Best St Francis De Sales Podcasts (2025)

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DGT Episode 312 - Lessons From The Soul Of St. Francis De Sales - Letters To Persons In The World Part V 27:30

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17d ago27:30

27:30

As we bring this series of letters from St. Francis to a close I thought it fitting to finish with some letters in which the Saint references his own soul. What were the spiritual lessons that he himself learned on his journey as a Christian engaged in the affairs of the world? By looking at the themes that he evokes in letters about himself we can…

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DGT Episode 313 - In The Pattern Of Paul - Insights Into Leadership Part 1 27:30

8d ago27:30

27:30

The life of St. Paul provides Christians with a wonderful example of what it means to lead in Jesus Christ. In fact St. Paul had to face many of the same challenges we do. In my book, Coached by Paul the Apostle, I try to lay out many of these insights into leadership and in this series of podcasts I try and develop those insights in greater depth …

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Rule of St. Benedict | Ep. 3 - Work, Governance, and Conclusion 55:05

20d ago55:05

55:05

"Prefer nothing whatever to Christ. And may He bring us all together to life everlasting!" The Rule of St. Benedict is a foundational spiritual guide composed by St. Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism, around 530 AD. In this third episode, covering Chapters 39–73, Benedict details daily routines like meals and work, outlines hosp…

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DGT Episode 311 - Courage For The Cross - Letters To Persons In The World Part 4 27:30

25d ago27:30

27:30

One thing a Christian leader can be sure of is that they will be asked to carry the cross with Jesus. But carrying a cross isn’t easy for anybody and few of us embrace it as we should. St. Francis de Sales, and early master of the 1600’s, knew this very well and he wrote to the leaders of this world with encouragement to carry the cross that God ga…

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Rule of St. Benedict | Ep. 2 - Prayer and Community Life 37:22

27d ago37:22

37:22

"We believe that the divine presence is everywhere... But we should believe this especially without any doubt when we are assisting at the Work of God." The Rule of St. Benedict is a foundational spiritual guide composed by St. Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism, around 530 AD. In the chapters comprising this second episode, Bene…

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DGT Episode 310 - Love Purifies The Heart - Letters To Persons In The World 27:30

1M ago27:30

27:30

The letters written by St. Francis de Sales to persons in the world represent wonderful examples of the application of true spirituality to those living amidst the cares of this world. All of us who carry the mantle of leadership in our families or in our businesses have to find ways to keep our spirituality alive and at the same time deal with the…

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BONUS: All About Saints of the First Monasteries (with Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Boniface Hicks) 25:18

1M ago25:18

25:18

A new "Catholic Classics" season with Fr. Mike Schmitz is coming this fall! In the meantime, Ascension has released a new book in the Catholic Classics series titled "Saints of the First Monasteries." Fr. Boniface Hicks, a contributor to the book, joins Fr. Gregory Pine to explore the key patristic texts featured in the book and the lives of early …

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DGT Episode 309 - Sailing Between Vanity And Ambition - Letters To Persons In The World Part 2 27:30

1M ago27:30

27:30

In his letter to Persons In The World, St. Francis de Sales writes admirable advice for those whose vocation it is to live in the world but not be of it. For some Christians involving ourselves in the world is a distraction and others disparage the vocation of business as a temptation that could threaten one’s salvation. But it was not so for St. F…

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DGT Episode 308 - The Secret To Inner Peace - Letters To Persons In The World Part 1 27:30

2M ago27:30

27:30

St. Francis de Sales was the Bishop of Geneva in the early 1600’s. He wrote many wonderful texts of spirituality and is considered a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church. He also wrote many letters, especially to people who were in the world, that is, lay faithful who were entrusted with the charges of family, business, and politics. These letters a…

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Rule of St. Benedict | Ep. 1 - Foundations of Monastic Life 40:02

2M ago40:02

40:02

"And so we are going to establish a school for the service of the Lord. In founding it we hope to introduce nothing harsh or burdensome. But if a certain strictness results… do not be at once dismayed and fly from the way of salvation, whose entrance cannot but be narrow." In this first of five episodes, we begin The Rule of St. Benedict, a foundat…

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DGT Episode 307 - Humble And Deep - The Bold Leadership Of John The Baptist Part 7 27:30

2M ago27:30

27:30

Let’s face it, most of our thoughts about leadership position leaders as folks on the top. People who have pushed the envelope and have succeeded against great odds. Is there anything to say for those who have not gone to the top? People who for one reason or another are in second place. In the life of John the Baptist we can’t help noticing that J…

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DGT Episode 306 - The Power Of A Witness - The Bold Leadership Of St. John The Baptist Part 6 27:30

2M ago27:30

27:30

Anyone who leads in today’s world knows how important it is to stay in the middle. After all if we want to have impact in our world we have to belong to it. And yet are there times when witness is necessary? Or at least an invitation to go deeper than our customary ways? In the life of St. John the Baptist we have the example of someone who was ext…

