Best Thomas Mirus Podcasts (2024)

1
St. Aphrahat - On Penitents 35:51

2d ago35:51

35:51

"So the man whom Satan has smitten ought not to be ashamed to confess his sin, and depart from it, and entreat for himself the medicine of penitence. For gangrene comes to the wound of him who is ashamed to show it, and harm comes to his whole body; and he who is not ashamed has his wound healed, and again returns to go down into the conflict." St.…

1
4.16 The Heresies—Eutyches and Monophysitism: A Drop in the Ocean 34:29

3d ago34:29

34:29

The pendulum swings one more time as Eutyches overreacts against Nestorius, and emphasizes the union of the two natures in Christ, to the point of blurring the distinction between them. In this conception of the Person of Christ, the divine nature so overwhelms the human nature that Jesus’ humanity is absorbed and cancelled out like a drop of oil i…

1
St. John Henry Newman - Many Called, Few Chosen 29:53

12d ago29:53

29:53

"Your very perplexity in reconciling the surface of things with our Lord's announcements, the very temptation you lie under to explain away the plain words of Scripture, shows you that your standard of good and evil, and the standard of all around you, must be very different from God's standard." In this sermon from his Anglican period, Newman refl…

1
Church Teaching on Cinema: Pope Pius XI 1:17:51

16d ago1:17:51

1:17:51

In 1936, Pope Pius XI published his encyclical on the motion picture, Vigilanti cura. The encyclical deals with the grave moral concerns raised by the cinema, which had by then become a ubiquitous social influence (though it was also a still-evolving medium, as the transition from silent film to talkies had only recently been completed). Pius holds…

1
4.15 The Heresies—Nestorianism: Two People in One 28:18

17d ago28:18

28:18

The pendulum swings again as Nestorius overreacts against Apollinarius, and emphasizes the distinction between the two natures in Christ, to the point of describing a radical separation of natures. It was as if Nestorius was saying that Christ is not one Person, but two - a divine Person and a human Person, united only as long as the human will sub…

1
Saint Thomas and the Forbidden Birds & the tradition of English verse w/ James Matthew Wilson 1:17:22

19d ago1:17:22

1:17:22

Poet & philosopher James Matthew Wilson rejoins the show to read poems from his new collection, Saint Thomas and the Forbidden Birds, published by Word on Fire; and to discuss the tradition of English poetry, especially with regard to meter. Don't miss the title poem, a verse setting of a passage from Aquinas's Summa Theologiae! Links Saint Thomas …

1
The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 4 (Parables 9-10) 1:12:06

25d ago1:12:06

1:12:06

“Keep his commandments, and you will have a cure for sin.” The Shepherd of Hermas is an apocryphal text written in Rome in the 2nd century. It belongs to the category of "apocalyptic" literature, as it relates a series of revelations given to its titular character, Hermas, who may or may not also have been the work's author. The Shepherd of Hermas …

1
4.14 The Heresies—Apollinarius and Monothelitism: The Word in a Human Suit 24:08

1M ago24:08

24:08

Apollinarius tried to say that Jesus could not have sinned because his human nature had no will of its own. In doing this, he stumbled onto a heresy called Monothelitism (“one-will” christology), which would become a huge controversy later. But a Christ without a human will would be a Christ who is not fully human. He would only be wearing a human …

1
Catholics create huge new ballet: interview with producer, composer, and choreographer of Raffaella 1:44:21

1M ago1:44:21

1:44:21

On June 29 and 30, in South Bend, Indiana, there will be a major and even unprecedented event in the history of American Catholic art: a new, full-length classical ballet production with a new story, new music, new sets and costumes, and nationally known dancers - with a cast of about fifty. This fairytale ballet, titled Raffaella, was commissioned…

1
Wildcat does justice to Flannery O'Connor's faith (w/ Joshua Hren) 1:25:18

2M ago1:25:18

1:25:18

Joshua Hren, editor-in-chief of Wiseblood Books, joins the podcast to review Wildcat, the new Flannery O'Connor biopic directed by Ethan Hawke and starring Maya Hawke and Laura Linney. The film is a respectful and nuanced portrayal of O'Connor and her faith, accomplished by extensive quotation from her prayer journal and letters, as well as several…

1
4.13 The Heresies—Pelagianism and the Seeds of Calvinism 44:32

2M ago44:32

44:32

Pelagius was so optimistic about human nature and the freedom of the will that he went so far as to deny the reality of original sin and the need for infant baptism. Saint Augustine corrected Pelagius and his followers, but in the heat of the debate he went a bit too far in in the opposite direction, and proposed a doctrine of election that the Chu…

