We continue exploring the Confessions of Saint Augustine – "the Doctor of Grace" – by discussing Books 5, 6 and 7. 

You can find the text online by clicking here.  

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

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We continue exploring the Confessions of Saint Augustine – "the Doctor of Grace" – by discussing Books 3 and 4.

You can find the text online by clicking here.

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Support the show

We conclude our summer spirituality series with the work that has arguably meant more to more people than any other written work in human history, except only the Scriptures.  In his Confessions, St. Augustine – "the Doctor of Grace" –  takes us intimately into his confidence, holding nothing back about all the ways that he fled from God until he finally surrendered to Divine Love and Providence.

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Support the show

We will be considering Saint Thomas Aquinas’s teaching on suffering from his Literal Exposition of the Book of Job. All-but-forgotten today, this monumental text was considered the greatest work of biblical exegesis in its time. For 200 years, it was the definitive interpretation of Job’s story and a template for scholarly commentary on Scripture. We will discover that St. Thomas Aquinas believed a life story could tell us more about the meaning of suffering than a rational argument (as you would find in the Summa Theologica). He also believed (contrary to popular belief) that Job’s story is not about patience in suffering, but rather, about God’s teaching through His Divine Providence and Job’s response. 

Tonight's presentation will be given by Dr. Cynthia Nicolosi, PhD.  Here is a snip from her professional bio: 

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

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We continue our spiritual tour through the Holy Mass and give particular emphasis to Jesus’ gift of Himself in the Blessed Sacrament. 

Our primary text for discussion is a work by the wonderful 19th-century saint of the Eucharist, Saint Peter Julian Eymard.  You can find the work here. 

We also consider some ideas from Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist: Sacramentum Caritatis. Specifically, we cover Part III, “The Eucharist: a Mystery to Be Lived,” sections 70, 77, 84, 85, 89 and 90.

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Support the show

This talk is the first part of a two-part consideration of the spirituality of the Mass and Holy Eucharist.  Our primary text for discussion of the Mass is the 20th century classic Meditations Before Mass by Father Romano Guardini, servant of God.  Guardini is a favorite author of both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis, among many others.  This talk focuses especially on the following sections:

2. I - Stillness

2.XVIII - The Congregation and the Church

3. XXIV - The Memorial of the New Covenant

3.XXVIII - Christ's Offering of Self

3.XXXI - The Mass of the New Covenant

By way of a catechetical refresher on the Mass, here is a video to watch: https://www.goodcatholic.com/catholic-mass-described-by-st-justin-martyr/

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Support the show

This session provides a consideration of Catholic spirituality in the contemporary moment by discussing chapters 6, 7 and 8 of the book Spiritual Passages by Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR.

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Support the show

We complete our brief introduction to Saint Teresa of Avila's writings on prayer, picking up with the Third Mansion in The Interior Castle and continuing on to the Seventh Mansion.

The Interior Castle  by St. Teresa of Avila

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

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We continue our consideration of the spiritual metaphors of Saint Teresa of Avila, the Church’s Doctor of Prayer.  We turn to her most famous spiritual work, The Interior Castle, and discuss the levels of prayer.  In this session, we look at the first three rooms of the castle.

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Support the show

This week we launch a month in the company of the Church’s great Doctor of Prayer, St. Teresa of Avila.  We will begin by reading the famous metaphor of the soul as a garden from her autobiography. With Don Quixote, The Book of Her Life is still considered to be the greatest work of Spanish letters.

You can prepare for the discussion by reading Chapters 11-15 of her autobiography.

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Support the show