Encyclicalpedia: Spe Salvi (Benedict XVI) In this episode, Zac and Kevin discuss Benedict XVI's Spe Salvi, a masterpiece of Christian theology that is addressed to the faithful and intended to remind us that our faith is not merely informative--it doesn't just tell us about what we should hope--but rather it is performative, changing and transforming our lives as we are conformed to the image of Christ. This is a great encyclical to read, so head here (read free online) or here (buy on Amazon) to find it! We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

George Weigel and "This Catholic Moment" In this episode, Zac and Kevin talk about George Weigel's article in the October 2019 issue of First Things, in which Weigel dissects the relationship between modernity and Catholicism and argues that knowing the past 200 years of Catholic history is essential to understanding where the Church finds Herself today. This understanding is especially critical in light of efforts by the German bishops to pursue a synod that hasn't been approved by the Vatican, and by the efforts of certain prelates to modernize the Church via this month's Amazon Synod. We hope you enjoy the discussion! We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

From Odyssey to Rome (Part 2) In this episode, Paul McCusker, one of the original team members and writers of Adventures in Odyssey joins me to talk about his conversion to Catholicism, the Anglican liturgy, the search for truth, the nature of authority, and his work with the Augustine Institute. We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

From Odyssey to Rome In this episode, Paul McCusker, one of the original team members and writers of Adventures in Odyssey joins me to talk about his conversion to Catholicism, the Anglican liturgy, the search for truth, the nature of authority, and his work with the Augustine Institute. We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Encyclicalpedia: Deus Caritas Est Zac and Kevin break down Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love). We talk about eros vs. agape, how Christianity transformed notions of love from antiquity, the centrality of the incarnation and the Eucharist in the Christian life, the threefold responsibility of the Church, and Catholic Social Teaching. We also debut a new jingle for the Encyclicalpedia series! Please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and email us (creedalcatholic@vernacularpodcast.com) with questions or comments! We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Discerning your Vocation In this episode Fr. Anthony Sciarappa joins me to talk about being Catholic on social media, discerning your vocation, how to help your children discern their vocation, and vocations to lay singleness. Fr. Sciarappa also shares with us one of the saints who has been preoccupying his thoughts and devotion lately. We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Is it really the Body and Blood? In this episode, Kevin Beauchemin and I break down the Church's teaching on the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, focusing on three main questions: Is it in the Bible? How can Jesus be in multiple times and places at once? Is the dogma metaphysically sound? We barely scratched the surface so can promise future episodes along these lines in the future, but if this piqued your interest, we recommend Brant Pitre's Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger's God is Near Us: The Eucharist, the Heart of Life. And, of course, the Summa Theologica. We also mentioned: Dominicana Journal Scripture Catholic's Eucharist Page We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Encyclicalpedia: Veritatis Splendor w/Kevin Beachemin In this episode I sit down with my good friend Kevin Beauchemin to talk about St. John Paul the Great's 1993 encyclical Veritatis Splendor. We talk about the historical context for the document, the errors it corrects, and its central message: that God in His love and mercy has given us the freedom to draw closer to Him. We also talk about vocations to the priesthood, conscience, and mortal sin. It's a great conversation! We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Tarantino's Theology w/ Fr. Jim Baron In this episode I sit down with my pastor, Fr. Jim Baron, to talk about one of his favorite subjects: the cinematic art of Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). We discuss the echoes of Flannery O'Connor in Tarantino's work, his characters' collisions with grace, the purpose of the violence, and whether or not Tarantino is a pre-modern or post-modern artist. Fr. Jim mentioned this discussion by Bishop Barron about Tarantino's latest film. We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup

Dare We Hope? In this episode of Creedal Catholic, I sit down with Fr. Harrison Ayre, Pastor of Holy Family/Notre Dame Parish in Port Alberni, Canada, to talk about Hans Urs von Balthasar's controversial Dare We Hope That All Men Be Saved? Fr. Harrison and I discuss the broader context of Balthasar's work, whether or not Balthasar is guilty of advocating apokatastasis (universal reconciliation), Josef Pieper's two categories of hopelessness, Balthasar as an antidote to the dual predestination of Calvinism, whether or not God created hell, and the devil as an "un-person." It's a fascinating conversation and I hope that you enjoy! Fr. Harrison mentioned a few articles by Balthasar that I promised to links: "Theology and Sanctity" is in this larger work (Ignatius) The Fathers, the Scholastics, and Ourselves Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Other shows on the Vernacular Podcast Network: Vernacular | Breaking Pod | The Popped Cast | The Lineup