Have you killed the wren today?  How about bleeding your horse? These are traditions around the world celebrated in honor of the Feast of St. Stephen, the Church's first martyr, celebrated on the day after Christmas. You've heard of the Way of St. James, how about the Way of St. Vincent? Our only source about the life of St. Stephen is from St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. However, we learn of the whereabouts of his tomb from an apocryphal work of the 6th century.

• The Way of St. Vincent
  
• Magnatune.com
• music.podshow.com
• Print your SaintCast flyers for posting here

150 years ago, a 14 year old girl saw another 'girl' in the niche of a grotto along the River Gave. She said she was 'the Immaculate Conception.' Today Paul takes you there to experience the 'sights' and sounds of the sanctuary at Lourdes. Come experience a visit to the Grotto at Massabielle, visit the tiny Cachot where she lived in a one room former prison with her family, and hear the candlelight procession of thousands. There's still time to respond with the answer to the question of which relics are in your church's altar. . and win some SaintCast swag.

• Catholic Family Podcast
• Catholic New Media Roundup's Advent Calendar
• Song of Bernadette

Is the Santo Caliz of Valencia the Holy Grail that Christ used at the Last Supper? Tune in to part II of our series on the Grail to trace it's history from Christ to St. Lawrence to it's place in a small chapel in Valencia, Spain today. Paul throws down the gauntlet in a new St. Jeopardy Challenge, Speeding Saints, a possible British Columbia saint cause, St. Dymphna, and words of wisdom from a Vietnamese Saint on today's SaintCast.

• Link to St. Laurence and the Holy Grail, by Janice Bennett
• Music by Leyenda Werner K at Garageband.com, and Monks and Choirs of Kiev from Magnatune.com

Today on the SaintCast, in the first of a 2 part series on the Holy Grail of Valencia, the story of the life and martyrdom of St. Laurence, and how he saved the chalice used in the last supper for posterity. A recent book by Janice Bennett traces the history of the Santo Caliz of Valencia, Spain, believed by many to be the true chalice used by Jesus Christ at the last supper.  We follow it's early history from the Upper Room to the hands of the Church's deacon, St. Laurence of Spain.  We read from a stirring and graphic account of the Saint's martyrdom from a 6th century priest, St. Donato.

• Link to St. Laurence and the Holy Grail, by Janice Bennett
• Music by Leyenda Werner K at Garageband.com, and Monks and Choirs of Kiev from Magnatune.com

The first Saints of 2008 canonized last weekend in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI are profiled in this SaintCast. Paul's off to Spain to visit the Holy Grail, Lourdes, and other saintly places. Stay tuned! Three religious and a laywoman from Ecuador were canonized by the Holy Father last weekend. A huge response with many correct answers to the last St. Jeopardy quiz.  Test your mettle at a more complicated question that will require a bit more thinking and research. . . on the Holy Grail of Valencia, Spain.

• Journey into the Land of the Spirit podcast
• Adam the Catholic's Theotokos podcast
• Terry Jones's Saints.sqpn.com saint compendium

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the death of Saint Padre Pio, whose Feast was celebrated September 23rd, Paul walks us through Padre Pio's shrine where his recently disinterred remains are exposed for public veneration. Paul talks to daughter Gina half a world away, visiting Saintly sites in Spain including the reputed Holy Grail in Valencia.

• Pictures from the SaintCast in San Giovanni Rotondo

Listener feedback from Canterbury and St. Thomas More, Archbishop Chaput on a German martyr for the faith, and much more. High school Physics has derailed the SaintCast, but not for long :) Coming to you live (well almost) from Orlando, Florida, the SaintCast returns with a new St. Jeopardy related to a Hollywood actor and the Universit of Notre Dame. We summarize a recent talk by Archbishop Chaput during World Youth Day activities, on an incredible German martyr for the faith, and hear the final words of St. Andrew Kim Taegon.

• "A Man for All Seasons," at Amazon.com
• Magnatune.com and music from Ensemble Vermillian
• Archbishop Chaput's talk in Sydney - Theology on Tap

Today Physics threatens to derail the SaintCast, a reading from St. Augustine on the death of his mother, Monica, and more. . . Canada storms the St. Jeopardy feedback lines, Saint of the Week, and more saintly stories on this week's SaintCast.

