On Driving Home the Faith, Dr. Christopher Holman, assistant professor of music at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology and director of the Sacred Music Institute, joins Ken Craycraft to preview the Institute’s upcoming season of sacred music.

The season begins Sunday, September 13, with an organ recital by Daniel Groats, followed by Solemn Vespers featuring the Athenaeum Chorale, the Mount St. Mary’s Latin Schola, period instruments, and J.S. Bach’s magnificent Magnificat in D major.

Dr. Holman explains the long tradition of Solemn Vespers at the seminary and why these public celebrations offer the community a glimpse into the daily prayer life of the seminarians. He also discusses the use of 18th-century instruments to recreate the sound Bach himself would have known and why historically informed performance requires such highly skilled musicians.

Ken and Dr. Holman also explore the relationship between beauty and worship, and how sacred music can move both people of deep faith and those who may be uncertain about God. Dr. Holman explains how Bach’s genius goes beyond beautiful melodies: his musical settings can actually illumine the words of Scripture, giving listeners a deeper understanding of the text.

The centerpiece of the evening will be Bach’s setting of the Magnificat—the Canticle of Mary, Mary's response to God at the Annunciation.

Event: Sacred Music Institute Opening Season
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Organ Recital: 6:30 p.m. — Daniel Groats
Solemn Vespers: 7:00 p.m.
Featuring: Athenaeum Chorale, Mount St. Mary’s Latin Schola & J.S. Bach’s Magnificat in D Major

A beautiful evening of prayer, Scripture, sacred music, and the transcendent beauty of the Catholic liturgy.

On Driving Home the Faith, Dr. Christopher Holman, assistant professor of music at Mount St. Mary&rsquo;s Seminary &amp; School of Theology and director of the Sacred Music Institute, joins Ken Craycraft to preview the Institute&rsquo;s upcoming season of sacred music.
The season begins Sunday, September 13, with an organ recital by Daniel Groats, followed by Solemn Vespers featuring the Athenaeum Chorale, the Mount St. Mary&rsquo;s Latin Schola, period instruments, and J.S. Bach&rsquo;s magnificent Magnificat in D major.
Dr. Holman explains the long tradition of Solemn Vespers at the seminary and why these public celebrations offer the community a glimpse into the daily prayer life of the seminarians. He also discusses the use of 18th-century instruments to recreate the sound Bach himself would have known and why historically informed performance requires such highly skilled musicians.
Ken and Dr. Holman also explore the relationship between beauty and worship, and how sacred music can move both people of deep faith and those who may be uncertain about God. Dr. Holman explains how Bach&rsquo;s genius goes beyond beautiful melodies: his musical settings can actually illumine the words of Scripture, giving listeners a deeper understanding of the text.
The centerpiece of the evening will be Bach&rsquo;s setting of the Magnificat&mdash;the Canticle of Mary, Mary's response to God at the Annunciation.
Event: Sacred Music Institute Opening Season Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026 Organ Recital: 6:30 p.m. &mdash; Daniel Groats Solemn Vespers: 7:00 p.m. Featuring: Athenaeum Chorale, Mount St. Mary&rsquo;s Latin Schola &amp; J.S. Bach&rsquo;s Magnificat in D Major
A beautiful evening of prayer, Scripture, sacred music, and the transcendent beauty of the Catholic liturgy.

Dr. Ken Craycraft hosts Driving Home the Faith, catching you up on what’s going on in the world, across the country and in our local Catholic community. 

Dr. Ken Craycraft hosts Driving Home the Faith, catching you up on what&rsquo;s going on in the world, across the country and in our local Catholic community.&nbsp;

Driving Home the Faith

Featured Interviews

Driving Home the Faith with Dr. Ken Craycraft.

Driving Home the Faith with Dr. Ken Craycraft.

Driving Home the Faith 2026

Sacred Music, Solemn Vespers & Bach’s Magnificat: Dr. Christopher Holman on the Power of Beauty

Bishop Robert Pipta

Brad Torline

Mark Brumley

Ken Craycraft

Catherine Fishlock

Mike Aquilina

Jennifer Schack & Fr Michael Willig

St. Barbara the Great Byzantine Catholic Mission is at byzantinedayton.org

The Angelico Project is at angelicoproject.org

Ignatius Press is at Ignatius.com

Find Mike Aquilina at Fathersofthechurch.com

Catholic Family Night at the Reds and scores more Catholic events are at sacredheartradio.com/events

St. Barbara the Great Byzantine Catholic Mission is at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.byzantinedayton.org/">byzantinedayton.org</a>
The Angelico Project is at&nbsp;<a href="https://angelicoproject.org/">angelicoproject.org</a>
Ignatius Press is at&nbsp;<a href="https://ignatius.com/">Ignatius.com</a>
Find Mike Aquilina at&nbsp;<a href="https://fathersofthechurch.com/">Fathersofthechurch.com</a>
Catholic Family Night at the Reds and scores more Catholic events are&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sacredheartradio.com/events/">sacredheartradio.com/events</a>

Driving Home the Faith 2026.08.28

On Driving Home the Faith, Ken Craycraft welcomes back Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, economist, founder of the Ruth Institute, and author of The Sexual State: How Elite Ideologies Are Destroying Lives.

Ken and Dr. Morse discuss the legal and cultural debate surrounding so-called “conversion therapy” bans, focusing on Colorado legislation regulating what licensed therapists may discuss with clients regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.

They examine the Supreme Court case involving therapist Kaley Childs, the First Amendment questions raised by restrictions on counseling, and Colorado's response following the Court's ruling.

Dr. Morse explains why she believes the terminology surrounding “conversion therapy” can obscure what these laws actually regulate, particularly when it comes to talk therapy and clients who voluntarily seek counseling to understand or change unwanted feelings or experiences.

