CTK Story Hour

Pinocchio navigates the innards of the Dogfish to discover, at last, his dear papa, and finally puts into practice the many lessons his beloved Fairy and the Cricket have been patiently giving him all his life.

This is the first episode of Season Two of the Christ the King Story Hour. Join us for the wild path from puppetry to boyhood in this classic tale!

Theme music: Aleksandr Winkler, String Quintet, Op. 11 (for 2 violins, 2 violas, and cello) - III. Andante semplice. Licensed under Creative Commons via Musopen (www.musopen.org), a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on improving access and exposure to music by creating free resources and educational materials.

Odysseus takes up his bow and proves himself a worthier warrior than the wooers of his wife. He at last unmasks himself, takes revenge on his enemies in a brief but furious battle, and is reunited with his beloved wife Penelope and his father Laertes. 

All media courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Odysseus has the best of a fellow beggar in a fair fight, spurred on for the amusement of his wife's wooers. Face to face with Penelope, he assures her that hope is still alive for her in spite of her despair.

Odysseus, having concluded his tale, is given transport by the Phaiacians to the island of Ithaka. There, concealed by Athene under the appearance of a beggar, he stays in the company of one of his own servants, the swineheard Eumaeus, whose tale Odysseus asks to be told.

Odysseus continues the tale of his trials, recounting how they were within sight of Ithaka when jealousy and resentment creates even greater misfortunes. Their journey brings them onto the island of Circe, the Enchantress, and past the song of the Sirens and the terrible monsters of Scylla and Charybdis where all is nearly lost.

After being treated to games and a feast, Odysseus reveals his identity to the Phaiacians, and begins to recount his trials and sufferings with the story of their landing on the Island of the Cyclopes.

Hermes brings the will of Zeus to the island where Odysseus is stranded, and he makes his way by sea toward home. He can't get far before he is wrecked on the Island of the Phaiakians.

Helen concludes her sorrowful tale of Hector's death and funeral, and Telemachus resolves to return, at last, to Ithaka.

Achilles and Hector meet for their final confrontation before the walls of Troy, and Priam, guided by Hermes, visits Achilles in his camp.

Thetis obtains a great favor for her son from Hephaistos, the metalsmith, Achilles re-enters the war with Troy, and Helen recalls with many tears the final days of Hector.

Patroklos, wearing the armor Achilles in battle, forgets his promises, and the greatest of the Greeks is stirred to revenge by a tragic turn in the battle before the walls of Troy.

Music credits:
-|- Song of the Volga Boatmen - Kevin MacLeod
-|- Starfire - John Michel
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Greeks and Trojans fall into battle, many great warriors are wounded. Though Achilles is unmoved,  Patroklos takes desperate mesaures to save the Greeks from doom.

Agammemnon mortally insults Achilles, who refuses to fight any longer; despite the King's generous offer, and attempts by Odysseus and others to change his mind, Achilles resolves to quit the war in seething anger.

King Menelaus tells Telemachus of what tidings the Ancient One, Proteus, has of Odysseus, and of the great warrior Achilles.

Telemachus and his guide, Peisistratus, ride to the great halls of Nestor and Menelaus, where they at last meet Helen for whom the Greeks went to war.

With Athene's help, Telemechus prepares for his voyage, and sets sail with his young companions to the singing of the minstrel of the Tale of Troy.

Odysseus is called away, and Telemachus his son grows into manhood. He meets a mysterious stranger at the gate of his home, and explains to him why his house has been overrun by suitors to his mother.