Catholic Saints: Recent Episodes
Augustine Institute
Have you ever wanted to learn more about the men and women the Catholic Church officially recognize as saints? In these interviews, scripture scholars from the Augustine Institute dive into the lives of the Saints to help all the faithful come to a deeper understanding of those heroic men and women who have been transformed by the love of God. In this Catholic podcast, learn about St. Augustine, St. Monica, St. Philip Neri, St. Catherine of Siena, and many more.
Dr. Elizabeth Klein and Taylor Kemp sit down to discuss the holy life and witness of St. Bede the Venerable.
Dr. Elizabeth Klein and Taylor Kemp discuss the life and impact of two female martyrs from the third century, Sts. Perpetua and Felicity. Both were beheaded for refusing to renounce their Christian faith. Their feast day is March 7.
Dr. Elizabeth Klein and Taylor Kemp discuss the life of St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne from Northern England, a lesser-known saint in the Church today but a beloved bishop of his time. Known for his amiable personality and unique relationship with otters, St. Cuthbert radiated persistent cheerfulness to those he met and modeled holiness throughout the various stages of his life. His feast day is March 20.
Dr. Elizabeth Klein and Taylor Kemp discuss the historical life of St. Patrick. Captured multiple times by pirates, St. Patrick escaped slavery and returned to his land of captivity to preach the Gospel to a pagan people. Living during a time of great plagues, St. Patrick preached the good news of a God who embraces suffering. His feast day is March 17.
Dr. Elizabeth Klein and Dr. John Sehorn, professors at the Augustine Institute, walk through the culture shaping, famous work of The Confessions of Saint Augustine. This classic of western literature has shaped thought for over 1,500 years and is a spiritual masterpiece reflecting man's relationship with God. Join these two patristic scholars as they help viewers learn how to read this classic text and draw from the riches of the spiritual life of doctor of the Church, Saint Augustine.
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Michael Barber discuss St. Lawrence and the true "Treasure of the Church."
In this special episode, Dr. Christopher O. Blum sits down to reflect on St. Thomas Becket and what we can learn from his heroic witness today.
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Elizabeth Klein, professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute Graduate School, sit down to talk about Servant of God, Dorothy Day—who she was as a woman, her conversion, what she can teach us today, and her fascinating place in the tumultuous 20th century.
Dr. Tim Gray and author Paul McCusker discuss Paul's latest book "The Warrior Maiden: St. Joan of Arc" and the importance of books in forming the hearts and minds of kids. "The Warrior Maiden: St. Joan of Arc" is the story of 12 year-olds Andrew Perry and Eve Virtue as they travel alongside the young Joan of Arc as she seeks to fulfill God's mission for her life and country. This book is part of The Virtue Chronicles series which explores the wonders of God's universe and the many saints and sinners who have impacted it through time.
Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. John Sehorn discuss the great apostle, St. Bartholomew. Grab your Bible and follow along.
Join Dr. Tim Gray and Paul McCusker as they discuss St. Cecilia and the role of Art and Beauty in the New Evangelization.
This fourth episode touches on the need for courage in the Christian life. In this four-part series, Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Christopher O. Blum sit down to discuss St. Francis de Sales, his best known work The Introduction to the Devout Life, and the character of a christian revealed through his life's witness and writings. We hope you enjoy this new series on an incredible counter-reformation saint who truly is a gift of God to the universal Church and from whom we can learn much today.
This third episode focuses on St. Francis de Sales and his teaching on the moral life, virtue, and the place of sincerity in the Christian life. In this four-part series, Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Christopher O. Blum sit down to discuss St. Francis de Sales, his best known work The Introduction to the Devout Life, and the character of a christian revealed through his life's witness and writings. We hope you enjoy this new series on an incredible counter-reformation saint who truly is a gift of God to the universal Church and from whom we can learn much today.
This second episode focuses on St. Francis de Sales and his teaching on attentiveness and prayer. In this four-part series, Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Christopher O. Blum sit down to discuss St. Francis de Sales, his best known work The Introduction to the Devout Life, and the character of a christian revealed through his life's witness and writings. We hope you enjoy this new series on an incredible counter-reformation saint who truly is a gift of God to the universal Church and from whom we can learn much today.
