Episode Guide

As recently as a hundred years ago, the ember days were a familiar part of the Catholic year. These quarterly "mini-Lents" were a way to mark the change in the seasons, to thank God for the gifts of the earth, to fast, and to ordain new priests. Made optional in the 1960s, they have almost completely disappeared from the Catholic experience. In this episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about the history of the ember days and why I think we ought to consider bringing them back.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 10/2/23
Length: 

Intro: Patrick D.

References

"Forgotten Customs of Ember Days" article from OnePeterFive, containing a great summary of the history of the ember days.

"The Ember Days" entry from The Catholic Encyclopedia.

"Ember Days 101" article from The Catholic Gentleman. A great guide to incorporating the ember days into life today, including some prayers to use.

The 1917 Code of Canon Law, which contained laws related to the ember days.

Paenitemini. 1966 Apostolic constitution by Pope St. Paul VI that made ember days optional

Throughout the Bible, many mysterious figures appear about whom we know very little. One of these enigmas is the "disciple whom Jesus loved" or the Beloved Disciple who shows up in John's Gospel. Though traditionally identified as the apostle John, the son of Zebedee, scholars have proposed many candidates, such as Lazarus, Nicodemus, and John "the Elder". In this episode of Bonus Points, we examine the evidence to try and solve the mystery of the Beloved Disciple.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 9/25/23
Length: 34 minutes

Intro: Katie P.

References

"Who Wrote John's Gospel?" by Jimmy Akin. Article from Catholic Answers that presents various arguments, with a focus on the "John the Elder" candidate.

"Let's Take a Closer Look at the Mystery of the Beloved Disciple" by Jimmy Akin. Article from the National Catholic Register that chronicles the appearances of the beloved disciple and what each appearance reveals.

Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, edited by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch. The essay that precedes John's Gospel includes a good summary of the authorship debate.

Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: The Gospel of John, by Francis Martin and William M. Wright IV. The introductory chapter to this (absolutely phenomenal) commentary has a more in-depth description of the debate.

Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI. In Volume 1 (From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration), Pope Benedict discusses the authorship debate and presents his preferred theory.

The Case for Jesus by Brant Pitre. His chapter on the authorship of the Gospels contains a thorough review of the evidence and theories.

Church History by Eusebius. This classic work from the era of the Church Fathers is one of the earliest non-biblical historical accounts of the Church, and is referenced several times in the episode.

The Holy Grail - the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper - is one of the most well-known and sought-after relics in Christian history. Considered lost by many, it has inspired quests in everybody from King Arthur to Indiana Jones. But it really lost at all? In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about the history of the grail legend and where I think it might be today.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 9/18/23
Length: 28 minutes

Intro: Sam Y.

References

Articles

"The Holy Grail" from Simply Catholic

"The Real History of the Holy Grail" from Catholic Culture

"Is the Holy Grail Really in the Cathedral of Valencia in Spain?" from Crux

Literary Appearances I Mentioned

"Le Conte du Graal" unfinished poem by Chretian de Troyes, found in The High History of the Holy Grail

Didot Perceval. The prose expansion of "Le Conte du Graal" by Robert de Boron

Joseph de Arimathie by Robert de Boron, which explains how the grail got from Jesus to the grail king in Didot Perceval

The Vulgate Cycle (AKA the Lancelot-Grail) Cistercian collection of Arthur legends, incorporating many of the elements introduced by Robert de Boron and the quest for the grail.

Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory. The "canonical" collection of Arthur legends. Heavily inspired by the Vulgate Cycle. (Volume 1 | Volume 2)

Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach

Parsifal opera by Richard Wagner

The Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: From the Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich The description of the chalice that we cited is found in Meditation IV

The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4)

Other Grail Appearances

The Idylls of the King by Alfred Lord Tennyson

"The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot

War in Heaven by Charles Williams

Taliessin through Logres and The Region of the Summer Stars by Charles Williams

Nova by Samuel Delaney

Lancelot by Walker Percy

Last Call by Tim Powers

Duncton Wood by William Horwood

Monty Python and the Holy Grail via IMDB

Excalibur via IMDB

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade via IMDB

The Fisher King via IMDB

Catholic life is full of prayers and objects, from Rosary beads to saint medals. One of the most popular medals is the St. Benedict medal. Like other saint medals, it has a depiction of the saint on the front. But unlike others, the St. Benedict medal also has an exorcism prayer engraved on it. Is this just superstition, or is it a crucial weapon in the spiritual fight? Find out on today's episode of Bonus Points.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 9/11/23
Length: 21 minutes

Intro: Oliver B.

