Practicing Catholic

Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger, joined by guest producer Madison Frank, talk about how to fend off discouragement, one of the devil's favorite tools. Taylor shares the sting of being sent down after his first-round draft and a missed penalty kick in the Final Four. Scott shares the steps he takes to climb out of a funk and the prayers and saint quotes that help.

They close with a challenge for the week: name what's discouraging you, and bring it to God.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com/  

Pray the Litany of Humility here: https://amenapp.org/prayer/jw5hyw 

Pray the Litany of Trust here: https://sistersoflife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Mobile-Litany-of-Trust.pdf

To learn more about Welcome to Hope Springs go to www.hopesprings.org and listen everywhere you get your podcasts.

Learn more about Saint Josephine Bakhita here: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-josephine-bakhita/

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Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger begin praying through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, not as experts but as novices just starting out. They share how each of them came to Ignatius, and the episode also includes a send-off for their producer, Emily LeGrand.

They look at Ignatius's own story: the cannonball injury, the lives of the saints that set his heart on fire, and the humility of studying Latin with schoolchildren before earning his theology degree at 43. Then they open the Exercises themselves. They discuss his definition of "spiritual exercises" as preparing the soul to rid itself of inordinate attachments and to seek God's will. They also cover praying for the exact opposite of the temptation you're fighting, focusing the Examen on one main struggle, and his simple weekly chart for tracking progress. Along the way they talk about why sin is the starting point, why the basics matter in prayer, and which saints have surprised them as mentors.

Both hosts end with a personal challenge: Scott will discern a specific intention for the Exercises, and Taylor will pray against his main temptation each morning and review it in the nightly Examen. A part two is planned, so if you have experience with the Spiritual Exercises, send it in. Please keep Emily in your prayers, too.

Learn more about the Augustine Institute Graduate School's Distance Education Program: https://augustine.edu

Find more content about St. Ignatius of Loyola on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/902590

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

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Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger talk with guest Eileen Spinner, a hospice counselor and author, about the guided Catholic journals she co-created with Sister Gianna Casino.

Eileen shares family stories that came out of the journal (a mix-up over her mother's confirmation name, her father's answer to "how do you want to be remembered"), previews an Archdiocesan grandparents' workshop this October on passing on the faith, and unpacks her idea of "actual death" — the day people stop talking about you — as the reason writing your story down matters so much.

The episode ends with Taylor's challenge: using the journal for a literal "stroll down memory lane" through Forest Park.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

Purchase a copy of Eileen’s journals here: https://books.catecases.com
Sign up for the St. Louis Evangelization Workshop for Grandparents: https://www.archstl.org/event/tell-me-why-youre-catholic/
Check out the Lumina Life Review Program and volunteer for BJC Hospice: https://www.bjchospice.org/Services/Specialty-Programs/Lumina-life-Review
Learn more about Eileen Spinner and her work here: https://tabella.me/EileenSpinner

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This week on Practicing Catholic, Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger celebrate Archbishop Fulton Sheen just days before his beatification in St. Louis. Emily joins the conversation as the guys trace Sheen's remarkable life story and reflect on why his witness has meant so much to them personally.

Taylor and Scott walk through Sheen's biography — born in 1895, ordained in 1919, and shaped for life by a daily Holy Hour he kept without fail. They cover his advanced studies at Louvain, the Sorbonne, and the Angelicum, his 23 years teaching at Catholic University of America, his wildly popular radio ministry, and the Emmy-winning television show "Life Is Worth Living," which drew 30 million weekly viewers at its height. They also discuss the painful falling-out with Cardinal Spellman that ended his TV career, and how Sheen's later years of relative obscurity became, in their view, a lesson in detachment and holy suffering. Scott shares how discovering Sheen's writings and talks — especially during a 500-mile walk on the Camino de Santiago — profoundly shaped his own faith, while Emily reflects on knowing surprisingly little about Sheen despite his beatification happening in her own city.

The episode closes with some of the most memorable stories of Sheen's personal ministry, his famous meeting with Pope John Paul II two months before his death, and a look ahead to his beatification. Taylor and Scott each share a personal challenge inspired by Sheen's example — including committing to a Holy Hour of their own.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

Explore more Fulton Sheen content on Formed! https://app.formed.org/app/collections/1492054 

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On this episode of Practicing Catholic, hosts Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger tackle a challenge almost every praying Catholic knows well: sitting down for prayer only to find that silence is anything but quiet inside. Drawing on a year of listener response to their episodes on prayer, Taylor and Scott turn to the question underneath it — why cultivating real silence is so difficult, and why it's essential to the spiritual life anyway.

