Way of the Fathers

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) - Aquinas brought the development of Catholic thought and theology to a plateau, navigating the middle path between Augustine and Pelagius; Anselm and Abelard; and even Plato and Aristotle. He's called the Common Doctor because the Church has affirmed that his teaching should be taught, and held up as the standard, in every school, university, and seminary. Links Check out this YouTube clip, How the Summa Replaced the Sentences as the Standard Theology Textbook, w/ Philipp Rosemann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0od3JXnbfYY Also, check out this interview that St. Thomas' namesake - Thomas Mirus - did on the Catholic Culture Podcast with Matthew Minerd, about the education St. Thomas received and his responsibilities as a master of theology and his academic milieu: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/161-vocation-thomas-aquinas-matthew-minerd/ Three of St. Thomas' academic sermons are available as audio books on the Catholic Culture website: Beware of the False https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-beware-false/ Heaven and Earth Will Pass https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-heaven-and-earth-will-pass/ Send Out Your Spirit https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-send-out-your-spirit/ Mike Aquilina's Praying in the Presence of Our Lord with Thomas Aquinas: https://lambingpress.com/products/praying-in-the-presence-of-our-lord-with-st-thomas-aquinas The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on Albert & Thomas: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/3022-X/albert-and-thomas.aspx The Penguin Classics Thomas Aquinas: Selected Writings: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/260880/selected-writings-of-thomas-aquinas-by-thomas-aquinas/ The Aquinas Institute Online Complete Works of St. Thomas Aquinas: https://aquinas.cc/la/en/~ST.I Pope Leo XIII, 1879 Papal Encyclical Aeterni Patris: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4861&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2570288 Pope Pius XI, 1923 Papal Encyclical Studiorem Ducem: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=4957 Pope St. John Paul II, 1998 Papal Encyclical Fides et Ratio: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=592&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2570289 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 For Dr. Papandrea's take on St. Anselm, Peter Abelard, and St. Thomas Aquinas on the Atonement, see Reading the Church Fathers: https://sophiainstitute.com/?product=reading-the-church-fathers Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) - Student of St. Albert the Great, and friend of St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas brought theology and scholastic philosophy together in a way that remains the standard of Catholic thought to this day. In some ways, St. Thomas can be thought of as a second Augustine, who arguably even surpassed the great father of the Church, and brought Augustine’s teaching to a more perfect culmination. Links Three of St. Thomas’ academic sermons are available as audio books on the Catholic Culture website: Beware of the False https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-beware-false/ Heaven and Earth Will Pass https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-heaven-and-earth-will-pass/ Send Out Your Spirit https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-thomas-aquinas-send-out-your-spirit/ Also, check out this interview that St. Thomas’ namesake - Thomas Mirus - did on the Catholic Culture Podcast with Matthew Minerd, about the education St. Thomas received and his responsibilities as a master of theology and his academic milieu: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/161-vocation-thomas-aquinas-matthew-minerd/ The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on Albert & Thomas: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/3022-X/albert-and-thomas.aspx And, if you haven’t already, check out the episodes on St. Thomas’ teacher and mentor, St. Albert the Great, on this Way of the Fathers podcast: Episode 5.17 St. Albert the Great: Universal Doctor: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/517-st-albert-great-universal-doctor/ Episode 5.18 St. Albert the Great: The Miracle of His Time: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/518-st-albert-great-miracle-his-time/ 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 latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/collections/new-releases/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian?variant=46258102337713 Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) continued the legacy of St. Anthony and was the Franciscan counterpart to Aquinas. He’s called the second founder of the Franciscans, and the Prince of the Mystics, because he continued the mystical tradition of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and he preserves for us the mystical spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi, as well as being an important influence on later mystics, such as St. John of the Cross. Links Check out this three-part series on St. Bonaventure by Pope Benedict XVI (from 2010) Part 1: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9267 Part 2: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9271 Part 3: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9284 The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on St. Bonaventure: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2121-2/bonaventure.aspx 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 latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/collections/new-releases/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian?variant=46258102337713 Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) was the friend and colleague of St. Thomas Aquinas. What Aquinas was to the Dominicans, Bonaventure was to the Franciscans. St. Bonaventure is known as the second founder of the Franciscans because he was important for the organization of the order, and for bringing forth and expanding upon St. Francis’ spirituality. Links Check out this three-part series on St. Bonaventure by Pope Benedict XVI (from 2010) Part 1: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9267 Part 2: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9271 Part 3: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9284 The Classics of Western Spirituality volume on St. Bonaventure: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/2121-2/bonaventure.aspx 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 latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Albert the Great (1206-1280) mastered every field of study available to him, from astronomy to zoology. He was called the “miracle of his time,” not because he performed miracles, but because he was considered an authority - on the level of St. Augustine and Peter Lombard - even within his own lifetime. He was the mentor and teacher of a more famous doctor of the Church: St. Thomas Aquinas. Links For a great conversation about Peter Lombard’s Sentences, check out this article, The Most Influential Theology Book Nobody Reads: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/195-most-influential-theology-book-nobody-reads-philipp-rosemann/ For the background on Pseudo-Dionysius, listen to this Way of the Fathers