The conversation also explores the distinction between same-sex attraction and gender identity, the growing debate over how counselors should respond to children experiencing gender confusion, and broader questions surrounding parental rights, professional counseling, religious freedom, and freedom of speech.

Ken and Dr. Morse consider an important underlying question: What happens when the government restricts what a licensed professional is permitted to discuss with a person who is voluntarily seeking help?

The conversation sets up a deeper discussion about not only therapists, but also the rights of the people who seek counseling and the freedom to explore difficult questions about sexuality, identity, faith, and human nature.

On Driving Home the Faith, Ken Craycraft welcomes back Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, economist, founder of the Ruth Institute, and author of The Sexual State: How Elite Ideologies Are Destroying Lives.
Ken and Dr. Morse discuss the legal and cultural debate surrounding so-called &ldquo;conversion therapy&rdquo; bans, focusing on Colorado legislation regulating what licensed therapists may discuss with clients regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.
They examine the Supreme Court case involving therapist Kaley Childs, the First Amendment questions raised by restrictions on counseling, and Colorado's response following the Court's ruling.
Dr. Morse explains why she believes the terminology surrounding &ldquo;conversion therapy&rdquo; can obscure what these laws actually regulate, particularly when it comes to talk therapy and clients who voluntarily seek counseling to understand or change unwanted feelings or experiences.
The conversation also explores the distinction between same-sex attraction and gender identity, the growing debate over how counselors should respond to children experiencing gender confusion, and broader questions surrounding parental rights, professional counseling, religious freedom, and freedom of speech.
Ken and Dr. Morse consider an important underlying question: What happens when the government restricts what a licensed professional is permitted to discuss with a person who is voluntarily seeking help?
The conversation sets up a deeper discussion about not only therapists, but also the rights of the people who seek counseling and the freedom to explore difficult questions about sexuality, identity, faith, and human nature.

Conversion Therapy Bans, Religious Freedom & the Colorado Supreme Court Case: Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse

On Driving Home the Faith, Ken Craycraft welcomes back Dr. Christopher Holman, Director of Music and Assistant Professor of Music at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology and Director of Music at St. Gertrude Church in Madeira.

Dr. Holman previews the upcoming Sacred Music Series at St. Gertrude, which opens Friday, September 11, with one of the masterpieces of Western sacred music: J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor.

Ken and Dr. Holman explore what makes this performance unique, including the use of 18th-century instruments and reproductions modeled on the instruments Bach himself would have known. They discuss gut strings, the distinctive “earthy” sound of period instruments, and why historically informed performances can give modern audiences a fascinating glimpse into the musical world of the Baroque era.

But there is also a fascinating mystery surrounding Bach’s Mass in B Minor: Bach never heard the complete work performed during his lifetime. Dr. Holman explains the theories about why Bach composed such an enormous and ambitious Mass—including the possibility that it served as a kind of compositional portfolio or represented Bach’s effort to create a definitive work demonstrating the pinnacle of his craft.

The conversation also explores the surprising Catholic connection to a work written by a Lutheran composer. Although Bach was Lutheran, the Mass in B Minor contains the complete Latin Mass Ordinary and can be performed within the context of the Catholic liturgy.

Bach’s Mass in B Minor
📅 Friday, September 11, 2026
🕖 7:00 p.m.
📍 St. Gertrude Church, Madeira, Ohio

Tickets: $25 general admission | $10 students | Children under 12 free | $60 family admission for everyone living under the same roof.

Tickets are available through St. Gertrude or at the door.

A fascinating conversation about Bach, sacred music, Catholic and Lutheran musical traditions, and the extraordinary sound of instruments from Bach’s own era.

On Driving Home the Faith, Ken Craycraft welcomes back Dr. Christopher Holman, Director of Music and Assistant Professor of Music at Mount St. Mary&rsquo;s Seminary &amp; School of Theology and Director of Music at St. Gertrude Church in Madeira.
Dr. Holman previews the upcoming Sacred Music Series at St. Gertrude, which opens Friday, September 11, with one of the masterpieces of Western sacred music: J.S. Bach&rsquo;s Mass in B Minor.
Ken and Dr. Holman explore what makes this performance unique, including the use of 18th-century instruments and reproductions modeled on the instruments Bach himself would have known. They discuss gut strings, the distinctive &ldquo;earthy&rdquo; sound of period instruments, and why historically informed performances can give modern audiences a fascinating glimpse into the musical world of the Baroque era.
But there is also a fascinating mystery surrounding Bach&rsquo;s Mass in B Minor: Bach never heard the complete work performed during his lifetime. Dr. Holman explains the theories about why Bach composed such an enormous and ambitious Mass&mdash;including the possibility that it served as a kind of compositional portfolio or represented Bach&rsquo;s effort to create a definitive work demonstrating the pinnacle of his craft.
The conversation also explores the surprising Catholic connection to a work written by a Lutheran composer. Although Bach was Lutheran, the Mass in B Minor contains the complete Latin Mass Ordinary and can be performed within the context of the Catholic liturgy.
Bach&rsquo;s Mass in B Minor 📅 Friday, September 11, 2026 🕖 7:00 p.m. 📍 St. Gertrude Church, Madeira, Ohio
Tickets: $25 general admission | $10 students | Children under 12 free | $60 family admission for everyone living under the same roof.
Tickets are available through St. Gertrude or at the door.
A fascinating conversation about Bach, sacred music, Catholic and Lutheran musical traditions, and the extraordinary sound of instruments from Bach&rsquo;s own era.

Sacred Music, Solemn Vespers & Bach’s Magnificat: Dr. Christopher Holman on the Power of Beauty

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