Research On Religion

Posts Tagged ‘saints’

Jim Papandrea on the Catholicism of Early Christianity

Protestants have often been critical of the Roman Catholic Church for adding on a number of traditions, rituals, and theologies that were not part of early Christianity. Prof. Jim Papandrea of the Garrett-Evangelical Seminary (Northwestern University) argues that many of these critiques are misplaced and that early Christianity was very Catholic (capital C) in nature. He discusses issues such as tradition, faith and works, the papacy, and veneration of the Saints. The conversation is very interesting given that Prof. Papandrea was once Protestant and is now Catholic, why Tony was once Catholic and is now Protestant. Ecumenical understanding is a theme running throughout our discussion.

Subscribe to us on iTunes and other podcast platforms.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

Brian O’Neel on the Saints of February

Tags: B. Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeire, Bl. Elisabetta Canori Mora, Bl. Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeire, Bl. Sebastián de Aparicio, Bl. Vicente Vilar David, blesseds, Canossian Sisters, Catholic Church, Diocese of Santa Rosa, Elizabeth Lange, Joan de Valois, Pope Francis, relics, saints, St. Jospehine Bakhitat, St. Valentine, Valentine's Day

Just in time for St. Valentine’s Day, we call on Brian O’Neel to explain who the patron saint of lovers really is. Moreover, we review a number of other inspirational saints who have festival days in February, including someone who went from slave to saint, another who was “too ugly” for the crown, and the patroness of “miserable marriages.” Take the time to learn about some of these remarkable individuals of faith.

Subscribe to us on iTunes for free!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

Brian O’Neel on the Saints of January

Tags: Bl. Lazlo Batthyany-Strattmann, Bl. Nikolaus Gross, Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce, Blessed Martyrs of Podlachia, blesseds, Green Bay Packers, John Paul II, martyrdom, Pope Francis, relics, saints, St. John Neumann, St. Josef Freinademetz

Brian O’Neel, a Catholic journalist and independent scholar, returns to Research on Religion to tell us about some of the lesser known saints that are celebrated within Catholicism during the month of January. We cover a prodigous builder of parochial schools in America, a convert from paganism in Nigeria, a lay eye doctor who set up clinics for the poor, another lay Catholic who resisted the Nazis, and a group of martyrs in Russia. We finish with a discussion of martyrdom and how this plays out in the contemporary Middle East.

Help spread the word about our podcast using the social media links below.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

Brian O’Neel on Saint Who? Some Holy Unknowns

St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Patrick. We know these saints. But what about St. Pietro Parenzo, the Blessed Sebastián de Aparicio, or St. Faith of Conques? Who dat? Brian O’Neel, author of “Saint Who? 39 Holy Unknows” talks to us about Catholic sainthood, discussing the process by which one becomes a saint, how someone might be removed from sainthood (St. Christopher anyone?) and why saints are important in the life of the Church. Along the way, we talk about the life of a couple lesser known individuals who lived extraordinary lives and who serve as role models for Catholics and many other individuals of great faith.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]