Scott opens with a passage from St. Teresa of Avila's The Interior Castle, where she urges the soul entering the "second dwelling places" to strip away unnecessary business and busyness, not just sin, in order to progress. From there, the conversation turns practical: Taylor and Scott talk through the real sources of "noise" in their own lives — social media, podcasts, audiobooks, even good and worthy commitments — and how easily these can crowd out the space prayer needs. They discuss concrete habits that have helped them, like resisting the urge to fill a commute with music or podcasts and instead letting the mind settle and process the day, and stress that true silence isn't an empty nothingness but space intentionally filled with communion with God.

The episode closes with each host sharing a personal action item for the week ahead — including a nightly Examen practice with family and a commitment to a silent morning walk — as a practical starting point for anyone hoping to make more room for God in the noise of daily life.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com/

Watch Into Great Silence on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/videos/4103291

Sign up for an Augustine Institute Retreat! https://www.augustineinstitute.org/about-pages/retreats-and-conferences

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Taylor, Scott, Jordan, and Emily celebrate one full year of Practicing Catholic with a special anniversary episode! They share never-before-seen bloopers and behind-the-scenes footage, revisit favorite moments from the past year, and reflect on the biggest lessons they've learned about pursuing holiness with consistency rather than intensity.

The crew looks back on standout episodes — the Book of Ruth study, the coffee episode with Father Rennier, and Fr. Ken Geraci's vocation story — while sharing their honest "batting averages" on personal challenges and what saying "yes" to God has taught them about friendship, perseverance, and trust.

Looking ahead, they dream about what Year Two might hold, including taking the show on the road and welcoming even more guests. This episode is a fun, lighthearted look back at a year of practicing holiness in everyday life.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: 
http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

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What do we do when we're called to Christian joy but find ourselves in difficult, frustrating, or even painful circumstances? Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger explore how Catholics can cultivate joy even when life isn't joyful.

Drawing on the witness of Mother Teresa and St. Maximilian Kolbe, they discuss the power of changing our perspective, seeing Christ in others, surrendering our circumstances to God's providence, and turning outward through gratitude and service. They ultimately offer a simple roadmap for difficult seasons: smile, surrender, and serve.

The episode also answers a listener question about what Scripture means by loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

Watch Triumph of the Heart on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/1507373  

Check out the Surrender Novena on the Amen app: https://amenapp.org/prayer/aznmzn

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What can St. Augustine teach us about living a holy life in the modern world? Taylor and Scott welcome Dr. Elizabeth Klein to explore the life, writings, and enduring influence of this great Father and Doctor of the Church. From his conversion and vocation to his love of Scripture, Augustine shows us how holiness grows through saying yes to God, loving the people closest to us, cultivating friendship, and being radically available to those around us.

The conversation also explores how Augustine’s thought continues to shape Catholic theology, what we can learn from his approach to Scripture, and how his example can help us resist the egocentrism and isolation of modern life. Plus, the hosts discuss practical ways to pray with Scripture through lectio divina, recommendations for getting started with Augustine’s writings, favorite Bible passages, and personal challenges inspired by the episode.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

Listen to the Catholic Saints Podcast: https://www.augustineinstitute.org/podcast/catholic-saints

Watch The Heart of Prayer with Bishop Cozzens on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/1473553  

Watch Lectio: Prayer on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/115705  

Watch an Overview of the Confessions with Dr. Klein and Dr. John Sehorn on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/765930  

Take Dr. Klein’s short course on Augustine’s Confessions: https://courses.augustineinstitute.org/courses/the-confessions-of-st-augustine

Purchase Dr. Klein’s book, “What Every Catholic Should Know about God”: https://catholic.market/books/god-what-every-catholic-should-know/

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What happens when a family places faith, beauty, and artistic excellence at the center of family life? Taylor Kemp sits down with the Wolavers of the Annie Moses Band to talk about music, parenting, the arts, and their mission to help families raise children who can use their God-given talents for His glory.

The conversation explores why the arts matter for evangelization, how parents can introduce music and artistic disciplines to their children, the importance of community and perseverance, and how families can reclaim the arts from a culture of fame and self-promotion. The Wolavers also share practical advice for parents who did not grow up in musical families and reflect on the beauty of building a family tradition together.  

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com/

Watch the Wonderful World of Benjamin Cello on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/226781

Watch the Annie Moses Show here: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/1125806

Learn more about the Wolaver family here: https://www.anniemoses.org

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Jesus tells us that unless we become like little children, we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven—but what does that actually look like in everyday life? In this episode, Taylor and Scott reflect on the surprising spiritual lessons they've learned through raising their children. From wonder and joy to honesty, play, fairness, and presence, they explore how children reveal what it means to live a deeply human—and deeply Christian—life. They also answer listener questions about helping teenagers grow in freedom while staying rooted in the faith, and how to persevere in prayer during difficult seasons when God feels distant. Whether you're a parent or not, this conversation offers practical wisdom for growing in holiness through the ordinary experiences God places before us. Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com/

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