Catholic Theology Show

Whether you are starting your career, a CEO, or a college student, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais welcomes Jeff Schiefelbein, Managing Partner of Undivided Life, to explore the Catholic theology of work as a true vocation. Drawing on the Pontifical document The Vocation of the Business Leader (“the bane of man’s existence is the divided life”), Vatican II’s Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, John Paul II’s Laborem Exercens, and St. Josemaría Escrivá’s call to sanctify ordinary labor, they present work as co-creation with God—neither ruthless nor monastic, but permeated with Christian generosity. Key themes include: subsidiarity as the path to agency, mastery, and human formation (in business and family); pitfalls like fear-driven centralization, judgmental language, passive conformity (“going along to get along”), and inadequate miscarriage bereavement policies; remedies through neutral outcome-focused feedback, bold faith witness, and explicit recognition of every child lost to miscarriage as a profound grief deserving mercy and support. A highlight is Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, a thriving pro-life enterprise providing dignified, challenging employment to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities—demonstrating that businesses can do both good and well. Resources: https://www.amazon.com/Ruthless-Elimination-Hurry-Emotional-Spiritually/dp/0525653090 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/schiefelbein_storytelling-leadership-keynotespeaker-activity-7135620927144300544-Cy5t?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.undivided.life/ Catholic Mass Times App | Find Catholic Churches Near Me:The most popular app worldwide for finding Catholic Mass times near me. Confession times. Adoration. 110,000+ churches. Updated in 2025:https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...https://catholicmasstimes.com/

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Dr. Carrie Gress, author of The End of Woman: How Smashing the Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us. The conversation explores the historical, philosophical, and theological roots of modern feminism and its cultural impact.Dr. Gress reflects on her academic journey in philosophy and explains how her research led her to examine the intellectual foundations of feminist thought. The discussion traces early feminist figures such as Mary Wollstonecraft and her work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, highlighting key themes related to the redefinition of womanhood. The conversation then turns to second-wave feminism, including the influence of Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique, as well as Simone de Beauvoir and The Second Sex. Dr. Gress discusses how certain feminist movements intersected with broader political ideologies and how these developments shaped contemporary understandings of sex, family, and social roles.Throughout the episode, Dr. Dauphinais and Dr. Gress examine questions of patriarchy, vulnerability, motherhood, and the cultural transformation of the home. They consider the theological vision of complementarity between men and women and reflect on how Christian tradition understands authority, family life, and human flourishing. The conversation also addresses practical concerns, including the challenges faced by women today, the role of fear and autonomy in modern culture, and the call to fruitfulness in different states of life.The episode concludes with personal reflections from Dr. Gress on her recent reading, spiritual practices, and insights about God’s love, offering listeners both intellectual analysis and spiritual encouragement.Resources:Dr. Carrie Gress Books:The End of Woman: How Smashing the Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us — available on the Theology of Home store: https://theologyofhome.com/products/the-end-of-woman?utm_source=chatgpt.com The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity — available on the Theology of Home store: https://theologyofhome.com/products/the-anti-mary-exposed-rescuing-the-culture-from-toxic-femininity?utm_source=chatgpt.comThe Marian Option: God’s Solution to a Civilization in Crisis — available from TAN Books: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/the-marian-option/?utm_source=chatgpt.comWebsite: https://www.carriegress.com/books/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Catholic Mass Times App | Find Catholic Churches Near Me:The most popular app worldwide for finding Catholic Mass times near me. Confession times. Adoration. 110,000+ churches. Updated in 2025:https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...https://catholicmasstimes.com/▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. Christopher Kaczor, Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, Honorary Professor of the Renewal of Catholic Life at the Word on Fire Institute, and President of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, on his recent publication Is Belief Believable? Reasoning About God from Plato and Aquinas to C.S. Lewis and Jordan Peterson (Ave Maria Press, 2025).The discussion explores Aquinas' preambles of faith, including per se causality (illustrated through atmospheric pressure and ongoing creation), and the mysteries of revelation as God's self-disclosure, enabling intimate communion beyond rational limits.Central to the dialogue is Christianity's soteriological essence: not mere ethical guidance or societal cohesion, but salvation from sin through Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. Kaczor critiques reductions of the Gospel to moralism, emphasizing grace's role in transforming deceitful desires. Kaczor elucidates the harmony between faith and reason, challenging the pervasive assumption—prevalent among diverse ideological perspectives—that the two are inherently opposed. Drawing from his pedagogical experience, he addresses obstacles to belief such as scientism and materialism, demonstrating how scientific inquiry presupposes immaterial realities like mathematics, which point to an infinite divine mind. Dr. Christopher Kaczor's Book from Word on Fire:https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/pages/chris-kaczor?srsltid=AfmBOordE8M9jGBUoM0yX_3Z2p4YQQ2f5N03jx7ZJKWGsWcTR7FrZurY▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais engages Dr. Chad Pecknold, Associate Professor of Theology at The Catholic University of America and Theologian in Residence at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia, on his recent work Fire on the Altar: Setting Our Souls Ablaze through Augustine's Confessions.Pecknold offers a rigorously Catholic interpretation of Augustine's Confessions, countering experiential-expressivist and individualistic readings prevalent in modern scholarship. He demonstrates that the text constitutes an objective moral and liturgical reckoning of reality, structured around the motif of sacrifice. Central to this reading is the pivotal phrase in Book V—“accept the sacrifice of my confessions”—which Pecknold interprets as Augustine's offering of his life story united to Christ's Eucharistic sacrifice on the Church's altar. This liturgical anthropology culminates in the Eucharist as the fire of divine charity that purifies the inner altar of the soul, integrates the person, and orients both soul and civilization toward God.The conversation traces Augustine's rejection of false religions (Manichaeism and pagan altars) as disordered offerings that disintegrate the self, contrasted with the true sacrifice that unifies. Pecknold applies this framework to contemporary phenomena, identifying functional religions in ideologies of identity, sexuality, and collectivism as modern analogs to bad religion. He further elucidates Augustine's doctrine of grace—epitomized in the plea “give what you command”—as the divine initiative that enables adherence to God beyond Platonic ascent, realized sacramentally through baptism and the Eucharist.Pecknold reflects on his own intellectual and spiritual journey from existentialism to Augustinian theology, underscoring the Confessions' enduring relevance amid crises in Western civilization. The discussion closes with reflections on uniting personal suffering to Christ's sacrificial fire for purification and integration.Resources: Links to Dr. Chad Pecknold's bookshttps://www.bloomsbury.com/us/transforming-postliberal-theology-9780567288219/utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://trs.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/pecknold-chad/index.html?utm_source=chatgpt.comCatholic Mass Times App | Find Catholic Churches Near Me:The most popular app worldwide for finding Catholic Mass times near me. Confession times. Adoration. 110,000+ churches. Updated in 2025:https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...https://catholicmasstimes.com/▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived....

