FORMED Book Club: Recent Episodes
Joseph Pearce, Vivian Dudro, and Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ
Three longtime book editors unpack and debate texts of all kinds from the Catholic sphere—from theology to history to fiction. Hosted by Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J. (editor in chief, Ignatius Press), Vivian Dudro (senior editor, Ignatius Press), and Joseph Pearce (director of book publishing, Augustine Institute).
Pulling from Scriptural directives, the author emphasizes that “Certainty cannot be attained, but hope can be justified.” Attention is drawn to the tremendous privilege belonging to a faithful servant who has shared from the first hour in the labors of Christ in the vineyard. Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue the discussion of the “Short Discourse on Hell” at the end of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s “Dare We Hope ‘That All Men Be Saved’”.
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The distinctions among three levels of faith; the proper attitude to have at the Second Coming of Christ. Join Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro as they continue the discussion of "A Short Discourse on Hell" at the end of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Dare We Hope “That All Men Be Saved”?.
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Delve into the beginning of von Balthasar’s response to objections, highlighting the difference between hope and certainty and the importance of the Fatima prayer to “lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of [God’s] mercy.” Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss the “Short Discourse on Hell” at the end of Dare We Hope “That All Men Be Saved?”.
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How sin results in loss of personhood. The quality of God’s justice and his mercy in light of the theological virtue of hope. Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Dare We Hope "That All Men Be Saved?".
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This episode discusses hell as a state of being (or non-being), in contrast with heaven, as well as the self-consuming nature of evil. The use of symbolism also comes into play here as Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue the conversation on Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Dare We Hope "That All Men Be Saved?".
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Action, the sufferings of Christ, and the eternity of hell are discussed in this episode. What is the difference between eternity and endlessness? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Dare We Hope "That All Men Be Saved?".
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Understanding hope for eternal life in light of God’s justice and his mercy, Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue the discussion of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Dare We Hope "That All Men Be Saved?".
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What does it mean to hope for eternal salvation? A general hope for everyone's salvation is enriched by a look at one’s personal hope for his own eternal life. Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Dare We Hope "That All Men Be Saved?".
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Is hell a place? Is it a state of soul? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Hans Urs von Balthasar’s “Dare We Hope ‘That All Men Be Saved’?”.
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Why fallen angels can’t be saved. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Balthasar’s “Dare We Hope ‘That All Men Be Saved’?”
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Could it be that people choose to go to hell? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Hans Urs von Balthasar’s controversial “Dare We Hope ‘That All Men Be Saved’?”
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Is hell a place, and can we know who is in it? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Hans Urs von Balthasar’s "Dare We Hope ‘That All Men Be Saved’?”.
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Is Jesus just, or is he merciful? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Hans Urs von Balthasar’s misunderstood book “Dare We Hope ‘That All Men Be Saved’?”.
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Catholics regularly ask God to “lead all souls to heaven,” but why? Why pray for people like Joseph Stalin and Jeffrey Dahmer who apparently deserve divine punishment? Theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar takes on the question in “Dare We Hope ‘That All Men Be Saved’?”—a book that has caused much misunderstanding and controversy.
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How does science make sense of beauty? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss “Science at the Doorstep to God” by Robert Spitzer, S.J.
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Can we ever know too much? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss “Science at the Doorstep to God” by Father Robert Spitzer, S.J.
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The mysteries of quantum physics and of God. Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Father Robert Spitzer’s “Science at the Doorstep to God.”
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The science of conscience—and judgment. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Robert Spitzer’s book “Science at the Doorstep to God.”
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Mystical experiences—who has them and why? A debate between Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro on Robert Spitzer’s book “Science at the Doorstep to God.”
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Quantum physics: proof of God? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Fr. Robert Spitzer’s “Science at the Doorstep to God.”
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What does LANGUAGE tell us about how humans think? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Fr. Robert Spitzer’s “Science at the Doorstep to God.”
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PROOF that humans are different from monkeys. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss “Science at the Doorstep to God” by Robert Spitzer, S.J.
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Near-death experiences and out-of-body experiences: are they real? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Science at the Doorstep to God by Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J.
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God is perfect, simple, omniscient, omnipresent—but what do these things mean? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro break down Science at the Doorstep to God by Father Robert Spitzer, S.J.
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Are there multiple universes, and how can we know? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Science at the Doorstep to God by Father Robert Spitzer, S.J.
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God the Fine Tuner: How to scientists explain how the laws of the universe got so precise? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their discussion of Father Robert Spitzer’s new book “Science at the Doorstep to God.”
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It is said that a monkey in front of a typewriter, given an infinite amount of time, would eventually type out the complete works of Shakespeare. This is true. But would it understand? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their discussion of Father Robert Spitzer’s new book “Science at the Doorstep to God.”
