Catholic Theology Show

How does the book of Wisdom encourage us to unite humanity’s philosophical pursuit of wisdom with God’s revelation in history? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. Mark Giszczak, professor of scripture and theology at the Augustine Institute, unpack the Wisdom of Solomon, while addressing related themes such as how Scripture should be approached according to the Second Vatican Council. Resources:...

Who was Fulton Sheen and how did he advocate for authentic freedom? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. James Patterson, professor of politics at Ave Maria University and scholar of Fulton Sheen, discuss Fulton Sheen’s seminal work, Freedom Under God , while exploring how Bishop Sheen was one of the most effective Catholic apologists in American history. Resources: [link to another video with Dr...

How does the Book of Romans help us to understand the nature of our salvation? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Daniel Lendman, assistant professor of theology at Ave Maria University, to discuss the book of Romans by St. Paul. Their conversation covers some of the deep theological themes of this book and why it has been the cause of ongoing controversy between Christians. Resource...

How can we embrace the Christian call to mission in today’s world? In this episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Catholic priest and founder of The Rescue Project, Fr. John Riccardo, to discuss the importance of making time to evangelize. Their conversation provides insight into how the Gospel addresses the crisis of loneliness sweeping the globe and what motivated Fr. Riccardo to begin h...

How has the Catholic “giant” of our time, Bishop Robert Barron, evangelized and catechized this generation? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. Matthew Levering, Catholic scholar and noted editor and author, sit down to discuss Dr. Levering’s new work on the theology of Bishop Robert Barron. They think about how Bishop Barron successfully reaches fallen away Catholics and students of theology al...

How can creation be good when sin and evil exist? Today, Dr. Dauphinais and Catholic scholar Joseph Pearce discuss The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, hearkening to the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s call for a “catechesis on creation.” They unpack how the role of music in Middle Earth’s creation story grants insight into God’s continual work of unfolding the harmony of creation, inviting us t...

What is Catholic bioethics and how should it guide our approach to fertility and infertility? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, a Catholic priest, neuroscientist, and writer, discuss the proper relationship between faith and science. They address themes such as whether the Church should be involved in scientific conversation, while focusing primarily on in vitro fertilizati...

What does it mean to perfect our love for God? In this episode, Dr. Dauphinais sits down with Fr. Rick Martignetti, Franciscan priest and director of campus ministry at Ave Maria University, to discuss his book Perfect Love, a collection of reflections on prayer inspired by Saint Bonaventure. Fr. Rick speaks about what the Seraphic Doctor can teach Christians today about prayer, contemplation, and...

What truths about the world and human experience can short stories reveal? In today’s episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Catholic scholar Joseph Pearce look at Leaf by Niggle, J.R.R. Tolkien’s short story filled with profound themes of beauty, creativity, the gift of time, and the afterlife. Resources: Learn more from Professor Joseph Pearce on his website Sign up for Professor Pearce’s FREE shor...

How does Christ work in the Church through the Sacraments? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais converses with Fr. Romanus Cessario, Adam Cardinal Maida professsor of Theology at Ave Maria University, about his latest book entitled The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church . Fr. Cessario looks at each of the seven sacraments, their reality and unchanging nature, and how they continue Christ’s saving wo...

Are miracles likely and believable? In today’s episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Fr. Joseph Fessio, founder and editor of Ignatius Press and founding provost of Ave Maria University, unpack Miracles by C.S. Lewis . Their conversation provides insight into this challenging apologetic work which makes an argument for God's existence by discussing the wonders that God works and their place in the l...

Can myths and fairy stories help us to better understand reality? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Catholic academic Joseph Pearce discuss J.R.R. Tolkien’s essay On Fairy Stories. Guided by Tolkien’s work, their conversation explores the rationality of story, the actual definition of myth, and the transformative effect that fairy worlds have on our hearts and minds. Resources: From the Catholic T...

God and His holy angels exist but so does Satan – how can this be? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Mark Miravalle, Chair of Mariology at Ave Maria University and Franciscan University of Steubenville, for a brief exploration of angelology. Their conversation clarifies what we can believe about angels and demons amid today’s confusing extremes of empiricism and the occult, and what...

