Aim Higher Catholic Podcast

Welcome to a new series! Each month, we will explore the lives of the many wonderful saints in the Catholic Church.

In this episode, we focus on a beloved figure: St. John Bosco. From a very young age, he desired not only to become a priest but also to help young boys and men grow to become children of God. Don't worry—there is someone connected to St. John Bosco who also worked to support young girls and women during that time. Tune in to this episode to find out more!

Here is the link to the movie we mentioned:

https://youtu.be/ltWjqmxxBK8?si=ikjsodSBQHKMiVof

Serve the Lord joyfully!

Happy New Year to our listeners! In this episode, Father Anthony and Sister Catherine recap the events of 2025 and share what they are looking forward to in 2026. They also discuss the Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord, guided by the written Sunday Sermon from Bishop Giles Butler, OFM DD.

Throughout the episode, they explore the profound significance of the Circumcision of Christ and the bestowing of His Holy Name. We delve into the "continual sacrifices" Jesus made from infancy and discuss how our own vows— in marriage, religious life, single life and Baptism — allow us to spiritually participate in His hidden Divinity.

Link to Bishop Giles' Sermon:

http://friarsminor.org/sermons/23circumcision.html

This episode was first released in December 2022.

In this episode, we discuss Christmas! We talk about how to get inspiration from this Holy Season. We even talk about our favorite memories, traditions, songs, and more!

In this episode, Bishop Giles and Sister Catherine talk about Ember Days. They explain the history of these days and how they can help us grow spiritually. They discuss the importance of fasting and reflection during this time and how these practices can deepen our faith and enhance our spiritual lives.

Pax et Bonum! In this episode, Father Anthony and Sister Catherine talk about what makes a bad example and how it can lead to scandal, especially in relation to sins against charity. They discuss how negative actions can mislead others and cause harm.

Deo Gratias!

In this episode, Father Anthony and Sister Catherine talk about sins against charity. The main sins are hating God and others, being lazy, feeling envy, and causing scandal.

Without charity, faith and hope will profit us nothing, for God will not open the gates of His Kingdom except for those who love Him.

To skip the catching up with us portion of this episode, skip to the 29:30 mark.

This episode was first released on October 27, 2023

In this episode, we discuss the article Father Anthony wrote for our publication The Seraph for November. He broke down All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day, & All Souls' Day as a guide to help us end the Liturgical Year with a sense of hope that will drive our love for the faith.

As promised, here is the short form of the Baptismal Vows: "I renounce Satan and all his works and I pledge myself to Jesus Christ forever!"

In this episode of the Aim Higher Podcast, Father Anthony and Sister Catherine discuss the sins against hope, which are presumption and despair.

They begin by defining presumption, which manifests as an unrealistic confidence in one's own abilities or a mistaken belief that one can achieve salvation without the necessary effort or grace from God.

Then they address despair, emphasizing its profound impact on the soul. Despair is a loss of trust in God's goodness and mercy, which can create a heavy burden of hopelessness.

Together, Father Anthony and Sister Catherine offer listeners a deep understanding of these two sins, illustrating their relevance in today's world. They also provide practical advice on how to recognize and overcome presumption and despair, fortifying listeners to embrace a resilient journey towards God.

We reference My Catholic Faith - Lesson 97

Link to Bishop Giles' Religion Class for this lesson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyYYxba3P7g

In this episode, Father Anthony and Sister Catherine delve into the topic of sins against Faith, specifically focusing on the concept of superstition. They explore how superstitious beliefs can undermine genuine faith and lead individuals away from true spiritual understanding.

We follow lesson 96 from My Catholic Faith.

Pax et Bonum! On October 4th, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Holy Father, Saint Francis of Assisi. As Franciscans, we have much to admire and love about St. Francis. With this in mind, we have chosen to delve into the profound teachings of 'The Three Ways of Perfection', a topic that has captivated us and we believe will inspire you as well.

1. The Purgative Way is the purifying of the soul in view of attaining an intimate union with God.

2. The Illuminative Way is the stage of the spiritual life that aims for the imitation of Christ through the positive exercise of Christian virtues.

3. The Unitive Way is characterized by three conditions: 1) a great purity of heart, 2) a great mastery over self, and 3) a constant need to think about God.

Points of Discussion:

1. The Purgative Way is shown by his conversion and being the Church builder.

2. The Illuminative Way is shown by the Rule – living according to the Gospels.

3. The Unitive Way is exemplified by Greccio – Nativity Scene, Alverna – Stigmata, and Portiuncula – Holy Death.

Deo Gratias!