Formed Book Club

Formed Book Club

15 Seasons

Join Catholic experts and book lovers with decades of experience in publishing for in-depth weekly discussions of relevant Catholic texts. Hosted by Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ (Founder of Ignatius Press), Vivian Dudro (Senior Editor at Ignatius Press), and Joseph Pearce (Director of Book Publishing at Augustine Institute). These discussions are part of an online community that reads and discusses a different book each month. Go to formedbookclub.ignatius.com to sign up for free! Books discussed: Chance or the Dance by Thomas Howard. Electronic versions are available here. Real Philosophy for Real People by Fr. Robert McTeigue .S.J.

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Formed Book Club
  • Episode 1 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 1

    What does the liturgy have to do with human happiness? Everything. Fr. Joseph Fessio, a former student and long-time friend of Pope Benedict XVI, leads an introduction to the pope’s groundbreaking book “The Spirit of the Liturgy”.

  • Episode 2 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 2

    The real meaning of "sacrifice," according to Pope Benedict. Father Fessio walks us, page by page, through chapter 2 of Joseph Ratzinger's masterpiece "The Spirit of the Liturgy."

  • Episode 3 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 3

    Life between heaven and earth: how the liturgy touches eternity. Father Fessio continues to walk us through "The Spirit of the Liturgy" by his teacher, Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI).

  • Episode 4 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 4

    Why your priest SHOULD be facing away from you. Hint: It's not what you think. Father Fessio explains his teacher Joseph Ratzinger's theology of "liturgical east" in this reading of "The Spirit of the Liturgy".

  • Episode 5 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 5

    What Mass was like at St. Peter's in the 1600s—and why it was so strangely beautiful. Fr. Fessio breaks down chapter 3, section 2, of his teacher Joseph Ratzinger's masterpiece, "The Spirit of the Liturgy."

  • Episode 6 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 6

    Should we have lay lectors and altar servers at Mass? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro address “lay participation” as they unpack chapter 3 of “The Spirit of the Liturgy.”

  • Episode 7 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 7

    Why churches should always be open. Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue to unpack “The Spirit of the Liturgy” by Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI).

  • Episode 8 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 8

    Does anybody really know what time is? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro try to unfold one of reality's greatest mysteries with the help of Joseph Ratzinger's "The Spirit of the Liturgy".

  • Episode 9 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 9

    Do Catholics overlook the Church's most important feast? Why the whole year hinges on March 25, as Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue to unpack Joseph Ratzinger's landmark book "The Spirit of the Liturgy".

  • Episode 11 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 10

    Pope Benedict on MUSIC, both ancient and new.  Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian guide us through part 3, chapter 2, of Joseph Ratzinger's classic "The Spirit of the Liturgy".

  • Episode 10 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 11

    Why God loves art—and you should too. Join Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro in their discussion of part III, chapter 1, of Joseph Ratzinger’s “Spirit of the Liturgy”, on images and visual art.

  • Episode 12 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 12

    How music almost killed—and saved—the Catholic Church. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss Joseph Ratzinger’s account of the development of liturgical singing in “The Spirit of the Liturgy”.

  • Episode 13 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 13

    Rock music: is it good? Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro continue to unpack Pope Benedict's analysis of music in "The Spirit of the Liturgy".

  • Episode 14 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 14

    What is a "rite," and why are there so many? Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro untangle the meaning of different liturgical styles with the help of Joseph Ratzinger's "The Spirit of the Liturgy".

  • Episode 15 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 15

    The real meaning of "active participation" in the Mass. Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro break down the first half of the last chapter of Joseph Ratzinger's "The Spirit of the Liturgy."

  • Episode 16 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 16

    What’s kneeling at Mass all about? Find out with Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro as they read the final chapter of Joseph Ratzinger’s “The Spirit of the Liturgy!”

  • Episode 17 | The Spirit of the Liturgy

    Episode 17

    Is Latin better or worse for the Mass? Sparks fly in this concluding episode of our study of Joseph Ratzinger’s “The Spirit of the Liturgy.”