Living Catholic with Monsignor Don Wolf

The unexpected election of the first American Pope has sent shockwaves through the Catholic world, leaving many wondering what this historic shift means for the Church's future. In this episode, Father Wolf cuts through the political noise to offer a thoughtful, nuanced perspective on Pope Leo XIV's election and what his leadership might bring.

Rather than falling into the trap of labeling the new pontiff as liberal or conservative, consider the whole person - his background, education and life experiences that will shape his papacy. Having spent years as a missionary in Peru, Pope Leo brings firsthand knowledge of Latin America's complex relationship with global superpowers and the realities of extreme poverty. His American cultural identity likely instills a problem-solving mentality and action-oriented approach to challenges. Additionally, his academic background in mathematics and canon law suggests a mind attuned to systematic thinking and ordered reasoning.

For Catholics in Oklahoma, Pope Leo's election brings renewed hope for Blessed Stanley Rother's canonization process. Given the Pope's missionary experience during times of political unrest in Latin America, he likely has a profound understanding of Father Rother's ministry and martyrdom. His choice of the papal name "Leo" - connecting to Leo XIII who authored groundbreaking Catholic social teaching - provides insight into his vision for navigating modern challenges while preserving essential Church teachings.

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

In this episode, Father Wolf unpacks the widely misunderstood doctrine of papal infallibility, explaining its actual meaning, historical context and importance in preserving Catholic teaching through generations.

• Papal infallibility is a relatively new doctrine formally defined at the First Vatican Council (1869-1870)
• The doctrine only applies when the Pope officially teaches on matters of faith and morals
• Infallibility does not mean whatever the Pope says becomes true; rather, he teaches what is already true
• We all operate with "infallible" certainties in our daily lives – from family relationships to scientific truths
• Historical context matters: the doctrine emerged during a period of intense skepticism about religious truths
• The teaching function is central to the Church's mission – from the Pope to every faithful Catholic
• Infallibility serves as a protection against relativism while maintaining the core teachings of the faith

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

In this episode, Father Don Wolf reflects on the nature of papal conclaves and how cardinals discern who will lead the Church forward, acknowledging both the human limitations and divine guidance in this process. He also shares his own humbling experience of incorrectly predicting that Cardinal Ratzinger would not become pope after John Paul II's death.

• The cardinals who elect the pope are ordinary men with human strengths and weaknesses through whom the Holy Spirit works
• Consumer society has disconnected various aspects of life, making it difficult for many to see how faith connects to daily choices
• The Church needs a leader who can both proclaim the gospel and manage effectively, beyond simplistic "liberal vs conservative" framings
• Different leadership styles (decisive command vs. consensus building) serve different needs, like Colonel Chamberlain at Gettysburg versus General Eisenhower leading the Allied forces
• The true significance of a papal election often becomes clear only centuries later, as few could have predicted how John Paul II's Polish background would impact the Cold War
• Our role is to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and prepare ourselves to follow where the new pope leads

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

Pope Francis has died at age 88, following recent health challenges including respiratory infection complications made more difficult by his lifelong condition of having only one functioning lung. His papacy, which began when he was 76 years old, spanned 12 years of devoted service despite increasing physical limitations including severe mobility issues.

• Pope's death came on Easter Sunday night after greeting pilgrims from the papal balcony that afternoon
• Francis embodied the Jesuit charism of going to the margins, ministering at bus stations and addiction clinics
• Modern papacy marked by unprecedented media visibility, beginning with Pius XII and peaking with John Paul II
• All popes face criticism but Francis seemed to evoke particularly strong responses, both positive and negative
• Church has weathered far darker periods in its history with much more corrupt leadership
• The papal office continues despite challenges, with the Church enduring through centuries of change

We can say that all healing comes from the goodness of God written into the fabric of nature. As believers we know the wholeness of life is in Jesus Christ himself.

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

What if graves no longer held the final word on human existence? On this Easter Sunday episode, we explore the revolutionary promise at the heart of Christian faith—that Jesus's resurrection fundamentally transforms our understanding of life, death, and eternity.

Throughout human history, graves have held mesmerizing power in developing cultural identity. From Arlington Cemetery to the Vietnam War Memorial, we gather at monuments to the dead to find meaning in sacrifice and remember shared purpose. Yet the resurrection story completely subverts this paradigm. The empty tomb became not a monument to death but a signpost pointing to eternal life—a reality so transformative that even Jesus's closest followers struggled initially to recognize him in his resurrected state.

