Good Distinctions

Good Distinctions is back! I’ve taken the last year or so off as I drafted my dissertation. It is now complete and awaiting feedback from my advisor… I’ll make sure to post when I’m DOCTOR Wright… but not yet.

This episode is my first after a year off from recording. The podcast is OFF Airplane Mode! I will not be posting often, to be honest. I’m only seeking out interviews that really, truly interest me. I’ve loved speaking with every guest I’ve had on the show, but the pace was a bit breakneck, to be honest. So, I’ll be curating the conversations a bit more.

It was a real pleasure having a conversation with T.J. Burdick on technology, AI, human nature, parenting, and more. I hope you’ll give it a listen.

Here is the article on Catholic Exchange that we discussed: https://catholicexchange.com/are-you-smarter-than-ai/

And here is a link to T.J.’s book Detached: Put Your Phone in Its Place (OSV, 2018): https://www.tjburdick.com/detached/

Who is T.J.? (From his Substack)

I’m a writer of both fiction and nonfiction whose primary lens is through the Catholic faith. I’m not a radtrad, nor a liberal lefty– I strive for the middle path… which doesn’t sell many books 😂

Here’s a quick “list of me:”

* Married to my wife, Maribel (since 2007)_

* Father of 5 children

* Work as a public school teacher

* Published books through OSV, En Route Books and Media, Gracewatch Media, and Self-Published

* Contributor for Catholic Exchange

* Owner of EpicPew.com and SignumDei.com

* Former missionary

* Finally professed Third Order Dominican (since 2013)

* I run 5 and 10ks (but very slowly)

Summary

In this conversation, Teresa Yanaros shares her transformative journey from the New Age movement to Catholicism, detailing her experiences with the occult and the importance of understanding spiritual practices. She emphasizes the dangers of syncretism and the blending of beliefs in modern spirituality, advocating for a clear Christian worldview and the role of sacraments in healing and deliverance. Teresa provides insights into how to engage with loved ones involved in the occult and stresses the need for discernment in spiritual practices.

Takeaways

* Teresa Yanaros transitioned from New Age beliefs to Catholicism after realizing the dangers of the occult.

* The occult is defined as engaging with demonic spirits, often through invocation or evocation.

* The New Age movement is characterized by self-centered practices that can lead to spiritual deception.

* Worldview shapes our beliefs and actions; a Christian worldview is essential for discernment.

* Sacraments, especially confession, play a crucial role in healing from occult practices.

* Many people involved in the New Age have underlying trauma they are trying to address.

* Syncretism is prevalent today, with many Christians blending beliefs from different spiritual practices.

* Awareness of the occult's influence is necessary for spiritual safety and growth.

* Engaging with loved ones in the occult requires love, boundaries, and knowledge.

* Resources are available for those seeking to understand and escape the occult.

I cannot recommend this new book from Sophia Institute Press by Teresa Yanaros enough! My conversation with Teresa was great, but her book is so helpful! Even if you have not dabbled in the occult (you probably have and don’t know it), you will still be edified and inspired by this book!

Buy a copy today! - https://sophiainstitute.com/product/freedom-from-darkness

Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this episode of Good Distinctions, host Will Wright speaks with Sr. Allison Regina Gliot about her new book, 'Eli's Quiet Friend,' which addresses the needs of neurodivergent children, particularly those on the autism spectrum. Sister Allison shares insights into her religious order, the Daughters of St. Paul, and their mission to evangelize through media. The conversation explores the inspiration behind the book, the writing process, and the importance of creating inclusive content for all children. Additionally, they discuss the role of editors in the publishing process and resources available for parents and educators.

Eli is sensitive to sound. He feels anxious and overwhelmed in a noisy world. But Grandma says God speaks in a gentle whisper. Can Eli brave the loud city to spend some quiet time with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration?

Buy the book from Pauline Press here! - https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Friend-Allison-Regina-Gliot/dp/0819831727

Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this conversation, Will Wright and Jason Simon explore the themes of friendship, discipleship, and evangelization within the context of the Catholic faith. Jason shares insights from his experience as president of the Evangelical Catholic, emphasizing the importance of lay apostolate and the role of deep, intentional friendships in leading others to Christ. They discuss the urgency of building these relationships, the concept of disruptive friendships, and the balance between urgency and patience in accompanying others on their faith journey. The conversation culminates in a call to action for listeners to cultivate meaningful friendships that reflect their faith.

