In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend theologian, biblical scholar, and former Protestant pastor Dr. John Bergsma to talk about the deeply biblical roots of the Year of Jubilee.

Pope Francis has declared 2025 a "Year of Jubilee" but what exactly does that mean? What are the "sacred portals" opening up across Rome? What kinds of special graces are available for Catholics? And where in the world does this idea even come from?

With his deep knowledge of Scripture, his sensibilities as a Former Protestant pastor, and his incredible insights from history and the Early Church Dr. Bergsma explains everything you need to know about the Year of Jubilee, its importance, and how to explain it to your non-Catholic or new Catholics friends – or even Catholics who have been Catholic for a long, long time!

So glad to have Dr. Bergsma back on the show. So many insights in this episode.

For more from Dr. Bergsma visit his website. To check out this book Jesus and the Jubilee click here.

To purchase any of John's fine books visit the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

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Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined once again by one of my favourite guests and yours, my good friend Rod Bennett. Rod is a Catholic convert with a unique way of looking at the faith and a penchant for asking some of the most penetrating questions about what connects as divides us as Protestants and Catholics. On this episode, we talk about the question of Christian unity and how can Protestants, ever, accomplish what Jesus prayed for in John 17?

It's an utterly fascinating conversation with some of the best insights Rod has ever brought us including how do Protestants find a Bible-believing church when they first become Protestant and don't know their Bible yet?

How Protestants agree to disagree and still have unity?

What are the essentials that Protestant Christians agree on? And more...

With charity and his trademark cordial, down-home demeanour, Rod challenges our non-Catholic Christian listeners to think hard about these tough questions and our Catholic listeners to humbly, in charity, have answers at hand.

For more from Rod Bennett, check out his numerous previous appearances in the archives of the show including conversations about Catholic Witnesses to the Early Church (Episode 141) and Were the Early Christians Catholic? (Episode 089).

And check out These Twelve, Rod's latest book from Catholic Answers Press and his many, many other fantastic books available everywhere.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests!

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
YouTube: /thecordialcatholic
Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by celebrated Catholic author and convert (or, revert) to the Catholic faith Emily Stimpson Chapman to talk about all things Catholic.

We dig into her own conversion story as someone who was raised Catholic during the "Father Ted in leotards" era of post-Vatican II Catholicism, her rediscovering Christianity in Protestant denominations while working in Washington, DC, and her eventual wrestling and return to the Catholic faith.

We also discuss the sacraments, the Catholic imagination, and becoming Catholic in a time of scandal.

All of this and more this week on the show.

Check out all of Emily Chapman and Scott Hahn's wonderful children's books here.

For more from Emily Chapman visit her website and be sure to find her podcast The Visitation Sessions everywhere podcasts are found.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
YouTube: /thecordialcatholic
Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
TikTok: @cordialcatholic