Outside the Walls

Michael Patrick Barber, Ph.D is Professor of Sacred Scripture and Theology. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and publications, including The Historical Jesus and the Temple: Memory, Methodology, and the Gospel of Matthew (Cambridge University Press) and Paul, A New Covenant Jew: Rethinking Pauline Theology (Eerdmans), co-written with Brant Pitre and John Kincaid.He is an active member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Catholic Biblical Association.Today we talk about his newest book, part of Baker Academic’s series “Catholic Biblical Theology of the Sacraments” entitled, the Bible and the Anointing of the Sick. 

Dr. Victor Carmona serves as Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies and Core Curriculum Director at the University of San Diego. He has spent years applying Catholic Social Teaching to address the fundamental questions of power and justice connected to immigration. He joins us today to discuss those issues and provide a context for how we should meet our current moment.

Fr. Brian Strassburger is the Director of Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries and the Co-host of the Jesuit Border Podcast. He joins us to discuss what he is seeing on the border, as well as a Catholic response to the border and the surge in deportations throughout the U.S.

Ansel Augustine, D. Min, is a minister, speaker, and advocate for social justice with over twenty-five years of experience serving marginalized communities. Dr. Augustine has integrated his faith and his expertise on Catholic social teaching with an unstoppable passion for justice by casting the service net wide to BlackCatholics, youth, young adults, campus students, and prisoners.Dr. Augustine serves as the Assistant Director of African American Affairs at the USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church.He joins us today to talk about his book, Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins, available at Loyola Press.

Fr. Matthew Mary Bartow, a priest with the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word and an Assistant Chaplain at EWTN in Alabama joins us to reflect on the election of Pope Leo XIV, and talk about a proper disposition toward the pope. He shares with us his own journey with Pope Francis, and we talk a bit about how to handle all the media fervor surrounding any new pope.

Sonja Corbitt is the “Bible Study Evangelista” and creator of “the best modernization of lectio" divina: the LOVE the Word® Bible study method and journal. She is a best-selling author and Telly Award winning broadcaster whose weekly show Evangelista Bible Study and other high-impact, multi-media Bible study resources create space for busy Christians to hear and experience God through the Scriptures. Sonja’s work appears on CatholicTV, Catholic radio, and podcast. Learn more at SonjaCorbitt.com.Today we’re talking about her book Love Heals, a study of the Great Commandment, published by Ave Maria Press.

Mark Hart is the chief innovation officer at Life Teen International. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Hart is a blogger, podcaster, and international speaker. He is a research fellow at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.He is an award-winning producer of Bible study DVDs and the author of more than twenty books, including the topic of our conversation today One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass for cycles A, B, and C published with Ave Maria Press.

Dr. Matthew J. Ramage is Professor of Theology at Benedictine College where he is co-director of its Center for Integral Ecology. His research and writing concentrates especially on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, the wedding of ancient and modern methods of biblical interpretation, the dialogue between faith and science, and stewardship of creation. In addition to his other scholarly and outreach endeavors, Dr. Ramage is author, co-author, or translator of over fifteen books, including Dark Passages of the Bible (CUA Press, 2013), Jesus, Interpreted (CUA Press, 2017), The Experiment of Faith (CUA Press, 2020), From the Dust of the Earth: Benedict XVI, the Bible, and the Theory of Evolution (CUA Press, 2022). His most recent book, The Essential Guide to Ratzinger: The Man and his Message is available through Our Sunday Visitor.For more information on Dr. Ramage’s work, visit his website, www.matthewramage.com.Today's show was sponsored in part by SockReligious.

Dawn Eden Goldstein, JCL, SThD, is the author of The Sacred Heart: A Love for All Times available on LoyolaPress.comBorn in New York City, Dr. Goldstein began her working life as a rock-and-roll historian. She went on to editorial positions at the New York Post and the Daily News before publishing her first book in 2006. She is one of only a few women to hold both a doctorate in theology licensed by the Holy See and a licentiate in canon law. Dr. Goldstein’s books have been translated into ten languages. She lives in Washington, DC, and has taught at universities and seminaries in the United States, England, and India. We discuss the development and practice of the devotion to the Sacred Heart historically, and how the practice, in turn, develops us into mature disciples of Jesus.An extra segment is available on our Patreon page.