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There is so much scientific evidence for God, yet why do scientists find it so difficult to believe? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their discussion of Father Robert Spitzer’s new book “Science at the Doorstep to God.”
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Entropy: Why do things degrade? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss some of the basic principles of Father Robert Spitzer’s new book "Science at the Doorstep to God".
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Modern science is giving more and more astounding evidence FOR the existence of God. Learn about it in Father Robert Spitzer’s phenomenal new book “Science at the Doorstep to God.” In this first episode, Father Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss the introduction. Pages 1 to 30.
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The assassination of President Diem. Concluding remarks. Page 262 to end.
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Chapter 2, pages 56–71: South Vietnamese President Diem was deeply misunderstood by almost the whole world. Why?
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Chapter 1 of “The Lost Mandate of Heaven: The American Betrayal of Ngo Dinh Diem, President of Vietnam” by Geoffrey Shaw, discussed by Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro.
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In this episode, Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss Geoffrey Shaw’s introduction (pages 23–40) to “The Lost Mandate of Heaven: The American Betrayal of Ngo Dinh Diem, President of Vietnam.”
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Every American should read “The Lost Mandate of Heaven.” In 1963, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem (1901–1963)—a devout, charitable Catholic and possibly a saint—was assassinated by US-backed soldiers, sparking a decade of hideous war. Why did this happen? Geoffrey Shaw’s “The Lost Mandate of Heaven” tells the story. In this episode, Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro give an overview of the book and discuss the foreword by Fr. James Schall, S.J.
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Pages 477 to end. Join us next time in our new discussion of Geoffrey Shaw’s “The Lost Mandate of Heaven: The American Betrayal of Ngo Dinh Diem, President of Vietnam.”
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Science is a gift from God, so why does it often seem to turn AGAINST God?
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Is a “Christian humanism” possible? De Lubac says yes—but only if God comes first.
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Are evil characters “cooler” than good characters? Reading Dostoyevsky, Henri de Lubac goes far, far deeper than the cool.
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Dostoyevsky knows the difference between a revolution of love (Christian) and a revolution of power (atheism). Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue to read Henri de Lubac’s analysis of the great Fyodor Dostoyevsky in “The Drama of Atheist Humanism.”
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Fyodor Dostoyevsky survived an execution and spent five years in a brutal Siberian prison. To his surprise, that’s where he fell in love with God.
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What is Christianity’s ANSWER to atheism? Simple: DOSTOYEVSKY. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro begin part III of “The Drama of Atheist Humanism” by Henri de Lubac.
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The last word on sociologist August Comte. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro conclude part II of Henri de Lubac’s “The Drama of Atheist Humanism.”
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Comte builds a new religion—with him as pope and scientific experts as bishops. Part 2, chapter 3, sections 1 and 2 of “The Drama of Atheist Humanism” by Henri de Lubac.
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Comte, the father of “social science,” believes in a new god: MANKIND. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro finish part 2, chapter 2, of Henri de Lubac’s “The Drama of Atheist Humanism.”
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Why Comte DETESTED Jesus—and LOVED St. Paul. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro begin studying part 2, chapter 2, of Henri de Lubac’s classic “The Drama of Atheist Humanism.”
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Even atheists need a god: How Comte turned data into a religion. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss pp. 147–79 (part 2, chapter 1) of Henri de Lubac’s classic “The Drama of Atheist Humanism.”
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August Comte: How “science” took over EVERYTHING. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro begin to read PART TWO of “The Drama of Atheist Humanism” by Henri de Lubac.
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Are CHRISTIANS responsible for God’s death? Nietzsche thought so. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro finish their study of PART ONE of “The Drama of Atheist Humanism” by Henri de Lubac, S.J.
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“Be hard, be terrible, be pitiless!” The world in the wake of Nietzsche, as we study part 1, chapter 3, of Henri de Lubac’s “The Drama of Atheist Humanism.”
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Logic isn’t everything, but what happens when we reject it altogether? Two great philosophers go head to head: Kierkegaard (Christian) and Nietzsche (Atheist).
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Atheism is boring: the lifeless life of Nietzsche. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro finish chapter 1 of Henri de Lubac’s “The Drama of Atheist Humanism.”
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The return of the gods: When we kill God, something darker takes His place. This week, we take on Feuerbach and Nietzsche as Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro read Henri de Lubac’s landmark study “The Drama of Atheism Humanism.”
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“Down with God, up with man!” In this tour-de-force “The Drama of Atheist Humanism,” written during the godless persecutions of World War II, acclaimed scholar Cardinal Henri de Lubac enters the heart of modern atheism: a dark yet brilliant quest to destroy a God who, they think, suppresses mankind. Joseph Pearce, Father Fessio, and Vivian Dudro begin by studying the two godfathers of atheism: Karl Marx and his hero Ludwig Feuerbach.
