Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is the traditional definition of a martyr for the faith? Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the gnostic "gospel" of Thomas, its themes and message, and how it portrays Jesus.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the readings and themes for the 4th Sunday of Advent.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How is the decision of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 binding on Christians today? If the Lord "declared all foods clean" then why are dietary restrictions mentioned for non-Jews?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why does the Exodus happen the way that it does? Is God just reacting to circumstances or does he have purposes in arranging things to work out as they do?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications 

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

This episode was previously accidentally erased. We are re-releasing it now, and episode 235 will be close behindSupport us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn more about the Anglican Tradition and apply for St. Paul's House core curriculum here.Check out all our course offerings.

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

We are proud to announce our new video study of The Gospel of Matthew, available now at Saint Paul's House of Formation: https://saintpaulshouseofformation.com/gospel-of-matthew/

Matthew's Beatitudes are at the core of Christian morality. Learn about what they mean and to use them in our daily lives.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Detail of the five visions in The Shepherd of HermasSupport us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about a very early and colorful Christian text that was highly influential in its day but difficult to interpret in ours.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How and why do Anglicans take special care to dispose of objects used in worship?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about Genesis 2 and what it says about the creation of man and womanSupport us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about Genesis 1 and what it says about God and the creation of the world.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the last five Psalms of praise, and how there is much more in them than meets the eye,.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How do Christians pray Psalms specifically addressed to Israel's kings?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the sacramental rite of anointing the sick with oil, its biblical roots, and how it came to be associated with 'last rites' at the time of death.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Walk through some commonly misunderstood terms in Christianity and what they really mean: The Immaculate Conception, Transubstantiation, Sola Scriptura, and CathedralsSupport us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Join Saint Paul's House of Formation this fallSee what Saint Paul's House is all about

Discover and hear the liturgical music that adorns the Eucharistic service.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What does the Feast of the Ascension mean to Christians? What is important to us about Jesus returning to sit at the right hand of God the Father?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the 1st Century Jewish historian treasured by Christians.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What can we learn from the parable of the sower and why Jesus spoke in parables to help us understand how the gospel works in us and through us?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How do we pray certain psalms that are difficult for us to identify with?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the biblical artifact, the Ark of the Covenant, why it existed, its meaning, and features.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the several Greek terms used in the Western liturgy.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

We know what the Son died on the Cross to redeem our souls. But what were the Father and Holy Spirit doing?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why do priests mix water with the wine at the Eucharist? Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians? How do Christians cultivate them?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the Crucifix, the classic Christian emblem of Christ on the cross and its Eastern and Western variations.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the early Christian historian Eusebius of Caesarea and how his work is vital to our knowledge of the Early ChurchSupport us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Walk through the origins and the histories of each English Bible translation from their humble beginnings to the mighty King James Version.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about Lent, the 40 days of fasting between Ash Wednesday and EasterSupport us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What does the story of Jesus's Transfiguration on the mountain reveal about Christ and what does it mean to Christians?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is the meaning of the sign of Jesus healing the man born blind?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What does the word 'Paraclete' mean and what does it tell us about God the Holy Spirit?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How does the Lord's Prayer teach us how to pray? Walk through the 'Our Father' with us line by line.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the ancient Jewish writer who inspired Origen and influenced many of the Church Fathers.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How often should one take communion? Can you overdo it?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the history of the language used in the liturgy. What languages did Jews use in their prayers? How did the Mass end up in Latin and why did it hang on so long? What inspired the Reformation's translation projects?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why do we hear from John 1 both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? What is the importance of John's prologue to the Christmas story?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are the different kinds of sacrifices detailed in the Torah and why were they prescribed to Israel? What is the logic of sacrifice and what was its purpose?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the famous saint Martin of Tours whose charity left a legacy that lives on in surprising places.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the Church's use of bells, inside and outside.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the ancient tradition of Rogation Days that are referenced in the Book of Common Prayer.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn the meaning of Colossians 1:24, in which Paul claims that he is "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions."Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the symbolic clothing that bishops wear, where it comes from and what it means.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn the liturgical role of the Deacon in divine service.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Hear the meaning of some of the most common traditional Christian symbols.Click here to view a gallery of the symbols covered in this episodeSupport us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the ancient Church writer Evagrius of Pontus, which of his writings you probably already know about, and why he narrowly misses out on the 'Father of the Church' title.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are the requirements for infant baptism and are there circumstances under which the Church would refuse to baptize an infant?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Who was Benedict of Nursia and how did he form his famous rule for monastic communities?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are the different types of prayers found in the Book of Common Prayer?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What do you need to know before being ordained?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The many ways the Bible uses the image of fire to represent God.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