Gloria Purvis is an author, commentator, public scholar, and the host and executive producer of The Gloria Purvis Podcast. Through her media presence, she has been a strong Catholic voice for life issues, religious liberty, and racial justice. She was Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic of the Year for 2020.She presented a powerful video series entitled Racism, Human Dignity and The Catholic Church through the Word on Fire Institute. She was part of a groundbreaking, exclusive interview with Pope Francis with a delegation from America Media.Most recently, she delivered one of the keynote speeches at the historic National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is the Inaugural Pastoral Fellow at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame University and recently received Honorary Doctorates in Humane Letters from the University of Portland in Oregon and Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities USA.  We talked today about our Christian responsibility not only to avoid acting unjustly, but also to actively oppose injustice.Listen to an extra segment on our Patreon page.

Frederick C. Bauerschmidt is Professor of Theology at Loyola University Maryland and a deacon of the Archdiocese of Baltimore; He is the award-winning author of The Love that is God: An Invitation to Christian Faith on Eerdmans press. He has written extensively on St. Thomas Aquinas, and you can find his most recent book Thinking Through Aquinas, through Word on Fire Academic.Maureen A. Sweeney is Law School Professor and founding director of the Chacón Center for Immigrant Justice at Maryland Carey School of Law.They join us to talk about their recent Church Life Journal article, Ordo Amoris: Wisely Extending Love. 

Dr. Thérèse Scarpelli Cory is the Director of the Jacques Maritain Center and its associated History of Philosophy Forum. Her work is on medieval theories of mind, cognition, and personhood, with special focus on the thought of Thomas Aquinas and his thirteenth-century interlocutors.She is the John and Jean Oesterle Associate Professor of Thomistic Studies at the University of Notre Dame and is a member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas.Today we’re talking about a piece she published in January of 2024 in the Church Life Journal from the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame entitled Migrants and the Unborn: A Culture of Life Versus a Culture of Deterrence.

Colleen Vermeulen is cofounder of CatholicBiblicalSchool.org and a teacher and director with the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an Adult Faith Formation Ministry.She is a contributing writer to the Living the Word Catholic Women’s Bible, and has written a daily guide to reading the bible called Simply Scripture for Lent and Easter which uses daily readings of the Gospel Mark and the Acts of the Apostles over the course of the two liturgical seasons to help foster good Bible Study tools and establish a habit of daily scipture reading.

Fr. George Smiga is on the Faculty of St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology. He writes regularly at buildingontheword.org/  A resource for Scripture, Culture, and Faith. He has written books with Paul’s Press and with Liturgical Press’ Little Rock Scripture Study. Today we’re discussing his book on The Holy Spirit in the Bible. To go through this study on your own, or with others from your parish, visit LittleRockScripture.org

Amy Ekeh, Director of Little Rock Scripture Study at Liturgical Press, faculty at the New England Catholic Biblical School, and adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University, joins us to talk about her new book Stretch Out Your Hand: Reflections on the Healing Ministry of Jesus which is now available from Liturgical Press. (litpress.org)

John Michael serves as a Regional Director for the South Area for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS.org). He joins me to talk about the work of FOCUS on university campuses, his own initial encounter with FOCUS missionaries bringing him to a deeper understanding and commitment to his faith, and the amazing annual SEEK conference hosted by FOCUS.While SEEK is sold out in all three locations this year, you can catch a livestream of the evening sessions on EWTN, or stream more from the app. Learn more at https://seek.focus.org. 

Jill Simons is the Executive Director of Many Parts Ministries which seeks to equip the lay faithful to discern their charism, given by the Holy Spirit at their baptism, to fully engage in sanctifying the world through their lives.She joins me today to talk about her book, The Essential Handbook on Living Your Charisms: A Practical Guide for Catholics, and to explore how our Living our Charisms contributes to the Common Good.For more information about Charisms, read CCC 799-802, and the Apostolic Exhortation, Christifideles Laici, particularly paragraph 24.