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Is Latin better or worse for the Mass? Sparks fly in this concluding episode of our study of Joseph Ratzinger’s “The Spirit of the Liturgy.”
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What’s kneeling at Mass all about? Find out with Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro as they read the final chapter of Joseph Ratzinger’s “The Spirit of the Liturgy!”
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The real meaning of “active participation” in the Mass. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro break down the first half of the last chapter of Joseph Ratzinger’s “The Spirit of the Liturgy.”
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What is a “rite,” and why are there so many? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro untangle the meaning of different liturgical styles with the help of Joseph Ratzinger’s “The Spirit of the Liturgy.”
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Rock music: is it good? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue to unpack Pope Benedict's analysis of music in "The Spirit of the Liturgy".
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How music almost killed—and saved—the Catholic Church. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Joseph Ratzinger’s account of the development of liturgical singing in “The Spirit of the Liturgy”.
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Pope Benedict on MUSIC, both ancient and new. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian guide us through part 3, chapter 2, of Joseph Ratzinger’s classic “The Spirit of the Liturgy.”
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Why God loves art—and you should too. Join Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro in their discussion of part III, chapter 1, of Joseph Ratzinger’s “Spirit of the Liturgy”, on images and visual art.
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Do Catholics overlook the Church’s most important feast? Why the whole year hinges on March 25, as Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue to unpack Joseph Ratzinger’s landmark book “The Spirit of the Liturgy”.
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Does anybody really know what time is? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro try to unfold one of reality's greatest mysteries with the help of Joseph Ratzinger’s “The Spirit of the Liturgy”.
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Why churches should always be open. Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue to unpack “The Spirit of the Liturgy” by Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI).
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Should we have lay lectors and altar servers at Mass? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro address “lay participation” as they unpack chapter 3 of “The Spirit of the Liturgy.”
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What Mass was like at St. Peter's in the 1600s—and why it was so strangely beautiful. Fr. Fessio breaks down chapter 3, section 2, of his teacher Joseph Ratzinger's masterpiece "The Spirit of the Liturgy."
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Why your priest SHOULD be facing away from you. Hint: It's not what you think. Father Fessio explains his teacher Joseph Ratzinger's theology of "liturgical east" in this reading of "The Spirit of the Liturgy".
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Life between heaven and earth: how the liturgy touches eternity. Father Fessio continues to walk us through "The Spirit of the Liturgy" by his teacher, Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI).
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The real meaning of "sacrifice," according to Pope Benedict. Father Fessio walks us, page by page, through chapter 2 of Joseph Ratzinger's masterpiece "The Spirit of the Liturgy."
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What does the liturgy have to do with human happiness? Everything. Fr. Joseph Fessio, a former student and long-time friend of Pope Benedict XVI, leads an introduction to the pope’s groundbreaking book “The Spirit of the Liturgy”.
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What Vatican II did, and didn’t do, to America. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro conclude their discussion of American Pilgrimage by Christopher Shannon.
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How American Catholics responded to the Sexual Revolution—and Humanae Vitae. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their discussion of American Pilgrimage by Christopher Shannon.
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Nuclear war—and the Catholic response to it. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their discussion of “American Pilgrimage” by Christopher Shannon.
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Why this book is TOTALLY WRONG about sex and 1960s. Fr. Fessio takes off the gloves as the Formed Book Club discusses “American Pilgrimage” by Christopher Shannon.
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Did Bing Crosby save the Catholic Church in America? Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss another installment of Christopher Shannon’s book “American Pilgrimage.”
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Did Bing Crosby save the Catholic Church in America? Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss another installment of Christopher Shannon’s book “American Pilgrimage”.
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How did Black, Italian, and Irish Catholics get along in America? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss the age of mass immigration in their ongoing reading of “American Pilgrimage” by Christopher Shannon.
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The British: what they did in America, and what they thought about the Catholic Church. Father Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue discussing “American Pilgrimage” by Christopher Shannon.
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Misfits and martyrs: how the French handled the New World. Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their breakdown of “American Pilgrimage” by Christopher Shannon.
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The Spanish Conquistadors: good, evil, or both? Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro begin their discussion of Christopher Shannon’s 2022 book American Pilgrimage: A Historical Journey Through Catholic Life in a New World.
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How clear thinking can lead from the depths of despair to the arms of love. This is our last episode on "Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism", edited by Brian Besong and Jonathan Fuqua.
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What can Protestants teach Catholics about their own faith? Father Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro have a debate about the nature of love in this discussion on “Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism,” edited by Brian Besong and Jonathan Fuqua.
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What is faith, and why does it save us? Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro read about the conversion of Lutheran Robert C. Koons to Catholicism in “Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism.”
