Catholic Culture Audiobooks
Voice actor James T. Majewski brings to life classic Catholic works, with a special focus on St. John Henry Newman and the Fathers of the Church. Over 100 recordings, including sermons, encyclicals, letters, poems, and full books like St. Augustine's De Doctrina Christiana, and St. Athanasius's Life of St. Anthony. A production of CatholicCulture.org.
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St. John Henry Newman - The Oxford Sermons | 2. The Influence of Natural and Revealed Religion Respectively
02/20/2025
St. John Henry Newman - The Oxford Sermons | 2. The Influence of Natural and Revealed Religion Respectively
"The philosopher aspires towards a divine principle; the Christian, towards a Divine Agent." St. John Henry Newman's Oxford Sermons, delivered during his time as an Anglican preacher at the University of Oxford, were isntrumental in shaping the Oxford Movement, which sought to revive High Church traditions within the Church of England and ultimately led to many conversions to Catholicism. In addition to the profound influence these sermons had on both Anglican and Catholic theology, they also bore a personal significance for Newman’s own conversion to Catholicism years later. These fifteen sermons, though deeply interconnected in theme and insight, are not sequential in nature; rather, each stands on its own as a distinct and self-contained reflection on faith and reason. Newman lays the groundwork for themes developed in later works, such as Grammar of Assent and Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine. In this second sermon, Newman illustrates how the foundational awareness of God's existence ascertained by natural religion (human reason and observation of the world) is perfected and deepened by the personal knowledge of God offered by revealed religion (divine revelation, especially in the person of Christ). Links The Influence of Natural and Revealed Religion Respectively full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Henry Newman - The Oxford Sermons | 1. The Philosophical Temper, First Enjoined by the Gospels
02/07/2025
St. John Henry Newman - The Oxford Sermons | 1. The Philosophical Temper, First Enjoined by the Gospels
"The philosopher might speculate, but the theologian must submit to learn." St. John Henry Newman's Oxford Sermons, delivered during his time as an Anglican preacher at the University of Oxford, were instrumental in shaping the Oxford Movement, which sought to revive High Church traditions within the Church of England. In this collection of fifteen sermons, Newman especially explores the relationship between faith and reason, and lays the groundwork for themes he would later develop in works like his Grammar of Assent and Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine. In addition to the profound influence these sermons had on both Anglican and Catholic theology, they also bore a personal significance for Newman’s own conversion to Catholicism years later. In this first sermon, Newman argues that it was Christianity which first promoted a properly philosophical disposition, by encouraging a mindset and instilling the virtues essential for a truly scientific approach to the pursuit of truth. Links The Philosophical Temper, First Enjoined by the Gospel full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Vincent Ferrer - On the Purification of Mary
02/01/2025
St. Vincent Ferrer - On the Purification of Mary
“This present feast is one of the greater of the whole year... Because there are three grades of sanctity which we celebrate in this feast.” St. Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419) was a Spanish Dominican friar, theologian, and renowned preacher known for his fiery sermons and missionary work across Europe. He was deeply devoted to calling people to repentance, emphasizing the urgency of salvation and often preaching about the Last Judgment. This earned him the moniker "Angel of the Judgment." In this Candlemas sermon, St. Vincent reflects on the three significant events which this great feast commemorates: the Meeting with Simeon, the Presentation of Christ, and the Purification of Mary. Links: Full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Full
01/24/2025
St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Full
"Be sure that wherever our lot is cast we may and must aim at the perfect life." Written over 400 years ago, Introduction to the Devout Life is still one of the most popular books for those pursuing holiness. St. Francis de Sales explains how to turn that desire for sanctity into resolutions that yield grace-filled results. Themes include: Pursuing a devout life whole-heartedly Incorporating prayer and sacraments into a busy schedule Growing in virtue Battling wisely against temptation Making spiritual progress through daily, monthly, and yearly exercises Whether you are just beginning your spiritual journey or are more advanced in the spiritual life, you’ll be able to apply this timeless wisdom immediately. Let St. Francis de Sales illumine the path to holiness and strengthen your desire to walk that road with the Lord. St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622) was the Bishop of Geneva and a renowned spiritual director. Preaching during the Counter-Reformation, he is estimated to have converted 70,000 Calvinists in his lifetime. He was a fervent proponent of the universal call to holiness and spent much of his time guiding lay people on the road to sanctity. Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1877, St. Francis is still helping to form saints through his many writings, of which Introduction to the Devout Life is the most famous. —description from the publisher Introduction to the Devout Life full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved. Timestamps 00:38 Preface 12:26 Part 1 – Counsels and Exercises for the Guidance of the Soul from Its First Desire After a Devout Life unto a Full Resolution of Pursuing the Same 12:38 True Devotion Explained 18:19 The Nature and Excellence of Devotion 23:17 Devotion is Suitable to Every Vocation and Profession 27:26 The Need of a Guide for those who would Enter Upon and Advance in the Devout Life 33:35 The First Step: Purifying the Soul 38:22 The First Purification: From Mortal Sin 40:56 The Second Purification: From All Sinful Affections 44:17 How to Affect This Second Purification 46:56 First Meditation, On Creation 53:26 Second Meditation, On the End for Which We Were Created 59:26 Third Meditation, On the Gifts of God 1:05:20 Fourth Meditation, On Sin 1:11:39 Fifth Meditation, On Death 1:19:00 Sixth Meditation, On Judgment 1:24:59 Seventh Meditation, On Hell 1:29:02 Eighth Meditation, On Paradise 1:34:05 Ninth Meditation, On the Choice Open to You Between Heaven and Hell 1:39:26 Tenth Meditation, On How the Soul Chooses the Devout Life 1:46:40How to Make a General Confession 1:49:23 A Sincere Protest Made with the Object of Confirming the Soul’s Resolution to Serve God as a Cojnclusion to its Acts of Penitence 1:53:58 Conclusion of This First Purification 1:55:53 The Necessity of Purging Away All Tendency to Venial Sins 2:00:35 It Is Necessary to Put Away All Inclination for Useless and Dangerous Things 2:03:14 All Evil Inclinations Must Be Purged Away 02:05:29 Part 2 – Counsels as to Uplifting the Soul to God in Prayer and the Use of the Sacraments 2:05:38 The Necessity of Prayer 2:11:30 A Short Method of Meditation in the Presence of God: The First Point of Preparation 2:17:05 Invocation: The Second Point of Preparation 2:18:38 Representing the Mystery to Be Meditated to Your Imagination: The Third Point of Preparation 2:20:49 Considerations: The Second Part of Meditation 2:22:16 Affections and Resolutions: The Third Part of Meditation 2:24:01 The Conclusion and Spiritual Bouquet 2:25:44 Some Useful Hints on Meditation 2:30:40 Concerning Dryness in Meditation 2:33:15 Morning Prayer 2:36:05 Evening Prayer and Examination of Conscience 2:38:03 Spiritual Refreshment 2:42:42 Aspirations, Brief Prayer, and Holy Thoughts 2:53:34 Holy Communion, and How to Receive It 2:58:17 The Other Public Offices of the Church 3:00:13 How the Saints Are United to Us 3:02:58 How to Hear and Read God’s Word 3:05:05 How to Receive Inspirations 3:10:31 Confession 3:17:35 Frequent Communion 3:23:09 How to Communicate 03:28:01 Part 3 – Counsels Concerning the Practice of Virtue 03:28:08 How to Select That Which We Should Chiefly Practice 03:36:56 The Same Subject Continued 03:43:55 Patience 03:53:08 Greater Humility 03:59:02 Interior Humility 04:08:28 Humility Makes Us Rejoice in Our Own Abjection 04:15:11 How to Combine Due Care for a Good Reputation with Humility 04:22:40 Gentleness Towards Others and Remedies Against Anger 04:31:05 Gentleness Towards Ourselves 04:35:35 We Must Attend to the Business of Life Carefully, but Without Eagerness or Over-Anxiety 04:40:18 Obedience 04:45:43 Purity 04:49:05 How to Maintain Purity 04:52:48 Poverty of Spirit amid Riches 04:58:28 How to Exercise Real Poverty although Actually Rich 05:06:08 How to Possess a Rich Spirit amid Real Poverty 05:09:50 Friendship: Evil and Frivolous Friendship 05:13:31 Frivolous Attachments 05:18:48 Real Friendship 05:24:40 The Difference between True and False Friendship 05:28:57 Remedies against Evil Friendships 05:35:47 Further Advice concerning Intimacies 05:40:22 The Practice of Bodily Mortification 05:50:59 Society and Solitude 05:56:24 Modesty in Dress 06:00:20 Conversation: First, How to Speak of God 06:02:52 Unseemly Words and the Respect Due to Others 06:07:18 Hasty Judgments 06:17:28 Slander 06:28:27 Further Counsels as to Conversation 06:32:24 Amusements and Recreations: What Are Allowable 06:34:56 Forbidden Amusements 06:36:53 Balls and Other Lawful but Dangerous Amusements 06:41:59 When to Use Such Amusements Rightly 06:43:49 We Must Be Faithful in Things Great and Small 06:49:23 - A Well-Balanced, Reasonable Mind 06:53:33 - Wishes 06:58:15 - Counsels to Married People 07:11:47 - The Sanctity of the Marriage Bed 07:13:15 - Counsels to Widows 07:22:31 - One Word to Maidens 07:23:51 Part 4 – Counsels Concerning Some Ordinary Temptations 07:23:58 - We Must Not Trifle with the Words of Worldly Wisdom 07:29:29 - The Need of Good Courage 07:32:09 - Temptations and the Difference Between Experiencing Them and Consenting to Them 07:37:19 - Two Striking Illustrations of the Same 07:40:56 - Encouragement for the Tempted Soul 07:43:26 - When Temptation and Pleasure are Sin 07:47:23 - Remedies for Great Occasions 07:50:15 - How to Resist Minor Temptations 07:52:26 - How to Remedy Minor Temptations 07:55:02 - How to Strengthen the Heart Against Temptation 