Catholic Heritage with Dr. Italy
276 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsDr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Church historian, speaker, and author, delivers highly interesting and engaging reflections on Catholic tradition, teaching, and cultural heritage. Find out more about his ministry and discover countless free Catholic resources at www.dritaly.com.
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Episodes
John the Baptist's Birthday - Cause for Celebration
June 23, 2023 10:00 - 8 minutes - 4.05 MBOn June 24, the Church observes a solemn feast in honor of the birth or nativity of John the Baptist. No other saint's birthday is celebrated with such solemnity. The unique role of the Forerunner, the Voice crying out in the Wilderness, in the history of salvation is part of the reason. But also the Church wants to draw our attention to the witness of John's character. It teaches us much about the path to holiness and the Kingdom of God.
St. Thomas More, Courage, & Integrity
June 21, 2023 10:00 - 14 minutes - 6.69 MBIn the Roman liturgical calendar, St. Thomas More shares his feast of June 22 with St. Paulinus of Nola and St. John Fisher. Often, he is overlooked or forgotten. But he is one of the most inspiring models for fathers, husbands, and statesmen, indeed for just about anyone living in a society that finds the teaching of Jesus inconvenient and annoying. Listen to this podcast and find out how this man managed to carry on an amazing spiritual and family life in the midst of the most crushing ...
Meaning of the Sacred Heart
June 16, 2023 10:00 - 6 minutes - 3.07 MB7 minute podcast by Dr. Italy focusing on the true meaning of the Sacred Heart of Jesus based on the chief scriptural text connected with this feast and devotion.
Why Call God "Father"?
June 14, 2023 10:00 - 8 minutes - 3.95 MBFather's Day brings up a very good question -- in this post-feminist era, why should we stick to calling God "Father"?? Isn't this just a relic from a bygone, patriarchal culture. After all, if God is spirit, he is neither male nor female. Sonrise Morning show host, Anna Mitchell asks such questions of Dr. Italy who shares from the bible, the Tradition, and the teaching of the Catholic Church just what it means when we say God is Father as well as what we don't mean. You'll love his insi...
Holy Thursday - Eucharist, The Body of Christ
June 07, 2023 10:00 - 6 minutes - 3.18 MBHoly Thursday, the night of the Last Supper aka the Lord's Supper, the institution of the Holy Eucharist -- why did Jesus do what he did and say what he said? What did he mean when he said "This is my body and this is my blood" and "Do this in Memory of Me"? And what does the Catholic Church mean by talking about transubstantiation and the body of Christ? All this is remembered & celebrated on the Feast of Corpus Christi.
The Magnificat - Mary as Queen of Humility, Queen of Praise
May 30, 2023 10:00 - 8 minutes - 3.7 MBIn this 7 minute podcast, Anna Mitchell of the Sonrise Morning show interviews Dr. Italy on the profound meaning of the Magnificat, Mary's canticle uttered on the occasion of the Visitation, and how it manifests her as the Queen of Humility and the Queen of Praise. Also discussed is the beautiful place where this event took place, Ein Karem and the Church built there to commemorate this blessed event.
Holy Spirit, Promise of the Father
May 25, 2023 10:00 - 8 minutes - 3.93 MB6 minute podcast in which Dr. Italy explains why Jesus called the Holy Spirit “the Promise of the Father” and how God’s promises are fulfilled in the gift of Pentecost which is repeated in every baptism and confirmation.
Pentecost Power
May 23, 2023 10:00 - 15 minutes - 7.13 MBWithout the Pentecost, the gospel is not really "Good News." Many people actually experience Christianity as bad news. The Ten Commandments were impossible for even King David to keep. Though Christians are justified by grace through faith and receive friendship with God as a pure gift, they are still called to live the gospel lifestyle, as portrayed by the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. Trying to do this on will-power alone is a pure recipe for guilt and frustration.
Ascension of Christ & The New Evangelization
May 19, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 2.68 MBThe Solemnity of the Ascension celebrates many things, among them the Great Commission to preach the gospel to all nations. Thus, it is a fitting time to ponder the call of Pope John Paul II to a “new evangelization.”
The Ascension - He who Humbles Himself will be Exalted
May 18, 2023 10:00 - 8 minutes - 3.93 MB6 minute podcast on the Ascension of Jesus Christ as the illustration of Jesus' words - he who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. Featuring Dr. Italy and Sonrise Morning show hostess Anna Mitchell.