References

Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1667-1679. This is the Catechism's section on sacramentals, and you can find a good definition in 1667.

"What is the origin of wearing religious medals?" from Catholic Straight Answers. A great article on the history of saint medals.

The Dialogues by Pope St. Gregory the Great, Book II Chapter 3. This chapter tells the story of the broken wine glass from the life of St. Benedict.

The Dialogues by Pope St. Gregory the Great, Book II Chapter 8. This chapter tells the story of how Benedict's raven carried away a poisoned loaf of bread.

"The Medal of Saint Benedict" article from the Benedictine Order's website. 

Miracles are common throughout Scripture, but do they still happen today? There are many who claim that they have received miraculous healings, or that God has communicated with them in a special way. Are any of these genuine? Is there any way to know? On today's episode of Bonus Points, we're looking at the Church's guidelines for investigating miraculous healings and private revelations.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 9/4/23
Length: 35 minutes

Intro: Grace L.

References

Compendium of the Miraculous by Deacon Albert Graham. This encyclopedia catalogues miraculous revelations, apparitions, and mystical phenomena. It also has a fantastic guide to the different types of miracles and the Church's procedure for investigating them.

Heroic Virtue by Pope Benedict XIV. Volume 3 of this book describes the process of investigating miracles, especially as they relate to canonizations.

"‘Miracles of Lourdes’: New EWTN Docudrama Goes Behind the Scenes of Miracle Investigations" article from the National Catholic Register. This article gives background about Lourdes and a good summary of the criteria established by Pope Benedict XIV for investigating medical miracles.

"Regulation of the Medical Board of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints" document from the Vatican. This document describes the functions of the Medical Board that investigates miraculous healings. 

List of approved miraculous healings from Lourdes, France

Verbum Domini by Pope Benedict XVI. This is Pope Benedict's post-synodal apostolic exhortation on the Word of God. In #14, Pope Benedict talks about the role of private revelation in the life of the Church.

"Norms Regarding the Manner of Proceeding in the Discernment of Presumed Apparitions or Revelations" from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This document from the (now-called) Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith contains the Church's official norms for investigating alleged apparitions and revelations.

"Visions, Prophecies, Revelations?" episode of Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World. This podcast episode focuses on private revelation and how revelations are investigated.

"The Message of Fatima" statement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The "theological commentary" section describes private revelation and its role.

In the last episode, we talked about what we know about Mary Magdalene. Today's episode of Bonus Points builds on that by talking about some lessons that I've learned from her. From the value of humility to the importance of contemplation, Mary Magdalene has much to teach us.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 8/28/23
Length: 28 minutes

Intro: Mallory M.

References

Saint Mary Magdalene, Prophetess of Eucharistic Love by Fr. Sean Davidson. Not only is this my favorite book about Mary Magdalene, but chapter 1 provides a comprehensive study of the evidence for identification theory.

Angelus Address from July 23, 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI. This is the source for Pope Benedict's quote about Mary Magdalene.

"Saint Mary Magdalene" page from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This page includes the liturgical preface for her feast day, which we quoted.

"The Story of Mary Magdalene and the First Easter Egg" from the Catholic Company. This article references the traditions about Mary Magdalene and red eggs.

The God Who Loves You by Peter Kreeft. I think this book is the source for Peter Kreeft's "toilet paper tube and toothpaste tube" analogy that we referenced, but it's a good read either way.

Moralia by Pope St. Gregory the Great. Part 2, Book 6, #61 contains his explanation of the story of Martha and Mary that we quoted.

Mary Magdalene is one of the most prominent women in the Gospels, but also one of the most mysterious and misunderstood. From a strong medieval devotion to modern conspiracy theories, Mary Magdalene's name comes up again and again throughout history. In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about what we know about this woman. We're especially focusing on whether Mary Magdalene is the same woman as Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, and the unnamed repentant woman who anoints Jesus in Luke 7. 

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 8/21/23
Length: 34 minutes

Intro: Morgan R.

References

Saint Mary Magdalene, Prophetess of Eucharistic Love by Fr. Sean Davidson. Not only is this my favorite book about Mary Magdalene, but chapter 1 provides a comprehensive study of the evidence for identification theory.

