Saints and Skeptics

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary - The Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)The rosary is a Marian prayer that depicts the biblical life of Jesus. The word "rosary" derives from the Latin word "rosarium", meaning a garden of roses. Tradition tells us that Our lady appeared to St. Dominic while he prayed in the forest. "My son", the Queen of Heaven said, "prayer and penance are the only way to win souls". The Rosary is a deeply meditative Catholic prayer that reflects on key events in the life of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. These events are organized into four sets of "mysteries": the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries. Each set contains five individual mysteries (or events), making a total of 20. These mysteries are not just historical events but theological meditations meant to lead the faithful into a deeper relationship with Christ.The Luminous Mysteries highlight Christ’s public ministry and illuminate how Christ revealed himself and the Father, inviting us into the life of grace. These mysteries and are prayed on Thursdays.

On this episode of Saints and Skeptics we ask "What was the Second Vatican Council, or what is commonly referred to as Vatican II? What did they discuss there? Who was involved? And most importantly, so many people reference changes to the Catholic Church that were supposedly made during the Second Vatican Council, but what actually was the result of the council? What has changed since then?"Lets find out!Citations from this episode:CCC 891GAUDET MATER ECCLESIAInter OecumeniciThe Spirit of the Liturgy, Joseph RatzingerMusicam Sacram

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary - The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays & Fridays)The rosary is a Marian prayer that depicts the biblical life of Jesus. The word "rosary" derives from the Latin word "rosarium", meaning a garden of roses. Tradition tells us that Our lady appeared to St. Dominic while he prayed in the forest. "My son", the Queen of Heaven said, "prayer and penance are the only way to win souls". The Rosary is a deeply meditative Catholic prayer that reflects on key events in the life of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. These events are organized into four sets of "mysteries": the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries. Each set contains five individual mysteries (or events), making a total of 20. These mysteries are not just historical events but theological meditations meant to lead the faithful into a deeper relationship with Christ.The Sorrowful Mysteries focus on the Passion and the suffering of Jesus. They are said on Tuesdays and Fridays (and Sundays during Lent).

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary - The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays & Sundays)The rosary is a Marian prayer that depicts the biblical life of Jesus. The word "rosary" derives from the Latin word "rosarium", meaning a garden of roses. Tradition tells us that Our lady appeared to St. Dominic while he prayed in the forest. "My son", the Queen of Heaven said, "prayer and penance are the only way to win souls". The Rosary is a deeply meditative Catholic prayer that reflects on key events in the life of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. These events are organized into four sets of "mysteries": the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries. Each set contains five individual mysteries (or events), making a total of 20. These mysteries are not just historical events but theological meditations meant to lead the faithful into a deeper relationship with Christ.The Glorious Mysteries celebrate Christ’s Resurrection and the glory of eternal life and are said on Wednesdays and Sundays (except in Advent and Lent).

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - The Jesus PrayerRecited five times. To follow along:Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.Amen

On this episode of Saints and Skeptics we ask "What exactly is the “abuse” thats taking place in the Ordinary Form of the Mass? And what about these abuses are driving people towards the Extraordinary Form of the Mass?"Lets find out!Citations from this episode:https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2025/09/pope-leo-speaks-to-cruxs-elise-ann-allen-about-lgbtq-issues-and-the-liturgyhttps://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.htmlhttps://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#Chapter%20II

On this episode of Saints and Skeptics we ask "Was Jesus married? If so, to whom? Did he have children with this individual? What happened to them after his crucifixion and death?"Lets find out!Citations from this episode:Matthew 19:12 (RSV-CE)Luke 9:58De Sancta Virginitate (On Holy Virginity) Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), §1579https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/22/books/the-last-word-the-da-vinci-con.html

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - The Hail MaryRecited five times. To follow along:Hail, Mary, full of grace,the Lord is with thee.Blessed art thou among womenand blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God,pray for us sinners,now and at the hour of our death.Amen.

