

Way of the Fathers
CatholicCulture.org
A podcast about the Fathers and Doctors of the Church—the foundational figures of Christian history. A production of CatholicCulture.org.
Currently covering all the Doctors of the Church!
Seasons 1-3 were hosted by Mike Aquilina. Seasons 4-5 are hosted by Dr. Jim Papandrea.
1: The Church Fathers
2: The Early Ecumenical Councils
3: Cities of God
4: Heresies
5: Doctors of the Churcch
Episodes marked as bonus are on miscellaneous topics.
Currently covering all the Doctors of the Church!
Seasons 1-3 were hosted by Mike Aquilina. Seasons 4-5 are hosted by Dr. Jim Papandrea.
1: The Church Fathers
2: The Early Ecumenical Councils
3: Cities of God
4: Heresies
5: Doctors of the Churcch
Episodes marked as bonus are on miscellaneous topics.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 25, 2026 • 16min
5.31 St. Teresa of Avila: La Madre
St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) St. Teresa was already being called a saint, and a doctor, within her lifetime. She was a visionary who suffered greatly from physical illness, and spiritual disappointment, when even some of her friends didn't believe that her mystical experiences were real. She eventually convinced the naysayers, founded 17 convents and reformed the Carmelite order, all in the face of extreme opposition, even from the Spanish Inquisition. Links Check out this article on St. Teresa's Teaching: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=7725&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2622568 SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's book on private prayer and devotion in the early Church: Praying Like the Early Church: Seven Insights from the Church Fathers to Help You Connect with God - https://sophiainstitute.com/?product=praying-like-the-early-church Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

Mar 18, 2026 • 27min
New Lives of the Popes podcast, and pilgrimage with Mike and Jim
Way of the Fathers hosts Mike Aquilina and Jim Papandrea get together with producer Thomas Mirus two big announcements: Thomas's new podcast Lives of the Popes (a sister podcast to Way of the Fathers), and Mike and Jim's second "Way of the Fathers Pilgrimage" in Rome and Assisi this October. Lives of the Popes on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lives-of-the-popes/id1885968422 Lives of the Popes on CatholicCulture.org: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/category/lives-of-popes-podcast/ Join Mike and Jim on pilgrimage (not affiliated with Catholic Culture): https://www.206tours.com/cms/papandrea/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Mar 11, 2026 • 19min
5.30 St. Teresa of Avila: Doctor of Prayer
St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) St. Teresa of Avila was the first female Doctor of the Church. She was the co-founder (with St. John of the Cross) of the Discalced Carmelites. A reformer, and a mystic, her books on prayer taught the Church to go deeper, and her famous book, Interior Castle, is a spiritual classic. Links The song God Alone is Enough (based on the quote of St. Teresa of Avila) by John Michael Talbot: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B001C09350?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_AytLlUDfAEjJq9aZT0yQ9KBo5&trackAsin=B001C03R70 The song is on the album Simple Heart: https://troubadourforthelord.net/store/ols/products/simple-heart SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's book on private prayer and devotion in the early Church: Praying Like the Early Church: Seven Insights from the Church Fathers to Help You Connect with God - https://sophiainstitute.com/?product=praying-like-the-early-church Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

4 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 16min
5.29 St. John of Avila: The Master
A lively dive into St. John of Avila’s preaching style and surviving sermons. They trace his influence on reform, clergy training, and the Council of Trent. Conversation covers his spiritual counsel on confession, Eucharist reverence, resisting temptation, and family vocation. Mentorship of Teresa, John of the Cross, and support for the Jesuits also get attention.