Mary Magdalene in the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich. A compendium of references to Mary Magdalene in the visions that Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich received about the life of Jesus. 

"A Retrieval of the Traditional View of Mary Magdalene From the Fringes of Theology" by Clement Harrold, from the Church Life Journal at the University of Notre Dame. This article provides a good summary of the arguments in favor of identification theory.

"Commentary on the Gospel of John" by St. Thomas Aquinas. In his commentary on the Anointing at Bethany in chapter 12 (#1597-1599) he addresses the identification of Mary.

"Was Jesus Married?" article from Catholic Answers. Though we don't address this question in this episode (we talked about it back in episode 32) this article gives a good summary for those who are curious.

"Christ is Risen! Now Don't Touch Him!" article from Catholic Answers. Another question that we don't talk about in this episode is Jesus' strange words to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection, where he commands her not to touch him.

1,500 years ago, St. Benedict of Nursia wrote his Rule for Monasteries, the most influential document in Western monasticism. The Rule governs every aspect of life as a monk, and is used by thousands of monasteries to this day. The Rule also has plenty to say about the qualities of a good abbot. In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're looking at what all of us can learn about good leadership from St. Benedict's portrait of a good abbot.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 7/17/23
Length: 23 minutes

Intro: Ella L.

References

"Saint Benedict" page from the website of the Order of Saint Benedict. A brief biography.

"Saint Benedict" article from The Catholic Encyclopedia

"St. Benedict of Nursia" page from Catholic Online

"Dialogues, Book II" by Pope St. Gregory the Great. An early biography of St. Benedict and the original source for many stories about his life.

The Rule of Saint Benedict. The complete text of the Rule.

"Do you not know that all the drivers race the race, but only one wins the Piston Cup?" St. Paul never said that, but he might have if he had seen the Pixar classic Cars. Thanks to the toddler who controls my TV, I've now seen Cars somewhere around a thousand times, and I have some thoughts. On today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about the spiritual lessons we can learn from Lightning McQueen.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 7/10/23
Length: 23 minutes

Intro: Ashley L.

References

"Pursuing restorative justice amid the Church’s sex abuse crisis" Interview from The Pillar with the founding director of the Initiative on Restorative Justice and Healing, which includes a great discussion of the concept of restorative justice.

"Letter 118 (To Dioscorus)" by St. Augustine. Chapter 3, paragraph 22 contains St. Augustine's famous quote about the importance of "humility, humility, and humility"

Luke 1. The Visitation

The Dialogue by St. Catherine of Siena, a record of her conversations with God the Father. This episode included a quote from Book 1 (A Treatise on Divine Providence)

1 Corinthians 12. St. Paul's comparison of the Church to the Body of Christ and the function of different parts of the body

When I was preparing for Confirmation in eighth grade, I chose St. Peter as my Confirmation saint. I chose him because I had forgotten to do the assignment where I was supposed to research different saints and prepare a presentation, and I was confident that I could talk about St. Peter off-the-cuff. Since then, he's had a lot to teach me, so I guess he doesn't have any hard feelings about the way I chose him. On today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about some of those lessons that I've learned from the School of (the) Rock.*

*This is the only rock-related pun in the episode. I promise.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 7/3/23
Length: 28 minutes

Intro: Patrick D.

References

"St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles" entry from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Matthew 14. Peter walks on water with Jesus, briefly.

John 21. Peter's reconciliation with Jesus on the beach.

Matthew 16. Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah.

Acts 2. Peter's sermon on Pentecost.

Acts 4. Peter's trial before the Sanhedrin.

"The Acts of Peter and Paul" an apocryphal document that gives us the "Quo Vadis?" story.

I know that it's a cliche to talk about how transformative it is to become a parent, and I know that I'm certainly not an expert as a father. But I also know that being a parent has taught me a lot about prayer, and experiencing my own fatherhood has had an effect on my experience of God's fatherhood. In this episode of Bonus Points, we'll explore some of those lessons, and some ideas about prayer that have developed since I became a dad. 

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 6/26/23
Length: 33 minutes

Intro: Katie P.

June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart on the Friday following the feast of Corpus Christi. In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about this devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: where it comes from, how it works, and why it's one of my favorite devotions. ❤️‍🔥

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 6/13/23
Length: 35 minutes

Intro: Asa R.