The resurrection offers more than hope for an afterlife—it fundamentally reframes the significance of our present choices and actions. As C.S. Lewis wrote, we are immortal creatures whose decisions carry "the weight of glory." When Christ broke the bonds of death, he broke them for all who would follow him. This Easter, consider what it means to walk away from the chains and begin truly living.

Join us throughout the Easter season as we continue exploring the revolutionary implications of Christ's resurrection for our daily lives.

Easter Sunday represents the cornerstone of our faith where Jesus breaks the bonds of death and invites us to the fullness of life promised to Adam and renewed through Christ. We proclaim this essential truth: if Jesus is not raised from the dead, then our faith is in vain.

In this episode: 

• Women approaching the tomb to complete burial rituals discovered it empty, fundamentally challenging human cultural understanding
• Graves traditionally hold power as places where communities gather to remember their dead and develop collective identity
• The resurrection subverts this paradigm—there would be no monument to a crucified Christ but a living reality
• Women as first witnesses to the resurrection is significant, challenging us to listen to those we might dismiss
• The promise extends beyond Jesus himself—his resurrection offers all believers the gift of eternal life
• Our decisions and actions take on "immortal weight" when we understand we are destined for resurrection
• Easter represents not just a historical event but our own invitation to walk away from the broken chains of death

Join us in the coming weeks as we continue our Easter season rejoicing in Christ's resurrection.

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

In this episode, Father Wolf explores the dramatic shift from "Hosanna" to "Crucify him" during Holy Week, revealing how crowds are moved by deep passions and often project their expectations onto spiritual realities.

When Jesus simply dismounted at the temple without any grand proclamation, the crowd's frustrated expectations planted seeds of the coming hostility. "There's nothing more dangerous than a crowd fed disappointment, especially when it's hungry for action," Father Wolfe observes. The authorities' subsequent fear-driven actions to eliminate Jesus paradoxically became the catalyst for the very kingdom they sought to prevent.

As we enter Holy Week, this Palm Sunday narrative challenges us to examine where our "Hosannas" might turn to accusations when God's plans diverge from our expectations. Where are we projecting our desires onto Christ rather than embracing his true mission? The beauty of Easter lies in how God consistently "brings about what is new from the ashes of the old"—our disappointed dreams become the soil where resurrection hope takes root.

How might your own expectations be transformed this Holy Week? Join us as we continue exploring the mysteries of faith that challenge and renew us.

• The Jewish people living under Roman occupation carried a constant longing for freedom and the fulfillment of God's promises
• Jesus had spent three years proclaiming a new kingdom, performing miracles that suggested divine power
• The atmosphere in Jerusalem during Passover was charged with anticipation and religious energy
• Jesus strategically chose to ride an unbroken donkey into Jerusalem, signaling his kingdom was not what people expected
• This humble entrance disappointed the crowd's expectations for a conquering Messiah
• The authorities' fear of Jesus led them to actions that ultimately brought about the very kingdom they tried to prevent
• A reflection on how God brings new hope from the ashes of our disappointed expectations

Join us in the coming weeks as we journey through the glorious Easter season together.

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

The Jubilee Year stands as a powerful invitation to renewal, drawing us into the heart of God's extraordinary mercy. Father Don Wolfe unravels the rich tapestry of this sacred time, explaining how this celebration extends from Christmas 2023 through Epiphany 2026, offering unique opportunities for spiritual transformation at designated pilgrimage sites like the Shrine of Blessed Stanley Rother.

Many pilgrims ask practical questions about this special time—wondering which doors they should enter or what makes this period different from ordinary time. Father Wolfe addresses these wonderings with wisdom and clarity, revealing that while symbols like holy doors matter, what's truly significant is the interior journey of the heart. A true pilgrimage isn't merely geographic but spiritual, preparing the soul through confession, Eucharist, prayer, and works of mercy.

The Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Francis invites Catholics to a time of extraordinary grace, offering spiritual renewal through pilgrimage, prayer, and sacraments. This celebration, rooted in biblical tradition, provides a sacred opportunity to encounter God's mercy in fresh and transformative ways.

