 Romanus the Melodist looms large from his lifetime in the sixth century. Today he is much sung and little known—at least with certainty. Beautiful legends have filled in the cracks of his biography. According to one, he was tone-deaf and non-musical when heaven granted him the gifts of composition and vocal performance. He went on to compose many verse homilies, kontakia, which are still sung in the Eastern churches today. Having lived in Homs, and then Beirut and Constantinople, he introduced Syriac forms and methods into Byzantine liturgical music.     LINKS Romanus the Melodist page at Hymnary.org https://hymnary.org/person/Romanus1?tab=texts Pope Benedict XVI on Romanus the Melodist https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=8216 Romanus on the Resurrection, sung performance https://youtu.be/XT-igWEsIh4 Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio  

Way of the Fathers with Mike Aquilina

49—Romanus the Melodist: Through Hymns, with Hymns, in Hymns

 Though prolific in his words and prodigious in his deeds, Leo was utterly self-effacing. Classically educated, he never quoted the classics. He preached with Gospel simplicity. He strove always to let Christ shine through his sermons and his letters. Yet he made history for three world-changing interventions. It was Leo who stopped Attila the Hun’s rampage through Europe. It was Leo who put a decisive end to the ancient heresies about the natures of Christ. And it was Leo who kept the barbarian Vandals from murdering the Romans and burning the city. Tradition calls him “the Great.” He earned the title. LINKS Leo the Great, Sermon LXXXII: on the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2206 Leo the Great, Letter XCV: to Pulcheria Augusta https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2158 Leo the Great, Tome of Leo Audiobook https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-leo-great-tome-leo/ Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio

48—Leo the Great: Who Roared with the Voice of Peter

 All Christians respected the authority of Scripture, but already in the fifth century the Church was riven by conflicting interpretations of Scripture. A monk in Gaul, Vincent of Lerins, developed a formula to determine true doctrine from false. "All possible care must be taken," he said, "that we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all." Conservative by temperament, Vincent nonetheless allowed for development in religion through the ages. He emphasized the special role of the ancient Fathers as witnesses to authentic tradition. Thus he provided the foundation for the study of patristics — and the production of this podcast! LINKS Vincent of Lerins, Commonitorium https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3506.htm  Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio

47—Vincent of Lerins: Believed Everywhere, Always, by All

 Cyril's uncle was the notorious Theophilus, a ruthless and fiercely competitive churchman — and the old manhood handpicked his nephew to be his successor as bishop of Alexandria. Cyril learned from Theophilus how to orchestrate an international incident and carry it through to the victorious end. But he was very much his own man: a towering intellect, the mastermind of the Council of Ephesus, a prodigious commentator on the Scriptures, and a saint of a different sort. LINKS Socrates Scholasticus, The Ecclesiastical History (Book VII, the story of Cyril and the Council of Ephesus) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2884 Works of Cyril in translation https://tertullian.org/fathers/ John McGuckin, Saint Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Cyril-Alexandria-Christological-Controversy/dp/0881418633  Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio Follow this link to join the Online Great Books VIP waiting list and get 25% off your first 3 months: https://hj424.isrefer.com/go/ogbmemberships/tmirus/

46—Cyril of Alexandria: The Fifth-Century Man from Uncle

 The great ascetic movement was in its first years of explosive growth when John Cassian journeyed from West to East. He visited the communities of monks and hermits in Palestine and Egypt. Though he sought a quiet life, he got caught up in international intrigue and adventure. In his later years he drew together the memories of his years in the desert, and composed two works on the cultivation of virtue and the practices of prayer. LINKS John Cassian, The Conferences (Part 1) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2107 John Cassian, The Institutes https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2106 John Cassian, Seven Books on the Incarnation of the Lord, against Nestorius https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2097 Gennadius, Lives of Illustrious Men (see Chapter LXII) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3079 Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio Follow this link to join the Online Great Books VIP waiting list and get 25% off your first 3 months: https://hj424.isrefer.com/go/ogbmemberships/tmirus/

45—John Cassian, Monk on the Move, Solitary in the City

In this bonus episode originally from the Catholic Culture Podcast, CatholicCulture.org’s director of podcasts, Thomas V. Mirus, interviews voice actor James T. Majewski (Catholic Culture Audiobooks) and author Mike Aquilina (Way of the Fathers) about how they make their shows and the effect reading and studying the Church Fathers has had on them personally. Contents [2:15] James’s training in philosophy and acting as preparation for narrating the Fathers [7:00] How Mike meandered into a career writing about the Fathers [9:27] The original idea for audiobooks and podcasts at The Catholic Culture [15:33] How Mike distills scholarship into an accessible and edifying presentation of early Church history [21:20] The accessibility and affordability of creating a good-sounding podcast [24:16] James’s process for preparing nuanced readings of the Fathers at a rapid pace [33:03] Mike’s and James’s recourse to the intercession of the holy authors they study [37:38] St. John Henry Newman and the early Fathers as masters of media [42:40] The mastery of the Fathers’ work and its relevance today [45:55] The spiritual effects of narrating the writings of saints Links Support CatholicCulture.org’s podcasting efforts https://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Catholic Culture Podcast https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/category/catholic-culture-podcast/ Catholic Culture Audiobooks https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/category/audiobooks James T. Majewski https://www.jamestmajewski.com/ Mike Aquilina https://fathersofthechurch.com/

