Catholic Heritage with Dr. Italy

The Parable of the Sower and the Seed needs to be viewed from two different perspectives in order to unlock its meaning – from that of the sower and that of the seed.  Whether sowing or growing – the point is a plentiful harvest and much fruit.

In this 14 minute podcast recorded on the occasion of the Feast of St. Benedict on July 11, host Sonrise Morning show host Anna Mitchell interviews Dr. Italy about the significance that Benedict and the Benedictine way of life holds for Christians today.

In Matthew's gospel, Jesus makes the statement "my yoke is easy, my burden light."  For many of us who follow him, this does not seem to square with our experience.  This post discusses the reasons for this.  And also tells us why the key to rest involves discipleship – coming under the discipline of the Lord's strong but gentle heart.

Peter and Paul died in the persecution of the emperor Nero.  Peter was crucified and buried on Vatican hill – the present St. Peter's basilica was erected over his tomb.  Paul was beheaded and buried outside the walls of the city.  The basilica of St. Paul's outside the walls covers Paul's tomb.  The tombs of these two apostles in Rome made Rome the pre-eminent site of Christian pilgrimage from th...

Jesus says to deny oneself, pick up the cross and follow him.  But he also says to love your neighbor as yourself.  Is self-love always wrong? When "Self" Magazine made its debut a few decades ago, it certainly was a sign of the times. Ours is an age when it is socially acceptable to admit that life is all about me.

On June 24, the Church observes a solemn feast in honor of the birth or nativity of John the Baptist.  No other saint's birthday is celebrated with such solemnity.  The unique role of the Forerunner, the Voice crying out in the Wilderness, in the history of salvation is part of the reason.  But also the Church wants to draw our attention to the witness of John's character.  It teaches us much abou...

Father's Day brings up a very good question -- in this post-feminist era, why should we stick to calling God "Father"??  Isn't this just a relic from a bygone, patriarchal culture.  After all, if God is spirit, he is neither male nor female.  Sonrise Morning show host, Anna Mitchell asks such questions of Dr. Italy who shares from the bible, the Tradition, and the teaching of the Catholic Church j...

7 minute podcast by Dr. Italy focusing on the true meaning of the Sacred Heart of Jesus based on the chief scriptural text connected with this feast and devotion.

Holy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper aka the Lord's Supper, the institution of the Holy Eucharist -- why did Jesus do what he did and say what he said? What did he mean when he said "This is my body and this is my blood" and "Do this in Memory of Me"?  And what does the Catholic Church mean by talking about transubstantiation and the body of Christ?  All this is remembered & celebrated...

In this 7 minute podcast, Anna Mitchell of the Sonrise Morning show interviews Dr. Italy on the profound meaning of the Magnificat, Mary's canticle uttered on the occasion of the Visitation, and how it manifests her as the Queen of Humility and the Queen of Praise.  Also discussed is the beautiful place where this event took place, Ein Karem and the Church built there to commemorate this blessed e...

The famous American author and humorist, Mark Twain, is best known for his best-selling, classic novels Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.  But of all his books, Twain most loved the historical novel he wrote on St. Joan of Arc.  Though he was himself not a Catholic, he saw Joan to be one of the most amazing and inspiring figures of human history.  From her fifteenth year to her death at age 19, she...

The Trinity is the central dogma of the Catholic faith and is equally important to Orthodox and most Protestant Christians.  Yet it is a mystery, something that we as limited human beings can never understand. So does that mean we can just believe it but basically forget about it and focus on more practical things, like morality? Not at all, says Marcellino D'Ambrosio (Dr. Italy) on this episode o...

Without the Pentecost, the gospel is not really "Good News."  Many people actually experience Christianity as bad news.  The Ten Commandments were impossible for even King David to keep.  Though Christians are justified by grace through faith and receive friendship with God as a pure gift, they are still called to live the gospel lifestyle, as portrayed by the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Moun...

Without Pentecost, the Gospel is not truly Good News.  For the seven gifts and Pentecostal charisms given by the Holy Spirit on this birthday celebration of the Church Catholic are essential for the success of our mission and indispensable for a joyful, victorious Christian life.

The Solemnity of the Ascension celebrates many things, among them the Great Commission to preach the gospel to all nations.  Thus, it is a fitting time to ponder the call of Pope John Paul II to a "new evangelization."

The Holy Spirit, aka Holy Ghost, is the third person of the Trinity but is generally the least known and appreciated.  In calling him the Paraclete or Advocate. Jesus hints at what the Spirit does and why he is so important.  A reflection for the 6th Sunday of Easter.

14 minute podcast in which Dr. Italy discusses St. Joseph as an often overlooked hero of the Advent – Christmas story.  He shows how St. Matthew's gospel presents him as a model of faith. In the Advent and Christmas season, all eyes turn to the Holy Family.  Jesus is the primary, focus, of course, with Mary getting secondary attention.  Often, Joseph remains for us a background figure in the Nativ...

In John 14:6, Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  Is this not narrow and close-minded? H ow many times have you heard something like this:  "As long as you believe in God and try to be a good person, your religion doesn't matter." "There are different paths up the same mountain, but they all lead to the peak ."

Jesus is the Good Shepherd because he leads us to green and verdant pastures where the food is ample and of the best quality.  He wants us to thrive, not survive, so that the world might be able to see where abundant life is to be found.

6 minute Podcast by Dr. Italy showing the connection between Easter, the resurrection, and the Eucharist through an examination of the road to Emmaus story from Luke 24.

Divine Mercy Sunday or the Octave of Easter presents us with one of the most famous of gospel stories -- the story of Doubting Thomas. But it shows us how and when the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, aka "confession," was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ -- and why.

Eight days after Easter, Doubting Thomas has an encounter with the Risen Christ that makes him a believer and even more, an apostle or ambassador who will bring the gospel to an unbelieving world.  That should give us hope that he will do the same with us.

Easter is not a day but a season of 50 days.   The octave - eight days of high celebration beginning on Easter Sunday - is followed by 42 more days of rejoicing concluding on Pentecost.  Here are some ideas for a fruitful celebration of the joy of Eastertide during this extraordinary time while Churches are closed due to COVID-19.

The meaning of Easter is more than springtime and dyed eggs. The significance of Easter is that not only sin but death has been conquered by the risen Christ who foretold his own resurrection from the dead before he gave his life for us on Good Friday.

The Gospel of John tells us that, after the body of Jesus was taken from the cross, it was laid in a new tomb, close to the place where he was crucified.  Yet, when people visit the Holy Land, they are surprised to find out that the tomb is only a stones throw away from the top of Golgotha.  Dr. Italy shares what it is like to visit both places, both inside the same massive Church of the Holy Sepu...