Best Fr. Michael Black Podcasts (2025)

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December 9: Saint Juan Diego, Hermit 5:55

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3h ago5:55

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December 9: Saint Juan Diego, Hermit 1474–1548 Optional Memorial; Liturgical color: white Patron Saint of indigenous people Mary said to Juan: "Am I not here, I who am your mother?" Good things happen to those who go to daily Mass. A very good thing happened to today’s saint on his long trek to daily Mass, something so extraordinary that it permane…

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December 8: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 5:47

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December 8: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary c. 15 B.C. Solemnity; Liturgical Color: White Patroness of Brazil, Korea, Philippines, Spain, and the United States Only one person ever chose His own mother The Ark of the Covenant was a sumptuously adorned chest housing the Jews’ most sacred objects: the tablets of the Ten Commandme…

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December 7: Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor 5:39

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December 7: Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor c. 337–397 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Milan and beekeepers A mighty bishop guides Augustine, admonishes an emperor, and leads his people If the noble Saint Ambrose had brought Saint Augustine into the Church and done nothing else besides, he would have done enough. Augustine’s conv…

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December 6: Saint Nicholas, Bishop 6:54

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December 6: Saint Nicholas, Bishop c. Third–Fourth Century Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Russia, sailors, merchants, and children Santa Claus signed the Nicene Creed Traditions the world over are so embedded in the rhythms of daily life that their ubiquity goes unnoticed. Why a birthday cake with lighted candles? Why ma…

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December 4: Saint John Damascene, Priest and Doctor 6:08

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December 4: Saint John Damascene, Priest and Doctor c. 674–749 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of icon painters and theology students A monk defends images from Christian attack “Christ...did not save us by paintings,” a Synod of Bishops declared in Paris in 825. God, it could be added, did not become an icon. He became a ma…

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December 3: Saint Francis Xavier, Priest 6:08

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December 3: Saint Francis Xavier, Priest 1506–1552 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of foreign missions A missionary blazes a path for Christ in India and Japan Today’s great missionary knelt on the floor next to Saint Ignatius Loyola and five other men in a church on Montmartre overlooking Paris in 1534 and took private vows of pover…

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November 30: Saint Andrew, Apostle 5:30

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November 30: Saint Andrew, Apostle First Century Feast; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of Scotland, Greece, fishermen, sailors, and spinsters A big-hearted fisherman becomes a daring Apostle Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida in Northern Israel. He lived on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, which is really a lake, where many of Jesus’ miracl…

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4th Thursday in November: Thanksgiving Day (U.S.A.) 6:24

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Fourth Thursday in November: Thanksgiving Day (U.S.A.) Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Life is a gift replete with countless gifts It’s 1542, and the Spanish Franciscan Juan de Padilla, a rugged ex-soldier, is trekking through the high, waving prairie grasses of the buffalo plains of North America at the head of a small band of explorers…

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November 25: Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr 6:08

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November 25: Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr c. Late third–early fourth centuries Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of philosophers, apologists, and all who work with wheels An obscure Egyptian wins the double crown of virgin-martyr The armies of Alexander the Great swept south and east from Greece three hundred…

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November 24: Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs 6:27

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November 24: Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs 1795–1839; Seventeenth–Nineteenth Centuries Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saints of Vietnam Thousands of priests and converts are hunted down, tortured, and cruelly murdered The tide of persecution repeatedly swelled, receded, and swelled once more against today’s martyrs …

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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 6:15

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Last Sunday in Ordinary Time: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Solemnity; Liturgical Color: White or Gold The vastness of creation serves as the Lord’s footstool This last Sunday in Ordinary Time is dedicated to the very highest understanding of the nature, role, and purpose of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus is multifaceted, the deep hues and …

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November 23: Saint Columban, Abbot 5:56

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November 23: Saint Columban, Abbot c.543–615 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of motorcyclists and against floods He led the first wave of Irish monks who stormed Europe Throughout the sixth and seventh centuries, the great gales of Ireland filled the sails of countless boats packed with hardy Irish monks steering toward Fran…