Jason Kidd serves as the National Director of Alpha in the Catholic Context. He previously served the Marriage and Family Life Office for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. He yearns to share the radical gospel of Jesus and help build His Kingdom. He joins us to talk about how Alpha equips Catholics to be able to effectively proclaim the Gospel of Christ in a post-Christian context.To learn more, or to bring Alpha to your parish, visit alphausa.org 

Heather Khym is the cohost of the internationally popular Abiding Together Podcast. She and her husband, Jake, are the co-founders of Life Restoration Ministries, where she serves as director of vision and ministry of the British Columbia-based apostolate. She has more than twenty-five years of experience as a speaker and retreat leader, offering workshops and conferences in the United States and Canada. She attended Franciscan University of Steubenville, studying theology and catechetics. Heather is passionate about evangelization, discipleship, and creating an environment for people to have a personal encounter with God.Today we talk about her book Encountering Emmanuel: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation available with small group guides and videos through Ave Maria Press. Today's show was sponsored in part by SockReligious; Check out their amazing offerings for Advent and Christmas, they make the perfect stocking stuffer.

Jason Simon is the president of the Evangelical Catholic, which strives to equip Catholic lay leaders to fulfill the Great Commission.Today we’re talking about his book “Mission-Ready Friendship: A Blueprint for Deeper Relationships and Life-Changing Faith” Published by Ave Maria Press.Today's show was sponsored by SockReligious, one of my favorite ways to instigate conversations about the Faith.

Kenny Burchard serves as the Director of Development at The Coming Home Network, and is a co-host on the podcast ON THE JOURNEY with Matt, Ken, and KennyOut of a passion to help Catholics answer the often-asked question, "Where's That in the Bible?" he launched the growing Catholic Bible highlights video series on YouTube in August of 2024 which has grown to nearly 12,000 subscribers in three months. (https://www.youtube.com/@KennyBurchard)Today we talk about the Catholic perspective on Scripture, and discuss methods for engaging with Bible Study.

Dr. Colin Miller is the Director of the Center for Catholic Social Thought in St. Paul, MN, and lives at the Maurin House Catholic Worker in Minneapolis.  We talk about book We are Only Saved together: Living the revolutionary Vision of Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement published by Ave Maria Press. This book is not a call to become a strange, marginal, or fringe Catholic; it is a call to become fully Catholic by embracing the essential traditions that have always been at the heart of the Church and finding Christ in the places he promised to meet us: in worship, in community, in the poor. Following the little way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (one of Dorothy Day’s favorite saints), Miller shares practical ideas to consider when seeking to encounter Christ in these places, such asexploring the power of shared meals and feasts;reframing our encounters with people in poverty through a surprising look at the Good Samaritan parable;ideas on how to live close to the land;discerning the qualities that bring dignity to our work; andsteps to embrace voluntary simplicity.

Steffani Aquila is a Catholic wife, national speaker, upcoming author, theologian, educator, and expert in the field of liturgical life and Catholic culture. For the past 15 years, she has dedicated her work to Catholic parishes, schools, and institutions, taking on roles in both ministerial and administrative capacities. She invites families and parish communities into a vibrant celebration of the liturgical year through her website https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/ Today we talk about her book, Festive Faith, available on Ave Maria Press. Festive Faith is a treasury of more than seventy festive traditions celebrated in various cultural groups during specific seasons or on particular days of our liturgical year. For each one Steffani shares a brief history, a description of what the custom involves, and practical adaptations for celebrating it today.

Bo Bonner is the Mission Officer at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA and the Co-host of the UnCommon Good.  He recently reposted a brief statement on strengthening the will, which began, "When it comes to the will and the spiritual life, much emphasis is placed on immediately turning away from temptation with a decisive act of will. Indeed, asceticism is rooted in this hope, that saying 'no' to things, even good ones, will make our wills no longer weak but, with the grace of God, able to withstandthe onslaughts of the tempter in every day life. But in some ways in contemporary spirituality discussions this has been hi-jacked..."  We talk through his post and explore ideas about avoiding extremes when it comes to forming the will, and land on some practical, achievable ways of growing in holiness.

Fr. Daniel J. Mahan, a priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, is the first director of the USCCB’s Institute on the Catechism.  He holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm. He joins today to discuss his book A Journey through the Catechism: Unveiling the Truth, Beauty, and Goodness of the Catholic Faith Published by Ave Maria Press. There are corresponding videos and curriculum aids available.