References

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Fr. John Croiset, SJ. One of the first books on the Sacred Heart, written by one of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque's confessors and spiritual directors. 

"Devotion to the Sacred Heart" page by the Sisters of Carmel. A comprehensive website detailing the history of the devotion and its practice today.

"Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus" at PrayMoreNovenas. Get each day's novena prayers emailed to you directly, so you never forget!

"Understanding the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and What it Means" by Bishop Donald Hying. A bishop's experience of devotion to the Sacred Heart.

"Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque" page at Franciscan Media. A brief biography of the saint whose visions brought popular attention to the Sacred Heart. 

"The Sacred Heart and the Eucharist" essay by Fr. John Hardon, SJ. In addition to what the title says, it also talks about the Sacred Heart as a response to Jansenism.

"Jansenius and Jansenism" article from The Catholic Encyclopedia. 

Haurietis Aquas by Pope Pius XII, an encyclical "On Devotion to the Sacred Heart" from 1956.

"Letter of John Paul II on the 100th Anniversary of the Consecration of the Human Race to the Divine Heart of Jesus" letter by Pope Saint John Paul II.

Bonus Points is back from its spring-semester hiatus, and we're ready for an awesome new season! It's been some time since the last episode, so it seemed fitting to make this episode about, well, time. As Catholics, we have many ways of marking different parts of the day, the week, and the year. We even have some celebrations that only happen a few times each century! On today's episode, we're talking about some of the ways that we mark time as Christians, their Old Testament roots, and why this is so important to begin with. 

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 6/12/23
Length: 

Intro: Natalie P. and Kate Y.

References

Deuteronomy 6. This chapter contains both the words of the Shema prayer ("Hear, O Israel...") but also the command to pray it multiple times each day.

Genesis 2. This is the origin of the Sabbath, when God completes creation and rests on the seventh day.

Leviticus 25. This chapter contains the instructions for the Jubilee year that was celebrated every 49 years.

Iubilaeum2025.va, the Vatican's official website for the upcoming ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025. 

"The Catholic Day, Week, and Month" from Fish Eaters, a Catholic blog. This page contains information about some of the traditional practices associated with different times of day, each day of the week, and each month. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 1, Article 3. This section of the Catechism is about the third commandment and why we celebrate the Lord's Day. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part 2, Section 1, Chapter 2, Article 1. This section of the Catechism deals with how the liturgy corresponds with different times and seasons. 

Past episodes of Bonus Points. The following episodes were either referenced or relate to today's topic:

• Episode 12: Why Pray to Saints?

• Episodes 16 and 17: The Triduum

• Episode 33: The Liturgy of the Hours

• Episode 39: Give It a Rest

• Episode 44: Living in the Present

• Episode 46: Halloween is a Catholic Holiday

• Episode 49: Why I Love the Rosary

• Episode 55: The Theology of Memory

Each year at the Easter Vigil, we hear the Exultet (or Exsultet), also known as the Easter Proclamation. Not only is it an announcement of Christ's victory, it's also a whirlwind tour through salvation history. Oh, and it talks about bees more than the average song. In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about some interesting parts of one of my favorite prayers of the liturgical year.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 4/11/23
Length: 34 minutes

Intro: Sam Y.

References

The Exsultet on the USCCB's website. This is the (English) text of the Easter Proclamation.

"The Power of Christ's Blood" by Saint John Chrysostom. This excerpt from the Third Instruction of his Catecheses is read in the Liturgy of the Hours on Good Friday, and quoted in today's episode. Hosted on spiritualdirection.com. 

Sometimes when we pray, we have a very tangible experience of God's love and closeness. Prayer is enjoyable, and we feel like we could spend all day in the chapel. Other times...not so much. What causes dryness in prayer? What can we do about it? On today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about what to do when you don't want to pray.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 3/27
Length: 28 minutes

Intro: Oliver B.

References

Spiritual Theology by Jordan Aumann, OP. A great book about mystical theology as a whole, including development in prayer. Here is a PDF version.

The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin. This might be one of my favorite books of all time, and certainly my favorite book on the spiritual life.

