The 13th Apostle: Recent Episodes
WQPH Radio
Dan and Tom are the “odd couple” of Catholic media. These faithful Catholics hail from New Jersey, and come off the bench to evangelize the modern culture with the timeless truths of Christ’s faith, hope and love, using their witness, storytelling, and a heavy dash of humor.
This intriguing fictional memoir of Padre Samuel, a Cistercian monk, weaves together his tumultuous life story with reflections on his life in a monastic community. The monastic vocation attracts quirky, grumpy, hilarious, and sensitive men drawn to the alluring mystery of God. As Padre Samuel's life shows, monks strive to become saints through the rigors of community life and by conquering the “old man” inclined to selfishness. This novel unveils portraits of Presentation Abbey's various characters, both comedic and tragic, as viewed through the eyes of the elderly Padre Samuel. It brings readers into the silence of the cloister and introduces them to a monk who has allowed his suffering to draw him closer to Christ. Blue Miles is a prayerful testimony to the fierce demands and consoling mercies of the monastic life. Thanks to Ignatius Press and publicist Susan Nutt for the review copy and the interview.
On July 25, 2026, Bishop Pierre Roy, of Mission Notre-Dame de Joie and formerly a priest of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), will travel to Papa Stronsay island off the coast of Scotland to consecrate as bishop the Very Reverend Father Michael Mary, F.SS.R., founder of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (aka "Transalpine Redemptorists" or "Sons"). This action is unlawful, and aligns with their recent declaration, The Dogma To Steer By, in which the order asserts that the Seat of Peter is vacant. In these two episodes, we are again joined by Fr Anthony Mary, Rector of Golgatha Monastery on Papa Stronsay. He gave a personal witness to his lifelong Catholic faith and explained why the Order's declaration and the consecration of Fr Michael as bishop are necessary. A lively discussion ensued.
Ever since the Islamic Revolution of November 1979, during which 66 Americans were taken hostage at the American embassy in Tehran, America has had a fraught relationship with Islam--including the current (undeclared) war between the United States and Iran. But can Islamic faith rituals paradoxically ignite or rekindle the flame of faith in those living in a country founded upon Judeo-Christian traditions? Listen as David Pinault, author and professor emeritus of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Santa Clara University and a faithful Catholic himself, shares insights into this paradox from his many years working with college-age students, most of whom arrived at his class without any faith, let alone faith in the Catholic Church. The following books, all published by Ignatius Press, were mentioned during the discussion: Earth Dragon Run, by David Pinault, The Crucifix on Mecca's Front Porch by David Pinault and Charles De Foucauld, by Jean-Jacques Antier with the Introduction by David Pinault.
The Catechism teaches us, "After confessing 'the holy catholic Church,' the Apostles' Creed adds 'the communion of saints."What is the Church if not the assembly of all the saints?" The communion of saints is the Church.'" Are you in communion with anyone in that holy Community? If not, then perhaps the abstract saint is hard to connect with, and you need the reality of a saint's tomb in the spirit of Tempus Fugit, Memento Mori to make that connection. Let Brian O'Neel help you in that process, with his new website, saintstombs.com. In this mine, you will find a treasure trove of Saints, Blesseds, Venerables and Servants of God, each desiring a relationship with you to in turn help deepen your relationship with God.
A leading oncologist relates powerful true stories about God’s grace and healing in a major modern medical center. This supposedly sterile place is, in fact, alive—enchanted—with God’s presence, mercy, peace, and healing. These vibrant stories awaken us to the wonder all around us and to the good news that God visits us wherever we are. The book flows from the unfolding of faith in the life of an agnostic physician to his increasing perception of God’s movement in his patients' lives, and ultimately to his understanding medicine as a call to participate in the love of God. In stories that are sometimes happy and sometimes sad, but always filled with depth and beauty, the physician and his patients alike experience love, trust, hope, forgiveness, gratitude, answered prayers, and meaning in suffering. You Visited Me shows that God’s grace is moving in the life-and-death crucible of the modern medical center.
A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with Fr Anthony Mary, a monk of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and Rector of their Golgotha Monastery on the Island of Papa Stronsay off the coast of Scotland. I invited Fr Anthony to discuss the Order’s Open Letter, published last October. This document decries the destruction of the Catholic Church from within by corrupt church leaders, manifested by the Second Vatican Council and by what the Order describes as its heretical teachings and apostasy. I have again invited Fr Anthony to appear on the program to discuss their subsequent declaration, “The Dogma To Steer By,” published this May, which indicates their official break with the Vatican and, consequently, the Vatican's investigation of it. We delve deeper into the Order's repudiation of Modernism, Ecumenism and Indifferentism.