A summary of the names of the various items used in the Eucharistic liturgy in high and low traditions.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is the significance of Jesus walking on the waves and getting into the boat in the Gospel of John?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are the Dead Sea Scrolls and what was their impact on biblical scholarship and the reliability of the sacred scriptures?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The life, writings, music, and enduring wisdom of Gregory the Great.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

We discuss the names for groups of Jews and non-Jews in the Bible: when they arose and whom they refer to.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is the significance of the story of the supernatural conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch? What is his background and why is he singled out as one of the few individual conversion stories in Acts?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The story of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth in the Gospel of Luke packs a great deal of Old Testament significance into a short episode.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

An overview of the letters of St. Paul: their chronology, themes, and historical context.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What does the parable of the growing seed in Mark 4 mean and why is it so similar to the better known parable of the sower?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Where did the familiar list of the Seven Deadly Sins come from? Which sins are on this "worst sin" list and what are their counteracting virtues?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why is there a second feeding miracle in the gospels with a slightly reduced head count? How does it connect to Jesus's gospel mission?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why is it hard to pray and what are the most common things that get in the way of our duty to pray?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How did the English break with the Pope really happen? Did it all come down to Henry VIII or was there more to the story?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

A revered Father in both the East and the West who developed monasticism and wrote down and early draft of the Seven Deadly Sins.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are Ember Days and how and why do we observe them?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What does the word 'holy' mean and how do people become holy?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How do we know that we are receiving Communion worthily, and what was Paul talking about when he said that it's possible to "eat and drink unto condemnation?" Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How is the Christian vision of the afterlife different from other ancient religions? What is the difference between the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the flesh? How is eternal life different from just perpetual life?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is Catechesis and how has it developed over time. Also what is the format of a written Catechism and when did it first appear?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about Peter's sermon in Acts 2 and why it was such a convincing first presentation of the gospel to its Jewish audience.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn where this popular Lenten devotional tool came from, how it is used, and what parts of it are biblical and which parts derive from tradition.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How is Jesus both fully God and fully man? How do those two natures work together, and what were Jesus's abilities while he was on earth?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the history of the Anglican Church from the death of Queen Elizabeth all the way on up to the present day! How did the English Church become a global communion? Where did the different tendencies and divisions come from?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about John of Damascus, the last of the classical Church Fathers and his influence on the Western and Eastern traditions.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What does the miracle at Cana mean and why does the Bible call it a 'sign?' What does it point to?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Who really was the saint that Santa Claus is based on and what do we know about him?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The letters between Pliny, the governor of Bithynia, and the Emperor Trajan offer a rare window onto early Christianity from a pagan perspective.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Fr. Stephen walks through the parts of traditional Western Church architecture.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are the four Cardinal Virtues and how are they different from the theological virtues and the other virtues?Support us on Patreon:Check out Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The last of the Cappadocian Fathers, Gregory Nazianzus, known as 'the theologian' left a lasting mark on Christian theology, especially the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.Support us on Patreon:Check out Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Did Mary have children after Jesus? Why was this and other ideas about Mary significant to the Early Church?Support us on Patreon:Check out Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

