The Saintcast - Catholic Saints On Call

We continue our profile of the archangels - with Sts. Gabriel and Raphael.  Where are they mentioned in the Bible?  We learn of the patron of bee-keepers, the honey-tongued orator of the early Church.  Does the tooth fairy have a patron saint?  Great audio feedback and two classic prayers.  Audio of Padre Pio and more on this SaintCast.Thanks to Kathy Couture for script and research, Magnatune.com

On this SaintCast, listener feedback and the patron Saint of Policemen - St. Michael the Archangel.  How is he associated with exorcisms?  We learn of St. Michael in other world religions.St. Jeopardy, yoga and St. Patrick, a new Pennsylvania Servus Dei, Sally Gardens, and the working donation site for the Totus Tuus cause, all on this SaintCast.

Join Brother Giles of the Secrets of Harry Potter Podcast on a wonderful tour of the Cloisters of the Cathedral Basilica of Barcelona in Spain.  He gives us a vivid portrait of the Saints revered by the Catalonians, whose monuments and memorials are clustered throughout this holy space. 

Happy St. Patty's Day to all!  Today we'll discover the real St. Patrick - visions, snakes, clover and cabbage!  With excerpts from the Canadian documentary "St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland" we discover what we know about the 'real' St. Patrick.  The answer to our 'snow sports' patron saint, and a new Jeopardy question.  How do you celebrate St. Patrick's day - let us know on the blog at SQPN.com

Pope Benedict XVI sets the tone for this SaintCast, continuing his catechesis at his general audiences with more on St. Clement of Rome.  We take a look at what we know about the fourth pope, his life, his letters, his death.  We continue our look at the Station Churches of Lent in Rome in our Saints of the Week segment.  More audio feedback, comments on the new format, and more from Brother Giles in Barcelona, on coming SaintCasts. 

Today we travel to the St. Jude Shrine within St. Dominic's Church in San Francisco, California. We brave cable car accidents and wet streets and microphones to bring you this soundseeing tour, with a little history of St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of lost causes. A little about 'the brothers of Christ.' St. Jeopardy returns with a description of St. Elmo's fire, listener feedback, and a Saint thought of the day on this SaintCast. Many thanks to Kathy Couture for the script and background info on St. Jude Thaddeus and the shrine. St. Jude shrine website http://www.stjude-shrine.org

Can you believe it's been a year since the first SaintCast on St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina?  Many saints, soundseeing tours, and interviews later, we're still telling the wonders of the saints.  After all, there are thousands!  Tune in today to hear feedback from my favorite podcasters.Learn about the Saints of this week in the Roman calendar, and the practice that Pope Benedict is reviving in Rome -- the Lenten Station Churches.  Did the SaintCast contribute to the run on JPII relics?  The cause for canonization is financially strapped because of postage to send out all the 2nd class relics.

A very happy and blessed St. David's Day to all! Yes, today is the Feast of St. David of Wales, and many in Wales will be wearing daffodils and leeks. Yes, I said Leeks. Paul took a leek yesterday in the grocery store, and wore it in his scrubs today (See photo below). It was quite an unusual scent, requiring a lot of cologne to mask the odor. Find out why Welsh wear leeks today, in honor of this special Saint. We learn of his holy life, and a special reading from that Shakespearian thespian, Sir Giles of Valladolid. In today's St. Jeopardy we discover the patron saint of oversleeping, and discuss more on the Seat of the Soul, including new research that indicates that the eyes are the mirror to the soul.

Did Michelangelo leave a secret at the center of the great Sistine Chapel ceiling? Should we call it the "Buonarotti Code?" Join us as we explore what might be the great Renaissance artist's conception of the "endowment of the soul" and the intellect of man rather than "The Creation of Adam." We hear of new Saint news that Sr. Lucia of Fatima might be soon on the fast track to canonization, according to the prefect for the Congregation of the Causes of Saints. A lot of feedback on where to write for the 2nd class relic of John Paul II . . try the following e-mail address: postulazione.segreteria@vicariatusurbis.org We devote much of this podcast to great feedback on a variety of issues, including a number of new saints to profile in the weeks to come. The long awaited answer to the last St. Jeopardy question, and you can try your hand at a new question. 

