

Catholic Theology Show
Ave Maria University
Presented by Ave Maria University, Dr. Michael Dauphinais, Chair and Professor of Theology, sits down with colleagues and friends to discuss Catholic theology. Ave Maria is a Catholic University located in Southwest Florida. This Catholic podcast covers themes such as the value of a Catholic higher education, religious liberty, how to pray, the philosophies of Thomas Aquinas and more!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 10, 2026 • 1h 12min
Did the Old Testament Predict Jesus? Messianic Prophecy w/ Gary Michuta | Ep. 215
How do the prophecies of Moses, David, Isaiah, and the Psalms find their fulfillment in Christ? On this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais welcomes renowned Catholic apologist, author, and speaker Gary Michuta to discuss his book, Messiah: Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ. Together, they explore the remarkable connections between the Old and New Testaments and examine how the promises made throughout salvation history point to Jesus Christ. From Moses’ prophecy of a prophet like himself in Deuteronomy to the messianic promises in the Psalms and Isaiah, Gary unpacks how the Scriptures reveal Jesus as the definitive Prophet, Priest, and King. They also discuss the biblical evidence for the fulfillment of these prophecies, the role of the Church Fathers, and how understanding the Old Testament can deepen our appreciation of Christ and the Catholic faith. Gary shares his personal journey into Catholic apologetics, including how an encounter with Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist inspired him to study and defend the faith.Resources:Messiah: Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ by Gary Michuta

Nov 3, 2026 • 1h 2min
What Makes a Home Truly Flourish w/ John Cuddeback | Ep. 214
In a world shaped by individualism, digital distractions, and the pursuit of material success, how can families rediscover the deeper meaning of home?In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with philosopher and Christendom College professor John Cuddeback to discuss his book, The Intentional Household: Living as If People Mattered. Together, they explore the Catholic vision of family life, the importance of putting spiritual goods first, and how ordinary household practices can help us grow in virtue, strengthen relationships, and prepare for our ultimate home with God.From meaningful work and genuine leisure to the proper use of technology, welcoming children, and caring for the elderly, Cuddeback shares practical wisdom for building a household centered on human flourishing and the common good. Whether you're single, married, raising a family, or seeking to cultivate a more welcoming home, this conversation offers a compelling vision of how intentional household life can renew both the family and the Church.Resources: Books by John Cuddeback, published by Ignatius Press:The Intentional Household: Living as If People Mattered by John CuddebackTrue Friendship: Where Virtue Becomes Happiness by John CuddebackRelated episodes:The Philosophy of Motherhood with Dr. Janice Chik Breidenbach | Ep. 9

Oct 27, 2026 • 60min
Why Priests Matter: Aquinas on Renewing the Church w/ Father Kevin O'Reilly, O.P. | Ep. 213
On this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais welcomes Father Kevin O’Reilly, O.P., Dominican priest of the Irish Province, who teaches at the Angelicum in Rome. They discuss his book, In Persona Christi: Priestly Perfection in the Light of Saint Thomas’ Theology, published by Sapientia Press of Ave Maria University. Together, they explore the theology of the priesthood through the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Church’s magisterium, examining why a proper understanding of Christ’s priesthood is essential to the renewal of the Church.Resources:In Persona Christi: Priestly Perfection in the Light of St. Thomas’s Theology by Kevin O'ReillyUnconformed to the Age: Essays in Catholic Ecclesiology by Tracey RowlandA Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist by Dom Anscar VonierRelated Episodes:The Summa for Beginners: The Sacraments w/Dr. Roger Nutt | Ep. 166 Restoring the Kingdom: the Catholic Church and the Bible w/ Dr. John Bergsma | Ep. 98

Oct 20, 2026 • 1h 2min
Peace Over Perfectionism in Your Vocation w/ Suzanne Bilodeau | Ep. 212
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13 On this episode of the Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais welcomes Suzanne Bilodeau, host of Latte and Laundry and editor of She Loved: Resting in the Beauty of Motherhood. They discuss how motherhood can reveal our need for God, loosen the grip of perfectionism, and teach us to trust his providence. Suzanne also shares why she stepped away from social media, how 1 Corinthians 13 shaped her book, and what it means to find peace in your vocation without comparing your life to someone else’s. Whether you’re a parent, discerning your vocation, or longing to love more freely, this conversation offers encouragement to begin again in the knowledge that you are God’s beloved son or daughter.Resources:She Loved: Resting in the Beauty of Motherhood (Ascension Press)Suzzanne’s podcast, Latte and Laundry Related Episodes:The Philosophy of Motherhood w/ Dr. Janice Chik Breidenbach | Ep. 9The Lost Virtue of Manliness w/ Fr. James Mason | Ep. 186The Feminine Revival: Why the Future of Women Depends on Formation w/ January Donovan | Ep. 196

Oct 13, 2026 • 60min
How G.K. Chesterton Can Renew the Church Today w/ Dale Ahlquist | Ep. 211
What can G.K. Chesterton teach us about classical education, the Catholic faith, and the work of C.S. Lewis?In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dale Ahlquist, president of the Society of G.K. Chesterton and the Chesterton Schools Network, to explore Chesterton’s enduring influence on Catholic thought, education, and literature.Ahlquist explains how classical education forms students in truth, goodness, and beauty, integrating the arts, philosophy, virtue, and the Catholic faith. He also discusses Chesterton’s ability to challenge modern assumptions through paradox, his conviction that existence itself is a gift, and why gratitude is essential to a joyful life.Resources:Knight of the Holy Ghost: A Short History of G.K. Chesterton by Dale AhlquistRelated Episodes:America’s 250th & What Chesterton Saw in America w/ Susan HanssenAn Introduction to Chestertonian Theology with Joseph Pearce | Ep. 21G.K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy and God’s Creation w/ Fr. Joseph Fessio