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Who decided what books were included in the Bible? The answer may shock you. Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss the conversion of philosopher Logan Paul Gage in this study of Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism.
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The power of a beautiful church: Peter Kreeft walks into a cathedral for the first time—and becomes Catholic. Father Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss chapter 5 of Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism, edited by Brian Besong and Jonathan Fuqua.
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The conversions of Brian Cutter and Neal Judisch. Father Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss chapters 3 and 4 of “Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism.”
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Can it be good to be an atheist for a little while? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss the conversion of philosopher J. Budzisziewski this week on the Formed Book Club as they move through the book Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism, edited by Brian Besong and Jonathan Fuqua.
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Why would a philosopher—a professional thinker—become Catholic? The better question is, why wouldn’t he? Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro begin reading Brian Besong and Jonathan Fuqua’s collection of conversion stories, Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism.
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What makes a saint a saint—and what doesn’t? Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro conclude their discussion of Henri de Lubac’s The Church: Paradox and Mystery.
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Christ “descended into Hell”? We continue to unpack Henri de Lubac’s analysis of his friend Hans Urs von Balthasar in “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”.
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Why we need beauty, according to Hans Urs von Balthasar. Father Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their reading of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”.
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Hans Urs von Balthasar: heretic or great “man of the Church”? This week, Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro read Henri de Lubac’s chapter on the seminal theologian in The Church: Paradox and Mystery.
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What does it mean to preach the Gospel—and why bother? Father Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce continue their exploration of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”.
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Who goes to hell—and why? Father Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce face some of life’s most pressing questions as they continue their study of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”.
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What will it take for Buddhists and Hindus to believe in Christ? Father Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce explore the “pagan religions” this week through Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”.
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Why the dogma of the Assumption changes everything. Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their discussion of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery.”
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How is the Church holy if she‘s so obviously full of sinners? This and more as Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro contemplate de Lubac‘s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”.
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“Extra ecclesiam nulla salus,” said St. Cyprian. “Outside the Church, no one is saved.” But does that mean what we think it means? Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss chapter 4 of Henri de Lubac's “The Church: Paradox and Mystery”.
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Vatican II: Was it a break, or was it part of tradition? Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss chapter 3 of Henri de Lubac’s “The Church: Paradox and Mystery.”
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Theology must be lived out, not just thought out. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue their exploration of chapter 2 of Henri de Lubac‘s The Church: Paradox and Mystery.
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“In one saint, I saw the whole Church pass by.” Can we see God in the Church—and the Church in a person? A meditation on the face of our Mother the Church in this second discussion on Henri de Lubac’s The Church: Paradox and Mystery.
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Fr. Henri de Lubac was a World War I veteran of the Battle of Verdun, part of the French Resistance in World War II, and—many say—a Church Father of our own time. In this special episode of the FORMED Book Club, Fr. Joseph Fessio describes his years with this pivotal French theologian, who had a profound influence on Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
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What will happiness be like in Heaven? Saint Augustine has some ideas. Join Fr. Joseph Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro in the FORMED Book Club’s final discussion of “The City of God”.
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What‘ll heaven really be like? Our final discussion of Saint Augustine‘s masterpiece: “The City of God”.
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“O Beauty ever ancient, ever new...” This week, Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro reflect with St. Augustine on the nature of beauty in this world: light mixed with shadow, good pierced by evil.
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The difference between miracles and magic. Father Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce continue their reading of Augustine's "The City of God," as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar.
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A crash course in the history of Rome with Saint Augustine. We soldier on through “The City of God,” as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar.
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The Old Testament lies hidden in the New, and the New Testament reveals the Old. Reflections on salvation history with Saint Augustine as we continue our reading of “The City of God” (as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar).
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Is happiness possible in a messed-up world? This and more as Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Augustine’s “The City of God,” as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar.
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Doesn’t Augustine think that the body is evil? Isn’t he kind of a pessimist? This and more as we discuss the saint’s masterpiece “The City of God,” as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar.
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Can we ever have heaven on earth—a world of saints? St. Augustine has answers. Joseph Pearce, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Fessio, S.J., discuss the saint’s masterpiece “The City of God”, as anthologized by Hans Urs von Balthasar.
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Why Saint Augustine’s “The City of God” can change your life. We begin our journey through Hans Urs von Balthasar’s “readable” edition of the ancient masterpiece: Introduction and Chapter One, “The Meaning of Creation.”
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The twentieth century, from Ralph Vaughan-Williams to George Gershwin to David Bowie. Tastes diverge. Listen to Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce debate the beauty and ugliness of modern music in our last discussion of Susan Treacy’s “The Music of Christendom.”
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Music in the age of revolutions: Russia and France in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Also: why aren’t there more famous women composers? This and more as we move our way through “The Music of Christendom” by Susan Treacy.