When did the Anglican Church begin? We begin at the beginning long before the Reformation and discuss Celtic Christianity, the Synod of Whitby, Gregory the Great's mission and the conversion of the tribes that brought together the Ecclesia Anglicana. Support us on Patreon:Check out Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How should Christians be buried and what is the meaning of the funeral service?Support us on Patreon:Check out Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The Book of Sirach (aka the Wisdom of Ben Sira) was so beloved in the early church that it got nicknamed 'The Church Book' or 'Ecclesiasitcus.' Hear why this is one of the jewels of the apocrypha and why so many Christians have found so much to love in it for so long.Support us on Patreon:Check out Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are angels, really? Where do they show up in scripture and what is their purpose? Why are there specific angels mentioned by name and why do they have wings?Sign up for Saint Paul's House of FormationSupport us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How many names of the twelve apostles do we know? What's the difference between a disciple and an apostle? Why are there twelve?Sign up for Saint Paul's House of FormationSupport us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

One of the eight doctors of the Church, Ambrose did more than just convert St. Augustine, the West's greatest theologian. Learn about his inspiring career and the legacy he left to the Western Church.Sign up for Saint Paul's House of FormationSupport us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Are Anglicans Catholic or Protestant? Did the Anglican Church start just because a king wanted a divorce? Who decided the direction the English Church would take at the time of the Reformation?Sign up for Saint Paul's House of FormationSupport us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The Psalms has always been the Church's prayerbook. But what does a collection of Hebrew hymns have to do with Jesus?Sign up for Saint Paul's House of FormationSupport us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Overview of the fifth century of Church history. Barbarians and Arians.Sign up for Saint Paul's House of FormationSupport us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are faith, hope, and love, and why is love the greatest? How do we get these virtues? Is it possible to sin against these virtues?Sign up for Saint Paul's House of FormationSupport us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Who were the initiators of the ascetic movement in the early Church? What were their motivations? Where did Christian asceticism come from and what preceded it? How did early monastics survive so much self-denial? What is the place of asceticism in the life of the church today?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What do you do if you are not sure whether you've been validly baptized? We go over the conditions for a valid baptism again and talk about the simple rite of conditional baptism.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The letter from James, the Brother of the Lord is Christian wisdom and ethics in a rabbinic key. Learn the key themes of this essential book and how its message of dead faith apart from works agrees with Paul's salvation by faith.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

An overview of the 4th Century of the Christian Church. Constantine, asceticism, heretic missionaries, and orthodox rebels.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Can individuals be considered culpable for the sins of the group to which they belong? Can societies take on sinful characteristics? What is the Christian's duty to society?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The two dominant schools of theology in the early church approached the scriptures and the nature of Christ from very different starting points. Learn how the Church harmonized these by taking the middle way between literalism and idealism.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What does it mean to let your conscience be your guide? Is it just a feeling or is it something else? How does it inform the moral decisions we make?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The Book of Jeremiah is the life and message of one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. Learn about his message, his life, and the critical period of history that he lived through.The Feast of Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. Learn about the Jewish roots of the feast and what the Holy Spirit's presence means for the Church.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The Feast of Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. Learn about the Jewish roots of the feast and what the Holy Spirit's presence means for the Church.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How do we apply the universal moral principles of the Bible to the individual situations of everyday life, with all of its variables and contingencies? What principles help us know both how to act well and avoid sin in the moment and evaluate our past actions?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is that really tall candle at the front of the sanctuary at Easter? What does it symbolize and what is written on it?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

A big episode covering a big topic: the Hebrew Bible, its arrangement of the Old Testament, its history, languages, and how Jews and then Christians successfully transmitted God's inspired word through thousands of years of linguistic change.Music from a performance in Oxford in 2010.Support us on Patreon:Email us 

What does the process for getting married look like and what is the reason that Christians--particularly Anglicans in the ACNA--take the preparation so seriously?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How do Christians see the difference between right and wrong? How do we learn to make the right choices and examine our past choices?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What do all of the seasonal colors in Anglican Churches mean and which seasons do they go with? Find out here! Also: we make our triumphant return to weekly episodes!Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Deciding who is the most important early Christian writer means sifting through a crowded field, but Origen is a strong contender. His life and work laid the foundation for systematic theology and he died an exemplar of courage and piety.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