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November 23: Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Priest and Martyr (U.S.A.) 7:01

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November 23: Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Priest and Martyr (U.S.A.) 1891–1927 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red The proto-martyr of the age of the image The emaciated holocaust survivor behind the barbed wire, gazing out, bewildered, as the Allied soldiers walk up to the camp. Click. The slack body of a black man hanging from a stout limb, a…

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November 23: Saint Clement I, Pope and Martyr 6:02

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November 23: Saint Clement I, Pope and Martyr First Century Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of sailors and marble workers Primacy more than infallibility, service more than authority Our loving maternal Church expresses herself through a paternal structure which makes decisions, resolves conflicts, intercedes in disputes, and …

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November 22: Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr 6:15

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November 22: Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr c. Third Century Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of Music and Musicians A girl martyr’s mysterious death seizes the imagination The First Eucharistic Prayer, also known as the Roman Canon, is principally a liturgical document. But like so many things liturgical, it also has immense historic…

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November 21: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 5:54

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November 21: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Mary was likely consecrated to God as a child Stillbirths, infant mortality, and mothers’ dying during labor have been among the most predictable human tragedies since time immemorial. Medical progress has only in recent generations dramatically reduced such …

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November 20: St. Bernward of Hildesheim, Bishop 7:04

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November 20: Saint Bernward of Hildesheim, Bishop c.960–1022 Optional Memorial; Not on Universal Calendar; Liturgical Color: White Patron saint of goldsmiths & architects A well-educated and pious bishop sponsors the practical arts Some doors in the city of Rome draw people in like huge vertical magnets, pulling groups of pilgrims slowly towards th…

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November 18: Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin 6:02

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November 18: Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin 1769–1852 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of perseverance amid adversity Born into a refined French family, her life ended in hardship on the American prairie Today’s saint was born into a large, refined, educated Catholic family situated in an enormous home in the venerabl…

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November 18: The Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles 6:06

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November 18: The Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White The Apostles Peter and Paul are the Patron Saints of the City of Rome The barque of Peter is tethered to two stout anchors A cathedral is theology in stone, the medievals said, a truism which extends to all churches, not just c…

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November 17: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious 5:12

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November 17: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious 1207–1231 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of the Third Order of Saint Francis A faithful wife loses her husband and becomes a Franciscan The marriage of today’s saint was not any less happy for being arranged. Elizabeth of Hungary’s parents betrothed her at the age of four to a young…

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November 16: Saint Gertrude, Virgin 5:39

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November 16: Saint Gertrude, Virgin 1256–1302 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of nuns and of the Diocese of Magdeburg, Germany Incandescent visions of Christ drew her into the deep Today’s saint, known as Saint Gertrude the Great, is one of the most provocative spiritual writers in the long and rich history of the Church. Wh…

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November 16: Saint Margaret of Scotland 5:00

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November 16: Saint Margaret of Scotland c. 1045–1093 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Scotland, large families, and parents who have lost children A foreign-born royal becomes queen and inspires by her refinement and devotion In the early eleventh century, a Danish Viking named Canute reigned as King of England. Canute exi…

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November 15: Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor 5:40

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November 15: Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor c. 1206–1280 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of natural scientists He knew everything, taught Aquinas, and placed his complex mind at the Church’s service Saint Francis de Sales wrote that the knowledge of the priest is the eighth Sacrament of the Church. If that is true…

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November 13: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin (USA) 6:23

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November 13: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin (USA) 1850–1917 USA Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of immigrants and hospital administrators Indomitable and charismatic, she moved mountains for God The hurricane of apostolic activity that was Mother Cabrini motored powerfully over the Atlantic Ocean, gathered force as it swept int…

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Let the Boulder Roll 44:54

27d ago44:54

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Season 6 finale, Baddies! We wrap up Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez with reflections on legacy, growth, and the power of knowing where you come from. From conversations about Black womanhood and community to navigating change, purpose, and the end-of-year reset—we’re closing this chapter with gratitude! Plus, we share what’s ahead for 2026, how…