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Complicated Catholic composers: Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, Chopin, Liszt, Bruckner, Dvorak. And one pagan: Wagner. We continue our walk through the maze of nineteenth-century music with Susan Treacy’s The Music of Christendom.
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The birth of genius: Mozart, Beethoven, and the Romantic period. We discuss chapters 16 to 18 of Susan Treacy’s The Music of Christendom.
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Why the world forgot Bach for one hundred years. We span from Vivaldi to Bach to Handel to Haydn this week in our reading of The Music of Christendom by Susan Treacy. Join Fr. Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce.
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From Palestrina (and St. Philip Neri) in Italy to underground Catholic composers in England to the birth of opera in France. Fr. Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss chapters 8 to 11 of Susan Treacy’s book The Music of Christendom.
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What Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance choral music have in common. Fr. Joseph Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce talk about chapters 5 to 7 of Susan Treacy’s The Music of Christendom.
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Is music just getting worse and worse—or better? Listen to Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce debate the meaning of tradition in art, with the help of Susan Treacy’s Music of Christendom.
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Gregorian chant comes from...the Jews! This and other surprising facts about early Western music as we discuss the first chapters of Susan Treacy’s 2021 book The Music of Christendom: A History.
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The stunning story of Blessed Miguel Pro, martyr, and the crucial role of the Knights of Columbus in ending the war against Catholics in Mexico. We finish our discussion of Saints and Sinners in the Cristero War.
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Is there a difference between Catholic social teaching and Marxist social teaching? Vivian Dudro, Joseph Pearce, and Fr. Fessio debate this and more as they take on chapters 6 and 7 of Saints and Sinners in the Cristero War by Fr. James Murphy.
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Can priests bear arms? We discuss the moral challenges of war as we continue our discussion of Saints and Sinners in the Cristero War by Fr. James Murphy.
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Why did a Catholic country start killing Catholics? We cover the history of Christian Mexico and the beginnings of radical Mexican secularism in the early twentieth century—our first discussion of Saints and Sinners in the Cristero War by Fr. James Murphy, from the introduction to chapter 3.
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To know what’s wrong with the world, you have to know what is right with the world. We close out our long, long study of G.K. Chesterton’s In Defense of Sanity by discussing five joyful, masterful essays: “Scipio and the Children,” “The Philosophy of Islands,” “The Artistic Side,” “What Is Right with the World,” and “The Spice of Life.”
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Are men more selfish than women? Are people naturally attracted to arrogance? We discuss three more essays by G.K. Chesterton: “Two Stubborn Pieces of Iron,” “The Revival of Philosophy—Why?”, and “If I Had Only One Sermon to Preach.”
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Jaded policemen, the broken pharmaceutical industry, and a debate over free trade. All of this as we discuss just three essays by G.K. Chesterton: “The Efficiency of the Police,” “About Beliefs,” and “The Common Man.”
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What happens when we start seeing people as animals? We debate birth and population control—as well as Eucharistic miracles—in our discussion of G.K. Chesterton’s essays “Babies and Distributism” and “The Rout of Reason.”
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What happens when we start seeing people as animals? We debate birth and population control—as well as Eucharistic miracles—in our discussion of G.K. Chesterton’s essays “Babies and Distributism” and “The Rout of Reason.”
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G.K. Chesterton’s take on contraception and on global trade. Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce argue about the essays “The Surrender Upon Sex” and “Reflections on a Rotten Apple” from the Chesterton collection In Defense of Sanity.
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Vaccines and hopscotch. Fr. Fessio, Vivian Dudro, and Joseph Pearce discuss G.K. Chesterton's thoughts on rules and the big State in a heated episode of the Formed Book Club.
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What is a barbarian? And might you be one? Father Fessio and Joseph Pearce discuss two more essays by G.K. Chesterton, “On the Return of the Barbarian” and “On Man: Heir of All the Ages,” both from the collection In Defense of Sanity.
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Black magic, power, and the Lord of the Rings. Another rich discussion of two essays by G.K. Chesterton from the collection In Defense of Sanity.
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Is America a little too arrogant? G.K. Chesterton thought so. We debate the American Dream as we continue discussing Chesterton’s essay collection In Defense of Sanity.
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An essay against essays, the evil of nice-sounding words, and much more. We continue our discussion of G.K. Chesterton’s collection In Defense of Sanity.
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Why "vulgar" can be good—and much more, as we continue to discuss essays by G.K. Chesterton from the collection In Defense of Sanity.
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Families, homeschooling, and toll roads. We discuss three more essays by G.K. Chesterton from the collection In Defense of Sanity.
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Ugly churches and bad poetry. We discuss three more essays by G.K. Chesterton—on architecture, Shakespeare, and free verse poems—as we move through the collection In Defense of Sanity.
