Catholic Theology Show

Ave Maria University

Presented by Ave Maria University, Dr. Michael Dauphinais, Chair and Professor of Theology, sits down with colleagues and friends to discuss Catholic theology. Ave Maria is a Catholic University located in Southwest Florida. This Catholic podcast covers themes such as the value of a Catholic higher education, religious liberty, how to pray, the philosophies of Thomas Aquinas and more!

  1. 1d ago

    America’s 250th & What Chesterton Saw in America w/ Susan Hanssen | Ep. 197

    Did you know that G.K. Chesterton visited America 100 years ago and wrote about his observations and encountered in the book What I Saw in America?  In honor of the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, Dr. Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Susan Hanssen, associate professor of history at the University of Dallas, to discuss the history of the country through G.K. Chesterton’s eyes.  Together they unpack what Chesterton meant when he said America was “the only nation in the world that is founded upon a creed" of equality, freedom, and governance as well as his prescient and prophetic cautions about the progressivism of the post-WWI era and its creeping totalitarianism and servitude.  Finally, they consider how Chesterton distinguished between what he called America's "shadows" and the great "light of America" that he thought the rest of the world needed to see.  Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States with The Catholic Theology Show!  Public Discourse and writings from Susan Hanssen: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/author/susan-hanssen/ Related Episodes: Catholics in Early America w/ Dr. Michael Breidenbach | Ep. 24 An Introduction to Chestertonian Theology w/ Joseph Pearce | Ep. 21

    1h 4m

  2. Jun 30

    The Feminine Revival: Why the Future of Women Depends on Formation | Ep. 197

    What do women need not just to survive, but to truly thrive in today’s culture?This episode features a conversation on why so many women feel overwhelmed despite having a strong faith, the difference between spiritual formation and human formation, and the habits, virtues, and practical skills needed to flourish. Dr. Michael Dauphinais and January Donovan, founder of The Woman’s School and Catholic Feminine Formation, explore growth mindset versus fixed mindset, how culture shape's identity and self-worth, and the importance of rewiring the mind through truth and repetition. Together, they discuss the feminine genius, the vision of the "New Woman," why Our Lady remains the model of feminine excellence, how success is better understood as wholeness rather than achievement, and the unique role Catholic women can play in leading a culture of renewal. January shares her remarkable personal story of healing, conversion, marriage, motherhood, and the inspiration behind her mission. January shares a vision based off Scripture and the example of Our Lady for helping women recover their God-given dignity, purpose, and confidence. You won’t want to miss listening to this moving and beautiful episode with January Donovan. Resources: January Donovan's Book: Redefine Success For Women: A Proven Blueprint To Design A Fulfilling Life The Woman’s SchoolCatholic Feminine FormationRelated Episodes:Has Contemporary Feminism Failed Women? w/ Dr. Carrie Gress | Ep. 182

    1h 12m

  3. Jun 23

    The Summa for Beginners: Aquinas and Cooperation with Evil w/ Fr. Ryan Connors | Ep. 195

    What is expected of Catholics when every company, institution and system seems morally compromised? Can Catholics buy coffee from companies with immoral policies? Can Catholics pay taxes to governments that fund evil? How are Catholics supposed to live in the world but not be of the world?In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais is joined by Fr. Ryan Connors to explore one of the most difficult questions in Catholic moral theology through the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas. Drawing from his book ‘Rethinking Cooperation with Evil: A Virtue-Based Approach,’ Fr. Connors explains why Aquinas approaches morality not as a system of rules but a path towards freedom, virtue and happiness that ultimately leads to Eternal life. If you struggle with moral anxiety and seek clarity on Catholic ethics or want to better understand virtue and freedom, this episode is for you.Resources:Rethinking Cooperation with Evil: A Virtue-Based Approach by Fr. Ryan Connors (Catholic University of America Press, 2024)https://www.cuapress.org/9780813237251/rethinking-cooperation-with-evil/Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth, 1993) by Pope St. John Paul IIhttps://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor.html Related Episodes: The Summa for Beginners: The Moral Life w/ Fr. Romanus Cessario O.P. | Ep. 164 Aquinas and the Truth of Faith w/ Fr. Michael Sherwin O.P. | Ep. 141

    59 min

  4. Jun 16

    Why We Love The Great Divorce with The Magdala Podcast

    Today's Release is a collaboration with The Magdala Ministries Podcast! Today on the podcast, Rachael Killackey sits down with theologian, podcast host, and Magdala board member, Dr. Michael Dauphinais, to discuss The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. They talk about the healing imagery within this great work, the story of the red lizard and the white horse, and what we can learn about redemption from the souls in the story. Special thanks to The Catholic Theology Show team for editing this episode and lending their studio to us. Please check out their show below! Welcome to a place of honesty, hope, and healing for women struggling with sexual addiction. We’re so glad you’re here.

