CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM

In this episode, we close out 2025 and enter 2026 with Christmas and Epiphany sermons from St. Pope Leo the Great, delivered on Christmas Day 444, and January 6, 445 respectively. May these reflections from a Saint, Church Father, Doctor of the Church, and Pope challenge and edify you as we enter what seems likely to be a turbulent year.

Thank you to Catholic University of America Press for permission to read from their "Fathers of the Church" series. You can purchase the volume these sermons came from here: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813228297/sermons/

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DIVE DEEPER

Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/

SUBSTACK

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CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction

07:43 - Sermon 25: Christmas Day, 444

23:17 - Sermon 35: Epiphany, 445

34:24 - Concluding Reflections

This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM

In this episode, we officially inaugurate an annual Eternal Christendom Christmas tradition with our friend and colleague Dr. Gavin Ashenden: "Christmas with the Church Fathers." Last year, we were privileged to have Gavin's beautiful voice read a profound and moving Christmas sermon by St. Augustine, upon which we reflected.

This year, Gavin reads and we reflect upon two powerful sermons by St. Pope Leo the Great: Sermon 19 for Advent (delivered December 14, 452) , and Sermon 21 for Christmas (delivered December 25, 440). This great Saint, Church Father, Doctor of the Church, and Pope reminds us in both of these sermons that the coming of God in the flesh as a baby ought remind Christians of their profound dignity, from which flows their serious duties and high calling.

A Happy Advent, and Merry Christmas to all!

See 2024's "Christmas with the Church Fathers" reading of St. Augustine: https://youtu.be/r4U3fRLV558?si=AtuAcmSCwl-vPLV5

HUGE HOLIDAY GIVING OPPORTUNITY

https://youtu.be/FbIqyA4z6XY?si=5RlKoJvWmDM77nbj

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

https://eternalchristendom.com/

BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION

As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/

CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/

DIVE DEEPER

Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/

SUBSTACK

Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/

EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS

https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro

05:28 - Sermon 19 (Pope Leo the Great) for Advent

14:33 - Sermon 19 Reflection

27:52 - Sermon 21 (Pope Leo the Great) for Christmas

35:29 - Sermon 21 Reflection and Conclusion

This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM

In this episode, our next "Papal Snapshot," we cover the famous Law Code of Justinian and what it says about the authority of the Pope as revealed in an exchange of letters between Emperor Justinian and Pope John II. The Code of Justinian had an enormous impact on the development of the western legal tradition, making its strong affirmation of papal authority all the more notable.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

https://eternalchristendom.com/

BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION

As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/

CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/

DIVE DEEPER

Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/

SUBSTACK

Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/

EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS

https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro

03:13 - Historical Context for the Code of Justinian

04:59 - Letters Between Pope John II and Emperor Justinian

21:37 - Conclusion

This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.