A Soundseeing tour with Paul, his son Chris, and Fr. Julian Haas, OFM Cap., of the Capuchin Curia in Rome, of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where soon pilgrims will be able to see the newly confirmed tomb of the Apostle to the Gentiles. We learn all about the martyrs celebrated this week in the Octave of Christmas. The Seat of the Soul in the Foot? Hear what an orthopedic surgeon listener has to say about that. Christmas traditions from Italy, Sweden, St. Lucy's Cuccia and more. . . New Saints and Blesseds for the coming year, and a noted author and Vatican insider comes to the SaintCast to discuss the process of canonization next week. All this and more on this week's SaintCast. Special thanks to Kathy Couture for production assistance and script writing. Songs from this episode . . . "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem," at www.dustyhughes.com "Good King Wenceslas," from www.thanksmuch.com Podcasts mentioned on this episode . . . Phedipiddations at www.Steverunner.com

Learn Dutch on the SaintCast! . . More on Sinterklaas from dutchgrammar.com, St. Isidore looks down on Boston College, Fr. Jay Finelli on the Saints in the Mass, St. Jeopardy quiz answer, More on Church Doctors, The Saints of the Week, and a great quote from St. John of the Cross on this week's SaintCast. Music from Garageband.com Noche de Paz by Mike del Ferro, Stille Nacht by Thorvald Thanks to Bieneke Berendsen of the dutchgrammar.com podcast More on Silent Night at http://silentnight.web.za/history/index.htm

On this SaintCast Extra, we profile the real, St. Nicholas of Myra, delve into legends surrounding his life, and discuss modern day customs related to Sinterklaas! We learn about and pray to the Saints of Advent. From Xavier and Ambrose, to John the Baptist, Lucy, and Thomas, St. Nicholas, and of course, Mary and Joseph, there are great saints to look to every day this month. St. Jeopardy returns with a St. Nicholas-related trivia question, and we continue our profile of the Doctor of Prayer, St. Teresa of Avila, who once remarked to God, "If this is how you treat your friends, it's no wonder you have so few!" Songs from this episode . . . "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," by the Dean Krippaehne at www.garageband.com "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" by Chet Heflin, at www.sibeliusmusic.com "Vihuela Duets of Valderraban" by Duo Chambure, at www.magnatune.com "Chants of Russian the Russian Orthodox Church" by Monks and Choirs of Kiev Pechersk Lavra, at www.magnatune.com Songs from the Album, Christmas Celebration, by Cynthia Jordan and George Winston, at www.cynthiamusic.com St. Nicholas link - www.stnicholascenter.org Steve the Jazzman Bauer at www.jazznotes.net

This SaintCast is sponsored by Terri of Jefferson City, Missouri. Who are the 'Doctors of the Church?' In this episode we introduce a new segment on the Doctors of the Church, and profile our first Doctor, Teresa of Avila. A number of great Saints in the calendar for this week including Francis Xavier, St. John Damascene, St. Juan Diego, and Jolly Old St. Nicholas! The new TV series on neurosurgery . . DOA after only 3 episodes. '"3 lbs. we hardly knew you." More audiofeedback on the Seat of the Soul, and a Saint book review from the CatholicComuter, at catholiccomuter@blogspot.com. Gratefully, no SaintCast crooning on this episode, but great podsafe Advent music from Dusty Hughes, at dustyhughes.com, and Saintly music from the Notre Dame Liturgical choir.

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, Paul posts the latest SaintCast. We review the new American TV series called "3 lbs." about the "seat of the soul", the human brain. The diocesan phase for the cause for canonization of Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I, has been forwarded to the Vatican. We include a prayer for his intercession. News of a medical miracle attributed to his intercession in southern Italy. What is the Tau Cross of St. Francis? Tune in for the answer. Check your closets for any pieces of Renaissance art. A British citizen did and found 2 works of Blessed Fra Angelico, worth over 2 million pounds! We tell the story. A bit of a trick question on last week's St. Jeopardy, but several international listeners correctly named Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini as the first American citizen to be canonized. Please continue to pray for the success of the SQPN fund drive. Consider sponsoring a SaintCast for someone you love or your own special patron Saint. A link to the novena to St. Maximilian Kolbe is included below. Finally, who is your candidate for the Patron Saint of Podcasting? Let me know on the voice feedback line, skype to pjcamarata, or e-mail me. http://libsyn.com/media/rosaryarmy/MaximilianNovena.mp3

Join us on a Soundseeing tour of the University of Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana, USA. We pay a brief visit to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (more to come), and statues around campus. The long-awaited answer to our last St. Jeopardy is revealed! Help out SQPN by Sponsoring a SaintCast - dedicate one to your favorite Saint, a friend, or a loved one. We'll profile a special Saint, just for you. News of a new miracle has reached the Cause for Canonization of John Paul II, in the healing of someone with incurable cancer in southern Italy. The Patron Saint of artists, stem cell discussions, and lots of feedback, on this week's SaintCast.