07:57:40 - Anxiety of Mind 08:03:27 - Sadness and Sorrow 08:08:40 - Spiritual and Sensible Consolations and How to Receive Them 08:23:23 - Dryness and Spiritual Barrenness 08:33:49 - An Illustration 08:41:07 Part 5 - Counsels and Practices for Renewing and Confirming the Soul in Devotion 08:41:15 - It Is Well Yearly to Renew Good Resolutions by Means of the Following Exercises 08:43:58 - Meditation on the Benefit Conferred on Us by God in Calling Us to His Service 08:48:55 - Examination of the Soul as to Its Progress in the Devout Life 08:52 :13 - Examination of the Soul's Condition as Regards God 08:56:52 - Examination of Your Condition as Regards Yourself 08:59:16 - Examination of the Soul's Condition as Regards Our Neighbor 09:00:43 - Examination as to the Affectations of the Soul 09:03:10 - The Affections to Be Excited After Such Examination 09:04:36 - Reflections Suitable to the Renewal of Good Resolutions 09:05:23 - First Consideration, On the Worth of Souls 09:08:13 - Second Consideration, On the Excellence of Virtue 09:10:01 - The Example of the Saints 09:11:48 - The Love That Jesus Christ Bears to Us 09:15:05 - The Eternal Love of God for Us 09:16:36 - General Affections That Should Result from These Considerations and Conclusion of the Exercise 09:19:16 - The Impressions That Should Remain After This Exercise 09:20:53 - An Answer to Two Objections That May Be Made to This Book 09:23:45 - Three Important and Final Counsels
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Pope Benedict XVI - Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) | Part 2
01/17/2025
Pope Benedict XVI - Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) | Part 2
“Love is the light—and in the end, the only light—that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working. Love is possible, and we are able to practice it because we are created in the image of God. To experience love and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world—this is the invitation I would like to extend with the present Encyclical.” Deus Caritas Est, or “God is Love,” was the first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, released on December 25, 2005. This letter focuses on the nature of Christian love, particularly examining the relationship between God’s love for humanity and the love Christians are called to show others. Benedict grounds his reflections in Scripture and tradition, aiming to clarify misunderstandings about Christian love in a contemporary world marked by both cynicism and sentimentality. This episode comprises the second part, titled “Caritas: The Practice of Love by the Church as a Community of Love,” and the encyclical's conclusion. Links: Full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Henry Newman - Reverence, a Belief in God's Presence
12/18/2024
St. John Henry Newman - Reverence, a Belief in God's Presence
"They are the class of feelings we should have—yes, have in an intense degree—if we literally had the sight of Almighty God; therefore they are the class of feelings which we shall have, if we realize His presence." This sermon appears among a collection of sermons originally written and preached by St. John Henry Newman before his conversion to Catholicism. In it, Newman emphasizes that true reverence arises from a deep, abiding awareness of God's presence. Links Reverence, a Belief in God's Presence full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Henry Walpole - Upon the Death of M. Edmund Campion
11/30/2024
St. Henry Walpole - Upon the Death of M. Edmund Campion
"You thought perhaps when learned Campion dies, His pen must cease, his sugared tongue be still; But you forgot how loud his death it cries How far beyond the sound of tongue and quill." In 1581, a young Englishman named Henry Walpole attended the execution of the Jesuit Edmund Campion. As Campion was hung, drawn and quartered, Walpole stood close enough to be spattered with his holy blood. Though Campion’s fame in England was already great, Walpole would amplify it further with a splendid, lengthy poem, which became enormously popular among English Catholics—so popular that the man who printed the book had his ears cut off as punishment. In his poem Walpole wrote: We cannot fear a mortal torment, we, This martyr’s blood hath moistened all our hearts, Whose parted quarters when we chance to see We learn to play the constant Christian’s parts. This was more than wordplay: Two years after Campion’s death, Walpole became a priest, and was himself hung for the faith in 1595. Links Lyra Martyrum: The Poetry of the English Martyrs: Catholic Culture Podcast #69—The Poetry of the English Martyrs—Benedict Whalen SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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Pope Benedict XVI - Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) | Part 1
11/12/2024
Pope Benedict XVI - Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) | Part 1