Holy Spirit - Paraclete and Advocate
May 11, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 2.63 MBThe Holy Spirit, aka Holy Ghost, is the third person of the Trinity but is generally the least known and appreciated. In calling him the Paraclete or Advocate. Jesus hints at what the Spirit does and why he is so important. A reflection for the 6th Sunday of Easter.
Jesus the way the truth the life 5th Sunday Easter A
May 06, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 5.34 MBIn John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Is this not narrow and close-minded? How many times have you heard something like this: “As long as you believe in God and try to be a good person, your religion doesn’t matter.” “There are different paths up the same mountain, but they all lead to the peak.”
Jesus the Way The Truth and The Life
May 04, 2023 10:00 - 7 minutes - 3.63 MBDr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio In this 7 minute podcast, Sonrise Morning Show Host Anna Mitchell interviews Marcellino D’Ambrosio about the groundbreaking study from Ascension Press: Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. Dr. Italy spend most of 2019 writing and filming a ground-breaking Bible study on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life, published by Ascension Press. Carried out in collaboration with renowned Catholic bible teachers, Dr. Edward Sri and Je...
Abundant Life From the Good Shepherd
April 26, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 2.65 MBJesus is the Good Shepherd because he leads us to green and verdant pastures where the food is ample and of the best quality. He wants us to thrive, not survive, so that the world might be able to see where abundant life is to be found.
Mercy, Love's response to Suffering
April 14, 2023 10:00 - 12 minutes - 5.81 MBWhen people think of Lent, they most often associate it with what they are going to "give up." Though fasting is a pillar of Lenten penance, so is prayer and what is most often referred to as Almsgiving. But almsgiving strongly suggests giving money. Though lack of money is sometimes the cause of people's suffering, it is only part of the story. Mercy is love's response to suffering -- all types of suffering, including loneliness and rejection. In this podcast, Dr. Italy provides a few ...
Mount of Olives, Bethany & Lazarus
March 28, 2023 10:00 - 6 minutes - 3.1 MBJesus, like all Jewish men, was obliged to travel to Jerusalem at least three times a year, and probably often went more often. The most popular route led through Perea, on the east bank of the Jordan river, across to Jericho, and then 18 miles uphill through the Judean Desert.
Raising of Lazarus - Death & Resurrection - 5th Sunday of Lent A
March 24, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 7.92 MBThe gospel story of the raising of Lazarus found in John 11 shows us why Jesus can love some friends and disciples more than others, why death is not natural and beautiful, the difference between resurrection and resuscitation, and the deeper meaning of Jesus' miracles or "signs" as they are called in the John's gospel.
Man Born Blind, Sacraments & the Lion of Judah - 4th Sunday of Lent A
March 17, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 7.33 MBThe gospel story of the healing of the man born blind is notable for the method Jesus used to work this miracle - he made mud with spittle and clay and rubbed it on the man's eyes. This is a figure of the sacraments in which the Lion of Judah communicates his healing power through earthy realities like water, oil, wine and bread.
St. Joseph - Father of Faith
March 15, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 5.4 MBSaint Joseph always appears in Manger scenes during Advent and Christmas time and even has a special Solemnity or Feast in his honor, St. Joseph's Day, March 19. But he is so often neglected that St. John Paul II decided to write a special teaching about his role as foster-father of Jesus. This essay makes a case that St. Joseph teaches us some crucial things about the nature of faith that we can't afford to forget.
Meaning of Lent & the Samaritan Woman - 3rd Sunday of Lent A
March 10, 2023 11:00 - 5 minutes - 8.16 MBIn them, we recognize ourselves. For many of us, then, Lent is time for the spiritual equivalent of New Year’s resolutions. We set aside forty days to work on ourselves so we don’t end up wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years. We do things to burn off the excess fat that’s weighing us down, try to improve our spiritual diet, and do some meaningful spiritual exercises to strengthen the spiritual muscles we call “virtues.”
What We Believe: The Beauty of the Catholic Faith
March 05, 2023 11:00 - 41 minutes - 60.6 MBWhat is the Catholic Church all about? Do you know what it means to be Catholic? What do Catholics actually believe? The Catholic Church is extraordinary. Founded by Christ himself, the Catholic Church is where we encounter God in his Word, his sacraments, and his saints. The Church faithfully proclaims the fullness of faith, leaving no truth out. It proclaims the fullness of life, leaving no person out. It calls all to repent and to believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the sou...
