Catholic Theology Show

What if the Bible isn’t just a collection of laws and stories, but the original romantic comedy with the happiest ending of all time? 

Discover how marriage reveals the very heart of God’s Trinitarian love and why recovering this vision is urgent for our culture today.

In this rich conversation on The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais welcomes Dr. John Bergsma, author of ⁠The Bible and Marriage: The Two Shall Become One Flesh by John Bergsma⁠ to explore how marriage stands at the very center of God’s plan for humanity, from Adam and Eve’s original communion, through the covenants and prophetic love stories like Hosea, to Jesus as the Bridegroom who prepares a place for His Church. Together they recover the beautiful biblical vision of companionate, indissoluble, self-giving love, address common misunderstandings about the Old Testament, polygamy, headship, and Ephesians 5, and show how the entire scriptural narrative is ultimately a divine romance culminating in the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

Resources:

• St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

Related Episodes:

• The Biblical Roots of the Jubilee Year w/ Dr. John Bergsma | Ep. 144

In this powerful episode of the Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais welcomes His Excellency Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco. They discuss the heart of Christian courage, the beauty and truth of the Church’s timeless teachings on marriage and human flourishing, and the urgent need to recover reverence in the celebration of the Holy Mass.

Archbishop Cordileone shares insights on the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship, the new Reverent Liturgy Project, the power of sacred music (including the Mass of the Americas), Ad Orientem worship, kneeling for Communion, silence in church, active participation, and how beauty draws souls to Christ. They also explore personal encounter with Jesus, evangelization through genuine friendship, the integration of faith and reason (logica latria), and why the Church’s tradition remains a source of joy and communion in a secular age. A rich conversation filled with wisdom, hope, and practical encouragement for priests, seminarians, and lay faithful seeking deeper union with Christ in the liturgy and in daily life.

Resources:

Benedict XVI Institute

Reverent Liturgy Project

Related Episodes:

Benedict XVI and the Liturgy w/ Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ | Ep. 193

Drawing on Scripture the Church Fathers, the parable of the Good Samaritan, personal stories, and rich analogies including black holes, heart transplants and the Sistine Chapel, Fr. Gabriel Gillen, O.P., shows how the Gospel moves from background noise to a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.

In this powerful episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Dr. Michael Dauphinais welcomes Fr. Gabriel Gillen, O.P., Dominican Friary and National Chaplain for FOCUS to explore how we can move from mere knowledge of the faith to being truly overwhelmed by the Gospel. Fr. Gillen unpacks the Five R’s that form a clear, compelling presentation of the kerygma, the proclamation of the Gospel , the Five R’s are revealed in the episode!

Whether you’re a longtime Catholic or someone rediscovering the faith, this conversation will deepen your wonder at God’s plan of salvation and inspire you to live it more fully.

• Understanding the Gospel in a Digital World w/ Dr. Edward Sri | Ep. 105

• The Gospel in the Cosmos: Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis w/ Joseph Pearce

Every moment of Jesus’ life is for our transformation and an invitation to be united with Him.

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais welcomes back Father Dominic Legge, O.P., President of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and former Director of the Thomistic Institute. 

Aquinas devotes an entire section to what Jesus did and suffered, from His conception and baptism, through His transfiguration, passion, and death, to His resurrection and ascension. Fr. Legge unpacks the importance of these mysteries and how they reveal God’s plan for humanity, and what it means to be united to Christ through His grace and the Sacraments. 

Resources:

• Thomistic Institute Aquinas 101 video series and Aquinas' treatment of the mysteries of Christ's life in the Summa Theologiae.

• A lecture by Karen Oberg on the theology and science of water, and the book They Flew by Carlos Eire.

• Explore the work of the Dominican House of Studies and the broader Thomistic tradition.

Related Episodes:

• The Trinitarian Christology of St. Thomas Aquinas w/ Fr. Dominic Legge | Ep. 87

• The Summa for Beginners: Understanding Christ w/ Fr. Guy Mansini | Ep. 165

Did you know that G.K. Chesterton visited America 100 years ago and wrote about his observations and encountered in the book What I Saw in America? 

In honor of the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, Dr. Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Susan Hanssen, associate professor of history at the University of Dallas, to discuss the history of the country through G.K. Chesterton’s eyes.  Together they unpack what Chesterton meant when he said America was “the only nation in the world that is founded upon a creed" of equality, freedom, and governance as well as his prescient and prophetic cautions about the progressivism of the post-WWI era and its creeping totalitarianism and servitude. 

Finally, they consider how Chesterton distinguished between what he called America's "shadows" and the great "light of America" that he thought the rest of the world needed to see.  Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States with The Catholic Theology Show! 

Public Discourse and writings from Susan Hanssen:

https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/author/susan-hanssen/

Related Episodes:

Catholics in Early America w/ Dr. Michael Breidenbach | Ep. 24

An Introduction to Chestertonian Theology w/ Joseph Pearce | Ep. 21

What do women need not just to survive, but to truly thrive in today’s culture?This episode features a conversation on why so many women feel overwhelmed despite having a strong faith, the difference between spiritual formation and human formation, and the habits, virtues, and practical skills needed to flourish.

