Into the Truth

Sr. Carino Hodder OP, a Dominican Sister and author, discusses the theological dimensions of Mary, emphasizing her role in revealing human dignity. Mary Harrington, a journalist known for her work on feminism, shares her insights on motherhood and the complexities of personhood. They explore how the rosary reflects the dignity of women, the challenges posed by modern gender ideology, and the beauty of relational identity. This thought-provoking conversation bridges theology and personal experience, encouraging a deeper understanding of femininity and motherhood.

When we lose someone we love, life can feel deeply changed. How do we find God in this experience of grief?When Br Giovanni Castellano's father died suddenly, he soon found himself writing. It wasn't long until he had written a whole book of his spiritual reflections on grief.In this episode, Piero and Br Giovanni explore a Catholic understanding of what happens when we die, how to find God in grief, purgatory, CS Lewis's experience of grief and why we should pray for the dead.Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudios(00:00) Intro(2:51) Why write a book about death?(4:48) Experiencing a sudden death(6:24) 'Sister Death'(10:46) Can you know if someone is in heaven?(13:11) Theology & experience of bereavement(15:10) How to find God in grief(16:55) How God spoke through others(20:58) Last Words & Regret(25:00) Strength in absence (27:16) Momento Mori(31:35) Reflecting on mortality(33:12) God speaks in our lowest moments(36:00) Praying for the Dead(42:03) What is Purgatory?(47:58) What is Heaven like?(50:57) Advice for those grieving

Today, St John Henry Newman is declared a Doctor of the Church! This has only happened to 38 people in the history of the Church, so why Newman? What did he contribute to the Catholic Church? What did he help us to understand about the life of faith?In this episode, Piero talks to Fr George Bowen, who was instrumental in Newman becoming a saint and in him becoming a Doctor of the Church.Together, they explore what Newman told us about how God speaks to us, how doctrine develops, how his work on conscience inspired resistance to the Nazis and how he lived his life in pursuit of truth.Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudios(0:00) Intro(4:19) What is a Doctor of the Church?(7:15) Newman's letters & diaries(8:28) What were Newman's main insights?(15:00) Newman's search for the truth (20:00) Newman on Conscience (23:00) Being awakened by the truth(26:20) How do we come to have faith?(28:34) An English Doctor of the Church(31:39) Where should you start reading Newman? (33:12) The Brompton Oratory(34:30) Newman for the English Church (36:33) Fr George's journey with Newman(38:16) Newman on friendship

In today's society, many people have experienced the pain of broken sexual relationships and the confusion of attempts to redefine what it means to be male and female. What if there is a better vision for sex and gender? What did God intend when He created us male and female?When Christopher West & Mike Mangione were in London for their event 'The Well', they joined Pierpaolo to talk about St Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body. They explore why the Sexual Revolution didn’t free us, how contraception harms couples, the mystery of being created male and female and where to take our desire for more.Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudiosYou can find out more about Christopher's work here: https://tobinstitute.org/& you can discover Mike's music here: https://www.mikemangione.com/(0:00) Intro(3:09) How is Theology of the Body doing?(5:57) What John Paul II foresaw(8:52) Why gender is under attack(11:03) Altering the body(17:08) Has Theology of the Body been understood?(20:48) Mike & Christopher's collaboration(27:42) What do you worship?(31:56) Young people seeking more(34:40) Created for more

Author Fr Antonio Ritaccio joins the podcast this week to talk his new CTS book, 'Finding God in Anxiety and Depression'.In this very practical episode, Fr Antonio explores what we mean when we use the words anxiety and depression, what to do if you suffer from them, Catholic teaching about suicide and why forgiving those in our lives who cause us pain allows us to live more freely.Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudios(0:00) Intro(3:44) Depression in my family home(5:37) Defining Anxiety & Depression(9:01) Gen Z: The Anxious Generation(13:24) The four elements of depression(18:18) Mental Health & Spirituality(25:09) Understanding Suicide (32:16) The need for community(36:45) How to forgive(43:11) Why do bad things happen to good people?(50:05) How to find God in our suffering (1:00:21) Advice for those strugglingWant to go deeper? Get the book here: https://www.ctsbooks.org/product/finding-god-in-anxiety-and-depression/About the book: When you’re navigating anxiety and depression, it’s hard not to feel abandoned by God. However, in Finding God in Anxiety and Depression, Fr Antonio Ritaccio reveals how mental health struggles can lead to deeper intimacy with Him. Accessible, honest and rooted in Catholic spirituality, this book offers practical ways to find hope, healing and meaning amid your suffering.

What do we know about Pope Leo XIV? First of all, he is an Augustinian! The Augustinians are a religious order of friars who live out the spirituality of St Augustine of Hippo, the author of the spiritual classic, 'Confessions'.Piero met up with Fr Gladson Dabre, Provincial of the Augustinians in Britain, to explore what we can expect from Pope Leo's leadership.St Augustine was the author of the highly influential works 'Confessions' and 'The City of God' - both of which Fr Gladson explores, before unpacking how they might influence Pope Leo's leadership of the Catholic Church.Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudios

Stephen Bullivant, a Professor of Sociology and Theology, and Hannah Vaughan-Spruce, Executive Director of Global Mission, delve into the surprising growth of the Catholic Church in Britain, particularly among young people post-COVID. They discuss how university chaplaincies are buzzing with a renewed sense of faith, especially among young men. The conversation highlights the emergence of 'creative minorities' dedicated to their beliefs and the impactful role of immigrant communities in revitalizing parishes, painting a hopeful picture for the future of the Church.

In this enlightening discussion, Dominican Sister Carino Hodder, an author and advocate for women's dignity in faith, shares her transformative journey from atheism to embracing Catholicism. She challenges modern feminism that mimics male traits, promoting a new feminism inspired by St. Pope John Paul II. Their conversation delves into the philosophical foundations of womanhood, urging a redefinition rooted in heritage and theology. Sr. Carino also highlights the significance of Mary as a model of feminine dignity and the vital role women play within the Church.

How did the first Christians sing their prayers? What traditions did they draw on? And how do we sing our prayers today?Sir James MacMillan is one of today’s most successful composers and performs internationally as a conductor. In this podcast, we explore how his Scottish heritage and Catholic faith inform his work as a composer and the contribution he has made to Church music.Sir James explains how the Christian faith shaped Western Music as a whole and how the Jewish chant of Jesus' day went on to develop the Church's tradition of Gregorian Chant.Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudios

Drawing from their experience of parenting ten children, Mike and Alicia Hernon of the Messy Family Project share how to reveal God’s love to the world through your marriage and family, the keys to authentic parenting, how to nurture the Catholic faith at home, and why accepting the joyful messiness of life is essential for raising a happy, holy family.Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudiosLearn more about the Messy Family Project: https://messyfamilyproject.org/Catholic books for families: http://bit.ly/4eSsl6ACatholic children's books: https://bit.ly/3ICJ41n