Paul's riding cable cars in San Francisco this week. But join him on a soundseeing tour of The Cathedral of St. Agatha in Catania, Sicily, recorded on a trip made last August. Catania is a city that has been destroyed numerous times by the largest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna. Come with us through the streets of this Sicilian coastal town, and learn of the story of this early martyr of the Church. Songs this episode. . 

Who could be Rocky's patron Saint? The Relicman returns with a series on electronic simony. I just received my 2nd class relic of JPII and you can request one, too. Listen in to find out how. Feedback on where Hinduism sees the "Seat of the Soul." We take a brief look at the miracles and marvels in the life of one of the saints on this week's liturgical calendar, St. John Bosco. Paul's pronunciation gaffes, interesting revelations in an upcoming book about John Paul II, and the story of the mysterious dog that accompanied St. John Bosco, on this week's SaintCast. 

Today, we welcome to the SaintCast, a friend and former high school debate team member, John Allen. You know John as the Senior Vatican correspondent for CNN and as Senior Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. He enlightens us on the formal process of canonization as it exists today, managed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the Roman Curia. John is the author of many books on Catholic topics, which can be accessed through the links below. SaintCast is mentioned around the world, courtesy of the Catholic News Service - see the link below, and an article in one of Brazil's leading newspapers. We discuss "Cooking with Saints" and "A Doctor at Calvary" in the book segment. And John Paul II is perhaps 2 more miracles closer to being declared a saint, with some speculating it might occur as early as 2008. All this and more on this week's SaintCast. 

This SaintCast sponsored by Todd from Houston, Texas, for his wife and girls. We profile the first American-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, the foundress of Catholic education in the United States. Grab your stethoscope and learn about a couple of the first Doctors of the Church, in this week's Calendar of the Saints. Fr. Seraphim Beshoner of the Catholic Under the Hood podcast pays a visit to the SaintCast and we discuss Notre Dame football, the difference between religious and diocesan clerics, and the history of the Franciscans. Stay tuned for our interview with CNN and National Catholic Reporter Senior Vatican correspondent, John Allen, on the next SaintCast. Songs from this episode . . . Bree Noble with "Can You See the Stars," at music.podshow.com American Baroque with "Dances and Suites of Rameau and Couperin" at magnatune.com Podcasts mentioned on this episode . . . Catholic Under the Hood at www.catholicunderthehood.com St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine at www.emmitsburg.net/setonshrine/index.htm

A Soundseeing tour with Paul, his son Chris, and Fr. Julian Haas, OFM Cap., of the Capuchin Curia in Rome, of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where soon pilgrims will be able to see the newly confirmed tomb of the Apostle to the Gentiles. We learn all about the martyrs celebrated this week in the Octave of Christmas. The Seat of the Soul in the Foot? Hear what an orthopedic surgeon listener has to say about that. Christmas traditions from Italy, Sweden, St. Lucy's Cuccia and more. . . New Saints and Blesseds for the coming year, and a noted author and Vatican insider comes to the SaintCast to discuss the process of canonization next week. All this and more on this week's SaintCast. Special thanks to Kathy Couture for production assistance and script writing. Songs from this episode . . . "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem," at www.dustyhughes.com "Good King Wenceslas," from www.thanksmuch.com Podcasts mentioned on this episode . . . Phedipiddations at www.Steverunner.com

Learn Dutch on the SaintCast! . . More on Sinterklaas from dutchgrammar.com, St. Isidore looks down on Boston College, Fr. Jay Finelli on the Saints in the Mass, St. Jeopardy quiz answer, More on Church Doctors, The Saints of the Week, and a great quote from St. John of the Cross on this week's SaintCast. Music from Garageband.com Noche de Paz by Mike del Ferro, Stille Nacht by Thorvald Thanks to Bieneke Berendsen of the dutchgrammar.com podcast More on Silent Night at http://silentnight.web.za/history/index.htm

