Catholic Heritage with Dr. Italy

14 minute podcast in which Sonrise Morning show guest host Ryan Lopez quizzes Dr. Italy about the life and impact of Jerome, bible scholar, father and Doctor of the Church and warrior for Christ.  On the occasion of his feast day, September 30.

Podcast in which Dr. Italy identifies spiritual warfare as underlying the current malaise in the world and America.  A spiritual battle can only be fought effectively with spiritual weapons, first and foremost being the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

Dr. Italy discusses the Capuchin friar Padre Pio who in his lifetime was first famous in Italy and then the whole world for his stigmata and miracles worked through his intercession.

In this 5 minute interview on the Sonrise Morning show, Dr. Italy discusses the amazing life and talents of St. Hildegard of Bingen, the medieval Benedictine abbess renowned for her visions, compositions, and prolific body of written work.  Pilgrims on Dr. Italy's 2023 Rhine Cruise will be visiting her relics and some of her monasteries.

Many contemporary bishops have been criticized for taking half-measures instead of speaking and acting boldly and decisively.  The same could never be said of the ancient bishop who was a Father of the Church, St. John Chrysostom.  His preaching was so eloquent and powerful that he acquired the nickname of "Chrysostom" or "golden-tongue."  Gold as it may have been, his tongue was often sharp at ti...

In this third and final episode of Ascension Rountable's Podcast Series on the New Evangelization, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio (aka Dr. Italy) provides further practical suggestions on a key feature of successful evangelization - hospitality.  Whether we wish to evangelize as individuals, families or parishes, we need to understand that people only open up their hearts when we open up our own hearts...

In this second episode of Ascension Rountable's Podcast Series on the New Evangelization, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio (aka Dr. Italy) get's practical when it comes to the nuts and bolts of how to evangelize successfully.   We cannot evangelize just by a silent example -- the fathers of the Second Vatican Council say over and over again that we must bear witness to Christ in word as well as in deed....

As the civilization in the West was dissolving into the Dark Ages, a man named Gregory was elected to fill the chair of St. Peter.  First prefect or mayor of Rome, then monk, then the Pope's ambassador to Constantinople, then finally bishop of Rome, Gregory rocked the church and the civilized world.  He was a man who could walk with kings and yet with whom the poor of Rome felt right at home.  In...

John the Baptist has two feast days -- his earthly birthday on June 24, sixth months before the birthday of his cousin, and August 29th, his birthday into eternal life, the day he was executed by Herod at the request of Salome to who he'd promised anything she asked for.  Apparently, Herod was fascinated by John, even though John condemned his adultery with his half-brother's wife.  Why did John h...

In this episode of Ascension Rountable's Podcast, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio (aka Dr. Italy) puts the New Evangelization into the context of Catholic history from the days of the Church of the Catacombs down to the present time.  The early Christians grew from a group of 120 at Pentecost to ten percent of the Roman empire in about 300 years. How did they do it?  Dr. Italy discusses this and other k...

7 minute podcast segment in which Dr. Italy is interviewed about the dynamics of discipleship and the paradox of freedom and rest through discipline. The term discipleship has been heard a lot in the past few years.  Many parishes are writing mission statements these days calling their church a community of missionary disciples.

The prophets of the Old and New Testaments show us that sometimes love demand that we speak truth that people don't want to hear.  Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern; Jesus was run out of Nazareth. This shows us that God's messengers shouldn't expect honor, respect, and popularity.  For the 4th Sunday in Ordinary time, cycle C.

In this brief excerpt from the Sonrise Morning Show, Dr. Italy introduces listeners to the fascinating story of Edith Stein, born into an observant German Jewish family who abandoned religion as a young girl only to end her life as a Carmelite nun and a Christian martyr at Auschwitz.

7 minute podcast by Dr. Italy discussing the two churches rebuilt by St. Francis that still stand in Assisi, his home town.  To be visited on his upcoming pilgrimage to Italy.

The sign of the cross is one of the hallmarks of Catholic life and prayer.  Yet often it is made mechanically, even unconsciously.  And if many were asked what it means, where it came from, and why it matters, they wouldn't really have much to say.

In this 13 minute podcast, Catholic Connection show host Teresa Tomeo interviews Dr. Italy about the election of Pope Leo XIV. Providentially, Dr. Italy was leading a pilgrimage in Rome and was in St. Peter's square on May 8, 2025, when the white smoke rose from the chimney.

6 minute podcast in which Dr. Italy explains why Jesus called the Holy Spirit "the Promise of the Father" and how God's promises are fulfilled in the gift of Pentecost which is repeated in every baptism and confirmation.

6 minute podcast on the Ascension of Jesus Christ as the illustration of Jesus' words - he who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.  Featuring Dr. Italy and Sonrise Morning show hostess Anna Mitchell.

In this 7 minute podcast, Dr. Italy tells why no visit to Assisi is complete without a visit to the secred hideout of Francis and the friars, the Carceri hermitage.  To visit the Carceri, it is actually necessary to leave the town of Assisi, which is located about 1/3 of the way up the slope of Mt. Subasio, and ascend much higher, away from the hustle and bustle of the town, to a place where all o...

It's been a long time that travel and freedom have been restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  But restrictions are about to be lifted so it will be soon time to celebrate.

In this podcast from the Sonrise Morning Show, host Anna Mitchell begins by observing that virtually half the Gospel of Luke is taken up by Jesus and disciples journey from Galilee to Jerusalem.  Holy Land Pilgrimage host and theologian Marcellino D'Ambrosio (Dr. Italy) describes what this journey would have been like for the Lord and his followers and what Jerusalem would have been like in the da...

The adulterous woman to whom Jesus said "neither do I condemn you" was the recipient of the free gift of a grace that was costly, not cheap.  She was called to leave behind the sin of adultery.  And the pardon of the adulteress cost Jesus his life.  For the 5th Sunday of Lent, cycle C.

The parable of the Prodigal or wasteful Son is more about the loving Father.  God is not a raging tyrant who must be appeased through the suffering of his Son.  Rather it's the extravagant love of Jesus, son of the extravagant Father, that makes atonement for our sins - the sacrifice of a spotless Passover Lamb.  For the 4th Sunday of Lent, cycle C.

This Sunday reading examines the relationship between the transfiguration and the passion of Christ, between Mount Tabor and Calvary.  It examines the question of whether God ever abandoned Jesus and makes for helpful reading either for the Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6 or during Lent and Holy Week. For the 2nd Sunday of Lent, cycle C.

The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's gospel includes such tough commands as love your enemies, turn the other cheek, and judge not.  How are we to understand such things and put them into practice?  The examples of Jesus & St. Thomas More provide us with insight here.