“This is love in its most radical form. By contemplating the pierced side of Christ, we can understand the starting-point of this Encyclical Letter: “God is love”. It is there that this truth can be contemplated. It is from there that our definition of love must begin. In this contemplation the Christian discovers the path along which his life and love must move.” Deus Caritas Est, or “God is Love,” was the first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, released on December 25, 2005. This letter focuses on the nature of Christian love, particularly examining the relationship between God’s love for humanity and the love Christians are called to show others. Benedict grounds his reflections in Scripture and tradition, aiming to clarify misunderstandings about Christian love in a contemporary world marked by both cynicism and sentimentality. In this first part, titled “The Unity of Love in Creation and in Salvation History,” Benedict explores two distinct yet intertwined dimensions of love, eros and agape, arriving at the newness which biblical faith brings to man's understanding of love—a new understanding that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the incarnate love of God. Links: Full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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G.E.M. Anscombe - Contraception and Chastity
10/31/2024
G.E.M. Anscombe - Contraception and Chastity
"For we don't invent marriage... any more than we invent human language. It is part of the creation of humanity and if we're lucky we find it available to us and can enter into it. If we are very unlucky, we may live in a society that has wrecked or deformed this human thing." Elizabeth Anscombe was a prominent 20th-century British philosopher, known for her influential work in ethics and her deep commitment to Catholic doctrine. In her essay 'Contraception and Chastity'—one of the earliest defenses of Pope Paul VI's encyclical, Humanae Vitae—Anscombe expertly explains the evil of contraception and contrasts its use with that of methods of natural family planning. Read by Karina Majewski Links Contraception and Chastity full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Henry Newman - Three Poems on the Angels
10/01/2024
St. John Henry Newman - Three Poems on the Angels
My oldest friend, mine from the hour When first I drew my breath; My faithful friend, that shall be mine, Unfailing, till my death... "St. Michael" full text: "Angelic Guidance" full text: "Guardian Angel" full text: Happy feast of the Guardian Angels! More links: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Henry Newman - The Self-Wise Inquirer
09/26/2024
St. John Henry Newman - The Self-Wise Inquirer
"In proportion as we lean to our own understanding, we are driven to do so for want of a better guide. Our first true guide, the light of innocence, is gradually withdrawn from us; and nothing is left for us but to 'grope and stumble in the desolate places,' by the dim, uncertain light of reason." This sermon appears among a collection of sermons originally written and preached by St. John Henry Newman between 1825 and 1843, before his conversion to Catholicism. In it, Newman warns against the dangers of intellectual pride and underscores that the path to true wisdom lies in humble submission to God's commandments, not in self-reliant reasoning. Links The Self-wise Inquirer full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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Pope St. Paul VI - Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life)
09/19/2024
Pope St. Paul VI - Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life)
"But to experience the gift of married love while respecting the laws of conception is to acknowledge that one is not the master of the sources of life but rather the minister of the design established by the Creator. Just as man does not have unlimited dominion over his body in general, so also, and with more particular reason, he has no such dominion over his specifically sexual faculties, for these are concerned by their very nature with the generation of life, of which God is the source." Issued in 1968, Humanae Vitae is the final encyclical letter of Pope Paul VI. In it, he rejects the conclusions of the 1966 majority report of the Pontifical Commission on Birth Control, and instead reaffirms the Church's longstanding opposition to artificial contraception while promoting natural family planning as a moral alternative. The document remains a significant source text for Church teaching on responsible parenthood, marital love, and the sanctity of life. Links Humanae Vitae full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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Pope St. Gelasius I - Famuli Vestrae Pietatis: On the Two Swords
08/22/2024
Pope St. Gelasius I - Famuli Vestrae Pietatis: On the Two Swords
"For there are two, O emperor Augustus, by which the world is principally ruled: the sacred authority of pontiffs and the royal power." Pope St. Gelasius I reigned as pope from 492 to 496 AD and is best known for articulating the doctrine of "the two swords." This doctrine explains that man is subject to two powers: the temporal and the spiritual. Whereas the temporal power wields natural authority to promote the common good, the spiritual power wields supernatural authority for the care of souls. While recognizing that these two powers complement one another, Gelasius asserts the ultimate primacy of the spiritual authority over the temporal. Pope Gelasius' contributions helped shape the relationship between church and state in medieval Europe, and to this day the Church's position remains what he first described in this famous letter to the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I. Links Famuli Vestrae Pietatis full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Damascene - Sermon on the Assumption
