Keep The Faith's Podcast

Dr. John Rao discusses early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world from Alexandria to Antioch. Origen's profound theological influence extended into Palestine, Syria and Asia Minor. Here it also encountered many enemies who believed that he exaggerated his use of Platonic allegory. A more historical approach, deeply concerned for the literal meaning of Scripture and the proper use of words, with...

Dr. John Rao discusses early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world particularly Christian life in the 200's A.D. What was Christian life like by the 200's A.D.? What did Christians think and do regarding Penance? How had the liturgy developed? What were their attitudes towards marriage? How did their behavior match or differ from that of their pagan neighbors and what reactions did they experienc...

Dr. John Rao discusses early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world particularly the Church, the Roman State and Constantine the Great. The Roman State's relationship with Christianity was a peculiar one, combining certain benevolent features with assaults reflecting the hostility of the pagan elite and mob. Dr. John Rao discusses here the varied aspects of Church-State relations, Tertullian's cri...

Dr. John Rao discusses early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world including the development of monasticism. One cannot understand the Fourth Century and the Church's reaction both to the Constantinian program and Arianism without exploring the massive growth of Monasticism. Here, Dr. John Rao treats of the different forms and centers of monasticism in Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor and Gaul.

Dr. John Rao discusses early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world from the beginnings of Arianism through Nicea. The Arian Crisis involved every single aspect of Christian life and growth: theology, philosophy, Church-State relations, pastoral organization and liturgy. Dr. John Rao discusses this complex Affair in three talks, the first of which covers the roots of the heresy, the work of Arius...

Dr. John Rao discusses early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world from Arianism to Post-Nicaean Arianism. This lecture on the Arianist Crisis by Dr. John Rao treats of the indirect way in which men like Eusebius of Nicomedia managed to redeem the heresy and persecute all of the great men who had fought against it at Nicaea. The role of St. Athanasius and of the monks now becomes clear.

Dr. John Rao discusses early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world from Arianism to Post-Nicaean Arianism. A final discussion of Arianism concerns the work of the Emperor Constantius to replace the decision of Nicaea with an heretical or ambiguous definition of Catholic faith. The Papacy, St. Hilary of Poitiers and the West enter into the story, along with Cappadocian Fathers. Dr. John Rao contin...

Dr. John Rao discusses early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world and the problems of the New Christian Order. There were many other problems that the emerging Christian order had to face besides Arianism. In this talk, Dr. John Rao discusses three of these of importance in the western part of the Empire – Donatism, Priscillianism and Pelagianism – and one revealing the kind of Church-State stru...

Dr. John Rao discusses early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world and building Christendom. Christian problems of the Fourth and early Fifth Centuries ought not to take our attention away from the fact that a new Catholic Order was everywhere being constructed. What did this mean for daily life? For architecture? For city planning? For daily work and entertainment? What affect did legalization h...

Dr. John C. Rao (professor of history at St. John's University and Director of the Roman Forum), explains the topic for the 2017 Gardone, Italy Summer Symposium, "Setting Right a World Turned Upside Down: Transformation in Christ Versus a Sickness Unto Death," which was deliberately left vague--to allow speakers to respond to any potential new alarming actions or pronouncements from the Vatican. H...

Dr. John C. Rao is professor of history at St. John's University and Director of the Roman Forum. This second talk shows how Catholics were influenced by the Moderate Enlightenment's attempt to battle the atheistic Radical Enlightenment into abandoning doctrinal concerns and focusing on "God in nature" and pastoral activities alone.

Dr. John C. Rao is professor of history at St. John's University and Director of the Roman Forum. His third talk deals with post-French Revolution Catholicism, the rediscovery of the full doctrinal significance of the Incarnation, the need to reunite doctrinal and pastoral activity, and finally with the backsliding that, by the 1960's, led us right back to the situation we have been in (and worse!...

Rev. John Hunwicke (Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham) talks about the current confusion about the true relationship between the Holy Spirit and the pope. He reads several excerpts from writings by prelates surrounding Pope Francis, which seem to seek to admonish bishops and convince lay faithful that whatever the pope, this pope, does is guided by the Holy Spirit, even if he introduc...

Dr. Thomas Pink, professor of philosophy at King's College in London, talks about how errors in the Church's currently official theology have a root cause in the denial of the vital importance of the union of Church and State and of the role of Baptism. He proposes that instead of aiming for "dialogical harmony" with those who remain in the dominion of Satan, the Church's duty is to convert the un...

Dr. Joseph Shaw (Senior Research Fellow at St Benet's Hall, Oxford University) examines the Church's official explanations (starting at the Council of Trent) for the use of Latin in the liturgy, and finds them somewhat wanting. He agrees that efforts to increase knowledge of Latin can contribute to the better understanding of Mass goers, but he goes on to propose that Latin facility is not at all...

Dr. Clemens Cavallin, professor of religious studies at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, speaks about the difficulties in imagining a Christian society when religious belief has often been replaced not with atheism but with an undemanding "spiritualism."

Dr. Clemens Cavallin is a professor of religious studies at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, in this second talk, he provides examples of the ways modernized versions of yoga are promoted as a means to glorify the body and exalt man above God. He quotes Pope Pius X's prescient observations on the dangers of modernity and on Mary as the source of our only hope to all things in Christ.

Dr. Joseph Shaw (Senior Research Fellow at St Benet's Hall, Oxford University) examines the Church's official explanations (starting at the Council of Trent) for the use of Latin in the liturgy, and finds them somewhat wanting. He agrees that efforts to increase knowledge of Latin can contribute to the better understanding of mass goers, then he goes on to propose that Latin facility is not at all...

Christopher Ferrara,Esq., critiques the notion that Catholic states should remain a thing of the past. He quotes Pope Leo XIII about Church-State relations and speaks on the undeniable benefits the Catholic Church brings to nations that are guided by the Church. Ferrara gives the example of the successful Catholic state established by Ecuadorian statesman Gabriel Garcia Moreno, which was ended onl...

Father Edmund Waldstein (doctoral candidate and professor at Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule, Austria) examines how in ancient times and throughout most of the history of Catholic philosophy, happiness was seen to be found in participation in the common good through virtue. In modern philosophy, the focus changed to an individualistic understanding of happiness as private contentment, howeve...

Australian barrister Colonel James Bogle, Esq. speaks about the life and accomplishments of his fellow countryman and acquaintance, B. A. Santamaria, as a significant model for lay Catholic activism in the political sphere. Santamaria closely collaborated with Archbishop Daniel Mannix of Melbourne, and by his writings and organizing ability, Santamaria promoted authentic Catholic Social Justice pr...

Archbishop Fulton J Sheen illustrates the difference between freedom and license, by demonstrating the contrast between the Church and Communism and shows that our freedom is not an independence of Truth, but a dependence in Love.

Dr. Willam Marra explains that while the peace of Christ is an internal state, in this world there will always be conflict, and most especially in the arena of morality. As one matures, one sees that life inevitably has its mixture of sorrows and joys, and that far more important is gaining a sense of moral goodness and never giving up in the fight against moral evils.

Dr. WIlliam Marra explains that how literally we understand Holy Scripture (i.e. Is it mythological or historical?) is a major factor in the confusion in the Church today.

Dr. Alice Von Hildebrand presents the life of her husband, Dietrich Von Hildebrand revealing the trials and tribulations of the greatest philosopher of this century.