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press and longtime contributor to the Catholic apologetics movement. Together, they reflect on the rise of Catholic apologetics in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, a time marked by doctrinal confusion, limited catechetical resources, and strong evangelical critiques of the Catholic faith.Brumley shares his personal journey from unaffiliated theism to evangelical Christianity and ultimately to Catholicism, highlighting how historical research, Scripture, and engagement with early Church writings led him to embrace the Catholic Church. The conversation explores the challenges Catholics faced before the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the impact of Catholic Answers, and the importance of clear, reasoned explanations of the faith.The discussion then turns to contemporary apologetics, including the influence of digital media, responses to the New Atheism, the renewed interest in Christianity among young people, and the importance of presenting both rational arguments and the broader narrative of salvation. Brumley and Dauphinais emphasize that apologetics serves evangelization by removing intellectual obstacles and inviting people into a transformative encounter with Jesus Christ.The episode concludes with reflections on faith and reason, the renewal of biblical literacy among Catholics, current cultural challenges, and the enduring mission of the Church to proclaim the Gospel with clarity, confidence, and charity.Resources:Links to Mark Brumley's booksHow not to Share Your Faith: https://a.co/d/04lPO6MyThe Seven deadly Sins of Apologetics: https://shop.catholic.com/the-seven-deadly-sins-of-apologetics-digital/Websites:https://ignatius.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22959487649&gbraid=0AAAAAD_ZLxiTtemBbEjN2GDeUyZQM44VPhttps://www.catholic.com/profile/mark-brumleyCatholic Mass Times App | Find Catholic Churches Near Me:The most popular app worldwide for finding Catholic Mass times near me. Confession times. Adoration. 110,000+ churches. Updated in 2025:https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...https://catholicmasstimes.com/▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. Paul Gondreau, professor of theology at Providence College, for an in-depth conversation on the full humanity of Jesus Christ and its implications for Christian anthropology, masculinity, femininity, and moral life. Drawing on St. Thomas Aquinas, Scripture, and the Catholic tradition, Dr. Gondreau explains how affirming Christ as fully human—and fully male—counters ancient and modern forms of docetism and defends the goodness of creation, embodiment, and sexual difference.The discussion explores Christ’s human emotions, passions, and affectivity, the scandal of particularity in the Incarnation, and why Jesus’ maleness matters without marginalizing women. Together, they examine how Jesus radically reorients relationships between men and women, elevates women as disciples, and calls men to moral self-governance, chastity, and rightly ordered aggression. The conversation also addresses contemporary cultural confusion around sexuality, masculinity, and femininity, showing how Christ reveals authentic human flourishing through virtue and grace.Dr. Gondreau shares personal insights from his work in Catholic moral theology, his experiences as an extra on The Chosen, and his teaching on marriage and sexual ethics. The episode concludes with reflections on the beauty of the Church’s vision of marriage, the role of virtue in healing disordered desires, and how Christ fully reveals the human person by perfecting, not negating, our humanity.Resources: Links to Paul Gondreau's Bookshttps://a.co/d/01MM7FGghttps://a.co/d/08XpAmlCCatholic Mass Times App | Find Catholic Churches Near Me:The most popular app worldwide for finding Catholic Mass times near me. Confession times. Adoration. 110,000+ churches. Updated in 2025:https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...https://catholicmasstimes.com/▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Immaculée Ilibagiza, survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and author of A Blessing in Disguise: Miracles of the Seven Sorrows Rosary. Drawing from her harrowing experience of hiding for three months while much of her family was murdered, Immaculée reflects on how suffering became a place of encounter with God rather than abandonment. She shares how meditation on the Passion of Christ and the sorrows of Mary sustained her hope, preserved her dignity, and anchored her faith amid profound darkness.The conversation centers on the Seven Sorrows Rosary and the Marian apparitions at Kibeho, Rwanda, officially approved by the Church. Immaculée explains how this devotion leads believers more deeply to Christ by contemplating His suffering through the heart of His mother. She emphasizes the distinction between accepting suffering and approving the evil that causes it, showing how forgiveness and prayer freed her from hatred, healed her mind, and restored her capacity to love. Together, Dr. Dauphinais and Immaculée explore prayer as a living relationship, the dangers of faith without ongoing prayer, and Mary’s role as a spiritual mother who guides souls toward healing, hope, and redemption. The episode offers a profound meditation on suffering transformed by grace, rooted in lived testimony and Catholic theology.Resources:Link to Immaculee's Book: Left to Tellhttps://a.co/d/0hE6penS The Power of Faith in Suffering w/ Immaculée Ilibagiza | Ep. 92https://youtu.be/dh8YOvoZ018Why Do We Need Marian Consecration? with Dr. Mark Miravalle:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603zUdzyYmY&pp=ygUlbWFyayBtaXJhdmFsbGUgY2F0aG9saWMgdGhlb2xvZ3kgc2hvdw%3D%3DCatholic Mass Times App | Find Catholic Churches Near Me:The most popular app worldwide for finding Catholic Mass times near me. Confession times. Adoration. 110,000+ churches. Updated in 2025:https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...https://catholicmasstimes.com/

