Catholic Theology Show

How can Catholics navigate modern theological challenges while staying true to the Church's tradition?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Fr. Joseph Fessio, founder of Ignatius Press, about the enduring relevance of Catholic theology in addressing modern challenges. They discuss the influence of theologians like Ratzinger, von Balthasar, and de Lubac, the role of liturgy, and the importance of recovering tradition in a secular age. Fr. Fessio also highlights Ignatius Press’s efforts to foster orthodoxy through projects like the Catholic Study Bible and Ignatius Book Fairs.

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) 
• Ave Maria University website
• Fr. Fessio’s profile on Catholic Answers website
• Ignatius Press’ website, the Catholic publishing house founded by Fr. Fessio
• Fr. Cornelius Buckley’s biography on Fr. Fessios’s life and achievements on Amazon

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Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How can we recover a vision of the cosmos as a place filled with divine wonder and purpose?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais welcomes Joseph Pearce, Visiting Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University, to explore C.S. Lewis’s Out of the Silent Planet. Together, they discuss his vision of a cosmos filled with divine wonder and order. They examine Lewis’s critique of scientism, the harmony of creation, and the role of imagination in understanding humanity’s place within God’s design.

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Learn more from Joseph Pearce on his website
• Discover Joseph Pearce’s works on Amazon
• Listen to our previous episode featuring Joseph Pearce here

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Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How does understanding the overarching story of Scripture deepen our faith?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Jeff Cavins, creator of the Great Adventure Bible Study and co-host of the incredibly popular Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Michael Schmitz, about understanding the Bible’s overarching narrative. They discuss how the Bible Timeline helps Catholics grasp salvation history, the role of the Psalms in prayer, and how Scripture deepens faith and unites us with Christ. Perfect for anyone seeking to rediscover God’s Word and grow in their spiritual life.

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) 
• Ave Maria University website
• Jeff Cavin’s official website
• Jeff Cavins’ Author Page on Amazon
• The Jeff Cavins Show podcast website

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

What can St. Augustine teach us about grace, memory, and our search for identity in a restless world?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Fr. Kevin Grove, a Holy Cross priest and theology professor at Notre Dame, to discuss Augustine’s timeless insights. They explore themes from Confessions, including grace, the whole Christ, and recovering our identity in God, offering practical and spiritual takeaways for navigating today’s challenges.

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) 
• Ave Maria University website
• Fr. Grove’s faculty page on the University of Notre Dame website
• Fr. Grove’s biography and publications on Ave Maria Press website

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How can Catholics uncover the profound meaning and purpose found in family life and childbearing?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Dr. Catherine Ruth Pakaluk about her book Hannah’s Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth. They discuss the meaning and purpose found in family life, the challenges of modern parenting, and the profound stories of mothers who embrace their faith and calling amidst societal pressures.

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Dr. Pakaluk's official website provides information about her work and publications
• Dr. Pakaluk’s profile at The Catholic University of America's Busch School of Business website
• Dr. Pakaluk’s Amazon Author page with her publications, including Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How should Catholics respond to the false promises of transhumanism?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. Steven Jensen, professor of philosophy at the University of St. Thomas, examine transhumanism as a modern form of eugenics. They discuss the distinction between healing and enhancement, the dangers of rejecting human nature as a gift, and how Christ provides the ultimate answer to humanity’s deepest needs.

Resources:

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Dr. Steven Jensen’s Faculty Page on the University of St. Thomas website
• Dr. Steven Jensen’s Amazon author page website

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How can Catholics approach the study of Psychology through the lens of faith and the dignity of the human person?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined again by Dr. Julia Sadusky, Catholic author, speaker, licensed psychologist, and alumna of Ave Maria University, to discuss the relationship between the Catholic faith and the field of Psychology amid today’s ”mental health epidemic.” In this episode, they investigate the Catholic vision of the human person as spirit, soul, and body from the perspectives of Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Paul II, and C.S. Lewis, while also delving into Dr. Sadusky’s own journey in psychology and faith.

Resources: 

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Learn more about Dr. Julia Sadusky and her work in her consulting practice, Lux Counseling.
• Check out Dr. Sadusky’s latest books, including Start Talking to Your Kids about Sex and Talking with Your Teen about Sex, both published through Ave Maria Press, and her book with Mark Yarhouse, Emerging Gender Identities: Understanding the Diverse Experiences of Today's Youth.
• Previous episode with Dr. Sadusky: A Catholic Approach to Sexuality & Gender

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Get more information about Ave Maria University!

Description: What does it mean to live in a society that no longer believes in truth, and how can Christians respond to this crisis?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Rusty Reno, editor of First Things magazine, about the crisis of modernity and its rejection of truth and tradition. They explore how this cultural shift impacts Christianity and discuss ways to recover a robust faith rooted in Scripture, worship, and transcendent truth.

Additional Resources:

1. Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
2. Ave Maria University website
3. R. R. Reno's profile on First Things website
4. Dr. Reno’s book, “Return of the Strong Gods” on Amazon

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Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How does Catholic doctrine mature in expression while remaining true to revelation?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Fr. Guy Mansini, S.T.D., Max Seckler Chair of Theology at Ave Maria University, about how the articulation of Catholic teachings develops over time while remaining true to revelation. They explore the roles of language, philosophy, and historical context in deepening the Church’s understanding of divine truth.

Additional Resources: 

1. Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
2. Ave Maria University website
3. Fr. Guy Mansini's book The Development of Dogma: A Systematic Account can be found on Catholic University of America Press
4. More works by Fr. Guy Mansini on Amazon

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!

How should Catholics approach relationships with others, with ourselves, and with God in a culture saturated with confusion about sexuality?

Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Bill Donaghy from the Theology of the Body Institute to explore St. John Paul II's work, The Theology of the Body. They discuss how this teaching offers clarity on human sexuality and desire in today's culture. Donaghy highlights the healing message of love, mercy, and the meaning of our bodies within God's plan.

Additional Resources:

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)
• Ave Maria University website
• Theology of the Body Institute website
• Bill Donaghy’s profile at the Theology of the Body Institute website
• Bill Donaghy’s book Power and Purpose of Masculinity on amazon
• JPII’s Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body on amazon

Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle!

Get more information about Ave Maria University!