Shows
InPrincipio PodcastChrist Renews His Incarnation in the Mass — Explanation of the Holy Mass by Fr Cochem (Chapter 4)Chapter 4 of Fr. Martin von Cochem's "Explanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass" teaches that in the Holy Mass Christ mystically and truly renews His Incarnation, not merely as a symbol but as a real continuation of the work of redemption, for at every consecration the Eternal Word again becomes present in human nature upon the altar by the power of the Holy Ghost. Drawing on the testimony of the Church, Scripture, saints, and theologians such as St. Augustine, St. John Damascene, St. Bonaventure, and Ven. Alanus de Rupe, the chapter explains that just as Christ once became...
2025-12-1419 min
InPrincipio PodcastSt. Felix of Valois (November 20) — From Dom Guéranger’s Liturgical YearA meditation on the Feast of Saint Felix of Valois, co-founder of the Trinitarian Order, from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year.Saint Felix of Valois (c. 1127–1212) was a French hermit and nobleman who devoted his life to prayer, penance, and works of mercy, and who eventually became known as the co-founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives. After years of living in solitude near Meaux, he met Saint John of Matha, whose divinely inspired mission to ransom Christians enslaved by Muslim captors resonated deeply with Felix’s own compassion and zeal. T...
2025-11-1905 min
InPrincipio PodcastSt. Elizabeth of Hungary (November 19) — From Dom Guéranger’s Liturgical YearA meditation on the Feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year.Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231) was a princess renowned for her deep piety, charity, and love for the poor. Married young to Ludwig IV of Thuringia, she lived a life of prayer and generous service, using her royal resources to found hospitals, feed the hungry, and care personally for the sick. After Ludwig’s death during a crusade, Elizabeth embraced even greater austerity, placing herself under spiritual direction and devoting her widowhood entirely to works of mercy. Though she faced misunderstanding and hardshi...
2025-11-1813 min
InPrincipio PodcastDedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul (November 18) — Dom Guéranger’s Liturgical YearA meditation on the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome, from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year.The Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, kept on November 18, commemorates the consecration of the two great Roman churches built over the tombs of the Apostles who stand at the very foundation of the Church’s faith and unity. Saint Peter’s Basilica, rising over the site of the Prince of the Apostles’ martyrdom, and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, marking the resting place of the Ap...
2025-11-1711 min
InPrincipio PodcastSt. Gregory Thaumaturgus (November 17) — From Dom Guéranger’s Liturgical YearA meditation on the Feast of Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus, from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year. Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus, or Gregory the Wonderworker, was a third-century bishop of Neocaesarea in Pontus whose life was marked by deep learning, pastoral zeal, and remarkable miracles. Born into a distinguished pagan family, he converted to Christianity as a young man and became a devoted student of Origen, gaining a strong theological foundation that shaped his later ministry. Before his episcopal consecration, he received a celebrated vision in which the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him accompanied by St. John the Evangelist; St...
2025-11-1610 min
InPrincipio PodcastTwenty-third Sunday after Pentecost: raising if Jairus’ daughter — Dom Guéranger’s Liturgical YearA meditation on the liturgy of the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost, from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year.On the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost, the Church stands at the threshold of the year’s end, and the liturgy turns our hearts both toward the coming of Advent and the final fulfillment of God’s promises. The prayers and readings speak gently but firmly of God’s enduring thoughts of peace, even as they recall the mysterious plan by which Israel will one day return to the Messiah. The Epistle urges us to keep our eyes fixed on heaven and to im...
2025-11-1523 min
InPrincipio PodcastMysteries of Holy Mass — Explanation of the Holy Mass by Fr. Martin von Cochem (Audiobook, Ch. 3)In Chapter 3 of Fr. Martin von Cochem’s Explanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the author unfolds the “mysteries of the Holy Mass,” declaring it the greatest of all divine works—an ocean of graces surpassing comprehension. He begins by praising its infinite richness, illustrating through the story of St. John of Facundo how deeply the saints grasped its hidden realities. He then shows how the ancient sacrifices of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Melchizedek, and Aaron prefigured the one perfect sacrifice of Christ renewed in every Mass. In its celebration, von Cochem explains, all the mysteries of Our Lord’s l...
2025-11-0836 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Excellence of Holy Mass — Explanation of the Holy Mass by Fr Martin von Cochem (Audiobook Ch. 2)Chapter 2 of Explanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, titled “The Excellence of Holy Mass,” is a sweeping meditation on the supreme dignity and mystery of the Mass, described as an act so sublime that even the highest angels cannot fully praise it. Father Martin von Cochem shows its preeminence through vivid examples: the solemn consecration of churches and altars, the careful ordination of priests, and the rich symbolism of every vestment, vessel, and ritual act. He teaches that all these elaborate rites exist to prepare for and honor the Holy Sacrifice, wherein Christ Himself—the Eternal High Priest...
2025-10-2359 min
InPrincipio PodcastExplanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass — Fr. Martin von Cochem (Audiobook, Ch. 1)'Explanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass' (1896) by Fr. Martin von Cochem is a classic 17th-century Catholic devotional work that passionately and engagingly explains the immense spiritual value, mystery, and supernatural power of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Drawing on Scripture, the Church Fathers, and mystical theology, Cochem portrays the Mass as a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, a source of infinite grace, and the highest act of worship that unites heaven and earth. Through vivid anecdotes, historical insights, and practical exhortations, von Cochem urges Catholics to attend Mass with fervent attention, revealing its "incredible" me...
2025-10-2326 min
InPrincipio PodcastNineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: the Marriage Feast – From Dom Guéranger’s Liturgical YearA meditation on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical YearThe Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost centers on the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1–14), in which Christ likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a king who invites guests to his son’s wedding banquet. When the invited guests refuse, insult, and kill the king’s servants, the king punishes them and opens the feast to all found in the highways, symbolizing the calling of the Gentiles after Israel’s rejection of grace. Yet one guest is cast out for lacking a wedding garment, representing those who e...