In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. Gerald Boersma, professor of theology at Ave Maria University, for an in-depth conversation on St. Augustine’s City of God. Together they explore Augustine’s historical context, writing in the aftermath of the sack of Rome, and his enduring vision of the two cities: the City of God and the City of Man. The discussion highlights Augustine’s critique of pagan religion, political power, and the illusion of earthly peace, as well as his response to Pelagianism and Donatism.Dr. Boersma explains how Augustine understands history, politics, virtue, and grace through the lens of love, contrasting the self-centered love that defines the earthly city with the love of God that animates the heavenly city. They examine Augustine’s insights into pride, domination, and false notions of justice, as well as his insistence that true righteousness and peace are gifts of grace rather than human achievements. The conversation also addresses why The City of Godremains especially relevant today, in a cultural moment tempted to seek ultimate meaning in politics, technology, or human progress.The episode concludes with a reflection on Augustine’s powerful vision of heaven, particularly his teaching on the resurrection and the beatific vision at the end of The City of God. Drs. Dauphinais and Boersma emphasize Augustine’s call to hope, humility, and perseverance, encouraging listeners to rediscover heaven as the true end of human life and the key to understanding both personal history and the destiny of the world.Catholic Mass Times App | Find Catholic Churches Near Me:The most popular app worldwide for finding Catholic Mass times near me. Confession times. Adoration. 110,000+ churches. Updated in 2025.https://catholicmasstimes.com/▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, psychiatrist and author, discusses his upcoming book "Teach Me Your Suffering" and shares insights on how contemplating Christ's passion can transform our experience of personal suffering. The conversation explores the prayer "doce me passionem tuum" (teach me your suffering) as a spiritual practice that helps people move from isolation to communion with Christ during difficult times. Dr. Kheriaty explains how Christ suffered throughout his entire earthly life, not just during the crucifixion, making him relatable to all human experiences of pain. The discussion covers practical approaches to prayer, forgiveness, and finding meaning in suffering, emphasizing how focusing on Christ's wounds can provide healing for our own wounds. The conversation also addresses how to experience Mass more deeply as a participation in Christ's sacrifice and offers guidance on accepting suffering without approving of it, while still seeking appropriate treatment and remedies.▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

