Original broadcast 12/25/2024...

In the dark days of the reign of Herod, the descendants of King David lived under the radar in humility even as they awaited the imminent arrival of the Messiah. A (probably young) man named Joseph lived in the town of Nazareth and would become the earthly father of Jesus - the child of Mary & the Holy Spirit.

Mike Aquilina has written a book that places us in Nazareth, Jerusalem, and the region to see what day-to-day life was life among David’s descendants. Mike and Bishop Caggiano talk about St Joseph and His World on Let Me Be Frank… detailing Joseph’s four interactions with angels, his silence, the 1000-mile flight to Egypt, his life as a carpenter in Nazareth, and much more.

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Blessed Advent to you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

St Gianna Beretta Molla said that "the secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness." 

That is a key to living a fulfilled life, and Bishop Caggiano reflects on gratitude before we talk about Thanksgiving... a history of the holiday, plus stories from Thanksgivings past for Bishop and for me.

We had some fun walking down memory lane, as well as sharing what we each are grateful for this year. Enjoy!

Some folks today hear the word "immigration" and immediately take sides and prepare for a fight... But the conference of US bishops, at their fall meeting, issued a comprehensive and balanced "Special Pastoral Message" with near unanimous unity... on immigration - looking at human dignity and the orderly regulation of borders.

Bishop Caggiano walks us through the important statement by the USCCB on Let Me Be Frank, and he also gives us a look at the history and function of the conference itself.

Bishop stresses that we need to be able to dialogue about things like immigration, in order to come up with realistic solutions that protect both human lives and a nation's borders.

So I ask you to please listen to, or watch, the entire conversation before you form your opinion of the USCCB's statement.

Pax Christi,

Steve Lee

LINKS

The Statement: https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/us-bishops-issue-special-message-immigration-plenary-assembly-baltimore

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy9oYx0t7imNDH5nLwSiM8Q/

The Tangent: https://www.youtube.com/@thetangentonveritas

Daily Gospel Reflections: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyCatholicReflections

Bishop Frank Caggiano & Steve Lee discuss during this episode of Let Me Be Frank, Bishop Caggiano's recent pilgrimage to Greece, where he followed in the footsteps of St. Paul, as well as the life of St. Paul itself. Ultimately, they focus not only on the biographical info of his life, but the messages and lessons found along Paul's Journey detailed in the New Testament.

Let Me Be Frank is a production of Veritas Catholic Network in collaboration with the Diocese of Bridgeport. Let Me Be Frank is Bishop Caggiano's weekly podcast where he can reach you and help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Shownotes

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The Tangent: https://thetangent.podbean.com/

Daily Gospel Reflections: https://dailycatholicreflection.podbean.com/

The Frontline With Joe & Joe: https://thefrontlinewithjoeandjoe.podbean.com/

Restless Catholic Young Adults: https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/

In this episode of 'Let Me Be Frank', Bishop Frank Caggiano and Deacon Tim Bolton discuss the ministry of accompaniment, exploring its significance in the church and the personal journeys that shape their understanding of faith. Deacon Tim shares his life experiences, including the challenges he faced with his daughter and late wife, which deepened his faith and understanding of active love. The conversation emphasizes the importance of being present for others, the role of spiritual friendships, and the need for community support in ministry. They also introduce the Pastoral Companions initiative aimed at empowering laypeople to engage in accompaniment, highlighting the transformative power of love and presence in the lives of those in need.

LINKS 

Email List: www.veritascatholic.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy9oYx0t7imNDH5nLwSiM8Q

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

There are hundreds of thousands of frozen embryos -tiny, frozen babies- in the world today. What to do with all of these human lives?

Catholic bioethicist Elizabeth Rex joins Bishop Caggiano to talk about this question, as well as:

...why is contraception immoral?

...what would Bishop Caggiano say to a cohabiting unmarried couple?

...what is IVF and what does the Church teach about it?

For any couples who are looking to adopt, Dr. Rex points to Snowflakes Embryo Adoption and the National Embryo Donation Center. More information is at the Donum Vitae Institute. 

LINKS

Snowflakes Embryo Adoption: https://nightlight.org/snowflakes-embryo-adoption-donation/embryo-adoption/

National Embryo Donation Center: https://www.embryodonation.org/

Donum Vitae Institute: https://donumvitaeinstitute.org/

VERITAS

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A lot of people talk about Truth and Beauty, but there’s not as much talk about Goodness.

On Let Me Be Frank, Bishop Caggiano dives into this less-discussed of the transcendentals, asking: …how do you define “goodness”? …how do you know that your heart is leading correctly? …what is the difference between good works and Christian good works? …how does this tie in with Pope Loe XIV’s exhortation Dilexit Te?

Enjoy!

SHOWNOTES

Dilexi Te

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Other Veritas Shows

The Tangent: https://thetangent.podbean.com/

The Frontline With Joe & Joe: https://thefrontlinewithjoeandjoe.podbean.com/

Restless Catholic Young Adults: https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/

Daily Reflections: https://dailycatholicreflection.podbean.com/

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