Old St. Pat's Podcast

To keep our bodies physically fit, we have to move. We walk, run, lift weights, play pickleball—whatever it is, our bodies need movement to stay healthy. But have you ever considered that our spiritual lives need movement, too? Just like we train our bodies, we can “train” our souls. Prayer, acts of kindness, going to Mass, volunteering, choosing what’s right, helping a neighbor—these are the reps and sets of our spiritual workout. And Advent is the perfect season for it. Advent invites us into a shared journey of movement—climbing toward God while supporting one another through life’s toughest terrain. It’s a season that calls us not to stay stuck or complacent, but to keep moving spiritually, even when the path gets rocky. And the best part? We don’t climb alone. We’re called to walk together through challenge, loss, struggle, and hope… moving as a community toward the God who meets us at the summit. So think of this Advent as a cleanse—a spiritual fitness program preparing your heart for Christmas. Today, Father Tom Hurley outlines a spiritual workout plan to help keep our souls strong, healthy, and ready for the joy that’s coming.

As you take some time off this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, you’re invited to pause with a question that sits at the heart of our faith:

“What does it mean to have dignity?”

It means that every Thanksgiving guest you chat with this Thursday, every co-worker on Zoom or in the office, every driver you pass along the Eisenhower, every person who tests us or challenges us—every one of us—is intrinsically valuable, inherently honorable, and endlessly lovable, because we are made in the image of God.

It’s a truth we often forget, yet it changes everything when we remember it and recognize it in ourselves and in others.

In a season where gratitude takes center stage, this homily asks us to go even deeper. Gratitude not just for what we have, but for who we are—and for the divine dignity placed in every single person.

Today, Fr. Foley’s homily is rich, timely, and resonant. It’s the kind of message that lingers. The kind you may find yourself thinking about long after the episode ends. The kind you might even feel moved to recommend and pass along to someone else.

It’s a homily that reminds us of our own God-given worth and that of every person—even the poor, the immigrant, the marginalized, the migrant, and the outcast.

So wherever you are listening today—let this be a moment of grounding, of gratitude, and of rediscovering the sacred dignity within you and around you.

Can you remember the days when Blockbuster was the place to go to rent a movie? It was a staple—a reliable, familiar brand that felt like it would always be there. And then, almost overnight, with the rise of new technology, Blockbuster fell off the map. We saw how quickly even the strongest institutions can crumble when the world shifts around them. For some, that rapid change may have stirred a sense of confusion or powerlessness—especially if you still just wanted to rent a good old VHS tape. That’s a low-stakes example, of course. But it gives us a glimpse into what it feels like when the things we depend on start to fall apart. In more serious moments, this can look like political division, societal instability, institutional breakdown, or deeply personal seasons where life feels uncertain and destabilizing. And yet, in the midst of all of that, God wants us to know something essential: God’s love endures all. When systems fail, when the structures and institutions we trust prove fragile, God’s love still remains. It endures beyond fear, injustice, and every earthly collapse. So today, Fr. Pat McGrath reminds us that we are invited not only to receive this enduring love, but to manifest God’s love through justice, kindness, reconciliation, and courage.

In the city that claims the birthplace of the skyscraper, we take pride in our architectural wonders. Here in Chicago, names like Burnham, Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright roll off the tongue like familiar friends. And if you’ve ever had guests visit, you’ve probably sent them straight to the architectural boat tour so they can fully appreciate the skyline.

And in every city and town throughout the globe, there are buildings that are beloved. So if you live outside of Chicago, think of your favorite building in your town. We all live in a society that reveres its buildings: their design, their beauty, their purpose, and the role they play in our shared life. These structures give us spaces to gather, to work, learn, and worship. In many ways, they’re our modern-day temples — temples to education, to art, and to living itself.

But in admiring these beautiful spaces, it’s easy to forget something essential: that the true temple of God isn’t made of steel, stone, marble, or glass. It’s made of people.

Saint Paul says: “You are God’s building.” The Church is not merely a structure — it is us.

So while we can — and should — appreciate the beauty and function of the buildings around us, we’re called to remember that the most sacred space God inhabits is the human heart. The Almighty’s local address isn’t a famous cathedral or towering skyscraper — it’s within each of us. It’s important to respect yourself as a temple of God — and to recognize that same holiness in every person you encounter, especially those who are hurting, overlooked, or left on the margins.

Today, Father Pat McGrath reminds us the true Church isn’t limited to a building — it’s alive in you and in every act of love you share.

Have you ever had a moment when you felt like you were lacking? Like you weren’t enough — or didn’t quite deserve good things to come your way? Maybe you’ve had those quiet worries, or even deep doubts, that you’re not lovable. Those moments can be painful — when the thought “I’m not enough” crosses your mind or settles into your heart. We often try to explain it away — thinking we’re not perfect enough, that we have too many flaws, or that we’re still carrying regrets from the past that keep us from believing we deserve love. Or maybe we convince ourselves that once we get there — after we earn the degree, after we land the job, make the money, lose the weight, or hit that next big goal — then someday we’ll finally be lovable. But that’s just not true. You are lovable right now — just as you are. With all your perfect imperfections, your beautiful gifts, and your glorious soul — you are loved. So if you ever find yourself doubting your worth, pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and remember this: You belong. You are loved. And you are lovable. Right now, exactly as you are. Today, Fr. Jayme Stayer reminds us of this truth in a profound way and shares that God is constantly at work, gently convincing us that we are loved and that we are, in fact, lovable beyond measure.