An overview of the life of a foundational early Christian writer who nevertheless ended his life outside of the Church.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How old should baptized children be before they can take communion? How do different traditions approach the question? What should you be thinking about as a parent as you decide for your children?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What do Anglicans mean when they cite Holy Tradition? How is it connected with scripture and where do we gain our ultimate authority?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Jesus's baptism has a great deal of significance we often miss. It tells us a lot about Jesus's unique power and authority, and it's also an event looked forward to since the beginning of the Old Testament.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The Church in the 200s faced its greatest trial and won its greatest victory as a dying empire went from persecuting to endorsing the Faith.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

In the Second Century, the Church won skilled and educated defenders, but persecutions increased.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The first hundred years of Christianity saw the spread of the gospel at a wild pace. What were the conditions for this strong start and how did God orchestrate the beginnings of his Church?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

St. John Chrysostom is one of the best recognized Church Fathers and with good reason! We address his life, works, his social vision and why he is so widely read even today.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Who was Mary of Magdala? Why do there seem to be so many different versions of her identity and past? What was her significance to the Lord and her example for the Christian faith?Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

We unpack the parable of the Good Samaritan, the best interpretation of it, and why asking "who is my neighbor?" is not a bad question.Support us on Patreon:Email usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The great linguist and conversationalist Saint Jerome and his indispensable contribution to the history of Bible translation and the canon of scripture. Support us on Patreon: Email us Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

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We talk about the singular book of Acts, its themes, priceless history, and how it connects to God's work in the Old Testament. Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

We discuss the Greek Father Gregory of Nyssa and his contributions to Trinitarian and Ascetical theology, and along the way discuss the difference between a Father's accepted teaching and opinion and how the church distinguishes between the two. Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are best practices for going to confession? What are we supposed to be thinking, feeling, or resolving to do? And why is it good to make formal confession to a priest again? Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What does Paul mean when he says the Church ought to hand someone over to Satan? How should Christians understand how to keep the Church healthy and free from sin while still praying for and loving sinners? Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is the point of understanding the Trinity correctly? Is it only to get our theology straight and impress people? Or is there some other benefit for our spiritual lives? Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Did Jesus really require that every Christian be an evangelist? How do we practically evangelize in the modern world? How do we maintain loving connections with nonbelievers all the while? Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Where does the tradition of anointing with oil come from? Which oils are used for which functions and what is the significance of oil as a sacramental symbol? Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is "the Sign of Jonah" that Jesus refers to in the gospels? Is it only a picture of Jesus's death and resurrection, or is there something more there for our walk as Christians? Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

John the Baptist lived a life that reflected both Jesus and the Old Testament prophets. What did his life mean and why is he so significant in the gospels? Music from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Support us on Patreon: Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Can you sin without doing something wrong? What is the concept of scandal in moral theology and the 1 Corinthians? How do we care for each other's consciences and still seek the truth? Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wordandtable Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why did Paul write to the Corinthian Church so many times? What was the controversy going on in the background that occasioned his letters and how can it remind us of the heart of evangelism and church ministry today? Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wordandtable Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How does the Church put on a good showing in its liturgy? How does thoughtful liturgical style and presentation contribute to the symbols on display and the truths being communicated? Finally what's the point of liturgy anyway? Is it meant to teach us something, or help us do something else? Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wordandtable Email the show Music: Gloria and Ite from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

For our Valentine's Day (or should we say 'Valentinian') special we talk about heresies and the heretics who love them. What is the difference between heresy and error? How do we know what isn't heresy? Do we need to be worried about being heretics just because we make theological mistakes? Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wordandtable Email the show Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

