John the Baptist has two feast days -- his earthly birthday on June 24, sixth months before the birthday of his cousin, and August 29th, his birthday into eternal life, the day he was executed by Herod at the request of Salome to who he'd promised anything she asked for.  Apparently, Herod was fascinated by John, even though John condemned his adultery with his half-brother's wife.  Why did John have to die? And why do people so often persecute and kill the prophets God sends to help them?  As those who share in the prophetic anointing of Christ, what can we expect and how can we be effective and faithful in sharing God's sometimes troubling word with the world?

Belief that God exists is not quite what Scripture means by faith. The faith spoken of by Jesus, Paul, and John is a gift that is like a spiritual muscle - to be strong, it must be exercised.

Some do the minimum in order to survive. But we are called to seize every opportunity so we can truly thrive. Proverbs says Wisdom has set a table for us. Christ, Divine Wisdom incarnate, actually feeds us with two abundant tables - the feast of the Word and the Sacrament. For the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B.

In this 15 minute podcast, Anna Mitchell, host of the Sonrise Morning show, asks Marcellino D'Ambrosio (aka "Dr. Italy") about the origins and meaning of the dogma and feast of the Assumption of Mary, celebrated on August 15th.

Somehow, we can all relate to the discouragement and exhaustion of Elijah. So we need to learn from the solution proposed by God to revitalize and energize him for the long journey he needed to make and the important work he was going to do. The bread God provided is a figure of a more wondrous bread that is available to us, the Eucharist. For the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, B.

In this brief segment which aired on national Catholic radio, Marcellino D'Ambrosio shares his impressions of one of the most dramatic peaks in the Holy Land, Mount Tabor.

This mountain is directly across the valley from Nazareth, so would have been a landmark Jesus grew up seeing on the horizon.  Anyone traveling from Nazareth to the holy city of Jerusalem would have to walk by Mt. Tabor.  People going to Jerusalem from Capernaum and the other vilaages around the Sea of Galilee would have also seen Tabor on their journey.

Podcast discussing the beauty of Mount Tabor and the glory and meaning of the Transfiguration, a pivotal event in the life of Jesus that Catholics celebrate every August 6.  14 minute interview of Dr. Italy by Sonrise Morning Show radio host Anna Mitchell.

The Transfiguration was indeed a pivotal event in the life of Jesus and his three closest disciples, Peter, James and John.  Right after Peter confesses him to be the Messiah and Jesus makes clear that he would be a suffering messiah, they ascend a mountain to pray (luke 9).  Neither Luke nor the other evangelists who tell the story note the name of the mountain, but the early Christians of Galilee preserved the memory of the place.  Origen, a great theologian from the early 3rd century, is our earliest written witness to this tradition.

The story of the visit of Jesus to the home of Martha and Mary in Bethany raises questions about hospitality, service, prayer, action and contemplation. First of all, does Jesus love some people, like Mary, Mary, and Lazarus, more than others? If so, how is this fair?  Secondly, why would Jesus apparently praise Mary sitting on her behind while Martha slaves in the kitchen?  In this 20 minute podcast, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, aka Dr. Italy, discusses these issues with Anna Mitchell of the Sonrise Morning show. When you listen, you'll be surprised at what they come up with!

The multiplication of the loaves and fishes is the only miracle of Jesus recorded in all four gospels.  John calls it a sign, a symbolic event with many hidden meanings.  It points beyond itself back to Old Testament persons and events and forward to the Eucharist.  For the 17th Sunday in Ordinary time cycle B.

On July 26, the Latin rite of the Catholic Church honors the Grandparents of Jesus, parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anne.  Matt Swaim asks Dr. Italy (Marcellino D'Ambrosio) just how we know about them, given that their names are not mentioned in the New Testament.  After discussing the second century document, the Protoevangelium of St. James which is our source for Joachim and Anne, Dr. Italy talks about how Joachim and Ann were the ones to form Mary in the faith of the people of Israel and most probably had a role in the life of the messiah as well.  He also points out that there is an ancient and beautiful church in Jerusalem built over the home of Joachim and Ann, which was the birth place of Mary.  This spot happens to be the very first stop on every pilgrimage that Dr. Italy lieads to the Holy Land.