Oct 6, 2026 • 1h 3min
Green Thomism: Recovering the Beauty of Creation w/ Christopher Thompson | Ep. 210
How can recovering a sense of wonder at creation lead us closer to Jesus Christ?In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Professor Christopher Thompson, Dean of Saint Paul Seminary, to explore “Green Thomism” and the Catholic vision of creation through the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. They discuss our modern “nature deficit disorder,” the intelligibility and beauty of creation, the effects of original sin, the distinction between human and animal death, and the relationship between ecology and Catholic moral theology.Professor Thompson also explains how creation can serve as a “window” toward God, why Catholics should not separate care for creation from their relationship with Christ, and how all of this ultimately comes together in the Eucharist, where bread and wine—fruits of creation and human labor—are offered back to the Father in Christ.Resources:The Joyful Mystery: Field Notes Toward a Green ThomismRelated Episodes:Finding God in Nature and in the Church w/ Fr. John Nepil | Ep. 191 The Summa for Beginners: God and Creation w/ Dr. Daniel Lendman | Ep. 163

Sep 29, 2026 • 1h 3min
What the Catholic Church Really Teaches About Justification w/ Dr. Michael Root | Ep. 209
What does the Catholic Church actually teach about justification? Why did it become such a major point of division during the Protestant Reformation?In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Michael Root, Emeritus Professor at The Catholic University of America and a former Lutheran, to explore the Council of Trent’s teaching on justification. They discuss faith, grace, baptism, the sacraments, good works, merit, and the Catholic understanding of how God’s grace transforms us from within.Dr. Root also shares his own journey from Lutheranism into the Catholic Church and explains how his study of Aquinas, grace, and human cooperation ultimately led him across the Tiber. Together, they explore how Catholics can recover the joy and confidence of justification, not by trusting in our own accomplishments, but by trusting in the grace of Christ, who continually works in us and brings His work to completion.Resources:Affirmations and Admonitions: Lutheran Decisions and Dialogue With Reformed, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic Churches Justification by Faith: Do Sixteenth-Century Condemnations Still Apply? Related Episodes:Aquinas and the Truth of Faith w/Fr. Michael Sherwin | Ep.141 The Summa for Beginners: The Sacraments w/ Dr. Roger Nutt | Ep. 166

Sep 22, 2026 • 1h 3min
How Tradition and Beauty Lead us to Christ w/ Bishop Francois Beyrouti | Ep. 208
What can the ancient Christian tradition of the Middle East teach us about living the Catholic faith today?In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais welcomes Bishop Francois Beyrouti, Eparchial Bishop of Newton, to explore the history, beauty, and mission of the Melkite Catholic Church. From the early Christians of Antioch to the challenges facing Christians in a post-secular world, Bishop Beyrouti shares how the Church’s ancient faith remains deeply relevant today.The conversation explores the relationship between theology and evangelization, the importance of knowing and living the faith, the meaning of suffering, the beauty of the liturgy, and practical ways to grow closer to Jesus Christ. Bishop Beyrouti also shares his personal journey to the priesthood and the lessons he has learned from studying Scripture, the Church Fathers, and the living Tradition of the Church.Resources: Melkite Catholic Eparchy of NewtonRelated Episodes: Chastity and Mercy in a Secular World w/ Bishop Erik Varden | Ep. 125

Sep 15, 2026 • 1h 12min
The Daily Wire, Going Tech Free, and Accepting God's Intimacy w/ Matt Fradd | Ep. 207
How do we disconnect from distractions and discover intimacy with God? In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Matt Fradd, host of Pints with Aquinas podcast and author of Jesus Our Refuge, for a wide-ranging conversation about encountering Christ, Thomas Aquinas, prayer, spiritual growth, technology, community, and the struggle to live an authentically Christian life in a distracted age. He describes the history of his hugely popular Pints with Aquinas podcast and what it was like to bring it to The Daily Wire. Matt shares the story of his conversion, why St. Thomas Aquinas remains so relevant today, they discuss one of the great spiritual challenges of our age: distraction. From smartphones and social media to endless news and digital entertainment, modern technology can fragment our attention and weaken our experience of genuine community. Matt shares his experience of taking an extended break from his phone and computer and offers practical advice for recovering silence, presence, prayer, and attention and more on podcasting, and finding unity with God. Resources:Be Healed by Matt FraddShift My PhonePints with Aquinas on the Daily WireRelated Episodes:Faith, Politics, and Freedom of Speech w/ Michael Knowles | Ep. 138The Summa for Beginners Episodes on The Catholic Theology Show

Sep 8, 2026 • 48min
What does the Gospel of Matthew Teach us about Jesus? w/ Dr. Edward Sri | Ep. 206
What can the Gospel of Matthew reveal about Jesus, His Kingdom, and the Church He established?Dr. Edward Sri, author, theologian, Vice President of Formation at FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), and visiting Professor at Ave Maria University, joins Dr. Michael Dauphinais to explore the deeper structure of Matthew's Gospel and the connections it makes between Jesus, David's kingdom, Peter, and the authority Christ gives to His Church.This conversation also explores what Matthew reveals about the Christian life, including the Father's loving gaze, forgiveness, evangelization, the Sacraments, and Christ's promise to remain with His Church.Resources:The Gospel of Matthew by Curtis Mitch & Edward SriDr. Edward Sri’s WebsiteGod With Us: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew by Edward SriRelated Episodes:Understanding the Gospel in a Digital World w/ Dr. Edward Sri | Ep. 105How to Be Overwhelmed by the Gospel w/ Fr. Gabriel Gillen, O.P. | Ep. 199


