Father Seraphim Beshoner, TOR is a friar of the Third Order of St. Francis. When he is not fulfilling his duties as Post-Novitiate Formation Director and Local Minister, he is teaching Church History at the The Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies. Besides his podcast, Fr. Seraphim is also the author of Ivan Sergeevich Gagarin: The Search for Orthodox and Catholic Union
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26 Comments
Hi Fr Seraphim
Gradually getting through your back catalogue via iTunes.
Thanks for all you’ve taught me about the church I’ve been born into!!
Hello Father Seraphim,
I sure do enjoy your podcasts, your presentation of interesting crannies of history that relate to the Church, the pace, and peace they provide. Thanks for all your efforts putting them together, all of which is surely widely appreciated.
A real fan,
Alan
Just want to let you know how much I love Catholic Under The Hood. I am a Protestant checking out the Catholic Church and I have learned a lot from the information you’ve shared on your podcast. I was wondering if, perhaps, you could do one on the history of icons. St. Luke is considered the first person to paint an icon, and this has always fascinated me. Is there any that’s considered an exact duplicate of one he painted? Anyway, I’ll keep this brief, I know you’re busy. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
trworkman
P.S. Please don’t mention my name on your podcast.
It may be because authorship of icons from antiquity too easily bridges legend that a few icons have been stated as descending from St Luke. THe most famous is the Black Madonna, Our Lady of Chestochowa, and also because of its greatness, it has also changed hands Orthodox and Catholic a few times. Another equally famous is our Lady Theotokos of Kazan, one of the earliest found being the one the holy father returned to the Moscow Patriarch recently. Similarly because of its great ness, this beautiful icon has also been attributed to St Luke. I don’t know any more but I’m guessing the tendency to make this acclamation would mean that there are others – Father?
There are several icons of the Blessed Mother that are reportedly by the hand of Saint Luke – there is also one statue that I am aware of – Saint Mary of La Rábida. Ascribing the image to the hand of Saint Luke both gives the image a sign of authenticity as well as holiness.
There are a couple of icons that claim to have been painted by St. Luke but nothing that we are able to ascertain for certain. The Icon of the Hodegetria is one of the earliest ascribed to Luke.
Greetings Fr,
Your podcast is great. Thank you for putting in the work. It is much appreciated.
Sincerely,
JH
I wanted to let you know that I recently discovered a treasure – your podcasts! I am a practicing Roman Catholic seeking to increase my knowledge and strengthen my faith. I listen intently during my commute each day. Your gentle style and very contemplative and affable approach together with well chosen and researched topics are a winning combination! Keep going!
Fr. B.
I really enjoyed your last two podcasts on the Cadaver synod and Father Gus.
It strikes me that we are all on the journey, both individually and together as a church. Political intrigue, racism, sex scandals. Our church has it’s share of difficulties. Hopefully, we can find forgiveness and not repeat our past sins.
Thanks for your podcast I have really enjoyed them and learned a lot.
Dear Fr. Seraphim,
I just finished listening to your podcast #249, The formation of an identity #1 (St Josaphat Kuncevyc’s times, the aftermath of the Union of Brest). It was a treat, listening to your lecture. I very much appreciate your work.
Respectfully,
A Catholic from Transylvania
Dear Father Seraphim,
I’ve been listening to you for years, and yours is my favorite catholic podcast. I’m a parishioner at Holy Trinity in Sherman CT and St. Francis Xavier in New Milford CT. Over the last two years I rediscovered my Catholicism and my love of God in a significant way, and generally attend Mass on a daily basis. I’ve also been blessed to serve as a Lector and also an altar server.
The reason I’m writing you is because I’m concerned that you haven’t released a podcast for some time. I hope you and your family are well, and that your work schedule is manageable. I know you recently suffered the loss of your grandfather, for which I extend my sincere sympathy and prayers.
Thank you, Father, for your part in helping to expand my knowledge of the Church and our faith.
And thank you for your beautiful order, and particularly for the warmth and pastoral nature of the Franciscans. The priests at the parish I belong to in New Milford are Franciscans, and I’ve found all of the Franciscans I’ve met to be such warm, loving and accepting priests.
Again, I hope you are well. And you are in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Joe Grimaldi
Father Seraphim,
Allow me to repeat Joe’s thoughts and prayers. I hope you and your family are well, and I hope to hear your podcasts again soon!
Pax et Bonum
Mack
Dear Fr Seraphim
I have been a regular listener to your podcast but I am worried that we have not heard from you since September. I hope that you are well and that you or someone from SQPN will let us know how you are.
I will be keeping you in my prayers.
God bless
Mike
Father S,
Where have you gone, Padre? I was leeching a lot of good information for the web site! 😉
-Terry@sqpn.com
http://saints.sqpn.com/
Where are you? I miss your podcast please come back.
High, London Calling. Just to say I enjoy the Podcasts. Hope there are more to come. Its great to get something a bit different from the Catholic Church and its history.
I really enjoyed listening to your podcasts. What happened?
I am very grateful that you are podcasting again.
Pax,
Mack
Clicked on your podcast folder in iTunes this afternoon to see if by chance there were any new titles — fully expecting to find none, as on every other occasion when I’ve checked in recent months. How good to have my expectation denied this time! I’m glad you’re back. Your devotion to the faith is great encouragement to mine.
Dear Father
I am a new listener to your podcast. It is so wonderful, when I wake up in middle of the night to take my iphone and listen to your talks. I have learnt so much, that I am sure i wouldn’t have ever found out about, from your podcasts. All of them have been informative and entertaining. Please keep up the holy work – it is not only fun but strengthens my faith with every podcast. May God continue to bless you. Claire from Copenhagen Denmark (formerly of SF CA)
Great podcast! Keep up the good work and may good continue to bless you! 🙂
Glad to have you back podcasting father!
I’m hooked on your podcasts on the history of the Catholic Church!
Hi Fr Seraphim
I’ve been listening to your archived podcasts on the history of the Church. Thank you for your gifts!
Question:
Over the years I have heard different things about the St. Augustine’s views on Predestination; did he abandon or at least become more nuanced as he matured? Do you have a recommendation of an author who has researched this subject in detail?
Augustine never abandoned predestination. His view was that God’s will was absolute, human freedom had been damaged by original sin and could never – on its own – choose the good. Peter Brown has a very good biography on Augustine. I haven’t read Bonner’s work on Augustine entitled Freedom and Necessity, but I liked his work on Pelagius.
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