Ignatius Press Podcast

For about 300 years, Catholic priests and lay people in England were persecuted, and even martyred, for the practice of their Faith. But before this period of brutality, Catholicism had been vibrant in England. And after it, Catholic England would flourish once again. Joseph Pearce, acclaimed biographer and author of the new book FAITH OF OUR FATHERS: A HISTORY OF TRUE ENGLAND, joins us in this episode to discuss “true England”—the England in which the Catholic Faith thrived before its violent suppression by the Tudor monarchs; the England that maintained the Faith through a bitter period of anti-Catholic bigotry; and the England that flowered again in the literary and spiritual revivals of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Mark Brumley and Carl E. Olson join us from their respective home libraries to chat about the latest stories and features at Catholic World Report, including pieces on the war in Ukraine, the 50th anniversary of the release of “The Godfather,” and why Henry VIII—bad as he was—should not be “canceled.”

Fr. Donald Haggerty is a much-sought-after retreat leader and spiritual director. His newest book, “Saint John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation,” is a unique, step-by-step introduction to the way of contemplation as Saint John understood it: a burning, transformative intimacy with the God who made us. In this episode, author and editor Kathryn Jean Lopez speaks with Fr. Haggerty about the Church’s premier teacher on contemplative prayer, examining how we can use Saint John’s insights into the spiritual life in our contemporary context.

This episode was produced in collaboration with the National Review Institute.

https://www.ignatius.com/Saints-P3499.aspx

Let's talk about saints!

Jesus told us to be perfect, and the Second Vatican Council highlighted this command by speaking of the universal call to holiness for all Christians. How do we answer this call? One great way is to learn from and pray with the saints, the ordinary men and women who fought the good fight to be holy until the end of their lives, and won.

The saints have inspired Christians for more than two thousand years because they show us what it looks like to follow Jesus Christ despite countless challenges and obstacles. This unique book contains short biographies of several saints, along with prayers to each one, for every day of the year. It also provides definitions of Church terms and other helpful back - ground information.

The saints in this collection come from every period of Church history and all walks of life. They represent numerous countries, cultures, age groups, and vocations. They show us that holiness truly is a path open to anyone, and by their example and prayers they help us to follow it.

Exorcisms, demonic possession, occult practices…these aren’t just the stuff of horror movies—they are real (if dramatic) reminders of the existence of the devil and his presence in the world. But as gripping as stories of the supernatural are, it can be easy to forget that the seductive activities of the devil are often found in far more mundane circumstances: the temptations to pride, lust, greed, and other sins that we all experience in our daily lives. In his book CHRIST VERSUS SATAN IN OUR DAILY LIVES: THE COSMIC STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, spiritual writer and philosopher Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., tackles the topic of recognizing and overcoming spiritual evil. His focus is the human heart. His goal: our spiritual and moral transformation, which leads to true peace and genuine happiness.