This political season is the perfect time to engage more deeply with the Church's theological and magisterial documents on how best to order society toward the pursuit of the common good. Today we talk with Dr. Taylor Patrick O'Neill and Dr. Matthew Kuhner about an upcoming class "Political Engagement as a Catholic: Principles, Sources, and Historical Engagements" which seeks to unfold the Church’s vision of political authority, the nature and demands of the political community, and the responsibility of the Catholic vis-à-vis political action. The class meets online every other Tuesday, and the registration deadline is September 6.

TJ Bogan is the founder of FindMyCamino.com. He shares with us his experiences as a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago, and the work he does to facilitate pilgrimages for others.

This week, the "socials" have been abuzz in response to a provocative scene in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. There were hot takes by those offended, and hotter takes ridiculing those offended. In this week's conversation, we won't spend much time looking at the inciting events, We won't definitely answer the question of whether blasphemy occurred or not. Rather, I want to take a step back and discern what a holy, and helpful response to Blasphemy and offense might be. I'm joined by Joe Heschmeyer, a staff apologist for Catholic Answers, a frequent guest of this show, and someone I consider a friend. Joe has a proven track record of approaching prickly topics with thoughtfulness and grace. It is my hope that you will find this discussion both edifying and enlightening. Listen and Share.

Julianne Stanz is a Storyteller, author, and encourager,  an internationally known speaker and retreat leader. She is the Director of Outreach for Discipleship and Evangelization for Loyola Press and a consultant to the USCCB. Julianne is the author of five books, including the award-winning Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace. Her new book, The Catholic Parent Survival Guide: How to Answer Your Children’s Toughest Questions, is published by Loyola Press. She is married to Wayne, and they have three children. She was a member of the Executive team for the National Eucharistic Congress and participated in a panel discussion “Rooted in the Eucharist: Living the Mission of the Eucharistic Revival" at the National Eucharistic Revival Congress. We spoke about the things we saw at the National Eucharistic Congress and opined about what Revival looks like after the Congress.

Mike Aquilina, Co-Founder of The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, is a widely recognized Catholic author and lecturer, and popular Church Historian. He is the host of seasons 1-3 of The Way of the Fathers Podcast at CatholicCulture.org Together with Adam Lucas, Mike is the co-author of Feasts of our Fathers : Praying the Church Year with the Early Christians published by Catholic Answers. You can learn more about it at Catholic.com.

Chris Padgett is a popular speaker, musician, and author who has traveled around the world doing ministry. He and his wife, Linda, have been married over thirty years and have nine children.  He joins us to talk about his varied experiences in ministry and the opportunities he's been given, simply by making himself available to the Holy Spirit. We talk about how God uses each of us when we just show up. To learn more about Chris's parish missions and all things ministry, visit ChrisPadgett.com To learn more about Chris and Linda's marriage ministry, visit ChrisandLindaPadgett.com.

Dr. Andrew Whitmore, Associate Professor of Theology and academic dean at Christendom College., is the author of Saintly Habits: Aquinas’ 7 Simple Strategies You Can Use to Grow in Virtue, available through Ascension Press. He joins us to talk about what Virtue is, why it's important, and how we can grow in Virtue.

Dr. Timothy P. O’Malley is the Academic Director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy. He teaches and researches at Notre Dame in the areas of liturgical-sacramental theology, catechesis, and aesthetics. Today we talked about his new book on Ave Maria Press, Behold Believe Become: Meeting the Hidden Christ in Things We See, Say and Do at Mass. There are also free video resources available to help facility the use of this book in Adult Faith Formation and small group studies.

Joel Stepanek serves as the Vice President of Programming and Administration for the National Eucharistic Congress which will take place from July 17th - 21st in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (EucharisticCongress.org) He has served in a variety of ministry and leadership roles, including as a parish youth minister, RCIA team member, and Vice President of Parish Services at Life Teen. Joel is an author and speaker who is passionate about helping people encounter Jesus Christ and sending them out on mission.  We talk about the Congress, about the opportunities available to attendees, and about the place of the Eucharist in our lives. Listen and share, then get your tickets and plan to see me in the exhibit hall at the congress!

