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)

Bible Study

Break 1

Letters

Break 2

Word of the Day

Phones

(3:24) Bible Study: 
1 Samuel 1:24-28
What does it mean to be dedicated to God?

(24:18) Break 1
(25:07) Letters:
How do you explain the Trinity without committing heresy? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com

(35:47) Break 2
(37:17) Word of the Day
Kai
(47:10) Phones:
Deacon Ray - Have you ever heard of Joseph and the reverence theory?

<ul>
<li>(3:24) Bible Study: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/1?24">1 Samuel 1:24-28</a>
<ul>
<li>What does it mean to be dedicated to God?</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
(24:18) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(25:07) Letters:
<ul>
<li>How do you explain the Trinity without committing heresy? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at <a href="mailto:simon@relevantradio.com">simon@relevantradio.com</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
(35:47) Break 2
<ul>
<li>(37:17) Word of the Day
<ul>
<li>Kai</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>(47:10) Phones:
<ul>
<li>Deacon Ray - Have you ever heard of Joseph and the reverence theory?</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

The Magnificat - Father Simon Says - December 22, 2025

(10:54) Bible Study: 
Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a
Father shares the story of Sampson’s birth
Luke 1:5-25
Angry religion is a curse. Father explains

(22:46) Break 1
(24:02) Letters:
Why has doing the minimum become the norm? What is cannibalism and are Catholic cannibals? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com

(32:51) Break 2
(34:15) Word of the Day
Sanctuary
(37:59) Phones:
Sally - I want to be cremated but what should I do?
Maria - When we say 'poor banished children of eve' in a prayer is that a reference to Mary as the new Eve or to Eve the wife of Adam?
Chris - In Luke 7:18-20 it seems like John the Baptist doesn’t know Jesus even though they are related
Charlie - Why in Isaiah does it say he should be called Emmanuel, but we named him Jesus?

<ul>
<li>(10:54) Bible Study: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/judges/13?2">Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a</a>
<ul>
<li>Father shares the story of Sampson&rsquo;s birth</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?5">Luke 1:5-25</a>
<ul>
<li>Angry religion is a curse. Father explains</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
(22:46) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(24:02) Letters:
<ul>
<li>Why has doing the minimum become the norm? What is cannibalism and are Catholic cannibals? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at <a href="mailto:simon@relevantradio.com">simon@relevantradio.com</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
(32:51) Break 2
<ul>
<li>(34:15) Word of the Day
<ul>
<li>Sanctuary</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>(37:59) Phones:
<ul>
<li>Sally - I want to be cremated but what should I do?</li>
<li>Maria - When we say 'poor banished children of eve' in a prayer is that a reference to Mary as the new Eve or to Eve the wife of Adam?</li>
<li>Chris - In Luke 7:18-20 it seems like John the Baptist doesn&rsquo;t know Jesus even though they are related</li>
<li>Charlie - Why in Isaiah does it say he should be called Emmanuel, but we named him Jesus?</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Sanctuary - Father Simon Says - December 19, 2025

(6:41) Bible Study: 
Matthew 1:1-17
Father explains this list of names from yesterday’s readings.
Matthew 1:18-25
Today’s readings talk about Joseph but miss something really important.

(18:45) Break 1
(21:20) Letters:
How do you tell you parents that you converted of the Faith? Can you get married if you aren’t confirmed in the Faith? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com

(34:04) Break 2
(36:12) Word of the Day
Jesus
(40:57) Phones:
Tom - Can you reconcile the need to be buried but then also taking pieces off of saints. (not a catholic)
Franchesca - A heard about a priests who gave confession to a POW German who said he wasn’t sorry for begin a Nazi but did say he was sorry for not being sorry. Could you clarify this?
Jay - what is 'catholic Faith' does it mean a lineage from Peter?

<ul>
<li>(6:41) Bible Study: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/1?1">Matthew 1:1-17</a>
<ul>
<li>Father explains this list of names from yesterday&rsquo;s readings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/1?18">Matthew 1:18-25</a>
<ul>
<li>Today&rsquo;s readings talk about Joseph but miss something really important.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
(18:45) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(21:20) Letters:
<ul>
<li>How do you tell you parents that you converted of the Faith? Can you get married if you aren&rsquo;t confirmed in the Faith? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:simon@relevantradio.com">simon@relevantradio.com</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
(34:04) Break 2
<ul>
<li>(36:12) Word of the Day
<ul>
<li>Jesus</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>(40:57) Phones:
<ul>
<li>Tom - Can you reconcile the need to be buried but then also taking pieces off of saints. (not a catholic)</li>
<li>Franchesca - A heard about a priests who gave confession to a POW German who said he wasn&rsquo;t sorry for begin a Nazi but did say he was sorry for not being sorry. Could you clarify this?</li>
<li>Jay - what is 'catholic Faith' does it mean a lineage from Peter?</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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

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