All Roads Lead to Rome: On Becoming Roman Catholic (OCIA)

Episode Title: 029 – The 21 Ecumenical Councils of the Church

Description: This episode explores the 21 Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church. It discusses the historical context, key decisions, and theological debates of each council, highlighting their significance in shaping Catholic doctrine and practices. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding these councils to appreciate the Church's efforts in maintaining doctrinal clarity and unity throughout history. It also provides a really fun mnemonic device to help remember the names of the councils: NI – CO – EF – CAL – CO – CO – NI – CO – LA – LA – LA – LA - LY – LY – VI – CO – FLO – LA – TRE – VA – VA

Recommended Reading: The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church by Joseph Kelly

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This episode is a review of St. Augustine's book, "The Confessions." It was the first autobiography ever written. Augustine lived 354 - 430. He is the most quoted Church Father in the Liturgy of the Hours as well as the most quoted by St. Thomas Aquinas.

This book walks through his life, his time with the Manichean religion, his struggles with pride and sensuality, and his ultimate conversion to Christianity. He has significant reflections on sin, grace, and God's providence, as well as his famous quotes such as "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee," "Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet," and "Late have I loved Thee, O beauty so ancient and so new, Late hve I loved Thee."

The Confessions is one of the most influential books ever written about the Faith and it is a must read!

Episode Title: 027 – On Becoming Roman Catholic

Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. Bickford shares the journey of writer Thomas Howard from being Protestant to becoming Anglican and then finally a Roman Catholic. Dr Bickford made a very similar journey and shares it. This episode explores the historical divide between Catholics and Protestants, the theological differences, and the challenges he faced during the transition. The goal of the episode is to help you make the change a one step process, instead of the two steps process both Howard and Bickford went through.

Recommended Reading: Evangelical is Not Enough and On Being Catholic. Both are by Thomas Howard.

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Episode Title: 026 - Christmas

Description: In this episode, Dr. Bickford explores the historical, theological and cultural aspects of Christmas. We review the meaning of the Incarnation, prophesies of the birth of the Messiah, the birth of Jesus, and various cultural practices that have developed.

Recommended Reading: The True Meaning of Christmas by Michael Patrick Barber.

Key Points:

• Historical and Religious Context:
• Explanation of the origin and meaning of Christmas.
• Discussion on the existence of Jesus and the historical evidence supporting it.
• Reference to the Catechism and its teachings on Christmas.
• The Incarnation of Jesus:
• Explanation of the belief in Jesus as the Incarnation of God.
• Reference to the Nicene Creed and its description of Jesus.
• Prophecies and Birth of Jesus:
• Discussion on the prophecies about Jesus' birth and their significance.
• Description of the events leading up to Jesus' birth, including the visits of the Archangel Gabriel to Zechariah and Mary.
• Journey to Bethlehem:
• Explanation of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the significance of Bethlehem.
• Description of the status of Mary and Joseph and the legal aspects of their betrothal.
• Birth of Jesus:
• Description of the birth of Jesus in a cave and the significance of the manger.
• Explanation of the tradition of the Christmas creche and its origins.
• Announcement to the Shepherds:
• Description of the angel's announcement to the shepherds and their significance.
• Discussion on the role of shepherds in society and their representation in the Christmas story.
• Visit of the Wise Men:
• Description of the visit of the Wise Men and the significance of their gifts.
• Explanation of the traditional date of their arrival and the celebration of Epiphany.
• Date of Christmas:
• Discussion on the date of Christmas and the arguments against it being chosen to replace a pagan holiday.
• Explanation of the significance of living a "full of years" life and its relation to Jesus' birth date.
• Christmas Traditions:
• Explanation of various Christmas traditions, including creches, the Christmas tree and Santa Claus.
• Discussion on the commercialization of Christmas and the importance of focusing on its religious meaning.
• Favorite Christmas Hymn:
• It ends with a reading of "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" and its significance.

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Episode Title: 025 - Miracles

Description: In this episode, Dr. Bickford delves into the fascinating topic of miracles. Whether you believe in miracles or not, this episode will challenge your perceptions and encourage you to listen with an open mind. We explore various types of miracles, their significance, and provide numerous examples from history and modern times.