1
Malick’s humble camera: The New World (2005) 1:51:25

2M ago1:51:25

1:51:25

The Criteria crew continue their journey through the works of today's most significant Christian filmmaker, Terrence Malick. The New World is an underrated masterpiece about Pocahontas and the founding of Jamestown in 1607. Starring the 14-year-old Q'orianka Kilcher as Pocahontas, Colin Farrell as John Smith, and Christian Bale as John Rolfe, Malic…

1
4.12 The Heresies — The “Spirit-fighters” and the Aftermath of Nicaea 28:41

2M ago28:41

28:41

After the Council of Nicaea, all the same questions that had been asked of the Son of God, were now asked of the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit divine, and worthy of worship? Does worship of the Holy Spirit compromise monotheism? Some who reluctantly accepted the divinity of the Son still refused to accept the divinity of the Spirit, and so they c…

1
178 - Flannery O'Connor's Why Do the Heathen Rage? w/ Jessica Hooten Wilson 40:49

2M ago40:49

40:49

A new book presenting material from Flannery O’Connor’s unfinished third novel shows the great Catholic writer pushing beyond her established fictional territory. Jessica Hooten Wilson returns to the podcast to discuss her book, Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage? A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Work in Progress. Please consider donating to …

1
A study of pastoral prudence: Léon Morin, Priest (1961) 1:04:35

2M ago1:04:35

1:04:35

In occupied France during World War II, a Communist woman named Barny (Emmanuelle Riva) enters a confessional for the first time since her first Communion. She is there not to confess but to troll the priest by saying “Religion is the opiate of the people.” To her surprise, Fr. Léon Morin (Jean-Paul Belmondo) is not thrown off balance, but offers a…

1
177 - "The Catholic Bach": Jan Dismas Zelenka 58:20

3M ago58:20

58:20

Jan Dismas Zelenka was a Bohemian Catholic baroque composer who has at times been called "The Catholic Bach" because his best compositions are on par with those of J.S. Bach, who indeed knew and esteemed Zelenka. This episode covers Zelenka's career at the Catholic court chapel in Dresden with its grand liturgies inspired by Habsburg piety and Jesu…

1
4.11 The Heresies — Arianism: A Man Who Became a God 45:45

3M ago45:45

45:45

Arianism was the fourth century evolution of adoptionism, in which Arius made a concession to the mainstream by accepting a quasi-divinity in Jesus Christ. But this was an acquired divinity, an earned divinity, and a divinity that was less than that of the Father. The controversy led to the first worldwide (ecumenical) council of bishops, the Counc…

1
St. John Henry Newman - The Work of the Christian 27:14

3M ago27:14

27:14

"It cannot be said, then, because we have not to bear the burden and the heat of the day, that therefore we have returned to paradise. It is not that our work is lighter, but our strength is greater." This sermon from Newman's Anglican period was originally preached on Septuagesima Sunday. In it, Newman addresses the misconception that grace exempt…

1
Studies of ambition: All About Eve, The Bad and the Beautiful 1:06:34

3M ago1:06:34

1:06:34

Thomas and James discuss two classic Hollywood films dealing with the moral problems of overweening ambition - specifically in the context of show business. All About Eve (1950), which won six Oscars and features razor-sharp dialogue and an unforgettable performance by Bette Davis, is set in the world of the theater, while The Bad and the Beautiful…

101
The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 3 (Parables 1-8) 1:04:05

3M ago1:04:05

1:04:05

“These mandates are advantageous for those who intend to repent. For, if they do not walk in them, their repentance is worthless. You who repent must cast off the wickedness of this world which wears you down; if you put on every excellence of justice, you can observe these mandates and keep from committing any additional sins.” The Shepherd of Her…

1
4.10 The Heresies — Rebaptism and the Donatists 29:24

3M ago29:24

29:24

In the aftermath of the persecutions, controversies arose over the sacraments, which required clarification of the Church’s sacramental theology. Out of those controversies, new schisms emerged which had a correct understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity, but incorrect understandings of ecclesiology (the doctrine of the Church) and incorrect un…

1
Metaphysical Malick: The Thin Red Line (1998) 1:35:39

3M ago1:35:39

1:35:39

Continuing our trek through the filmography of Terrence Malick, the world's greatest living Christian filmmaker, we arrive at The Thin Red Line (featuring Jim Caviezel in his breakthrough role). This film came in 1998 after Malick's twenty-year hiatus from directing movies, after which he never took such a long break again. Focused on the experienc…

1
4.9 Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Part 2 (The Bad and the Ugly) 36:42

