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Today, we begin the fifth series in the Mystagogy program, which includes seven presentations focused on the Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament. These presentations were delivered in the fall of 2023, during the Year of Eucharistic Revival. In this episode, Dr. Barbara Nicolosi provides an introduction to The Church and the Eucharist, Pope St. John Paul II's encyclical letter that was released on Holy Thursday of 2003. Support the show

In this session, guest presenter Dr. André Villeneuve discusses Dei Verbum, the dogmatic constitution on divine revelation issued at the Second Vatican Council. Dr. Villeneuve is Associate Professor of Old Testament & Biblical Languages at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

In this session, Barbara examines an epic document by Pope St. Paul VI on how to present Jesus to people in this post-modern moment. In this apostolic exhortation titled Evangelii Nuntiandi , the Pope considers challenges to sharing the faith as well as all the elements of fully Catholic evangelization.  The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

In this session, we will consider the nature of the relationship of the Church to science using the key document by Pope Pius XII that has the ominous title, “Concerning Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine The Foundations of Catholic Doctrine”  (Humane Generis).  In this work, the Pope lays out the vital role that the Church plays in the world and in the sciences through her moral guidance and teaching.  Among other topics, he lays out the Church’s official view of evolution and polygenism.  You can peruse a copy of the document here. Pope St. John Paul II returns to the issues raised in Humane Generis and clarifies the Church’s relationship to science in his famous speech to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences “On Evolution.”  You can read the short speech here. This presentation will be a fascinating consideration of the Church’s actual teaching on the origins of our species.  It will be of particular interest to anyone who is interested in science or works in a scientific related field.  Our guest presenter for the evening is Dr. Michael Goodrich, a member of St. Stephen’s parish and a theoretical physicist. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

In this session, guest speaker Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi gives an  overview of magisterial teaching in the 20th century on the use of music in the liturgy. Dr. Nicolosi is a professor of music, philosophy, psychology and the Great Books. She has her doctorate in philosophy from Santa Croce University in Rome.  The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

The survey of key papal teachings in the modern era continues with an overview of “The Splendor of Truth” (Veritatis Splendor) by St. John Paul II.  Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi provides insight into this document on the moral life, which takes up the themes of man’s ability to discern good from evil, the nature of evil, the role of human freedom and conscience, and the authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in guiding persons who are seeking truth in these areas.   The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

In this session, we consider the extraordinary role that the Christian family plays in the sanctification of the world.  Written in 1981, The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World was the second Apostolic Exhortation written by this great pope, and it continues to have much to say about the nature and vocation of those united in family life.  The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

In this episode, Barbara considers one of the two dogmatic documents issued by Vatican II.  A statement of profound mercy, Lumen Gentium (“The Light to the Nations”) considers the question of universal holiness and salvation. Questions addressed in this key text include:  “What is necessary for salvation?”  “Who can be saved?” and “What does holiness look like for the different members of the Church?”  The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

We continue our survey of key papal teachings of the 20th century by considering Pope St. Pius 10th brilliant encyclical On the Doctrine of the Modernists.  Our guest presenter for the evening is Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi.  Dr. Nicolosi has a Masters in philosophy from Boston College and her doctorate in Philosophy from Santa Croce University in Rome.  Her doctoral studies focused on the work of St. Thomas Aquinas.  Dr. Nicolosi also has a Masters in theology from Santa Croce, and a Masters in Cognitive Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.  She currently teachers Honors courses and music history at Regent University. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. Support the show

We continue our survey of key magisterial teachings for the modern era by breaking open The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (“Apostolicam Actuositatem“) of Vatican II.  Born in the heart and writing of Pope Pius XI, the Council Fathers issued a formal  call to holiness for all lay men and women, and proposed a new authority for the laity in all things related to the temporal sphere.  We will consider a little history of the development of the decree, and then discuss its main points. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. Support the show

We begin the summer with the brief but seminal encyclical by Pope St. Paul VI, Of Human Life (Humanae Vitae).  Promulgated in July 1968, the work has proven to be prophetic in so many realms as to modernity’s assault on the family and the true nature of sexuality.  We will discuss why the work shook the Church and the world  and explore the amazing “why” behind the most ignored and vilified, yet central Catholic Church teaching for our time. We will also consider keynotes of Pope St. John Paul II’s follow-up to Humanae Vitae in his lifelong reflection called “The Theology of the Body.” Sr. Helena Raphael Burns, fsp is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation of Roman Catholic Sisters founded to communicate God’s Word through the media. She has an  M.A. in Media Literacy Education; a B.A. in theology and philosophy from St. John’s University, NYC; studied screenwriting at UCLA and Act One-Hollywood; and holds a Certificate in Pastoral Youth Ministry. Sr. Helena wrote and directed a documentary on the life of the Church’s new media saint, Blessed Father James Alberione: MediaApostle.com and is a co-producer on The40Film.com.  She has written a Theology of the Body curriculum used in her online TOB Certificate Course through Sacred Heart College, Peterborough, ON, Canada. Sr. Helena gives Media Literacy & Theology of the Body workshops and courses to youth & adults all over Canada and the U.S. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. Support the show

In this session, we complete our journey through Dante's Inferno, looking specifically at Cantos XVIII, XX, and XXIII-XXVIII.  Imagining the darkest paces in hell, Dante will compel us to consider sins of deceit, disloyalty, betrayal, deceit, and treachery. Our journey concludes with the encounter with Lucifer himself in the deepest circle of hell. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

We continue our tour through Dante’s Inferno  by examining the levels of hell reserved to sins of violence. Specifically, we discuss Cantos IX-XV.  To supplement your reading, there are a myriad of dramatic versions of the Inferno online.  If you would like to hear the actual text of Canto X in the original Italian with some great Medieval graphics, click here.  There is also a very helpful presentation on Canto X with English subheadings here. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

This episode is a whirlwind tour through Dante’s whirlwind of the sins of the flesh. We’ll meet the Hoarders and the Wasters, the Gluttons, the Wrathful and the Sullen, and, of course, poor, pathetic, lustful Francesca and Paolo.  If you are reading along, we’ll be considering Cantos V through VIII.   Here is the version of the text we are using for this course:  The Divine Comedy Also, I found a nice animated treatment of The Inferno that you might want to watch.  Check it out here. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show

We begin the third part in our five part series: a ten-week tour through Dante’s epic spiritual poem, The Divine Comedy. An imaginative vision of hell, purgatory, and heaven, this ranks with the greatest narrative works ever written. Barbara will break open Dante's Divine Comedy in order to explore the themes of sin, suffering, virtue and holiness. The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah. This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Support the show