Abraham & the Transfiguration - 2nd Sunday of Lent A
March 03, 2023 11:00 - 5 minutes - 7.77 MBImagine: you are ten years past customary retirement age. It’s time finally to kick back and relax. You live in a great city where everything is at your fingertips – shopping opportunities, cultural events, all your relatives and lifelong friends. Suddenly an unknown God appears and tells you to pack up, uproot your life, and march into an uncivilized wilderness.
Lent - 40 Lenten Ideas to Get More Out of the Season
March 01, 2023 11:00 - 15 minutes - 7.22 MBLent is supposed to be a season of a successful journey through the desert of penance to a new land and a new, deeper, intimacy with God. But often, we find ourselves going back to the same old Lenten pathways of past years and end up getting nowhere. My aim here is to put into your hands some fresh Lenten ideas to help you approach the season in a new way so Lent can become for you the experience of lasting change that it is intended to be.
Temptation of Christ in the Desert - 1st Sunday of Lent A
February 22, 2023 11:00 - 5 minutes - 7.42 MBThe Temptation of Jesus in the Desert is the gospel of the first Sunday of Lent. The purple color of Lent symbolizes penance, but also royalty. As we remember how the first Adam was tempted and failed his test, we rejoice that Christ the King, the New Adam, triumphed over the tempter. We celebrate that we, sons and daughters of the same heavenly King, can also win the battle against temptation. A reflection on the scripture readings for the First (1st) Sunday of Lent, Jesus' temptation...
Hildegard of Bingen - an Introduction
February 18, 2023 12:00 - 5 minutes - 7.36 MBIn this 5 minute interview on the Sonrise Morning show, Dr. Italy discusses the amazing life and talents of St. Hildegard of Bingen, the medieval Benedictine abbess renowned for her visions, compositions, and prolific body of written work. Pilgrims on Dr. Italy’s 2023 Rhine Cruise will be visiting her relics and some of her monasteries.
Surpass the Pharisees - Cut it Off!
February 10, 2023 11:00 - 5 minutes - 2.35 MBWe so often condemn the Pharisees that we totally miss a sneaky way that we are often like them. The hard saying of Jesus "if you hand causes you to sin, cut it off" is a kind of shock therapy to wake us up to the way we are hard on other's faults yet quite soft on our own. It's time to take aggressive action against evil and say "no thanks" to the near occasion of sin! For the 26th Sunday in Ordinary time, cycle B.
Salt of the Earth, Light of the World
February 04, 2023 11:00 - 5 minutes - 4.76 MBYou are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, proclaims Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. This seems to indicate that there is an essential role for passion, excitement and fire in the Christian life.
The Poor in Spirit, the Lazy and the Beatitudes
February 03, 2023 01:18 - 5 minutes - 5.05 MBThe Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes challenge us all. When Jesus calls blessed the poor in spirit and those hungry for righteousness, he is also condemning the self-satisfaction that leads to sloth, a deadly disease that's risen to epidemic proportions in the Western world.
Presentation of the Lord - Candlemas, Candles & Light
February 01, 2023 11:00 - 6 minutes - 6.08 MBFebruary 2 is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple. It commemorates Simeon's famous prophecy that Jesus would be a "light of revelation to the Gentiles." It is also known as Candlemas since it is the day that candles are blessed for use throughout the Church year.
Baptism of the Lord and the Sacrament of Confirmation
January 09, 2023 11:00 - 5 minutes - 2.46 MBThe Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan closes the Christmas Season. This reflection on the scripture readings for the feast also provide us insight into the sacraments of baptism and Confirmation and give us food for meditation as we say the first luminous mystery of the rosary.
Nazareth Then and Now
December 29, 2022 11:00 - 6 minutes - 3.14 MBIn this 7 minute podcast, excerpted from a national radio interview, Dr. Italy describes what the town of Nazareth was like in the time of Jesus and what it is like to visit it today on pilgrimage.
