Pious Reflections

In this livestream I talk through St. Catherine of Siena — lay Dominican, Doctor of the Church, and a “firecracker” who wrote boldly to clergy and popes — with help from Sigrid Undset’s biography.

We touch on her mystical devotion, the letter to Fr. Raymond, and what her willingness to suffer in love still means for us.

This cut is also a proof of concept: I successfully used AI to handle post-production on a livestream — highlight, lower thirds, b-roll, music, end screen, and polish — then used AI to assemble it in DaVinci Resolve.

If you’re new here: I’m Daniel, and this is Pious Reflections.

#KeepThinking #StCatherineOfSiena #Catholic #AI #PiousReflections

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DiSilva founded the Original Divine Mercy Institute, a non-profit organization based in Texas, which produces high-definition replicas of the Original Image of Divine Mercy for veneration in churches and homes. He also leads Divine Mercy Tours, which take pilgrims to Vilnius, Lithuania, where the original image is venerated in a 24-hour shrine. Today, we talk about how Daniel ended up in a wildly successful Catholic Funk Band, Our Lady's role in inspiring him to start it, and how that journey ultimately led him to sleep beneath the original Divine Mercy image in a parish in Vilnius, Lithuania. Learn more about the Original Divine Mercy Image at the links below:

🔗 https://www.originaldivinemercy.com/

📚 https://www.originaldivinemercy.com/books/masterpiece-of-mercy

👉 https://www.piousreflections.com/

** We may have had some issues with the framerate at some spots. But we have fixed this for future videos! Thank you for understanding.

In this episode, Brian and Daniel discuss how usury is connected to the culture of death. We explore Brian's research on the topic and how it had infected the Church during the Reformation, which may be one of the leading reasons the Reformation happened. Brian traces this connection through history, including the Reformation's impact on usury, showing how economic pressures can drive choices like abortion. We discuss the societal effects, from personal debt to broader ethical dilemmas, illustrating how usury's legacy influences modern decisions.

Brian is writing a book exploring the connection between usury and the culture of death. Learn more at: https://brianzappia.substack.com/

Inspirational Coffee Mugs: https://saintsandthinkers.com/

Don't forget to check out Daniel's writing at https://piousreflections.com/

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Today we discuss some of the basic ideas around the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. Mainly, is it reasonable to believe that Mary was immaculate, that is conceived without sin? Before my conversion, this was a problematic belief for me. Still, by God’s grace, this doctrine is clear and beautiful in how it completes our understanding of the Biblical Narrative.

Links to today’s resources:

🔗☕Enjoy coffee with your favorite saint or thinker!: https://saintsandthinkers.com/

🔗📕 The Case for Catholicism by Trent Horn - https://amzn.to/4fdcFZU

🔗📘 The Catechism of the Catholic Church - https://amzn.to/4iqBnce

🔗📘The Summa (Free!) https://www.newadvent.org/summa/

🔗📙 The Gospel of Luke Catholic Commentary - https://amzn.to/49LSEZH

🔗📚 The Catholic Commentary Full Set - https://amzn.to/4imfzyx

Today, we talk through the first part of a 5 part series on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. Today’s discussion centers around the Agony in the Garden and how the Rosary helps keep us grounded in our faith and understanding of Scripture.

8 Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” 39 He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” 43 Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. 44 He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. 45 Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. 46 Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

— Matthew 26:38-46 —

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Tune in for the first installment of "FUN FRIDAY!", when Lindsey takes the reigns and selects the choicest of internet morsels for Daniel to munch on. Enjoy the adventure with Daniel (because he knows as much as you do about what Lindsey's got cued up!)

Link: "Decking Halls and Heretics since 325 A.D."

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When should Christians use the Bible to respond to their critics? There are two revelations that Christians have received from God, the special revelation, or Word of God, and the Natural Revelation, or Creation and its proclamation of the Glory of God. We discuss.

This week a conservative feminist, Nancy Mace, has taken matters into her own hands. And Elon Musk teaches Christians lesson about not caring about the world, power, or money. We also answer a comment from one of our viewers. Post your comments or questions in the chat, to have them featured in the next episode’s QA. Thanks for checking out Pious Reflections.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

🔗 Follow me on X: “@ThomisticDan”

🔗 New Santa Mug just dropped: “Decking Halls and Decking Heretics”

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John Kramer does incredible work with Lego. He builds massive Lego Churches and inspires kids and adults, regardless of their circumstances, to do anything they put their mind to. He also played a small role in me converting the Catholic Faith and helping me choose my patron saint, St. Joseph.

Check out his Substack at Praying at the Bricks to see all his work! It’s incredible!

Don’t forget to check out our latest selection of mugs at SaintsAndThinkers.com

Thanks for reading Pious Reflections! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

“Did God really say?”, is a frightening question. The Devil asked this question first, deceiving Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Word of God is not self-interpreting, despite how many exegetes would like to argue that. We need teachers who teach the truth and when teachers cannot agree, we need to the Church to settle the matter.  Yet, some teachings, like the teaching to abstain from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, are hard to understand. After all, why did God put two trees in the Garden?  Why even risk it? Who can know the mind of God? What is it that God is mindful of man?

So too, we are in a challenging environment with more denominations than there are countries, each preaching a myriad of different ways to approach God. But even when it was only Cain and Abel, God still received one, and not both.  Many “churches” claim to have the corner on the truth. Many provide philosophical and hermeneutical justifications for their theology while simultaneously preaching that “Anyone can read and understand the Bible for himself” and then encourage people to go to seminary to get the training necessary to “really understand” the text. 

So, we too find ourselves with the Devil, outside the Garden, where he whispers, “Did God really say?” 

Don’t forget to check out https://saintsandthinkers.com for all the saintly mugs!

The world is on the brink of a global collapse. Simply put, there’s a lot of people doing the Hokey Pokey but not having kids. So I asked AI if banning abortion would solve the low birthrate problem. Its answer is more revealing than you might think, and it shows why the Church is so important for the salvation of the world.

Don’t forget to checkout our saintly mugs at www.saintsandthinkers.com

Thanks for reading Pious Reflections! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.