In this episode of Saints and Skeptics we ask "What is a liturgical rite or pariticular church? The Catholic Church is said to be “one, universal church”, but if that's the case then why are there 24 different particular churches within it? What's the difference between someone who is a part of the Latin Rite and someone who is a part of the Hungarian Greek Rite, or any of the other rites for that matter?"Lets find out! 

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - The Our Father / The Lord's PrayerRecited five times. To follow along:Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - The Apostles' CreedRecited five times. To follow along:I believe in God,the Father almighty,Creator of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died and was buried;he descended into hell;on the third day he rose again from the dead;he ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and life everlasting.Amen.

In this episode of Saints and Skeptics we ask "What does the word "Catholic" really mean? What's the difference between the words “Roman Catholic” and just “Catholic”?  How is the word “Catholic” different from the word "Christian"? Lets find out! Citations from this episode:https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catholichttps://canonlaw.ninja/?nums=830&v=ccchttps://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1405.htmhttps://www.tertullian.org/fathers/pacian_1_letter1.htmhttps://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes/institutes.vi.iii.htmlhttps://www.exclassics.com/foxe/foxintro.htmhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028&version=NABREhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2016&version=NABREhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203&version=NABREhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%207&version=NABREhttps://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm

Habemus Papam everyone! The Catholic church officially has a new Pope, and he has taken the name of Pope Leo XIV. On this episode of Saints & Skeptics we ask "who is this new Pope? What do we know about Robert Francis Prevost, and what can we expect from him in the coming months and years?"Lets find out…Citations from this episode:https://www.augustinianorder.org/where-we-arehttps://www.beafriar.org/frequently-asked-questionshttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/pope-leo-xiv-says-family-is-between-a-man-and-a-woman-and-asserts-the-dignity-of-the-unbornhttps://web.archive.org/web/20250509044847/https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/biography-of-robert-francis-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.htmlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20250508173008/https://chicago.suntimes.com/religion/2025/05/03/robert-prevost-pope-francis-conclave-catholic-church-dolton-saint-mary-assumption-parish

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - Hail, Holy Queen - The Salve ReginaRecited five times. To follow along:Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, O most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.Amen.

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - Prayer to St. Michael the ArchangelRecited five times. To follow along:St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Saints & Skeptics Prayer Series - A Prayer For Peace (Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi)Recited five times. To follow along:Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy.O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand,to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

In this episode of Saints and Skeptics we ask "What was the Council of Trent? How did it impact Catholicism? Who attended this Council and what were they even talking about there? Who is Trent?"Lets find out!

In this episode of Saints and Skeptics we ask "Why do I always see so many statues or icons of Mary at Catholic churches or in Catholic media? I thought the first commandment said “You shall not have other gods beside me”? Don't Catholics worship her and treat her like god?"Lets find out! Citations from this episode:Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431) https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3810.htmSermon 186 - St. AugustineIneffabilis Deus - Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius IX on the Immaculate Conception (December 8, 1854)POPE PIUS XII - MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUSCCC 2096

In this episode of Saints and Skeptics we ask "What is the sign of the cross and why do I often see Catholics making it? What significance does it hold? Isn't making the sign of the cross kind of more of a cultural thing with no real purpose anyway?"Lets find out! Citations from this episode:CCC 2157Tertullian, De Corona, Chapter 3.St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 13:36.Ezekiel 9:4-5

In this episode of Saints and Skeptics we ask "Why should I have to confess my sins to someone who is capable of sinning just as much or even more than I am, and more importantly, why do I need an intermediary between myself and God? Cant I just ask him for forgiveness myself?" Lets find out! Citations from this episode:CCC: 1131The Light of Christ by Thomas Joseph White: Page 187 “The Seven Sacraments”https://www.usccb.org/resources/Bulletin-Insert-Penance-ENG.pdfCCC: 1468Mt 16:19Jn 20:232 Cor 5:18St. Basil the Great, Letter 217: LVICCC 1455The Light of Christ by Thomas Joseph White: Page 192 “The Seven Sacraments”