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November 12: Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr 5:41

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November 12: Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr 1580–1623 Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of reunion between Orthodox and Catholics A holy bishop is murdered for unifying East and West Saint Josaphat died for something few in his era died for—ecumenism. In fact, the word ecumenism did not even exist when Josaphat was martyred. Josaphat …

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November 11: Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop 5:48

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November 11: Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop c. 336–397 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of France, soldiers, and conscientious objectors He gave away half of his cloak and then all of his life Many great and holy men and women are unknown to history because they lacked the one crucial ingredient to become well known—a biographer. Today…

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November 10: Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor 6:25

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November 10: Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor Late Fourth Century–461 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of popes and confessors A Pope vigorously exercises his universal ministry and defines Christ’s divinity History has so far conferred on just two popes the title of “Great,” and today’s saint is one of them. Leo the Great’s origi…

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November 9: Dedication of the Lateran Basilica 6:33

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November 9: Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Feast; Liturgical Color: White A venerable basilica is the mother of all churches In the eighth chapter of his Confessions, Saint Augustine relates the story of an old and learned Roman philosopher named Victorinus. He had been the teacher of many a Roman senator and nobleman and was so esteemed that a…

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Look at God! 52:05

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Hey Well Read Baddies! We’re back with chapters 41–44 of Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez — and the emotional stakes are higher than ever. This week, we follow generations fighting for legacy, land, and love, as long-held secrets finally lead to moments of truth and restoration. We’re also chatting about friendship, indie book recs, and all the p…

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November 4: Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop 6:05

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November 4: Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop 1538–1584 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of bishops, cardinals, and seminarians A young nobleman becomes a Cardinal, exemplifies holiness, and reforms the Church Today’s saint was born in a castle to an aristocratic family. His father was a count, his mother a Medici, and his uncle a pope. …

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November 3: Saint Martin de Porres, Religious 5:47

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November 3: Saint Martin de Porres, Religious 1575–1639 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of mixed-race peoples and barbers A humble, mixed-race Dominican brother works miracles Today’s saint was born in colonial Lima, Peru, to a well-connected Spanish father and a black Panamanian mother who had been a slave. While parentage …

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November 2: The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) 6:36

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November 2: The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) Commemoration; Liturgical Color: White, Violet, or Black The earthly Church prays for the Church in Purgatory in hope of a reunion in Heaven Every country has a civic feast day dedicated to soldiers who died for the nation. Every country has a tomb of the unknown soldier whe…

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November 1: All Saints 6:09

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November 1: All Saints Solemnity; Liturgical Color: White Heaven is populated with holy people known to God alone Martyrs were so revered in the early Church that their places and dates of death were sanctified by the candles, prayers, and votive offerings of the faithful, grateful for their witness. So many were the martyrs, though, that by the ea…

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There Comes a Point 52:52

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Hey Well Read Baddies! We’re back with chapters 37–40 of Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez — and the tension is building. In this episode, family loyalties are tested, the past comes knocking, and tough choices put legacy and belief to the ultimate test. We explore how history, rest, and resilience shape the women at the heart of this story — and …

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October 28: Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles 6:13

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October 28: Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles First Century Feast; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saints of hopeless causes (Jude) and tanners (Simon) The Apostles laid the foundation for the household of faith There is often a crosshatch of bloody scratches on the right cheek of statues of the suffering Christ in Latin America. It’s called the “Judas …

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October 24: Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop 5:23

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October 24: Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop 1807–1870 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of textile merchants, the Catholic press, and vocational educators A tireless bishop founds an Order and moves mountains Today’s saint was a finely tuned, high-octane engine of evangelization. Anthony Claret was from Catalonia, the region…

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October 23: Saint John of Capistrano, Priest 5:41

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October 23: Saint John of Capistrano, Priest 1386–1456 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of military chaplains and jurists A worldly man becomes a Franciscan and a great preacher Today’s saint, like Saints Francis of Assisi, Maximilian Kolbe, Jerome Emiliani and many other male saints, was a prisoner of war. And just like all …

