Word & Table

Why the smells? What does incense symbolize? And what's the name of that thing it swings around in? All this and more on this week's Word & Table.

Music: Ubi Caritas et Amor by Richard Proulx and the Catherdral Singers from Sublime Chant.

When you see people bowing in a liturgical service, what does that actually mean? What exactly are they bowing to? What's the difference between bowing in a Christian service and the idolatry warned against in the Bible?

Music: Ave Verum Corpus by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

What is confession? What is the difference between a general confession and the sacramental rite of confession? Does the church even have the right to pronounce forgiveness of sins? Father Stephen addresses all this and more on this week's episode.

Music: Confiteor (Benedictine) by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. GIA Publications.

Father Stephen explains how the Church has traditionally cqelebrated Christmas and its place meaning in the context of the church calendar. Plus Alex and Stephen talk about their family Christmas traditions and their picks for best Christmas album ever.

Music: "Corde Natus ex Parentis" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Purchase here

"Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" by John Michael Talbot. Purchase here.

"Les Anges Dos Nos Campagnes" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Bruce Cockburn. Purchase here.

Father Stephen explains what holy water is used for and what it reminds us of.

Music: "Only Begotten Word of God Eternal" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers

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Where did the sign of the cross come from? What are these little "extra" things we see Anglicans, Catholics, and Orthodox believers doing at prayer? Fr. Stephen defines these "sacramentals," their place in worship and how to understand them.

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Music: Lumen et Revelationem by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Purchases here.

Father Stephen describes the meaning of the Advent season, how we can anticipate the Lord's coming, and the nature of Christian hope.

Click here for a series of daily Advent readings.

Muic: "On Jordan's Bank" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers.

This week we close our conversation on the Liturgical Calendar, focusing especially on the Sanctoral Calendar and where the practice of commemorating specific saints came from.

Music - "Litany of the Saints" from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and The Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

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Father Stephen tells the surprising story of the liturgical calendar and how it became central to Christian worship.

Music: Pater Noster and All Glory Laud and Honor by the Cathedral Singers.

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This week, Father Stephen outlines the organization of the church and how the regional delineations of church government grew out of the offices of Bishops and the cities they ministered in.

Music: Adoro Te Devote by The Cathedral Singers. Purchase here.