We talk about the three great creeds of the Church: the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the little known Athanasian Creed. Where did they come from, what do they mean, and what do they have to do with the Bible? Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wordandtable Email the show Music: Sanctus and Ite, Missa Est from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Father Stephen talks through the parts of the great Eucharistic Prayer and why it's all one seamless garment. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wordandtable Email the show Music: Sanctus and Ite, Missa Est from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

O Come O Come Emmanuel has some of the most beautiful lyrics of all church music, and it turns out that they run deeper than your average carol. Father Stephen explains the history of the O Antiphons and how celebrating Christmas is incomprehensible without Easter. Music: "O Come O Come Emmanuel" arr. by Jocelyn Hagen performed by The Singers in Shout the Glad Tidings. Purchase here.

How does the Church interpret scripture together? What are the guiding principles that help us understand the message and meaning of the Bible? Email your question! Support Word & Table Music from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

There is a short letter wedged into most collections of the Apostolic Fathers. We don't know who wrote it and it certainly wasn't from the generation after the Apostles, so what's it doing there and why is it worth reading? Email the show Support the show

We've talked about Priests, Deacons, and Bishops, but what about everybody else? Are we all just supposed to "pay, pray, and obey?" Hardly. Lay-ministry is where all the action is. Father Stephen breaks down the duties of all the People of God and why ordinary members living holy lives is essential to the Church's mission. Email your question! Support Word & Table Music from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

On the much discussed doctrine of predestination: how God always initiates our salvation, and desires that all be saved (though some are not) and how that all works together for the good and comfort of those called according to his purpose. Email your question! Support Word & Table Music from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

How do Anglicans view Christians of other traditions and how can we all come together as mere Christians? Email your question! Support Word & Table Music from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

Continuing our series on Christ in the Old Testament: where do we find Jesus in the Book of Genesis? Email your question! Support Word & Table Music from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

Did Jesus have all knowledge in the universe as a human being? What did Jesus already know as divine and what did he have to learn as a human being? Music: "Only Begotten Word of God Eternal" from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications Email your question! Support Word & Table

All about the Eastern tradition of icons, why the Church distinguished between images and idols, and how to read the puzzling style of Eastern icons. Click here for icon images Music from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications. Email your question! Support Word & Table

Fr. Stephen addresses some of the odd details in the gospel stories and why they're put there. Music: "Only Begotten Word of God Eternal" and "Alma Redemtoris Mater" from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications Email your question! Support Word & Table

How do we know what is true and false doctrine? A 5th Century French Father of the Church, Vincent of Lerins, laid down a helpful rule that became popular both with Catholics and Protestants around the time of the Reformation. Needless to say that makes him especially endearing to Anglicans. Email your question! Support Word & Table Music: Corde Natus ex Parentis by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications

Great questions from our listeners! Does Confirmation mean "becoming Anglican?" - Micah Thompson How does the church handle sacramental marriages that end up abusive? - Alyssa Keysor What would it take to reunite our Anglican churches with Roman Catholicism or other evangelical protestant denominations? - Seth Hedman Email your question! Support Word & Table Music: Veni Creator Spiritus by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications

In which Father Stephen summarizes every one of the 39 Articles of Religion in 35 minutes. That's less than a minute per article! Plus a short introduction explaining what the Articles are and are not. Email the show Support the show Music: "Ubi Caritas et Amor" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

How do we pray "in Jesus' name?" What does the common ending actually mean and how does the liturgy help us address God directly? Email the show Support the show Music: "Pater Noster" and "Blessing and Amen" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from "More Sublime Chant." Copyright GIA Publications.

What did Jesus really say about marriage and divorce? How has the church upheld such a difficult teaching? Email the show Support the show Music: "Invitatory and Night Hymn" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

Think the Ten Commandments is just a list of "don'ts?" Father Stephen and Alex dig into the "dos" behind the "don'ts" to show how the Ten Commandments truly is a holistic moral vision for human flourishing. Got a question? Email the show Like the show? Support the show Music "Alleluia Pascha Nostrum" and "Panis Angelicus" from More Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications.

