the biography of this great Carmelite nun, mystic, and Doctor of the Church (one of only 38). It then walks through each stage of Teresa’s castle, from the early rooms of self-knowledge, struggle, moral stability, and detachment to the deeper rooms of infused contemplation, spiritual betrothal, purification, perseverance, and mystical marriage. Teresa’s central message is that holiness is not reserved for a spiritual elite: every soul is made for God, called inward by grace, and invited to grow through humility, prayer, surrender, and love of neighbor until it becomes a channel of God’s grace to the world. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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054 - Faith vs. Works
07/07/2026
054 - Faith vs. Works
This episode addresses one of the oldest debates between Protestants and Catholics: are we saved hy faith or works? Beginning with Martin Luther’s struggle with scrupulosity and his emphasis on Sola Fide, this episode explains how the Reformation framed salvation as an either/or question—and why Catholic teaching sees that framing as a false dichotomy. Through Scripture passages from Ephesians, Romans, Galatians, James, Matthew, and Philippians, as well as a study of the Catechism, the episode explores how grace, faith, and works fit together rather than compete with one another. The central takeaway is that salvation begins with God’s free gift of grace, is received through faith, and is lived out through a transformed life of charity, holiness, and service. Catholics do not believe we can earn heaven through good deeds, but neither does Scripture support a faith that remains unchanged and inactive. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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053 - Your Vocation
06/30/2026
053 - Your Vocation
This episode explores what it means to discover and live out your calling from God. Beginning with Dante’s Divine Comedy and its sobering image of the “Lodge of the Indolent,” the episode challenges you to consider whether you are taking your faith seriously or simply drifting through life while postponing the deeper questions of purpose, vocation, and obedience to God’s will. The psychological concept of Selective Attention is introduced to show how we filter out things that are truly not our focus in life. So, if our faith life isn't the focus, then God related moments get filtered out and ignored. Finally, it is through focused attention, prayer, spiritual direction, patience, and a willingness to follow God’s will rather than our own that leads us to understand our true vocation Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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052 - Church Feasts
06/23/2026
052 - Church Feasts
This episode is on Feasts of the Church. It explains why Catholics do more than simply remember important holy days: they participate in them as living moments of faith, worship, reflection, and community. There are three levels of feast days—Solemnities (which mark the most important events and mysteries of the faith), Feasts (which honor major saints and significant events in the life of the Church), and Memorials (which help us remember other saints, devotions, and themes from Church history). Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Churious Friend about us!
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051 - Science, Religion, And The War That Never Was
06/16/2026
051 - Science, Religion, And The War That Never Was
This episode challenges the familiar claim that religion and science have always been locked in conflict. This “war” is largely a modern myth, popularized by writers like John William Draper and Andrew Dixon White, whose polemics shaped generations of misunderstanding. Along the way, the episode revisits familiar flashpoints—Galileo, Columbus, creation, and the so-called Dark Ages—to show how historical nuance is often lost when ideology is presented as fact. The conversation also spotlights Catholic contributions to major scientific developments, from Gregor Mendel’s foundational work in genetics to Georges Lemaître’s role in the origins of Big Bang theory, and uses Robert Spitzer’s research to explore how cosmology, consciousness, and near-death studies can support belief in God and the soul. The central takeaway is clear: in Catholic thought, truth cannot contradict truth, so genuine science and authentic faith ultimately work together rather than against each other. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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050 - Papal Encyclicals
06/09/2026
050 - Papal Encyclicals
In this milestone 50th episode of All Roads Lead to Rome, Dr. Bickford steps back from the headlines around Magnifica Humanitas to answer a more basic and important question: what exactly is a papal encyclical? This episode explains where encyclicals come from, why they matter in Catholic life, and how they differ from other forms of Church teaching. The episode also highlights several of the most influential encyclicals in recent Church history, including Rerum Novarum, Humanae Vitae, Fides et Ratio, and Caritas in Veritate, before returning to Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas, released in May, 2026, on safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence. By connecting historic Catholic social teaching with today’s questions about technology, work, truth, and human dignity, Dr. Bickford gives listeners a practical framework for understanding why encyclicals still matter—and why this latest one is drawing so much attention. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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049 - Eucharistic Miracles
06/02/2026
049 - Eucharistic Miracles
