FORMED Book Club

What makes a saint a saint—and what doesn’t? Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro conclude their discussion of Henri de Lubac’s The Church: Paradox and Mystery. Support the show

Christ “descended into Hell”?  We continue to unpack Henri de Lubac’s analysis of his friend Hans Urs von Balthasar in “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”. Support the show

Why we need beauty, according to Hans Urs von Balthasar. Father Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their reading of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”. Support the show

Hans Urs von Balthasar: heretic or great “man of the Church”?  This week, Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro read Henri de Lubac’s chapter on the seminal theologian in The Church: Paradox and Mystery. Support the show

What does it mean to preach the Gospel—and why bother?  Father Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce continue their exploration of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”. Support the show

Who goes to hell—and why? Father Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce face some of life’s most pressing questions as they continue their study of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”. Support the show

What will it take for Buddhists and Hindus to believe in Christ? Father Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce explore the “pagan religions” this week through Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”. Support the show

Why the dogma of the Assumption changes everything.  Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their discussion of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery.” Support the show

How is the Church holy if she‘s so obviously full of sinners? This and more as Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro contemplate de Lubac‘s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”. Support the show

“Extra ecclesiam nulla salus,” said St. Cyprian. “Outside the Church, no one is saved.” But does that mean what we think it means? Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss chapter 4 of Henri de Lubac's “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”. Support the show

Vatican II: Was it a break, or was it part of tradition? Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss chapter 3 of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery.” Support the show

Theology must be lived out, not just thought out. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their exploration of chapter 2 of Henri de Lubac‘s The Church: Paradox and Mystery. Support the show

“In one saint, I saw the whole Church pass by.” Can we see God in the Church—and the Church in a person? A meditation on the face of our Mother the Church in this second discussion on Henri de Lubac’s The Church: Paradox and Mystery. Support the show

Fr. Henri de Lubac was a World War I veteran of the Battle of Verdun, part of the French Resistance in World War II, and—many say—a Church Father of our own time. In this special episode of the FORMED Book Club, Fr. Joseph Fessio describes his years with this pivotal French theologian, who had a profound influence on Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Support the show

What will happiness be like in Heaven?  Saint Augustine has some ideas.  Join Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro in the FORMED Book Club’s final discussion of “The City of God”. Support the show

What‘ll heaven really be like? Our final discussion of Saint Augustine‘s masterpiece: “The City of God”. Support the show

“O Beauty ever ancient, ever new...” This week, Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro reflect with St. Augustine on the nature of beauty in this world: light mixed with shadow, good pierced by evil. Support the show

The difference between miracles and magic.  Father Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce continue their reading of Augustine's "The City of God," as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Support the show

A crash course in the history of Rome with Saint Augustine. We soldier on through “The City of God,” as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Support the show

The Old Testament lies hidden in the New, and the New Testament reveals the Old. Reflections on salvation history with Saint Augustine as we continue our reading of “The City of God” (as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar). Support the show

Is happiness possible in a messed-up world? This and more as Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Augustine’s “The City of God,” as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Support the show

Doesn’t Augustine think that the body is evil? Isn’t he kind of a pessimist? This and more as we discuss the saint’s masterpiece “The City of God,” as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Support the show

Can we ever have heaven on earth—a world of saints?  St. Augustine has answers.  Joseph Pearce, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Fessio, S.J., discuss the saint’s masterpiece “The City of God”, as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Support the show

Why Saint Augustine’s “The City of God” can change your life.  We begin our journey through Hans Urs von Balthasar’s “readable” edition of the ancient masterpiece:  Introduction and Chapter One, “The Meaning of Creation.” Support the show

The twentieth century, from Ralph Vaughan-Williams to George Gershwin to David Bowie. Tastes diverge. Listen to Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce debate the beauty and ugliness of modern music in our last discussion of Susan Treacy’s “The Music of Christendom.” Support the show