08/12/2024
St. John Damascene - Sermon on the Assumption
"And just as the all-holy body of God's Son, which was taken from her, rose from the dead on the third day, it followed that she should be snatched from the tomb, that the mother should be united to her Son; and as He had come down to her, so she should be raised up to Him." John of Damascus, also known as St. John Damascene, was an influential monk and theologian of the 8th century. He is considered the last of the Greek Fathers and is primarily known for his definitive defense of icons against the iconoclast heresy. His influential body of work includes sermons, hymns, and an encyclopedia that summarizes the philosophical and theological developments of the Patristic era. His significant contributions to the Church's understanding of her doctrine and liturgy have earned him the title "Doctor of the Church." In this sermon—one of three on the Dormition of Mary—St. John reflects upon Mary's participation in the mysteries of salvation, describes the gathering of the apostles and angels to honor her departure from this world, and exhorts all to celebrate the great feast of her Assumption. Links Sermon II: On the Assumption full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Henry Newman - Appearance of the Cross in the Sky to Constantine
07/31/2024
St. John Henry Newman - Appearance of the Cross in the Sky to Constantine
"Constantine's submission of his power to the Church has been a pattern for all Christian monarchs since, and the commencement of her state establishment to this day; and, on the other hand, the fortunes of the Roman empire are in prophecy apparently connected with her in a very intimate manner, which we are not yet able fully to comprehend. If any event might be said to call for a miracle, it was this." In this chapter from Newman's Essays on Miracles, written in his Anglican period, Newman evaluates the historical and evidential support for the miraculous event which led to Constantine's conversion to Christianity around A.D. 311-312. Links Appearance of the Cross in the Sky to Constantine full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Aphrahat - On Penitents
07/11/2024
St. Aphrahat - On Penitents
"So the man whom Satan has smitten ought not to be ashamed to confess his sin, and depart from it, and entreat for himself the medicine of penitence. For gangrene comes to the wound of him who is ashamed to show it, and harm comes to his whole body; and he who is not ashamed has his wound healed, and again returns to go down into the conflict." St. Aphrahat is known in the tradition as “the Persian Sage.” Born in the late third century in the Persian Empire, he flourished amid persecution and is the earliest prominent witness to Syriac Christianity. He wrote in a dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, and maintained close contact with Judaism, demonstrating a profound knowledge of Hebrew Scriptures and Jewish customs. He is best known for his collection of twenty-three writings called the "Demonstrations." Demonstration VII concerns penitents. Composed in 336-337 A.D., it is the earliest work to treat of the early Church's approach to the sacrament of penance and pastoral care with such precision. Links Demonstration VII, On Penitents full text: Learn more about St. Aphrahat on Way of the Fathers: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Henry Newman - Many Called, Few Chosen
07/01/2024
St. John Henry Newman - Many Called, Few Chosen
"Your very perplexity in reconciling the surface of things with our Lord's announcements, the very temptation you lie under to explain away the plain words of Scripture, shows you that your standard of good and evil, and the standard of all around you, must be very different from God's standard." In this sermon from his Anglican period, Newman reflects upon the challenging truth proclaimed uniformly throughout Scripture: the chosen are few, though many are called. Links Many Called, Few Chosen full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 4 (Parables 9-10)
06/19/2024
The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 4 (Parables 9-10)
“Keep his commandments, and you will have a cure for sin.” The Shepherd of Hermas is an apocryphal text written in Rome in the 2nd century. It belongs to the category of "apocalyptic" literature, as it relates a series of revelations given to its titular character, Hermas, who may or may not also have been the work's author. The Shepherd of Hermas was widely read and respected in the early Church, with some Church Fathers (such as Irenaeus and Origen) even considering it part of canonical scripture. The text is divided into three main sections: Visions, Mandates, and Parables. Taken together, they serve as an exhortation to repentance. Part 4: Conclusion 00:00 Intro 00:39 Ninth Parable - Chapter 1 03:35 Chapter 2 05:27 Chapter 3 06:40 Chapter 4 09:12 Chapter 5 11:18 Chapter 6 13:12 Chapter 7 15:15 Chapter 8 17:39 Chapter 9 20:07 Chapter 10 21:59 Chapter 11 24:58 Chapter 12 27:45 Chapter 13 30:38 Chapter 14 32:54 Chapter 15 35:21 Chapter 16 37:36 Chapter 17 39:31 Chapter 18 41:44 Chapter 19 43:28 Chapter 20 44:46 Chapter 21 45:56 Chapter 22 47:10 Chapter 23 48:37 Chapter 24 50:00 Chapter 25 50:36 Chapter 26 53:06 Chapter 27 53:50 Chapter 28 56:08 Chapter 29 57:30 Chapter 30 59:11 Chapter 31 01:01:05 Chapter 32 01:02:48 Chapter 33 01:04:14 Tenth Parable - Chapter 1 01:05:45 Chapter 2 01:07:21 Chapter 3 01:09:14 Chapter 4 This work was released in its entirety in episodic format. Links The Shepherd of Hermas full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Henry Newman - The Work of the Christian