Happy All Saints Day! We travel to Spain today to hear Brother Giles taking part in a centuries old custom. . . in a cemetery. The history of All Saints Day, and it's relationship to Halloween. Duped by an e-mail from Africa . . . . More than you ever wanted to know about Operating Room Music. We finish up our tribute to the Eight North American Martyrs, and preview a new book on Saints, Saints Behaving Badly. Visit the SQPN blog at SQPN.com to comment on the book, or any others. Music for this show. . . November, by Someday Company, from garageband.com, Levenah Rising from the album Samadhi, by Christopher of the Wolves, from Magnatune.com Saints Behaving Badly, by Thomas J. Craughwell. Links to North American martyrs - http://www.silk.net/RelEd/canadianmartyrs.htm#lalande

Happy St. Crispin's Day to all! SaintCast #29 profiles the North American Martyrs. In the first of 2 segments written by Kathy Couture, we look at the lives of the French Jesuits who left the comforts of home to evangelize in a hostile frontier, giving their lives in the process. We welcome the Technopriest to the SQPN line-up, and Fr. Bill Kessler makes an encore visit to the SaintCast. We caught up with him this last weekend to discuss Ignatius of Antioch, Hippolytus, and the early Church liturgy. And yes, another new segment. Well, a preview of a yet-to-be-named segment on Saint books. We welcome your suggestions, reviews, and comments on the SQPN news page at SQPN.com. Tom Serafin returns to discuss a planned boycott of EBAY to begin on All Saints Day, as the unlawful sale of holy relics continues on this site. A question on the identity of St. Anne, more Saints in the news, and listener feedback on this week's SaintCast. Songs from this episode . . . "Your Rock," by the Dusty Hughes at www.dustyhughes.com Flute music from Suzanne Teng, from her album Enchanted Wind available at Magnatune.com Other links. . .Rocco at catholiccomuter.blogspot.com

Four new Saints raised to the altars by Pope Benedict this past Sunday! An American, two Italians, and a Mexican archbishop were canonized Sunday, October 15th in Rome. We hear a bit about each of the new Saints and their missions. We introduce a new SaintCast segment, This Date in Saint History. Can you guess what happened on October 16, 1978? Audio feedback from our youngest listener yet on an early pope, and caretaker of the largest Christian catacombs in Rome, Pope St. Calixtus I. We then take you on a brief sound-seeing tour of the Catacombe di San Callisto south of Rome, with a tour by the Salesian cleric Fr. Richard. More listener feedback and education on St. Ignatius of Antioch and the early Christian liturgy, which bears a striking relationship to our Mass today. . . isn't that wonderful how it all works out that way? The Saints of the Week, a visit by the incorrupt heart of a French saint, and more on this week's SaintCast. Song credits. . . "Rain,Rain" by the Detonators at music.podshow.com, podcasts - www.gvonline.net

Today on the SaintCast we continue our homage to St. Francis, whose Feast Day we celebrated October 4th, by going on a sound-seeing tour of the Basilica of Santa Maria Degli Angeli and the small chapel enclosed within, the Porziuncola, where Francis and his friars gathered and worshipped 800 years ago. Tom Serafin, the Relicman, pays a visit from sunny Los Angeles, to answer a listeners question about stones from Lourdes and relics. What was special about St. Francis's stigmata, and who is the only Saint to ever live in my Archdiocese? The answer to these questions and more are heard on St. Jeopardy. Four new Saints join the ranks of the elect this weekend in Rome. Stay tuned for more canonization news. Show notes at Saintcast.org Songs from this episode . . . "Roll Your Windows Down," by The Undisputed HeavyWeights at music.podshow.com

