Ignatius Press Podcast

Living wills? Palliative care? Brain death? Cremation? Many of us know we need to think about these and other end-of-life questions for ourselves and our loved ones, but how many of us know where to look for guidance?

Dr. Stephen Doran, M.D. is uniquely positioned to help us think about these often uncomfortable topics. An experienced neurosurgeon, a bioethicist, and a Catholic deacon, Dr. Doran brings insights from modern medical practice as well as from the timeless wisdom of the Faith to the many complicated situations surrounding the end of life.

In this episode, host Andrew Petiprin speaks with Dr. Doran about Doran’s new book, “To Die Well: A Catholic Neurosurgeon’s Guide to the End of Life.” They cover many of the ethical decisions that often take Catholics by surprise when faced with terminal illness, as well as the even bigger questions of what a “good death” really looks like, and how our attitudes toward suffering can have a significant impact on how we face our final end.

Thomas Howard had a unique perspective on contemporary Christian life. The son of a prominent evangelical family who was drawn to liturgical worship, a friend of C.S. Lewis who eventually converted to Catholicism, Howard was a keen observer and erudite writer, an articulate defender of the truths of the Gospel and the power of art to bring man closer to God.

In this episode, host Andrew Petiprin speaks with Keith Call, editor of a new collection of Howard’s writings, “Pondering the Permanent Things: Reflections on Faith, Art, and Culture.” Call gives background on Howard’s life and intellectual formation, as well as the cultural forces he watched play out in Christian life during the tumultuous 20th and early 21stcenturies. Call offers insights into why Howard’s writings remain compelling after his passing in 2020, and why the invitation to consider the “permanent things” is perhaps more pressing today than ever.

Related reading:

“New collection of Thomas Howard essays explores ‘the drama of redemption’” by Carl E. Olson | Catholic World Report

Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J. believes in God, the soul, and an afterlife. This is not surprising, as the Jesuit priest is a well-known defender of the precepts of the Catholic faith in his books, lectures, and numerous media appearances. But Fr. Spitzer holds that these beliefs are well-founded scientifically, and has written a book presenting his evidence.

In this episode, host Andrew Petiprin speaks with Fr. Spitzer about the most up-to-date scientific evidence for the existence of God and for the afterlife, which Spitzer documents in his new book “Science at the Doorstep to God.” While many point to “science” as their reason for rejecting belief in a Creator, Fr. Spitzer argues that this only demonstrates an ignorance of the scientific evidence, and an inability to recognize how faith and reason can be harmonized in an earnest pursuit of truth.

Related reading:

“Science at the Doorstep of God: Science and Reason in Support of God, the Soul, and Life after Death” by Fr. Robert Spitzer

Magis Center – Science, Reason, and Faith

State surveillance. Artificial intelligence. Advanced reproductive technology. Many of the elements Peco Gaskovski depicts dramatically in his new novel Exogenesis seem to be only a step or two ahead of where we are in the world today. But Gaskovski’s dystopian vision of a society with mass sterilizations of undesirable populations, an intricate social credit system managed by AI, and omnipresent government surveillance is, ultimately, not without hope.

In this episode, host Andrew Petiprin speaks with Gaskovski, an author and neuropsychologist, about Exogenesis and the colliding forces in society, culture, and science today that inspired it. While the world of Exogenesis is bleak in many ways, Gaskovski’s worldview is not. With gripping action and complicated characters, the book strikes a balance between realism about human nature in the face of technological temptations and social pressure, and hope that truth and beauty can survive amid persecution and suffering.

You can find Exogenesis by Peco Gaskovski at Ignatius.com or your local Catholic bookstore.

Tomie dePaola was one of the most beloved authors and illustrators of children’s books of the last 50 years. When he died in 2020, readers of all ages mourned. While many knew him best for his Strega Nona stories, dePaola also wrote and illustrated many books about Catholic saints and feast days, as well as adaptations of Bible stories.

Sarah Mackenzie, author and founder of Read-Aloud Revival, got to know Tomie dePaola in the last several years of his life, visiting him in his studio and corresponding with him regularly. She wrote about her friendship with him in the foreword to the new book, Through the Year with Tomie dePaola, which collects dePaola’s artwork depicting saints and illustrating important feasts of the liturgical year.

In this episode, Andrew Petiprin speaks with Mackenzie about her relationship with dePaola, the lasting impact of his books and artistic vision, and how reading our way through the liturgical year, especially with young children, can bring us closer to God and to each other.

Related reading:

Through the Year with Tomie dePaola

Read-Aloud Revival with Sarah Mackenzie

“The unique and enduring illustrative art of Tomie dePaola” by Paul Senz | Catholic World Report