Learn more about The Evangelical Catholic here:

https://evangelicalcatholic.org/

Jason Simon is the President of The Evangelical Catholic (EC). After working briefly in engineering, he began working in the Church as a parish Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry. Through this work, he saw the power of evangelization in the Church and his passion to see more lives impacted by the Holy Spirit. In 2007, he graduated from the M.Div. Theology Program at the University of Notre Dame and then began leading the EC. Under his leadership, the Evangelical Catholic has experienced consistent expansion by equipping local Catholic leaders to not only be disciples, but disciple-makers. Jason and the EC’s staff built Reach More™ and Nextstep to equip Catholic lay leaders to fulfill the Great Commission. He lives in Madison, WI with his wife and six children.

Whether we know it or not, we all have family members or friends who are fighting hidden battles of doubt, alienation, isolation, guilt, compulsions, grief, or hopelessness. But often we don’t know exactly how to offer the Good News of Jesus to them in these struggles—at least not beyond offering our “thoughts and prayers.” Mission-Ready Friendship is a roadmap for how to truly befriend your friends, not by solving their problems for them but by going deeper to become the friend Jesus created you to be.

Jason J. Simon grew up in a faithful home but wandered into darkness through his high school and college years. For years, he struggled with shame and despair until Chip, a guy he met while eating donuts after Mass, noticed that darkness and disrupted it by being an intentional, thoughtful friend. This relationship changed Simon’s life and eventually inspired him to lead the Evangelical Catholic, a national organization dedicated to helping people discover how God is already at work in the lives of our innermost circle.

This book spells out simple and incremental practices any Catholic can use to develop deeper, more purposeful friendships. You will learn how to

* become more invested, curious, and empathetic toward others;

* pray for the people God has placed in your life;

* be ready for the ways God is prompting you to build deeper friendships; and

* bring intentionality to your relationships to accompany them closer to God.

Jesus himself used these practices with his followers and sent each of them to use mission-ready friendship to share his good news with others. It’s a simple but powerful approach to relationships that promises to change lives, including your own.

Buy it today! - https://www.avemariapress.com/products/mission-ready-friendship

Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this conversation, Dr. Marlon De La Torre shares his journey of faith and ministry, emphasizing the importance of suffering in the Christian life. He discusses his new book, which connects C.S. Lewis's 'Screwtape Letters' with the Catechism, providing practical insights into spiritual warfare and temptation. The discussion highlights the relevance of Lewis's work in understanding the battle between good and evil, and the transformative power of grace in overcoming sin.

All of us are faced with the daily onslaught of sin and temptation. We are all involved in a spiritual battle to keep our souls united with Christ so we can attain heaven.

The Screwtape Letters and the Catechism brings together two wonderful and significant resources that can help us to grow in spiritual courage. Engaging the Catechism of the Catholic Church from a new perspective, against the backdrop of C. S. Lewis' classic The Screwtape Letters, this book will help you to recognize temptation and engage in the battle against sin. Following Lewis and the Catechism, you will learn how to use the teachings of Christ to outwit the evil one.

In this book, each chapter of The Screwtape Letters is cross-referenced with the Catechism. By examining the dialogue between the demons Wormwood and Screwtape, we can apply Screwtape's lessons on temptation to our daily lives. The Catechism provides sound and reasonable explanations of the Catholic Faith, and these explanations debunk the methods of Screwtape. C.S. Lewis masterfully invites us into the diabolical world of Screwtape and Wormwood and the ever-present battle between good and evil. The Catechism, on the other hand, masterfully reveals the teachings of Jesus Christ as a living gift of the Church that shows us the love of God for his children.

Buy it here from OSV - https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/product/the-screwtape-letters-and-the-catechism-recognizing-temptation-battling-sin-and-growing-in-spiritual-courage

Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this episode of Good Distinctions, host Will Wright interviews Jonna Schuster, co-founder of Catholic Revival Ministries and author of 'Hearing God's Voice'. They discuss the importance of developing a two-way prayer life, overcoming doubts about hearing God, and the transformative power of community in spiritual growth. Jonna shares her journey of writing the book, the nature of prayer as communication with God, and how to navigate challenges like scrupulosity. The conversation emphasizes practical steps for Catholics to deepen their relationship with God and the resources available through Catholic Revival Ministries.

