75 episodes

A summary of the teachings of the Catholic Church, given to you in short, easy-to-digest episodes, uploaded fortnightly.

Crash Course Catholicism Crash Course Catholicism

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.9 • 63 Ratings

A summary of the teachings of the Catholic Church, given to you in short, easy-to-digest episodes, uploaded fortnightly.

    72 - How Vocation Works

    72 - How Vocation Works

    Does everyone have a vocation? How do I know what my vocation is? Can I say no to God's call? What if I make the wrong choice?

    In this episode, we discuss what it means to live out our call to holiness and apostolate in a unique, personal way.

    Support us on Patreon!
    Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/

    References and further reading/listening/viewing:


    1 Thessalonians 4:3Mark 16:15Pope Francis Gaudete et Exsultate. "Message of his Holiness Pope Francis for the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations"Opus Dei, "What is vocation? Does everyone have a vocation?"Ascenscion Presents"Discern Your Vocation with One Simple Hack""Discerning a Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious Life""I Will Follow—Two Catholic Priests' Vocation Stories""5 Common Discernment Traps and How to Avoid Them (feat. Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.)""Reasons NOT to Discern Religious Life (feat. Stacey Sumereau)""How to Discern Pretty Much Anything"Fr. Columba Jordan CFR, "3 Steps to Discern Your Vocation"Fr. Mike Schmitz "What's My Vocation?""How Do I Know if I Made the Wrong Choice?""Discernment 101""The Key to Discernment""4 Helpful Rules for Discernment"Thomas Keating, Crisis of Faith, Crisis of LoveGeorge Boronat, Going on VocationUSCCB, "Forms of Consecrated Life"Catholic Answers, "Do You Have a Vocation?""Celibacy is a Gift"Pints With Aquinas, "Discerning your Vocation?"Pray Like a Girl, "5 Reasons You Should NOT Discern Religious Life"

    • 29 min
    71 - St. Gianna Beretta Molla: Wife, Mum, Doctor, Saint

    71 - St. Gianna Beretta Molla: Wife, Mum, Doctor, Saint

    St. Gianna Beretta Molla was born in 1922. As a young woman, she wanted to be a missionary but eventually saw that God was calling her to marriage and family life. She became a pediatrician, and she and her husband Pietro had three children. They lived a full and joyful life. When she was pregnant with her fourth child, she was diagnosed with a benign tumour in her uterus. After refusing any treatment that would take the life of her child, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl, before dying of complications from the birth eight days later, at the age of 39.

    St Gianna is the patron saint of mothers, doctors, and unborn children. 

    Support us on Patreon!
    Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/

    References and further reading/listening/viewing:

    St Gianna Beretta Molla's website
    Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla, The journey of our love: the letters of Saint
    Pietro Molla, Saint Gianna Molla: wife, mother, doctor
    National Catholic Register, "5 Things St. Gianna and Her Husband Teach Us About Dating, Marriage and Love"
    Hallow, "St. Gianna Beretta Molla"
    Salt + Light Media, "Pierluigi Molla, on his mother, St. Gianna"
    Aleteia, "St. Gianna’s son: 'She is not only a saint because of her heroic deed'"

    • 29 min
    70 - How Indulgences Work

    70 - How Indulgences Work

    What's an indulgence? How do I obtain one? Is it true that the Catholic church sold indulgences in the past?

    In this episode, we wrap up our discussion on penance and contrition in the lead-up to Holy Week. 

    Support us on Patreon!
    Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/

    References and further reading/listening/viewing:
    Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 1471-79.Pope Paul VI, Indulgentiarum DoctrinaUSCCB, "Indulgences and our Spiritual Life"Catholic Encyclopedia, "Indulgences"Catholic Answers, "Myths about Indulgences""Understanding Indulgences in the Catholic Faith""How to Explain the Doctrine of Indulgences""What is Attachment to Sin?""Primer on Indulgences""What is the sin of Simony?"Ascenscion Presents, "Did the Church Ever Sell Indulgences?""Do Catholics Still Do Indulgences? (feat. Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.)""Absolution and Indulgences: Two Distinct Gifts from God""Giving the Gift of the Plenary Indulgence"The Catechism in a Year "Day 202: How Confession Heals""Day 203: The Purpose of Indulgences"The Catholic Weekly, "Q and A with Fr Flader: Conditions for indulgences"Catholic News Agency, "How to obtain a plenary indulgence during Holy Week 2024"

    • 23 min
    69 - How to go to Confession (and make it a good one!)

    69 - How to go to Confession (and make it a good one!)

    What should I say in the confessional? What happens if I forget one of my sins, or forget to say my penance? Can non-Catholics go to confession?

    This episode is a practical guide for going to confession. 

