In commemoration of Good Friday, Justin Hibbard shares an original poem called Pietà, reflecting on the moment when Mary held the body of Jesus after He was lowered from the cross. In the show notes, there are a number of depictions of Pietà if you would like to meditate on the image while you listen to the poem. The text of the poem is also listed in the show notes as well.

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.

Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.

Show Notes:

* Pietà sculpture by Michelangelo

* Pietà painting by Paul Armesto

* Pietà digital art by Shreeharsha Kulkarni

* Pietà painting by Jason Jenicke

* Pietà depiction from Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ

* Music - “Agnus Dei” by Samuel Barber

Pietà by Justin Hibbard

The mother held her sonThe last time like the firstEternity wrapped in swaddling clothesIn a momentIn a loving gazeAn angel’s promise of hopeA sword-piercing pain

The mother held her sonLike Eve held her dead AbelHer wails echoing through the streetsOf ZionThrough time and spaceEven the angel guarding EdenFelt it move his feathersBaptizing him in water and windHe wept

The mother held her sonHis head against her breastsA rose wrapped with thornsPushing into her chestAdam’s curseWeaved into a crown

The mother held her sonThe last time like the firstCovered in bloodFirst hersNow hisSalvation in twisted strands of DNAFilled to the brimLike new wineBursting through skin and flesh

The mother held her sonThe last time like the firstAngels stunnedStrangers peeringThe Ark exposedThrough a shorn robeThe word of her wombNow cradled in her armsShe wrapped him in linenEternity in swaddling clothesThe first time like the lastAnd laid him down to restIn a crèche

Justin Hibbard continues the mini-series on the Sacrament of Holy Orders with the Apostolic Succession. What authority did Jesus pass onto His disciples, and was their leadership clearly respected in the early churches? How did the disciples choose successors? And how did the early Church settle doctrine and power disputes?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.

Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.

Show Notes:

* Quotes from the Early Church Fathers regarding the Apostolic Succession

* Letter to the Corinthians by Clement

* Against Heresies by Irenaeus

* Prescription Against Heretics by Tertullian

* Church History by Eusebius

* Lumen Gentrium

Justin Hibbard continues the discussion of the sacrament with the final sacrament - the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Like all the other series on the sacraments, he begins by diving into the historical Jewish context of priestly ordination. What were the qualifications, functions, and the authority that God bestowed on Jewish priests? And how does the Jewish priesthood relate to the Catholic Church and the apostolic ministry?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.

Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.

Show Notes:

* Diagram of the Tabernacle

* Video: 3D Fly-through of Solomon’s Temple

* Diagram of Herod’s Temple

* Video: The Jewish Roots of the Papacy by Dr. Brent Pitre

In this episode, Justin Hibbard is joined by Daniel Markham - author of 52 Masses. For two years, Daniel traveled around the United States and attended Mass in every state, DC, and Puerto Rico. In this interview, Daniel shares the story about how this idea began and how it came to fruition along with some of the unique experiences God put in his pathway.

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.

Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES:

* Order 52 Masses here.

* See pictures and read Daniel’s blog at 52masses.com.

* Follow 52 Masses on Facebook and Instagram.

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Justin Hibbard goes beyond the Irish partying and green beer to tell the historic story of a young boy who ministered to his captors and changed the British Isles forever.

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.

Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES:

* St. Patrick’s Confession

* St. Patrick’s Letter to Coroticus

* St. Patrick’s Lorica

In this Q&A episode, Justin answers the following questions:

* Did you consider becoming Eastern Orthodox in your journey to Catholicism?

* How do you reconcile your Catholic faith with your sabbatarian upbringing?

* How did you come to accept the Marian dogmas?

Be sure to subscribe to Why Catholic? on your favorite podcast provider.

Become a Why Catholic? patron at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

Submit questions for Q&A episodes at [email protected]

Follow Why Catholic? on Instagram: @whycatholicpodcast

SHOW NOTES:

* Pints with Aquinas: Should We Become Orthodox? with Trent Horn

* The Different Rites and Churches that Comprise the Holy Catholic Church

* Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus - Book 3 Chapter 3

* The Didache

* Justin Martyr’s First Apology

* Dogmatic Process - On the Journey Episode 100 (starting at 22:25)

* On the Journey with Matt & Ken - Podcast Episodes 99-107

* The Catholic Talk Show - the Four Marian Dogmas with Trent Horn

* Behold Your Mother by Tim Staples

* Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brent Pitre

* Hail Holy Queen by Scott Hahn

The Catholic Church recognizes marriage as a sacrament and a vocation with the distinct purpose of helping your spouse and children get to heaven. In this episode, Justin Hibbard talks about how Christian marriage and parenting is so counter-cultural but also so sanctifying and rewarding.

Be sure to subscribe to Why Catholic? on your favorite podcast provider.

Become a Why Catholic? patron at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

Submit questions for Q&A episodes at [email protected]

Follow Why Catholic? on Instagram: @whycatholicpodcast

SHOW NOTES:

* Recommendation: Gottman Institute - a Research Based Approach to Marriage

* Recommendation: The Allender Center - Marriage Healing & Restoration

* The Sound of Music

* Catholic Match - Don’t Underestimate the Vocation of Marriage

* U.S. Statistics on Divorce

* Why is the US Birthrate Declining

* Religion in Spain

* Spain Statistics on Divorce

* Births in Spain Drop to Lowest Level on Record

We’re surrounded by all sorts of examples of marriage - some wholesome and some unhealthy. In this episode, Justin Hibbard explains how the intimate and mystical union of the Trinity is the perfect example of a sacramental marriage relationship.

Be sure to subscribe to Why Catholic? on your favorite podcast provider.

Become a Why Catholic? patron at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

Submit questions for Q&A episodes at [email protected]

Follow Why Catholic? on Instagram: @whycatholicpodcast

SHOW NOTES:

* De Trinitate by St. Augustine - free eBook

* Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Dogma of the Holy Trinity

* Family structure homogamy: The effects of parental divorce on partner selection and marital stability by Nicholas Wolfing

* Why marriage brings you closer to God (and explains the Trinity) by Michael Lawlor and Todd Salzman

* Marriage and the Trinity by Deacon Matthew Newsome

In continuing the series on the Sacraments, Justin begins discussing the Sacrament of Marriage by diving into the Jewish context of marriage. This episode examines the creation account and the institution of the first marriage, some common Jewish practices regarding marriage, and Jesus’ teaching on divorce.

Be sure to subscribe to Why Catholic? on your favorite podcast provider.

Become a Why Catholic? patron at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

Submit questions for Q&A episodes at [email protected]

Follow Why Catholic? on Instagram: @whycatholicpodcast

SOURCES:

* Cross References of the Hebrew word Ezer - Blue Letter Bible

* Marriage in Halakhic Judaism - Jewish Women’s Archive

In this episode, Justin Hibbard continues talking about sacraments with the second sacrament of healing - the anointing of the sick. What is the Catholic understanding of healing? What is the Jewish roots of this practice? And why do we anoint the sick with oil?

Be sure to subscribe to Why Catholic? on your favorite podcast provider.

Become a Why Catholic? patron at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

Submit questions for Q&A episodes at [email protected]

Follow Why Catholic? on Instagram: @whycatholicpodcast