The Saintcast - Catholic Saints On Call

Happy St. Crispin's Day to all! SaintCast #29 profiles the North American Martyrs. In the first of 2 segments written by Kathy Couture, we look at the lives of the French Jesuits who left the comforts of home to evangelize in a hostile frontier, giving their lives in the process. We welcome the Technopriest to the SQPN line-up, and Fr. Bill Kessler makes an encore visit to the SaintCast. We caught up with him this last weekend to discuss Ignatius of Antioch, Hippolytus, and the early Church liturgy. And yes, another new segment. Well, a preview of a yet-to-be-named segment on Saint books. We welcome your suggestions, reviews, and comments on the SQPN news page at SQPN.com. Tom Serafin returns to discuss a planned boycott of EBAY to begin on All Saints Day, as the unlawful sale of holy relics continues on this site. A question on the identity of St. Anne, more Saints in the news, and listener feedback on this week's SaintCast. Songs from this episode . . . "Your Rock," by the Dusty Hughes at www.dustyhughes.co

Four new Saints raised to the altars by Pope Benedict this past Sunday! An American, two Italians, and a Mexican archbishop were canonized Sunday, October 15th in Rome. We hear a bit about each of the new Saints and their missions. We introduce a new SaintCast segment, This Date in Saint History. Can you guess what happened on October 16, 1978? Audio feedback from our youngest listener yet on an early pope, and caretaker of the largest Christian catacombs in Rome, Pope St. Calixtus I. We then take you on a brief sound-seeing tour of the Catacombe di San Callisto south of Rome, with a tour by the Salesian cleric Fr. Richard. More listener feedback and education on St. Ignatius of Antioch and the early Christian liturgy, which bears a striking relationship to our Mass today. . . isn't that wonderful how it all works out that way? The Saints of the Week, a visit by the incorrupt heart of a French saint, and more on this week's SaintCast. Song credits. . . "Rain,Rain" by the Detonators at music.podshow.com, podca

Today on the SaintCast we continue our homage to St. Francis, whose Feast Day we celebrated October 4th, by going on a sound-seeing tour of the Basilica of Santa Maria Degli Angeli and the small chapel enclosed within, the Porziuncola, where Francis and his friars gathered and worshipped 800 years ago. Tom Serafin, the Relicman, pays a visit from sunny Los Angeles, to answer a listeners question about stones from Lourdes and relics. What was special about St. Francis's stigmata, and who is the only Saint to ever live in my Archdiocese? The answer to these questions and more are heard on St. Jeopardy. Four new Saints join the ranks of the elect this weekend in Rome. Stay tuned for more canonization news. Show notes at Saintcast.org Songs from this episode . . . "Roll Your Windows Down," by The Undisputed HeavyWeights at music.podshow.com

St. Francis as an animal and tree lover? Think again. Today we are honored to welcome to the SaintCast the Archbishop of Denver, Colorado, Charles J. Chaput, who is also a Capuchin Franciscan. Archbishop Chaput points to Francis as so much more -- a dynamic, charismatic leader and Church reformer of his time, who is a model for Church reform in all ages. He led by his humble example of following the Gospel "without gloss." He points to his Last Testament as particularly poignant written sentiments of Francis, read on the SaintCast today by Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, a Franciscan of the Third Order Regular. Franciscan music and more on today's special SaintCast in honor of the Feast of St. Francis. Feedback is welcome at 312.235.2278 or at saintcast@mac.com. Music by Johnny Proctor, "All Creatures of Our God and King," from soundclick.com. University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, http://www.nd.edu/~litchoir

In today's episode, we profile a Saint known for his works of charity. He shares a common love for living the Gospel and his love for the poor, with another important Saint whose Feast Day we celebrate this week. We'll hear bits of a old time radio drama from the 1940's on M. Vincennes. We learn of an alternative group of Saints for Horse lovers, and answer the last St. Jeopardy. . . Who is the patron Saint of Ravello, Italy? The calendar of Saints for the coming week, and more on this week's SaintCast! Stay tuned for an interview with a pre-eminent voice in the American Catholic Church, Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM, Cap., in honor of the Feast of St. Francis. . .

