Today there is more pressure than ever before on both women and men to embrace feminism. In her outstanding memoir, Into the Deep, Abigail Rine Favale gives a resonant account of her journey from an evangelical childhood to a Christian feminism which inevitably gave way to the secular, postmodern variety. This ideology gradually gutted her faith—a process interrupted by childbirth and a sudden and unexpected conversion to Catholicism. We discuss the feasibility of Catholic feminism, the danger of interpreting Scripture and doctrine through a predetermined ideological hermeneutic, facile uses of the word "equality", the totalizing nature of all ideology, the role of intuition in the spiritual life, and more. Links Buy Into the Deep: An Unlikely Catholic Conversion using discount code “DEEP” for 40% off https://wipfandstock.com/into-the-deep.html Recent articles by Abigail Rine Favale “Confessions of a Feminist Heretic” http://churchlife.nd.edu/2019/01/11/confessions-of-a-feminist-heretic/ “Sex and Symbol” http://churchlife.nd.edu/2018/06/19/sex-and-symbol/ “Hildegard of Bingen’s Vital Contribution to the Concept of Woman” http://churchlife.nd.edu/2018/12/11/hildegard-of-bingens-vital-contribution-to-the-concept-of-woman/ Other articles Dawn Eden, “Eve of Deconstruction: Feminism and John Paul II” https://www.catholicity.com/commentary/eden/03324.html Thomas V. Mirus, “Should women be meek and mild like Mary?” https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otc.cfm?id=1594 This podcast is a production of CatholicCulture.org. If you like the show, please consider supporting us! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio

This episode is not to be missed! There is an ongoing and much-needed revival of Jacques Maritain’s philosophy of art. Accomplished poet Samuel Hazo makes a most valuable contribution to that revival with The World Within the World: Maritain and the Poet. He wrote the book 60 years ago, with a preface by Maritain himself (the only book about him to receive that honor), but it was only recently published. In this conversation, we go over some of the most important points in Maritain’s thought on poetry; Dr. Hazo provides many an illuminating anecdote and off-the-cuff recitation of poems by himself and others to concretize ideas that might, to the non-artist, seem esoteric. Links https://www.samhazopoet.com/ Dr. Hazo’s most recent books: The World Within the World: Maritain and the Poet https://www.amazon.com/World-within-Word-Maritain-Poet/dp/0996930574/ When Not Yet Is Now (upcoming poetry collection) https://www.amazon.com/When-Not-Yet-Samuel-Hazo/dp/0999513451/ The Pittsburgh That Stays Within You, Fifth Edition https://www.amazon.com/Pittsburgh-That-Stays-Within-You-ebook/dp/B077MNLR42/ This podcast is a production of CatholicCulture.org. If you like the show, please consider supporting us! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Many people want to study the great books of the western world in a group setting, but are unable to study at a Great Books college like St. John’s, and it’s not easy to find people willing to commit to read and meet to discuss the books regularly. I was in that club until I found a new company called Online Great Books. It provides both the books and the people to discuss them with via video conferencing software, all on a schedule that normal, busy folks can keep up with. I want to let people in on the fun I’ve been having, so I invited OGB founder Scott Hambrick to join me on the show. OGB’s latest enrollment period began on January 28th (the day before this podcast came out) and will stay open for about seven days. Get in there using discount code “catholicculture” for 25% off your first three months!  Links Join Online Great Books via this referral link https://hj424.isrefer.com/go/ogbmemberships/tmirus/ Learn more about OGB https://onlinegreatbooks.com/ Mortimer Adler’s list of the Great Books of the Western World http://www.interleaves.org/~rteeter/gbww.html Online Great Books Podcast https://onlinegreatbooks.com/onlinegreatbooks-podcast/ The Underground History of American Education https://www.amazon.com/Underground-History-American-Education-Investigation/dp/0945700040/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Today's reading: C.S. Lewis, "Willing Slaves of the Welfare State" http://liberty-tree.ca/research/willing_slaves_of_the_welfare_state This podcast is a production of CatholicCulture.org. If you like the show, please consider supporting us! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Fr. Basil Cole returns to discuss what he has been teaching the student brothers at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., in a course on the arts, contemplation and virtue. Links Episode 11: Music and Morals—Fr. Basil Cole, O.P. https://www.catholicculture.org/podcast/index.cfm?id=11 Fr. Basil’s dissertation, The Moral and Psychological Effects of Music: A Theological Appraisal https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=11968 Fr. Basil’s articles at Catholic Culture https://www.catholicculture.org/search/resultslist.cfm?requesttype=docbrowseauth&resourcetype=1&catlabel=author&catid=85 Readings mentioned: Jacques Maritain, Art and Scholasticism https://maritain.nd.edu/jmc/etext/art.htm Josef Pieper, Only the Lover Sings https://www.ignatius.com/Only-the-Lover-Sings-P1873.aspx Pope St. John Paul II, Letter to Artists https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=988&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=1905529 Pope Benedict XVI, Address to Artists https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9187&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=1905530 Pope St. Paul VI, Address to Artists http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/speeches/1965/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_19651208_epilogo-concilio-artisti.html Francis J. Kovach, Philosophy of Beauty https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Beauty-Frances-J-Kovach/dp/0806113634

