Catholic Theology Show

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...

Can we truly desire God, or does our worldliness limit us? In the third episode of the “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis” miniseries, Dr. Dauphinais speaks about The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and the sermon “The Weight of Glory” to explore the true nature of the glory that we are meant to desire. Resources: Listen to the first episode of “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis”: Mere Christianity & The Lion,...

Why is courage necessary for all other virtues? In this second episode of the “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis” miniseries, Dr. Michael Dauphinais discusses the virtue of courage by looking in particular at Lewis’s Prince Caspian and The Funeral of a Great Myth . Resources: Catch the first episode of “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis,” a Catholic Theology Show miniseries: Mere Christianity & The Lion,...

What can C.S. Lewis show us about Christianity? In this first episode of “Into Narnia with C.S. Lewis”—a Catholic Theology Show miniseries—Dr. Dauphinais dives into The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and Mere Christianity , exploring how Lewis uses both reason and imagination to impart Christian truth through two of his best-known works.   Resources: Listen to our past episode on Narnia with Pr...

Can we believe in the Big Bang Theory and God's Creation? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Sister Mary Elizabeth Merriam, O.P., discuss how the union of faith and science reveals the intelligibility of creation, particularly in the Big Bang and its Catholic origins. Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle ! Get more information about Ave Maria Univer...

How can we connect with Christ personally? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Mike Timmis, author and former chairman of Prison Fellowship International, to discuss how our calling to friendship—first with God and then with others—is the heart of Catholic evangelization. Resources: The Journey to Ultimate Friendship by Mike Timmis Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joini...

Why must higher education be dedicated to the truth of faith and revelation? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais converses with Father Juan Vélez, a priest of the Opus Dei prelature and St. John Henry Newman scholar, to look at how Newman’s witness to reason and faith is instrumental for Catholic universities in society today. Resources: A Guide to John Henry Newman: His Life and Thought edited by Fathe...

How can we define femininity and masculinity in an age opposed to objectivity? In this episode, Dr. Dauphinais talks with Dr. Maria Fedoryka, associate professor of philosophy at Ave Maria University, to discuss the fundamental differences between man and woman from a philosophical perspective. Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle ! Get more inform...

What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ in today’s world? In this episode, Dr. Dauphinais sits down with Fr. John Riccardo, priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit and founder of the Rescue Project, to discuss the necessity of embracing the Christian mission with intentionality and confidence. Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunciation Circle ! Get more info...

What can the writings of St. Augustine teach us about original sin and salvation? In this episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Dr. Gerald Boersma, associate professor of theology at Ave Maria University, to discuss the critical importance of grace in the Christian life, according to St. Augustine’s most notable works. Help support this podcast and Our Lady's University by joining the Annunc...