2025-10-1914 min
InPrincipio PodcastSt. Peter of Alcantara (October 18) - From Dom Guéranger’s Liturgical YearA meditation on St. Peter of Alcantara (October 18), from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical YearSaint Peter of Alcántara (1499–1562) was a Spanish Franciscan friar renowned for his austere asceticism, deep mystical prayer, and reforming zeal. Born in Alcántara, Spain, he entered the Franciscan order at a young age and became known for his rigorous penitential practices, extreme simplicity, and devotion to prayer and contemplation. Peter was a close spiritual advisor to Saint Teresa of Ávila and played a pivotal role in supporting her reform of the Carmelite order, emphasizing strict poverty and spiritual discipline. He founded several Francisc...
2025-10-1810 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh Audiobook Part 9 of 32: Bk 1 Ch 8: ArchitectureIn Chapter VIII, “The Architecture of the Century,” of The Century of Columbus, James Joseph Walsh surveys how Renaissance architecture, inspired by the re-discovery of classical antiquity, transformed Europe during the time of Columbus. He tracks the era’s key architects—Brunelleschi, Alberti, Bramante, Michelangelo, Palladio, Vignola—and how their works embodied the revival of Greco-Roman forms, while harmonizing beauty and utility. Both ecclesiastical structures (cathedrals, churches, domes) and secular architecture (palaces, public buildings, hospitals) are considered, in Italy and beyond, from Spain to France to the Low Countries. Walsh emphasizes the social and civic purpose of architecture—how municipaliti...
2025-10-1728 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 18 – St. Luke the EvangelistSaint Luke the Evangelist, a physician by profession and companion of Saint Paul, was the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Born a Gentile, likely in Antioch, he was highly educated and wrote in refined Greek, emphasizing Christ’s compassion for sinners, the poor, and the marginalized. His Gospel is noted for its detailed accounts of the Virgin Mary, the infancy of Jesus, and many parables unique to him, such as the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. Luke accompanied Paul on several missionary journeys, sharing in his labors and sufferings, and remained faithful to...
2025-10-1714 min
InPrincipio PodcastCentury of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh Audiobook Part 8 of 32: Bk 1 Ch 7: Sculpture outside ItalyIn Chapter VII, “Sculpture and Minor Arts and Crafts Outside of Italy,” James Joseph Walsh surveys how during the century of Columbus—roughly the 15th–early 16th centuries—sculpture and the ancillary arts flourished across Europe beyond Italy, developing styles that were often national or local in character even where Italian influence was felt. He discusses the rich sculptural traditions in the Low Countries: tombs, wood-carvings, and the many monuments whose makers are often unnamed, such as the Tomb of Mary of Burgundy. In Germany, there was a high level of artistry especially in wood: altarpieces, choir stalls, pulpits, and also t...
2025-10-1628 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 17 – St. Margaret Mary AlacoqueSaint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690) was a French Visitation nun and mystic best known for her visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, through which she spread devotion to Christ’s divine love and mercy. Born in Burgundy, she experienced deep piety from childhood and consecrated herself to God at a young age after recovering from a severe illness. Entering the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial, she received a series of revelations between 1673 and 1675 in which Christ showed her His Heart burning with love for humanity and asked her to promote its veneration through the First Fridays devotion, Holy Hours, and the...
2025-10-1609 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 16 – St. Hedwig of SilesiaSaint Hedwig of Silesia (1174–1243), born into the noble Andechs family in Bavaria, was a duchess and later a revered patroness of Poland known for her holiness, humility, and charity. Educated from youth in a Benedictine convent, she was married at a young age to Duke Henry I the Bearded of Silesia, a leading Polish noble who later became High Duke of Poland. Together they worked to strengthen the Christian faith and promote peace and prosperity in the Polish lands. Though she lived amid wealth and political power, Hedwig practiced remarkable austerity—wearing simple garments, fasting often, and devoting herself to p...
2025-10-1608 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 15 – St. Teresa of AvilaSaint Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582) was a Spanish Carmelite nun, mystic, and reformer whose profound spirituality and writings made her one of the greatest figures of the Counter-Reformation. Born Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada in Ávila, Spain, she entered the Carmelite convent at twenty and, after years of spiritual struggle, experienced deep mystical visions and a profound union with God. Seeing the laxity of monastic life, she founded the Discalced Carmelites, a reform movement dedicated to poverty, prayer, and discipline, establishing numerous convents across Spain. Her major works—The Interior Castle, The Way of Perfection, and her Autobiography—remain spiritual classics...
2025-10-1425 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 14 – Pope St. Callixtus I (217-222 AD)[Please note, regarding the commentary on the text "Philosophumena" and its author, which was as yet unknown to the Church in the 19th century: By early 20th century, it was recognized that the author of the Philosophumena was none other than St. Hippolytus of Rome, who for a time set himself against St. Callixtus as an antipope, yet was later reconciled to the Church, suffered martyrdom for the Faith alongside Pope St. Pontian, and has been honored as a saint since the earliest centuries. This understanding had not yet been established in Dom Guéranger's time.]Pope Saint Callixtus I...
2025-10-1312 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 13 – St. Edward the Confessor, King of EnglandSaint Edward the Confessor, born around 1003, was the son of King Æthelred the Unready and Queen Emma of Normandy, and ascended the English throne in 1042 after years of exile in Normandy. His reign marked a period of relative peace and prosperity following decades of Danish domination. Edward worked to restore the authority of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy, strengthened royal justice, and promoted good governance by surrounding himself with wise and capable counselors. Though often guided by his Norman upbringing, he skillfully balanced the interests of powerful English earls and foreign nobles, maintaining stability in a divided realm. He was also a...
