Word & Table

Father Stephen and Alex talk about another Church Doctor, Basil the Great and what he did to clarify the teaching of Christ's nature, the Holy Spirit and also his work on the liturgy and monaticism. Email the show Support the show Music: Alma Redemptoris Mater by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from More Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Have you ever been tempted to sin? We're willing to bet you have. Father Stephen and Alex talk about temptation, how it is different from sin and God's purpose behind allowing us to be tempted. Email the show Give to the show Music: Agnus Dei from Missa Simplex and Missa de Angelis from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications

Cyprian of Carthage was a 3rd Century Bishop who lived as he wrote: dedicated entirely to the unity of the Church. Father Stephen introduces us to the life and writings of this beloved Father of the Church. Music: O Benedicamus Domino by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

A listener writes in with a very good question! Father Stephen responds in a special mini-episode.

Father Stephen focuses on the Pharisees in the gospels. Who were they, what was it about them that Jesus objected to, and what can we learn from them today? Email the show. Support the show. Music: "Agnus Dei" and "Ubi Caritas et Amor" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from More Sublime Chant and Sublime Chant , respectively. Copyright GIA Publications.

We talk about another early Church Father, Irenaeus of Lyons, his life, writings and theology. His encounter with early gnosticism occasioned some of the Church's first dogmatic and apologetic writings. You can read Book 3 of Irenaeus's "Against Heresies" here . Email the show. Give to the show. Music: "Sanctus (Ambrosian)" and "Only Begotten Word of God Eternal" by R...

Father Stephen talks about the Feast of The Holy Name, the last day in the Christmas Octave, why it takes place 8 days after Christmas, what naming means in traditional Jewish culture, and what is special about the name of Jesus in particular. Music: "Jesu Dulcis Memoria" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant copyright GIA Publications. Email the show Give to the...

A special bonus Christmas episode! Father Stephen and Alex discuss the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and why assuming humanity is essential to our salvation. We also include a huge thanks at the end to those who gave to the show this year. Thanks to you, Word & Table will return in 2018! Email the show. Give to the show. Music: "Salve Mater Misericordiae" by Richard Proulx and the Cath...

Father Stephen discusses why Greatest Commandment, identified by Jesus, is actually two commandments and why it really is the greatest out of all 613 commandments in the law. Music: "Ubi Caritas et Amor" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

Father Stephen breaks down the reason why Christmas is always December 25 but Easter moves around. More than you ever thought you wanted to know about solar and lunar dating and how Christians do it differently from Jewish and Muslim holy days. Email the show Support the show Music: "Creator alme Siderum." From Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publ...

Father Stephen introduces us to another Apostolic Father, Clement, an early bishop of Rome who knew Peter and Paul who wrote a letter admonishing the Corinthian Church. Music: "Creator Alme Siderum" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant . Copyright GIA Publications. Email the show. Donate to the show.

We talk about the ancient Christian and Jewish practice of fasting and talk about the spiritual logic behind abstaining from food and why it's not about despising the body but honoring its proper place before God. Music: Kyrie Eleison and Gloria in Excelsis (Missa Simplex) from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and The Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications. Email the show. Donate to the show...

The Feeding of the Five Thousand is one of the few episodes mentioned in all four gospels. What is the deeper meaning behind the miracle? What does it have to do with how we worship today? Music: Alma Redemptoris Mater by Richard Proulx. From "More Sublime Chant" copyright GIA Publications.

We answer a listener's question about Vestries. What are they? Where do they come from? What do they do? What don't they do? To support our show, go to wordandtablepodcast.com and click on the '$' symbol. We are coming up on our first full year of broadcasting and hosting and licensing costs are looming. Your support will ensure there is another year of Word & Table! Music: "Ave Verum Cor...

Some announcements about the next year of Word & Table and how you can support the show going forward. In short: We are moving to a bi-weekly schedule for the time being. We want to ask for your help for us to cover this next year's costs. Donate at wordandtablepodcast.com Click on the '$' link for an online gift.

Fr. Stephen and Alex introduce the next Church Doctor: Justin Martyr, an early church philosopher whose writings are "the mother load" for helping us understand early church life and thought . Music: "Corde Natus ex Parentis" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

Fr. Stephen gives an introduction and summary of the Book of Hebrews, what makes it different from the other epistles in the New Testament, and what it has to say about the often overlooked virtue of hope. Music: "De Profundis Clamavi" from More Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications. Donate to the show.

We discuss how an important early church manual on ritual and practice got lost and was found again and what its contents reveal about how the early church handled the Eucharist, charity to the poor, and how long to keep visitors in their homes. Email us your questions! Support the show Music: "Creator of the Stars at Night" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publ...

We discuss all things regarding ordination: how ministers come to be ordained, the rite itself, the meaning behind bishops' clothes, and why deacons, priests, and bishops exist in a religion that is also a priesthood of all believers. Email us your questions! Music: "Ave Verum Corpus" from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

After 37 episodes, Father Stephen and Alex finally get around to talking about Anglicanism. How is it different from Roman Catholicism? How is it different from other Protestant traditions? And what about that mad king who wanted a divorce? Music: Canticle (English) from More Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

Father Stephen and Alex do their level best to explain the Trinity and find a suitable metaphor that isn't heretical. They also explain why the Trinity isn't an optional doctrine for Christians and what it shows us about God. Email the show. Music: Kyrie Eleison and Agnus Dei (Missa Simplex) from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

What is the rite of Confirmation and why has there been such a struggle to define it? Why is there a gap between baptism and Confirmation? What's actually happening in the prayer for confirmation? Music: O Filie et Filae by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

Father Stephen and Alex talk about the final gospel: its surprising historical veracity, how it fits in with the Synoptic Gospels and why it has a special place in the church year. Email the show Music: "Adoro Te Devote" by Richard Proulx & The Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant . Copyright GIA Publications.

Fr. Stephen and Alex dive into another Church Father, the famous martyr Ignatius of Antioch, and how his letters give us a valuable window into the world of the earliest churches. Email the show. Music: Jesu Dulcis Memoria by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications,.

Father Stephen breaks down the Gospel of Matthew, its themes, its Jewish audience, and what it has to say about Jesus's identity.