Fr. Tim Anastos is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the assistant chaplain at the St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois–Chicago. He serves as a eucharistic preacher for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He joins us to talk about his book Jesus, Make Me Fully Alive: 30 Holy Hour Meditations available on Ave Maria Press.

Constance T. Hull joins us to discuss her recent piece at Catholic Exchange "Is it 'Just' War?" where she shares her experience rethinking her own opinions on the wars we wage through the lens of Just War Theory. Constance is a wife, mother, homeschooler, Navy Veteran, and a graduate with an M.A. in Theology with an emphasis in philosophy. She is published at Catholic Exchange, The Federalist, Public Discourse, and blogs frequently at constancethull.substack.com.

Amy Ekeh is the Director of Little Rock Scripture Study at Liturgical Press. Originally from Texas, she grew up in an Episcopal parish that was deeply committed to liturgy, community, and learning. During her teen years, some members of my parish, including two of our priests, became Catholic.  She serves on the faculty of the New England Catholic Biblical School and is an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University. Her published work can be found in a variety of Catholic publications, including Give Us This Day and The Bible Today.  Her latest book is a new version of the Stations of the Cross. She published three volumes in Little Rock Scripture Study's Alive in the Word series (Lent, Advent, and Finding Peace).  She has a forthcoming book—Stretch Out Your Hand: Reflections on the Healing Ministry of Jesus (Liturgical Press)—will be published in January 2025. We talk about the benefits of studying scripture together.

Michael Grasinski is the Assistant Director of Admissions at Sacred Heart Major Seminary (SHMS.edu). He joins us to talk about the Philosophy of Personalism and its influence on the landscape of Catholic Theology.

Dr. Matthew Breuninger is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Franciscan University of Stuebenville, and the Director of Teaching Excellence. He has research interests in the role of religion in one’s psychological well-being • Attachment to God—the experiences of felt security with God • Understanding the overlap between psychological habits and theological virtues • Virtue formation.  Dr. Breuninger is the author of Finding Freedom in Christ: Healing Life’s Hurts published by Emmaus Road Publishing, and the Co-founder of KNOWN: Embraced by the Heart of the Father.  We talk today about how our own experience of Fatherhood shapes our understanding of who God is as Father, and the accompanying challenges brought on by negative or incomplete experiences of belovedness as a child of our father, coupled with the importance of handing on a good experience of attachment and belovedness to our own children.

Chenele Shaw, is one of the project leads for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which consists of four routes from the four corners of the US converging on Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress. The events take place across the country from May 17th through July 16th. You can find a listing of those events at EucharisticPilgrimage.org.  She also serves as the Co-Director of the Before Gethsemane Initiative, host of the podcast Ave Spotlight with Ave Maria Press, Secretary for The Human Condition Community, and a contributing writer to various Catholic publications, including Grotto Network, The Catholic Woman, and Our Sunday Visitor. Today we talk all about Pilgrimages and what spiritual benefit you can expect from the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. In our Patreon segment we talk all about the Human Condition Community! Learn more at Patreon.com/outsidethewalls. (Photo by Chupich Photography)

Dr. James B. Prothro is an associate professor of Theology and Sacred Scripture and the director of the MA Biblical Studies program at the Augustine Institute just outside of Denver Colorado. Today, we’re talking about his book The Bible and Reconciliation: Confession, Repentance, and Restoration, part of the Catholic Biblical Theology of the Sacraments series from Baker Academic. He is also the author of: A Pauline Theology of Justification: Forgiveness, Friendship, and Life in Christ (Published by Cascade Books) The Apostle Paul and His Letters: An Introduction (Part of the Verbum Domino series on CUA PRESS) The Future of Catholic Biblical Interpretation: Marie-Joseph Lagrange and Beyond (Published by Eerdmans)

Dr. Kevin Clarke, Dean of the Institute for Lay Ministry and Associate Professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, joins us to talk about his 2018 book “The Seven Deadly Sins” from the “Sayings of the Father’s of the Church” series from Catholic University of America Press, and a free, online course on the same topic at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. https://explore.shms.edu/seven-deadly-sins

Dr. Pia de Solenni is the Senior Director of Corporate Engagement at IWP Capital. She is a Theologian, ethicist, and cultural analyst. In addition to various policy and academic roles, Pia was a principal founder of the Global Institute of Church Management. Previously, she served as chancellor and theological advisor to the Bishop of Orange in California. She is an expert in issues relating to Catholicism, Culture, Ethics, the new Feminism, and Church governance, and is a consultant member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas. She joins us today near International Women’s Day to talk about what Pope St. John Paul II called “The Feminine Genius” and the importance of elevating the voices of Women in the Church.

