Join me in a special meditation upon the Icon of the Ascension as we see how it reflects the union of Heaven and Earth, the reason for the presence of Mary and St. Paul in the Icon, and inspires us on our journey of faith. Click on the Icon on the website at catholicunderthehood.com for a larger image.
The background music is “O ye apostles from all parts” by the Kiev Seminary Choir from Magnatunes.
To download or watch this video, click on the 
below or subscribe with iTunes
In preparation for the upcoming time of Lent in the Catholic Church, let us meditate upon the Icon of the Awesome Judgment of God. This is one of the more complicated icons we have looked at with images both of the general and particular judgements present in Matthew 25 and Revelation 20.
This Lenten time is valuable both for moving away from those things which seek to distract our attention from God and moving toward those things which guide us into greater love for our neighbor. Reflecting upon the many messages contained in this icon can be useful in accomplishing both of those goals.
For a different representation of this icon in which the words of the Gospel of Matthew are clearly visible, visit this link.
For more information about the Orthodox Church’s understanding of toll houses, visit this link.
Discuss this icon at the Catholic:Under The Hood forum!
To download this episode, click on the below or subscribe via iTunes or your favorite aggregator.
Don’t forget to vote this month!
In our first mid-week episode of Catholic:Under The Hood we celebrate the feastday of Sts. Cyril and Methodius – the co-patrons of Europe and reflect on the promotion of vocations.
Other things mentioned in this podcast –
Priest gets weapons in confession
Nuns on terrorist list
Catholic Rockers
Music played
Have a little faith in me by Threeleggeddog via Podsafe Music
Be sure to submit your vote for the podcast this month!
To download this podcast click on the below or subscribe via iTunes/your favorite aggregator!
We have a special episode of Catholic:Under The Hood with a video visit to the Icon corner and a look at the theology of the Icon of the Presentation. To watch the video, you will need QuickTime to watch the episode.
Be sure to leave comments or e-mail me at seraphimtor@hotmail.com to let me know if this is a better way to visit the Icon Corner or if I should go back to audio only.
To view the video, just click on the link below-
The Presentation
This week in preparation for National Vocation Awareness Week in the United States we hear about vocations to the Religious Sisterhood and to Lay Communities. We also take another visit to the icon corner to take a closer look at the Icon of the Baptism of the Lord and what it tells us about our relationship to the Holy Trinity.
We first hear from Carol Gentile, SFO the current National Minister of the Secular Franciscans about that lay community and how they model the spirituality of St. Francis in their lives.
We also hear from Sr. Amy Cavender, CSC about the vocation to be a religious sister in the Church and in the World today.
Finally, we take another visit to the Icon Corner where I talk about the religious symbolism in the icon of the Baptism of the Lord. You can find out more about the Eastern Church’s celebration of the Baptism of the Lord at From Advent to the Presentation.
Links:
You can learn more about the Secular Franciscans through their website or from reading these books – To Live as Francis Lived:A Guide For Secular Franciscans, The Secular Franciscan Companion, Called To Rebuild The Church: A Spiritual Commentary On The Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order, and Called To Follow Christ: A Commentary On The Secular Franciscan Rule.
You can learn more about the Sisters of the Holy Cross at their website.
Some other websites devoted to vocations are Vocation.com and Vocations.com.
If you are interested in reading a good book about discernment, check out the book What Does God Want?
Podcasts Promos:
Going Fourth
iPadre
catholicpodcasts.info – the web’s largest directory of Catholic podcasts
Our song for this week’s episode is “Dream On” by Carrie Pettit available at Podsafe Music.
If you have any questions about the Secular Franciscans, feel free to bring them up at the forums at Disciples With Microphones or at Rosary Army where other Secular Franciscans would be glad to help.
Again, if you haven’t voted for Catholic:Under The Hood at Podcast Alley, I invite you to do so. Feel free to check out the Frappr map as well. If you use iTunes, be sure to leave comments at the Catholic:Under The Hood page there!
Also I encourage you to leave comments here or at the Disciples With Microphones. Let me know how the podcast is doing, what you like about it and what you don’t like. You can e-mail me your comments as well at seraphimtor@hotmail.com
Be sure to spread the news about Catholic:Under The Hood!
To download this week’s episode, click on the or the link below
In the first episode, I start testing out all this technology and talk a bit about the Jesus Prayer.
The Jesus Prayer is an ancient Eastern Christian prayer used to center our attention upon the Saving Lord and to fulfill the mandate of the New Testament that we pray always. You can find more information about the Jesus Prayer in the following books:
Irenee Hausherr’s “The Name of Jesus”
“The Pilgrim’s Tale” and “The Way of a Pilgrim”
You can order your own chotki [Eastern prayer rope] via The Icon and Book Service.
The opening and closing instrumental of Lasst Uns Erfruen is thanks to Lea Nicholson.
catholicunderthehood.com 