St. Francis as an animal and tree lover? Think again. Today we are honored to welcome to the SaintCast the Archbishop of Denver, Colorado, Charles J. Chaput, who is also a Capuchin Franciscan. Archbishop Chaput points to Francis as so much more -- a dynamic, charismatic leader and Church reformer of his time, who is a model for Church reform in all ages. He led by his humble example of following the Gospel "without gloss." He points to his Last Testament as particularly poignant written sentiments of Francis, read on the SaintCast today by Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, a Franciscan of the Third Order Regular. Franciscan music and more on today's special SaintCast in honor of the Feast of St. Francis. Feedback is welcome at 312.235.2278 or at saintcast@mac.com. Music by Johnny Proctor, "All Creatures of Our God and King," from soundclick.com. University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, http://www.nd.edu/~litchoir

In today's episode, we profile a Saint known for his works of charity. He shares a common love for living the Gospel and his love for the poor, with another important Saint whose Feast Day we celebrate this week. We'll hear bits of a old time radio drama from the 1940's on M. Vincennes. We learn of an alternative group of Saints for Horse lovers, and answer the last St. Jeopardy. . . Who is the patron Saint of Ravello, Italy? The calendar of Saints for the coming week, and more on this week's SaintCast! Stay tuned for an interview with a pre-eminent voice in the American Catholic Church, Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM, Cap., in honor of the Feast of St. Francis. . .

Today we talk about mystical levitation in the history of the Saints (many thanks to Joan Carroll Cruz and her book Mysteries, Marvels, and Miracles). What is it all about, who has had this gift, and what does it feel like? A listener in Lima, Peru, gives us some Spanish audiofeedback on St. Rose of Lima. In the e-mail segment we answer the question about why the Notre Dame University mascot is the Fighting Irish, and hear a suspiciously familiar-sounding theme song from an Australian Rules Football team, the Sydney Swans. Saints in the news include the miracle of St. Januarius, and news of a new possible miracle in Scotland. The first SaintCast produced with Ubercaster! We welcome your feedback on this new episode.

After a brief hiatus, the SaintCast returns with a tribute to the humble porter from Montreal, and Holy Cross Brother, Blessed Andre Bessette. We go over e-mail and audio feedback, including a question for Tom Serafin of the International Crusade for Holy Relics. We welcome a brief passage from the podcast "Meditations from Carmel," quoting St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. A new St. Jeopardy, a look at the Saints of the Week, and Paul is taken to task by a Brother of the Order of Hospitallers of St. John of God, all on this week's SaintCast.

Situated high above Lake Albano south of Rome, the hamlet of Castelgandolfo became the papal summer retreat under Urban VIII, the Barberini pope, and remains the possession of the popes today (it is extraterritorial). My son Chris and I traveled there for the blessing and Angelus greeting of Benedict XVI on our recent trip to Italy. This issue of the SaintCast takes you on a soundseeing tour of this day, and all of the excitement accompanying a papal audience there. Pictures on the website at Saintcast.org.

This week we profile a 20th century Carmelite Saint, and Jewish convert, who died in the Nazi concentration camps, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, or St. Edith Stein. We spent last weekend dropping our oldest child off at college, and we relate our first experiences with our daughter at the University of Notre Dame du Lac. St. Jeopardy returns with the answer to the Saint involved in the Galileo affair, and a new question. Who is the patron saint of businessmen? Terry Jones, of the Patron Saints website, answers this and more on this week's SaintCast.

In honor of the Podcast Carnival on the Assumption, though a bit late, we discuss the doctrine of the Assumption, it's historical basis, and the history of the Feast of the Assumption. Why are there no first class relics of the Blessed Virgin Mary? What relics are extant? We get a view of what the actual Assumption might have looked like, by reading about the incredibly detailed visions of the mystic Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.

Paul's back from Italy, and ready for podcasting once again! I visited an incredible number of Saintly places, and am excited to share them with listeners in the form of audio sound-seeing tours over the next few months. We've got news of a miracle for the cause of Fulton J. Sheen, the evangelist of the radio and TV airwaves in the 40's and 50's in the United States. Podcasters everywhere could take inspiration from him as a potential patron saint. Speaking of patron Saints, my daughter poses the question as to who is the patron saint of horses, horse riders, horse women? As we've recently celebrated his Feast Day in the Church calendar, we take a look at the incredible life of the founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola. More e-mail, audiofeedback, and more on this week's SaintCast. 

Last week marked the Feast of St. James the Greater and we spoke with Brother Giles Baker of the Order of St. John of God (and also the producer and talent behind The Secrets of Harry Potter)  about the centuries old Pilgrimage to Compostela in northern Spain.  Podcasting around Italy with my son, I wish you a wonderful Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola.  More from Italy in a few days . . .