Feb 11, 2026 • 13min
5.28 St. John of Avila: Apostle of Andalusia
St. John of Avila (1499 - 1569) In the aftermath of the reestablishment of Christendom in Spain, and at the dawn of the Protestant Reformation, St. John of Avila was a powerful and effective preacher for Catholic reform and evangelization. He brought the people of southern Spain back to the Church, and brought the clergy of southern Spain back to holiness. Links A selection of 8 sermons by St. John of Avila: My Burden is Light: Suffering and Consolation in the Christian Life, translated by Brandon Otto https://tanbooks.com/products/books/my-burden-is-light-suffering-and-consolation-in-the-christian-life/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

Jan 28, 2026 • 23min
5.27 St. Catherine of Siena: Mystic of the Incarnate Word
A lively look at how a 14th-century mystic helped bring the papacy back to Rome. The conversation highlights political drama of Avignon, persuasive letters, and a daring personal visit to Pope Gregory XI. Listeners hear about her theological writings, visions and stigmata, and her role as reformer and spiritual advisor shaping Church history.

5 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 16min
5.26 St. Catherine of Siena: Mother of a Thousand Souls
A lively portrait of a medieval mystic who counseled rulers, negotiated peace, and pressured the church during crisis. She combined hospital nursing and bold preaching with intense asceticism and mystical visions. Stories cover her political interventions, discipleship as a maternal figure, miraculous signs at death, and why she earned lasting recognition.

Nov 26, 2025 • 23min
5.25 St. John Henry Newman: The Doctor of Friendship
St. John Henry Newman (1801 - 1890) - Arguably the most famous convert since St. Paul, St. John Henry Newman defined the method for discerning the difference between legitimate growth and development in the Church, as opposed to the kinds of change that are really a deviation from Tradition and a corruption. Sorting this out led him to lose his trust in the Anglican communion, and in Protestantism in general, and unite with the Catholic Church. He would eventually be a cardinal, and he has been named co-patron of Catholic education, and now there are Newman Centers on college campuses across the US and the UK. Links Check out St. John Henry Newman in Catholic Culture Audio Books - there are over 50 titles, including lectures, poems and meditations, and sermons. The entire text of The Idea of a University is also included. Click this link for the list of titles and links to the audio books: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/audiobook_newman_titles.cfm St. John Henry Newman's reflections on the Blessed Virgin and Marian Doctrines: The Mystical Rose - https://scepterpublishers.org/products/mystical-rose?_pos=1&_sid=6251db2e1&_ss=r Fr. Juan Velez' Holiness in a Secular Age: The Witness of Cardinal Newman - https://scepterpublishers.org/products/holiness-in-a-secular-age-the-witness-of-cardinal-newman?_pos=2&_sid=0e574e4ce&_ss=r&variant=40294599821 SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's latest book is The Original Church: What it Meant - and Still Means - to Be a Christian: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-original-church-what-it-meant-and-still-means-to-be-a-christian Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

Nov 21, 2025 • 1h 30min
The Most Dangerous Man in England: Newman and the Laity - Paul Shrimpton
Cross-posted from the Catholic Culture Podcast with Thomas V. Mirus. Paul Shrimpton assisted in the process of making St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church. He joins the podcast to discuss his involvement in the process, and his new book from Word on Fire Academic, "The Most Dangerous Man in England": Newman and the Laity. During his lifetime, Newman was a controversial figure within the Catholic Church in large part due to his views on the laity and his advocacy for their role in running Catholic schools. Shrimpton's book gives us a picture of Newman's view of the laity not only through his ideas, but through his practical endeavors in the world of education, his pastoral activity, and his deep and abiding friendships with many laypeople. "The Most Dangerous Man in England": Newman and the Laity https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/the-most-dangerous-man-in-england SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Nov 12, 2025 • 26min
5.23 St. John Henry Newman: The Convert Doctor
Explore the life of St. John Henry Newman, a pivotal figure in the Oxford Movement, known as the Convert Doctor. Discover his journey from Anglican priesthood to Catholicism and his influential contributions to Catholic thought. Newman faced fierce controversies and anti-Catholic backlash, yet he advocated for rigorous scholarship and holiness. His legacy includes founding the Catholic University of Ireland and writing profound defenses of Catholic doctrines. Learn about his lasting impact, including his recent recognition as a Doctor of the Church.