This first episode introduces St. Francis de Sales, the times in which he lived, and looks at a fundamental virtue for the Christian life: obedience. In this four-part series, Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Christopher O. Blum sit down to discuss St. Francis de Sales, his best known work "The Introduction to the Devout Life", and the character of a Christian. We hope you enjoy this new series on an incredible counter-reformation Saint and apply his wisdom to your life today.
Dr. Elizabeth Klein and Taylor Kemp sit down to discuss St. Marcella, the early Church martyr of Rome, who's feast day is celebrated on January 31st. St. Marcella was born in 325 AD and died in 410 AD, around the time of the sack of Rome. During this tumultuous time in Church history (between the Council of Nicaea and the sack of Rome) St. Marcella befriended St. Jerome who wrote several letters to and about St. Marcella. Through these letters, we learn of a woman of the Church who modeled virtue and walked the path of Christ to the end. Eventually, St. Marcella died of wounds she received during the sack of Rome.
In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Klein and Taylor discuss St. Anthony of Egypt, or "Anthony the Great," a hermit who lived from around 251 to 356 A.D. Anthony is widely regarded as the most famous of the Desert Fathers, a class of Christians who fled to the wilderness in order to give themselves wholly to prayer and asceticism. This radical devotion to the Lord made the Desert Fathers serious threats to the Evil One. In fact, Satan would often send legions of demons to attack Anthony, yet the Saint always prevailed. Anthony's heroic life of humility and prayer inspired many other great Saints, including Athanasius and Augustine.
Join Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp as they get to know Saint Mary Magdalene and how she creatively lives out faith, hope, and charity.
Join Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Elizabeth Klein as they discuss the early Church Father, St. Athanasius. A bishop and Doctor of the Church, St. Athanasius is remembered as the great defender of the Nicene Creed. He was exiled five times from his own diocese under four different emperors. A great teacher, his writings are accessible to both beginners and experts in theology, writing works that serve different needs in the Church—intellectual, spiritual, and devotional. In this episode, Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Elizabeth Klein dive into his biography and do a quick overview of his monumental work, On the Incarnation.
Dr. Ben Akers sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Klein to discuss St. Justin Martyr—an early Church martyr who lived from about AD 100 to 165 and wrote several significant Christian apologetic works. St. Justin was a convert to the Catholic faith, philosopher, and is famous for his idea of the "seeds of the Word" found throughout all of God's creation. St. Justin explains that all things are created by God and that there are seeds of God's truth found in all things. This allows Justin to confidently seek the truth present in other philosophies and even the pagan myths and draw out what is true and good and relate it to the Word—Jesus Christ.
Pope Francis recently announced a new Doctor of the Church: St. Irenaeus of Lyons. In this episode of FORMED Now, Dr. John Sehorn and Dr. Ben Akers discuss this second-century Church Father, explaining his importance to the history of Christianity and his title—the "Doctor of Unity."
Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. John Sehorn discuss how St. Helena discovered the True Cross of Christ.
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. John Sehorn discuss Pope St. Gregory the Great and his impact on the Church.
Dr. Ben Akers sits down with Dr. James Prothro to discuss Mary's apparition to Saint Juan Diego on Tepeyac hill under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This important apparition played a historical role in the conversion of the Mexico to the Christian faith and the miraculous tilma worn by the saint is still venerated by millions today.
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Sean Innerst discuss the great saint of the 20th century, Padre Pio.
Dr. Tim Gray and Paul McCusker talk about the incredible Saint Francis of Assisi as portrayed in the Augustine Institute Audio Drama. This massive figure of the Church spread the Gospel with incredible power and grace throughout the 13th century.
Dr. Ben Akers & Dr. Scott Hefelfinger, Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology, discuss St. Therese of Lisieux, a great modern-day saint and Doctor of the Church.
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Michael Barber discuss the Gospel writer and Apostle, St. Matthew. To learn more about the Gospel of St. Matthew, Dr. Gray and Dr. Barber have an ongoing weekly Bible Study that walks through this beautiful Gospel.
Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp sit down to reflect on the earthly father chosen by the heavenly Father for his Son, Jesus Christ.
Join Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Douglas Bushman as they discuss St. John Paul II and the New Evangelization.
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Michael Barber delve into Sacred Scripture's account of St. Stephen's leadership and final death.
Dr. Ben Akers and Annette Bergeon, Executive Director of Endow, discuss St. Teresa of Avila and her love of conversations with Jesus.
Dr. Ben Akers sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Klein to discuss an important Church father and doctor of the Church, Saint Ambrose of Milan. Saint Ambrose is best known for his spiritual guidance of Saint Augustine and the pivotal role he played in his conversion.
Dr. Ben Akers and Fr. Mateusz Ratajczak discuss St. Faustina Kowalska and her role of bringing the message of Divine Mercy to the Church. Learn more about the dramatic story of Divine Mercy — https://watch.formed.org/divine-mercy-with-fr-michael-gaitley
Dr. Ben Akers sits down with Dr. Scott Hefelfinger to discuss Doctor of the Church, St. John of the Cross. This discussion touches on St. John of the Cross's life, his teaching on prayer, and his example of holiness.
Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp sit down to reflect on the earthly father chosen by the heavenly Father for his Son, Jesus Christ. In today's episode, Ben and Taylor talk about the value of Short Courses by the Augustine Institute (https://shortcourses.augustineinstitute.org/).
Dr. Tim Gray & Dr. Ben Akers discuss the Rule of St. Benedict as it applies to daily life.
Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Christopher Blum discuss the only king of France to be canonized, St. Louis IX.
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. James Prothro discuss this lesser-known Catholic apostle: Saint Jude.
Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp sit down to reflect on the earthly father chosen by the Heavenly Father for his Son, Jesus Christ. This four-part series will begin by looking at Joseph from the Old Testament and comparing him with Saint Joseph from the New Testament, and then move into reflections on three of Saint Joseph's titles; Guardian of the Redeemer, Patron of the Universal Church, and Patron of the Domestic Church.
St. Teresa of Calcutta is known throughout the world as a woman totally committed to the Gospel and to the Catholic Church. Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Mark Giszczak discuss the great Catholic saint of the poor, Teresa of Calcutta.
Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp sit down to reflect on the earthly father chosen by the Heavenly Father for his Son, Jesus Christ. This four-part series will begin by looking at Joseph from the Old Testament and comparing him with Saint Joseph from the New Testament, and then move into reflections on three of Saint Joseph's titles; Guardian of the Redeemer, Patron of the Universal Church, and Patron of the Domestic Church.
Join Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Elizabeth Klein as they celebrate Catherine of Siena: a nurse and mystic with papal influence who became a saint and doctor of the Church. Consider supporting the Augustine Institute and FORMED by becoming a Mission Circle member (https://www.augustineinstitute.org/about-pages/mission-circle)
Join Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Michael Barber as they discuss St. Paul's conversion and his overhauled life mission.
Join Sr. Maris Stella of the Sisters of Life and Dr. Tim Gray for today's discussion on Our Lady of Fatima. Learn more about the Sisters of Life (https://sistersoflife.org/) Join the mission and help us continue to provide great content (https://www.augustineinstitute.org/about-pages/mission-circle)
Join Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Chris Blum to discuss the life of St. Philip Neri and celebrate his feast day.
Join Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Elizabeth Klein as they discuss St. Augustine's relationship with the Augustine Institute.
Join Dr. Tim Gray and Matthew Meeks, Chief Marketing Officer of the Augustine Institute, as they explore the story of Saint Junipero Serra who lived his whole life as a "song to Our Lady".
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger discuss the power of forgiveness and St. Maria Goretti. To learn more about forgiveness (https://watch.formed.org/forgiven) To learn more about Saint Maria Goretti (https://watch.formed.org/maria-goretti-the-story-of-the-patroness-of-modern-youth)
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Ben Akers discuss the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a soldier for Christ. The whole series is available to watch here (https://watch.formed.org/true-reformers-with-christopher-blum)