The SaintCast - Catholic Saints on Call

In honor of the Podcast Carnival on the Assumption, though a bit late, we discuss the doctrine of the Assumption, it's historical basis, and the history of the Feast of the Assumption. Why are there no first class relics of the Blessed Virgin Mary? What relics are extant? We get a view of what the actual Assumption might have looked like, by reading about the incredibly detailed visions of the mystic Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.

Paul's back from Italy, and ready for podcasting once again! I visited an incredible number of Saintly places, and am excited to share them with listeners in the form of audio sound-seeing tours over the next few months. We've got news of a miracle for the cause of Fulton J. Sheen, the evangelist of the radio and TV airwaves in the 40's and 50's in the United States. Podcasters everywhere could take inspiration from him as a potential patron saint. Speaking of patron Saints, my daughter poses the question as to who is the patron saint of horses, horse riders, horse women? As we've recently celebrated his Feast Day in the Church calendar, we take a look at the incredible life of the founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola. More e-mail, audiofeedback, and more on this week's SaintCast.

Last week marked the Feast of St. James the Greater and we spoke with Brother Giles Baker of the Order of St. John of God (and also the producer and talent behind The Secrets of Harry Potter) about the centuries old Pilgrimage to Compostela in northern Spain. Podcasting around Italy with my son, I wish you a wonderful Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola. More from Italy in a few days . . .

Over 400 years ago, five Franciscan friars lost their lives defense of the faith, specifically the Christian view of marriage. They were martyred in Florida, far from their Spanish home. Their cause for canonization was begun in the diocese of Savannah, Georgia, in 1984. We talk to Paul Thigpen, of Our Sunday Visitor, and Star of the Sea Catholic Resources, about their cause and their lives. Four new saints will be canonized in October, one of them a French American nun from Indiana, Mother Theodore Guerin. All founded religious orders. A listener asks what I like to listen to in the operating room. Shouldn't have opened that can of worms. . Listen in to hear snippets of my playlists. . . We hear the answer to last week's St. Jeopardy question with a listener-produced audio-feedback that is incredible! A new St. Jeopardy question related to Galileo Galilei, and the patron saint of the Boy Scouts. Who could it be? Listen in to hear. Off to Italy for a couple of weeks. . . Pax et bonum.

A great SaintCast "welcome" to the Technopriest, Fr. Bill Kessler, who paid a visit to our humble abode in Overland Park, Kansas. We got a chance to podcast together, and learned a little more about why he's such a special Man of God. A rousing speech from Kenneth Brannagh as Henry V, from the Battle of Agincourt in Shakespeare's Henry V gave the answer to last week's St. Jeopardy question, the Feast of Crispin or St. Crispin's Day, October 25. More on Saint movies, including a trailer from the upcoming film on St. Francis Xavier. We profile the first native American Blessed, Kateri Tekakwitha, whose feast we celebrate Friday. What an incredible witness to the faith she was! What conviction she demonstrated. Coming up on the SaintCast, an interview with a Vatican insider, you've seen him on TV, a well known Vatican commentator on news networks, and author of several books on the Vatican, Pope Benedict, and Opus Dei. . Stay tuned, and Stay Subscribed!

We start off this week with e-mail and a song from independent artist Anne Davis. Her moving song "Until That Day" was written for a friendâs wedding, and is featured at the outset of the podcast. You can purchase her album at the link on the website. My daughter Laura joins me for part of the podcast. She is 12, the same age of the young virgin and martyr of early in the 20th century featured on this podcast. . . the patron saint of young girls, and rape victims. We cover the Saint Feast Days this week, and clean out the e-mail box. Great audio feedback from listeners, and a new Audio St. Jeopardy, all on this week's SaintCast.

Just back from the Atlanta Eucharistic Congress and the informal SQPN summit - a great time was had by all. This week's special saint was the subject of a special audio soundseeing tour of one of the California missions founded by Junipero Serra, Mission San Buenaventura. Join Paul and the kids as they tour this church in downtown Ventura, California. So much info this week we couldn't go over the saint calendar . . perhaps a reason for a second SaintCast this week. . . The hand of John the Baptist makes an appearance in Russia. Phil sends in a question for the Relicman in our "Ask the Relicman" segment. St. Jeopardy answers from last week, a new quiz, and much more on this week's SaintCast.

Today on the SaintCast we debut a new segment, "Ask the RelicMan." We have our first Audio St. Jeopardy, as well as our first audio listener feedback responses! An incredibly saintly man is profiled in today's SaintCast, the patron of Kansas City, Missouri, St. John Francis Regis. He was a preacher who loved the poor, and spoke from the heart, converting thousands. A Jesuit who desired martyrdom in the Americas, he was asked to provide missions to Hugenot France in the 1600's. He inspired many including St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars. Feasts this week include the Traditional Feast of Corpus Christi on Thursday in much of the world, and the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua.

What do Padre Pio and the TV Series LOST have in common? Tune in to this week's SaintCast to find out. We discuss the phenomenon of bilocation in the context of saints. There are some important martyrs on the calendar of saints for this week. Paul finds a relic of martyred physicians in his father's possessions, and another episode of the Miracle Minute, all on this week's SaintCast. No time for e-mail, but feedback is welcome at 312-235-2278.

Welcome SQPN listeners, and Happy Feast of St. Rita! Today we present an audio sound seeing tour of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in San Francisco, California. Padre Pio for President? That's who one Italian legislator apparently voted for last week. . though as we learned on the first SaintCast, he died in 1968. Visit the archive to learn more about this holy man and stigmatist. More news on John Paul II's beatification and the miracle of the healing of a French nun of Parkinson's disease. We go over the Saints of the Week, and profile the pro-life saint, Gianna Molla, canonized May 16th, 2004. All this and a new Saint Jeopardy quiz on this week's SaintCast. Next week, what do we know of Mary Magdalene, and more on the history of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi.