Father Fessio in Five
Join Father Fessio every Friday for his profound insights on a wide variety of interesting subjects and be inspired by the thoughts of a great Jesuit. These episodes provide a rare glimpse into the mind of our beloved founder and are an easy and meaningful way to deepen your spiritual and intellectual life!
Join Father Fessio every Friday for his profound insights on a wide variety of interesting subjects and be inspired by the thoughts of a great Jesuit. These episodes provide a rare glimpse into the mind of our beloved founder and are an easy and meaningful way to deepen your spiritual and intellectual life!
Episodes

4 days ago
4 days ago
The collect has not only changed since Vatican II, but it has changed throughout the history of the Church. In this episode, Fr. Fessio explains what the development of the Collect from the very beginning of the Church.

Friday Mar 06, 2026
146: Vatican II Changed the Collect
Friday Mar 06, 2026
Friday Mar 06, 2026
Fr. Fessio explains the opening "Collect" prayer and how it has changed over the years.

Friday Feb 27, 2026
145: What Are We Singing about in of the “Gloria”?
Friday Feb 27, 2026
Friday Feb 27, 2026
Fr. Fessio reveals the dynamic movement that takes place in the second half of the Gloria that we sing at Mass.

Friday Feb 20, 2026
144: The Origins of the Gloria
Friday Feb 20, 2026
Friday Feb 20, 2026
Fr. Fessio explains the historical and Scriptural origin and meaning of the Gloria.

Friday Feb 13, 2026
143: The Only Greek Spoken at Mass
Friday Feb 13, 2026
Friday Feb 13, 2026
Fr. Fessio explains the only Greek phrase we say at Mass.

Friday Feb 06, 2026
142: Why God Forgives Us at Mass
Friday Feb 06, 2026
Friday Feb 06, 2026
In this episode, Fr. Fessio discusses the forgiveness we receive at every Mass.

Friday Jan 30, 2026
141: The Divine Office Connects to the Mass
Friday Jan 30, 2026
Friday Jan 30, 2026
Fr. Fessio explains the lesser known connection between the Mass and the Divine Office or the Liturgy of the Hours, which traditionally lead to the Mass being celebrated at a specific time.

Friday Jan 23, 2026
140: What We Confess at Mass
Friday Jan 23, 2026
Friday Jan 23, 2026
Fr. Fessio explains the Confiteor at the beginning of the Mass.

Friday Jan 16, 2026
139: What Vatican II Actually Said About Using Latin at Mass
Friday Jan 16, 2026
Friday Jan 16, 2026
Since Vatican II, the use of Latin in Mass has radically decline. . . . But in this episode, Fr. Fessio reviews what Vatican II said about using Latin at Mass.

Friday Jan 09, 2026
138: Why the Priest Says “The Lord be with you”
Friday Jan 09, 2026
Friday Jan 09, 2026
In the not-so-distant past, the Church began saying “and with your spirit” instead of “and with you.” In this episode Fr. Fessio explains these opening words of the Mass.

Friday Jan 02, 2026
137: Explaining the Sign of the Cross
Friday Jan 02, 2026
Friday Jan 02, 2026
Have you ever reflected on why we begin the Mass with the sign of the Cross? Fr. Fessio explains the deep significance behind this often overlooked opening.

Friday Dec 26, 2025
136: Why Does the Priest Kiss the Altar?
Friday Dec 26, 2025
Friday Dec 26, 2025
Father Fessio begins to unpack the beginning of the Mass by reflecting the priest’s first action in the Mass—he kisses the altar.

Friday Dec 19, 2025
135: The Meaning Behind the Priestly Vestments
Friday Dec 19, 2025
Friday Dec 19, 2025
Ever wonder what is the significance of the priest’s vestments? In this episode, Fr. Fessio explains what these vestments are and symbolism behind them.

Friday Dec 12, 2025
134: Fr. Fessio Explains Why We Call the Mass, “The Mass”
Friday Dec 12, 2025
Friday Dec 12, 2025
We all call the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the “Mass” but many of us don’t know why. . . . So Fr. Fessio explains this term and the other terms used to identify this sacrament.

Friday Dec 05, 2025
133: The Mass in the Road to Emmaus
Friday Dec 05, 2025
Friday Dec 05, 2025
Fr. Fessio explains the third dimension of the Mass—the personal dimension—using the events on the road to Emmaus.

