Eternal Christendom Podcast

di Joshua Charles

The Bible Came from the Catholic Church, Part 1: Old Testament Canon (Dr. Matthew Thomas) | Ep. 73

In this episode, we welcome biblical scholar and protestant convert Dr. Matthew Thomas to discuss the essential role of the Catholic Church in compiling the canon of Scripture, primarily the Old Testament. Dr. Thomas wrote the fantastic introductory essay on the canon of Scripture in the recently published Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testaments, edited by Dr. Scott Hahn and Dr. Curtis Mitch. This is episode 73 in honor of the 73 books of Holy Scripture! Dr. Thomas is the Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, and the Theology Department Chair at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkley, CA. You can read more of his bio here: https://dspt.edu/matthew-thomas/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 04:23 - Scripture, Church Authority, and the Canon 15:57 - Development of Doctrine and the Canon 28:06 - Old Testament Canon 52:37 - Florence, Trent, and the Church's Definitive Canon 01:05:23 - Jewish Canon Traditions, the Septuagint, and the Temple 01:42:18 - How the Apostles Used the Old Testament in the New Testament 01:48:56 - Patristic Evidence: Fathers, Codices, Canon Lists, and St. Jerome 02:03:36 - New Testament Canon, Rule of Faith, and Final Takeaways This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E73

20 mag 2026

2:13:42

Papal Snapshot: The Pope Commissions St. Boniface to Evangelize Pagan Germany | Ep. 72

Today, 1,307 years ago, St. Pope Gregory II commissioned St. Boniface to evangelize Germany and bring it into the fold of the Catholic Church. In this Papal Snapshot, we uncover what his commission reveals about the ancient Church's very Catholic beliefs about the papacy. VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 02:12 - Historical Context 03:18 - St. Pope Gregory II, Letter 4 (May 15, 719) 07:26 - Conclusion This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E72

15 mag 2026

10:01

Papal Snapshot: St. John Chrysostom on St. Peter's Preeminent Authority | Ep. 71

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In this latest Papal Snapshot, we cover the extraordinary descriptions of St. Peter and his preeminent authority among the Apostles by St. John Chrysostom, one of the greatest 4th century Church Fathers. His words have extraordinary implications for papal authority, and come from his "Homily on the Holy Martyr, St. Ignatius of Antioch." VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 03:14 - Historical Context 03:55 - Chrysostom's Homily on St. Ignatius of Antioch 10:51 - Conclusion This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E71

1 mag 2026

12:44

Puritan Pastor in Revolutionary America Becomes Catholic: The Conversion of John Thayer | Ep. 69

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In our first episode since Easter Sunday, and in light of the extraordinary number of new Catholic converts this year, we cover the amazing (and very familiar sounding!) conversion account of the first early American Puritan Pastor to the Catholic Faith. His name was John Thayer. He was known to Benjamin Franklin, and even challenged John Adams on Luther and Calvin. He converted in 1783, the same year the United States won its independence from Great Britain, and later became a priest dedicated to evangelizing his beloved America. Christ is King! Christ is Risen! Alleluia! VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 03:58 - Roadmap 05:16 - Historical Context 11:58 - Conversion: Intro 13:32 - Family Background 15:18 - Traveling to Rome, Prejudice Against Catholics Melting 17:35 - Inspiring Thought at the Pantheon 19:59 - Desiring to Learn the Catholic Faith to Shed Prejudice 25:05 - Catholic Unity of Faith + Diversity of Opinions 28:17 - The Instability of Protestantism 30:38 - Inquiring into the Catholic Faith + Respecting Guardian Angel 32:38 - The Miracles of St. Benedict Joseph Labre 35:50 - Surrounded by Catholic Truth, But Still Unwilling to Convert 37:23 - Discovering "Manifesto of a Christian Knight Converted to the Catholic Religion" 40:40 - Deciding to Become Catholic 41:50 - Final Obstacle: Veneration of Mary and the Saints 45:23 - Greatly Changed Upon Becoming Catholic 48:52 - Conclusion of the Conversion Story 49:42 - Concluding Reflections This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E69

15 apr 2026

52:23

Holy Week 2026: The Cross or Damnation (The Mystery of Lent with the Church Fathers ) | Ep. 68