Today we talk about mystical levitation in the history of the Saints (many thanks to Joan Carroll Cruz and her book Mysteries, Marvels, and Miracles). What is it all about, who has had this gift, and what does it feel like? A listener in Lima, Peru, gives us some Spanish audiofeedback on St. Rose of Lima. In the e-mail segment we answer the question about why the Notre Dame University mascot is the Fighting Irish, and hear a suspiciously familiar-sounding theme song from an Australian Rules Football team, the Sydney Swans. Saints in the news include the miracle of St. Januarius, and news of a new possible miracle in Scotland. The first SaintCast produced with Ubercaster! We welcome your feedback on this new episode.

After a brief hiatus, the SaintCast returns with a tribute to the humble porter from Montreal, and Holy Cross Brother, Blessed Andre Bessette. We go over e-mail and audio feedback, including a question for Tom Serafin of the International Crusade for Holy Relics. We welcome a brief passage from the podcast "Meditations from Carmel," quoting St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. A new St. Jeopardy, a look at the Saints of the Week, and Paul is taken to task by a Brother of the Order of Hospitallers of St. John of God, all on this week's SaintCast.

Situated high above Lake Albano south of Rome, the hamlet of Castelgandolfo became the papal summer retreat under Urban VIII, the Barberini pope, and remains the possession of the popes today (it is extraterritorial). My son Chris and I traveled there for the blessing and Angelus greeting of Benedict XVI on our recent trip to Italy. This issue of the SaintCast takes you on a soundseeing tour of this day, and all of the excitement accompanying a papal audience there. Pictures on the website at Saintcast.org.

This week we profile a 20th century Carmelite Saint, and Jewish convert, who died in the Nazi concentration camps, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, or St. Edith Stein. We spent last weekend dropping our oldest child off at college, and we relate our first experiences with our daughter at the University of Notre Dame du Lac. St. Jeopardy returns with the answer to the Saint involved in the Galileo affair, and a new question. Who is the patron saint of businessmen? Terry Jones, of the Patron Saints website, answers this and more on this week's SaintCast.

In honor of the Podcast Carnival on the Assumption, though a bit late, we discuss the doctrine of the Assumption, it's historical basis, and the history of the Feast of the Assumption. Why are there no first class relics of the Blessed Virgin Mary? What relics are extant? We get a view of what the actual Assumption might have looked like, by reading about the incredibly detailed visions of the mystic Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.

Paul's back from Italy, and ready for podcasting once again! I visited an incredible number of Saintly places, and am excited to share them with listeners in the form of audio sound-seeing tours over the next few months. We've got news of a miracle for the cause of Fulton J. Sheen, the evangelist of the radio and TV airwaves in the 40's and 50's in the United States. Podcasters everywhere could take inspiration from him as a potential patron saint. Speaking of patron Saints, my daughter poses the question as to who is the patron saint of horses, horse riders, horse women? As we've recently celebrated his Feast Day in the Church calendar, we take a look at the incredible life of the founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola. More e-mail, audiofeedback, and more on this week's SaintCast. 

Last week marked the Feast of St. James the Greater and we spoke with Brother Giles Baker of the Order of St. John of God (and also the producer and talent behind The Secrets of Harry Potter)  about the centuries old Pilgrimage to Compostela in northern Spain.  Podcasting around Italy with my son, I wish you a wonderful Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola.  More from Italy in a few days . . .

Over 400 years ago, five Franciscan friars lost their lives defense of the faith, specifically the Christian view of marriage. They were martyred in Florida, far from their Spanish home. Their cause for canonization was begun in the diocese of Savannah, Georgia, in 1984. We talk to Paul Thigpen, of Our Sunday Visitor, and Star of the Sea Catholic Resources, about their cause and their lives. Four new saints will be canonized in October, one of them a French American nun from Indiana, Mother Theodore Guerin. All founded religious orders. A listener asks what I like to listen to in the operating room. Shouldn't have opened that can of worms. . Listen in to hear snippets of my playlists. . . We hear the answer to last week's St. Jeopardy question with a listener-produced audio-feedback that is incredible! A new St. Jeopardy question related to Galileo Galilei, and the patron saint of the Boy Scouts. Who could it be? Listen in to hear. Off to Italy for a couple of weeks. . . Pax et bonum.

