St. Bernard of Claivaux (1090 - 1153 AD) was the founder of the Cistercians, a reform order of the Benedictines, and was one of the Church’s true mystics. He opposed the “intentionalism” of the heretic Peter Abelard with his quip: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” He also opposed an anti-pope, corrected a king, brokered peace in Europe, and had to nuance the doctrine of “just war” in the face of Christian losses in the Crusades.

Links

Check out this article on St. Barnard of Clairvaux and the Active Life: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/bernard-clairvaux-and-active-life/?repos=6&subrepos=0&searchid=2539743

Here’s the Classics of Western Spirituality volume on St. Bernard: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2917-5/bernard-of-clairvaux.aspx

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Dr. Papandrea’s Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com

Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch

To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/

Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Bernard of Claivaux (1090 - 1153 AD) was born to be a knight, and grew up in a castle, but he chose to be a different kind of knight - a true prayer warrior - and he supported the invention of the Christian knight by endorsing the Knights Templar. He would be the founder of the Cistercians, a reform order of the Benedictines. He was a strong advocate of devotion to Our Lady, and of orthodox doctrine, and he would turn down the office of bishop in six different cities. Listen in to find out what “mellifluous” means! 

Links

SIGN UP for Catholic Culture’s Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/

DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Dr. Papandrea’s Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com

Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch

To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/

Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

 

St. Anselm (1033 - 1109 AD) was Abbot of the monastery of Bec, and later, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was the first of the medieval scholastics, and the first real systematic theologian. His treatise, Cur Deus Homo brought together biblical and patristic themes related to salvation and the atonement to provide the Church with a comprehensive (up to that point) teaching on the Incarnation and the Atonement, known as the Satisfaction Theory of Atonement. 

Links

To read Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo online: https://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ans/ans117.htm

To read several of the most important works of St. Anselm, get the book Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works:  https://global.oup.com/academic/product/anselm-of-canterbury-the-major-works-9780199540082?q=Anselm%20major%20works&lang=en&cc=us

For more on the medieval scholastics, the atonement, and St. Anselm, see the book Reading the Church Fathers: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/ 

SIGN UP for Catholic Culture’s Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/

DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Dr. Papandrea’s Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com

Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch

To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/

Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

 

St. Anselm (1033 - 1109 AD) was Abbot of the monastery of Bec, and later, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was the first of the medieval scholastics, and the first real systematic theologian. In many ways, St. Anselm is the bridge between St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Links

To read Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo online: https://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ans/ans117.htm

To read several of the most important works of St. Anselm, get the book Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works:  https://global.oup.com/academic/product/anselm-of-canterbury-the-major-works-9780199540082?q=Anselm%20major%20works&lang=en&cc=us

For more on the medieval scholastics, the atonement, and St. Anselm, see the book Reading the Church Fathers: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/ 

SIGN UP for Catholic Culture’s Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/

DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Dr. Papandrea’s Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com

Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch

To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/

Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

 

St. Peter Damian (1007 - 1072 AD) was an advisor to, and sometimes corrector of, Popes, Emperors, and Kings. Through his writings he was a reformer of the clergy, and the monasteries, especially calling out and confronting immorality among the clergy. He was a member of the first college of cardinals as we know it today, and took part in wrestling away from royals and nobles the power to appoint Popes, restoring the process of papal elections. 

Links

Listen to the Catholic Culture audio book of St. Peter Damian’s The Lord Be With You: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-peter-damian-lord-be-with-you/

Listen to previous episodes of The Way of the Fathers on the subject of the validity of the Sacraments:

Episode 4.8 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 1: The Good): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/48-novatian-good-bad-ugly-pt-1-good/

Episode 4.9 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 2: The Bad and the Ugly): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/49-novatian-part-2-bad-and-ugly/

Pope St. Stephen and the Sacraments: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/pope-st-stephen-and-sacraments/

Fr. Owen J. Blum’s Dissertation - St. Peter Damian: His Teaching on the Spiritual Life: https://www.faithandfamily.pub/st-peter-damian-his-teaching-on-the-spiritual-life/

SIGN UP for Catholic Culture’s Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/

DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Dr. Papandrea’s Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com

Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch

To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/

Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

 

St. Peter Damian (1007 - 1072 AD) is another one of our lesser-known Doctors of the Church, and yet he was, in his time, a man who could give advice to the Popes, and call for reform in the clergy and in the monasteries. Known as a Catholic reformer (long before the Protestant Reformation), he confronted clergy immorality, simony and lay investiture, as well as corruption in the process of the election of Popes, and he was a member of the first college of cardinals, as we know it today. 