If the whole Bible is about Jesus, then where do we find him in the Old Testament? What's the difference between exegesis (getting something out of a text) and "eisegesis" (reading something into the text). And what's the difference between interpreting the Bible and any other book?

Sometimes you want to be inspired by the words of Jesus but you just cannot figure what he's talking about! Alex asks Father Stephen about several difficult passages in the gospels and learns how to interpret them. Give to the show Email the show Music: "Gloria in Excelsis" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant copyright GIA Publications.

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 Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from More Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

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 show

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 Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

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 Publications.

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 Corpus" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

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 Publications.

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.

We take on the third gospel and its indispensable contributions to the story of Christ: the birth narrative, its Greek context, and the elevated place of women. We also discuss the merits of reading the Bible in sequence. Music: "Born Today" from More Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications Email the show

We break down the pieces of priestly dress and where they come from as well as the age-old question of why the bishop wears such a funny hat. Music: "Salve Regina" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from More Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications. Pictures of priestly dress are here (scroll down to the slideshow)

In which we explore the Daily Office: its roots and the meaning behind its practice. It's a tale that involves sleepy monks, how the liturgy can be like a garage full of odds and ends, and the difference between the Office and personal devotions. Email us Music: "Agnus Dei" and "Veni Creator Spiritus" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

Father Stephen talks about the life of Saint Athanasius and how he articulated and defended doctrines that the Church holds today. Email the show Music: Creator Alme Siderum by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

Alex and Stephen revisit the subject of the Church and go deeper into the meaning of some of the words used to describe it: one, holy, catholic, apostolic, and the bride of Christ. Email us! Music: Gloria in Excelsis, Missa de Angelis by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

Who were the Church Fathers? Why were they important to the church and why are they important to us today? What is a "Doctor of the Church?" Music: "Memorial Acclamation" and "Agnus Dei" Missa Simplex from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications. Email the show Leave us a review

Father Stephen and Alex are back to talk about Easter and the hope of the resurrection. He is risen! Music:"Veni Creator Spiritus" and "O Filie et Filae" from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers.

Father Stephen is on sabbatical until after Easter. In the interim, we've got some exciting new content to share with you.

Why does the Anglican Church baptize infants? We explain what infant baptism means, and doesn't mean in light of scripture and tradition. Music: "Salve Mater Misericordiae" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications. Email the show at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

Father Stephen explains how to read the Gospel of Mark, including the history, structure, and themes of the book. We also talk over why the Cross is so challenging for people of all backgrounds to accept. Music: "Glory to God" and "Ubi Caritas et Amor" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

Why do we reverence the saints? What is a healthy understanding of how the saints fit into our worship? Music: "Litany of the Saints" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant Copyright GIA Publications. Email the podcast at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

Fr. Stephen explains the Anglican view of salvation and how we can know that we are saved by knowing Jesus. Music: Litany of the Saints and Alma Redemptoris Mater by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant and More Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Father Stephen defines what a church council is meant to do and goes over some of the major issues the great ecumenical church councils dealt with in the first few centuries of the church's life. Music: Phillippians Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from More Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Fr. Stephen takes a question from a listener asking about how Anglicans interpret scripture and what's the deal with all those extra-Biblical books? Music: Only Begotten Word of God Eternal by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers, from More Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

The season of Epiphany isn't the most popular one on the church calendar, but it has a lot to say about how the Lord manifests his glory in the world.

Why the smells? What does incense symbolize? And what's the name of that thing it swings around in? All this and more on this week's Word & Table. Music: Ubi Caritas et Amor by Richard Proulx and the Catherdral Singers from Sublime Chant.

When you see people bowing in a liturgical service, what does that actually mean? What exactly are they bowing to? What's the difference between bowing in a Christian service and the idolatry warned against in the Bible? Music: Ave Verum Corpus by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

What is confession? What is the difference between a general confession and the sacramental rite of confession? Does the church even have the right to pronounce forgiveness of sins? Father Stephen addresses all this and more on this week's episode. Music: Confiteor (Benedictine) by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. GIA Publications.

