The Catholic Brothers

Taking a brief reprieve from their First 500 Years series, the brothers team up with Johnny Rokosz of Whiteball Productions for UPON REVIEW. This month they critique another childhood favorite, The Little Mermaid. Culturally, artistically, and theologically, what sort of message did this Disney classic communicate to children?

It may come as a great surprise to some that the Church’s first major debate did not happen after the apostles ministry but that it happened among the apostles themselves! Join the brothers as they unpack a moment of great division within the nascent Jerusalem Church and lay out just what was at stake in this quarrel. 

The Brothers move on to the next aspect of the “threefold pattern:” The Teaching of the Apostles. What was the gist of the Apostles’ first preaching campaigns and what really propelled them to boldly proclaim this message in Jerusalem? Lastly, what dangers lie ahead as the Apostles begin to consider the implications of their message?

Join the Brothers as they imagine the first Christian liturgies! They’ve mined the New Testament, archeological discoveries, and other first century sources to give us a glimpse into the primitive Mass, while offering some pertinent takeaways for today’s Church.

The Brothers now turn to the “breaking of the bread.” What was this new Christian meal? How did it emerge? What was its significance in the eyes of the Apostles? These questions and more are addressed in this 3rd episode of “The First 500 Years.”

Many have ideas about what it may have looked like when the Apostles gathered for daily prayer. In this episode of “THE FIRST 500 YEARS,” the Brothers actually mine the sources to reconstruct the prayer life of the Apostles. 

The Catholic Brothers kick off their 2021 dialogue series, “THE FIRST 500 YEARS,” by placing us within the Jewish landscape of Jesus and the Apostles. From this surprisingly diverse religious context will emerge the faith of the first Christians, the “Nazarenes.”

Once each month, The Catholic Brothers team up with Johnny Rokosz of White Ball Productions for an episode of UPON REVIEW, where they take a second look at the music and movies we are all familiar with and find out if we should still love them. For this Christmas Eve episode, the guys put ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ through the Catholic ringer.

Much of the hope, and religious content, of Judaism climaxed in the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem. But was Jesus’ birth more than that? Is it possible that the Incarnation of the Son of God signaled the fulfillment of all religions and philosophies? Join Daniel and Steven as they address this fascinating question! (And Merry Christmas!)

In part 2, the Brothers turn from the ‘pagan question’ and consult ancient biblical and Patristic sources to determine just how ancient it is to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th.

Was December 25th originally a pagan holiday? This oft-recycled theory comes under scrutiny in this two-part dialogue on dating the birth of Christ. Join the Catholic Brothers as they weigh the evidence!

Daniel and Steven here discuss the history, meaning, and importance of the Christian season of Advent. In the midst of a culture that celebrates Christmas far too early and for far too long, it can be very easy for Christians to forsake the penitential season of Advent altogether. So, just what exactly is this Advent thing all about, and how can we observe it well?

“Keep your religion to yourself” “Keep your God out of politics” “Don’t shove your religion down everyone’s throat”  We hear things like this often. But what does the Catholic Church believe about the so called “separation of church and state?” In the wake of a hotly contested political season, Daniel and Steven tackle this contentious (and often misapplied) principle for the Feast of Christ...

For most Catholics living today, the Novus Ordo Missa (or the 'New Mass') of Pope Paul VI is the one that they are most familiar with. In this dialogue, Daniel and Steven briefly critique characteristics of the New Mass and offer 5 important facts that every Catholic should know about it.