Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers who were hugely responsible with spreading devotion to the Rosary. He has two countries named after him. This is the story of the miraculous painting attributed to him 

Now the most famous champagne is named in his honour, Pierre Perignon was a Benedictine Monk who perfected the method of making sparkling wine 

The final novel of Dostoevsky is possibly his most famous - the Brothers Karamazov.  Wrought out of terrible grief and struggles with faith after the death of his three year old son Aloysha.  One of Russia's greatest novelists has pro...

Bishop Richard Challoner has been called the most influential English Catholic of the 18th Century.  It was an uneasy time before Catholic Emancipation laws and least safe in London. The Catholic Church was still illegal after Queen Elizab...

Bishop Bartholomew De La Casas chronicled the terrible atrocities that Spanish colonists carried out on the indigenous people of Central and South America.  He was appointed protector of the Indians by the Spanish Legal Establishment, His ...

Carl Gustav Jung was one of the most creative thinkers of the 20th Century. The founder of analytical psychology his fascination with religion was life long

Today we remember the life of Michael Novak - influential author of the Spirit of Democratic Capitalism.  He tweaked Weber's famous Protestant Work Ethic and claimed that free capitalist economies owed more to a Catholic Work Ethic

Francis Collins the director of the Human Genome Project is a devout Christian. we explore his life today

Today we remember how the dynamic Franciscan Maximilian Kolbe offered his life for another at Auschwitz. We look at his rich life, his devotion to the ' Immaculada' and his legacy 

The great Irish Writer James Joyce had a confusing and complicated relationship with the Catholic Church. But his books have had a remarkable influence and following

Today we look at the tradition of Popes handing out Golden Roses that have been blessed on Laudate Sunday.  How Paul VI gave one today to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida

Today we look at the life and thought of George Ellis, committed Quaker and Cosmologist. Co-author with Stephen Hawking of the 'Yellow Peril' a standard text book on General Relativity Theory.  Also developed the theory of kenotic-ethics w...

Today we remember the first papal encyclical that allowed for the possibility of Salvation outside of Church. We look at the history of soteriology - the theology of salvation

St Herman was a Russian Orthodox monk who had a very effective mission to the Aleut people of Alaska.  During a 'Fur Rush' when colonisation and exploration was fuelled by the seal fur trade he defended the rights of the native Aleut peopl...

Today we look at the profoundly influential Danish philosopher Soren Kierkergaard.   The Father of Existentialism he was a profoundly Christian thinker.  Surviving his fathers harsh Lutheranism he would write some of the most pro...

An important meeting in post-war Germany, the first outdoor mega-mass and a landmark in Ecumenical Relations. The delegates also laid a foundation for a Church of Atonement near the concentration camp of Dachau

The First Conclave of the Sistine Chapel - how did the Church develop this way of electing a Pope and what happens

Bill Wilson said his spiritual experience of 'white light' cured him of his alcoholism.  We look at the foundation of Alcoholics Anonymous and his relationship with Fr Ed Dowling. What are the Twelve Steps and how have they helped so many ...

Dr Grenfel sent by the Fisherman's Mission to Canada's North Atlantic Coast built up a remarkable mission attracting doctors, nurses and clergy from all over the world 

Today we remember how three boats left Spain travelling West for the Indies and discovered the Americas 

One of the finest philosophical minds of her age, Edith Stein went from Judaism to agnosticism to Christianity.  Edmund Husserl's assistant, she became a Carmelite Nun and was to die at Auschwitz. 

Today we look at the life of St Aethelwold, who rebuilt the church after 300 years of Viking raids.  Also the unlikely assimilation of Christianity into the Vikings and how Bluetooth got its name 

Mount Athos is a unique centre  for Orthodox Christianity,  today in 1913 the Russian Navy removed 800 monks.  We look at the traditions there and its claim to be Marys Garden

Humane Vitae is the most controversial of papal encyclicals, restating the Church's opposition to artificial birth control. It also marked a moment in the shift of the authority of the Church.  It was Pope Paul VI last encyclical. Was it p...

The greatest of the Baroque composers was a man of profound Lutheran faith, we look at his life