Over 400 years ago, five Franciscan friars lost their lives defense of the faith, specifically the Christian view of marriage. They were martyred in Florida, far from their Spanish home. Their cause for canonization was begun in the diocese of Savannah, Georgia, in 1984. We talk to Paul Thigpen, of Our Sunday Visitor, and Star of the Sea Catholic Resources, about their cause and their lives. Four new saints will be canonized in October, one of them a French American nun from Indiana, Mother Theodore Guerin. All founded religious orders. A listener asks what I like to listen to in the operating room. Shouldn't have opened that can of worms. . Listen in to hear snippets of my playlists. . . We hear the answer to last week's St. Jeopardy question with a listener-produced audio-feedback that is incredible! A new St. Jeopardy question related to Galileo Galilei, and the patron saint of the Boy Scouts. Who could it be? Listen in to hear. Off to Italy for a couple of weeks. . . Pax et bonum.

A great SaintCast "welcome" to the Technopriest, Fr. Bill Kessler, who paid a visit to our humble abode in Overland Park, Kansas. We got a chance to podcast together, and learned a little more about why he's such a special Man of God. A rousing speech from Kenneth Brannagh as Henry V, from the Battle of Agincourt in Shakespeare's Henry V gave the answer to last week's St. Jeopardy question, the Feast of Crispin or St. Crispin's Day, October 25. More on Saint movies, including a trailer from the upcoming film on St. Francis Xavier. We profile the first native American Blessed, Kateri Tekakwitha, whose feast we celebrate Friday. What an incredible witness to the faith she was! What conviction she demonstrated. Coming up on the SaintCast, an interview with a Vatican insider, you've seen him on TV, a well known Vatican commentator on news networks, and author of several books on the Vatican, Pope Benedict, and Opus Dei. . Stay tuned, and Stay Subscribed!

We start off this week with e-mail and a song from independent artist Anne Davis. Her moving song "Until That Day" was written for a friendâs wedding, and is featured at the outset of the podcast. You can purchase her album at the link on the website. My daughter Laura joins me for part of the podcast. She is 12, the same age of the young virgin and martyr of early in the 20th century featured on this podcast. . . the patron saint of young girls, and rape victims. We cover the Saint Feast Days this week, and clean out the e-mail box. Great audio feedback from listeners, and a new Audio St. Jeopardy, all on this week's SaintCast.

Just back from the Atlanta Eucharistic Congress and the informal SQPN summit - a great time was had by all. This week's special saint was the subject of a special audio soundseeing tour of one of the California missions founded by Junipero Serra, Mission San Buenaventura. Join Paul and the kids as they tour this church in downtown Ventura, California. So much info this week we couldn't go over the saint calendar . . perhaps a reason for a second SaintCast this week. . . The hand of John the Baptist makes an appearance in Russia. Phil sends in a question for the Relicman in our "Ask the Relicman" segment. St. Jeopardy answers from last week, a new quiz, and much more on this week's SaintCast.

Today on the SaintCast we debut a new segment, "Ask the RelicMan." We have our first Audio St. Jeopardy, as well as our first audio listener feedback responses! An incredibly saintly man is profiled in today's SaintCast, the patron of Kansas City, Missouri, St. John Francis Regis. He was a preacher who loved the poor, and spoke from the heart, converting thousands. A Jesuit who desired martyrdom in the Americas, he was asked to provide missions to Hugenot France in the 1600's. He inspired many including St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars. Feasts this week include the Traditional Feast of Corpus Christi on Thursday in much of the world, and the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua.

What do Padre Pio and the TV Series LOST have in common? Tune in to this week's SaintCast to find out. We discuss the phenomenon of bilocation in the context of saints. There are some important martyrs on the calendar of saints for this week. Paul finds a relic of martyred physicians in his father's possessions, and another episode of the Miracle Minute, all on this week's SaintCast. No time for e-mail, but feedback is welcome at 312-235-2278.

Welcome SQPN listeners, and Happy Feast of St. Rita! Today we present an audio sound seeing tour of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in San Francisco, California. Padre Pio for President? That's who one Italian legislator apparently voted for last week. . though as we learned on the first SaintCast, he died in 1968. Visit the archive to learn more about this holy man and stigmatist. More news on John Paul II's beatification and the miracle of the healing of a French nun of Parkinson's disease. We go over the Saints of the Week, and profile the pro-life saint, Gianna Molla, canonized May 16th, 2004. All this and a new Saint Jeopardy quiz on this week's SaintCast. Next week, what do we know of Mary Magdalene, and more on the history of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi.