On this SaintCast Extra, we profile the real, St. Nicholas of Myra, delve into legends surrounding his life, and discuss modern day customs related to Sinterklaas! We learn about and pray to the Saints of Advent. From Xavier and Ambrose, to John the Baptist, Lucy, and Thomas, St. Nicholas, and of course, Mary and Joseph, there are great saints to look to every day this month. St. Jeopardy returns with a St. Nicholas-related trivia question, and we continue our profile of the Doctor of Prayer, St. Teresa of Avila, who once remarked to God, "If this is how you treat your friends, it's no wonder you have so few!" Songs from this episode . . . "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," by the Dean Krippaehne at www.garageband.com "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" by Chet Heflin, at www.sibeliusmusic.com "Vihuela Duets of Valderraban" by Duo Chambure, at www.magnatune.com "Chants of Russian the Russian Orthodox Church" by Monks and Choirs of Kiev Pechersk Lavra, at www.magnatune.com Songs from the Album, Christmas Celebration, by Cynthia J

This SaintCast is sponsored by Terri of Jefferson City, Missouri. Who are the 'Doctors of the Church?' In this episode we introduce a new segment on the Doctors of the Church, and profile our first Doctor, Teresa of Avila. A number of great Saints in the calendar for this week including Francis Xavier, St. John Damascene, St. Juan Diego, and Jolly Old St. Nicholas! The new TV series on neurosurgery . . DOA after only 3 episodes. '"3 lbs. we hardly knew you." More audiofeedback on the Seat of the Soul, and a Saint book review from the CatholicComuter, at catholiccomuter@blogspot.com. Gratefully, no SaintCast crooning on this episode, but great podsafe Advent music from Dusty Hughes, at dustyhughes.com, and Saintly music from the Notre Dame Liturgical choir.

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, Paul posts the latest SaintCast. We review the new American TV series called "3 lbs." about the "seat of the soul", the human brain. The diocesan phase for the cause for canonization of Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I, has been forwarded to the Vatican. We include a prayer for his intercession. News of a medical miracle attributed to his intercession in southern Italy. What is the Tau Cross of St. Francis? Tune in for the answer. Check your closets for any pieces of Renaissance art. A British citizen did and found 2 works of Blessed Fra Angelico, worth over 2 million pounds! We tell the story. A bit of a trick question on last week's St. Jeopardy, but several international listeners correctly named Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini as the first American citizen to be canonized. Please continue to pray for the success of the SQPN fund drive. Consider sponsoring a SaintCast for someone you love or your own special patron Saint. A link to the novena to St. Maximilian Kolbe is

Join us on a Soundseeing tour of the University of Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana, USA. We pay a brief visit to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (more to come), and statues around campus. The long-awaited answer to our last St. Jeopardy is revealed! Help out SQPN by Sponsoring a SaintCast - dedicate one to your favorite Saint, a friend, or a loved one. We'll profile a special Saint, just for you. News of a new miracle has reached the Cause for Canonization of John Paul II, in the healing of someone with incurable cancer in southern Italy. The Patron Saint of artists, stem cell discussions, and lots of feedback, on this week's SaintCast.

Happy All Saints Day! We travel to Spain today to hear Brother Giles taking part in a centuries old custom. . . in a cemetery. The history of All Saints Day, and it's relationship to Halloween. Duped by an e-mail from Africa . . . . More than you ever wanted to know about Operating Room Music. We finish up our tribute to the Eight North American Martyrs, and preview a new book on Saints, Saints Behaving Badly. Visit the SQPN blog at SQPN.com to comment on the book, or any others. Music for this show. . . November, by Someday Company, from garageband.com, Levenah Rising from the album Samadhi, by Christopher of the Wolves, from Magnatune.com Saints Behaving Badly, by Thomas J. Craughwell. Links to North American martyrs - http://www.silk.net/RelEd/canadianmartyrs.htm#lalande