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM For this Holy Week 2026, we read St. Pope Leo the Great's Good Friday Sermon 70, delivered on April 2, 443, 1,583 years ago! This is the final sermon in our 2026 series "The Mystery of Lent with the Church Fathers," and in it, St. Pope Leo the Great reminds us that for Christians, taking up the cross is not an option. If we refuse, we will be damned. If we accept and endure to the end by God's grace, we will be saved. May we join Our Lord on His Cross as we anticipate the joy of His Resurrection! You can purchase the CUA volume with St. Pope Leo the Great's sermon here: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813228297/sermons/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 04:43 - St. Pope Leo the Great, Sermon 70 (April 2, 443) 17:29 - Reflections and Commentary This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E68

1 apr 2026

50:38

Lent Proves We Are Christians: The Mystery of Lent with the Church Fathers | Ep. 67

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM For this final week of Lent before Holy week, we read St. Pope Leo the Great's Lenten Sermon 40, delivered on March 1, 442, 1,584 years ago! Once more, this great Pope and Church Father presents us with powerful Lenten themes of sacrifice and penance being the marks of true Christians. Lent is what proves we are Christians. If yours has not gone as well as you hoped: it's not over! You still have time to offer generous sacrifices for Our Lord in preparation for the Passover. You can purchase the CUA volume with St. Pope Leo the Great's sermon here: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813228297/sermons/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 10:59 - St. Pope Leo the Great, Sermon 40 (March 1, 442) 19:50 - Reflections and Commentary This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E67

26 mar 2026

48:13

Lent is for Christian Soldiers and Athletes: The Mystery of Lent with the Church Fathers | Ep. 66

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM For this fifth week of Lent, we read St. Pope Leo the Great's Lenten Sermon 43, delivered on February 25, 445, 1,581 years ago! Once more, this great Pope and Church Father presents us with powerful Lenten themes of sacrifice and penance being the marks of true Christians. Lent is indeed the "bootcamp" for Christian soldiers, and the "training field" for Christian athletes. You can purchase the CUA volume with St. Pope Leo the Great's sermon here: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813228297/sermons/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 16:40 - St. Pope Leo the Great, Sermon 43 (February 25, 445) 26:15 - Reflections and Commentary This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E66

18 mar 2026

1:01:21

Conquering Self: The Mystery of Lent with the Church Fathers | Ep. 65

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM For this fourth week of Lent, we read St. Pope Leo the Great's Lenten Sermon 39, delivered on February 9, 441. Once more, this powerful sermon reminds us that the conquering of self is absolutely vital to Christian life and salvation. This great and saintly Pope especially reminds us that three of the most powerful means of doing so is forgiving others, fasting, and almsgiving. May this Lent be arduous and sanctifying! You can purchase the CUA volume with St. Pope Leo the Great's sermon here: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813228297/sermons/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 15:54 - St. Pope Leo the Great, Sermon 39 (February 9, 441) 26:51 - Reflections and Commentary This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E65

13 mar 2026

51:07

We Are Not Christians Without the Cross: The Mystery of Lent with the Church Fathers | Ep. 63

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM For this second week of Lent, we are contemplating Sermon 44 of St. Pope Leo the Great (c. 391-461), which was delivered exactly 1,575 years before the publication of this episode. Like last week's sermon, it is brimming with incredible Lenten insights and vindications of the Catholic Faith, reminding us that we are not truly Christians unless we bear the cross of Christ. May this Lent be arduous and sanctifying! You can purchase the CUA volume we read from here: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813228297/sermons/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 08:38 - St. Pope Leo the Great, Sermon 44 (February 25, 451) 15:52 - Reflections and Commentary This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E63

25 feb 2026

51:39

Ash Wednesday: Entering the Mystery of Lent with the Church Fathers | Ep. 62

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In this Ash Wednesday episode, we enter into Eternal Christendom's traditional Lenten "hiddenness" in which we do audio-only episodes, reading and reflecting on Lenten sermons by the Church Fathers each week until we attain the joy of the Lord's Resurrection. This Lent, we will read the sermons of St. Pope Leo the Great (c. 391-461), a great Saint, Church Father, Doctor of the Church, and Pope. Our first reading will be Sermon 48, delivered on March 13, 455. It is full of insights about our Catholic Faith, as well as refutations of various heresies and errors that are popular in our day. He compares our Lenten preparation for the joy of the "Pascal Feast" (Easter) with cleansing the "temples" of our soul. May we sacrifice greatly for love of Christ this Lent, rightly preparing the temples of our souls! You can purchase the CUA volume we read from here. VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 12:30 - St. Pope Leo the Great, Sermon 48 (March 13, 455) 22:00 - Reflections and Commentary This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

E62

18 feb 2026

57:48

3 di 19