04/20/2024
St. John Henry Newman - The Work of the Christian
"It cannot be said, then, because we have not to bear the burden and the heat of the day, that therefore we have returned to paradise. It is not that our work is lighter, but our strength is greater." This sermon from Newman's Anglican period was originally preached on Septuagesima Sunday. In it, Newman addresses the misconception that grace exempts Christians from work, and he exhorts Christians to embrace their calling to work diligently for the glory of God. Links The Work of the Christian full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 3 (Parables 1-8)
04/12/2024
The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 3 (Parables 1-8)
“These mandates are advantageous for those who intend to repent. For, if they do not walk in them, their repentance is worthless. You who repent must cast off the wickedness of this world which wears you down; if you put on every excellence of justice, you can observe these mandates and keep from committing any additional sins.” The Shepherd of Hermas is an apocryphal text written in Rome in the 2nd century. It belongs to the category of "apocalyptic" literature, as it relates a series of revelations given to its titular character, Hermas, who may or may not also have been the work's author. The Shepherd of Hermas was widely read and respected in the early Church, with some Church Fathers (such as Irenaeus and Origen) even considering it part of canonical scripture. The text is divided into three main sections: Visions, Mandates, and Parables. Taken together, they serve as an exhortation to repentance. Part 3: Parables 00:00 Intro 00:39 First Parable 04:18 Second Parable 08:45 Third Parable 09:48 Fourth Parable 12:08 Fifth Parable 27:08 Sixth Parable 38:25 Seventh Parable 42:05 Eighth Parable This work to be released in its entirety in episodic format. Links The Shepherd of Hermas full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 2 (Mandates)
03/20/2024
The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 2 (Mandates)
“Put the Lord in your hearts, then, you who are empty and fickle in the faith. You will then know that nothing is easier, sweeter, or more gentle than these mandates. Be converted, you who walk in the commandments of the Devil, commandments that are hard, bitter, cruel, and foul. And do not fear the Devil either, because he has no power against you. I, the Angel of Repentance, who have overcome the Devil, am on your side.” The Shepherd of Hermas is an apocryphal text written in Rome in the 2nd century. It belongs to the category of "apocalyptic" literature, as it relates a series of revelations given to its titular character, Hermas, who may or may not also have been the work's author. The Shepherd of Hermas was widely read and respected in the early Church, with some Church Fathers (such as Irenaeus and Origen) even considering it part of canonical scripture. The text is divided into three main sections: Visions, Mandates, and Parables. Taken together, they serve as an exhortation to repentance. Part 2: Mandates 00:00 Intro 00:39 First Mandate 01:27 Second Mandate 03:38 Third Mandate 06:01 Fourth Mandate 14:26 Fifth Mandate 20:12 Sixth Mandate 24:51 Seventh Mandate 26:50 Eighth Mandate 31:39 Ninth Mandate 34:56 Tenth Mandate 40:06 Eleventh Mandate 47:13 Twelfth Mandate This work to be released in its entirety in episodic format. Links The Shepherd of Hermas full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 1 (Visions)
03/06/2024
The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 1 (Visions)
“So I wrote the commands and parables as he bade me. If you hear them and keep them, and walk in them, and fulfill them in a pure heart, you will receive from the Lord what He promised you. But if you hear them and do not repent, or even add to your sins, you will receive the contrary from the Lord.” The Shepherd of Hermas is an apocryphal text written in Rome in the 2nd century. It belongs to the category of "apocalyptic" literature, as it relates a series of revelations given to its titular character, Hermas, who may or may not also have been the work's author. The Shepherd of Hermas was widely read and respected in the early Church, with some Church Fathers (such as Irenaeus and Origen) even considering it part of canonical scripture. The text is divided into three main sections: Visions, Mandates, and Parables. Taken together, they serve as an exhortation to repentance. Part 1: Visions 00:00 Intro 00:42 First Vision 09:23 Second Vision 15:57 Third Vision 43:30 Fourth Vision 50:44 Fifth Vision This work was released in its entirety in episodic format. Links The Shepherd of Hermas full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Pt. 5 & Conclusion
02/17/2024
St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Pt. 5 & Conclusion
