Big Finish: Trial of the Valeyard – The Secrets of Doctor Who

Continuing our Big Finish of 2019, Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about this Big Finish audio play featuring the Sixth Doctor and the Valeyard. The tables are now turned and it’s the Valeyard on trial for his life. And the Doctor has to defend him. But what’s really going on?

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Charlie X (TOS) – The Secrets of Star Trek

What if a petulant, immature teenager had god-like powers? That’s the premise of Charlie X, which Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss in this episode, as well as the emergence of Kirk as a 1960’s-style father-figure.

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Fatal Colares UFO Encounters in Brazil (1977) – Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World

When strange objects appeared over Colares, Brazil in 1977, locals were terrified as light rays from the UFOs struck and injured people on the ground and some even died. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli ask what happened, what the investigations said, and what the objects could have been.

Links for this episode:

Mysterious Headlines

Direct Link to the Episode.

The Weekly Francis – 11 December 2019

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 1 December 2019 to 11 December 2019.

Angelus

Apostolic Letter

General Audiences

Speeches

Papal Tweets

  • “Today the Church praises stability. “Trust in the Lord forever, because the Lord is an eternal Rock” (Isa 26:4). Those who trust in the Lord will always be safe, because their foundations are sunk into the Rock. #HomilySantaMarta” @Pontifex 5 December 2019
  • “Prayer is the door of faith; prayer is medicine for the heart.” @Pontifex 6 December 2019
  • “The true worship of God is always expressed in love of one’s neighbour.” @Pontifex 7 December 2019
  • “May the feast of our Mother #MaryImmaculate help us to make our whole life a ”yes“ to God, a ”yes“ composed of adoration of Him and of daily gestures of love and service.” @Pontifex 8 December 2019
  • “May the feast of our Mother #MaryImmaculate help us to make our whole life a ”yes“ to God, a ”yes“ composed of adoration of Him and of daily gestures of love and service.” @Pontifex 8 December 2019
  • “Corruption undermines the dignity of the person and shatters all good and beautiful ideals.All of society is called upon to make a concrete commitment to combat the cancer of corruption which, with the illusion of quick and easy profits, in reality impoverishes everyone.#IACD2019” @Pontifex 9 December 2019
  • “The human person is always sacred and inviolable, in any situation and at any stage of his or her development. If this conviction falls, there is no solid and permanent foundation for the defense of #HumanRights.” @Pontifex 10 December 2019
  • “May Our Lady of #Loreto help us to walk the path of peace and fraternity based on acceptance and forgiveness, respect for others, and on love; may she grant families the blessing of life; and may she bring help and comfort to those in need. #LauretanJubilee” @Pontifex 10 December 2019
  • "“Like a shepherd He feeds His flock, in His arms He gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, leading the ewes with care” (Is 40:11), so the Lord comforts us. #HomilySantaMarta" @Pontifex 10 December 2019
  • “Let us ask the Lord, in this time of Advent, to revive in us faith in Christ who comes to save us, to help us be always faithful to our vocation as missionary disciples. #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex 11 December 2019
  • “Today in the world many Christians are persecuted and give their lives for their faith. Martyrdom is the breath of the life of a Christian, of a Christian community. There will always be martyrs among us: this is the sign that we are following the way of Jesus. #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex 11 December 2019

Papal Instagram

Big Finish: Live 34 – The Secrets of Doctor Who

To start the “Big Finish to 2019,” Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss this innovative 7th Doctor story told in the form of a series of radio broadcasts, a format only possible through an audio play like this. To finish out the year, SDW is doing four special episodes featuring favorite Big Finish audio plays.

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Choose Your Pain (Discovery) – The Secrets of Star Trek

This pivotal first season episode of Discovery introduced both Ash Tyler and Harry Mudd. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss Rainn Wilson’s Mudd, talk about Tyler in light of what we later learn, and highlight Tilly’s prayer for the alien creature.

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The Mysterious Death of Somerton Man (Tamám Shud) – Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World

On Dec. 1, 1948, an unknown man died on a beach in Somerton, South Australia and in his pocket was a piece of paper with the words “tamám shud.” Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore what it could mean, why the man’s identity is still unknown, and why the mystery may be solved soon.

Links for this episode:

Mysterious Headlines

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The Weekly Francis – 04 December 2019

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 26 November 2019 to 4 December 2019.

Angelus

General Audiences

Homilies

Messages

Speeches

Papal Tweets

  • “How important it is to learn to be a friendly and outstretched hand! Try to grow in friendship even with those who think differently than you, so that solidarity might grow among you and become the best weapon to change the course of history.” @Pontifex 28 November 2019
  • “The Church exists to keep alive in people’s heart the memory that God loves them. It exists to tell everyone, even those furthest away: “God doesn’t forget you, He cares about you”.” @Pontifex 30 November 2019
  • “In the #GospelOfTheDay, Jesus exhorts us to be ready for His coming: ”Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming“ (Mt 24:42). To watch means to have your heart ready to give and to serve, to be attentive to our neighbour in difficulty.” @Pontifex 1 December 2019
  • “The word #Advent means coming. The Lord is coming. This is the root of our hope: the certainty that God’s consolation comes to us amidst the troubles of the world. Not a consolation of words, but of His presence among us.” @Pontifex 1 December 2019
  • “With this Letter, I wish to encourage the beautiful family tradition of preparing the nativity scene in the days before Christmas, but also the custom of setting it up in the workplace, in schools, hospitals, prisons and town squares. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20191201_admirabile-signum.html” @Pontifex 1 December 2019
  • “The closeness to the Lord invites our heart to approach our brothers and sisters with love, to show compassion towards everyone.” @Pontifex 2 December 2019
  • “Today we renew our commitment so that every disabled person may share their gifts with the community to which they belong and in which they take part. #IDPD” @Pontifex 3 December 2019
  • “Today the Church praises smallness. God’s works begin by sprouting from a seed, from little things. Jesus speaks about this smallness of the Kingdom: the small heart, humble, that is open to the revelation of the Lord. #HomilySantaMarta” @Pontifex 3 December 2019
  • “Let us pray for all the pastors of the Church, that they might guide the flock entrusted to them with the same firmness and tenderness of the Good Shepherd. #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex 4 December 2019

Papal Instagram

Journey’s End – The Secrets of Doctor Who

In the final episode of the season, Donna becomes the Doctor Donna and Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss what it means, as well as whether the Meta-crisis Doctor is really a separate person from the Doctor. Plus a roundup for all the “Doctor’s Children”.

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The Andorian Incident (Enterprise) – The Secrets of Star Trek

One of the best episodes of the first season of Enterprise reintroduced the Andorians. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha recall who the Andorians were, marvel at actor Jeffrey Coombs versatility, and talk about Vulcan religion.

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