2025-10-1207 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: the Cure of the ParalyticDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-10-1120 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 11 – Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin MaryPlease note: Today’s chapter contains a portion not written by Dom Prosper himself, but by the editors of the Liturgical Year at a later date. The entries of the Liturgical Year are primarily authored by Dom Prosper Guéranger, but occasionally contain editors’ additions of subsequent information and events that are relevant to the given feast. The Feast of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on October 11, honors Mary’s divine maternity as the Mother of God, affirming the dogma defined by the Council of Ephesus in 431 that she is truly Theotokos, the “God-bearer.” Instituted...
2025-10-1006 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 10 - St. Francis BorgiaSt. Francis Borgia (1510–1572) was a Spanish nobleman who, after a brilliant career at the court of Emperor Charles V, underwent a profound conversion that led him to renounce his titles and dedicate his life entirely to God. Originally the Duke of Gandía and viceroy of Catalonia, he was deeply moved by the sight of Empress Isabella’s lifeless body, which stirred in him the resolve to “serve no master who could die.” After the death of his wife, he entered the Society of Jesus, where he became one of its most influential leaders and eventually its third Superior General...
2025-10-0907 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 9 - St. Dionysius the Areopagite, and companionsSaint Dionysius the Areopagite was a first-century Athenian judge of the Areopagus who, according to the Acts of the Apostles (17:34), was converted to Christianity through the preaching of Saint Paul and became the first bishop of Athens. Renowned for his deep intellect and mystical insight, he composed theological works exploring the celestial hierarchy, divine names, and the soul’s ascent to God, writings that would become cornerstones of Christian mysticism. Over the centuries, his name became associated with a body of mystical theological writings known as the Corpus Areopagiticum or Dionysian Corpus, which profoundly influenced both Eastern Orthodox and We...
2025-10-0815 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 8 - St. Bridget of SwedenSaint Bridget of Sweden (c. 1303–1373), also known as Birgitta Birgersdotter, and the 'Princess of Nericia', was a noblewoman, mystic, and founder of the Bridgettine Order. Born into a prominent Swedish family, she was married to Ulf Gudmarsson, with whom she had eight children, including Saint Catherine of Sweden. After her husband’s death, Bridget devoted herself entirely to prayer, penance, and works of charity, experiencing numerous visions of Christ and the Virgin Mary that she recorded and shared widely across Europe. She became an influential spiritual figure, counseling kings and popes, and advocating for the return of the papacy to R...
2025-10-0715 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 7 - Our Lady of the RosaryThe Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrated on October 7, commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession through the praying of the Rosary, particularly in connection with the Christian victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Pope St. Pius V attributed this miraculous triumph over the Ottoman fleet to the power of the Rosary, which had been fervently prayed by the faithful throughout Europe. Originally called the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, it was later renamed to emphasize the spiritual weapon of the Rosary itself. The feast invites the faithful to meditate on the mysteries of Christ th...
2025-10-0611 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 6 - St. Bruno, founder of the Carthusian OrderSaint Bruno of Cologne (c. 1030–1101) was a German priest, scholar, and founder of the Carthusian Order, celebrated for his devotion to silence, solitude, and contemplative prayer. Born in Cologne, he became a renowned teacher and chancellor at the Cathedral School of Reims before renouncing worldly honors to pursue a life wholly dedicated to God. In 1084, with six companions, he founded the first Carthusian monastery—the Grande Chartreuse—near Grenoble, France, under the protection of Saint Hugh of Grenoble. Later summoned to Rome by his former pupil, Pope Urban II, Bruno served briefly as papal adviser before retiring to a hermit...
2025-10-0510 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: the Seventeenth Sunday after PentecostDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-10-0419 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 4 - St. Francis of AssisiSaint Francis of Assisi (1181/82–1226) was the son of a wealthy merchant in Umbria, Italy, who renounced his riches after a profound conversion and chose a life of radical poverty, humility, and service to Christ. Embracing simplicity, he founded the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), inspiring others to live in poverty, preach the Gospel, and show reverence for all creation. Known for his joy, compassion, and devotion to the poor and outcast, Francis also received the stigmata, becoming the first recorded person to bear the wounds of Christ. He died at Assisi in 1226, was canonized just two years later, and re...
2025-10-0325 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh Audiobook: Bk 1 Ch 6: Sculpture in ItalyIn Chapter 6 of Book I of the Century of Columbus, James J. Walsh describes the remarkable rise of Italian sculpture in the 15th century, rivaling ancient Greece in creativity and technical mastery. He highlights Donatello, Verrocchio, Luca della Robbia, Cellini, and John of Bologna (Giambologna), noting their landmark innovations in bronze, marble, and terracotta. The Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh offers a comprehensive exploration of the late 15th to early 16th century, emphasizing the pivotal role of Catholic faith and culture in shaping the era’s intellectual, artistic, and exploratory achievements. Walsh, a Catholic historian, portrays the pe...
2025-10-0226 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 3 - St. Thérèse of the Child JesusSaint Theresa of the Child Jesus, also known as St. Thérèse of Lisieux or the “Little Flower,” was a French Carmelite nun (1873–1897) whose short but radiant life left a profound mark on the Church. Entering the Carmelite convent at Lisieux at only 15, she embraced a hidden life of prayer and sacrifice, perfecting what she called her “little way” of spiritual childhood—doing small things with great love and total trust in God. Despite physical suffering from tuberculosis, she radiated joy and humility, offering her life as a victim of God’s merciful love. Her posthumously published autobiography, Story of a Soul...
2025-10-0210 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 2 - Holy Guardian AngelsThe Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, observed on October 2, celebrates the Church’s teaching that every person is entrusted by God to the care of a guardian angel, who offers protection, guidance, and prayerful intercession. This belief, drawn from biblical passages such as Matthew 18:10 (“See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven”), was long encouraged by saints like Bernard of Clairvaux and was formally instituted as a universal feast by Pope Clement X in 1670. The celebr...