episode: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/who-was-pseudo-dionysius-areopagite/ The Classics of Western Spirituality volume which includes Albert & Thomas: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/3022-X/albert-and-thomas.aspx 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 book on ROME is revised and updated for the Jubilee year: ROME: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Eternal City - Second Edition: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385206643/rome-second-edition/ Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Albert the Great (1206-1280) was one of the real geniuses of the middle ages, and was the teacher and mentor of St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Albert had mastered virtually every field of study available to him, and he is one of the most important bridges between ancient and medieval philosophy. Links For a complete, unbiased, and very accessible overview of the Crusades, see the book God’s Battalions by Rodney Stark: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/gods-battalions-rodney-stark?variant=32216080351266 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 book on ROME is revised and updated for the Jubilee year: ROME: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Eternal City - Second Edition: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385206643/rome-second-edition/ Dr. Papandrea’s YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) is actually called the Hammer of Heretics, but the truth is that even in his uncompromising critiques of heresy, he had compassion for those who were led astray by the heresies, and he refused to engage in the personal attacks and name-calling that are so prevalent in apologetics, even among some other saints. So his homiletical hammer, as it were, was aimed more at the heresies than at the heretics. Listen in to find out why he's also the patron of people who have lost something. Links For more on how the Church fathers interpreted Scripture, see Reading Scripture Like the Early Church: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-scripture-like-the-early-church/ 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 Dr. Papandrea’s book on ROME is revised and updated for the Jubilee year: ROME: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Eternal City - Second Edition: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385206643/rome-second-edition/ Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) is called the Doctor of the Gospel, or the Evangelical Doctor, because he is known as both an expert in biblical interpretation, as well as one of the greatest preachers the Church has ever produced. 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 Dr. Papandrea’s book on ROME is revised and updated for the Jubilee year: ROME: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Eternal City - Second Edition: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385206643/rome-second-edition/ Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Hildegard of Bingen, 12-century abbess, mystic, polymath, and Doctor of the Church, is best known to non-Catholics for something else – her music. We have more pieces of music by Hildegard than by any other medieval composer whose name we know. Her chants are beautiful, otherworldly, virtuosic and ahead of their time. Some of them were written for her morality play, the Ordo virtutum, which is also the first of its kind. Thomas Mirus (producer of Way of the Fathers and host of the Catholic Culture Podcast) interviews musicologist Margot Fassler about what makes St. Hildegard’s music so special. Links Way of the Fathers episodes on St. Hildegard’s life and works: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/512-st-hildegard-bingen-multimedia-visionary/ https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/513-st-hildegard-bingen-teutonic-prophetess/ St. Hildegard’s letter to the Prelates of Mainz https://digfir-published.macmillanusa.com/mckay11eepages/mckay11eepages_ch9_4.html Margot Fassler, Cosmos, Liturgy, and the Arts in the Twelfth Century: Hildegard’s Illuminated Scivias https://www.pennpress.org/9781512823073/cosmos-liturgy-and-the-arts-in-the-twelfth-century/ All music used with permission from Benjamin Bagby & Sequentia, who have recorded her complete works. The specific pieces in this episode can be found on the albums Ordo Virtutum, Symphoniae, and Voice of the Blood. https://www.sequentia.org/projects/hildegard.html DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters

St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a mystic, an anointed prophet, a reformer, theologian, poet, teacher, and preacher. Over eight centuries ago, she wrote, “Today the Catholic faith is in a state of agitation, on a global scale. The gospel limps its way around the world; the early Church fathers, who wrote so well, are ignored; people are apathetic; they refuse to read and taste the nourishment in the Scriptures.” Links To get a sense of what the Cathars were all about, here’s the Way of the Fathers episode on gnosticism: https://youtu.be/JYeyevLBF4I?si=rr0eWytzOAuHyPfH Carmen Acevedo Butcher’s Hildegard of Bingen: A Spiritual Reader: https://paracletepress.com/products/hildegard-of-bingen-doctor-of-the-church?_pos=1&_sid=82546e597&_ss=r Playlist of Hildegard’s Music on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nJez_L5_xEzOeIgUp4rEsPrdri_ZJIG-E Playlist of Richard Souther’s VISION: The Music of Hildegard von Bingen: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kAiH-A34ukq1uYyDEBJ3-Qpzwbxf0-U-Y Margot Fassler’s Cosmos, Liturgy, and the Arts in the Twelfth Century: Hildegard's Illuminated "Scivias" https://www.pennpress.org/9781512823073/cosmos-liturgy-and-the-arts-in-the-twelfth-century/ The Camrbidge Companion to Hildegard of Bingen: https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/literature/european-literature/cambridge-companion-hildegard-bingen?format=PB&isbn=9781108457811 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. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a visionary, teacher, Abbess, composer, theologian, painter, and the first woman in history to be given papal approval to preach in public. Four centuries before the emergence of the “Renaissance Man,” there was Hildegard of Bingen. Usually known mostly for her music (and rightfully so) there is so much more to this medieval mystic. Links To get a sense of what the Cathars were all about, here’s the Way of the Fathers episode on gnosticism: https://youtu.be/JYeyevLBF4I?si=rr0eWytzOAuHyPfH Playlist of Hildegard’s Music on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nJez_L5_xEzOeIgUp4rEsPrdri_ZJIG-E Margot Fassler’s Cosmos, Liturgy, and the Arts in the Twelfth Century: Hildegard's Illuminated "Scivias" https://www.pennpress.org/9781512823073/cosmos-liturgy-and-the-arts-in-the-twelfth-century/ Carmen Acevedo Butcher’s Hildegard of Bingen: A Spiritual Reader: https://paracletepress.com/products/hildegard-of-bingen-doctor-of-the-church?_pos=1&_sid=82546e597&_ss=r The Camrbidge Companion to Hildegard of Bingen: https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/literature/european-literature/cambridge-companion-hildegard-bingen?format=PB&isbn=9781108457811 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. 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 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. 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/