Why are there Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, and so many different religious orders?


How are they different? How did they come about?

Fr. Rich Simon answers these questions and gives you a crash course on Church history. 

Why are there Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, and so many different religious orders?
 How are they different? How did they come about?
Fr. Rich Simon answers these questions and gives you a crash course on Church history.

Father Simon Says™ is your daily bible study hosted by Father Richard Simon, who jokingly refers to himself as Reverend Know-it-All.

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Father Simon Says

Why Are There So Many Religious Orders? (Special Podcast Highlight)

Check out this encore show from April 29, 2022

Acts 5:34-42
Father explains Jewish belief in life after death

Letters
Father riffs more about silence in church
I saw someone selling a relic of John Henry Newman; what should I have done? 
Can we substitute Psalm 51 for the psalm of the day during Lent?
Father answers a question about marriage and communion 

Word of the Day: Sat Down, going up

Callers:
How to identify venial sins and what does it mean when my priest says he can't be my spiritual advisor?
If Fr. Simon were to sell a relic, would he be 'Fr. Simony'?
Can Father explain Matthew 7:21
Can we inset belief in the Eucharist into the Creed? 

Check out this encore show from April 29, 2022
<a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?34">Acts 5:34-42</a>
<ul>
<li>Father explains Jewish belief in life after death</li>
</ul>
Letters
<ul>
<li>Father riffs more about silence in church</li>
<li>I saw someone selling a relic of John Henry Newman; what should I have done?&nbsp;</li>
<li>Can we substitute Psalm 51 for the psalm of the day during Lent?</li>
<li>Father answers a question about marriage and communion&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Word of the Day: Sat Down, going up
Callers:
<ul>
<li>How to identify venial sins and what does it mean when my priest says he can't be my spiritual advisor?</li>
<li>If Fr. Simon were to sell a relic, would he be 'Fr. Simony'?</li>
<li>Can Father explain Matthew 7:21</li>
<li>Can we inset belief in the Eucharist into the Creed?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Father Simon Says - April 17, 2026 - Sit Down, Stand Up!

Check out this show from April 27, 2022

Acts 5:17-26
What is heresy? 

Jn 3:16-21
Is the Trinity actually easy to understand? 

Letters
Father comments on the need for silence before mass
Listener thanks Father for his priesthood and comments on the structure of priesthood

Word of the Day: Sad​ducees

Callers 
My father was cremated.  Could I put him in a Church, is that considered a sacred place?
Why in the scriptures does it say those who love the world will lose it and those who hate the world will find everlasting life.  Yet, God so loved the world.

Check out this show from April 27, 2022
<a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?17">Acts 5:17-26</a>
<ul>
<li>What is heresy?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?16" data-auth="NotApplicable">Jn 3:16-21</a>
<ul>
<li>Is the Trinity actually easy to understand?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Letters
<ul>
<li>Father comments on the need for silence before mass</li>
<li>Listener thanks Father for his priesthood and comments on the structure of priesthood</li>
</ul>
Word of the Day: Sad​ducees
Callers&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>My father was cremated. &nbsp;Could I put him in a Church, is that considered a sacred place?</li>
<li>Why in the scriptures does it say those who love the world will lose it and those who hate the world will find everlasting life. &nbsp;Yet, God so loved the world.</li>
</ul>

Father Simon Says - April 15, 2026 - Heresy!

Check out this show from April 28, 2022

Acts 5:27-33
Father gives context about the book of Acts 

Jn 3:31-36
Father talks more about the Trinity 

Letters
Father reads a letter from a retired priest friend who bemoans the lack of respect during mass
Listener writes in about her marriage and temptation 
Father clarifies if Jesus had more siblings (*He didn't!)

Word of the Day: Ration

Callers 
Is purgatory closed? 
Could you explain to me Apophatic Theology?
Who is the great harlot and who are the ten kings in Rev. 17?

Check out this show from April 28, 2022
<a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?27">Acts 5:27-33</a>
<ul>
<li>Father gives context about the book of Acts&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?31">Jn 3:31-36</a>
<ul>
<li>Father talks more about the Trinity&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Letters
<ul>
<li>Father reads a letter from a retired priest friend who bemoans the lack of respect during mass</li>
<li>Listener writes in about her marriage and temptation&nbsp;</li>
<li>Father clarifies if Jesus had more siblings (*He didn't!)</li>
</ul>
Word of the Day: Ration
Callers&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Is purgatory closed?&nbsp;</li>
<li>Could you explain to me Apophatic Theology?</li>
<li>Who is the great harlot and who are the ten kings in Rev. 17?</li>
</ul>

Why Are There So Many Religious Orders? (Special Podcast Highlight)

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