Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf

In this final episode of Ida Friederike Görres’s book John Henry Newman: A Life Sacrificed, as well as the Off the Shelf podcast, Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pierce read some of Newman’s poetry to illustrate his piety discussed in chapter 8. Then, after briefly covering chapter 9, they discuss the last chapter on conscience. Newman distinguishes moral reasoning, which he believes can be f...

Beginning chapter 7, “Newman Brought Low,” Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro reflect on Newman’s conversion, who is attacked by the English Church and is snubbed by the Catholic Church. They remark about the 45 years of great suffering that Newman had to bear as a result of his conversion, a suffering he bore without becoming bitter. Finally, they discuss Newman’s election to be a cardin...

Fr. Fessio, Vivian, Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss Newman’s original hatred for the Catholic Church, caused by many religious and cultural prejudices. They point out that Newman’s heart began to change when he saw the pastoral and charitable work of the Catholic Church. They also note the tension within Newman, who is both very intellectually honest and has an irrational emotional response to th...

Ida Görres remarks that St. John Henry Newman did not like the use of force or coercion to bring people into the Catholic faith. Joseph, Vivian, and Fr. Fessio then discuss whether excommunication and execution are justifiable acts that respect or destroy human freedom. Finally, they quickly review Chapter 5 and debate the merits of Newman’s theory of beauty and architecture. SUBSCRIBE to our chan...

Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss how St. John Henry Newman devoted his whole life to lady truth just as a man is devoted to his wife. They note how Newman encouraged all people to explore the inherent rationality of the faith so that they can become convinced by its logic and intelligibility. With Newman, they point out that while faith is a gift, it is a gift that we can choose...

Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce proceed to chapter three of Ida Friederike Görres’s book John Henry Newman: A Life Sacrificed. They comment on Ida’s claim that St. John Henry Newman’s life is a tragedy. They point out that despite his seemingly comfortable life, he struggled at times with nervous breakdowns and had to give up his entire life when he converted to Catholicism. They also...

Ida Görres outlines the Victorian era in which St. John Henry Newman found himself. Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss how this era was marked by rationalism, industrialism, and scientism. Joseph then claims that Newman is a light or first-wave romantic that maintained a childlikeness rather than a dark or second-generation romantic that became childish.   SUBSCRIBE to our channel...

Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce begin Ida Friederike Görres’s book John Henry Newman: A Life Sacrificed. After briefly summarizing the life of Ida Görres, the three commentators dive into this introduction to St. John Henry Newman, and they comment on Ida’s prescience and whether or not one can be a Christian humanist.   SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatiu...

In this episode, Fr. Fessio, Vivian, and Joseph conclude their discussion of the Wedding of Magdeburg. As the battle begins, Von Falkenberg then dies without praying, while Willigis remains safe due to the Marian standard which he held. Willigis then saves Erdmuth and takes her to the Cathedral in the middle of the battle to marry her. Finally, at the request of the pastor’s wife, Tilly shows merc...

Continuing with part three of the Wedding of Magdeburg, Fr. Fessio, Vivian, and Joseph comment on General Tilly’s reflection on the sword of the soldier which God has entrusted to him. Willigis then returns to Magdeburg with the banner of Mary which strengthens him to go to the city’s elders to convince them to surrender.   SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press:...

Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce reflect on the dynamic depiction of the key characters written by Gertrude Von Le Fort. In particular, they reflect on the fall of Erdmuth becoming a bride of the false bridegroom. They also reveal the inner meaning of the imagery so masterly woven into the Wedding of Magdeburg.   SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press:...

Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce begin the third part of the Wedding of Magdeburg. They reflect on Von Falkenberg, who has now taken over the city and begins to genuinely love and respect Erdmuth, and yet still chooses to rule and eventually facilitate the destruction of Magdeburg. They end by discussing the wife of the Protestant pastor whose peace and maternal love reflect that of the...

