Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For this third week of Lent, we first read the beautiful opening paragraph of St. Gregory of Nyssa's "On the Christian Mode of Life," followed by continuing our series of Lenten sermons by St. Pope Leo the Great. This week, we read his Sermon 41, which was delivered on February 21, 443. Many of his exhortations and warnings are particularly timely as we are now amidst another war in the Middle East. We bolster his observations with a powerful reading from one of J.R.R. Tolkien's letters toward the end of World War II about how Catholics should ponder their enemies in wartime.
May this Lent be arduous and sanctifying!
You can purchase the CUA volume with St. Gregory of Nyssa's work here:
cuapress.org/9780813209692/ascetical-works
You can purchase the CUA volume with St. Pope Leo the Great's sermon here: cuapress.org/9780813228297/sermons
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This apostolate is a non-profit under priestly authority, and all your gifts are tax-deductible. Your generosity makes it possible for us to produce our podcast, research, and written content with excellence, while making it available to the world for free, all for the salvation of souls. It also empowers us to work on even bigger projects behind the scenes (stay tuned).
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CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
09:19 - St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Christian Mode of Life + Reflections
18:14 - St. Pope Leo the Great, Sermon 41 (February 21, 443)
25:55 - Reflections and Commentary
This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
For this third week of Lent, we first read the beautiful opening paragraph of St. Gregory of Nyssa's "On the Christian Mode of Life," followed by continuing our series of Lenten sermons by St. Pope Leo the Great. This week, we read his Sermon 41, which was delivered on February 21, 443. Many of his exhortations and warnings are particularly timely as we are now amidst another war in the Middle East. We bolster his observations with a powerful reading from one of J.R.R. Tolkien's letters toward the end of World War II about how Catholics should ponder their enemies in wartime.
May this Lent be arduous and sanctifying!
You can purchase the CUA volume with St. Gregory of Nyssa's work here:
cuapress.org/9780813209692/ascetical-works
You can purchase the CUA volume with St. Pope Leo the Great's sermon here: cuapress.org/9780813228297/sermons
BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION
Has our content blessed you or those you love? Then please consider becoming a monthly patron for $10/month or more.
➡️ eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron
This apostolate is a non-profit under priestly authority, and all your gifts are tax-deductible. Your generosity makes it possible for us to produce our podcast, research, and written content with excellence, while making it available to the world for free, all for the salvation of souls. It also empowers us to work on even bigger projects behind the scenes (stay tuned).
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
➡️ eternalchristendom.com
CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
X: twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles
Facebook: facebook.com/joshuatcharles
Instagram: 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:
➡️ eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic
SUBSTACK
Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content:
➡️ eternalchristendom.substack.com
EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS
➡️ eternalchristendom.com/bookstore
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
09:19 - St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Christian Mode of Life + Reflections
18:14 - St. Pope Leo the Great, Sermon 41 (February 21, 443)
25:55 - Reflections and Commentary
This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
