Crash Course Catholicism

What makes an action right or wrong? How do I know if I'm doing the right thing? Can my conscience always be trusted? In this episode we discuss the sources of morality and the role of the conscience. This episode covers Part Three, Section One, Chapter One, Articles 4, 5, and 6 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1749-1802). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_...

Welcome to Part Three of the Catechism! In this episode, we discuss freedom and the call to holiness. What does it mean to be free? What are the limits to freedom? Should everyone have the right to act and speak freely? This episode covers Part Three, Section One, Chapter One, Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1691-1748). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/...

Holy water, rosary beads, crucifixes, medals... is all this extra stuff really necessary? Isn't it all a bit superstitious? How are Catholic funerals different from secular ones? In this episode, we wrap up Part Two of the Catechism with a discussion of sacramentals and funerals. This episode covers Part Two, Section Two, Chapter Four of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1667-1690). ⁠D...

Why does the Church's definition of marriage seem so restrictive and archaic? What makes marriage different from other kinds of unions? What's the point of marriage? In this episode, we discuss the last of the seven sacraments. This episode covers Part Two, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article Seven of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1601-1666). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.pa...

What is a priest? Why can't women be ordained? Are there any married Catholic priests? (Yep.) In this episode, we discuss the sacrament of Holy Orders. This episode covers Part Two, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article Six of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1533 -1600). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ ! Contact t...

How come so few people are cured when they receive this sacrament? Why does God allow us to experience sickness and suffering? Does this sacrament actually do anything, or is it just symbolic? In this episode, we discuss the Anointing of the Sick. This episode covers Part Two, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article Five of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1499-1532). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https...

Why do we need to confess our sins to a priest? Do Catholics all just have huge guilt complexes? Why not just go straight to God and say sorry? In this episode, we talk about the sacrament of Confession. This episode covers Part Two, Section Two, Chapter One, Article Three of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1420-1498). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=...

How can the Mass be a sacrifice if Christ has already offered the one definitive sacrifice on the cross? Why are only Catholics allowed to receive communion? In this second episode on the Eucharist, we discuss the Holy Mass. This episode covers Part Two, Section Two, Chapter One, Article Three of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1322-1419). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/dona...

This is a big one, this one. The Eucharist is the heart and soul of our lives as Catholics. But how does it work? How can Jesus' body and blood truly be present in the consecrated bread and wine? In this Episode, we discuss the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. This episode covers Part Two, Section Two, Chapter One, Article Three of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1322-1419). ⁠Donate...

What's the deal with Confirmation? Is it just a symbolic coming-of-age ceremony? Why is it necessary, and what does it give us that the other sacraments don't? In this episode we discuss the often-misunderstood sacrament of Confirmation. This episode covers Part Two, Section Two, Chapter One, Article Two of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1210-1321). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://...

Do we have to be baptised to go to heaven? What if you're a good person who's never heard of Jesus? Is baptism in a Protestant church valid? In this episode we discuss the first of the three sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and communion). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ ! Contact the podcast: crashcoursecat...

Welcome to Part Two of the Catechism! In this episode we briefly introduce some key ideas around sacraments and the liturgy that will guide the next few episodes. What is a sacrament? Why do we always say the same things at mass? Why do I have to worship in a church? This episode covers Part Two, Section One of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 1066-1209). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www....

Death! Heaven! Hell! Purgatory! The end of time! Merry Christmas, you're welcome. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three, Articles 11-12 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ ! Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com. ⁠Instagram⁠ :https://www.instagram.c...

Why does the Church need a hierarchy? Is the Pope always infallible? What is the role of people who aren't priests or religious in the Church? In this episode we discuss the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article Nine, Paragraphs 3-5 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/...

Why do we need a Church to tell us what's right and wrong? Can't we just rely our own consciences? Why isn't the Church more open to different opinions? In this episode we discuss the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article Nine, Paragraphs 1-3 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Points 748-870). ⁠Donate via PayP...

The Holy Spirit can feel like the most abstract and distant person of the Holy Trinity. How do we relate to Him? How can we know when He's speaking to us? In this episode we discuss who the Holy Spirit is, and what His role is in our lives and in the life of the Church. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article Eight of the Catechism (Points 683-747). ⁠Donate via PayPal...

Why did Jesus *ascend* into heaven instead of just... disappearing? What's going to happen at the end of time? Do Catholics believe in the Antichrist? In this episode, we discuss Christ's Ascension into heaven and his Second Coming at the end of time. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two, Articles Six and Seven of the Catechism (Points 659-682). ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https...

How can we be sure that the Resurrection really occurred? How was Jesus' Resurrection different to Lazarus'? Why do we say Christ 'descended into hell' in the Creed? In this episode, we discuss Christ's Resurrection, and what it means for us as Christians today. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article Five of the Catechism. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://w...

Was the Crucifixion necessary, or could God have saved us another way? If Christ suffered for my sins, how come I still suffer? In this episode, we discuss Christ's death on the cross, and what it means for us as Christians. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article Four of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_bu...

So what's the deal with Mary? Do Catholics worship her? Why do we say she's *our* Mother and not just the Mother of God? In this episode, we discuss Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article Three of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support us on...

How can Jesus be both God *and* a human being? Did Jesus know that he was God from the moment of his birth? In this episode, we discuss Jesus Christ, Son of God. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two, and Articles Two and Three of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. **CORRECTION** A listener has pointed out that in this episode, I state Emmanuel means 'God saves'. In act...

Original sin can seem a little... unfair. Why do I have to suffer for something Adam and Eve did? Does the Catholic church teach that we're all born terrible people? (Spoiler: it doesn't.) In this episode we discuss the elevation and fall of man. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter One, Paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://...

Why did God make us? What else did he make? Are bad angels a legit thing?? In this episode, we discuss the origins and creation of the universe. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter One, Paragraphs 4-6 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ ! Contact the podcast: crashcourseca...

⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠ -What does it mean to say that God is three persons in one being? How is that even possible?? In this episode we unpack one of the biggest mysteries of the Christian faith. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ ! Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com. ⁠Instagram⁠ :https://www.instagram.com/c...

⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠ -So God exists, but what is He like? In this episode, we talk about the nature of God, and why He is someone we can have a personal friendship with. This episode covers Part One, Section Two, Chapter One, Paragraph 1 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠ :https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ ! Contact th...