Introduction to the Spiritual Life by Brant Pitre. A good overview of the stages of the spiritual life, the types of prayer, 

A little over a week ago, I was part of a class trip to Washington, DC. Between the bus ride and the museums, I had a few thoughts in my head throughout the day about what spiritual value we can take from the idea of a field trip. On today's episode of Bonus Points, we'll talk about how field trips remind us of the need to "go out" as a Church, the importance of our incarnational and sacramental worldview, and how field trips remind us that God is in control, not us.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 3/13
Length: 24 minutes

Intro: Grace L.

References

"The Problems with Reformed Theology’s Penal Substitution Teaching" article from Catholic Stand. A good article about the idea of "penal substitution" salvation and why we don't believe in it as Catholics.

Catechism of the Catholic Church Part 2. The section of the Catechism dealing with the sacraments

Everybody knows that food is important for us physically. If you don't eat, you will die. But food is much more than just fuel to sustain our bodies. Food is about tradition, culture, and what it means to be family. In this episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about what food can teach us about the meaning of tradition.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 2/27
Length: 28 minutes

Intro: Mallory M.

References

"Tradition" song from Fiddler on the Roof.

"Traitor" entry from Etymonline. The etymology of the word "traitor"

"Trader" entry from Etymonline. The etymology of the word "trader"

The Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 74-100. This section talks about Sacred Tradition, and its relationship with Sacred Scripture.

Consuming the Word by Scott Hahn. You really can't go wrong with Scott Hahn. This particular book focuses on the relationship between Scripture and the Eucharist in the early Church.

The Lamb's Supper by Scott Hahn. The first book I ever read from Dr. Hahn, and it changed my life. It focuses on the connection between the Mass and the Book of Revelation.

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre. This book looks at Old Testament types of the Eucharist, including the Passover meal. 

Cooking with the Saints. Recipes inspired by the saints and their cultures, to put the "feast" in feast days. 

The Vatican Cookbook. Recipes that have been served in the papal dining room.

Last time, we talked about how monastic life is not just for a select few, but is the "reference point for all Christians" according to Pope Saint John Paul II. We focused on the three evangelical counsels and how they apply to all of us, not just monks and nuns. In today's episode, we're looking at what other lessons we can learn from the monastery, from the value of a stable routine to the importance of the Word and the centrality of the Eucharist. 

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 2/20/23
Length: 27 minutes

Intro: Morgan R.

References

Orientale Lumen, Pope Saint John Paul II's encyclical on the Eastern Churches

"Breathing With Both Lungs" episode of What God is Not, an Eastern Catholic podcast. This episode is about Orientale Lumen.

Divine Intimacy, a book of daily meditations inspired by Carmelite spirituality

In the West, we sometimes think of the monastic life as one "option" among many. It's good for those who are called to it, but doesn't have much to offer the rest of us. In the Eastern Catholic world, however, the monastic life is seen as the ideal to which all Christians aspire. John Paul II called it the "reference point for all the baptized" in Orientale Lumen. In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about how to live like a monk no matter what state of life you are in. 

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 2/6/23
Length: 26 minutes

Intro: Ella L.

References

Orientale Lumen, Pope Saint John Paul II's encyclical on the Eastern Churches

"Breathing With Both Lungs" episode of What God is Not, an Eastern Catholic podcast. This episode is about Orientale Lumen.

Divine Intimacy, a book of daily meditations inspired by Carmelite spirituality

For most of history, having a good memory was essential for success. Today, most of us are content to "outsource" our memories to our phones and the Internet. But perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to forget the importance of remembering. This episode of Bonus Points will offer some reflections on the spiritual significance of memory, especially its role in the liturgy.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Release Date: 1/30/23
Length: 

Intro: Ashley L.

References

Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer. The book that inspired this episode.

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Dr. Brant Pitre. In one chapter, he discusses the Passover sacrifice as it is described in Exodus, as it was celebrated in Jesus' day, and how it connects to the Eucharist.

The Mishnah. Pesachim 10:5 talks about the connection between the yearly Passover and the first Passover.

"Memory: Human and Divine" at The Catholic Thing. This article helped me build on some of the ideas in the episode.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paragraphs 1363-1365 talk about "memory" as it applies to the Eucharist. These are the paragraphs I quoted at the end.

Do you know what animal is mentioned most in the Bible? Or where to start reading your Bible in the first place? This installment of Question & Astle includes a little bit of everything, from the existence of the multiverse to the end of the world. 

On this episode, we discuss:

• Are all angels male? 