2025-10-0113 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: October 1 - St. Remigius, Apostle of the FranksSaint Remigius, known as the Apostle of the Franks, was born around 437 in northern Gaul and became bishop of Reims at a young age, renowned for his learning, eloquence, and holiness. His most enduring legacy was the baptism of King Clovis I around 496, a decisive moment that brought the Frankish people into the Catholic faith and set the foundation for Christian France. Remigius guided Clovis and his court in the faith, worked tirelessly to root out pagan practices, and established churches and episcopal sees throughout the Frankish realm. Celebrated for his miracles and his wisdom as both pastor and...
2025-09-3014 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 30 - St. JeromeSt. Jerome (c. 347–420) was a Dalmatian-born priest, monk, and scholar best known for his monumental work translating the Bible into Latin, producing the Vulgate, which became the standard biblical text of the Western Church for over a millennium. After studying rhetoric and classical literature in Rome, he embraced Christianity more fully, pursued ascetic life in the Syrian desert, and developed a deep mastery of Hebrew and Greek. A close advisor to Pope Damasus I, Jerome was a fierce polemicist and prolific writer, producing biblical commentaries, letters, and treatises that shaped Christian theology and biblical study. He spent his final de...
2025-09-2918 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 29 - St. Michael the ArchangelSt. Michael the Archangel is honored in Christian tradition as the leader of the heavenly hosts, the great defender of God’s people, and the conqueror of Satan. His name means “Who is like God?”—a battle cry affirming God’s supremacy against pride and evil. In Scripture, he appears as a protector of Israel in the Book of Daniel, the commander of heaven’s armies in the Book of Revelation, and the guardian of souls at their hour of judgment. Venerated as patron of soldiers, police, and all who fight against injustice and spiritual darkness, St. Michael embodies courage, div...
2025-09-2811 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Taking the lowest placeDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-09-2719 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 27 - Saints Cosmas and DamianSaints Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers and physicians from Syria who lived in the 3rd century and became renowned for practicing medicine without charging fees, earning them the title of anargyroi (“the silverless” or “unmercenary”). Known for their skill, compassion, and miraculous healings, they not only treated physical ailments but also drew many to Christianity through their charity and faith. Their growing reputation provoked the ire of Roman authorities during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, leading to their arrest, torture, and eventual martyrdom around 287 AD. Venerated as patron saints of physicians, surgeons, and pharmacists, their cult spread w...
2025-09-2607 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Golden Legend: Saints Justina and Cyprian (Sept. 26)The Golden Legend, compiled by the Dominican friar and later archbishop of Genoa, Blessed Jacobus de Voragine, around 1260, was the single most popular religious text of the Middle Ages after the Bible itself. Encompassing over 170 chapters, it offered vivid accounts of the lives of saints, explanations of feast days, and meditations on the mysteries of the liturgical year, drawing on Scripture, apocrypha, early Christian writings, and popular traditions. Far more than a mere catalogue of saints’ biographies, it wove together miracle stories, moral lessons, and symbolic interpretations, providing preachers and laypeople alike with a rich treasury of exempla to in...
2025-09-2513 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 26 - Saints Cyprian and JustinaSaints Cyprian and Justina were early Christian martyrs venerated together for their dramatic conversion story and steadfast faith. According to tradition, Cyprian was a pagan magician and philosopher from Antioch who was commissioned to use sorcery to corrupt the Christian maiden Justina, but her fervent prayers defeated his spells, leading him to renounce magic and embrace Christianity. Inspired by her purity and faith, he was baptized, ordained a priest, and later became a bishop, while Justina devoted herself to virginity and prayer. During the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century, both were arrested, tortured, and ultimately...
2025-09-2403 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 24 - Our Lady of RansomThe Feast of Our Lady of Ransom, also known as Our Lady of Mercy, is celebrated on September 24 and honors the Blessed Virgin Mary’s role in the redemption of Christian captives during the Middle Ages. It originated with the foundation of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (the Mercedarians) in 1218 by St. Peter Nolasco, with support from St. Raymond of Peñafort and King James I of Aragon, after the Blessed Virgin appeared urging them to ransom Christians enslaved by Moorish raiders. The feast highlights the Blessed Virgin Mary's compassion and intercession, the Christian call to...
2025-09-2307 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 23 - Pope St. LinusPope St. Linus, traditionally regarded as the second Bishop of Rome after St. Peter, served as pope from around AD 67 to 76. According to early Christian writers such as Irenaeus and Eusebius, Linus was appointed by Peter himself and helped lead the Church during the dangerous years of persecution under Emperor Nero. He is sometimes identified with the Linus mentioned in St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy (2 Tim 4:21). While little is known about his specific actions, tradition holds that he enforced the discipline requiring women to cover their heads in church, and he is honored as a martyr, though th...
2025-09-2202 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 22 - St. Thomas of VillanovaSt. Thomas of Villanova (1488–1555) was a Spanish Augustinian friar, theologian, and archbishop renowned for his learning, humility, and deep commitment to the poor. Born in Fuenllana and raised in Villanueva de los Infantes, he studied at the University of Alcalá, where he became a professor of philosophy before joining the Augustinian Order. Known as the “Almsgiver” and the “Father of the Poor,” he gave away much of his income to charity and lived austerely despite his high ecclesiastical office. Appointed Archbishop of Valencia in 1544, he reformed the clergy, improved education, and established hospitals, orphanages, and institutions for the marginalized. A gifted pr...
2025-09-2105 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: the Widow of NaimDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-09-2014 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 21 - St. Matthew, Apostle and EvangelistSaint Matthew, also known as Levi, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and author of the Gospel of Matthew. Originally a tax collector in Capernaum, he was called by Christ to leave his occupation and follow Him, demonstrating the transformative power of Jesus’ call. Matthew faithfully accompanied Jesus, witnessing His ministry, miracles, death, and resurrection, and later devoted himself to spreading the Gospel. Tradition holds that he preached in various regions, including Judea, Ethiopia, and Persia, enduring hardships and finally martyrdom for the sake of Christ. Honored as both an apostle and evangelist, he is remembered fo...
