Curated playlist
Doctors of the Church
- Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas's family held him prisoner for nearly a year. At nineteen he chose to join the Dominican preachers.
- IrenaeusWhy did a bishop in Gaul insist on exactly four gospels? Irenaeus is the earliest witness to that claim.
- Augustine of HippoAugustine of Hippo once prayed, "Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet."
- John ChrysostomThree places claim to hold the skull of John Chrysostom. Vatopedi, Florence and Pisa all say they have it.
- Basil of CaesareaBasil of Caesarea told an emperor's official, "Perhaps you have never yet had to deal with a bishop."
- Gregory of NyssaGregory of Nyssa, a fourth-century bishop, argued that slavery itself was sinful.
- Gregory of NazianzusGregory of Nazianzus offered to be thrown overboard like Jonah. He told a council of 150 bishops in 381 to seize him.
- John of the CrossJohn of the Cross wrote poetry on scraps of paper in a Toledo prison cell. Fellow Carmelites had seized him in 1577.
- Teresa of ÁvilaAt age seven, Teresa of Ávila ran away to seek martyrdom fighting the Moors.
- JeromeJerome translated the Old Testament from Hebrew, against most Christians' advice. He finished the project by 405.