Dr. Italy

One of the most famous bible stories of all time is Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  Mark, the evangelist, uses the story to ask the reader a question that elicits a clear answer on the identity of Christ.  This approach is often called the Socratic method.  Reflection on the gospel for the 12th Sunday in ordinary time, cycle B.

In the Roman liturgical calendar, St. Thomas More shares his feast of June 22 with St. Paulinus of Nola and St. John Fisher.  Often, he is overlooked or forgotten.  But he is one of the most inspiring models for fathers, husbands, and statesmen, indeed for just about anyone living in a society that finds the teaching of Jesus inconvenient and annoying.  Listen to this podcast and find out how this man managed to carry on an amazing spiritual and family life in the midst of the most crushing of worldly responsibilities as King Henry VIII's right hand man, the second most important figure in the government of England from 1529 till his execution in 1535.

Father's Day brings up a very good question -- in this post-feminist era, why should we stick to calling God "Father"??  Isn't this just a relic from a bygone, patriarchal culture.  After all, if God is spirit, he is neither male nor female.  Sonrise Morning show host, Anna Mitchell asks such questions of Dr. Italy who shares from the bible, the Tradition, and the teaching of the Catholic Church just what it means when we say God is Father as well as what we don't mean.  You'll love his insights into the fatherhood of God communicated with energy and conciseness in this ten minute podcast.

One of the Parables of the Kingdom of God is that of the tiny mustard seed that grows into the largest of shrubs.  What can this parable mean for growth in our church today which appears to be contracting, not growing, at least in the Western World?

7 minute podcast by Dr. Italy focusing on the true meaning of the Sacred Heart of Jesus based on the chief scriptural text connected with this feast and devotion.

In this 7 minute podcast, Dr. Italy paints a verbal picture of the site called Tabga, between the Sea of Galille shore and the Mt. of Beatitudes.  Here Jesus multiplied loaves and fish.

Holy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper aka the Lord's Supper, the institution of the Holy Eucharist -- why did Jesus do what he did and say what he said? What did he mean when he said "This is my body and this is my blood" and "Do this in Memory of Me"?  And what does the Catholic Church mean by talking about transubstantiation and the body of Christ?  All this is remembered & celebrated on the Feast of Corpus Christi.

In this 7 minute podcast, Anna Mitchell of the Sonrise Morning show interviews Dr. Italy on the profound meaning of the Magnificat, Mary's canticle uttered on the occasion of the Visitation, and how it manifests her as the Queen of Humility and the Queen of Praise.  Also discussed is the beautiful place where this event took place, Ein Karem and the Church built there to commemorate this blessed event.

6 minute podcast in which Dr. Italy explains why Jesus called the Holy Spirit “the Promise of the Father” and how God’s promises are fulfilled in the gift of Pentecost which is repeated in every baptism and confirmation.

Without the Pentecost, the gospel is not really "Good News."  Many people actually experience Christianity as bad news.  The Ten Commandments were impossible for even King David to keep.  Though Christians are justified by grace through faith and receive friendship with God as a pure gift, they are still called to live the gospel lifestyle, as portrayed by the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount.  Trying to do this on will-power alone is a pure recipe for guilt and frustration.

It's been a long time that travel and freedom have been restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  But restrictions are about to be lifted so it will be soon time to celebrate.

6 minute podcast on the Ascension of Jesus Christ as the illustration of Jesus' words - he who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.  Featuring Dr. Italy and Sonrise Morning show hostess Anna Mitchell.

Some view the Catholic Church as multi-national corporation.  If so, its DBA should be love unlimited.  In contrast to ever natural love, the love that should categorize the life of the church is charity, agape, God's love which is, like God, universal, infinite,  without limits or boundaries.  This is illustrated by the story of the centurion Cornelius, a reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter B.

12 minute podcast that describes the lifestyle of the Holy Family in Nazareth during the “hidden years” before Jesus launched his public ministry. The four gospels tells us very little about the life of Jesus between his birth and his baptism besides his presentation forty days after his birth, the flight to Egypt and return to Nazareth, and his pilgrimage to Jerusalem with his family at age 12.

Saul of Tarsus the Pharisee to Paul, the apostle - both life and fruit were transformed when he met the Risen Lord .  His story tells us where the sour grapes of egoism and violence comes from, and how it can be changed into the fruit of the Spirit.

The Trinity is the central dogma of the Catholic faith and is equally important to Orthodox and most Protestant Christians.  Yet it is a mystery, something that we as limited human beings can never understand. So does that mean we can just believe it but basically forget about it and focus on more practical things, like morality? Not at all, says Marcellino D'Ambrosio (Dr. Italy) on this episode of the SonRise Morning show.  If we fail to make progress in understanding the Trinity, we will never understand ourselves or understand what love is all about.  In this age in which marriages and families are falling apart, we need more than ever to understanding Trinity since this mystery of loving unity is the key to recovering unity, love and stability in our families.

The image of Jesus as the Good shepherd is a comforting one in the minds of many.  But some of those who first heard Jesus describe himself in this way were deeply disturbed.  For it seems that Jesus is setting himself up as the only true Shepherd and savior.  People still find this claim disturbing.  "What about other religions?," they ask.  For the 4th Sunday of Easter, cycle B.

On the first Easter, the Risen Lord makes clear to his frightened disciples he not a ghost or specter and in so doing shows why the gnostic gospels are bogus and did not make it into the Bible.

The Solemnity or Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated on March 25.  Here, in his typically lyrical language, Leo the Great ponders the unfathomable mystery of God becoming man in the womb of a Virgin, at the moment of conception. Through the Father's love and Mary's faith, the divine Word became flesh and dwelt among us, assuming a full human nature.

Divine Mercy Sunday or the Octave of Easter presents us with one of the most famous of gospel stories -- the story of Doubting Thomas. But it shows us how and when the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, aka "confession," was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ -- and why.