2025-09-2007 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh Audiobook: Bk 1 Ch 5: Outside Italy- Part 6 of 32Chapter 5 of Book 1 of James Joseph Walsh's 'The Century of Columbus' explores some of the renowned Renaissance painters from the regions beyond Italy, from Hans Memling of Bruges, to Albrecht Dürer of Nuremberg, and many others.The Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh offers a comprehensive exploration of the late 15th to early 16th century, emphasizing the pivotal role of Catholic faith and culture in shaping the era’s intellectual, artistic, and exploratory achievements. Walsh, a Catholic historian, portrays the period as a golden age of Catholic civilization, highlighting figures like Christopher Columbus, whose voyages were driven by...
2025-09-1922 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 20 - St. Eustace and companionsSt. Eustace, also known as Placidus before his conversion, was a Roman general under Emperor Trajan renowned for his military skill and noble character, who, according to legend, experienced a miraculous vision of a stag bearing a radiant cross between its antlers while hunting, leading to his conversion to Christianity along with his wife and children. Despite his newfound faith, he endured great trials, including the loss of his wealth and separation from his family, but he remained steadfast in virtue and trust in God. Eventually reunited with his loved ones, he continued to serve with distinction until Emperor...
2025-09-1905 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 19 - St. Januarius and companionsSt. Januarius, also known as San Gennaro, was a 3rd–4th century bishop of Benevento in southern Italy, venerated as a martyr and one of the most beloved saints of Naples. According to tradition, he was arrested during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian and, after enduring imprisonment and attempted execution by wild beasts, was ultimately beheaded around 305 AD. His fame rests not only on his martyrdom but also on the miracle of the liquefaction of his blood, preserved in a vial in Naples Cathedral, which reportedly liquefies on certain feast days, seen by the faithful as a si...
2025-09-1904 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 18 - St. Joseph of CupertinoSt. Joseph of Cupertino (1603–1663) was an Italian Franciscan friar renowned for his humility, simplicity, and extraordinary mystical gifts, especially the miraculous levitations that earned him the title “the Flying Saint.” Born in Cupertino, Apulia, into poverty and marked by an awkward, slow-witted youth, he was eventually accepted into the Franciscan order as a lay brother after many difficulties. Despite his limited learning, he was ordained a priest through divine providence and became known for his ecstatic visions during Mass and prayer, which often lifted him physically into the air. His unusual gifts drew both admiration and suspicion, leading Church author...
2025-09-1806 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 7 - The Stigmata of St. FrancisThe Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis, observed on September 17, commemorates the miraculous event in 1224 when St. Francis of Assisi, while deep in prayer and contemplation on Mount La Verna, received in his body the sacred wounds of Christ’s Passion, becoming the first known saint to bear the stigmata. This mystical grace, bestowed two years before his death, was seen as the crowning seal of his conformity to Christ Crucified, uniting him more perfectly to the sufferings of the Savior he so ardently loved. The feast celebrates not only this extraordinary sign of divine favor but also Fr...
2025-09-1707 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 16 - St. Cornelius and St. CyprianPope St. Cornelius, who reigned from 251 to 253 during a time of intense persecution under Emperor Decius, is remembered for his steadfast leadership and pastoral charity in guiding the Church through crisis. Chosen as successor to Pope Fabian after a year-long vacancy caused by fear of persecution, Cornelius faced both external threats from Roman authorities and internal division sparked by the rigorist priest Novatian, who opposed the readmission of Christians who had lapsed during persecution. Cornelius, supported by St. Cyprian of Carthage, upheld the Church’s mercy by affirming that repentant lapsed Christians could be reconciled after proper penance. His pa...
2025-09-1513 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 15 - The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin MaryDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-09-1509 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost: God and mammonDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-09-1422 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 14 - Exaltation of the Holy CrossThe Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, kept on September 14, honors the sacred instrument of our Redemption, the holy wood upon which Our Lord Jesus Christ wrought the salvation of the world. It recalls the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and the triumphal return of the Cross from captivity under the Persians by Emperor Heraclius. The feast invites the faithful to adore the Cross as the sign of Christ’s victory over sin and death, to glory in its power, and to embrace it...
2025-09-1412 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 13 - Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVMThe Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on September 8, honors the birth of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who was chosen from all eternity to be the vessel of the Incarnation. Rooted in ancient tradition and first celebrated in the East by the 6th century, the feast spread to the West by the Middle Ages. It marks the dawn of salvation, for in Mary’s birth the world received the one destined to bear Christ, the Light of the world. The liturgy highlights joy, hope, and gratitude, as her nativity is seen as the beginning of...
2025-09-1304 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 12 - Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin MaryThe Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary, celebrated on September 12 on the Fifth day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, honors the name of the Blessed Virgin as a source of grace, protection, and devotion for Christians. Instituted in Spain in 1513 and extended to the universal Church by Pope Innocent XI in 1683 after the victory of Christian forces at the Battle of Vienna, the feast commemorates Mary’s intercession in safeguarding the faithful against danger. The liturgy highlights the reverence due to her name, which evokes her role as Mother of God, helper of...
2025-09-1204 min
InPrincipio PodcastSt. Thomas Aquinas on tyrannical government: How must Catholics respond?Excerpts from St. Thomas Aquinas' works, De Regno (On Kingship), and the Summa Theologica, examining the nature of tyrannical government, and how Catholics may licitly respond to it.
2025-09-1231 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 11 - Fourth Day within Octave of the Nativity of the BVMDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-09-1104 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 10 - St. Nicholas of TolentinoSaint Nicholas of Tolentino (1245–1305) was an Italian Augustinian friar known for his piety, charity, and miracles. Born in Sant'Angelo in Pontano, he joined the Augustinian Order at a young age, dedicating his life to prayer, fasting, and serving the poor and sick. Renowned for his compassion, he ministered to prisoners and the marginalized, earning the title "Patron of Holy Souls" for his devotion to praying for souls in purgatory. His life was marked by numerous miracles, including healings and visions, which continued after his death, leading to his canonization in 1446 by Pope Eugene IV. Celebrated on September 10, he is a...