In this episode of the Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais interviews Father James Mason, pastor and vicar of clergy for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, who has been giving Ignatian retreats for seventeen years. Father Mason shares his personal conversion story as a late vocation who entered seminary at thirty after a career in law, describing his spiritual struggle as fighting God until he finally surrendered. The conversation explores the four stages of Saint Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises: beginning with recognizing God's love and the reality of sin, journeying through Christ's life, contemplating the passion and death, and finally the resurrection. Father Mason emphasizes how these exercises are universal tools for spiritual growth, not just for religious but for all Catholics seeking deeper union with Christ. The discussion covers practical aspects of prayer, dealing with suffering redemptively, the challenge of evangelizing family members who have left the faith, and living with holy indifference to God's will. Father Mason concludes by sharing his daily spiritual practices and reflecting on how his understanding of faith deepened from a superficial teenage concept to a total surrender to Christ. ▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

How can faithful Catholics reclaim the healing mission of medicine in an era of ideological pressures and fragmented care? Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. James Breen, family physician, author of Benedict Medicine: A Catholic Response to Rescue the Profession's Healing Mission, and founder of the Benedict Medicine practice in Fort Myers, Florida, to explore the tensions between Catholic anthropology and contemporary medical systems. During their conversation, they also discuss practical solutions like independent primary care models and the vital role of physicians in accompanying patients through suffering, illness, and end-of-life decisions.Resources: Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community):https://www.avemaria.edu/annunciation-circle/Ave Maria University website: https://www.avemaria.edu/Dr. James Breen’s Website, including access to his recent book, Benedict Medicine: A Catholic Response to Rescue the Profession's Healing Mission:https://www.jamesobreen.com/benedict-medicine-bookDr. James Breen's profile on Doximity, which includes details about his professional background, publications, and affiliations such as the Catholic Medical Association:https://www.doximity.com/pub/james-breen-md-e2417e72Benedict Medicine website, founded by Dr. James Breen, offering details on his family medicine services and Catholic approach to healthcare in Fort Myers, Florida:https://www.benedictmedicine.com/▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

How can Catholics address the challenges of sexual addiction and pornography in a culture that often normalizes these behaviors? Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Rachael Killackey, founder and executive of Magdala Ministries and author of Love in Recovery, to explore the complexities of sexual addiction, particularly among women. And how faith in God’s mercy offers guidance and a path to healing. They discuss the importance of integrating faith and compassion in the healing process, the benefit of support groups, the impact of early exposure to pornography, and the need to move beyond shame-based approaches to foster authentic recovery.  Resources:  Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) Ave Maria University website Magdala Ministries, which provides details about their programs for women's healing from sexual addiction, podcast episodes, speaker bookings, and support groups. Love in Recovery: One Woman's Story of Breaking Free from Shame and Healing from Pornography Addiction by Rachael Killackey, published by Ave Maria Press Healing Women from Sexual Addictions w/ Rachael Killackey | Ep. 53 

How does J.R.R. Tolkien's Catholic faith infuse his tales with sacramental wonder and redemptive hope? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Ben Reinhard, professor of English at Franciscan University of Steubenville and author of The High Hallow: Tolkien's Liturgical Imagination, to uncover the liturgical foundations of The Lord of the Rings. During their conversation, they also discuss the fairy-story mindset as a gateway to an enchanted, Eucharistic worldview, the hobbits' Magnificat-like humility, and the dangers of false liturgies like the palantíri that tempt us toward idolatrous control.Resources: Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)https://www.avemaria.edu/annunciation-circle/Ave Maria University website: https://www.avemaria.edu/Dr. Ben Reinhard's faculty page at Franciscan University of Steubenville, which includes details about his work and publications:https://shss.franciscan.edu/faculty/reinhard-dr-ben/Dr. Ben Reinhard’s book, The High Hallow: Tolkien's Liturgical Imagination, published by Emmaus Road Publishing:https://stpaulcenter.com/store/the-high-hallow-tolkiens-liturgical-imagination▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