BONUS: Interview with Mike Aquilina

 Prudentius is the Latin poet most praised from the ancient Church. Phenomenally creative, he invented new poetic forms and genres—and established artistic standards that would hold through the Middle Ages. Scholars as varied as C.S. Lewis and Robert Wilken call him “the first Christian poet,” the first great representative of a real Christian literature. Compared to Prudentius, all earlier Christian poets were dabblers. Upon his model depended such later luminaries as Bunyan, Milton, and Spenser. LINKS The Hymns of Prudentius (Cathemerinon) https://www.gutenberg.org/files/14959/14959-h/14959-h.htm Latin text of two works by Prudentius https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/prud.html Prudentius’s page at Hymnary. org https://hymnary.org/person/Prudentius_AC Study of Prudentius by F.J.E. Raby https://archive.org/details/historyofchristi2edunse_t5b7/page/44/mode/2up Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio Follow this link to join the Online Great Books VIP waiting list and get 25% off your first 3 months: https://hj424.isrefer.com/go/ogbmemberships/tmirus/

44—Prudentius, Poet Laureate of the Western Fathers

 Paulinus was tagged as the most promising poet of his generation—by the most famous poet of the preceding generation. He was supposed to carry the torch forward for his art. And he did, but not in the way the old school had wanted or expected. Instead he fashioned a new esthetic for the empire, a deeply Christian appropriation of the old classical forms. Along the way, he formed a religious community and then served as bishop.   LINKS Letters Of St. Paulinus Of Nola https://archive.org/details/letters-of-st.-paulinus-of-nola The poems of St. Paulinus of Nola https://archive.org/details/poemsofstpaulinu0040paul Hymn “Another Year Completed” in English translation https://hymnary.org/person/Paulinus_Nola Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Join Online Great Books VIP waiting list and get 25% off your first 3 months: https://hj424.isrefer.com/go/ogbmemberships/tmirus Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio  

43—The Pastoral Poems of Paulinus of Nola

 No sane person ever proposed John Chrysostom as a model of diplomacy. His name means "Golden Mouth" and reflects his eloquence. His words, however, proved his undoing when he chose to preach a word of criticism against the Empress Eudoxia. He soon found himself battling for his position as bishop and then for his life. LINKS Works by John Chrysostom https://www.catholicculture.org/search/searchResults.cfm?querynum=1&searchid=2126796&page=1&showcount=10 Letters to Olympias https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2058 Palladius, Dialogue concerning the Life of St. John Chrysostom https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/palladius_dialogus_02_text.htm J.N.D. Kelly, Golden Mouth: The Story of John Chrysostom―Ascetic, Preacher, Bishop https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Mouth-Chrysostom_Ascetic-Preacher-Bishop/dp/0801485738/ Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio

42—Chrysostom (Part 2): Triumph, Tragedy & Glory

 Chrysostom means “golden mouth,” and only one man has credibly borne the title. John Chrysostom may have been the greatest pulpit preacher in Church history. In his lifetime he was also renowned for his asceticism and spiritual counsel In recent years, however, he’s been maligned — and mischaracterized — for his views on marriage and sex. Here we set the record straight with an account of his developing understanding of the one-flesh union and its particular graces. LINKS Works by John Chrysostom https://www.catholicculture.org/search/searchResults.cfm?querynum=1&searchid=2123634&page=1&showcount=10 John Chrysostom, On Marriage and Family Life https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Family-English-Ancient-Greek/dp/0913836869 John Chrysostom, a brief selection of quotations on marriage http://www.scborromeo.org/papers/St.%20John%20Chrysostom%20on%20Marriage.pdf John Chrysostom, Two Letters to Theodore After His Fall https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2059 Palladius, Dialogue concerning the Life of St. John Chrysostom https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/palladius_dialogus_02_text.htm J.N.D. Kelly, Golden Mouth: The Story of John Chrysostom―Ascetic, Preacher, Bishop https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Mouth-Chrysostom_Ascetic-Preacher-Bishop/dp/0801485738/ Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/  