Discover the Divine language of numbers with The Mystical Meaning of Numbers in Sacred Scripture, a timeless work by the influential Doctor of the Church, St. Isidore of Seville. St Isidore unveils how sacred authors used numbers to convey important messages and infuse mystical symbolism into Scripture. Thanks to the translation and editing by Fr Robert Nixon, OSB, the world of Biblical numerology is open to us, helping to unlock deeply spiritual mysteries. Our thanks to TAN Books and publicist Krista Thomas!
"The heart has its reasons of which the mind knows nothing" (Blaise Pascal) How do we discern God's will in the context of our life of faith and religion? When St Ignatius wrote "Take, Lord,...my entire will" as part of his Suscipe Prayer, a prayer written with discernment in mind, did he mean for us to release ourselves of any responsibility in our decision? As Fr Kevin O'Brien, S.J. advised, "God's desire, or will, for us is the same as our deepest desire or will, because God gave us those (good!) desires in the first place!" And as Ignatius, Pascal, and Fr O'Brien make clear, the use of Contemplative Prayer involves our intellect, our emotions, and our will in the process of making a decision, always oriented towards God and done both individually and in community--2 x 2. Does the praying mantis actually pray? Or did someone inadvertently or intentionally replace the "e" with an "a" along the way? Only God knows...
In his compact and insightful new book, Pray. Think. Act., Father Augustine Wetta reaches back into monastic history to answer one of the most critical questions facing young people today: "How do I make up my mind?" With his characteristic wit and novel approach to classical art, Father Augustine looks to the wisdom of the Desert Fathers to unearth an ancient and highly efficient method for resolving life's most pressing dilemmas—even in the midst of distractions, temptations, and disruptions.
In her timely book, Adam and Eve After The Pill--Revisited, essayist, novelist, and social commentator Mary Eberstadt details the devastating consequences from the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s and its affirmation of her thesis in her 2012 original work. Ms Eberstadt's latest effort shows the impact of the revolution on our society, our politics, and our Church. But should you grow faint-hearted at the scale of the damage wrought by our unrestrained sexual expression, pay close attention to her Epilogue and to the Cross.
Deacon Chuck and Jim join Dan Duddy and Tom Caffrey of the 13th Apostle to discuss the conclusion of the trial against pro-life witness Mark Houck.
13th Apostle hosts Dan and Tom bid "fare-thee-well" to Deacon Chuck Kelly, host of the Deacon's Table on WQPH, who is heading down to Alabama to join the EWTN family.
Pete Eschemann joins the 13th Apostle guys to discuss a surveys of priests since Vatican II.
Truth "...falls from Heaven," writes author and seminarian Tom Hiney in his new book The Song of Ascents, whether or not we are ready for it. That Truth is Christ, whom the disciple-in-waiting eventually recognizes during periods of great suffering and who he clings to as the lifesaver he is. Accepting the nobility of personal suffering helps us to persevere. And in his book, Hiney describes such perseverance in the harrowing but inspiring stories of several figures on their way to faith. These stories compelled the author to ascend his own "ragged mountain" to the Truth, moving upward from atheism to God. His path has taken him to the Roman Catholic Church, in which he currently prepares for ordination into the priesthood so he can help bring others to the "source and summit" of the Christian life: the Eucharist
In Luke's Gospel, Jesus teaches his followers that unless they hate their parents, siblings, spouses, and their own lives, they cannot be his disciples. He also tells us to not delay discipleship to bury our loved ones or say goodbye to them. Wow! What's that all about? Jesus requires hatred??
In their efforts at evangelization, faithful Catholics should use the relatability of the raw humanity found in much of St Augustine's Confessions. In this episode, Joseph Pearce, Editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions series, joins Dan and Tom to discuss one of the most influential works in the history of Catholicism and the Western world. As with many of our saints, Augustine does not come across as "holier than thou." Instead, he bares many of his foibles and sin and the pain they ultimately caused, and contrasts that with effusive praise of God (often via the Psalms)--doing so always in strikingly beautiful language. Thomas More is a man for all seasons, and Aurelius Augustine is a man for our time and every time.
Listen in on the conversation that Dan and Tom had with Bud MacFarlane, Jr, founder of The Mary Foundation and Catholicity.com. He’s our latest “Unsung Hero,” testified by his great efforts to live the Gospel, spread the Gospel and manifest the Kingdom of God on Earth.
How much of a difference can one person make in this world of nearly 8 billion people?" Those of us who call ourselves "Christians" would of course answer, "The greatest difference in the world," having as our founder the man who initiated the collapse of the Roman occupation and whose followers spread his message of love, mercy, and salvation throughout the world. One of those followers busy spreading that message is Mark Houck, founder of The King's Men apostolate, who joined Dan and Tom to discuss his ministry's mission: "Under Christ the King's universal call to serve, we as men, pledge to unite and build up other men in the mold of leader, protector, and provider through education, formation, healing, and action." While this apostolate gears itself for men, the wives, daughters, and other women in the lives of TKM men benefit from their increased faithfulness and selfless service to them and to others.