Catholic Theology Show

What does it mean to be good at believing in the Eucharist? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Sr. Albert Marie Surmanski, a Dominican sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas, to discuss the profound gift of the Eucharist. In their conversation, they address the beauty of Eucharistic spirituality and the teaching of transubstantiation. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsitehereDominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Why are the teachings of the early Church Fathers still critically important today? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Rev. Andrew Hofer, Dominican priest, professor at the Dominican House of Studies, and editor of the peer-reviewed Catholic publication The Thomist. They discuss Rev. Hofer's new book, The Power of Patristic Preaching, exploring how seven Fathers navigated confusion in the early Church and how the fruits of their labor are still being reaped in our times. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsitehereThe Power of Patristic TeachinghereThe Thomist

What deeply Christian truths are hidden in J.R.R. Tolkien’s most famous work? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Joseph Pearce, internationally acclaimed author and visiting professor at Ave Maria University, to talk about finding the profound Catholic themes in J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings while exploring issues such as divine providence, suffering, and original sin. Resources: Annunciation Circlewebsitehis websiteFrodo’s Journey

How does recovering a sense of the demonic help in appreciating the Good News of Christ? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Fr. David Tomaszycki, an Ave Maria University alumnus and priest from the Archdiocese of Detroit, to discuss his soon-to-be-published book which addresses “Fulton Sheen on the Demonic,” exploring themes such as the signs of the demonic and three weapons that can be used against them. Resources: Annunciation Circlewebsitehere

How does the work of evangelization lead to true joy? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, who was ordained in 1965 in Northeast India and is the recipient of a World Peace Award, to discuss his encounters with St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and how the Catholic Church evangelizes in today’s diverse global environment. Resources: Annunciation Circlewebsitehere

How does Exodus 90 help men escape their bonds and embrace true leadership? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Jared Staudt, AMU alumnus and Director of Content for Exodus 90, to talk about how Exodus 90 focuses on bringing men to freedom by means of prayer, asceticism, and fraternity, and how this process is sustained and nourished by the Eucharist. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsitehereExodus 90

How should human beings love? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Catholic literature scholar Joseph Pearce discuss C.S. Lewis’s wonderfully insightful retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, Till We Have Faces. In this episode, they address how this novel both parallels C.S. Lewis’s The Four Loves and reveals the great complexity of loving as a human; how we must give in order to receive. Resources: Annunciation Circlewebsitehis website

How did G.K Chesterton help society grow in wonder and gratitude? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Fr. Joseph Fessio, Jesuit priest, founder and editor of Ignatius Press, and founding provost of Ave Maria University, discuss G.K. Chesterton’s remarkable book, The Everlasting Man. They explore how this book provides an incredible overview of human history, philosophy, and religion, and how they can be understood within the context of Christ. Resources: Annunciation Circlewebsitehere

Who was Pope St. John Paul II and how did he reshape the world’s approach to the Catholic faith? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Patrick Novecosky, award-winning author of 100 Ways John Paul II Changed the World and founder of NovaMedia, to discuss some key aspects of Pope St. John Paul II’s remarkable biography and influential papacy, explaining the profound mark he left on the world. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsitehereNovaMedia

What is Matrimony and why should it be protected as the primordial sacrament? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by John Clark, author, political speech writer, and columnist for the National Catholic Register, to discuss the importance of recognizing the sacramentality of marriage. They address themes such as the primary purpose of marriage, its indissolubility, and how it was instituted. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsitehereBetrayed Without a Kiss,

How can St. Thomas Aquinas’ carefully presented theological truths lead us to a place of personal intimacy with God? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Fr. Gregory Pine of the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. and host of podcasts and classes on Aquinas 101 with the Thomistic Institute. They discuss why we should seek to learn about prayer and spiritual theology from Aquinas. Resources: Annunciation Circlewebsiteherebook

What does it mean to have good ethics and how should they guide our approach to business?Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. Andrew Abela, professor of marketing and Dean of the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, discuss the necessity of upholding ethics in the business world, explaining how this is only possible through the cultivation and practice of virtue. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsiteDr. Andrew Abela’s work

How does the book of Wisdom encourage us to unite humanity’s philosophical pursuit of wisdom with God’s revelation in history? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. Mark Giszczak, professor of scripture and theology at the Augustine Institute, unpack the Wisdom of Solomon, while addressing related themes such as how Scripture should be approached according to the Second Vatican Council. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsiteCatholic Commentary on Sacred Scriptureherenew book

Who was Fulton Sheen and how did he advocate for authentic freedom? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. James Patterson, professor of politics at Ave Maria University and scholar of Fulton Sheen, discuss Fulton Sheen’s seminal work, Freedom Under God, while exploring how Bishop Sheen was one of the most effective Catholic apologists in American history. Resources: Annunciation Circlewebsite

How does the Book of Romans help us to understand the nature of our salvation? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Daniel Lendman, assistant professor of theology at Ave Maria University, to discuss the book of Romans by St. Paul. Their conversation covers some of the deep theological themes of this book and why it has been the cause of ongoing controversy between Christians. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsiteMade for Worship| Preparing for Holy Week

How can we embrace the Christian call to mission in today’s world? In this episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Catholic priest and founder of The Rescue Project, Fr. John Riccardo, to discuss the importance of making time to evangelize. Their conversation provides insight into how the Gospel addresses the crisis of loneliness sweeping the globe and what motivated Fr. Riccardo to begin his own journey of mission. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsiteRescue Projecthere

How has the Catholic “giant” of our time, Bishop Robert Barron, evangelized and catechized this generation? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. Matthew Levering, Catholic scholar and noted editor and author, sit down to discuss Dr. Levering’s new work on the theology of Bishop Robert Barron. They think about how Bishop Barron successfully reaches fallen away Catholics and students of theology alike and helps them to recover a profound confidence in the truths of their Catholic faith. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsiteDr. Matthew Levering’s work on Bishop Barronfounder of Word on Fire

How can creation be good when sin and evil exist? Today, Dr. Dauphinais and Catholic scholar Joseph Pearce discuss The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, hearkening to the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s call for a “catechesis on creation.” They unpack how the role of music in Middle Earth’s creation story grants insight into God’s continual work of unfolding the harmony of creation, inviting us to participate in it through our creativity, and providentially operating amid the discordance of evil. Resources: Annunciation Circlewebsitethe section on creation in the Catechism of the Catholic Churchhis websiteThe Genius of J.R.R. Tolkien

What is Catholic bioethics and how should it guide our approach to fertility and infertility? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, a Catholic priest, neuroscientist, and writer, discuss the proper relationship between faith and science. They address themes such as whether the Church should be involved in scientific conversation, while focusing primarily on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and its challenging moral consequences. Resources: Annunciation Circlewebsitebioethics videos

What does it mean to perfect our love for God? In this episode, Dr. Dauphinais sits down with Fr. Rick Martignetti, Franciscan priest and director of campus ministry at Ave Maria University, to discuss his book Perfect Love, a collection of reflections on prayer inspired by Saint Bonaventure. Fr. Rick speaks about what the Seraphic Doctor can teach Christians today about prayer, contemplation, and love for God. Resources: Annunciation CirclewebsitePerfect Love: Forty Stories and Reflections Inspired by Saint Bonaventure’s De Perfectione VitaeHidden Beauty: Reflections on Saint Bonaventure’s Tree of Life