“Consider the love with which our dear Lord Jesus Christ bore so much in this world, especially in the Garden of Olives and on Mount Calvary; that love bore you in mind, and through all those pains and toils he obtained your good resolutions for you, as also all that is necessary to maintain, foster, strengthen and consummate those resolutions. "How precious must the resolutions be that are the fruits of our Lord’s Passion! And how dear to my heart, since they were dear to that of Jesus! Savior of my soul, You died to win them for me; grant me grace sooner to die than forget them. "Be sure, my child, that the heart of our most dear Lord beheld you from the tree of the Cross and loved you, and by that love he won for you all good things that you were ever to have, and amongst them your good resolutions.” Part 5 (00:46) Chapter 1—It Is Well Yearly to Renew Good Resolutions by Means of the Following Exercises (03:29) Chapter 2—Meditation on the Benefit Conferred on Us by God in Calling Us to His Service (08:26) Chapter 3—Examination of the Soul as to Its Progress in the Devout Life (11:44) Chapter 4—Examination of the Soul's Condition as Regards God (16:23) Chapter 5—Examination of Your Condition as Regards Yourself (18:47) Chapter 6—Examination of the Soul's Condition as Regards Our Neighbor (20:15) Chapter 7—Examination as to the Affectations of the Soul (22:42) Chapter 8—The Affections to Be Excited After Such Examination (24:07) Chapter 9—Reflections Suitable to the Renewal of Good Resolutions (24:54) Chapter 10—First Consideration, On the Worth of Souls (27:45) Chapter 11—Second Consideration, On the Excellence of Virtue (29:33) Chapter 12—The Example of the Saints (31:19) Chapter 13—The Love That Jesus Christ Bears to Us (34:36) Chapter 14—The Eternal Love of God for Us (36:08) Chapter 15—General Affections That Should Result from These Considerations and Conclusion of the Exercise (38:48) Chapter 16—The Impressions That Should Remain After This Exercise (40:24) Chapter 17—An Answer to Two Objections That May Be Made to This Book (43:16) Chapter 18—Three Important and Final Counsels This work was released in its entirety in episodic format. Links Introduction to the Devout Life full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Basil the Great - On the Right Use of Greek Literature
02/06/2024
St. Basil the Great - On the Right Use of Greek Literature
"... it is incumbent upon us, for the present, to trace, as it were, the silhouette of virtue in the pagan authors. For those who carefully gather the useful from each book are wont, like mighty rivers, to gain accessions on every hand." Drawing from his deep understanding of both classical Greek literature and Sacred Scripture, St. Basil the Great—a towering figure of the early Church—advocates for the proper integration of the literary treasures of ancient Greece within the broader formation of young Christian men. Basil challenges those whom he addresses to discern the morally enriching elements of Greek literature while guarding against its pitfalls, particularly its indulgence in more decadent and morally ambiguous themes. Links Address to Young Men on the Right Use of Greek Literature full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Pt. 4
01/26/2024
St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Pt. 4
"If anyone strives to be delivered from his troubles out of love of God, he will strive patiently, gently, humbly and calmly, looking for deliverance rather to God's goodness and providence than to his own industry or efforts; but if self-love is the prevailing object, he will grow hot and eager in seeking relief, as though all depended more upon himself than upon God." Part 4 (00:45) Chapter 1—We Must Not Trifle with the Words of Worldly Wisdom (06:16) Chapter 2—The Need of Good Courage (08:56) Chapter 3—Temptations and the Difference Between Experiencing Them and Consenting to Them (14:06) Chapter 4—Two Striking Illustrations of the Same (17:43) Chapter 5—Encouragement for the Tempted Soul (20:13) Chapter 6—When Temptation and Pleasure are Sin (24:10) Chapter 7—Remedies for Great Occasions (27:02) Chapter 8—How to Resist Minor Temptations (29:13) Chapter 9—How to Remedy Minor Temptations (31:49) Chapter 10—How to Strengthen the Heart Against Temptation (34:31) Chapter 11—Anxiety of Mind (40:18) Chapter 12—Sadness and Sorrow (45:31) Chapter 13—Spiritual and Sensible Consolations and How to Receive Them (01:00:14) Chapter 14—Dryness and Spiritual Barrenness (01:10:40) Chapter 15—An Illustration This work will be released in its entirety in episodic format. Links Introduction to the Devout Life full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Henry Newman - The Idea of a University | Duties of the Church towards Knowledge
01/20/2024
St. John Henry Newman - The Idea of a University | Duties of the Church towards Knowledge