Happy Mother's Day! Now we're back on a weekly schedule, with the longest SaintCast to date. Have you ever wondered about the remains of Saints who are said to be incorruptible? What does this mean? There are over 100 well-documented cases of bodies of saints remaining incorrupt for many, if not hundreds of years. We'll talk about this phenomenon, and give you resources for further study. Hear about the new beatifications that took place this past weekend. We'll go through the mail bag, and introduce a new voice feedback (call-in) number. Next week, a visit to the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi. . .

A bit delayed this week, but we present the first SaintCast soundseeing tour -- a visit to the beautiful Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in the North Beach District of San Francisco. In this season of First Communicants, we talk about the Blessed Imelda, who on May 12th, nearly 700 years ago, made her First Communion at age 11, and died in ecstasy. We answer last week's St. Jeopardy question - the Saint who suffered a thorn wound for years, St. Rita of Cascia. A new St. Jeopardy question for next week, podsafe music from Anne Davis, and more on this week's SaintCast. . .

Greetings from the City by the Bay, under the patronage of Saint Francis of Assisi. The SaintCast travels to San Francisco after the SaintCaster breaks a finger! Hear about St. Catherine of Siena, the Dominican stigmatic who helped bring the papacy back to Rome, the last holy men and women raised to the title Blessed last fall, and the next to be so honored in May. Why are relics often embedded in stones in the altars of the faithful? Tom Serafin from the Apostolate for Holy Relics answers this question and more. Plus our new St. Jeopardy quiz, and the answer to last weekâs phobia query. All this and the calendar of saints. . . Stay tuned for our first sound-seeing tours beginning next week. . .

Happy Easter to all! Yesterday was Easter, but 127 years ago on April 16th, a saint was welcomed into heaven, Bernadette Soubirous. Tune in to this week's SaintCast to hear how about a young, poor, sickly 14 year old girl from Lourdes, France, and her visions of a beautiful lady. Brother Paschal Kolodziej of Marytown in Libertyville, Illinois, will give us insight into the holiness of Maximilian Kolbe, and give us some personal anecdotes from eyewitnesses to his martyrdom. We'll talk about the St. Jeopardy answer from 2 weeks ago, and introduce a new quiz. What is Spheksophobia? Tell us about your favorite saint movie. . .

In late April, 1918, Maximilian Kolbe was ordained a priest in the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. He then embarked on his mission as a Knight of the Immaculata. He consecrated his life to the Blessed Virgin and set out to convert the world. He founded a number of publications based in his first City of the Immaculata, Niepokalanow, in Poland. He traveled to Japan and India, and suffered greatly with tuberculosis. He lived a life of uncommon holiness, a truly saintly life, even before his famous martyrdom in a Nazi concentration camp. A review of his life, an interview with Thomas Serafin, President of the International Crusade for Holy Relics, and more . . .

Who is the Patron Saint of the Internet? No it's not Al Gore. . . and why is St. Isidore from the 600's, associated with the Internet? Who are the Frost Saints? Why do saints wear halos? All these questions, a guest appearance by Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, and more are answered on this week's SaintCast.

Nearly 118 years ago this next week, Therese Martin entered the cloister of Carmelite nuns at Lisieux, France, and never left, though she became one of the most beloved saints of the last century. She is the patron saint of missionaries, though she never left the convent. Learn about St. Therese and the Little Way, in this week's SaintCast. In addition, we cover the Saints of the week on the Liturgical Calendar, some canonization news, and hear the Communion Thanksgiving prayer of Padre Pio. . . and much more!

Nearly 500 years ago this week, Parliament passed the Act of Succession, making the children of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII heirs to the English throne. It was also proclaimed that subjects were to swear an oath to the King's supremacy over the Church in England. People who refused to take the oath were charge with treason. This set the stage for the martyrdom of this special saint, scholar and statesman. We also take another look at the life of St. Joseph, we look at the calendar of saints for this week, e-mail and audio feedback, St. Jeopardy, and more.

Have you ever been to a St. Joseph Table? Chances are if you're Sicilian or of Sicilian descent, you have! Why is the St. Joseph Statue upside down? Tune in to find out. . . . Today we learn of some traditions associated with St. Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus Christ. We'll go over the saints for the week in the Roman Catholic Calendar, and more St. Jeopardy. . . .

The inaugural podcast of the SaintCast. . . a look at a special man of incredible holiness, who was alive during many of our lives . . St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, astonishing insights from a spokesman for the Padre Pio shrine in New York City, a look at the Saints of the upcoming week, Saint Jeopardy. . and MORE!