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Hello It's Me 45:38

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Hey Well Read Baddies! We’re back with chapters 33–36 of Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez — and trust us, the stakes are sky-high. In this episode, four generations land under one roof, “land vs. family” collisions take center stage, and Wade’s rushed trial delivers a gut-punch verdict that threatens the Kingdom itself. We break down the courtroo…

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October 22: Saint John Paul II, Pope 7:16

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October 22: Saint John Paul II, Pope 1920–2005 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of World Youth Day Fully prepared, possessing every skill, a pope for the ages makes maximum impact Thirty-three years after the dark cloud of communism had settled over Eastern Europe, on a crisp autumn night, heavy bells across Poland began to s…

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October 20: Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest (U.S.A.) 6:04

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October 20: Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest (U.S.A.) 1694–1775 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Ovada, Italy, and founder of the Passionists He was a marathoner whose “runner’s high” lasted a lifetime After unsuccessfully living the life of a soldier, today’s saint left the military to live a secluded life of prayer for ov…

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October 19: Saints Jean de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and their Companions, Martyrs (U.S.A.) 9:04

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October 19: Saints Jean de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and their Companions, Martyrs (U.S.A.) Saint Jean: 1593–1649; Saint Isaac Jogues 1607–1646; Frs. Gabriel Lalemant, Noel Chabanel, Charles Garnier, Anthony Daniel; and laymen René Goupil and Jean de Lalande Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saints of North America, co-patrons of Cana…

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October 18: Saint Luke, Evangelist 6:09

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October 18: Saint Luke, Evangelist First Century Feast; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of artists, physicians, and surgeons A disciple of Christ gives the Church two foundational works Saint Luke was one of the four Evangelists but not one of the Twelve Apostles. Like Saint Mark, Luke was not among that select group who walked step by step alon…

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October 17: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr 6:19

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October 17: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr c. Mid First Century–c. 110 Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of the Church in Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa An early Bishop-martyr elaborates on Catholic theology Although not the most famous Saint Ignatius in the Church, today’s saint was the first to offer a theology of…

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October 16: Saint Hedwig, Religious 5:35

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October 16: Saint Hedwig, Religious c.1174–1243 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of brides, widows, and Silesia A wife and mother spreads the faith like a bishop On every limb of the tangled branches of Saint Hedwig’s family tree sits a duke, landgrave, prince, king, queen, and count. The roots of Hedwig’s aristocratic tree l…

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October 16: Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin 5:46

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October 16: Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin 1647–1690 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of those with polio, devotees of the Sacred Heart, loss of parents A cloistered nun’s visions of the Sacred Heart impact the Church like a meteor Today’s saint, in the eyes of the world, was nothing special. She grew up in a medium-siz…

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You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do 56:45

2M ago56:45

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Hey Well Read Baddies! We’re back with chapters 29–32 of Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez — and trust us, the drama is drama-ing. In this episode, we talk family reunions, tough choices, and one wild cliffhanger you won’t see coming. We also share what we're watching, and drop some book and show recs you’ll want to add to your list. Whether you’r…

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October 15: Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor 6:31

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October 15: Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor 1515–1582 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of headache sufferers and lacemakers A rich, fiery personality purifies herself and the Carmelites The call for reform of the Church has rung out through the centuries down to today. However, it is largely misplaced. Reform of Church struct…

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October 14: Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr 6:31

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October 14: Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr c. Late Second Century–222 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of cemetery workers A slave takes charge of a catacomb and rises to the papacy Popes owned slaves for centuries to row their boats, cook their meals, and care for their horses and carriages. Kings, nobles, and middle-class…

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October 11: Saint John XXIII, Pope 6:20

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October 11: Saint John XXIII, Pope 1881–1963 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of papal delegates A smart, fatherly priest becomes a warm-hearted pope The first Pope John XXIII was an amoral antipope. He was one of three competing popes between 1409–1417, the confusing, final chapter of the Western Schism whose power struggles…