Phil Lawler, Jeff Mirus, and Thomas Mirus discuss selections from their article rounding up their favorite books and other media of 2018. Links Article: The best books we read in 2018 https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otc.cfm?id=1591

VOCES8 is a critically acclaimed a capella octet from the UK, focusing on medieval and Renaissance works as well as their own arrangements of modern pop tunes. This episode is an interview with the group’s artistic director and countertenor, Barnaby Smith. We discuss the group's history and educational outreach, the creative challenges of chamber singing, and a few of the sacred works the group has recorded over the past decade. The following recordings are included in this episode with permission from VOCES8 (links are to lyrics): William Byrd (1538-1623), Vigilate from A Choral Tapestry, 2011 http://www2.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Vigilate_(William_Byrd) Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), Corpus Christi Carol from Eventide, 2013 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpus_Christi_Carol#Lyrics Anonymous French, Angelus ad Virginem from Equinox, 2018 http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/BVM/AngelusAdVirg.html   Links Cluny Media, a new Catholic publisher https://clunymedia.com VOCES8 http://www.voces8.com VOCES8 music store http://www.voces8.com/shop VCM Foundation https://vcm.foundation/ Good article on William Byrd’s Catholicism https://www.firstthings.com/article/2014/03/a-double-life

Fr. Roger Landry returns to the show to talk about what the laity can do to address the abuse crisis. Along the way we discuss the concerns that might make even good bishops hesitant to remove bad priests, the spiritual tactics laity and priests alike must use to purify and heal the Church, the folly of choosing to be scandalized, and how to stay informed without losing one’s interior peace. Previous episode with Fr. Roger on the abuse crisis: https://www.catholicculture.org/podcast/index.cfm?id=19 Links https://twitter.com/FrRogerLandry Fr. Roger Landry, Plan of Life: Habits to Help You Grow Closer to God https://amzn.to/2RGVW80 Fr. Roger Landry’s National Catholic Register articles about the abuse crisis: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/truth-is-needed-to-free-the-church-from-sacrilege-of-clergy-scandal http://www.ncregister.com/blog/fatherlandry/how-to-stay-faithful-as-we-endure-and-confront-the-crisis http://www.ncregister.com/blog/fatherlandry/anchors-in-the-storm http://www.ncregister.com/blog/fatherlandry/spiritual-paternity-anger-lying-and-vulnerable-adults http://www.ncregister.com/blog/fatherlandry/what-to-do-about-corruption-in-the-church This podcast is a production of CatholicCulture.org. If you like the show, please consider supporting us! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Bl. John Henry Newman was, among many other things, a lifelong teacher. Not only did he found the Catholic University of Ireland and England’s first Catholic public school, he was a highly influential philosopher of education. In his collection of addresses titled The Idea of a University, Newman set forth his conception of liberal education, defending the essential place of theology among the university subjects and arguing against the growing utilitarian tendency to see education as nothing more than professional training. Paul Shrimpton, teacher at Magdalen College School in Oxford and author of The Making of Men, brings together the theory and practice of Newman the educator.   Books mentioned: John Henry Newman, The Idea of a University: Read http://www.newmanreader.org/works/idea/ Purchase https://www.clunymedia.com/product/the-idea-of-a-university/https://amzn.to/2REdkJB John Henry Newman’s historical sketches relating to education: http://www.newmanreader.org/works/historical/volume2/index.html http://www.newmanreader.org/works/historical/volume3/index.html Paul Shrimpton, The Making of Men: The Idea and reality of Newman’s university in Oxford and Dublin https://amzn.to/2Dsx28h Ian Ker, John Henry Newman: A Biography https://amzn.to/2D5Xzau

The new feature film Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer, about the investigation, trial and conviction of abortionist Kermit Gosnell, has defied opposition from the film industry and the press alike to become an artistic and financial success, even briefly making it into the top ten in box office results. Writer Ann McElhinney discusses the film, her research process (including the disturbing experience of interviewing Gosnell himself), and the numerous obstacles the filmmakers faced in telling a story nobody wanted to see the light of day. At the beginning of the episode, Thomas also discusses the recent film about Oscar Wilde, The Happy Prince (the Gosnell interview starts 10 minutes in). Links The film: http://www.gosnellmovie.com The book: https://amzn.to/2Rt20A5 https://twitter.com/annmcelhinney https://www.facebook.com/annmcelhinney/

The American Catholic painter Carl Schmitt (1889-1989) made fascinating innovations in the use of color. He wrote extensively on the artist’s vocation, arguing for seeking holiness through practicing one’s art rather than the other way around, and advocating the three virtues of poverty, humility and purity as a necessity for all artists to follow. He inspired artists in other media, like Hilaire Belloc and Hart Crane. He did all this while raising ten children. Andrew de Sa, the Creative Director at the Carl Schmitt Foundation, educates us about this artist who was content to paint in obscurity for God. Links Carl Schmitt Foundation https://carlschmitt.org/ Upcoming CSF Events https://carlschmitt.org/upcoming-events/ Andrew de Sa http://andrewdesaart.com/ Arlington Catholic Herald article about Andrew and the Foundation https://www.catholicherald.com/News/Local_News/Catholic_creators_to_share_methods/