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What would G.K. Chesterton say about Amazon.com? We argue it out as we continue our discussion of In Defense of Sanity, a collection of some of Chesterton's best essays.
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Gargoyles, the grotesque, and burning pictures of the pope: G.K. Chesterton helps us interpret the dark side of the world, as we continue our discussion of In Defense of Sanity, a collection of Chesterton's essays.
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From the Book of Job to the philosophy of cheese. We discuss two fantastic essays by G.K. Chesterton as we continue to work our way through In Defense of Sanity.
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G.K. Chesterton on true mysticism, writing no-nos, and more, as we continue our journey through In Defense of Sanity.
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From playing in the rain to Father Christmas to the art of Pablo Picasso—more insights from G.K. Chesterton from the collection In Defense of Sanity.
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The meaning of chasing after your own hat, of sleeping late, of finding random objects in your pocket, and of diabolical evil itself. Another tour of the cosmos with G.K. Chesterton, as we continue to unpack the essay collection In Defense of Sanity—chapters 5 to 10.
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Sometimes G.K. Chesterton goes too far---but here's why. We begin our discussion of In Defense of Sanity, a book of essays by G.K. Chesterton.
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When Chinese bishops become pawns in the hands of the Party, is there still a reason for hope? There is. With this third episode, we conclude our discussion of Cardinal Joseph Zen's For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent.
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Lost in translation: why words matter, especially in the Church. Episode two of our discussion on Cardinal Joseph Zen's book For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent, an urgent cry on behalf of Chinese Catholics.
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Corruption, Vatican intrigue, and heroism: the dangerous life of Chinese Catholics as told by Cardinal Joseph Zen in his book For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent: On the Situation of the Church in China.
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Two Catholic revolutions: how Paul VI and John Paul II changed history. We complete our discussion of Russell Shaw's Eight Popes and the Crisis of Modernity.
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Making sense of the papacy through two world wars and—even bigger—through Vatican II. We discuss Pope Pius XI, Pius XII, and John XXIII as we move through Eight Popes and the Crisis of Modernity by Russell Shaw.
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What is modernism, anyway, and what's so bad about it? We cover the papacies of Pius X and Benedict XV as we begin our discussion of Russell Shaw's book Eight Popes and the Crisis of Modernity.
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"Philosophers let theories get in the way of what they and everyone else know." An interview with Robert McTeigue, S.J., on bad philosophy, transgenderism, and much more. This concludes our discussion of Father McTeigue's book Real Philosophy for Real People.
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"Now what?" We conclude our discussion of Real Philosophy for Real People by Robert McTeigue, S.J.
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Would you fill a sacred chalice with coffee? Why or why not? Sex, the sacredness of the human body, and more as we finish our discussion of chapter 5 of Real Philosophy for Real People by Robert McTeigue, S.J.
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What makes me, me —my thoughts, my emotions, my body? How is it all connected? This week, we plumb the depths of the human person with chapter 5 of Robert McTeigue's Real Philosophy for Real People.
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Fate versus destiny, "now" versus the present and other tricky concepts as we unpack chapter 4 of Robert McTeigue's Real Philosophy for Real People.
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What's real and what's not? And is life worth living at all? Nihilism, naturalism, existentialism, and more as we unpack chapters 3 and 4 of Robert McTeigue's Real Philosophy for Real People.
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Faith and reason: are they opposites, or two wings on the same bird? We discuss chapters one, two, and three of Robert McTeigue's Real Philosophy for Real People.
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Philosophy for the total beginner: we take on the opening chapters of Real Philosophy for Real People by Robert McTeigue, S.J.
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Thomas Howard teaches us the meaning of bawdy humor and the glory of everyday life. We finish our discussion of Howard's masterpiece, Chance or the Dance.
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Thomas Howard tells us about freedom, dancing, love, and sex. We break down chapters 6 and 7 of Chance or the Dance.Subscribe to the Formed Book Club podcast at https://formedbookclub.buzzsprout.com.
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This week, author Thomas Howard tells us the point of art—from Vermeer’s landscapes to Andy Warhol’s soup cans. And we debate it. Join us in our ongoing discussion of Howard’s book Chance or the Dance?
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Thomas Howard tells us why poetry matters—part two of our series on Chance or the Dance?: A Critique of Modern Secularism
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Is the cosmos full of items that are connected meaningfully or items that are disconnected? What place does imagination play in human experience? How do we employ imagination to give significance to ordinary and extraordinary things through ritual? This and more in this week's discussion of Chance or the Dance.
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On liturgy and Traditionalism: our final discussion of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s book A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen.
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Hans Urs von Balthasar explains what obedience means in the Church.
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Does Catholicism oppress women? Or is it the opposite? More tough questions as we move through Hans Urs von Balthasar’s “A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen”.
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Do morals really matter in Christianity? Doesn’t God’s mercy go beyond all that? Find out as we continue our discussion of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s “A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen”.
