St. Nicholas of Myra, born around 270 AD in Patara, Lycia (modern-day Turkey), was a 4th-century bishop known for his generosity and devotion to helping the poor. He famously provided dowries for three impoverished sisters, saving them from slavery, and became a symbol of compassion and charity. Celebrated as the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants, his life inspired countless legends and traditions. St. Nicholas passed away on December 6, 343 AD, and his feast day is marked by acts...
Dec 06, 2024•21 min•Ep. 165
St. John Damascene, born around 675 AD in Damascus, was a monk, theologian, and hymnographer known for his eloquent defense of Christian doctrine. A staunch opponent of iconoclasm, he championed the veneration of holy images and wrote extensively to uphold orthodox teachings. His works, including The Fountain of Knowledge , profoundly shaped Christian theology and philosophy. St. John passed away in 749 AD, and his feast day is celebrated on December 4 as a tribute to his wisdom and devotion. Se...
Dec 04, 2024•20 min•Ep. 164
St. Francis Xavier, born in 1506 in Navarre, Spain, was a Jesuit missionary and one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus. Renowned for his zeal in spreading Christianity, he traveled extensively, preaching in India, Japan, and Southeast Asia, baptizing thousands. Known for his humility and dedication, he learned local languages and adapted to cultures to effectively share his faith. Francis Xavier passed away on December 3, 1552, near China, and is celebrated as the patron saint of mi...
Dec 03, 2024•19 min•Ep. 163
All saints had a story before they met Jesus. For St. Andrew, he was a fisherman. Hearing the call of Christ, Andrew and his brother Peter left everything behind to follow Jesus. Join Dr. Ben Akers and Mary McGeehan as they discuss St. Andrew, his life, and the example he provides to all Christians. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becomin...
Nov 30, 2024•27 min•Ep. 162
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th-century Christian martyr, was known for her intelligence, beauty, and steadfast faith. She boldly debated Emperor Maxentius and his scholars, converting many before being imprisoned and martyred for refusing to renounce Christianity. Venerated as the patroness of philosophers and scholars, her legacy inspires courage and devotion. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of...
Nov 25, 2024•16 min•Ep. 161
Sit down with Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Carl Vennerstrom as they discuss Pope St. Clement of Rome, who was an early Church Father and the third successor to St. Peter. He wrote an original letter to the dissentient church of Corinth that we can still read and access today! His feast day is November 23. St. Clement, pray for us! See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augus...
Nov 23, 2024•19 min•Ep. 160
Join Dr. Tim Gray and Paul McCusker as they discuss St. Cecilia and the role of Art and Beauty in the New Evangelization. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle ....
Nov 22, 2024•22 min•Ep. 159
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769–1852) was a French missionary and a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart who dedicated her life to education and service on the American frontier. After enduring the hardships of the French Revolution, she answered the call to missionary work, establishing schools for Native Americans and settlers in the United States, particularly in Missouri and Kansas. Known for her deep spirituality and devotion, she was called the “Woman Who Prays Always” by the Potaw...
Nov 18, 2024•25 min•Ep. 158
St. Albert the Great (1200–1280), also known as Albertus Magnus, was a German Dominican friar, bishop, scholar, and one of the most influential figures of the medieval Church. Renowned as a "Doctor Universalis" (Universal Doctor), he was a polymath who made significant contributions to theology, philosophy, and the natural sciences. A pioneer in integrating Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, St. Albert was a mentor to St. Thomas Aquinas and a key figure in the development of Schola...
Nov 15, 2024•23 min•Ep. 157
Saint Didacus of Alcalá (c. 1400–1463), also known as Diego de San Nicolás, was a Spanish Franciscan lay brother celebrated for his humility, charity, and deep spirituality. Born in San Nicolás del Puerto, Andalusia, he initially lived as a hermit before joining the Franciscan Order. Didacus served as a missionary in the Canary Islands, where he was appointed guardian of the Franciscan community on Fuerteventura, an exceptional role for a lay brother. In 1450, he traveled to Rome for the canoniz...
Nov 13, 2024•18 min•Ep. 156
Join Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Carl Vennerstrom as they discuss St. Leo the Great, who served as pope during the tumultuous time of the Council of Chalcedon. With the heart of a pastor, St. Leo modeled Christian charity amidst the debates and controversies on the divine and human nature of Jesus. He blessed the Church by using his gift of administration to create a healthy bureaucracy where brotherly love could flourish. Watch Catholic Saints on FORMED . Sign Up for FORMED . Support this podcast and...
Nov 10, 2024•21 min•Ep. 155
Saint Martin de Porres (1579–1639) was a Peruvian lay brother of the Dominican Order renowned for his profound humility, charity, and dedication to the marginalized. Born in Lima to a Spanish nobleman and a freed African slave, he faced societal discrimination due to his mixed-race heritage. Despite these challenges, Martin devoted his life to serving others, working as a barber-surgeon, caring for the sick, and establishing an orphanage and hospital for abandoned children. He was known for his ...
Nov 03, 2024•20 min•Ep. 154
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Elizabeth Klein, professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute Graduate School, discuss the importance of remembering the dead in purgatory, celebrating the Saints in heaven, and the Catholic perspective on Halloween. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle ....
