Today's episode is a Q&A. Also, Fr. Randall has a special announcement at the end of the show about some exciting changes in his ministry.

In this episode, Father Peter Jocelyn from St. Alban’s Pro Cathedral returns to discuss the need for order and balance in the Christian life, particularly as an antidote to the modern maelstrom of anxiety. The modern-day 24-hour media cycle and the doom scroll algorithm exacerbate feelings of chaos, encouraging Christians to embrace the ancient practice of intentional withdrawal. The practice is not presented as an escape but rather as a reordering of life around the Kingdom of God. By contrasting the tragic and pessimistic hope of the ancient Greeks with the eschatological certainty of Christian hope, Father Peter emphasizes that the path to peace lies in concrete and objective actions. These include observing the church calendar, participating in the corporate life of the sacraments, and moving out of the echo chamber of the mind to serve one’s neighbor. While we cannot control the culture’s nihilism, we can cultivate a rule of life that grounds us in the eternal Sabbath of Christ’s presence.

Fr. Peter Jocelyn of St. Alban's Pro-Cathedral in Oviedo, Florida, joins us to discuss godly masculinity and leadership in the domestic church. This conversation explores the feminization of Western culture, the absence of men in church life, and practical steps for cultivating authentic Christian manhood. Topics include the difference between healthy and toxic expressions of masculinity and femininity, why young men are increasingly drawn to traditional liturgical churches, the plague of pornography, the importance of self-discipline and a rule of life, and how fathers can lead their families through daily prayer and confession. Fr. Jocelyn emphasizes that culture is "the making of men and women by men and women"—requiring intentional formation rather than passive drift. The discussion addresses challenges facing single men, what women should look for in godly men, and how both sexes must work together to form Christian culture. Anyone concerned about raising sons, cultivating masculine virtue, or understanding the cultural moment should listen to this discussion.

Resources mentioned:

Leon Podles' The Church Impotent: https://www.amazon.com/Church-Impotent-Leon-J-Podles/dp/1890626198

Theodore Dalrymple's The Knife Went In: https://www.amazon.com/Knife-Went-Prison-Doctor-Britains-Dark/dp/1783341203

Helen Andrews lecture on feminization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWLbq7PlrIA

In this episode, we conclude our discussion of the Fifth Commandment by exploring its extension to all forms of earthly authority, moving beyond the family unit to the wider world. Drawing from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer’s Offices of Instruction, we examine the Christian’s duty to honor and obey civil governors, teachers, and spiritual fathers. We look at the complexities of Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2, emphasizing that while God is the ultimate source of all authority, believers are called to maintain order and humility even under imperfect leaders. By discussing the necessity of being "teachable" and the dignity of manual labor, this episode illustrates how submitting to God’s established order leads to a life of quietness, productivity, and "perfect freedom."

In this episode, we transition to the "second table" of the Ten Commandments, focusing on the horizontal relationship we have with our neighbors. We explore the 5th Commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother," as the essential foundation for all societal order and the starting point for loving our neighbor. By examining Genesis and St. Paul's letters, our discussion highlights how the family serves as a "domestic church" where we first learn the balance of authority, obedience, and sacrificial love.

Mining The Mysteries will be on a short break for the rest of Advent and Christmas. We will return on January 20th. We hope everyone has a blessed Advent and a wonderful Christmas.

See you in 2026!

In this episode, we're digging deeper into the fourth commandment to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, exploring its meaning from creation through the Old Covenant civil law to its fulfillment in Christ's resurrection. We discuss how the Sabbath principle shifted from Saturday (the seventh day) to Sunday (the eighth day) as the early church gathered to break bread on the first day of the week, celebrating the new creation begun in Christ. We also touch on some common obstacles to faithful worship today, including misplaced priorities, hedonism, and the privatization of faith, while emphasizing that Sunday worship remains a holy obligation for Christians as we participate in the resurrection life and look forward to our eternal Sabbath rest.

In this episode, we dig deeper into the theology behind the Third Commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." Moving beyond mere cursing, we discuss the mystery and holiness of God’s self-revelation as the transcendent "I AM" in Exodus. We connect the Old and New Testaments by identifying Jesus Christ as the embodiment of this divine name, through whom we all find salvation and adoption into God's family. We wrap up the episode with some practical ways to honor the Lord’s name and the importance of reverent liturgical worship, such as bowing at the name of Jesus, and encouraging all Christians to reflect God's holiness in their everyday lives.

This week, we have a special episode with guest Corey Byrum, a St. Philip's parishioner, to discuss his journey from Reformed Baptist and Presbyterian traditions to Anglicanism. Corey explains how his understanding of the Second Commandment and sacred images changed over time. He also reflects on the responses he received from former church communities, the study that led him to reconsider long-held assumptions, and the practical ways images can support prayer and devotion in the home.

https://northamanglican.com/author/cory-byrum/

https://bit.ly/AFFIRMATIONOFSTLOUIS

In this episode, we explore the second commandment, which forbids graven images. We clarify that God's focus is on worship and allegiance, not on the images themselves. We examine ancient contexts such as animism, pantheism, and polytheism that surrounded Israel, showing how this commandment preserves the distinction between Creator and creation. We discuss how the Incarnation—Christ as the image of the invisible God—makes sacred images appropriate when used properly for veneration. We also address Protestant concerns about icons and statues and relate the commandment to modern life. Finally, we challenge listeners to consider contemporary forms of idolatry, including social media, political tribalism, materialism, and consumer debt, emphasizing that our ultimate allegiance belongs to Christ, who is our only hope in this broken world.