• Catholic New Media Roundup with Sean McGaughey
• Magnatune.com and music from Robert Rich
• ebreviary.com - The Liturgy of the Hour

Today we profile one of the most beloved and influential Saints of all time, a 13th century Spaniard, known as Domingo de Guzman. Those of us who've known Dominican priests or nuns will love learning about the life of their founder. Jason keeps the "Canadian streak" going in the answer to St. Jeopardy from last week, plus a new timely St. Jeopardy trivia question, and Terry Jones introduces his new segment on Saints of the Week in the Roman calendar.

• Saints.SQPN.com

Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, star of Catholic Under the Hood, joins Paul "in the Hood" in Overland Park for a uStream recording of the SaintCast, discussing Russian Tsar Alexander I, reputed to be a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. Did the Russian emperor Tsar Alexander I fake his death in 1825, and spend the last years of his life as a holy monk in Tomsk, Siberia, as Feodor Kuzmich? Fr. Seraphim, a Russian historian, helps us understand the story in its historical context, discusses the recent book about the subject, and tells us what he believes of the legend.

• Imperial Legend, book on the Alexander/Kuzmich story
• Catholic Under the Hood Podcast
• Link to recorded uStream of this podcast

Fr. Jim Martin answers a listener's question on suffering and mortification in the lives of the saints. What is it, and why do they do it? Plus news on an Australian saint-in-the-making. Pope Benedict says that Blessed Mary MacKillop will be the first Australian saint. Hear about her life, feedback on confirmation saints and conversion, and more on SaintCast 101.

• Inge's podcast A Journey into the Land of the Spiritual
• Doug with The Manly Catholic podcas
• "Australian backdrop" from MidiMusick at Garageband.com

In honor of the 100th SaintCast, a special song about . . . what else, The Saints, written and performed by Dr. Paul. Plus more SoundSeeing from the Eternal City. Paul and daughter Laura are fortunate to be in Rome for the moving Eucharistic procession through the streets in honor of the Feast of Corpus Christi.

• Adam from the Theotokos podcast
• The iPadre Catholic podcast with Fr. Jay Finelli
• OntheU podcast with Steve Nelson
• Deacon Tom from CatholicMoments

Did you ever read about saints who spoke with Jesus, their guardian angels? Here's the story of a young Italian woman, the first saint of the 20th century, and how and where she lived in the beautiful walled city of Lucca. Paul and daughter Laura explore the ancient city of Lucca in Tuscany, and discuss the young Italian saint, Gemma Galgani. Our saint profile today courtesy of listener Bob D'Aurelio. Pictures at www.SaintCast.org

• Music from Magnatune.com, Ensemble Vermillian, Stolen Jewels

Feedback direct from the Boston Marathon, Catholic New Media conference wrap, and what's with the Saints and mortification? Tune in to SaintCast #98 for more. Today we cover feedback from Paul's time abroad, and play a small sample of a coming podcast live from the Corpus Christi procession in Rome. A listener asks about corporal mortification and it's presence in the lives of many saints. New audio series on the letters of St. Ignatius, and a preview of next week's Saint. All this plus a new Saint Jeopardy.

• St. Ignatius Audio Series with the CatholicHack
• Theotokos podcast with Adam

Enjoy the singing, cheering, jostling, and electric atmosphere of a papal audience in the Paul VIth hall, Vatican City.
Paul's wife can't believe he let his youngest daughter wander through the papal audience hall alone in search of a bathroom. Follow Paul and daughter Laura to more 'saintly sights' from Assisi to Lucca in weeks to come.

• Funny Italian cartoon, Italy vs. the rest of Europe

Paul and his youngest daughter Laura explore the wonders of La Citta' Eterna. The first installment takes us to beautiful St. Peter's basilica. More to follow from such saintly places as Assisi, Lucca, Venice, and San Giovanni Rotondo.

• Funny Italian cartoon, Italy vs. the rest of Europe

A listener poses the question, "Is it necessary to believe in miracles to be Catholic?" We turn to saint expert, Fr. Jim Martin, of "My Life with the Saints." Saint news on Blessed Fr. Damien, Padre Pio, and St. George's Israel connection, and Paul goes to Italy, follow him on Twitter.

• Fr. Damien's miracle
• Catholics United for the Faith blog
• PilgrimCast
• St. Francis lessons

Today Paul visits the New Orleans studios of Rob Clemenz of SaintsforSinners.com who spreads the stories of the Saints with beautiful hand-painted medals.
We learn about St. Fink, why St. Gabriel plays the trumpet, and pay a visit to a particular grave in a storied New Orleans cemetery.