    Support us on Patreon!
    Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/

    References and further reading/listening/viewing:


    The Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 1480-1484Rite of PenanceA Guide for ConfessionArchdiocese of Washington, "A Guide to Confession"St. Josemaria Institute, "A Short Guide for Confession"Hallow, How to Go to Confession: The Sacrament of Penance/ReconciliationCongregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Rediscovering the Rite of PenanceUSCCB, "Act of Contrition"International Theological Commission, Penance and Reconciliation. Fr Gregory Pine, "How To Have A Great Confession"Fr Columba Jordan CFR, "How to Examine Your Conscience (& Know Your Main Fault)"Fr Mike Schmitz, "Making a Good Confession""Do I need to go to Confession?""Going to Confession for the First Time in a Long Time"Ascension, "Do this one thing before every Confession""A Guided Examination of Conscience"Catholic Answers, "What if I Forgot to Confess a Sin and Remembered it Later?""Confession for non-Catholics""Can non-Catholics go to Confession?"Aleteia, "I went to confession and forgot my penance. What should I do?""Can a non-Catholic go to confession to a priest?"EWTN, "Confession for RCIA Candidate"

    • 27 min
    68 - Lent and Easter

    68 - Lent and Easter

    What are the origins of Lent? Do I have to give something up? Why is there no mass on Good Friday? How long does the Easter season last? (Hint: ages)

    In this episode, we discuss the Lenten and Easter Seasons.

    Support us on Patreon!
    Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/

    References and further reading/listening/viewing:


    Catholic Encyclopedia, "Lent""Easter""Altar of Repose""Abstinence"St. Alphonsus Ligouri, "Stations of the Cross"St. Faustina, "Stations of the Cross"St. Josemaria, "The Way of the Cross"Ascension, "Fr. Mike's Easter Special""How to Celebrate Easter Well""4 Reasons Catholics Must Give Alms This Lent"Catholic Answers,"What You Need to Know About Lent""Why is Christmas Day Fixed but Easter Moveable?""Does God See You?""When Does Lent Really End?""Do We Fast on Sundays in Lent?"Hallow, "What to Give Up For Lent in 2024: Practical Fasting Ideas for Lent""Easter Vigil 2024: Guide to Catholic Easter Vigil Mass, Readings and More""Easter 2024: The Complete Guide to the Catholic Season of Easter"Aleteia, "Can you stay one hour with me? The “Night Watch” of Holy Thursday""When should Catholics genuflect in a church?"

    • 27 min
    67 - Ecumenism and Apostolate

    67 - Ecumenism and Apostolate

    “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19)

    How does the Catholic church dialogue with other faiths and denominations without compromising on the truth? Why is it important to have friends who don't share my beliefs? How can I be genuinely open to others' opinions without becoming relativistic?

    In this episode, we wrap up our discussion of unity and diversity by discussing evangelisation, ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, and apostolate.

    Support us on Patreon!
    Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/

    References and further reading/listening/viewing:

    Matthew 28
    John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint
    Redemptoris Missio
    Address to the Representatives of the Christian Churches and Ecclesial Communities Gathered in Assisi for the World Day of Prayer  
    Catholic Answers, "What is the Doctrine of Ecumenism?"
    "Is Ecumenism a Heresy?"
    Peter Kreeft, "The Importance of Ecumenism"
    "What Catholics and Protestants Can Learn from Each Other"
    Ascension, "Aren't All Churches The Same?"
    Vatican II, Unitatis Redintegratio
    Nostra Aetate
    Dignitatis Humanae
    Apostolicam Actuositatem
    Catholic Encyclopedia, "Union of Christendom"
    "What Is the Lay Apostolate?"
    "That We May Be One"
    Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue,  Reflection And Orientations On Interreligious Dialogue And The Proclamation Of The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

    • 32 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
63 Ratings

63 Ratings

Kfautsee ,

Simply the best!

Caitlin West has done an outstanding job explaining Catholicism in understandable and loving manner. She is a captivating speaker, who often makes me LOL :D

Cappuchicca ,

Orthodox, Straightforward, Adorably Funny

Read about this podcast awhile back in a magazine while on a retreat…fast forward to today, my teenage daughter and I are both obsessed with Caitlin, all of the context, her accent and humor - it’s just such a fun way to keep long commutes in the car interesting and has fostered great conversations. My daughter has shared this with friends and teachers who also have joined the fan club. Can’t wait to keep listening. “K byyyyeeeeeeee!”

sophmt123 ,

A gem of a podcast!

I’m a cradle-Catholic in my mid-20s. Recently, some conversations in which I poorly defended the Catholic Church led me to realize how little I understand my own faith. I found this podcast while searching for something engaging and digestible to strengthen my basics and deepen my knowledge of the Catholic faith in general. I can’t recommend this podcast enough, nor would I be able to thank Caitlin enough for this incredible faith journey her podcast has led me on. She really is a wonderful speaker and very knowledgeable, and I love how often she brings real-world examples and metaphors into her talks. I’ve gone through 20 episodes in less than 2 weeks, and will probably want to listen to them all over again when I’m caught up. It’s perfect for both Catholics and non-Catholics looking to learn more.

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