4M ago36:42

36:42

In this second part of a two-part series on Novatian of Rome, Dr. Papandrea discusses the flawed sacramental theology and ecclesiology of Novatian, which led to a schism that not only lasted for centuries, but created a new situation in which a faction could be orthodox with regard to the doctrine of the Trinity, yet not within the mainstream of th…

1
176 - God and the City - D.C. Schindler 1:04:26

4M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

One of the most brilliant philosophers working today, D.C. Schindler, returns to the Catholic Culture Podcast to discuss his latest book, God and the City: An Essay in Political Metaphysics. In it, he draws an analogy between metaphysics as the most comprehensive science in the theoretical order and politics as the most comprehensive science in the…

1
The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 2 (Mandates) 59:01

4M ago59:01

59:01

“Put the Lord in your hearts, then, you who are empty and fickle in the faith. You will then know that nothing is easier, sweeter, or more gentle than these mandates. Be converted, you who walk in the commandments of the Devil, commandments that are hard, bitter, cruel, and foul. And do not fear the Devil either, because he has no power against you…

1
4.8 Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Part 1 (The Good) 37:27

4M ago37:27

37:27

Novatian of Rome is an extremely important, but conflicted, character in the early Church. On the one hand, he clarified and helped define the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity, preparing the Church for the ecumenical councils. On the other hand, he was the central figure of a schism in a controversy over the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.…

1
175 - St. Aldhelm's Riddles, Poetry & Public Service - A.M. Juster 1:19:15

4M ago1:19:15

1:19:15

Today’s guest is a man with two names and two careers. For decades he has been a distinguished poet and translator under the name of A.M. Juster. This is an acronym for his Christian name, Michael J. Astrue, who for many years was a lawyer, biotech executive, and public servant, most notably serving as Commissioner of the Social Security Administra…

1
The Shepherd of Hermas | Pt. 1 (Visions) 54:06

4M ago54:06

54:06

“So I wrote the commands and parables as he bade me. If you hear them and keep them, and walk in them, and fulfill them in a pure heart, you will receive from the Lord what He promised you. But if you hear them and do not repent, or even add to your sins, you will receive the contrary from the Lord.” The Shepherd of Hermas is an apocryphal text wri…

1
4.7 The Heresies – Modalism: God as a Monad with Three Names 40:17

5M ago40:17

40:17

Modalism denies the distinctions between the three Persons of the Trinity, so that God is presented as, not a Trinity at all, but rather a monad with three names. Modalism can be expressed chronologically (the Father became incarnate as the Son) or functionally (the names describe activities like Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer), but either way, in mo…

1
Kiarostami: blurring the line between documentary and fiction 1:08:31

5M ago1:08:31

1:08:31

There are many ways to make a movie. Only a few of those ways fit within the Hollywood mold. We believe that rather than taking pop culture as their sole model, Catholics and Catholic filmmakers should be open to a wide variety of artistic approaches. Thus, in this episode James and Thomas discuss the early career of the great Iranian director Abba…

1
174 - Medieval Mystery Plays w/ Gregory Roper 1:11:36

5M ago1:11:36

1:11:36

Gregory Roper, a professor of literature at the University of Dallas, joins the podcast to discuss medieval “mystery plays” (also called “miracle plays”). In England these plays, often grouped together in cycles spanning all of salvation history, were performed by town guilds for the festival of Corpus Christi. This tradition, which developed out o…

1
St. Francis de Sales - Introduction to the Devout Life | Pt. 5 & Conclusion 48:02

5M ago48:02

48:02

“Consider the love with which our dear Lord Jesus Christ bore so much in this world, especially in the Garden of Olives and on Mount Calvary; that love bore you in mind, and through all those pains and toils he obtained your good resolutions for you, as also all that is necessary to maintain, foster, strengthen and consummate those resolutions. "Ho…

1
173 – Chastity, Integrity and the Desert Fathers – Bishop Erik Varden 1:06:04

5M ago1:06:04

1:06:04

Erik Varden, bishop of Trondheim, Norway as well as Trappist monk, joins the podcast to discuss his new book Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses. Topics discussed include: Recovering the true meaning of the word “chastity” Continence and chastity are not the same thing What the Desert Fathers can teach us about chastity Why we need to meditate o…

1
4.6 The Heresies – The Enigma of Origen and Origenism 26:02

5M ago26:02

26:02

Whether Origen is considered a father of the Church, or a heretic, depends on whom you ask. But everyone agrees he may have been just a bit too smart for his own good. At best, he tried in vain to out-gnostic the gnostics, at worst, he was too influenced by gnosticism. In the end, the Fifth Ecumenical Council declared him a heretic. In this this ep…

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