    52 min

  5. Jun 9

    What Moses Teaches Us about Jesus w/Steve Ray | Ep. 194

    What does Moses have to do with Jesus—and why does it matter for Catholics today? In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, host Michael Dauphinais welcomes back author, filmmaker, and Catholic convert Steve Ray for a sweeping exploration of the life of Saint Moses and his enduring significance for understanding Christ, the Church, and the Sacraments. Drawing from Scripture, Church tradition, and decades of leading pilgrimages through the Holy Land, Steve unpacks how the story of Moses serves as the foundation for understanding Jesus as the New Moses and the Christian life as a New Exodus. Together, Michael and Steve explore the burning bush, the divine name “I AM,” the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, the manna in the wilderness, the Tabernacle, and the Promised Land—revealing how each points forward to Christ and finds its fulfillment in the New Covenant. The conversation also highlights how the early Church interpreted the Exodus as the pattern for Christian initiation, illuminating the biblical roots of Baptism, the Eucharist, Confession, and Holy Orders. Along the way, Steve explains why the Old Testament is essential for understanding the New Testament, why Moses should be honored as a saint, and how the entire biblical story comes alive when viewed through the lens of typology. Whether you're new to Scripture or have studied the Bible for years, this episode offers a rich and accessible look at how God’s plan of salvation unfolds from Moses to Christ—and why the Exodus remains the defining story of every Christian journey from slavery to freedom, from death to life, and from earth to the Promised Land of heaven. Related Episodes: Crossing the Tiber: A Journey to Catholicism w/Steve Ray | Ep. 128

    1h 2m

  6. Jun 2

    Benedict XVI and the Liturgy w/ Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ | Ep. 193

    The sacred liturgy is not a matter of personal preference or style it is the living heart of the Church’s worship and the clearest expression of her faith in Christ. In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Ave Maria University welcomes Jesuit priest, publisher, and theologian Fr. Joseph Fessio, founder of Ignatius Press and founding provost of Ave Maria University. Drawing on decades of theological reflection and his collaboration with Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), Fr. Fessio reflects on Sacrosanctum Concilium and the meaning of actuosa participatio. He argues that true participation in the Mass is primarily interior—an attentive, living union with Christ in His sacrifice—and explores the continuity of the Church’s liturgical tradition, from Latin and Gregorian chant to the Roman Canon and the orientation of prayer. The conversation also engages Benedict XVI’s vision of the “reform of the reform” and the call to recover reverence, silence, and sacred order in the Eucharist. Resources: Catholic World Report – The Mass of Vatican II (Fr. Joseph Fessio essay/talk)https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/10/10/the-mass-of-vatican-ii/ Related Episodes: How to stay Faithful as a Catholic Theologian w/Fr. Fessio The Summa for the Beginners: The Sacraments w/Dr. Roger Nutt

    45 min

  7. May 26

    How to Stop Gossiping and Begin Praising God w/Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. | Ep. 192

    Speech is made for communion—it’s meant to bind people together in truth and charity—but in a fallen world it so often does the opposite, slipping into distortion, division, and harm. In this episode of The Catholic Theology Show, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dominican theologian Fr. Gregory Pine to discuss his book Training the Tongue: Growing Beyond the Sins of Speech. Drawing on the Epistle of James and the moral psychology of St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Pine reframes the task at hand: the goal isn’t merely to “tame” the tongue as if it were a wild animal, but to train it—forming it through virtue so that truthful, charitable speech becomes second nature, and patterns like lying, gossip, and complaint gradually lose their grip. Resources with Fr. Gergory Pine: Fr. Pine's Godsplaining Podcast Official site of the Thomistic Institute, where Fr. Gregory Pine serves as Assistant Director Related Episodes: Spiritual Theology According to Aquinas with Fr. Gregory Pine | Ep. 74The Summa for Beginners: The Moral Life w/Fr. Romanus Cessario | Ep. 164

    52 min

  8. May 19

    Finding God in Nature and in the Church w/Fr. John Nepil | Ep. 191

    Why do the most beautiful places on earth sometimes fill us with deep awe and wonder and yet other times leave us feeling empty? In this episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Fr. John Nepil about his book To Heights and Unto Depths, exploring how the beauty of nature can either deepen faith or become a substitute for it. Drawing from a 486-mile trek on the Colorado Trail, Fr. Nepil reflects on suffering, community, and the search for meaning, while addressing modern philosophies that promote self-creation over communion with God. The conversation also touches on hell, conversion, and how practices like prayer and the sacraments help us rediscover a life rooted in Christ. Relevant Episodes: The Catholic Calling to Environmental Stewardship w/Dr. Shepard | Ep. 96

    1h 1m
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Presented by Ave Maria University, Dr. Michael Dauphinais, Chair and Professor of Theology, sits down with colleagues and friends to discuss Catholic theology. Ave Maria is a Catholic University located in Southwest Florida. This Catholic podcast covers themes such as the value of a Catholic higher education, religious liberty, how to pray, the philosophies of Thomas Aquinas and more!

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