Links

Listen to the Catholic Culture audio book of St. Peter Damian’s The Lord Be With You: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-peter-damian-lord-be-with-you/

Listen to previous episodes of The Way of the Fathers on the subject of the validity of the Sacraments:

Episode 4.8 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 1: The Good): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/48-novatian-good-bad-ugly-pt-1-good/

Episode 4.9 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 2: The Bad and the Ugly): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/49-novatian-part-2-bad-and-ugly/

Pope St. Stephen and the Sacraments: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/pope-st-stephen-and-sacraments/

Fr. Owen J. Blum’s Dissertation - St. Peter Damian: His Teaching on the Spiritual Life: https://www.faithandfamily.pub/st-peter-damian-his-teaching-on-the-spiritual-life/

SIGN UP for Catholic Culture’s Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/

DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Dr. Papandrea’s Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com

Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch

To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/

Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

 

The Holy Father has proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee year, and pilgrims are already flocking to Rome to cross the thresholds of the major basilicas, and to visit the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul. Original host of the Way of the Fathers podcast, Mike Aquilina, and current host of the podcast, James L. Papandrea, talk about jubilee and pilgrimage, and introduce listeners to the first (of hopefully many) Way of the Fathers pilgrimage. If you’re interested in going on pilgrimage to Sicily, December 1-11, 2025, with Mike, and Jim, and Fr. Kevin Barrett, you can find more information at this link:    https://www.206tours.com/cms/stpaulcenter/aquilina/   Why Sicily?    “Sicily,” said Goethe, “is the key to everything.” It was the site where Plato imagined his perfect republic. Sicily gave Rome its first taste of Empire. Homer set much of his Odyssey in Sicily: Scylla and Charybdis, the forge of Hephaestus … It’s the land of the Cyclops, the place where Icarus hit the ground when his wings began to melt. St. Paul spent three days there. For St. Augustine it was a land of wonders — a mountain that burned always and was not consumed. For St. Basil it was a synonym for luxury. Sicily was the definition of Hellenic. It was profoundly Latin. It was the land that gave the Church its Greek popes. It was the land that gave the Church its virgin-martyrs, Agatha and Lucy. For those who suffer ailments of the eye or breast, it is a pilgrim destination. It’s Byzantine. It’s Roman. It’s Phoenician and African. It’s stubbornly Christian through years of Muslim rule. It’s Norman. It’s Spanish. It’s stunningly beautiful. The food is amazing. It’s where the Godfather movies were filmed. In December it will be warm there and offer unusual wares and delights for Christmas shoppers. Consider joining Catholic author Mike Aquilina, historian James L. Papandrea, and Fr. Kevin Barrett on a unique pilgrimage, co-sponsored by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, 206 Tours, and the Apostolate for Family Consecration. (This pilgrimage is not run by CatholicCulture.org.)   SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters

St. Gregory of Narek (c. 945-1003), was an Armenian saint: a monk, scholar, poet, and hymn writer. Praised as a saint by Pope St. John Paul II, who called by him the “great Marian doctor of the Armenian Church,” St. Gregory of Narek was officially proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015–one of the most recent additions to the list of the Doctors of the Church.

Links

Listen to our Way of the Fathers episode on the heresy of Eutyches and monophysitism: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/416-heresieseutyches-monophysitism-drop-in-ocean/

 Listen to our Way of the Fathers episode on the heresy of rebaptism: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/410-heresies-rebaptism-and-donatists/

Listen to a lecture by musicologist Dr. Haig Utigjian on St. Gregory’s Odes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xleJO1xra08

(The lecturer sings an example of a (later) melody at about minute 36)

The book, The Doctor of Mercy: The Sacred Treasures of St. Gregory of Narek, by Michael Papazian: https://litpress.org/Products/8501/The-Doctor-of-Mercy

A collection of books about St. Gregory of Narek, including the above: https://litpress.org/Products/SGNSET/The-Works-of-St-Gregory-of-Narek

The English translation of St. Gregory’s book of prayers: The Book of Lamentations: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9993085340

 SIGN UP for Catholic Culture’s Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/

DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Dr. Papandrea’s Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com

Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch

To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/

Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

 

In the first episode on St. Gregory of Narek (c. 945-1003), Dr. Papandrea introduces one of the newest additions to the list of Doctors of the Church. Gregory was an Armenian monk, scholar, poet, and saint, who was praised by Pope St. John Paul II.

Links

Listen to Mike Aquilina’s episode on Christianity in Armenia - The Way of the Fathers episode 3.9 Ejmiastin and Christian Armenia: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/39-cities-god-ejmiatsin-and-christian-armenia/

SIGN UP for Catholic Culture’s Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/

DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Dr. Papandrea’s Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com

To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/

Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

 

 

In this second episode on St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735 AD), Dr. Papandrea talks about the literary legacy of this Doctor of the Church. Bede is not only considered the “father of English history,” but also the “father of English education.” Although he is now most famous for his Ecclesiastical History of England, his contribution to the Church is actually much greater than that.

Links

The Oxford book - St. Bede: The Ecclesiastical History of the English People; The Greater Chronicle; Bede's Letter to Egbert - https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ecclesiastical-history-of-the-english-people-the-greater-chronicle-bedes-letter-to-egbert-9780199537235?q=978-0199537235&cc=us&lang=en

The Classics of Western Spirituality book - The Venerable Bede: On the Song of Songs and Selected Writings - https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/4700-7/the-venerable-bede.aspx

The Ancient Christian Texts book - Latin Commentaries on Revelation - https://ivpress.com/latin-commentaries-on-revelation

SIGN UP for Catholic Culture’s Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/

DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Dr. Papandrea’s Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com

To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community:  https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/

For more on the interpretation of the Book of Revelation in the Early Church, see Dr. Papandrea’s book, The Wedding of the Lamb: A Historical Interpretation of the Book of Revelation - https://wipfandstock.com/9781608998067/the-wedding-of-the-lamb/ 

Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/