Dr. Michael Dauphinais and January Donovan, founder of The Woman’s School and Catholic Feminine Formation, explore growth mindset versus fixed mindset, how culture shape's identity and self-worth, and the importance of rewiring the mind through truth and repetition. Together, they discuss the feminine genius, the vision of the "New Woman," why Our Lady remains the model of feminine excellence, how success is better understood as wholeness rather than achievement, and the unique role Catholic women can play in leading a culture of renewal.

January shares her remarkable personal story of healing, conversion, marriage, motherhood, and the inspiration behind her mission. January shares a vision based off Scripture and the example of Our Lady for helping women recover their God-given dignity, purpose, and confidence.

You won’t want to miss listening to this moving and beautiful episode with January Donovan. Resources:

January Donovan's Book: Redefine Success For Women: A Proven Blueprint To Design A Fulfilling Life

The Woman’s SchoolCatholic Feminine FormationRelated Episodes:Has Contemporary Feminism Failed Women? w/ Dr. Carrie Gress | Ep. 182

What is expected of Catholics when every company, institution and system seems morally compromised? Can Catholics buy coffee from companies with immoral policies? Can Catholics pay taxes to governments that fund evil? How are Catholics supposed to live in the world but not be of the world?In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais is joined by Fr. Ryan Connors to explore one of the most difficult questions in Catholic moral theology through the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas. Drawing from his book ‘Rethinking Cooperation with Evil: A Virtue-Based Approach,’ Fr. Connors explains why Aquinas approaches morality not as a system of rules but a path towards freedom, virtue and happiness that ultimately leads to Eternal life. If you struggle with moral anxiety and seek clarity on Catholic ethics or want to better understand virtue and freedom, this episode is for you.Resources:Rethinking Cooperation with Evil: A Virtue-Based Approach by Fr. Ryan Connors (Catholic University of America Press, 2024)https://www.cuapress.org/9780813237251/rethinking-cooperation-with-evil/Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth, 1993) by Pope St. John Paul IIhttps://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor.html

Related Episodes:

The Summa for Beginners: The Moral Life w/ Fr. Romanus Cessario O.P. | Ep. 164

Aquinas and the Truth of Faith w/ Fr. Michael Sherwin O.P. | Ep. 141

Today's Release is a collaboration with The Magdala Ministries Podcast!

Today on the podcast, Rachael Killackey sits down with theologian, podcast host, and Magdala board member, Dr. Michael Dauphinais, to discuss The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. They talk about the healing imagery within this great work, the story of the red lizard and the white horse, and what we can learn about redemption from the souls in the story. Special thanks to The Catholic Theology Show team for editing this episode and lending their studio to us. Please check out their show below!

Welcome to a place of honesty, hope, and healing for women struggling with sexual addiction. We’re so glad you’re here.

What does Moses have to do with Jesus—and why does it matter for Catholics today?

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais welcomes back author, filmmaker, and Catholic convert Steve Ray for a sweeping exploration of the life of Saint Moses and his enduring significance for understanding Christ, the Church, and the Sacraments. Drawing from Scripture, Church tradition, and decades of leading pilgrimages through the Holy Land, Steve unpacks how the story of Moses serves as the foundation for understanding Jesus as the New Moses and the Christian life as a New Exodus.

Together, Michael and Steve explore the burning bush, the divine name “I AM,” the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, the manna in the wilderness, the Tabernacle, and the Promised Land—revealing how each points forward to Christ and finds its fulfillment in the New Covenant. The conversation also highlights how the early Church interpreted the Exodus as the pattern for Christian initiation, illuminating the biblical roots of Baptism, the Eucharist, Confession, and Holy Orders.

Along the way, Steve explains why the Old Testament is essential for understanding the New Testament, why Moses should be honored as a saint, and how the entire biblical story comes alive when viewed through the lens of typology. Whether you're new to Scripture or have studied the Bible for years, this episode offers a rich and accessible look at how God’s plan of salvation unfolds from Moses to Christ—and why the Exodus remains the defining story of every Christian journey from slavery to freedom, from death to life, and from earth to the Promised Land of heaven.

Related Episodes:

Crossing the Tiber: A Journey to Catholicism w/Steve Ray | Ep. 128

The sacred liturgy is not a matter of personal preference or style it is the living heart of the Church’s worship and the clearest expression of her faith in Christ.

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Ave Maria University welcomes Jesuit priest, publisher, and theologian Fr. Joseph Fessio, founder of Ignatius Press and founding provost of Ave Maria University.

Drawing on decades of theological reflection and his collaboration with Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), Fr. Fessio reflects on Sacrosanctum Concilium and the meaning of actuosa participatio. He argues that true participation in the Mass is primarily interior—an attentive, living union with Christ in His sacrifice—and explores the continuity of the Church’s liturgical tradition, from Latin and Gregorian chant to the Roman Canon and the orientation of prayer. The conversation also engages Benedict XVI’s vision of the “reform of the reform” and the call to recover reverence, silence, and sacred order in the Eucharist.

Resources:

Catholic World Report – The Mass of Vatican II (Fr. Joseph Fessio essay/talk)
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/10/10/the-mass-of-vatican-ii/

Related Episodes:

How to stay Faithful as a Catholic Theologian w/Fr. Fessio

The Summa for the Beginners: The Sacraments w/Dr. Roger Nutt