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DGT Episode 305 - The Power Of Poverty Of The Heart - The Bold Leadership Of John The Baptist Part 5 27:30

2M ago27:30

27:30

The life of St. John the Baptist is a study in detachment. From forsaking the goods of this earth and the relationships of natural human society to going without in his many forms of asceticism to finally letting go to his own claim to glory and his own claim to his disciples. St. John the Baptist was poor in spirit. And yet his influence was extre…

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St. Dionysius the Areopagite - On Minding One's Own Business 29:09

3M ago29:09

29:09

"It is not for Demophilus to set these things straight. For if the Word of God commands us to pursue just things justly... this must be pursued by all justly, not beyond their own fitness." This letter—historically attributed to St. Dionysius the Areopagite, a 1st-century convert of Saint Paul from Acts, but now considered the work of an anonymous …

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DGT Episode 304 - The Art Of Disappearing - The Bold Leadership Of St. John The Baptist Part 4 27:30

3M ago27:30

27:30

Leadership puts us in the spotlight. Like it or not, leaders are out in front. If we follow the ways of the world, the natural prominence of leadership can result in negative consequences like arrogance and self conceit. It was just the opposite, however, for St. John the Baptist. He used his prominence to promote Christ and he learned how to make …

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DGT Episode 303 - Repenting Means Changing Your Thinking - The Bold Leadership Of John The Baptist Part 3 27:30

3M ago27:30

27:30

Most of us know the figure of John the Baptist but not all of us our familiar with his actual message. At the heart of John the Baptist’s proclamation was the phrase “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” What does it mean to repent and how is this essential to our leadership today? In this third part of our series on the bold leadership o…

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St. John Henry Newman - The Oxford Sermons | 2. The Influence of Natural and Revealed Religion Respectively 36:47

3M ago36:47

36:47

"The philosopher aspires towards a divine principle; the Christian, towards a Divine Agent." St. John Henry Newman's Oxford Sermons, delivered during his time as an Anglican preacher at the University of Oxford, were isntrumental in shaping the Oxford Movement, which sought to revive High Church traditions within the Church of England and ultimatel…

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DGT Episode 302 - A Voice In The Wilderness - The Leadership Of John The Baptist Part 2 27:30

4M ago27:30

27:30

Like it or not being in a position of leadership means being at the forefront of change. In many ways this can be intimidating, but if we look at it from a point of view of faith and a call from God the prospects given to us by leadership are exhilarating. We can stand for and do amazing things, things that other people only dream of doing. In many…

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DGT Episode 301 - Born For This - The Bold Leadership Of John The Baptist Part 1 27:30

4M ago27:30

27:30

Amongst all the history of great leaders inspired by faith surely St. John the Baptist is at the top of the list. Not only was his life recorded in sacred scripture as an example to us all but his leadership provides an amazing model for all of us who seek to serve God by the power and influence He has given us. In this first of our series treating…

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St. John Henry Newman - The Oxford Sermons | 1. The Philosophical Temper, First Enjoined by the Gospels 22:50

4M ago22:50

22:50

"The philosopher might speculate, but the theologian must submit to learn." St. John Henry Newman's Oxford Sermons, delivered during his time as an Anglican preacher at the University of Oxford, were instrumental in shaping the Oxford Movement, which sought to revive High Church traditions within the Church of England. In this collection of fifteen…

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St. Vincent Ferrer - On the Purification of Mary 38:15

4M ago38:15

38:15

“This present feast is one of the greater of the whole year... Because there are three grades of sanctity which we celebrate in this feast.” St. Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419) was a Spanish Dominican friar, theologian, and renowned preacher known for his fiery sermons and missionary work across Europe. He was deeply devoted to calling people to repenta…

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The Breastplate Of St. Patrick 27:30

4M ago27:30

27:30

Prayer is to the soul what breathing is to the body, therefore, prayer is essential to everybody. But even more so to those who will lead, who play a position that comes to them from God in our world. Without a doubt each of us has their own way to pray and express their hearts to God, but the Catholic tradition holds many devotions which can help …

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St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Full 9:28:30

4M ago9:28:30

9:28:30

"Be sure that wherever our lot is cast we may and must aim at the perfect life." Written over 400 years ago, Introduction to the Devout Life is still one of the most popular books for those pursuing holiness. St. Francis de Sales explains how to turn that desire for sanctity into resolutions that yield grace-filled results. Themes include: Pursuing…

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DGT Episode 299 - Unleashed Creativity - Leaders In A Broken World Part 4 27:30

5M ago27:30

27:30

At its essence leadership is a question of vision and vision at its heart is a matter of creativity. Although not always comfortable being in charge of an operations means finding an answer no matter what. Great leaders do this in extraordinary ways. But getting to the heart of how to innovate and find new answers means getting to the heart of the …