Eucharistic miracles are signs that point back to the Catholic teaching on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This episode begins by explaining why the Eucharist is so central to Catholic life, contrasting Catholic belief in Transubstantiation with Protestant views of Communion, and grounding the discussion in John 6 and the witness of the early Church Fathers. It also offers a practical explanation of substance and accidents to help listeners understand how Catholics describe the bread and wine becoming the Body and Blood of Christ. The episode then highlights several well-known Eucharistic miracles—from Lanciano and Bolsena to Buenos Aires, Sokolka, and Tixtla—showing how these events have been investigated, preserved, and interpreted within the life of the Church. These miracles do not add new doctrine but strengthen faith in what the Church has always taught: that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life and a profound invitation to encounter Christ more deeply. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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048 - Francis de Sales and the Devout Life
05/26/2026
048 - Francis de Sales and the Devout Life
St. Francis de Sales was the Catholic Bishop of Geneva, Switzerland at a time when Protestants controlled the city. He is known as the “Gentleman Saint” and is one of the only 38 Doctors of the Church. His book, Introduction to the Devout Life, first published in 1609, is a spiritual classic that teaches how a truly holy life is for everyone, not just clergy. His great gift is showing that spiritual growth can be serious without being harsh, and practical without losing depth. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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047 - Pentecost and the Church
05/19/2026
047 - Pentecost and the Church
The Holy Spirit is the most mysterious part of the Trinity. For Catholics, the Holy Spirit does more than transform individual believers; the Spirit guides and protects the Church from theological errors. This episode explains the Trinity, the distinctiveness of the Holy Spirit, and how the Spirit sustains the Church through all of the challenges that it has faced and faces today. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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046 - The Four Causes (of Everything)
05/12/2026
046 - The Four Causes (of Everything)
Aristotle argued that we don’t fully know a thing until we grasp its “why” (its causes). He identified 4 specific causes that we need to understand: The Material Cause (what something is made of0, the Formal Cause (What something is made for), the Efficient Cause (how something was made) and the Final Cause (what the ultimate purpose of the thing is) St. Thomas Aquinas applied this same framework to theology and came to profound conclusions about God and the nature of humanity. These Thomistic conclusions appear throughout the Catholic Catechism. Postmodernism only accepts the Material and Efficient causes ... and Dr Bickford argues that this is why we now have a "Crisis of Meaning" in our culture. This is a great episode! Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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045 - Apparitions of Mary
05/05/2026
045 - Apparitions of Mary
Why have there been apparitions of the Virgin Mary around the world throughout the centuries? The Catholic Church takes them very seriously and conducts long, careful investigations before endorsing any of them. This episode explores a number of them and shows how they all accomplish the same goals, to point people to Jesus, to call for prayer, and to provide hope. We examine some of the approved apparitions; primarily Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico (1531) and Our Lady of Lourdes in France (1858). We look at some of the historically significant apparitions including; Our Lady of Walshingham, England (1061), Our Lady of the Pillar in Spain (40), and Our Lady of Pompeii in Italy (1870s). We also look at Apparitions that are still under investigation; like our Lady of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1981-present), Our Lady of Akita in Japan (1973-1981), and Our Lady of Zeitoun Egypt (1968-1971). What are the key takeaways? Marian apparitions are NOT required beliefs for Catholics and they do not add any new teaching or doctrine. Instead, each apparition calls people to Christ, prayer, repentance, and peace. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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044 - Angels
04/28/2026
044 - Angels
Angels are discussed all through the Bible, but what are they? Many people think that when they die, they will become angels. They won't!!! Humans are 'hylomorphic' beings. We are hybrids that exist between the angles, who are purely spiritual beings and animals, which are purely material beings. We are the hybrids because we have material bodies and spiritual souls. So, what are Angels? St. Thomas Aquinas (known as the "Angelic Doctor") used the Bible to describe 9 choirs of angels. The highest, The Seraphim and Cherubim directly serve God in heaven. The lowest, the Archangels and Angels, are involved with people on earth to help them toward salvation. This episode walks through all of that and more! Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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043 - The Beatitudes
04/21/2026
043 - The Beatitudes
This episode explroes the Catholic understanding of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) as the heart of Jesus’ preaching—less about “being happy” and more about becoming holy. Walking beatitude by beatitude, the episode contrasts the world’s idea of happiness with the Christian path of flourishing through humility, repentance, gentleness, justice, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and endurance under persecution. Key Takeaways 1. The Beatitudes describe what grace produces in a disciple. They are less “commands” and more declarations of the life God forms in us. 2. The Gospel’s logic is paradoxical. Real joy is found through humility, mercy, purity, and suffering endured for love—not self-assertion. 3. Happiness and holiness are inseparable. True “flourishing” is living the life God created you to live, even amid suffering. 4. Each beatitude trains the heart. Detachment from worldly “treasures” re-orders desire so the heart can be set on God. 5. The Beatitudes sit at the center of Christian moral life. As the Ten Commandments organize the Old Testament, the Beatitudes orient the New Testament’s vision of holiness.