Thanksgiving - Naaman & the 10 Lepers
November 23, 2022 11:00 - 5 minutes - 5.19 MBThe Bible stories of Naaman the Syrian and Jesus' healing of the 10 lepers shows us that gratitude is an obligation of justice. To remember the source of our blessings and to give thanks is exactly why some countries, like the USA and Canada, dedicate a national Thanksgiving holiday. And why Catholics have a "Sunday obligation" to attend the Eucharist.
Speyer - Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire
November 21, 2022 11:00 - 7 minutes - 10.1 MBDr. Italy continues his "virtual tour" of sites on his upcoming Rhine pilgrimage, exploring the city of Speyer, Germany, in this 7 min. radio interview. Speyer has its beginnings in a Roman settlement, but in the early Middle Ages, it became an important center and imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. Speyer's cathedral is one of the earliest and most magnificent examples of the architectural style know as Romanesque.
Christ The King - Second Coming in Glory
November 18, 2022 11:00 - 5 minutes - 2.36 MBThe belief second and final coming of Jesus as sovereign Lord and judge of the world is common to all Christians, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant. It is commemorated each November in the Roman Catholic Feast of Christ the King, a celebration that inspires both hope and a salutary fear.
3 Prayers You Might Not Be Praying … and Why You Should Start Praying Them
November 16, 2022 11:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBIf you’re not praying, you’re not going to get very far in understanding your faith or being able to help others grow in theirs. Historical theologian Dr. Italy (Marcellino D’Ambrosio) explains three prayers of the Church to help you deepen your own prayer life and help others deepen their prayer lives as well. Listen and come away with a better grasp of the Church’s teaching on prayer, as well as several very practical ways to incorporate these three specific prayers into your own life and ...
Rapperswil – Switzerland’s Hidden Gem
November 15, 2022 11:00 - 6 minutes - 8.55 MBOur Rhine pilgrimage has been nicknamed "the pilgrimage of the hidden gems.” Many of the sites and saints we'll be considering are not necessarily household words in the USA of the 21st century. But what precious discoveries await those who will be coming!
What History Can Tell Us About Jesus on Every Knee Shall Bow
November 09, 2022 11:00 - 42 minutes - 22.6 MBA thorough understanding of the world Jesus lived in is vital to a thorough understanding of Jesus himself. Mike talking to Marcellino D’Ambrosio, a.k.a. “Dr. Italy” founder of Crossroads Initiative and co-author of Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life about the historical context of the Old Testament, the world in which Jesus began his ministry.
Zurich, a Lake, and Two Churches
November 08, 2022 11:00 - 6 minutes - 9.02 MBOur Rhine Cruise Pilgrimage in 2023 takes off from the breath-takingly beautiful city of Zurich, Switzerland. In this 6 minute radio interview with Anna Mitchell, host of the Son Rise Morning Show, Dr. Italy discusses the ancient history of this city and some of the incredible churches there that will be stops on the pilgrimage.
Lucerne, Capital of Catholic Switzerland
October 24, 2022 10:00 - 6 minutes - 9.44 MBIn this 7 minute radio interview on the Sonrise Morning Show, Dr. Italy highlights a destination on his upcoming 2023 Rhine pilgrimage that is known for it's spectacular beauty - the city of Lucerne, Switzerland. But more than just the majestic setting of Alpine mountains and lakes, the city offers a long and rich Catholic history to explore. What many today don't realize is that the city has its roots in a monastery of the early Middle Ages, and unlike most of its neighbors, Lucerne stood f...
Evangelization 101
October 21, 2022 10:00 - 39 minutes - 17.9 MBIn this episode of Ascension Rountable's Podcast, Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio (aka Dr. Italy) puts the New Evangelization into the context of Catholic history from the days of the Church of the Catacombs down to the present time. The early Christians grew from a group of 120 at Pentecost to ten percent of the Roman empire in about 300 years. How did they do it? Dr. Italy discusses this and other key times in Church history, explaining what's so New about the New Evangelization and what about...
Strasbourg, the Capital of Christmas
October 19, 2022 10:00 - 8 minutes - 11.5 MBThe ancient city of Strasbourg, sitting on the border of France and Germany, is a blend of cultures influences, with roots that go back to the Celts and Romans. In this 8 min. interview from Catholic radio, Dr. Italy discusses the fascinating history of this town known today as the "Capital of Christmas". But the heart of the town is its stunning cathedral, Notre Dame de Strasbourg, which took four centuries to complete. This will be one of the first sites visited on the 2023 Rhine Cruise...