Father Stephen explains how the Church has traditionally cqelebrated Christmas and its place meaning in the context of the church calendar. Plus Alex and Stephen talk about their family Christmas traditions and their picks for best Christmas album ever. Music: "Corde Natus ex Parentis" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Purchase here "Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" by John Michael Talbot. Purchase here. "Les Anges Dos Nos Campagnes" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Bruce Cockburn. Purchase here.

Father Stephen explains what holy water is used for and what it reminds us of. Music: "Only Begotten Word of God Eternal" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers Email the show at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

Where did the sign of the cross come from? What are these little "extra" things we see Anglicans, Catholics, and Orthodox believers doing at prayer? Fr. Stephen defines these "sacramentals," their place in worship and how to understand them. Email us at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com Music: Lumen et Revelationem by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Purchases here.

Father Stephen describes the meaning of the Advent season, how we can anticipate the Lord's coming, and the nature of Christian hope. Click here for a series of daily Advent readings. Muic: "On Jordan's Bank" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers.

This week we close our conversation on the Liturgical Calendar, focusing especially on the Sanctoral Calendar and where the practice of commemorating specific saints came from. Music - "Litany of the Saints" from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and The Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications. Email us at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

Father Stephen tells the surprising story of the liturgical calendar and how it became central to Christian worship. Music: Pater Noster and All Glory Laud and Honor by the Cathedral Singers. Got questions? Email the show at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

This week, Father Stephen outlines the organization of the church and how the regional delineations of church government grew out of the offices of Bishops and the cities they ministered in. Music: Adoro Te Devote by The Cathedral Singers. Purchase here.

Part 1 of a conversation on Church polity. Father Stephen explains where the offices of the church, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons came from and what their functions are. Music: Salve Mater Misericordae by The Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant.

Father Stephen introduces the Anglican Church's signature book, the Book of Common Prayer, and goes over what it is, what it's for, what's in it, and how to use it. Music: Adoro te Devote by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral singers from Sublime Chant.

What is scripture? How do we read it? Why do Anglicans say creeds and what are they for? Alex and Father Stephen talk about these things and more. Music: from "Sublime Chant" by The Cathedral Singers conducted by Richard Proulx. Purchase "Sublime Chant" here. Special thanks to GIA Music. Donate to the podcast here. We are a not-for-profit program and welcome donations of any size to help cover costs.

This week Father Stephen and Alex discuss the Church and how it's more than just a gathering place for Christians. Music: Alleluia Pascha Nostrum from "More Sublime Chant" by The Cathedral Singers conducted by Richard Proulx. Purchase "More Sublime Chant" here. Special thanks to GIA Music. Donate to the podcast here. We are a not-for-profit program and welcome donations of any size to help cover costs.

Father Stephen explains what a sacrament is and how it affirms salvation in Jesus Christ. Music: from "Sublime Chant" by The Cathedral Singers conducted by Richard Proulx. Purchase "Sublime Chant" here. Special thanks to GIA Music. Donate to the podcast here. We are a not-for-profit program and welcome donations of any size to help cover costs.

In the first episode of Word and Table, Alex and Father Stephen talk about why there's so much stuff going on in liturgical church services and how to worship together instead of side by side. Music: Alma Redemptoris Mater from "More Sublime Chant" by The Cathedral Singers conducted by Richard Proulx. Purchase "More Sublime Chant" here. Special thanks to GIA Music. Donate to the podcast here. Donations of all sizes are welcome to help cover production costs. We are a not-for-profit program and rely on the support of our listeners. If you like what you hear and you want to help ensure that the podcast continues, please consider donating today.

Word and Table is a weekly podcast about liturgy, sacrament, and the great tradition of Christian worship and why it is vital in our world today. Read more about why young people are interested in liturgy here