Friday Nov 28, 2025
132. The Cosmic Dimension of the Mass
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Fr. Fessio describes the second dimension of the Mass—the cosmic dimension. Fr. Fessio explains how Christ is the center of this dimension.

Friday Nov 21, 2025
131. The Historical Dimension of the Mass
Friday Nov 21, 2025
Friday Nov 21, 2025
There are three dimensions to the Mass: the historical, the cosmic, and the personal. And in this episode, Fr. Fessio outlines the historical dimension of the Mass by examining the Old Testament and the life of Christ.
Get your copy of The Mass of Vatican II: https://ignatius.com/mass-of-vatican-ii-mv2p/?searchid=3424209&search_query=the+mass+of+vatican+II

Friday Nov 14, 2025
130. Explaining the Mass of Vatican II
Friday Nov 14, 2025
Friday Nov 14, 2025
Fr. Fessio is beginning a series on the Mass, and today he explains the difference between “old” vs the “new” Mass and which he will follow going forward in this series.
Get your copy of The Mass of Vatican II: https://ignatius.com/mass-of-vatican-ii-mv2p/?searchid=3424209&search_query=the+mass+of+vatican+II

Friday Nov 07, 2025
129: Fr. Fessio Starts A Series on The Mass
Friday Nov 07, 2025
Friday Nov 07, 2025
Today’s episode marks the beginning of Fr. Fessio’s series on the Mass. In this episode, he explains how the Mass is central in the sacramental order.

Friday Oct 31, 2025
128: Three Latin Phrases You Should Use
Friday Oct 31, 2025
Friday Oct 31, 2025
Fr. Fessio explains what “oremus invicem,” “ad majorem dei gloriam,” and “amor meus pondus meum” mean and why you should use the often.

Friday Oct 24, 2025
127: Would You Recognize the Holy Family?
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Fr. Fessio points out how many holy people are like the Holy Family both in their life of grace and often in their obscurity.

Friday Oct 17, 2025
126: A Small Lesson in Hebrew
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Fr. Fessio examines the original Hebrew for two passages in Scripture. In each case, the original language reveals more than our English translation.

Friday Oct 10, 2025
125: What Does Faith Require?
Friday Oct 10, 2025
Friday Oct 10, 2025
Fr. Fessio points out that in Hebrew the word “faith” means something a bit different than it does in English.

Friday Oct 03, 2025
124: Why You Should Say "Pax huic domui" When Entering a House
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Fr. Fessio explains the Latin phrase Pax huic domui and its response Et omnibus habitantibus in ea.

Friday Sep 26, 2025
123: The Greatest in the Kingdom of God
Friday Sep 26, 2025
Friday Sep 26, 2025
We will be measured not by our human achievements, but by our love. Fr. Fessio explains how we can be great in the kingdom of God.

Friday Sep 19, 2025
122 Special Episode: Why Catholics Should Kneel
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Friday Sep 19, 2025
In today's special episode, Fr. Fessio is joined by Archbishop Cordileone to discuss the importance of kneeling at Mass and when receiving communion. They draw upon Pope Benedict XVI's book "The Spirit of the Liturgy" which is celebrating 25 years of publication.
Get Your Copy of "The Spirit of the Liturgy": https://ignatius.com/the-spirit-of-the-liturgy-commemorative-edition-splcep/?searchid=0&search_query=the+spirit+of+the+liturgy

Friday Sep 12, 2025
121: Is the Our Father the Best Prayer?
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Fr. Fessio returns to the Our Father and argues for its primacy as a prayer of petition. But he also points out that there are more types of prayer than those of petition . . .

Friday Sep 05, 2025
120: Do You Know What “Deo Gratias” Means?
Friday Sep 05, 2025
Friday Sep 05, 2025
Fr. Fessio explains another common Latin phrase—Deo Gratias. He believes that this phrase is so important that everyone should use it.

Friday Aug 29, 2025
119: You Should Use This Latin Phrase
Friday Aug 29, 2025
Friday Aug 29, 2025
Fr. Fessio explains what “Deo Volente” means, and why we should use it in our daily life.

Friday Aug 22, 2025
118: Atheists and Christians See Sunsets Differently
Friday Aug 22, 2025
Friday Aug 22, 2025
Fr. Fessio recalls a conversation he had with an atheist student where he explained the difference between how an atheist sees the world and how a Christian views creation.