2025-09-1004 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh Audiobook: Bk 1 Ch 4: Part 5 of 32Chapter 4 of Book I of the Century of Columbus examines secondary master painters of the Italian Renaissance, including Fra Angelico, Titian, Botticelli, and others. The Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh offers a comprehensive exploration of the late 15th to early 16th century, emphasizing the pivotal role of Catholic faith and culture in shaping the era’s intellectual, artistic, and exploratory achievements. Walsh, a Catholic historian, portrays the period as a golden age of Catholic civilization, highlighting figures like Christopher Columbus, whose voyages were driven by a missionary zeal to spread Christianity alongside discovery. The book celebrates the Ch...
2025-09-0940 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 9 - Within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVMSaint Gorgonius of Rome, an early Christian martyr, lived during the late 3rd to early 4th century under the Roman Empire. Little is known about his early life, but he is believed to have been a devoted Christian who actively participated in Rome’s underground Christian community during a time of intense persecution under Emperor Diocletian. Gorgonius was likely arrested for openly professing his faith and refusing to renounce Christianity, enduring torture before his martyrdom, traditionally dated around 304 AD. He was buried in the cemetery known as "Inter duas lauros" (between the two laurel trees) on the Via Labicana in...
2025-09-0907 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 8 - The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin MaryDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-09-0916 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost - The Ten LepersDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-09-0727 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh Audiobook: Bk 1 Ch 3: Michelangelo - Part 4 of 32The Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh offers a comprehensive exploration of the late 15th to early 16th century, emphasizing the pivotal role of Catholic faith and culture in shaping the era’s intellectual, artistic, and exploratory achievements. Walsh, a Catholic historian, portrays the period as a golden age of Catholic civilization, highlighting figures like Christopher Columbus, whose voyages were driven by a missionary zeal to spread Christianity alongside discovery. The book celebrates the Church’s influence on the Renaissance, with its patronage of arts and sciences, and defends the Catholic worldview against secular critiques, presenting the period as a...
2025-09-0650 min
InPrincipio PodcastSt. Francis de Sales on Humility: a selection from 'An Introduction to the Devout Life'Introduction to the Devout Life (1609) by Saint Francis de Sales is a practical spiritual guide written for laypeople seeking holiness in everyday life, showing that true devotion is not confined to monks or clergy but is attainable for all, regardless of vocation or status. Presented as a series of letters to a young woman under the pseudonym “Philothea,” the work offers step-by-step counsel on prayer, meditation, virtues, resisting temptation, confession, the Eucharist, and cultivating a life of charity. Francis emphasizes that devotion must be genuine, humble, and adapted to one’s state in life—whether married, working, or in public a...
2025-09-0531 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 5 - St. Lawrence Justinian, First Patriarch of VeniceSaint Lawrence Giustiniani (1381–1456) was a Venetian nobleman who, moved by a deep desire for holiness, renounced wealth and honors to enter religious life as one of the Canons Regular of San Giorgio in Alga. Known for his humility, austerity, and mystical spirituality, he quickly gained a reputation for wisdom and sanctity, eventually being chosen prior general of his community. In 1433 he was consecrated bishop of Castello, where he worked tirelessly to reform clergy, renew liturgical life, and care for the poor and sick. When Venice united Castello with its patriarchate in 1451, he became the first Patriarch of Venice, a ro...
2025-09-0409 min
InPrincipio PodcastFirst Encyclical of Pope St. Pius X: E Supremi - the Restoration of All Things in Christ - 1903Pope St. Pius X’s first encyclical, E Supremi Apostolatus (1903), sets forth the program of his pontificate with the motto Instaurare omnia in Christo—“to restore all things in Christ.” Writing at a time of widespread secularism, political upheaval, and moral decline, he laments the grave evils afflicting society, especially the rejection of God and the spread of error undermining faith and morals. He warns of false philosophies and revolutionary movements seeking to uproot Christian civilization, stressing that peace and renewal can only come through Christ and His Church. Pius X exhorts bishops, clergy, and the faithful to greater holiness...
2025-09-0328 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 2 - St. Stephen, King of HungarySaint Stephen I of Hungary (c. 975–1038) was the first king of Hungary and is revered for founding the Catholic Hungarian state. Born as Vajk, he converted to Christianity under the influence of Western missionaries and was crowned king around the year 1000, establishing Hungary as a Catholic kingdom recognized by the Pope. Stephen centralized royal authority, organized a network of dioceses and churches, and enacted laws to strengthen Christian morals and royal governance. His reign marked the integration of Hungary into the broader European Christian world, promoting both political stability and cultural development. Canonized in 1083, Saint Stephen is celebrated as a...
2025-09-0209 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: September 1 - St. Giles, AbbotSaint Giles, known in Latin as Aegidius, was a holy confessor of Christ who shone in sanctity during the 7th century. Born in Athens of noble and wealthy parents, he despised the riches of the world for the love of Christ and gave his inheritance to the poor. Journeying to Gaul, he embraced the eremitical life in a deep forest near Nîmes, where, sustained by the milk of a gentle hind sent by God, he devoted himself entirely to prayer and penance. When hunters of the local king discovered him, an arrow intended for the deer wounded the s...
2025-09-0207 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 31 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: the Good SamaritanIn the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), Christ tells of a man who, after being beaten and left for dead on the roadside, is ignored by a priest and a Levite but mercifully aided by a Samaritan—someone despised by the Jews—who tends his wounds and provides for his recovery. In Catholic teaching, this parable exemplifies the universal call to charity, showing that true love of neighbor transcends ethnic, religious, or social boundaries. The Fathers often interpreted the Samaritan as a figure of Christ, who heals fallen humanity (the wounded man) through the sacraments and brings him into t...