In this episode: 

• Jubilee Year runs from Christmas 2023 through Epiphany 2026
• The Shrine of Blessed Stanley Rother serves as an official pilgrimage site for the Archdiocese
• True pilgrimage involves interior preparation through confession, Eucharist, prayer, and works of mercy
• Plenary indulgences offer unlimited grace to those who fulfill spiritual requirements
• Setting apart sacred time helps us recognize God's ever-present grace amid our daily distractions
• The biblical Jubilee represented a reset—canceling debts and returning land to original owners
• This designated time invites us to trust in God's providence and abundance

Join us during this special time to experience the fullness of God's mercy and grace. Visit your local pilgrimage site and open your heart to the extraordinary spiritual gifts being offered.

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

In this episode, we explore how Lent prepares us to fully encounter the proclamation of Easter Sunday and the risen Christ. The 40 days of Lent tune our spiritual ears to hear what we might otherwise miss.

• The resurrection accounts in the New Testament show that even Jesus' closest followers needed help recognizing him
• Encountering the risen Christ always came after hearing the proclamation that he was risen
• Our experiences today connect directly to those first witnesses through the chain of testimony
• Doubt has been part of Christian experience from the beginning
• The three Lenten practices—fasting, prayer, and almsgiving—help us see the world differently
• Fasting interrupts our normal patterns and opens us to new awareness
• Prayer invites God's presence into the details of our lives
• Giving alms changes our relationship with the poor and reminds us of God's generosity

Join us in the weeks ahead as we continue exploring the profound power of the Lord's resurrection.

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

At the heart of this episode is the Gospel story of the paralyzed man, whose friends lowered him through a roof to reach Jesus. Christ's first words—"Your sins are forgiven"—reveal a profound connection between physical brokenness and spiritual restoration. When challenged, Jesus demonstrates his authority by commanding the man to stand, take his mat and go home. This wasn't merely healing; it was complete restoration to family, community and purpose.

While we rightfully avoid blaming the sick for their conditions, we've lost sight of how sin permeates our world, creating ripples of disorder that touch everyone. The paralyzed man's condition perfectly symbolizes what sin does to us spiritually—leaving us immobile, dependent, and disconnected from our true home.

The forgiveness Jesus offers isn't just erasing offenses from a divine ledger; it's breaking the chains of a broken world order that began with humanity's first disobedience. When we receive this healing gift, we must extend it to others, creating a cycle of restoration that gradually heals our fractured relationships and communities. 

As we journey through Lent, we're invited to both receive and give this transformative forgiveness that allows us all to "stand up, pick up our mats, and go home" to the lives God intends for us.

• The paralyzed man's story demonstrates Jesus connecting physical healing with spiritual forgiveness
• Modern culture often separates sin and sickness, unlike Jesus who saw them as interconnected 
• Jesus didn't just heal the man's body but commanded him to "stand up, pick up your mat and go home"—signifying complete restoration
• Sin resembles paralysis—leaving us frozen, dependent, and unable to move forward spiritually
• Our narrow understanding of sin as merely "breaking rules" misses the deeper reality of how sin infects our world
• Forgiveness must be both received and given—as we pray in the Our Father
• True healing happens when we extend Christ's forgiveness to others, completing the restoration cycle

Next week, we'll explore the sacrament of reconciliation and how we can build bridges of forgiveness according to Church teaching.

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

As the White House moves to make IVF more accessible and affordable, Catholics find themselves at a crossroads between compassion for those struggling with infertility and fidelity to Church teaching on human reproduction.

Join as Father Wolf explores why IVF—now responsible for approximately 2% of U.S. births—raises profound moral concerns despite its widespread acceptance.

Drawing a parallel to Pope Paul VI's once-ridiculed but ultimately prophetic warnings about contraception in Humanae Vitae, he challenges listeners to look beyond individual cases to consider the broader societal implications of reproductive technologies.

The episode provides a meaningful framework for understanding Catholic teaching on reproductive ethics while addressing profound questions about the commercialization of human life, the spiritual dimension of parenthood, and our responsibility to protect human dignity from conception. 

• IVF involves harvesting eggs, fertilizing them in a laboratory, and implanting the embryos in a womb
• About 2% of US births now result from IVF procedures
• The White House recently announced support and affordability measures for IVF
• Pope St. John Paul II categorized IVF as part of the "culture of death" in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae
• IVF separates the unitive act of marriage from procreation, similar to how contraception separates sex from procreation
• The procedure commercializes human reproduction, treating children and reproductive elements as commodities
• Many fertilized embryos are destroyed or stored indefinitely in the process
• The technology often exploits economically vulnerable people, particularly women
• Each child represents an immortal soul with unique DNA that will never exist again
• The Church affirms the natural desire for children while questioning technological means that compromise human dignity

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Monsignor Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.