The Pearl of Great Price

Hugely influential in the life of many British writers - particularly C S Lewis, but also across the pond with Mark Twain. Born a Calvinist, died an Anglican, this Scottish minister and writer left a profound legacy 

The first female doctor in Switzerland - she would convert to Catholicism and set up the community of St John with Hans Urs von Balthazar

Gilles de Rai was one of the earliest serial killers on record, today he was arrested in 1440 after an investigation by the Bishop of Nantes

Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers who were hugely responsible with spreading devotion to the Rosary. He has two countries named after him. This is the story of the miraculous painting attributed to him 

Now the most famous champagne is named in his honour, Pierre Perignon was a Benedictine Monk who perfected the method of making sparkling wine 

The final novel of Dostoevsky is possibly his most famous - the Brothers Karamazov.  Wrought out of terrible grief and struggles with faith after the death of his three year old son Aloysha.  One of Russia's greatest novelists has produced on of the greatest novels of all time. Charting the tumultuous transition of Russia from feudalism, the devoutly Orthodox Christian has produced one of the most powerful chapters on faith and reason with the Grand Inquisitor.  

Bishop Richard Challoner has been called the most influential English Catholic of the 18th Century.  It was an uneasy time before Catholic Emancipation laws and least safe in London. The Catholic Church was still illegal after Queen Elizabeth's Act of Uniformity and there were sporadic riots against Catholics. Challoners' life is a case study of successful leadership in a hostile environment 

Bishop Bartholomew De La Casas chronicled the terrible atrocities that Spanish colonists carried out on the indigenous people of Central and South America.  He was appointed protector of the Indians by the Spanish Legal Establishment, His writing and thinking was influenced the School of Salamanca  and lead to both international law and the first concepts of universal human rights.

Carl Gustav Jung was one of the most creative thinkers of the 20th Century. The founder of analytical psychology his fascination with religion was life long

Today we remember the life of Michael Novak - influential author of the Spirit of Democratic Capitalism.  He tweaked Weber's famous Protestant Work Ethic and claimed that free capitalist economies owed more to a Catholic Work Ethic

Francis Collins the director of the Human Genome Project is a devout Christian. we explore his life today

Today we remember how the dynamic Franciscan Maximilian Kolbe offered his life for another at Auschwitz. We look at his rich life, his devotion to the ' Immaculada' and his legacy 

The great Irish Writer James Joyce had a confusing and complicated relationship with the Catholic Church. But his books have had a remarkable influence and following

Today we look at the tradition of Popes handing out Golden Roses that have been blessed on Laudate Sunday.  How Paul VI gave one today to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida

Today we look at the life and thought of George Ellis, committed Quaker and Cosmologist. Co-author with Stephen Hawking of the 'Yellow Peril' a standard text book on General Relativity Theory.  Also developed the theory of kenotic-ethics which he claims is deeply imbedded in the universe

Today we remember the first papal encyclical that allowed for the possibility of Salvation outside of Church. We look at the history of soteriology - the theology of salvation

St Herman was a Russian Orthodox monk who had a very effective mission to the Aleut people of Alaska.  During a 'Fur Rush' when colonisation and exploration was fuelled by the seal fur trade he defended the rights of the native Aleut people 

Today we look at the profoundly influential Danish philosopher Soren Kierkergaard.   The Father of Existentialism he was a profoundly Christian thinker.  Surviving his fathers harsh Lutheranism he would write some of the most profound criticisms of Christianity but also at times was quasi-mystical 

An important meeting in post-war Germany, the first outdoor mega-mass and a landmark in Ecumenical Relations. The delegates also laid a foundation for a Church of Atonement near the concentration camp of Dachau

The First Conclave of the Sistine Chapel - how did the Church develop this way of electing a Pope and what happens

Bill Wilson said his spiritual experience of 'white light' cured him of his alcoholism.  We look at the foundation of Alcoholics Anonymous and his relationship with Fr Ed Dowling. What are the Twelve Steps and how have they helped so many people

Dr Grenfel sent by the Fisherman's Mission to Canada's North Atlantic Coast built up a remarkable mission attracting doctors, nurses and clergy from all over the world 

Today we remember how three boats left Spain travelling West for the Indies and discovered the Americas 

One of the finest philosophical minds of her age, Edith Stein went from Judaism to agnosticism to Christianity.  Edmund Husserl's assistant, she became a Carmelite Nun and was to die at Auschwitz. 

Today we look at the life of St Aethelwold, who rebuilt the church after 300 years of Viking raids.  Also the unlikely assimilation of Christianity into the Vikings and how Bluetooth got its name 

Mount Athos is a unique centre  for Orthodox Christianity,  today in 1913 the Russian Navy removed 800 monks.  We look at the traditions there and its claim to be Marys Garden

Humane Vitae is the most controversial of papal encyclicals, restating the Church's opposition to artificial birth control. It also marked a moment in the shift of the authority of the Church.  It was Pope Paul VI last encyclical. Was it prophetic or a disastrous overreach? 

The greatest of the Baroque composers was a man of profound Lutheran faith, we look at his life

Today a British Archeologist discovered a standing stone from the Iron Age which had some remarkable inscriptions

The Franciscan friar, Francesco Forgione took the religious name Pius when he entered his order.  He lived an unusual life of spiritual intensity and holiness and was strongly persecuted by his religious authorities for 20 years.  He would become one of Italy's most popular saints

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor and icon of Christian resistance to the Nazis was executed.  Four months later his parents found out when a memorial service was broadcast on the BBC, 

Indian Priest and psychotherapist Anthony De Mello sold over 2 million books on spirituality in his life time, fusing Christian Spirituality with Eastern traditions of Daoism and Buddhism. But after he died prematurely on June 2 1987 his work came under critical inspection by the Vatican. Why? 

The most exciting discovery of modern Archaeology in a cave by the shore of the Dead Sea.  The Dead Sea Scrolls is a huge discovery of nearly 900 manuscripts. Where did they come from and what do they tell us? 

The 5th conference of Latin American Bishops (CELAM) was in the Mexican shrine of Aparecida. Did this mark a decisive shift to Latin America as a Source Church for the Global Church.  An Argentinian Jesuit, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio oversaw the final report.  He would become Pope Francis 

On May 30 the confessing church in German finished its first synod and issued the Barmen Declaration. Bravely denouncing the Nazification of the Evangelical Church. They were inspired by Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemoller

Described as the Prince of Paradox, great wordsmith and communicator Chesterton had an interesting spiritual journey.  Unitarianism > Occult > Anglicanism > Catholicism.  Some of his books are now considered to be classics of apologetics, and his Father Brown detective series is more popular than ever.  A process for beatification is open. 

Canon Law has developed over 2000 years and influence the development of many secular legal systems

William Bernardo wanted to be a missionary to China after his evangelical conversion.  Moving to London to study medicine he was shocked by how many children were orphaned and lived on the streets 

This encyclical on Church Unity, marked a different papal tone, with John Paul II calling ecumenism an imperative 

John Wesley went from spiritual despair to renewal after experiencing a strange warming of the heart in Aldersgate London