• What animal comes up most in the Bible?

• I want to start reading my Bible more, but I don't know where to start. Any advice?

• Can Christians believe in the multiverse theory?

• If the multiverse is real, does God see every universe, or just ours?

• Can the Vatican declare war on another country?

• Why didn't the Pharisees try killing Jesus again after the Resurrection?

• Revelation describes the Euphrates drying up. Are we living in the events of Revelation?

• Is swearing a sin?

A note from Mr. Astle: I haven't been making episodes consistently the last few weeks - sorry! The end of our grading period (always a busy time) coincided with oral surgery that kept me from speaking for a few days. Now that things are settling down (and mouths are healing) we should be back to normal.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Release Date: 1/23/23
Length: 28 minutes

Intro: Patrick D.

References

"Angels" article from The Catholic Encyclopedia.

Daily Mass readings from the USCCB

"The Bible in a Year Podcast" with Fr. Mike Schmitz

"Multiverse" article from Encyclopedia Brittanica 

The Secretariat of State's page on the Vatican website

"States of the Church" article from The Catholic Encyclopedia for more information about the Papal States

Matthew 28. Includes the reaction of the chief priests to hearing about the Resurrection. 

"What is the Mark of the Beast?" episode of Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World podcast. In the episode, he also explains the difference between a futurist, preterist, and idealist reading of Revelation.

"Swear words, etymology, and the history of English" article from Oxford University Press. (Article does contain some language, naturally.)

"Am I really not allowed to cuss or swear?" article from Catholic Answers

Thanks to Nativity sets and Christmas cards, you probably have a pretty clear mental image of Christ's birth. Amid the shepherds and animals, we often imagine three lavishly-dressed travelers bearing gifts. Each January, the Catholic Church celebrates the arrival of the Magi, but how much do you really know about these wise guys? In this episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about the Magi: who they were, where they came from, and what prompted them to traverse afar.

Website: https://www.BonusPointsPodcast.com

Release Date: 1/5/23
Length: 32 minutes

Intro: Katie P.

References

Matthew 2. Along with chapter 1, this is Matthew's infancy narrative. This chapter includes the Gospel account of the Magi.

Matthew 2 (Interlinear). This is an interlinear version of Matthew 2, so it shows the original Greek along with a word-for-word English translation. This shows the use of the term magoi, which we translate as "Magi" or "wise men".

"Magi" article from the 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia. A good general resource with substantial information, especially regarding the origin of the Magi.

"Mysteries of the Magi" article by Jimmy Akin. A Catholic Answers article with historical and patristic sources related to the Magi, as well as possible natural explanations for the Star.

"Mysteries of the Magi" episode of "Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World" podcast. This episode covers a lot of the same information as the Catholic Answers article.

Histories by Herodotus. Considered the first work of history in Western literature (circa 430 BC). Book 1, Chapter 101 lists the tribes of the Medes, including the tribe of the Magi. Book 1, Chapter 132 describes the Magi's role in offering sacrifices. Book 7, Chapter 37 describes the Magi interpreting the stars for Xerxes to foretell the result of a battle. 

Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar calls upon Magi in his court to interpret a dream for him.

Dialogue with Trypho by St. Justin Martyr, circa 160 AD. In chapter 78, he claims that the Magi came from Arabia. 

Against Marcion by Tertullian, circa 210 AD. In Book 3, Chapter 13, Tertullian claims that the Magi came from Arabia.

The Stromata by St. Clement of Alexandria, circa 210 AD. In Book 1, Chapter 15, he describes the Magi coming from Persia.

Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything (And Still Does) by Scott Hahn. Chapter 9 is all about the Magi.

"Wait. Did the Holy Family Go to Egypt or the Temple? A Quick Survey of Answers." by Tom Hoopes at Ex Corde. This article presents several ways of resolving the apparent contradictions between Matthew and Luke's infancy narratives.

"Chronology of the Life of Jesus Christ" article from the 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia. This article includes a section on the infancy narratives.

Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI. The third volume of Pope Benedict's masterwork examines the infancy narratives, including the role of the Magi.

Contra Celsum by Origen of Alexandria. Book 1, Chapter 60 includes Origen's explanation of the symbolism of the three gifts.

"Eucharistic Celebration On the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord: Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI". Pope Benedict's 2013 homily, which was quoted at the end of the episode.