October 12, 2026 – This Week’s Episode
Episode #94, John Dear speaks with Cyprian Consiglio, Sec. General of Monastic Interfaith Dialogue in Rome
Today, John Dear speaks with his friend Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, a well-known composer and musician, the former prior of the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, Cal., and now the Sec. General of Monastic Interfaith Dialogue in Rome, a movement within the Benedictine and Cistercian orders that promotes interfaith dialogue between monastic communities of different religions. He is the author of several books including Prayer In the cave of the heart: the Universal Call to Contemplation; Spirit, Soul, Body: Toward an Integral Christianity Spirituality, and most recently, Epiphanies of Nature and Grace.“Catholicism and Christianity in general have something vital to learn from other religious traditions,” he tells John. “The world really depends on dialogue between the world religions. So many of our conflicts are based on our ignorance of other religions.”
Recently when someone criticized him for wasting his time on a peripheral issue, he responded that every day the front page news is full of horrific violence based in Muslim fundamentalism, Jewish Zionism and Christian nationalism. Everyone has a warped understanding of God, he says. Nothing could be more relevant. “Evil is very gaudy, loud and colorful; building deep bonds of friendship among the religious traditions around the world is quieter and sturdier. It’s another aspect of peacemaking,” he says.
“One of the most important things we need right now is interreligious dialogue. We all need to find the next step in our maturity in the understanding of God.”
Listen in and be inspired!
October 5, 2026 – This Week’s Episode
Episode #93, John Dear speaks with Wamuyu Wachira, Pres. of Pax Christi International
Sr. Wamũyũ Wachira, president of Pax Christi International, the official global Catholic peace movement, is a scholar, educator and peace practitioner with a PhD in Peace Studies. She serves as Senior Lecturer and Program leader in Peace and Conflict Studies at St. Paul University in Nairobi. (See. www.paxchristi.net)“Nonviolence is a way of love, compassion, mercy and peace,” she says. “Pax Christi has 120 member organizations worldwide and has been promoting peace, justice and human rights for 81 years. We believe peace is possible and the cycles of violence can be broken. We try to look at nonviolent ways to resolve conflict and war. We are committed to gospel nonviolence and call the Church to dedicate itself to gospel nonviolence.
“I believe the Beatitudes should be part of our DNA. If someone cuts my finger, I want them to see nonviolence flow out of it. We have to diffuse evil by first disarming ourselves. We have to choose daily the path of nonviolence. Don’t give up!” she concludes. “You never know who sees you and is inspired by your nonviolent living.” Listen in and be inspired!
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Surrendering to the God of Peace
By John Dear
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October 12, 2026 – This Week’s Episode
Episode #94, John Dear speaks with Cyprian Consiglio, Sec. General of Monastic Interfaith Dialogue in Rome
Today, John Dear speaks with his friend Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, a well-known composer and musician, the former prior of the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, Cal., and now the Sec. General of Monastic Interfaith Dialogue in Rome, a movement within the Benedictine and Cistercian orders that promotes interfaith dialogue between monastic communities of different religions. He is the author of several books including Prayer In the cave of the heart: the Universal Call to Contemplation; Spirit, Soul, Body: Toward an Integral Christianity Spirituality, and most recently, Epiphanies of Nature and Grace.“Catholicism and Christianity in general have something vital to learn from other religious traditions,” he tells John. “The world really depends on dialogue between the world religions. So many of our conflicts are based on our ignorance of other religions.”
Recently when someone criticized him for wasting his time on a peripheral issue, he responded that every day the front page news is full of horrific violence based in Muslim fundamentalism, Jewish Zionism and Christian nationalism. Everyone has a warped understanding of God, he says. Nothing could be more relevant. “Evil is very gaudy, loud and colorful; building deep bonds of friendship among the religious traditions around the world is quieter and sturdier. It’s another aspect of peacemaking,” he says.
“One of the most important things we need right now is interreligious dialogue. We all need to find the next step in our maturity in the understanding of God.”
Listen in and be inspired!
October 5, 2026 – This Week’s Episode
Episode #93, John Dear speaks with Wamuyu Wachira, Pres. of Pax Christi International
Sr. Wamũyũ Wachira, president of Pax Christi International, the official global Catholic peace movement, is a scholar, educator and peace practitioner with a PhD in Peace Studies. She serves as Senior Lecturer and Program leader in Peace and Conflict Studies at St. Paul University in Nairobi. (See. www.paxchristi.net)“Nonviolence is a way of love, compassion, mercy and peace,” she says. “Pax Christi has 120 member organizations worldwide and has been promoting peace, justice and human rights for 81 years. We believe peace is possible and the cycles of violence can be broken. We try to look at nonviolent ways to resolve conflict and war. We are committed to gospel nonviolence and call the Church to dedicate itself to gospel nonviolence.
“I believe the Beatitudes should be part of our DNA. If someone cuts my finger, I want them to see nonviolence flow out of it. We have to diffuse evil by first disarming ourselves. We have to choose daily the path of nonviolence. Don’t give up!” she concludes. “You never know who sees you and is inspired by your nonviolent living.” Listen in and be inspired!
Listen on Apple, Spotify, all major platforms,
and the National Catholic Reporter
Listen on Apple, Spotify, all major platforms,
and the National Catholic Reporter