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Contradictions in the Bible? Contradictions in the Christian faith? More heavy-hitting discussion as we continue to move through Hans Urs von Balthasar’s “A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen”.
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What is human progress, and is it a good thing? How does it change how we see God? In the second part of the series, we face yet more confusing issues with the help of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen.
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Why is there so much division in the Church? Why is there division even in the Formed Book Club? We begin to approach the question with help of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s book A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen.
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Author Michael Kurek tells us about what music does to the soul, with digressions on Mozart, Beethoven, and great liturgical music.
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Electric guitar solos at Mass? This and more as we end our discussion of Michael Kurek’s “The Sound of Beauty”.
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What is creativity, and where does it come from? This and more as we discuss composer Michael Kurek’s “The Sound of Beauty”.
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All great music tells a story, even if there are no words. This week, we discuss (and debate about) the greatest composers of all time with the help of Michael Kurek’s book “The Sound of Beauty”.
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Why does modern classical music sound so terrible? This and more in our discussion of chapters 3 to 5 of Michael Kurek’s 2019 book "The Sound of Beauty."
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What really is music? How do we perceive it? What role should it play in our lives? We address these questions and others in a beautiful discussion of The Sound of Beauty by Michael Kurek
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A conversation with author George Weigel about reform in the Church and Vatican II.
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Are bishops supposed to be saints or managers? Does being a eucharistic minister or a Church professional make you holy? Why is there corruption in the Vatican, and what can be done about it? We address these questions and others in a heated discussion of The Next Pope by George Weigel.
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The Second Vatican Council: what was it, why did it happen, and how do we understand it today? This week, we launch our discussion of George Weigel’s 2020 book “The Next Pope: The Office of Peter and a Church in Mission”.
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A conversation with Robert Reilly, author of the 2020 book America on Trial: A Defense of the American Founding.
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The difference between the American Revolution and the French Revolution; and more. We conclude our discussion of Robert Reilly’s ‘America on Trial: A Defense of the American Founding’.
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Absolute monarchs, the divine right of kings, and John Locke. Part four of our discussion on Robert Reilly’s 2020 book “America on Trial”.
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This week, we discuss Robert Riley’s take on Martin Luther, Richard Hooker, and Thomas Hobbes in the 2020 book ‘America on Trial'.
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Should we agree with Justice Anthony Kennedy that ‘at the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life’? Why, or why not? This week, we take on chapters 2 and 3: the Catholic roots of constitutionalism, the rise of the Nominalists in Europe, and more.
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“This book is about a ‘trial’, the trial of America. . . . The American people are in the dock, but also they are almost like the judge, for they must decide and thereby determine their own fate.” — Larry Arnn, Foreword to “America on Trial”.
What makes America America? What hopes and beliefs gripped the Founders when they signed the Constitution, and are they the same that grip us—in vastly different ways—today? Were the Founders, who put such a premium on liberty, wrong from the start, or were they right? These are some of the questions that drive Robert Reilly’s 2020 book “America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding”. This week, to start the multiweek series, the Book Club takes a hard look at the Introduction.
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“[Man] no longer has time for himself and for God. . . . He does not have time to die because he does not have time to live. . . . The monk agrees to lose all his time for God. Monastic life is happy; monastic death is, also.” — Dom Pateau, O.S.B., of Fontgombault Abbey.
This week, we discuss Fontgombault, Mondaye Abbey, and the famous Grande Chartreuse—with a special concluding editorial on “Catholic privilege” from Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J.
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“When we come before God, we will be accountable for our charity toward the weakest. I need to know how to lose my time for the sick. In life, giving freely is essential” — Father Jean-Philippe, OSB. This week, chapters 3 to 5 of Nicolas Diat’s 2019 book “A Time to Die: Monks on the Threshold of Eternal Life”.
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"Death is the most important act of earthly existence," says Cardinal Robert Sarah in the preface to Nicolas Diat's 2020 book "A Time to Die: Monks on the Threshold of Eternal Life". This week, we discuss chapters 1 and 2 on the Lagrasse and En-Calcat abbeys—surrender, peace, despair, and the limits of medicine.
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With Siobhan Nash-Marshall, translator of Antonia Arslan's 2020 novella "Silent Angel", we discuss the Armenian Genocide, feminine courage, and the power of fiction.
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This week, we interview author Fr. Daniel Moloney on justice, punishment, and reconciliation—through a bit of internet static.
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We talk about mysticism and the sacrament of confession in this final discussion on Fr. Daniel Moloney's 2020 book Mercy: What Every Catholic Should Know.
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Why did the Israelites put whole towns to death under the Old Covenant? Some tough questions on mercy, justice, and war are tackled in Fr. Daniel Moloney’s 2020 book “Mercy: What Every Catholic Should Know.”