"If the Catholic Faith is true, a University cannot exist externally to the Catholic pale, for it cannot teach Universal Knowledge if it does not teach Catholic theology. This is certain; but still, though it had ever so many theological Chairs, that would not suffice to make it a Catholic University... a direct and active jurisdiction of the Church over it and in it is necessary, lest it should become the rival of the Church with the community at large in those theological matters which to the Church are exclusively committed." In 1854, Newman was invited to Dublin by the Catholic Bishops of Ireland to serve as rector for the newly established Catholic University of Ireland, now University College, Dublin. Though he retired after only four years, during this time he composed and delivered the lectures that would become The Idea of a University. In this final discourse, Newman concludes with a reflection upon the central and direct role which the Church must play in the life of a University and upon its pursuits: "She fears no knowledge, but she purifies all; she represses no element of our nature, but cultivates the whole... her principle is one and the same throughout: not to prohibit truth of any kind, but to see that no doctrines pass under the name of Truth but those which claim it rightfully." Links Cluny Media edition: The Idea of a University full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Pt. 3 (Ch.36-41)
01/11/2024
St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Pt. 3 (Ch.36-41)
"No indeed, I would not even have people wish for more wit or better judgment, for such desires are frivolous, and take the place of the wish everyone ought to possess of improving what he has. We ought not to desire ways of serving God that He does not open to us, but rather desire to use what we have rightly." Part 3 (00:38) Chapter 36—A Well-Balanced, Reasonable Mind (04:48) Chapter 37—Wishes (09:30) Chapter 38—Counsels to Married People (23:02) Chapter 39—The Sanctity of the Marriage Bed (24:30) Chapter 40—Counsels to Widows (33:46) Chapter 41—One Word to Maidens This work will be released in its entirety in episodic format. Links Introduction to the Devout Life full text: SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter DONATE at Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. John Henry Newman - The Idea of a University | Knowledge Viewed in Relation to Religion
12/14/2023
St. John Henry Newman - The Idea of a University | Knowledge Viewed in Relation to Religion
"True Religion is slow in growth, and, when once planted, is difficult of dislodgement; but its intellectual counterfeit has no root in itself: it springs up suddenly, it suddenly withers. It appeals to what is in nature, and it falls under the dominion of the old Adam. Then, like dethroned princes, it keeps up a state and majesty, when it has lost the real power. Deformity is its abhorrence; accordingly, since it cannot dissuade men from vice, therefore in order to escape the sight of its deformity, it embellishes it." In 1854, Newman was invited to Dublin by the Catholic Bishops of Ireland to serve as rector for the newly established Catholic University of Ireland, now University College, Dublin. Though he retired after only four years, during this time he composed and delivered the lectures that would become The Idea of a University. In this eighth discourse, Newman examines the bearing of intellectual culture—whether for good or for ill—upon the exercise of religion. Notable in this chapter is Newman's survey of the moral and ethical character of the "gentleman." Links Cluny Media edition: The Idea of a University full text: Donate at: Theme music: 2 Part Invention, composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Pt. 3 (Ch.23-35)
11/15/2023
St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Pt. 3 (Ch.23-35)
"Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily... If you do all in God's name, all you do will be well done." Part 3 (00:38) Chapter 23—The Practice of Bodily Mortification (11:15) Chapter 24—Society and Solitude (16:40) Chapter 25—Modesty in Dress (20:36) Chapter 26—Conversation: First, How to Speak of God (23:08) Chapter 27—Unseemly Words and the Respect Due to Others (27:34) Chapter 28—Hasty Judgments (37:44) Chapter 29—Slander (48:46) Chapter 30—Further Counsels as to Conversation (52:43) Chapter 31—Amusements and Recreations: What Are Allowable (55:15) Chapter 32—Forbidden Amusements (57:12) Chapter 33—Balls and Other Lawful but Dangerous Amusements (01:02:21) Chapter 34—When to Use Such Amusements Rightly (01:04:10) Chapter 35—We Must Be Faithful in Things Great and Small This work will be released in its entirety in episodic format. Links Introduction to the Devout Life full text: Donate at: Theme music: 2 Part Invention, composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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St. Philip Howard - A Fourfold Meditation: On the Four Last Things
10/20/2023
St. Philip Howard - A Fourfold Meditation: On the Four Last Things
"Thou findest here what thou wilt wish at last, And that account which none can ever shun; Then frame thy life before thy time be past, As thou wilt wish that thou in time hadst done: Lest thou in vain doth wail thy wretched state, When time is past and wailing comes too late." A poem by Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel (1557-1595), an English nobleman, translator, and one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Links Lyra Martyrum: The Poetry of the English Martyrs, 1503-1681 Catholic Culture Podcast Ep. 69—Poetry of the English Martyrs, w/ Benedict Whalen: Donate at: Theme music: 2 Part Invention, composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.
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