Is there a connection between perseverance on the playing field and in the spiritual life? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais shares a conversation with Alan Webb, Ave Maria University’s track & field coach and former American record holder for fastest mile. Drawing on John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and of creation, Coach Webb shares how “the logic of sports is the logic of life” as we rely on...

Have we irrecoverably lost the true meanings of words and symbols? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. Justin Bonanno, assistant professor of Communications at Ave Maria University, for a conversation about his new book, Walker Percy and the Crisis of Meaning. Dr. Bonanno shares how Percy’s creative and philosophical inquiry into the dilemmas of human existence intends to reestablish wo...

Is it possible to view suffering as a meaningful gift? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Fr. Joseph Lugalambi, adjunct professor of theology at Ave Maria University. Fr. Joseph explains how our bodies—which are made for a communion of persons—have the capacity to suffer in a way that elevates us to a mystical union with God. Resources: Related episode: Is Theology of the Body Still Relevan...

Why are the sacraments so prominent in Catholicism? Today, Dr. Roger Nutt, provost and professor of theology at Ave Maria University, returns to the show to converse with Dr. Dauphinais. Dr. Nutt elaborates on how the visible rites of the seven sacraments continually mediate Christ’s closeness and communion with us. In his book, General Principles of Sacramental Theology , Dr. Nutt delves into the...

Can natural reason show us the existence of God? Today, Dr. Dauphinais converses with Dr. Joseph Trabbic, professor of philosophy at Ave Maria University, to discuss Aquinas’s 5 ways and proofs for God’s existence. Together they show how faith, revelation, and natural reason strengthen our faith in God as Creator. Resources: Read Dr. Joseph Trabbic’s articles on The Catholic World Report   Help su...

How does Theology clarify God’s voice in revelation? Today, Dr. Dauphinais converses with Fr. Guy Mansini, Benedictine priest and Max Seckler Chair of Theology at Ave Maria University. Fr. Mansini discusses how the complicated relationship between faith and philosophy maintains the clarity and simplicity of theology. In his book, Fundamental Theology , Fr. Mansini expounds upon the voice of God, h...

If both men and women struggle with sexual sin, is healing possible? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Rachael Killackey, alumna of Ave Maria University, as well as founder and executive director of Magdala Ministries. Rachael speaks about a woman's ability to recover love and worth amid the shame and isolation of pornography addictions. Resources: Learn more about Magdala Ministries Love...

Can a Catholic education shape the secular political world? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco about the central pillars of a Catholic education, principles that lead to deeper communion among the faithful, and effect change in contemporary society. Resources: Check out the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine...

How can we live in a way that prepares us for death? In this seventh and final episode of the “Into Narnia with C. S. Lewis” miniseries, Dr. Dauphinais speaks about the theme of recovering moral wisdom in the modern age by looking at The Last Battle— the closing Narnia novel—and The Abolition of Man . Resources: Catch the previous episode of “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis”: The Magician’s Nephew and...

Why does God allow us to suffer? In the sixth installment of “Into Narnia with C. S. Lewis,” Dr. Michael Dauphinais discusses The Magician’s Nephew and The Problem of Pain to explore the profound and perennial questions about finding God in our suffering. Resources: Catch last week’s episode of “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis”: Courage, Communication, The Horse, and His Boy   Help support this podcas...

Can our pride prevent us from speaking the truth? In the fifth part of “Into Narnia with C. S. Lewis”, Dr. Dauphinais turns to The Horse and His Boy and the second half of Mere Christianity to discuss how the Christian faith provides a roadmap leading us out of prideful competition and into true communion with God. Resources: Catch the previous episode of “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis”: The Silver...

Do miracles conflict with human reason? In this fourth installment of “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis,” Dr. Michael Dauphinais discusses The Silver Chair and Miracles, showing how human reason points to the marvels of God’s Divine Reason that disclose His goodness as Creator.   Resources: Listen to the previous episode of “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis”: Desire, Glory, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treade...