41—Chrysostom (Part 1): Golden Mouth & Golden Mysteries

When Augustine's story is told, it too often ends with his baptism. But the drama of his later years is no less moving. He was as introspective at the end as he had been in his Confessions decades before. He gave his life and work a thoroughgoing review, even as he produced what many consider his masterpiece. His City of God marked the close of an age and the twilight of a brilliant life. LINKS Works by St. Augustine on Catholic Culture Audiobooks https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/audiobook_authors_titles.cfm Saint Augustine. Works and Links (in several languages) http://www.augustinus.it/links/inglese/index.htm Augustine, Reconsiderations (Retractationes) https://archive.org/details/retractationesof00elle/page/n5/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=theater Augustine, City of God https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3274 Allan D. Fitzgerald, O.S.A., Augustine Through the Ages: An Encyclopedia https://www.amazon.com/Augustine-Through-Ages-Allan-Fitzgerald/dp/080283843X/ Erich Przywara, An Augustine Synthesis https://www.amazon.com/Augustine-Synthesis/dp/1625649363/ Vernon J. Bourke, The Essential Augustine https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Augustine-Saint-Hippo/dp/0915144077 Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio

40—Augustine (Part 3): Last Days and the End of an Age

 The drama of Augustine’s life hardly ended with his baptism. The years that followed included his ordination-by-mob, an attempt on his life, and wars of words with at least four major heresies. His years were breathless adventure and busyness, and yet they yielded 44 volumes of work that continues to exercise a profound influence—no only on Christian theology, but on civilization. This is the second of three episodes on his life. LINKS Saint Augustine. Works and Links (in several languages) http://www.augustinus.it/links/inglese/index.htm Augustine, On the Trinity https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3276 Augustine, The Correction of the Donatists https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3296 Augustine, Of the Morals of the Catholic Church and of the Morals of the Manichaeans https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3292 Augustine, On Christian Doctrine https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3275 Augustine, On the Grace of Christ, and on Original Sin https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3309 Erich Przywara, An Augustine Synthesis https://www.amazon.com/Augustine-Synthesis/dp/1625649363/ Vernon J. Bourke, The Essential Augustine https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Augustine-Saint-Hippo/dp/0915144077 Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio

39—Augustine (Part 2): A Mob-Made Bishop Makes His Mark

 Augustine of Hippo is a name that appears on any short list of the most influential intellectuals in the history of the world. He seemed to live several productive lifetimes in the course of his own. In this first of three episodes on Augustine, we examine his early years — from his childhood through his conversion to Christ at age 31. We also consider the profound influence of his mother, Monica. LINKS Augustine, The Confessions https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3102 Possidius, Life of Augustine http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/possidius_life_of_augustine_02_text.htm Saint Augustine: A Voice For All Generations, a documentary film on the young life of St. Augustine https://youtu.be/32bFPD36M8g Torchlighters: The Augustine Story, an animated film for children, on the saint's young life https://youtu.be/IBL6HjC0FiU John J. O'Meara, The Young Augustine, an excellent biography https://www.amazon.com/Young-Augustine-John-J-OMeara/dp/0818908335/ Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio

38—Augustine (Part 1): Youth and Conversion

 Jerome is renowned for his biblical studies and translations, The Church invokes him as Doctor, Father, and Saint. Yet he is just as famous for his curmudgeonly character. He clashed with Augustine and Rufinus, disdained Ambrose and Chrysostom. His insults stand with the best of Mark Twain and Groucho Marx. He is often depicted angry in works of art, and the poet Phyllis McGinley said: “He wasn’t a plaster sort of saint.” Links Justin McClain’s splendid collection, The Quotable Saint Jerome, https://www.amazon.com/Quotable-Saint-Jerome/dp/0813233216/ J.N.D. Kelly’s biography, Jerome: His Life, Writings, and Controversies, https://www.amazon.com/Jerome-His-Life-Writings-Controversies/dp/156563084X/ Jerome, Letter 57: to Pammachius on the Best Method of Translating  https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2362 Jerome, Against Vigilantius (who rejected the veneration of relics and other traditional practices) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2317 Jerome, The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary, against Helvidius https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2314 Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (an early work of patristics) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3078/ Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio  

37—Jerome, the Curmudgeonly Commentator

 Didymus lost his sight at age four, and yet he became one of the most respected theologians on earth. This was in the fourth century, more than a millennium before Braille, audio tech, or other accommodations. Among his renowned disciples were Jerome, Rufinus, and Palladius. His life was long and full, intensely engaged in the controversies surrounding the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation. His story should inspire anyone who hears it. And the story isn’t over yet. Links Jerome tells the story of Didymus and Anthony https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2369 Palladius on Didymus (XXVI) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2886 Sozomen on Didymus https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2885 Socrates Scholasticus on Didymus (XXV) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2884 Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org Donate today! https://www.catholicculture.org/users/donate/audio

36—The Luminous Vision of Didymus the Blind

A podcast about the Fathers of the Church—the foundational figures in Christian history. Hosted by popular Patristics author Mike Aquilina.

hubhopper

Way of the Fathers with Mike Aquilina

hubhopper