The Catholic Men's Podcast

Catholic Insomniac: Spinechiller Stories of M.R. James

Watch the livestream: https://youtube.com/live/YN9HBmNIKMw?feature=share Mez·zo·tint Definition: a print made from an engraved copper or steel plate for the reproduction of paintings. Now please keep in mind, some of these stories are summarized or excerpts of the original stories by M.R. James. Maybe it will whet your appetite so that you will read the full stories. I added two additional lines of dialogue at the beginning of "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" for listener clarity, as I was very confused reading it the first time. I only read a slight excerpt of "A Warning to the Curious," because I was WAAY over my hour limit and the actual ending is VERY dark anyway. I don't want to spoil it, but it's kind of like the ending of Old Yeller. Mr. Montague Rhodes James was a medievalist scholar and provost of both King's College and Eton College.  His stories have a strong foundation in historical research with an element of truth at their core, making their plots almost believable. My highschool fencing instructor at St. Louis de Montfort Academy, Mr. Roark Mitzell, was enchanted with the writing style of M.R. James which departed from the goth ghost tales of the Victorian era. He told me that Professor James would attempt to teach history class to his students, but they would keep begging him to tell one of his historical ghost stories during class. I don’t know how he got such a reputation for spinning yarns, but I heard that he had made a deal with his students: if they had good marks, he would oblige them in making up a sufficiently chilling tale. He never had any intention of publishing these fictional digressions, until his students forced his hand to write them down and that’s how we have the books today. The main characters of his tales are often archaeologists or antiquaries. This was fitting, for in 1902, M.R. James himself discovered a manuscript fragment which led to excavations in the ruins of the abbey at Bury St. Edmunds, in which the graves of several twelfth-century abbots were rediscovered, having been lost since the Dissolution of the Monasteries. He also catalogued many of the manuscript libraries of the University of Cambridge and translated the Book of Baruch from its original Ethiopic in 1879. Being such an authority in the experiences of historical research puts him in a league all of his own when it comes to ghost stories and you feel as if you can just reach out and touch the characters of his gripping plots. I hope you enjoyed it. Sleep with the Angels and Rise with the Saints! 00:00 "The Mezzotint" 11:32 "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" 33:18 "A School Story" 49:52 Excerpt of "A Warning to the Curious" Check out the YouTube channel, if you want: https://www.youtube.com/@catholicmenspodcast

The Legend of the Locket

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/jVM_r93iKIk [https://youtu.be/4XdUxTjfOAA] Adapted from Father Francis J. Finn's book, "Mostly Boys" (New York: Benziger Brothers, 1896), p. 90–95. Check out the YouTube channel, if you want: https://www.youtube.com/@catholicmenspodcast

Before You Criticize a Priest, Consider This…

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/zeT_7kWJTM0 Keep in mind also, what Pope St. Pius X said, “Whilst Jesus was kind to sinners and to those who went astray, He did not respect their false ideas.” So you can be respectful and kind while still rejecting heresy. Here's that video about Devotion to Mary I was talking about: https://youtu.be/0c-BpsDd_0E I'll be quoting extensively from THE DIGNITY AND DUTIES OF THE PRIEST by St. Alphonsus Liguori, a Doctor of the Church: https://www.saintsbooks.net/books/St.%20Alphonsus%20Maria%20de%20Liguori%20-%20Complete%20Works%20-%2012%20-%20Dignity%20and%20Duties%20of%20the%20Priest.pdf Check out the YouTube channel, if you want: https://www.youtube.com/@catholicmenspodcast

The Legend of St. Dismas

Video: https://youtu.be/kGOJu5Y0ezs I’m not very familiar with this author, but her story lines up exactly with the mystical visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich concerning the Holy Family and the early life of St. Dismas. It also coincides with St. Augustine’s assertion that Dimas had encountered Jesus before that fateful day on calvary, although the details in his story varied a bit from Emmerich’s vision. St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Peter Damian and other Saints referenced St. Augustine’s claim, so it’s hardly more than idle chatter, but you can take it or leave it. At any rate, this is his legend in the form of a beautiful story by Pauline Sanders. Check out the YouTube channel, if you want: https://www.youtube.com/@catholicmenspodcast

Conspiracy Theories: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself

You can watch/share the video through this link: https://youtu.be/dcTODjJE0U8 Don Bosco wrote: "All the wisdom of Solomon is of no use if you are lost.” "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know them." (Matt. 7:15-16). Check out the YouTube channel, if you want: https://www.youtube.com/@catholicmenspodcast