Jonna Schuster is Co-Founder and Director of Catholic Revival Ministries, a ministry she started in 2019 with her husband, Jim. Through it, she serves the Church by equipping Catholics to bring supernatural impact to all areas of life by partnering with the Holy Spirit in power and love. She is a published author and has served a variety of parishes, ministries, and audiences world-wide through speaking engagements and group training events, in addition to serving individual clientele through discipleship-based online courses. Jonna graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.F.A. in graphic design and completed an M.A. in moral theology at Christendom Graduate School. She has over twenty years of professional ministry experience, including ten years as a full-time director of youth ministry in the Diocese of Arlington, VA, two years as the first campus minister of Western Illinois University, and as an adjunct professor of theology at John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, CA. Jonna believes everyone is called to greatness, and has a heart to see people come into the fullness of their identity and calling.

Hearing God’s Voice: A Catholic Guide to Listening Prayer can be found on Amazon here: https://mybook.to/hearinggodsvoice

The website for Catholic Revival Ministries can be found here:

https://www.catholicrevivalministries.com

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” -John 10:27Jesus taught that His disciples would readily and easily hear His voice, yet many of us today struggle to grow in intimacy with God, perceiving Him as distant or silent.What if hearing God speak could become a natural part of everyday life?In Hearing God’s Voice, author Jonna Schuster offers a practical guide for how to cultivate a dynamic, fruitful relationship with the Lord by learning to hear His voice in prayer. Rooted in Scripture and Catholic theology, this insightful book walks you through the essentials of identifying and discerning when the Lord is speaking to you, enabling you to deepen your connection with Him both during designated prayer times and throughout daily life.In this book, you will learn to:

* Understand the biblical and theological foundations for hearing God

* Recognize the various “languages” through which God speaks—seeing, hearing, feeling, and thinking—and how to listen for each

* Discern the source of what you hear in prayer, distinguishing between God, yourself, and the Enemy

* Overcome obstacles that hinder your ability to hear God

* Incorporate listening prayer into your daily life to foster deeper intimacy with the Lord

Through teaching, examples, stories, and guided practice exercises, Hearing God’s Voice goes beyond simply relaying information and creates the space and opportunity to encounter the Lord as you read its pages . . . and in doing so, experience transformation in your life.

Buy it today! - https://www.amazon.com/Hearing-Gods-Voice-Catholic-Listening/dp/B0DJWQC39P

Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this conversation, Will Wright interviews Joshua Mazarin, author of 'Led by the Immaculata', exploring the profound themes of Marian consecration, the role of Mary in the life of the Church, and her unique relationship with the Holy Spirit. Joshua shares his inspiration for writing the book, the theological foundations of Marian devotion, and how it serves as a practical guide for living out one's faith. The discussion emphasizes the importance of entrusting oneself to Mary and understanding her as a mediator of grace, ultimately leading to a deeper relationship with Christ.

St. Maximilian Kolbe is one of the most well-known and well-loved saints of all time. Many are familiar with the story of his selfless act at Auschwitz, where he sacrificed his own life to save a man who was a husband and father. But do you know about Kolbe’s deep love for Mary, whom he called the Immaculata? How he surrendered everything to Our Lady to grow in holiness and align his will to the will of God? How he consecrated his life to Mary?

In Led by the Immaculata, Joshua Mazrin, a Kolbe devotee and Mariology expert, will

* introduce you to St. Maximilian Kolbe,

* explain the meaning of consecration and the objectives of the Knights of the Immaculata,

* walk you through the fourteen doable and practical steps of the consecration, and

* provide a step-by-step plan for completing the consecration.

Kolbe taught that by giving our lives completely to Mary, the Immaculata, she would direct our will to the will of the Holy Spirit—that is, the will of God. Kolbe wanted this message shared far and wide and so founded the Knights of the Immaculata with the goal of consecrating as many people as possible to Mary and her son.

Each step of the consecration journey is explained in practical and theological terms, making it accessible to all, regardless of vocation or age. While Kolbe initially targeted men, the principles of holiness are equally relevant to women. The book concludes by empowering you—men and women alike—to be evangelists for the Immaculata and the Gospel and to be spiritual leaders in your family, workplace, and community.

Led by the Immaculata invites you to embrace a deeper devotion to Mary and emulate Kolbe’s path to holiness through the practical application of the fourteen steps in your daily life.

Buy it today! - https://www.avemariapress.com/products/led-by-the-immaculata

Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this conversation, Will Wright interviews Phillip Campbell, author of 'In Pursuit of Wisdom: Catholicism and Science Through the Ages.' They discuss the relationship between faith and reason, the scientific orientation of Christianity, the role of monasticism in scientific advancements, and the impact of the Enlightenment on the perception of faith and science. Campbell emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to knowledge and critiques the modern phenomenon of scientism, advocating for a balance between scientific inquiry and spiritual understanding.