Nov 01, 2024•30 min•Ep. 153
Join Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Douglas Bushman as they discuss St. John Paul II and the New Evangelization. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle ....
Oct 22, 2024•31 min•Ep. 152
Known as the beloved physician and faithful friend of St. Paul, St. Luke is a crucial figure for the Church’s knowledge of Christ’s earthly ministry and the early Church. Join Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp as they explore the life and legacy of the author of the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Ins...
Oct 18, 2024•23 min•Ep. 151
A Father of the early Church, St. Ignatius of Antioch is an incredible model of Christian discipleship. He is also one of Dr. Ben Akers' favorite saints. Sit down with Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp as they discuss this remarkable bishop, who died a martyr for his fidelity to Christ. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the...
Oct 17, 2024•19 min•Ep. 150
Dr. Ben Akers and Annette Bergeon, Executive Director of Endow, discuss St. Teresa of Avila and her love of conversations with Jesus. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle ....
Oct 15, 2024•31 min•Ep. 149
Join Sr. Maris Stella of the Sisters of Life and Dr. Tim Gray for today's discussion on Our Lady of Fatima. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle ....
Oct 13, 2024•30 min•Ep. 148
Dr. Tim Gray & Lucas Pollice discuss Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle ....
Oct 07, 2024•30 min•Ep. 147
Dr. Tim Gray and Paul McCusker talk about the incredible Saint Francis of Assisi. This massive figure of the Church spread the Gospel with incredible power and grace throughout the 13th century. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle ....
Oct 04, 2024•26 min•Ep. 146
An early Church Father from the 4th century, St. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin with the desire to make Scripture more accessible. St. Jerome is the patron of biblical scholars, translators, and archivists and famously said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the M...
Sep 30, 2024•22 min•Ep. 145
Mary McGeehan and Dr. James Prothro dive into many questions regarding the Archangels - St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. What is an Archangel and how are they different from other angels? How do we know about these three angels specifically? Why do we consider/call them Saints and why do we venerate them? See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Inst...
Sep 23, 2024•21 min•Ep. 144
Mary McGeehan and Dr. Lehman discuss the life of St. Severinus Boethius. As a Roman Senator he worked hard to create harmony between the centuries-old Roman civic society and culture and the new way of life and virtue brought about by Christianity. A lover of philosophy and wisdom, St. Boethius penned his best-known philosophical work while awaiting execution by the ruling Barbarian invaders. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up...
Sep 16, 2024•21 min•Ep. 143
Mary McGeehan and Dr. James Prothro discuss the life of St. Prisca. Mentioned in both Acts of the Apostles and some Pauline letters alongside her husband, Aquila, St. Prisca was a companion and co-worker of St. Paul. Although not much is definitively known about her, she is honored as a Saint and martyr who died in the first century. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and...
Sep 09, 2024•17 min•Ep. 142
St. Frances Cabrini is the first United States citizen to be a canonized saint! St. Frances Cabrini founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Learn about her story of great resilience, grit, and faith in God’s providence with Dr. Arielle Harms on this episode of Catholic Saints. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming ...
Sep 02, 2024•18 min•Ep. 141
Mary McGeehan and Dr. James Prothro discuss King David and the proper veneration of Old Testament figures. David is a great example of a "man after God's own Heart" who, throughout his ups and downs, remains faithful, modeling repentance and forgiveness. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed . Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle ....
Aug 26, 2024•21 min•Ep. 140
In this episode of "Catholic Saints," we explore the extraordinary life of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, a 13th-century princess who dedicated her life to serving the poor and the sick. Born into royalty, Saint Elizabeth used her position and wealth to provide for those in need, even in the face of personal loss and hardship. Her acts of charity and deep faith, including the miraculous stories associated with her, continue to inspire and challenge us today. Discover how this young widow, despite h...
Aug 19, 2024•15 min•Ep. 139
Dr. Lehman records his first episode of Catholic Saints with Mary McGeehan. St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was the teacher and mentor of St. Augustine and is known for his kindness, selflessness, and generosity. As a catechumen, Ambrose was surrounded by conflict and unrest between the Catholic Christians and the Arian Heretics. After entering the Church, Ambrose was almost immediately ordained Bishop of Milan and dedicated himself to theological study and writing. See the work of Jesuit Refugee ...
Aug 12, 2024•20 min•Ep. 138
Mary McGeehan and Dr. James Prothro discuss the Old Testament prophet, Elijah. Found in both First and Second Kings as well as a few places in the New Testament, Elijah was a significant figure in Salvation History. As a prophet and miracle worker, Elijah boldly proclaimed the word of God, provided comfort and healing to those in need, and prefigured Jesus Christ. Following the example of Elijah, we can learn how to receive spiritual gifts from God and boldly use them in the world. See the work ...
Aug 05, 2024•21 min•Ep. 137
Mary McGeehan and Dr. James Prothro discuss the biblical figures Mary, Martha, and Lazarus who are venerated as Saints in the Catholic Church. We meet Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in the Gospel of Luke and then again in the Gospel of John. Following the example of this holy family, we can learn how to be a friend of Christ and invite Him into our homes and our hearts. See the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Watch Catholic Saints and other great content on Formed . Sign up for a 7-day free trial of F...
Jul 29, 2024•18 min•Ep. 136