2025-08-3124 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 30 - St. Rose of LimaSaint Rose of Lima, born Isabel Flores de Oliva on April 20, 1586, in Lima, Peru, was the first canonized saint of the Americas. Growing up in a devout Catholic family, she displayed intense piety from childhood, often engaging in extreme acts of penance and prayer. Rejecting marriage and worldly comforts, Rose joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic, dedicating her life to serving the poor and sick. She lived as a recluse in her family’s garden, practicing severe austerities, including fasting and self-mortification, to emulate Christ’s suffering. Known for her mystical visions and compassion, she earned widespread veneration desp...
2025-08-3010 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 29 - The Decollation (Beheading) of St. John the BaptistSt. John the Baptist, the last and greatest of the prophets, was praised by Christ Himself as the one “than whom none greater has arisen among those born of women,” because he was uniquely chosen to prepare the way for the Messiah, to call Israel to repentance, and to point to Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” His greatness lay not in miracles or earthly honor, but in his prophetic fidelity, humility, and martyrdom for truth; yet Christ adds that “the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he,” showing that the grace of divine sonship through the New Cove...
2025-08-2909 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 28 - St. Augustine of HippoSaint Augustine of Hippo (354–430) was one of the most influential theologians and philosophers of the early Church, whose writings shaped Western Christianity and philosophy. Born in Tagaste, North Africa, to a pagan father and a devout Christian mother, Saint Monica, Augustine led a restless youth marked by ambition and moral struggles before converting to Christianity under the influence of Saint Ambrose of Milan. Baptized in 387, he later returned to Africa, became bishop of Hippo, and devoted his life to pastoral care, preaching, and prolific writing. His major works, including Confessions and The City of God, explore themes of grace, si...
2025-08-2828 min
InPrincipio PodcastSaint Thomas Aquinas on HumilitySaint Thomas Aquinas' teaching on the virtue of humility, from the Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part, question 161. For St. Thomas Aquinas, humility is the virtue that restrains the soul from reaching beyond its proper measure, keeping one grounded in truth about oneself in relation to God and others. In the Summa Theologica (II–II, q.161), he teaches that humility moderates the desire for excellence, not by denying genuine gifts or abilities, but by recognizing that all good comes from God and should be ordered toward Him. True humility does not mean self-deprecation or ignoring one’s tale...
2025-08-2839 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 27 - St. Joseph Calasanctius (Calasanz)Saint Joseph Calasanz (1557–1648) was a Spanish priest and educator who dedicated his life to the service of poor and abandoned children. Born in Aragón, he studied law and theology before being ordained, eventually moving to Rome where he was struck by the lack of education available to the city’s poorest youth. In 1597, he opened the first free public school in Europe, laying the foundation for the Pious Schools (Piarists), a religious order devoted to education and the Christian formation of children, especially the poor. Despite opposition and hardships, Calasanz persevered, emphasizing both academic and spiritual instruction. He died...
2025-08-2711 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 26 - Pope St. ZephyrinusPope Saint Zephyrinus (c. 198–217) served as Bishop of Rome during a time of great turbulence for the early Church, both from external persecution and internal theological conflict. A man of limited education, he relied heavily on his deacon and successor, Callixtus, to administer Church affairs, while he himself emphasized unity and pastoral care. His pontificate was marked by struggles against heresies, particularly Monarchianism, which denied the distinction of persons within the Trinity, and he faced sharp criticism from theologians like Hippolytus for what they saw as weakness or indecision. Despite these tensions, Zephyrinus worked to preserve the integrity and co...
2025-08-2703 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 25 - St. Louis IX, King of FranceSaint Louis IX (1214–1270), King of France, reigned from 1226 until his death and is remembered as one of the most just and pious monarchs of the Middle Ages. Crowned at the age of twelve, he matured into a ruler devoted to strengthening the French crown, administering fair justice, and fostering peace within his realm. Renowned for his personal holiness, he was deeply committed to charity, founding hospitals, caring for the poor, and living a life of humility despite his royal station. Louis was also a fervent crusader, leading the Seventh and Eighth Crusades in an effort to defend Christianity, though bo...
2025-08-2721 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: Eleventh Sunday after PentecostDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasiz...
2025-08-2521 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh Audiobook: Bk 1 Ch 2: Leonardo da Vinci - Part 3 of 32The Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh offers a comprehensive exploration of the late 15th to early 16th century, emphasizing the pivotal role of Catholic faith and culture in shaping the era’s intellectual, artistic, and exploratory achievements. Walsh, a Catholic historian, portrays the period as a golden age of Catholic civilization, highlighting figures like Christopher Columbus, whose voyages were driven by a missionary zeal to spread Christianity alongside discovery. The book celebrates the Church’s influence on the Renaissance, with its patronage of arts and sciences, and defends the Catholic worldview against secular critiques, presenting the period as a...
2025-08-2339 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 23 - St Philip BeniziSt. Philip Benizi (1233–1285) was an Italian priest and one of the great figures of the Servite Order, remembered for his humility, holiness, and peacemaking spirit. Born in Florence, he studied medicine and theology before joining the newly founded Servite community, where he embraced a life of poverty and service. Though chosen as superior general of the order, he resisted honors and once even fled to avoid being elected pope. A gifted preacher and reconciler, he worked tirelessly to heal divisions within the Church and society, bringing peace to warring factions in Italy. Renowned for his compassion toward the poor an...
2025-08-2308 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 22 - Octave of the AssumptionThe Feast of the Assumption, joyfully celebrated on August 15, is a cherished solemnity in the Catholic Church, honoring the glorious moment when our Blessed Mother, Mary, was taken up body and soul into the splendor of heaven at the close of her earthly life. Proclaimed as dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, this sacred feast illuminates Mary’s singular privilege as the Immaculate Mother of God, united perfectly with her Son’s resurrection and glory.Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through...