In Pursuit of Wisdom: Catholicism and Science Through the Ages

The relationship between the Catholic Church and science is one of the most misunderstood stories of Western civilization. Merely repeating the mantra that there is no ultimate contradiction between faith and reason has not solved the crisis for millions of Catholics, many of whom have abandoned the Faith over perceived discrepancies between the religious and scientific worlds.

In Pursuit of Wisdom moves beyond polemical and surface-level approaches to paint a more accurate picture of the historical relationship between scientific inquiry and the Catholic Faith. Beginning with the earliest days of the Church, through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and beyond, Catholic history author Phillip Campbell tells the stories of brilliant individuals, challenging controversies, and awe-inspiring discoveries that form the tapestry of the Church's rich engagement with science. When we understand people and perspectives of the past, we can better understand how we arrived at our current situation -- and be prepared to respond to the questions of those within and outside the Church who believe that faith and reason are incompatible.

Buy it now! - https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/product/in-pursuit-of-wisdom-catholicism-and-science-through-the-ages

Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this conversation, Will Wright speaks with Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP about his book 'Entering Heaven on Earth: The Signs, Symbols, and Saints of Catholic Churches,' which explores the signs, symbols, and saints of Catholic churches. They discuss the importance of meditation in the Rosary, the significance of sacred architecture and art, and the role of beauty in worship and liturgy. Father Lew shares his personal journey of faith and the impact of beauty in churches, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and the theological implications of beauty in the Catholic tradition. In this conversation, Fr. Lawrence Lew OP and Will Wright explore the significance of Catholic churches, their architecture, and the symbols within them as a means to deepen faith and understanding. They discuss the importance of mystery in liturgy, the ongoing journey of learning about faith, and how beautiful church spaces can enhance the experience of encountering God. The dialogue emphasizes the role of catechesis in appreciating the signs and symbols of the Church, ultimately aiming to inspire a Eucharistic revival and a deeper connection to the divine.

Buy this new book from Our Sunday Visitor! - [https://www.orderosv.com/product/entering-heaven-on-earth-the-signs-symbols-and-saints-of-catholic-churches]

Our Catholic churches are filled with an abundance of signs and symbols, some of which you may have never noticed or understood. The sacred art, architecture, and artifacts of a church building proclaim the Real Presence of Christ, dwelling among us in the Blessed Sacrament. The saints within a church are witnesses to Eucharistic living, and we can identify them through various symbols that tell us about their lives, their works, and their witness to the presence of God.

In Entering Heaven on Earth, Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP, shows you how to decode the signs and symbols found in our churches and to identify the saints depicted in them. This richly illustrated book filled with photographs the author has taken of churches from around the world will help you to see the churches you worship in or visit from a fresh perspective and to remember the true purpose of a church building.

A church is a visible expression of heaven come down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. It is always, first of all, a place for the Christian people to assemble for the sacred liturgy and celebrate the Eucharist. For the beauty of nature, the creativity and craft of mankind, the good works of the virtuous and the just are all brought together in a church building to remind us of the graced activity of God among us.

Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this engaging conversation, Belinda Terro Mooeny shares her journey as a Catholic author, emphasizing her mission to serve others through writing and prayer. She discusses her latest book, 'Pray With Us: A Saint For Every Day,' which encourages readers to connect with saints and seek their intercession. Belinda highlights the power of praying with saints, the importance of building relationships with them, and how this practice can transform lives. The conversation concludes with a call to action for listeners to embrace the dynamic nature of the Communion of Saints and to pray together for a better world.

Buy the new book from Our Sunday Visitor HERE - [https://www.amazon.com/Pray-Us-Saint-Every-Day/dp/1639662103]

The saints in heaven are powerful intercessors, praying for our needs before the face of God. As part of the communion of saints, we on earth pray with power when we ask the saints to pray with and for us, especially on their feast days.

Pray with Us invites us to connect with 365 saints, blesseds, venerables, and servants of God -- one for each day of the year. Each day's entry includes a brief biography of the saint and a prayer. This book provides a concise, approachable format for individuals and families to form the habit of daily prayer and to rely more purposefully on the intercession of the saints.

Let us pray together in unity with all the saints, who love us so much and want to assist us on our spiritual journey.

Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.