• SaintsforSinners.com
• St. Gabriel and the trumpet
• John Williams at Magnatune.com

Paul travels to New Orleans, Louisiana to talk with the Vice-postulator of the cause for sainthood of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos. Tune in to learn about 'The Smiling Ascetic.'  Another T-shirt out to the St. Jeopardy winner, and a new quiz this week. Pier Giorgio Frassati's relics to Sydney? Feedback from Jamaica, and more.

• SaintCast #75  on Pier Giorgio Frassati
• Official site of Francis Xavier Seelos
• Curandero at Magnatune.com

We at SQPN are incredibly proud to announce the association with SQPN of Terry Jones and the Patron Saints website at Saints.SQPN.com.  This is believed to be the most comprehensive website devoted to saints on the web. 

• Saints.SQPN.com

Today we bring you to the sunny, southern California town of San Diego to visit the first of the California missions founded by Blessed Junipero Serra.    A look at some special episodes to come . . later this week.

• Mission San Diego

Today we discuss Orthodox Saints with an Orthodox priest, a SaintCast man-on-the-street interview in New Orleans, Bl. John XXIII and Saint Jokes of the Week, and the Saint who invented "Atonement" with a new St. Jeopardy on this week's SaintCast.

• Fr. Jervis's book on Msgr. Quinn
• Manly Catholic Podcast with Doug Mumphrey
• Shepherd of Souls and Facing East Podcasts with Fr. Peter Preble
• Fr. Jim Martin's Laughing with the Saints

Finally, a new SaintCast to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin at Lourdes, France.  We discuss a number of new Saints-in-the-News stories, including a new document about how the Church proceeds in Causes of Saints.  Why St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Day celebrations in America will be moved in many cases, a recent trip to New Orleans, and a new St. Jeopardy with an Oscar tie-in on this edition of the SaintCast.

Today we discuss the plenary indulgence announced by Pope Benedict on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France. Join Paul and son Chris in a tour around the Campo dei Miracoli, the Field of Miracles that contains the immense Duomo of Pisa, the beautiful Baptistery, the Campo Santo (cemetery), and of course, the Leaning Tower. Visit the SaintCast.org website for pictures of the day. Fr Jim Martin answers listeners questions and more on SaintCast #88.

Today on the SaintCast, we interview Fr. Jim Martin, author of "My Life with the Saints," and his new book "A Jesuit Off Broadway." Fr. Jim talks about his work in an Off Broadway Production about the last days of Judas Iscariot, a work directed by Oscar winning actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, starring Sam Rockwell, and currently in production in London and elsewhere. He talks about Judas, actors, and his experience in helping all to a greater understanding of Jesus and the Saints. A few Saints In the News items, and Fr. Jim meets Stephen Colbert, on SaintCast #87. 

* Fr. Jim Martin - Laughing with the Saints
* Fr. Jim with Stephen Colbert

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Today we learn about the Saint who has been called the founder of Christian monasticism, Anthony of the Desert. What prompted him to live a solitary life of virtue, as a hermit in the harsh Egyptian desert? Paul and Chris post an iPhone commercial parody that you can see by clicking the above video link. Terry Jones of the Patron Saints Index joins us for a look at the week's saints. A saint's car recently sold in Italy - find out who in this week's St. Jeopardy quiz. And next week, we interview Fr. Jim Martin of My Life with the Saints, on his new book, A Jesuit Off Broadway.

Join Paul and SaintCast listener Jonathan on a journey to the Carmel of the Infant Jesus Monastery in Santa Clara, California, and a brief visit to One Infinite Loop, Cupertino (Apple HQ). Were they able to discover any secrets, and new projects, before having their podcasting equipment confiscated? Tune in to find out. Pictures available at the link below, in case you'd like to follow along while listening.

Find out what a Third Order Franciscan Friar and a podcasting neurosurgeon do for fun on a snowy midwestern night on this SaintCast. Fr. Seraphim of Catholic Under the Hood pays a visit to the SaintCast and answers questions ranging from Austrian food, to Notre Dame Irish football, to how Catholics should view Orthodox Saints. A SC mug to whomever shows proof of making St. Basil's bread this year. iPhone geek news, news of some new Blessed's this year, a new Saint Jeopardy, and news of the exhumation of Padre Pio on this week's SaintCast.