The Church Fathers on the Perpetual Virginity of Mary

Continuing with last week's theme, I have one more video from Jimmy Akin about the church fathers and early church history. Today's video deals with the question of Mary's perpetual virginity:



If you would like to read more about Mary's perpetual virginity, especially from the perspective of challenges to this doctrine, here are some good articles that discuss the issue in more depth:

Catholic Answers: Mary, Ever Virgin
Catholic Answers: Brethren of the Lord
How to Explain the Perpetual Virginity of Mary
CUF Faith Facts: Mary's Perpetual Virginity
CUF Faith Facts: The "Brothers and Sisters" of Jesus

Did Constantine found the Catholic Church?

Of course the answer is no, but that doesn't stop the claim from being made by various non-Catholic religious groups. Jimmy Akin takes a brief look at this question here:

When was the the word "Catholic" first used?

Jimmy Akin has the answer:

Dr. Bernard Nathanson, R.I.P.

This is just a quick post on the recent passing away of a pro-life hero, Dr. Bernard Nathanson. Here is a short video news report:



Please also check out this excellent article on Dr. Nathanson's amazing journey, from abortion provider and co-founder of NARAL to pro-life advocate and Catholic convert. May he rest in peace.

Update: I also found an episode of Catholic Answers Live from 2009 (click here to download the mp3 audio file), which features Dr. Nathanson talking about his life story and answering questions from callers.

Which church father's brother was forcibly ordained?

Jimmy Akin has the answer:

St. Ambrose of Milan

Continuing on the theme of the church fathers and early church history, here is a video about St. Ambrose of Milan, and how he became a bishop:

Who Were the Church Fathers?

This week, I am featuring some videos from Jimmy Akin and Catholic Answers regarding the church fathers and early church history. Many of these videos were made to promote Jimmy Akin's book The Fathers Know Best. (I haven't read the book yet, but I would recommend it based on Jimmy's work on other books, on his blog, and with Catholic Answers.)

Let's start with a video that answers the question "who were the church fathers?":



By the way, I'm not sure how they figure that Jimmy Akin is a "best selling" author. He has written several Catholic books, one of which (The Salvation Controversy) I have read and would highly recommend. But it's not clear to me how any of his books would be classified as "best sellers."

Poverty: Where We All Started

And finally, here is the fourth episode in the Population Research Institute's series on overpopulation:

Food: There's Lots of It

Here is the third episode in the Population Research Institute's series on overpopulation:

2.1 Kids: Stable Population

Here is the second episode in the Population Research Institute's series on overpopulation:

Overpopulation: The Making of a Myth

The Population Research Institute works hard at providing an alternative view on the topic of overpopulation, and at fighting the evils that have been justified by fears of overpopulation (such as China's strict one-child policy).

A couple of years ago, PRI began posting some short online videos that put this issue into easy-to-understand terms. Here is the first video in the series:

Interview with Cardinal Arinze

Today I am posting an interview of Francis Cardinal Arinze which aired a year or two ago on the Kresta in the Afternoon radio program. Cardinal Arinze is from Nigeria, and is the former head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (a Vatican department which deals with issues regarding the celebration of Mass and of the sacraments). He has his own Facebook page, and he used to have his own podcast.

The interview touches on the recent Year for Priests, the use of modern communication methods for evangelization, and the new English translation of the Mass. Here is the interview, in two parts:

Fr. Barron's Catholicism Project: Preview of Episode 3

Here is a preview of the third episode of Fr. Robert Barron's Catholicism Project. This one gives a brief overview of the Christian concept of God, and of one of St. Thomas Aquinas's proofs for the existence of God.



(Hat Tip: Aggie Catholics)

Fr. Barron's Catholicism Project: Preview of Episode 2

Here is a preview of the second episode of Fr. Robert Barron's Catholicism Project:



(Hat Tip: Fallible Blogma)

Fr. Barron's Catholicism Project: Preview of Episode 1

Here is a preview of the first episode of Fr. Robert Barron's Catholicism Project:

Fr. Robert Barron's "Catholicism Project"

Fr. Robert Barron of Word on Fire is known for his many YouTube videos, and for his weekly television show on WGN. He is also working on a ten-part DVD series (possibly also to be aired on TV) called the Catholicism Project, for which he already has filmed segments in various locations around the world.

Here is a trailer and a highlight video for the Catholicism Project:

Biography of Pope John Paul II

With the recent news that Pope John Paul II will be beatified on May 1 of this year, this seems like a good time to post this short video biography of Pope John Paul II.

Fr. Robert Barron on St. Thomas Aquinas

I missed posting this for St. Thomas Aquinas's feast day last week, but here is Fr. Robert Barron on St. Thomas Aquinas:



You can find more videos by Fr. Robert Barron at his Word on Fire web site. (Or just stay tuned to this blog, as I plan to post more of his videos.)

Pope Benedict Proposes a Christian Style of Using the Internet

March for Life Time Lapse Video

Here is a nice follow-up to yesterday's video on the March for Life. This is a short video using the equivalent of time-lapse photography to show the large number of people who participated in the March for Life this year. (Various estimates place the number of participants in the march at anywhere from 50,000 to as high as 400,000.)



Also, Steven Greydanus has a nice first-hand live-blogging account of the march.

(Hat tip to Aggie Catholics for the video.)