How did the first Christians sing their prayers? What traditions did they draw on? And how do we sing our prayers today?

Sir James MacMillan is one of today’s most successful composers and performs internationally as a conductor. In this podcast, we explore how his Scottish heritage and Catholic faith inform his work as a composer and the contribution he has made to Church music.

Sir James explains how the Christian faith shaped Western Music as a whole and how the Jewish chant of Jesus' day went on to develop the Church's tradition of Gregorian Chant.

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Drawing from their experience of parenting ten children, Mike and Alicia Hernon of the Messy Family Project share how to reveal God’s love to the world through your marriage and family, the keys to authentic parenting, how to nurture the Catholic faith at home, and why accepting the joyful messiness of life is essential for raising a happy, holy family.

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Learn more about the Messy Family Project: https://messyfamilyproject.org/

Catholic books for families: http://bit.ly/4eSsl6A

Catholic children's books: https://bit.ly/3ICJ41n

If "wellbeing" and "self-care" are supposed to make us happy, why are we unhappier than ever? Professor Jacob Phillips explores how today's therapeutic trends measure up against the Catholic vision of true human flourishing.

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Why do children need real heroes, clear villains, and fairy tales that tell the truth?

Author Haley Stewart joins Into the Truth to explore how stories shape children’s imagination, prepare them for the Gospel, and why today’s Disney falls short. From Tolkien and Jane Austen to Harry Potter and the Brothers Grimm, this is a call to reclaim storytelling that forms virtue and reveals eternal truths.

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✏️ Haley's Substack: https://haleystewart.substack.com/📚 More from CTS: https://www.ctsbooks.org/

What if belief in God isn’t about blind faith, but about asking the right questions?

Join Dominican sister and Catholic theologian Sr Hyacinthe Defos du Rau as she explores what we can truly know about God, and how reason and faith work together in the search for meaning. Together with Pierpaolo Finaldi, Sr Hyacinthe touches on some of the big questions in Catholic theology - who God is, how Christian hope offers strength in uncertain times, and how faith helps us make sense of what we see and feel in the world around us.

What does it mean to say that God is love? How do we respond when prayers seem to go unanswered? Why is belief in God deeply relevant in today's world? Find answers in this insightful episode and learn why ultimately, belief in God isn't irrational at all, but a reasonable conclusion.

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About This Week's Guest:

Sr Hyacinthe is a Dominican Sister of St Joseph based in the New Forest, England. Originally from France, she discovered her vocation in her late teens and joined the community in 2000. She has worked extensively in catechesis and adult faith formation, and now leads Light of Truth, an initiative offering live, online theological training. Sr Hyacinthe is known for combining deep theological insight with a passion for evangelisation and a commitment to making the Catholic faith accessible, grounded and alive.

Explore the work of Sr Hyacinthe and her community:

Explore "Light of Truth" faith formation by the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph: https://www.lightoftruth.uk/

Find out more about the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph: https://www.dominicansisters.net/

What does the Bible really say about power, politics, and peace in our divided world?

In this compelling episode of Into the Truth, Pierpaolo Finaldi sits down with one of the most influential New Testament scholars of our time - Professor N.T. Wright - for a wide-ranging and refreshingly honest conversation on faith, culture, and scripture.

Filmed at the Bishop Barron Conference on the Bible in East

London, this dialogue moves beyond stereotypes and easy answers to explore how Christians - Catholics and Protestants alike - might faithfully respond to the "powers and principalities" at work in the modern world.

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Drawing from his latest book "Jesus and the Powers", Wright urges a rediscovery of biblical values - not as nostalgia, but as radical, transformative hope. With insight into scripture, early Church history, and contemporary society, this episode offers a deep yet accessible entry point for Christians seeking to engage the world without losing their soul.

Is assisted suicide really about dignity - or is there another agenda here?

In this episode of Into the Truth, Pierpaolo Finaldi speaks to Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP about the growing push for assisted suicide and euthanasia. As a Dominican friar, bioethicist, and Archbishop of Sydney, he brings a Catholic perspective to this urgent debate, challenging the cultural shift towards normalising death on demand.

Beyond the legal and ethical concerns, Archbishop Fisher reflects on the broader societal implications: how Western secularism, declining faith, and the loss of transcendence have contributed to a culture that sees death as a solution rather than a passage to eternal life with God.

If you care about ethics, human dignity, and the sanctity of life, or if you're not sure what to think about the UK's current push for assisted suicide, this discussion is a must-watch.

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💬 What do you think? Join the conversation in the comments!

Follow Into the Truth for more in-depth Catholic discussions!

Is Eucharistic Adoration worth your time?

Archbishop John Wilson’s faith journey began as an Anglican teenager, but an encounter with the Eucharist changed everything. Drawn by the profound reality of Christ’s Real Presence, he found himself on a path he never expected - a path that led him to convert to Catholicism and eventually become a Catholic priest. Now the Archbishop of Southwark, he shares how Eucharistic Adoration continues to transform lives, deepen faith, and renew the Church.

In this powerful episode of Into the Truth, Archbishop John Wilson explores how being in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is not just a Catholic tradition, but a personal encounter with Christ that can lead to profound conversion. Whether you've experienced Adoration before or are curious, this discussion will challenge and encourage you to seek Jesus in the Eucharist like never before.

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Discover more about the beauty of Eucharistic Adoration: https://loom.ly/xMGKohg

Has the stunning beauty of a grand cathedral ever directed your heart to the need for something Higher? Specifically, has it ever directed you to God?

In this episode, we sit down with Fr Lawrence Lew OP, a Dominican priest, photographer, and author, to explore the power of beauty in faith, the symbolism woven into church architecture, and the challenge of modern consumerism.As we scroll past endless images on social media, have we lost our ability to truly see? Have sacred spaces become just another tourist attraction, rather than a place to encounter God?

Join us as we rediscover the purpose of beauty - not as an end in itself, but as a sign pointing us to something far greater.📖 Check out "Entering Heaven on Earth", Fr Lawrence’s latest book on church symbolism and sacred art: https://www.ctsbooks.orgentering-heaven-on-earth/📸

Follow his photography for stunning images of Catholic heritage: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/

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Why is it that in a world more connected than ever, so many of us feel lonely? What does true friendship look like - and can we really be friends with Jesus?

In this episode of Into the Truth, Peirpaolo Finaldi sits down with Fr Philip Caldwell, a priest of the Salford Diocese and a new CTS author, to explore the profound theme of friendship with Christ. Drawing from his latest book, Friends of Jesus: A Lenten Meditation, Fr Philip shares his insights on how Jesus formed friendships, what those relationships reveal about His identity, and how we, too, can cultivate a personal bond with Him.

They also discuss the challenge of loneliness in our modern world, the effort true friendship requires, and how deepening our relationship with Christ can transform the way we connect with others.

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📖 Friends of Jesus: A Lenten Meditation is available now.