Have you ever wondered why Christmas carols move us so deeply?In this special Christmas episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Host Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Daniel Lendman (Dean of Students and Theologian at Ave Maria University) to explore the profound theology hidden in our favorite Christmas hymns.From the soul-stirring power of “O Holy Night” to the triumphant joy of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” the quiet longing of “In the Bleak Midwinter,” and the timeless beauty of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” they unpack how these beloved songs proclaim the Incarnation, reveal our true dignity, and connect us to centuries of Catholic tradition.Chapters:00:00 – Intro & Welcome 02:15 – O Holy Night and the worth of the soul 12:40 – The divine night and ancient antiphons 20:30 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 35:10 – In the Bleak Midwinter & the world without Christmas 45:20 – O Come, All Ye Faithful (with Latin!) 55:00 – Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming & Mary’s role

How can C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity illuminate the truth of the Catholic faith for seekers and believers alike? Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Andrew Swafford, professor of theology at Benedictine College and author of Lunatic, Liar, or Lord: Unveiling the Truth of Catholicism in C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, to explore apologetics rooted in Lewis's trilemma on Jesus' divinity and his overall approach to showing that it is reasonable to believe in the Christian faith. During their conversation, they also discuss the philosophical case for God's existence, human uniqueness, Jesus' resurrection, and much more.Resources:  Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) Ave Maria University website Dr. Andrew Swafford’s faculty profile at Benedictine CollegeThe Swaffords’ personal website, which includes details about Dr. Andrew Swafford's speaking engagements and resources on theology, marriage, and familyCheck out Dr. Andrew Swafford’s new book, Lunatic, Liar, or Lord: Unveiling the Truth of Catholicism with C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, published by Ave Maria Press

How can Catholics address the ethical dilemmas in modern medicine and public health policy? Dr. Michael Dauphinais hosts Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, a Catholic psychiatrist and former professor, to discuss his experiences challenging unethical medical mandates and his new book, Making the Cut: How to Heal Modern Medicine. They exploreKheriaty’s legal battles against university vaccine mandates, his advocacy for informed consent, and the broader issue of government censorship in public health. Resources:   Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community)Ave Maria University websiteDr. Aaron Kheriaty’s personal website, which includes details about his biography, books, articles, and public speaking engagements.Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), where Dr. Aaron Kheriaty serves as Director of the Bioethics, Technology, and Human Flourishing Program.Discover Dr. Aaron Kheriaty on Amazon,including his book, Making the Cut: How to Heal ModernMedicine 

In this special live episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Host Dr. Michael Dauphinais welcomes guests Kara Johnson, John Mortensen, and Beth Mortensen before a student audience at Ave Maria University to discuss integrating the intellectual life with family life. Drawing heavily from A.G. Sertillanges’s classic 1920 work, The Intellectual Life, the panel shares personal experiences and practical wisdom. Kara Johnson, a theology professor and mother of a young son, describes how family suffering and joy have deepened her theological work. John and Beth Mortensen, parents of nine who both hold doctorates in theology, recount finishing dissertations amid pregnancies and bed rest, job instability that pushed John back into software development, and discovering that married life is a “preschool for the perfection of charity.” The conversation explores how children “bring you back to the real,” why love (of God, truth, spouse, and children) is the true unifying principle of life, and how the intellectual life is not reserved for academics but can be explored in the home. By giving their personal testimonies of how they live out the intellectual life in their own homes, they prove that living out the intellectual life is achievable for everyone. Resources:Relevant Websites and resources:  The Aquinas Institute (organization John Mortensen serves as President, focused on publishing St. Thomas Aquinas's works in Latin-English editions): https://www.aquinasinstitute.org/ Understanding St. Thomas on Analogy (John Mortensen's doctoral dissertation in philosophy, winner of the 2009 Prize of the Pontifical Academies): https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Thomas-Analogy-John-Mortensen/dp/1449977677  Prayer in the Family (co-authored with Beth Mortensen, under pen names John and Beth Viatori; a guide to family spirituality): Available via Catholic Truth Society or search on https://www.amazon.com (ISBN: 9780852312435) 