Recommended Reading: "The Catholic Guide to Miracles" by Adam Blai.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: The episode discusses the influence of the Enlightenment on modern perceptions of miracles and how it shaped Protestant and non-religious views.
• Personal Anecdotes: Dr. Bickford shares personal experiences and stories related to miracles, including a visit to an Orthodox monastery in Israel.
• Confirmation Bias: The concept of confirmation bias is explored, highlighting how it affects our acceptance of miracles.
• Types of Miracles: The episode categorizes miracles into several types, including healing miracles, Eucharistic miracles, Marian apparitions, conversion miracles, nature miracles, and exorcisms.
• Examples of Miracles: Numerous examples of miracles are provided, ranging from historical accounts to modern-day occurrences.
• Significance of Miracles: Dr. Bickford discusses the purpose and significance of miracles, emphasizing that they serve a greater purpose beyond the miracle itself.

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024 – Prayer

1. Understanding Prayer:
   • The episode delves into the purpose of prayer, highlighting that it is not just about asking God for things but about building a relationship with Him.
2. Principles of Prayer:
   • The episode discusses the common mistake of treating prayer as a one-sided conversation where we only ask for things.
   • Dr. Bickford emphasizes the importance of listening to God and not getting angry when our prayers are not answered as we wish.
3. Main Character Syndrome:
   • A significant part of the episode is dedicated to addressing the "Main Character Syndrome," where individuals see themselves as the center of their life's story.
   • God is the main character, and our role is to trust and follow His plan.
4. Role of Prayer:
   • Prayer is described as the means to connect with God, receive His guidance, and strengthen our faith.
   • The episode includes quotes from saints like Padre Pio, St. Catherine of Sienna, and St. Anselm to illustrate the importance of prayer.
5. Types of Prayer:
   • Various types of prayer are discussed, including extemporaneous prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, and Novenas.
   • Dr. Bickford provides practical advice on how to incorporate these prayers into daily life.
6. Short Prayers:
   • The episode concludes with a discussion on short prayers that can be used throughout the day, such as the Serenity Prayer, the Prayer of St. Francis, the Salve Regina, the Prayer of St. Michael, and the Lord's Prayer.

Prayer is not about changing God's mind but about aligning our minds with His will. The episode is filled with practical tips and spiritual insights to help listeners grow in their faith.

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1. Introduction to the Sanctification of Time:
   • The importance of integrating faith into daily life calls for making time holy
2. Daily Practices:
   • Explanation of Catholic virtue ethics and the development of virtuous habits.
   • Various daily prayers such as Novenas, the Rosary, and Lectio Divina.
   • The significance of the Liturgy of the Hours (Daily Office) and its structure.
3. Liturgical Seasons:
   • Overview of the Liturgical Calendar and its significance in marking the life and death of Christ.
   • Explanation of Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, and Easter.
   • The role of colors in the Liturgical Seasons and their meanings.
4. Holy Days of Obligation:
   • The six Holy Days of Obligation and their importance in the Catholic faith.
   • The requirement for Catholics to attend Mass on these days.
5. Conclusion:
   • The overarching theme that God calls us to give everything, not just an hour a week.
   • Encouragement to make each day holy through prayer and holy living.
   • The journey to Rome as a metaphor for the journey to holiness.

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Where does everything come from, and if God created everything to be good, then why did we have "The Fall"?

Here, we look at some creation stories from other religions and see how the Bible is so profoundly different. We also explain how the Big Bang theory addresses questions of "what" and "how", but the Genesis story focuses on the question of "why".

We then look at "The Fall". It is a part of human nature and we all suffer from it. It exists because our "yes" to God cannot be real unless we have the real option to say "no".

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Can Church doctrine develop over time? If it does, then does that mean it can change into something different as society changes? John Henry Newman wrote "A Essay On the Development of Christian Doctrine" and this book addresses those specific questions.

True doctrine develops over time and brings us into a deeper understanding. A corruption of doctrine brings us to a different or changed belief. To show how this works, Newman developed 7 Notes (or point) to show how doctrine can legitimately develop.

This is an complicated episode, but really worth the effort because this is an important understanding of how the Church faces the demands of the world.

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Pilgrimages are trips to places that are important to the Faith. They are different from vacations in that they seek to have a deeper encounter with God, experience a healing, or do penance for restoration. They have always been part of the Judeo-Christian experience.

This episode explains what a pilgrimage is, why they are important, why it is a Catholic practice more than a Protestant one, and it talks about several pilgrimage destinations.

The pilgrimage destinations discussed are Israel, Rome, the Camino, Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

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