Sr. Nancy is the Director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Culver City, California. She is a Media Literacy Education Specialist, theologian, international speaker, film/TV reviewer, and author of an award-winning theology of popular culture called, A Sacred Look: Becoming Cultural Mystics. Sr Nancy is a Doctoral Candidate in Ministry at Catholic University of America in the area of Liturgical Catechesis and holds degrees in Communications Arts and a Masters in Theology and the Arts from Fuller Theological Seminary, along with certificates in Catechetics and Media Literacy Education. Sr Nancy has extensive experience in the creative aspects of social media, print media, radio and video production as well as in marketing, advertising, retail management and administration.  She joins us to talk about her free Zoom-based, Lenten retreat, iFaith: What's God Have to do With My Media?

Bo Bonner is the Director of the Center for Human Flourishing, and Senior Advisor for Mission Initiatives at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA. He joins us in a discussion to reframe our concept of Lent and Pennance to one of Joy and anticipation. What if we thought of our Lenten preparation the same way we thought about preparing for Date Night with our Beloved.

Dr. Elizabeth Klein is an Associate Professor of Theology At the Augustine Institute, a contributor to Formed, and the author of Augustine’s Theology of Angels and God: What Every Catholic Should Know, which is the topic of our patreon segment this week. She specializes in patristic theology, particularly the writings of St. Augustine. She is the director of the Augustine Institute’s Short Course Program. Klein earned a doctor of philosophy degree in historical theology at the University of Notre Dame, where she also served as a post-doctoral scholar, course instructor, and graduate assistant.  She joins us today to talk about her book Angels and Saints: Who They Are and Why They Matter, published by Ave Maria Press in partnership with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Mark Giszczak, who received his Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America, is a professor of Sacred Scripture at the Augustine Institute just outside Denver, Colorado. He is the author of “Bible Translation and the Making of the ESV Catholic Edition (Augustine Institute), ”Light on the Dark Passages of Scripture (OSV), What Every Catholic Should Know about Suffering (Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press), and He is one of the Series editors for Baker Academic’s Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. He has written the first Old Testament volume for that series on the Wisdom of Solomon. He joins us today to talk about the new commentary volume and the benefit of using biblical commentaries in your own spiritual reading. The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture is available on Verbum.

Dr. John W. Martens is professor of theology and director of the Centre for Christian Engagement at St. Mark's College at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. For four years he wrote the Scripture column "The Word" at America Magazine. He has also written extensively on children in early Christianity, including ‘Let the Little Children Come to Me’: Children and Childhood in Early Christianity (2009), and Children and Methods: Listening To and Learning From Children in the Biblical World (2020). He is an Editor of the amazing new Liturgy and Life Bible from Liturgical Press. He joins us today to talk about Pope Francis use of Scripture around the theme of Mercy, and why Mercy often makes us uncomfortable.

Fr. Patrick Gilger, S.J. is assistant professor of sociology at Loyola University Chicago and contributing editor for culture at America Media. Fr. Gilger’s research lies at the intersection of the sociology of religion, political theory, and the study of the secular. Fr. Gilger is an award-winning author and frequent public speaker. His writing has appeared in publications such as Vox, Church Life Journal, La Civiltà Cattolica, America, and Public Seminar. We talk today about what it looks like to live out our faith in the secular world.

Dr. Joseph Vukov is an Associate Professor in the Philosophy Department at Loyola University Chicago. He is also Associate Director of the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola, and an Affiliate Faculty Member in Catholic Studies and Psychology. Nationally, Vukov also serves as the Vice President of Philosophers in Jesuit Education. His research explores questions at the intersection of ethics, neuroscience, and philosophy of mind, and at the intersection of science and religion. He is a prolific author of articles and monographs including Navigating Faith and Science, and the topic of today’s conversation The Perils of Perfection: On the Limits and Possibilities of Human Enhancement, Part of the Magenta Series at New City Press.