November 2, 2018 – 8:00 pm
The complex interaction between Catholic teaching and the historic traditions of the Greco-Roman tradition on the particular issues of slavery and the treatment of the poor are the focus of this episode and help us to see the how Christianity affected and was affected by the surrounding culture.
Links:
Photo of mosaic of two Roman slaves carrying wine jars by Paschal Radique
CL de Wet The Punishment of Slaves in Early Christianity: The Views of Some Selected Church Fathers
Ilaria L.E. Ramelli – “Social Justice and the Legitimacy of Slavery” was a major source for this episode as was Peter Brown’s “Through the Eye of a Needle”.
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#465 – A History of the Catholic Church – Freedom in Christ
October 12, 2018 – 8:00 pm
The poetry of Empress Eudocia and Paulinus of Nola revealed the tensions that existed in a culture that both praised and rejected the literary works of the past – those of Homer and Virgil. For Eudocia and Paulinus, the examples of the great pagan poets of yesterday could be used to praise Christ in the Roman Empire of their present.
Links:
Icon of Saint Eudocia.
Cătălina Mărmureanu, Gianina Cernescu, Laura Lixandru, Early Christian Women Writiers: The Interesting Lives and Works of Faltonia Betitia Proba and Athenais-Eudocia, Bucharest 2008.
Brian Sowers, Eudocia: The Making of a Homeric Christian
Poetry of Paulinus of Nola [in Latin]
English translations of some of Paulinus’ poetry can be found in this text.
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#462 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Poetry of Eudocia
December 22, 2017 – 8:00 pm
After looking briefly at Pelagius’ response to Jerome’s attacks from last week, we take an extended examination of Pelagius’ theology of free will and the grace of God.
Links:
Image of Pelagius from the 1493 Nuremburg Chronicle.
Fragments from Pelagius’ works On Nature and On Free Will
Fr. Seraphim’s Amazon Christmas Wish List
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#420 – A History of the Catholic Church – God’s Gift of Free Will
December 15, 2017 – 8:00 pm
The Pelagian Controversy heats up as Saint Jerome finds serious problems with Pelagius’ views on free will and grace. Jerome, Augustine, and Pelagius vie for the support of the powerful Demetrias.
Links:
Image of Jerome mistakenly represented as a cardinal.
Augustine On Holy Virginity
Augustine’s later letter to Demetrias’ relatives
Pelagius’ letter to Demetrias
The Sentences of Sextus
Jerome’s letter to Demetrias
Jerome’s letter to Domnio referring to “unnamed monk”/possibly Pelagius
Jerome’s letter to Ctesiphon first making reference to Pelagius
Jerome Against the Pelagians
Differences between Traducianism and Creationism on the origin of the soul
Fr. Seraphim’s Amazon Christmas Wish List
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#419 – A History of the Catholic Church – Preachers of Sinlessness
September 15, 2017 – 8:00 pm
The peace between Jerome and Rufinus did not last long as the controversy over Origen erupts in the West. Friendships are broken and the faithful are divided.
Links:
Image of Rufinus by Frederick Bloemaert.
Rufinus:
Selections from Rufinus’ Apology for Origen
Rufinus’ letter to Pope Anastasius I
Jerome:
Friendly letter to Rufinus
Hostile letter about Rufinus
Apology against Rufinus
Pope Anastasius I:
Letter on errors of Origen
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#407 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Conflict over Origen – Part Two
September 8, 2017 – 8:00 pm
Origen was one of the most prolific and influential theologians of the Early Church. But not everyone felt that his influence was positive. This week, we see why Origen was so controversial.
Links:
Image of Origen.
Attacks on Origen:
Bishop Methodius of Olympus:
On the Resurrection
Bishop Epiphanius of Salamis:
394 Letter to Bishop John of Jerusalem
Jerome:
398/399 Letter on Bishop John of Jerusalem
Defenses of Origen:
Gregory Thaumaturgus:
Oration to Origen
Pamphilius:
Defense of Origen
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#406 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Conflict over Origen – Part One
August 25, 2017 – 8:00 pm
Pilgrimage mania took hold in the 4th century as devotion to the saints increased. Increased pilgrims also led to the development of an infrastructure to support them. However, not everyone felt that increased desire for pilgrimage was a good thing.
Links:
The Burial Place of Jerome in Bethlehem by Bonio.
The feast of the Encaenia
Pilgrimage of Egeria
Map of Egeria’s pilgrimage
Paula’s letter on the Holy Places
On Paula and Eustochium
Jerome’s letter to Eustochium on Paula’s visit to the Holy Land
Gregory of Nyssa On Pilgrimages
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#404 – A History of the Catholic Church – On Pilgrimage
August 18, 2017 – 8:00 pm
In this episode, we look at the veneration of the relics of the saints and the growing acceptance of the division of the bodies of saints among multiple shrines.
Links:
The Trier Ivory possibly showing the translation of the relics of Saint Stephen to Constantinople by Chris 73.
Reliquary of San Nazaro
Brescia Casket
List of saints having feast days according to Calendar of 354
The Hymn Apostolorum Passio sung on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Jerome’s http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3010.htmAgainst Vigilantius and Letter about Vigilantius on the validity of venerating relics
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#403 – A History of the Catholic Church – Holy Relics
The first of a series on the state of the clergy at the end of the 4th century. This episode looks at the social background of the clergy, their formation, and the vow of celibacy.
Links:
Image of the the First Council of Constantinople
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#399 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Clerical Cursus Honorum
Jerome’s attack on Jovinian causes more problems than it solves. Augustine does better in his defense of the virtue of virginity. Ambrose continues to develop the theology of Mary’s in partu virginity.
Links:
Image of Holy Family with the Adoration of the Magi from the MCAD Library
On Bishop Bonosus
Jerome
Against Jovinianus
Jerome’s letters defending his attacks on Jovinian to Pammachius, a second letter to Pammachius, to Domnio
Augustine
On the Good of Marriage
On Holy Virginity
Augustine’s concerns about Jerome’s interpretation of St. Paul
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#398 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Defilement of Marriage
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