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Pope Benedict XVI - Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) | Part 2 55:38

5M ago55:38

55:38

“Love is the light—and in the end, the only light—that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working. Love is possible, and we are able to practice it because we are created in the image of God. To experience love and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world—this is the invita…

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DGT Episode 298 - Agents For Growth - Leaders In A Broken World Part 3 27:30

5M ago27:30

27:30

Accepting to lead in the footsteps of Christ means extending the power of His salvific redemption into our world through our work. In brief this means bringing healing bringing peace and doing good in a world that needs it. Seeing our work in this light makes our occupations a mission and makes our duties and instrument of God’s peace. One way we d…

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St. John Henry Newman - Reverence, a Belief in God's Presence 30:54

6M ago30:54

30:54

"They are the class of feelings we should have—yes, have in an intense degree—if we literally had the sight of Almighty God; therefore they are the class of feelings which we shall have, if we realize His presence." This sermon appears among a collection of sermons originally written and preached by St. John Henry Newman before his conversion to Ca…

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DGT Episode 297 - Unifying Diversity - Leaders In A Broken World Part 2 27:30

6M ago27:30

27:30

Leadership is not done in a vacuum. In fact the cultural situation we find ourselves in often influences the decisions we have to make. This is why it is so important for Christian leaders to always remember the importance of their role as leaders in a world that is marked by sin. In today’s episode, the second of our series of Leaders In A Broken …

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DGT Episode 296 - Healers Of The Heart - Leaders In A Broken World Part 1 27:30

6M ago27:30

27:30

Trying to improve our leadership requires a lot from us. It requires study and thought and development of our skills. But sometimes in the midst of all that we can forget why we’re called to lead in the first place. What’s God’s plan for our leadership? Why would he call us to do what we’re doing anyway? Certainly there are many great answers to th…

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DGT Episode 295 - Leaders Under The Law - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas Part 5 27:30

6M ago27:30

27:30

When we are in a position of leadership law can sometimes seem cumbersome. And as Christian leaders we’ve developed our sense of autonomy and freedom and love to the point where many of us wonder why do we need rules in the church at all? Sometimes it can be tempting to say, “those in charge make the rules” and that’s why the life of our Lord can b…

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St. Henry Walpole - Upon the Death of M. Edmund Campion 12:16

6M ago12:16

12:16

"You thought perhaps when learned Campion dies, His pen must cease, his sugared tongue be still; But you forgot how loud his death it cries How far beyond the sound of tongue and quill." In 1581, a young Englishman named Henry Walpole attended the execution of the Jesuit Edmund Campion. As Campion was hung, drawn and quartered, Walpole stood close …

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DGT Episode 294 - Purposeful Poverty - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas Part 4 27:30

7M ago27:30

27:30

The Christian tradition has always recommended that a minister of the gospel live a life of material simplicity. Such a life would guarantee the virtues necessary for proclaiming the gospel in purity. But what does the Church have to say for those engaged in the public sphere of commerce? If a business leader tries to evangelize with their business…

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Pope Benedict XVI - Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) | Part 1 48:17

7M ago48:17

48:17

“This is love in its most radical form. By contemplating the pierced side of Christ, we can understand the starting-point of this Encyclical Letter: “God is love”. It is there that this truth can be contemplated. It is from there that our definition of love must begin. In this contemplation the Christian discovers the path along which his life and …

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DGT Episode 293 - Fitting In So As To Transform - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas Part 3 27:30

7M ago27:30

27:30

When we assume a role of leadership we set ourselves apart from the people that we lead. By definition the leader is at the top or first in line. And leaders in general play positions in society where power is a part of their lives. But what do we do as Christians? Shouldn’t we be the same as every other Christian? And what if our position of leade…

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DGT Episode 292 - The Three Kinds Of Rest - Leadership Lessons From The Summa Part 2 27:30

7M ago27:30

27:30

All of us know that leadership is a demanding thing. Physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. Anyone who stands in front of the crowd and points the right direction will take a beating. And yet strangely this is exactly what God asks us to do. Maybe it’s for this reason that our Lord himself took times to rest. In this second part…

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G.E.M. Anscombe - Contraception and Chastity 1:03:45

7M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

"For we don't invent marriage... any more than we invent human language. It is part of the creation of humanity and if we're lucky we find it available to us and can enter into it. If we are very unlucky, we may live in a society that has wrecked or deformed this human thing." Elizabeth Anscombe was a prominent 20th-century British philosopher, kno…

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Bonus Episode: Epilogue (Story of a Soul) 30:00

7M ago30:00

30:00

As a conclusion to this season of Catholic Classics and to the life of St. Thérèse, Fr. Michael-Joseph provides an introduction to the epilogue of Story of a Soul. His introduction is followed by the reading of the epilogue. In the epilogue, we are given an account of the final months of St. Thérèse’s life. To get your copy of the complete reading …