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What does mercy have to do punishment? We continue our discussion of Daniel Moloney’s 2020 book “Mercy: What Every Catholic Should Know."
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Justice, anger, forgiveness, and mercy: How are they connected, and how do they affect our lives? We kick off our study of Fr. Daniel Moloney’s 2020 book “Mercy: What Every Catholic Should Know.”
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Author Sue Ellen Browder tells us about the lies of Cosmo, her slow conversion, and the bright future for women in the Church.
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The differences between pro-woman feminism and “Sex Revolution Feminism.”
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Cosmopolitan Magazine and lifestyle marketing: How consumerism, bogus statistics, and bad journalism transformed America, especially for women.
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Sue Ellen Browder was a secular feminist journalist, writing for Cosmopolitan Magazine through the tumultuous 1960s before converting to Catholicism decades later. Now, with new insight, her book “Sex and the Catholic Feminist” takes us back to the good roots of the women’s movement, points out where feminism took a dark turn, and offers a fuller vision of feminine dignity, rooted in love. In this first installment of a four-part series, Vivian Dudro, Joseph Pearce, and Father Joseph Fessio debate mucky politics, the early pro-life feminists, Alfred Kinsey, the Rolling Stones, and more.
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Pope Francis, echoing Pope St. Paul VI, said, “I’d prefer to give my life before changing the law of celibacy.” What do poverty, chastity, and obedience have to do with love?
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What does “ontological” mean, and why is there an “ontological bond” between priestly ministry and sexual continence? The second installment in our study of Cardinal Sarah and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s “From the Depths of Our Hearts.”
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An introduction to the 2020 book on priestly celibacy by Cardinal Sarah and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: Who wrote it and why?
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We interview Dr. Edward Sri, author of “Rethinking Mary in the New Testament,” on his background, the nature of biblical scholarship, and Mary’s presence in the Book of Revelation.
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“Woman, behold...”: Mary at the foot of the Cross and the Gospel of Saint John.
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God’s extravagance: Mary in the Presentation and the Wedding at Cana.
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“Mary arose and went with haste...”: This week we explore the great enthusiasm—and soldierly courage—of the Mother of God, as explained in Dr. Edward Sri’s “Rethinking Mary in the New Testament.”
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“Rejoice, full of grace”: The mysteries of the Annunciation in Luke’s Gospel. This week we begin our study of Dr. Edward Sri’s “Rethinking Mary in the New Testament.”
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On hope and what we can do. The final episode of our discussion of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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Courage, generosity, and gratuitousness. The FORMED Book Club panel continues its discussion of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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Should we all fast from social media during Lent? Hear what Cardinal Sarah has to say about “the thieves of the sacred fire.” The FORMED Book Club panel continues its discussion of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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“Do not be afraid because of your small numbers. It not a matter of winning elections or influencing opinions.... Faith is like a fire. The person himself must be on fire in order to be able to transmit it. Watch over this sacred fire! May it be your heat in the depths of the winter of the West. When a fire illumines the night, people gradually gather around it. That must be your hope.”
The FORMED Book Club panel continues its discussion of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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“In the twenty-first century, totalitarianism has a more pernicious face. Its name is the idolatry of complete and absolute freedom.” The FORMED Book Club panel continues its discussion of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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“Speed and artificiality cannot lead us to God.” Transhumanism, smartphone addiction, and insanity: How can we start living in the real world? We continue our exploration of chapter 7 of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s 2019 book “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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“Modern man has amnesia. Even the darkest pages of history must not be forgotten.” The FORMED Book Club takes on chapter 7 (“Where Is the World Headed?”) of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s 2019 book “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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What are philanthropic groups like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation doing in Africa? This week, we discuss Cardinal Sarah’s take on ideological colonialism in “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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Humane economics, fair-trade coffee, and respect for creation: Can we really save the world? The FORMED Book Club continues its march through Robert Cardinal Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent.” This week, we are covering the chapter on “The Hatred of Man.”
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The Novus Ordo, the purpose of bishops’ conferences, and the struggle against pandemic self-hatred. The FORMED Book Club panel continues its discussion of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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What is sloth—acedia—and do we find it in Catholic liturgy today? We take on another chapter of Cardinal Sarah’s 2019 book “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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Cardinal Sarah takes on ugliness and beauty, acedia and joy, despair and hope. We continue our journey through his 2019 tour-de-force “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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From the New York City skyline to the meaning of the word “Modernism.” We continue our discussion of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent.”
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We begin our exploration of Robert Cardinal Sarah’s “The Day Is Now Far Spent”—a tour de force response to the present darkness in the Church. In this week's reading, the cardinal pays a special tribute to such controversial churchmen as Henri de Lubac, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (all Ignatius Press authors). What he says may surprise you.
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