The Black Madonna and Abbey of Einsiedeln
October 12, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutes - 9.85 MBIn this 7 minute podcast from the Sonrise Morning show on Catholic radio, Dr. Italy continues his discussion of the amazing saints and shrines of the Rhine River area - this time focusing on St. Meinrad and the beautiful Abbey of Our Lady of Einsiedeln, located near Zurich, Switzerland. During the time of Charlemagne, Meinrad, a Benedictine monk, journeyed to the hinterlands of Switzerland and Germany, seeking the solitude of the wilderness to live as a hermit. He carried with him a miraculo...
Amazing Cathedral of Cologne
October 05, 2022 11:00 - 7 minutes - 10.3 MBIn this 7 minute radio interview on the Sonrise Morning Show, Dr. Italy continues a discussion on our Catholic heritage inspired by his upcoming pilgrimage cruise along the Rhine River. The featured site explored in this interview is the amazing Cologne (or Köln, in German) Cathedral and its fascinating history and significance.
Spiritual Warfare and the Sword of the Spirit
September 28, 2022 11:00 - 8 minutes - 3.75 MBPodcast in which Dr. Italy identifies spiritual warfare as underlying the current malaise in the world and America. A spiritual battle can only be fought effectively with spiritual weapons, first and foremost being the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
What We Believe: The Beauty of the Catholic Faith
August 29, 2022 11:00 - 7 minutes - 10.7 MBIn this 8 minute radio interview with Anna Mitchell from the Sonrise Morning Show, Dr. Italy discusses his new study series, What We Believe: The Beauty of the Catholic Faith, published by Ascension Press. This study aims to help people come to a greater insight and understanding of all aspects of the Catholic faith, but also to help them live the faith and follow Jesus in a more exuberant way. Our faith is not just a belief system or code of ethics, it’s a dynamic relationship with God, and...
The River of Tradition: A Rhine Pilgrimage Cruise
August 22, 2022 11:00 - 7 minutes - 10.9 MBIn this 7 minute excerpt from a national radio interview, Dr. Italy describes his recent journey to Poland, Austria and Bavaria. He then goes on to describe his upcoming Rhine pilgrimage Cruise focusing on the River of the Catholic Tradition and the extraordinary saints whose stories will be told along the way.
Blessed Franz Jagerstatter A Hidden life
August 17, 2022 11:00 - 7 minutes - 3.21 MB5 min podcast discussing Terence Malick’s film, A Hidden Life, which tells the story of World War II martyr of conscience, Blessed Franz Jagerstatter and his equally heroic wife Fani. Terence Malick recently directed a film about a simple Austrian farming couple whose alpine paradise was shattered by the trauma of World War II. A Hidden Life tells the story of Franz and Fani Jägerstätter who were both persecuted mercilessly for Franz’s refusal to take the oath required of every soldier, a ...
Saint Clare of Assisi
August 10, 2022 11:00 - 13 minutes - 6.26 MBBut St. Clare deserves more than a footnote appearing in a life of another saint. Unlike Francis, she was a noblewoman, being groomed to marry a wealthy knight or even duke, but she forsook a life of privilege to live in the same abject poverty as St. Francis and his earliest disciples, founding a woman’s branch of the Franciscan Order. Despite her austerities and constant poor health, she nursed Francis in his final days of suffering and blindness and outlived him, going on to become an a...
Transfiguration on Mount Tabor
August 05, 2022 11:00 - 13 minutes - 6.26 MBPodcast discussing the beauty of Mount Tabor and the glory and meaning of the Transfiguration, a pivotal event in the life of Jesus that Catholics celebrate every August 6. 14 minute interview of Dr. Italy by Sonrise Morning Show radio host Anna Mitchell. The Transfiguration was indeed a pivotal event in the life of Jesus and his three closest disciples, Peter, James and John. Right after Peter confesses him to be the Messiah and Jesus makes clear that he would be a suffering messiah, th...
Cana, Best Wedding Venue Ever!
July 06, 2022 20:59 - 7 minutes - 3.42 MB7 minute Podcast describing the town of Cana in Galilee, site of the wedding feast of Cana. A famous place of pilgrimage that celebrates marriage provides a memorable opportunity for the renewal of wedding vows.