A great SaintCast "welcome" to the Technopriest, Fr. Bill Kessler, who paid a visit to our humble abode in Overland Park, Kansas. We got a chance to podcast together, and learned a little more about why he's such a special Man of God. A rousing speech from Kenneth Brannagh as Henry V, from the Battle of Agincourt in Shakespeare's Henry V gave the answer to last week's St. Jeopardy question, the Feast of Crispin or St. Crispin's Day, October 25. More on Saint movies, including a trailer from the upcoming film on St. Francis Xavier. We profile the first native American Blessed, Kateri Tekakwitha, whose feast we celebrate Friday. What an incredible witness to the faith she was! What conviction she demonstrated. Coming up on the SaintCast, an interview with a Vatican insider, you've seen him on TV, a well known Vatican commentator on news networks, and author of several books on the Vatican, Pope Benedict, and Opus Dei. . Stay tuned, and Stay Subscribed!

We start off this week with e-mail and a song from independent artist Anne Davis. Her moving song "Until That Day" was written for a friendâs wedding, and is featured at the outset of the podcast. You can purchase her album at the link on the website. My daughter Laura joins me for part of the podcast. She is 12, the same age of the young virgin and martyr of early in the 20th century featured on this podcast. . . the patron saint of young girls, and rape victims. We cover the Saint Feast Days this week, and clean out the e-mail box. Great audio feedback from listeners, and a new Audio St. Jeopardy, all on this week's SaintCast.

Just back from the Atlanta Eucharistic Congress and the informal SQPN summit - a great time was had by all. This week's special saint was the subject of a special audio soundseeing tour of one of the California missions founded by Junipero Serra, Mission San Buenaventura. Join Paul and the kids as they tour this church in downtown Ventura, California. So much info this week we couldn't go over the saint calendar . . perhaps a reason for a second SaintCast this week. . . The hand of John the Baptist makes an appearance in Russia. Phil sends in a question for the Relicman in our "Ask the Relicman" segment. St. Jeopardy answers from last week, a new quiz, and much more on this week's SaintCast.

Today on the SaintCast we debut a new segment, "Ask the RelicMan." We have our first Audio St. Jeopardy, as well as our first audio listener feedback responses! An incredibly saintly man is profiled in today's SaintCast, the patron of Kansas City, Missouri, St. John Francis Regis. He was a preacher who loved the poor, and spoke from the heart, converting thousands. A Jesuit who desired martyrdom in the Americas, he was asked to provide missions to Hugenot France in the 1600's. He inspired many including St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars. Feasts this week include the Traditional Feast of Corpus Christi on Thursday in much of the world, and the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua.

What do Padre Pio and the TV Series LOST have in common? Tune in to this week's SaintCast to find out. We discuss the phenomenon of bilocation in the context of saints. There are some important martyrs on the calendar of saints for this week. Paul finds a relic of martyred physicians in his father's possessions, and another episode of the Miracle Minute, all on this week's SaintCast. No time for e-mail, but feedback is welcome at 312-235-2278.

Welcome SQPN listeners, and Happy Feast of St. Rita! Today we present an audio sound seeing tour of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in San Francisco, California. Padre Pio for President? That's who one Italian legislator apparently voted for last week. . though as we learned on the first SaintCast, he died in 1968. Visit the archive to learn more about this holy man and stigmatist. More news on John Paul II's beatification and the miracle of the healing of a French nun of Parkinson's disease. We go over the Saints of the Week, and profile the pro-life saint, Gianna Molla, canonized May 16th, 2004. All this and a new Saint Jeopardy quiz on this week's SaintCast. Next week, what do we know of Mary Magdalene, and more on the history of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi.

Happy Mother's Day! Now we're back on a weekly schedule, with the longest SaintCast to date. Have you ever wondered about the remains of Saints who are said to be incorruptible? What does this mean? There are over 100 well-documented cases of bodies of saints remaining incorrupt for many, if not hundreds of years. We'll talk about this phenomenon, and give you resources for further study. Hear about the new beatifications that took place this past weekend. We'll go through the mail bag, and introduce a new voice feedback (call-in) number. Next week, a visit to the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi. . .