How can Catholics understand the sacraments through Saint Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologica? Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. Roger Nutt, Provost and Professor of Theology at Ave Maria University, to explore Aquinas’s treatment of the sacraments in the third part of the Summa. They discuss how the sacraments, as efficacious signs instituted by Christ, extend His redemptive work by addressing both the guilt and disorder of sin, drawing believers into deeper intimacy with God through grace. Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community): https://www.avemaria.edu/annunciation-circle/Ave Maria University website: https://www.avemaria.edu/Dr. Roger Nutt’s faculty profile at Ave Maria University:https://www.avemaria.edu/faculty-and-staff/roger-nutt-s-t-l-s-t-dGeneral Principles of Sacramental Theology by Dr. Roger Nutt, published by Catholic University of America Press:https://www.cuapress.org/9780813229386/general-principles-of-sacramental-theology/The Sacraments w/Dr. Roger Nutt | Ep. 56https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ysMkOp2ksgelbHgNrlFET?si=9XvTh6bbSC2KwCJkF5FH-AThe Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI w/ Dr. Roger Nutt | Ep. 15 https://open.spotify.com/episode/46oP4ofRybS9wyvFQNy1sK?si=8-JrXeAnSG2hzxAaaw_lGQ▶ Help support Ave Maria University and this podcast by joining the Annunciation Circle: https://hubs.li/Q03312J80▶ Learn more about Ave Maria University: https://hubs.li/Q032PhpS0▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ FIND ANSWERS ON SOCIAL:▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://youtube.com/@AveMariaUniversityFL▶ WEBSITE: https://www.avemaria.edu▶ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/avemariauniv/▶ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/avemariauniv/Ave Maria University is committed to providing a liberal arts curriculum based on Catholic principles and thought. We strive to enlighten students intellectually and spiritually, to prepare them for a life well lived.

How can Catholics deepen their understanding of Jesus Christ through Saint Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae? Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Father Guy Mansini, a Benedictine priest and the Max Seckler Professor of Catholic Theology at Ave Maria University, to explore the Christology of the Summa’s third part. They discuss how Aquinas presents Christ as true God and true man, situating His identity and work within the framework of God’s creation and human redemption.Fr. Guy Mansini’s faculty profile at Ave Maria University:https://www.avemaria.edu/faculty-and-staff/fr-guy-mansini-s-t-dThe Moral Life in the Summa Theologiae w/ Fr. Romanus Cessario | The Summa for Beginners Pt.3: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Fvg7ZnxpUoaFqLXQOtPRS?si=s5pLuCdXQuKo1q-lW_bB9QThe Development of Doctrine in Catholic Theology w/Fr. Guy Mansini | Ep.113: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Fvg7ZnxpUoaFqLXQOtPRS?si=nJ7m2M_9QXSP9bC2rSPtlAWhat is Fundamental Theology? w/Fr. Guy Mansini | Ep. 54: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nnBF8d1VkQbUpDmat13LE?si=pbWuiH2zSLSmuX-fYT3kqQWhy Should We Care About Ecclesiology? w/Fr. Guy Mansini | Ep. 13: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7II8REa2TCjrmJjidDec2Y?si=K1rVMk_ASeu20YU21fByXw

How can Catholics understand the moral life within the framework of Saint Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae? Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Fr. Romanus Cessario, a Dominican priest and the Adam Cardinal Maida Professor of Catholic Theology at Ave Maria University, to explore the moral theology presented in the second part of the Summa. They discuss how Aquinas situates moral theology between God’s creation and Christ’s redemption, emphasizing the pursuit of beatitude, the role of natural law as an imprint of divine providence, and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Fr. Romanus Cessario’s faculty profile at Ave Maria University:https://www.avemaria.edu/faculty-and-staff/fr-romanus-cessario-s-t-dExploring God and Creation in the Summa Theologiae w/ Dr. Daniel Lendman | The Summa for Beginners Pt. 2:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2vsITzmSp9MXQcUC6sRail?si=-BF5BMtOR0yqpf5OC4gNUg&nd=1&dlsi=7410abd9cdc24c1aA Foretaste of Future Glory w/ Fr. Romanus Cessario | Ep. 63:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2vsITzmSp9MXQcUC6sRail?si=-BF5BMtOR0yqpf5OC4gNUg&nd=1&dlsi=05d8428a7d154abcWhat is Truth? w/ Fr. Romanus Cessario | Ep. 18:https://open.spotify.com/episode/4HEV7O8aEuvTbJVHwSCt1N?si=wL0KuBzNROm1_gKpJXbhyA&nd=1&dlsi=610c05c8031543a1