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042 - Therese of Lisieux - Story of A Soul
04/14/2026
042 - Therese of Lisieux - Story of A Soul
How did a cloistered teenage nun who died of Tuberculosis at 24 become a Doctor of the Church? In Episode 42, we explore the life and spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her revolutionary “Little Way” of love, trust, and spiritual childhood. This is a story of humility that changed the Church—and can change your life. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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041 - How Catholics Read the Bible
04/07/2026
041 - How Catholics Read the Bible
Many Christians assume the Bible is easy to read: “The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it.” But is that how Scripture has actually been read throughout history? In this episode, we explain why Scripture was never meant to stand alone and how the Church has consistently interpreted the Bible from the time of the early Church Fathers to today. Key Points: Why the Bible is not a single book, but a library of 73 inspired books How different literary genres in Scripture require different ways of reading Why Jesus established a Church, not a book—and why that matters How the biblical canon was formed by the early Church Why Catholics have 73 books in the Bible while Protestants have only 66 What the Septuagint is and why it matters for understanding Jesus and the New Testament Why the doctrine of Sola Scriptura is historically and logically problematic How Catholics understand authority through Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium How to read the Bible through the “Four Senses” of Scripture The Four Senses of Scripture 1. Literal Sense: What the text meant in its original historical, cultural, and literary context. This is the foundation of all biblical interpretation. 2. Allegorical Sense: How Old Testament events point to Christ. 3. Moral Sense: The ways the Bible teaches us how to live 4. Anagogical Sense: How Scripture points us toward our final destiny Summary Catholics take the Bible seriously—but never in isolation. Scripture is read with the whole Church, past and present, guided by tradition and safeguarded by the Magisterium. Understanding the Four Senses of Scripture doesn’t just deepen biblical knowledge—it changes how we live, how we worship, and how we walk the road of faith. Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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040 - The Atonement
03/31/2026
040 - The Atonement
The Atonement is the word used to describe the meaning of the death of Jesus on the cross. It is also why him being executed is the symbol for the Christian religion. This episode explores the mystery of the Atonement—how Christ’s death on the Cross restores humanity’s broken relationship with God. T Catholic understanding of the Atonement is a rich, multi‑dimensional mystery rooted in Scripture, shaped by the Fathers of the Church, clarified by St. Thomas Aquinas, and lived out in the sacraments. This episode explains why Catholic theology refuses to reduce the Cross to just punishment, moral example, or cosmic victory—and instead embraces all of the above, and more. According to Catholic teaching, Christ’s saving work on the Cross is: Sacrificial — Christ freely offers Himself in love Substitutive (not penal) — Christ stands in our place as the New Adam Satisfactory — His love outweighs the offense of sin Meritorious — Grace flows from His obedience Victorious — Sin, death, and the devil are defeated Medicinal — The wounds of sin are healed Transformative — Humanity is elevated into divine life Ecclesial & Sacramental — The Church communicates the fruits of the Cross Trinitarian — The inner life of God is revealed as self‑giving love Eschatological — The Cross opens the way to Resurrection and eternal communion Please visit our website: . You can sign up for our newsletter, leave me a voice message with a comment or suggestion, get connected with us on socials, and you can become a Patron who makes all of this magic happen! AllRoadsLeadToRome.net We are also on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube. Please tell A Catholic Curious friend about us!
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