After meeting with General Tilly, Willigis has to sneak into the Magdeburg because he is barred from the city. He then discovers that Erdmuth has not waited for him and has rejected him because of her pride. Fr. Fessio, Vivian, and Joseph reflect on how much this novel is Gertrude Von Le Fort’s own reflection on her current situation in Mazi, Germany.   SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an e...

Fr Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss General Tilly of the Holy Roman Empire’s response to wars of religion. They reflect on Gertrude’s words that Mary wins battles not with a sword in hand, but a sword in her heart. Then they conclude that the Church as the bride of Christ is called to suffer with Christ.   SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off...

Diving into the second part of The Wedding of Magdeburg, Willigis seeks to broker peace between Magdeburg and the Holy Roman Empire. But his bride, Erdmuth, leaves him for a Swedish general Colonel Von Falkenberg. Willigis meets with General Tilly of the Holy Roman Empire and the two have a debate about the reason for the war and how best to secure peace between their two forces.   SUBSCRIBE to ou...

Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce continue with part one of The Wedding of Madgeburg by discussing the protestant minister’s wife, whom they believe is the model Christian and spouse in this novel, and the adultery of Erdmuth. Vivian ends by pointing out that those in authority must respect authority; otherwise, the act of rebelling against a higher power leads to a much larger rebellion...

Starting with part one of The Wedding of Madgeburg, Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss one of the main themes of Gertrude Von Le Fort–the choice of being powerless before God. They highlight that every character has a choice to obey or disobey authorities that are often imperfect, wrong, or unlikeable.   SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off...

Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss the first English translation of Gertrude Von Le Fort’s The Wedding of Magdeburg. While she is more well-known for her book Song of the Scaffold, The Wedding of Magdeburg is arguably her best work. This historical fiction takes place during the Thirty Years War and touches on three important relationships: (1) the relationship between the city an...

In this last episode on Everlasting Man, Father Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss Chesterton’s summary of the entire work. In particular, they highlight Chesterton’s reflections on the uniqueness of humans among God’s creation and how the nature of things reveal not only a final purpose but also a first cause–God. *Note that there will be a one-week summer hiatus on 7/23/25, but the...

With the start of the fifth chapter of part two, Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Chesterton’s claim that Europe would be just like Asia if it were not for Christianity. They also reflect on Chesterton’s claim that Christianity is the answer to the problem of evil and superior to philosophy. Then they cover chapter 6, where Chesterton describes the five deaths of the faith where...

In chapter 4 of the second part, Chesterton moves to a discussion of the Church and argues that those who claim that the Church is a mere human institution fall into absurd conclusions. Furthermore, Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro reflect on how the Church’s understanding of faith often comes as the result of errors and heresies.   SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of...

C.S. Lewis famously claimed that Jesus was either a liar, lunatic, or God, and in chapter two of section two of The Everlasting Man, Chesterton makes a similar argument. Father Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce reflect on Chesterton’s reducing to the absurd all opinions that claim that Jesus is other than what he says he is–God Himself.   SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of...

Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro begin the second section of Chesterton’s Everlasting Man and reflect on his words about the mystery of the Incarnation. They reflect on how we can become too familiar with the infancy narrative in which the God of cosmic creation now comes to us as a little, local infant. With Chesterton, they remark on the significance of Christ being born into a cave a...

After quickly wrapping up chapter seven, Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro jump into the climax of the book–chapter eight–where Chesterton talks about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. They discuss that even the greatest of human societies are bound to fall and that the more decadent one’s life becomes the more one desires to return to natural and simpler life.   SUBSCRIBE to our ch...

Having covered monotheism and polytheism, Chesterton begins to cover religions that he calls “the demons” and “the philosophers” in chapter 6. Fr. Fessio, Vivian, and Joseph discuss how demonic acts are done because they know that they are known to be evil. They also reflect on how the pagan philosophers saw faith and reason as opposed whereas faith and reason are successfully unified in Christian...