Catholic Stuff You Should Know

Fr. Mike's inspiration for this week's topic was T.S. Eliot's poem, The Waste Land. Join him and Fr. John as they discuss the chaos of the wasteland and the hope we should have in knowing God will restore the world back to paradise.

Alongside Fr. Mike, Dcn. Jacob encourages listeners to look at reality with the lens that allows us to see the way God is speaking to each one of us.

Fr. John & Fr. Sean are joined by special guest and author Megan Nix. Megan is the author of "Remedies for Sorrow: An Extraordinary Child, a Secret Kept from Pregnant Women, and a Mother's Pursuit of the Truth", a memoir about her deeply personal experience with congenital CMV. Join Megan as she shares a little bit about her journey and her hopes to spread awareness to other expecting mothers. Book: https://www.amazon.com/Remedies-Sorrow-Extraordinary-Pregnant-Mothers/dp/0385548591

Fr. Mike recently returned from a retreat at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament which inspired the topic for this episode — joined by Dcn. Jacob, Fr. Mike shares some interesting information about Mother Angelica, the history of EWTN, and the shrine she was inspired to build to honor the Child Jesus.

Episode #625 is inspired by Walker Percy's essay, "Bourbon, Neat". Fr. John and Fr. Sean talk about how eating and drinking is a form of giving glory to God. Fr. John fears that the current generation is losing the aesthetic of bourbon drinking, therefore missing out on the opportunity for conversation and community.”

Inspired by a topic suggestion sent in by a listener, Dcn. Jacob and Fr. Mike touch on how contemplation can be found in all vocations. They remind us that no matter what our vocation is, we all have the same opportunity for holiness.

Fr. Sean & Fr. John touch on the different stages of evangelization and discuss the importance and necessity of the first stage, pre-evangelization.

In this episode Fr. Mike and Dcn. Jacob discuss scriptural commentaries and the prophetic character of Jesus and the Church in the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. The conversation was inspired by the biblical scholar Luke Timothy Johnson and one of his books, “Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church.”

In this thought-provoking podcast, Fr. John proposes the question, "Am I living my Catholic faith in the world as a utopian or an eschatological thinker?". Tune in as he and Fr. Sean discuss the damaging effects of trying to build a utopia within a society and how the real utopia is not of this world.

In light of Dcn. Jacob’s thesis, he and Fr. Mike discuss the renewal within the church and the need for renewal within our own hearts, all in light of the Holy Spirit.

Join Fr. John & Fr. Sean as they discuss the true essence of chastity and the denial needed to achieve it.

This episode is a follow-up to the episode “The Quiet Parts." Tune in as Fr. Mike and Dcn. Jacob pick up where they left off last time, discussing the quiet prayers a priest prays during the mass.

Fr. Sean and Fr. John reflect on Our Lady of Lourdes in light of her feast day coming up. Additionally, they reflect on Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in light of a triptych that Fr. Sean helped make. Tune in to hear about the apparitions at Lourdes as well as the title we give to Mary as Mother of the Eucharist and what these mean for us today.

In this episode Fr. Mike shares the “sotto voce” or quiet (literally, under-voice) prayers that the deacons and priests pray during the Mass. Deacon Jacob and Father Mike discuss how these prayers help their own focused devotional participation at Mass and invite you to consider how you can engage the prayers of the Mass with more preparedness, awareness and devotion.

In this episode Fr. Sean and Fr. John look at what Sundays ought to look like for a Catholic. Fr. Sean asks the simple question, “What should I wear to Mass on Sunday.” Tune in to hear their thoughts and how you can enter into your Sunday Best.

In this episode Dcn. Jacob and Fr. Mike discuss the likeness and difference between the self-help movement and the Christian practice of asceticism. Do we still need God, or can we help ourselves?

In this episode Fr. John and Fr. Sean break down the new book by the University of Mary entitled, The Religion of the Day. Seeking to understanding the deeper meaning beneath the phenomenon of the "none," we realize that though secular, they are in fact religious - and that a new form of evangelization is now required.

In this banter heavy episode all four hosts gather to ring in the new year and look back at the last year of the podcast and their lives. It was full of mountains and Marian devotion. There is also a bit of looking ahead to the year to come. It's been a great year and the hosts have loved sharing it with listener land. Listen along to hear some of the lessons they've learned and hopes they have for the future.

In this episode Fr. Mike teaches Dcn. Jake the history of Rome's frustrated hopes as they expected an eternal empire full of peace and prosperity that never quite panned out. The hosts invite all of us to wish big and pray for big world changing things because Jesus has come into the world and he is King of the Universe.

Frs. John and Mike discuss Norway, their mild obsession with Bishop Erik Varden and the profound imagery of light and darkness in the Advent and Christmas Season.