2025-08-2211 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 21 - St. Jane Frances de ChantalSt. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572–1641) was a French noblewoman, wife, mother, widow, and later foundress of a major religious order. Born in Dijon to an influential family, she married Baron Christophe de Chantal and devoted herself to her household and charitable works, but was widowed at 28 after her husband’s sudden death in a hunting accident. Left with four children, she endured deep grief yet dedicated herself to prayer and works of mercy, eventually coming under the spiritual direction of St. Francis de Sales. Together they founded the Visitation Order in 1610, a community marked by humility, simplicity, and openness, welc...
2025-08-2117 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 20 - St. Bernard of ClairvauxSt. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) was a French abbot, mystic, and leading figure in the Cistercian reform movement. Born into a noble family in Burgundy, he entered the monastery of Cîteaux around 1112 (age 22), bringing with him some thirty companions, including several of his brothers. In 1115, he was sent to found a new monastery at Clairvaux, where his spiritual leadership, eloquence, and strict discipline made it a model of Cistercian life and the motherhouse of many daughter abbeys.Bernard became one of the most influential churchmen of the 12th century: he preached the Second Crusade at the pope’s request, media...
2025-08-2020 min
InPrincipio PodcastSaint Basil the Great: Sermon on HumilityThis sermon by St. Basil the Great is taken from the Patrologia Graeca, Volume 31Saint Basil the Great (c. 330–379), born into a wealthy Christian family in Caesarea of Cappadocia, was a pivotal figure in early Christianity, renowned for his theological writings, ascetic vision, and charitable works. Educated in Athens alongside his close friend Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil pursued the monastic life, founding communities and establishing the influential Ascetical Rules that shaped Eastern communal monasticism. As bishop of Caesarea, he vigorously defended Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism, most notably through his treatise On the Holy Spirit, which articulated the divinity of th...
2025-08-2021 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 19 - Fifth day within the Octave of the AssumptionThe Feast of the Assumption, joyfully celebrated on August 15, is a cherished solemnity in the Catholic Church, honoring the glorious moment when our Blessed Mother, Mary, was taken up body and soul into the splendor of heaven at the close of her earthly life. Proclaimed as dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, this sacred feast illuminates Mary’s singular privilege as the Immaculate Mother of God, united perfectly with her Son’s resurrection and glory.Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through...
2025-08-2006 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Twelve Degrees of Humility and Pride by St. Bernard of Clairvaux AudiobookSt. Bernard of Clairvaux outlines the "Twelve Degrees of Humility and Pride" in this treatise, describing a spiritual ladder where humility ascends toward holiness and pride descends toward sin. The degrees of humility begin with constant self-examination and obedience to God, progressing through submission to others, patience in suffering, and ultimately, a profound love for God above self. Conversely, the degrees of pride start with curiosity and self-importance, moving through irreverence, presumption, and disobedience, culminating in habitual sin and complete self-absorption. This framework illustrates the soul’s journey, emphasizing humility as the path to divine union and pride as it...
2025-08-191h 58
InPrincipio PodcastSaint Benedict on HumilityA reading from the Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 7 - Of Humility
2025-08-1810 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 18 - Fourth day within the Octave of the AssumptionThe Feast of the Assumption, joyfully celebrated on August 15, is a cherished solemnity in the Catholic Church, honoring the glorious moment when our Blessed Mother, Mary, was taken up body and soul into the splendor of heaven at the close of her earthly life. Proclaimed as dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, this sacred feast illuminates Mary’s singular privilege as the Immaculate Mother of God, united perfectly with her Son’s resurrection and glory.Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through...
2025-08-1812 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: Tenth Sunday after PentecostReading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for the Tenth Sunday after PentecostDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contempl...
2025-08-1732 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 16 - St. Joachim, father of the BVMReading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for August 16: Saint Joachim, father of the Blessed Virgin MaryDom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted...
2025-08-1609 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 15 - the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryThe Feast of the Assumption, joyfully celebrated on August 15, is a cherished solemnity in the Catholic Church, honoring the glorious moment when our Blessed Mother, Mary, was taken up body and soul into the splendor of heaven at the close of her earthly life. Proclaimed as dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, this sacred feast illuminates Mary’s singular privilege as the Immaculate Mother of God, united perfectly with her Son’s resurrection and glory.Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through...
2025-08-1651 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 14 - Vigil of the AssumptionReading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for August 14: Vigil fo the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
2025-08-1409 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 13 - St. Radegund, Queen of the FranksReading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for August 13: Saint Radegund, Queen of the Franks
2025-08-1317 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh Audiobook: Chapter 1 (Raphael) - Part 2 of 32Chapter 1 of historian James Joseph Walsh's 'The Century of Columbus' : Raphael
2025-08-1331 min
InPrincipio PodcastThe Century of Columbus by James Joseph Walsh Audiobook: Part 1 of 32 (Introduction)Audiobook Preface and Introduction to historian James Joseph Walsh's 'The Century of Columbus'
2025-08-1352 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 12 - St. ClareReading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for August 12: Saint Clare, Virgin
2025-08-1315 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: Ninth Sunday after PentecostReading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
2025-08-1359 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 11 - Ss Tibertius and SusannaReading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for August 11: Saints Tibertius and Susanna, Martyrs
2025-08-1305 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 10 - St. LawrenceReading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for August 10: Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
2025-08-1333 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 9 - Vigil of St. LawrenceReading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for August 9: Vigil of Saint Lawrence, and St. Romanus
2025-08-1303 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Guéranger's Liturgical Year: August 8 - Sts. Cyriacus...Reading from Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year for August 8: Saints Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus, Martyrs
2025-08-1302 min
InPrincipio PodcastDom Gueranger's Liturgical Year: August 7 - St. CajetanReading from Dom Prosper Gueranger's Liturgical Year for August 7: Saint Cajetan
2025-08-1310 min