Saint In Progress

Is it a plane? Is it a bird? No, it’s the cardinal virtues!

This week Mike channels his inner Dominican nature and talks about the cardinal virtues. (They’re also called the moral virtues, but Mike likes “cardinal virtues” better.) What are they? Why are they important? What role do they play in our journey home? And how can we begin to discern how to “grow in virtue”? Listen in to find out!

This week Mike takes a look at some obvious—and some not-so-obvious—violations of the 1st Commandment. You might be surprised what is weighing you down on your spiritual journey!

Also a quick talk about the proper use of sacramentals, and the importance of a good examination of conscience.

For 500 years, baptism has been a topic of controversy. There are many questions about it, many misunderstandings, and many people who just baptize their children to keep grandma happy. How important is it, really? And where does it come from?

Mike went digging into a stack of resources, and gets very excited about the Jewish roots of baptism as he shares what he found. He also covers:

* covenant versus contract

* the Old Covenant, circumcision, and the New Covenant

* why we baptize

* what baptism signifies

* the effects of baptism

We also meet an unlikely saint from the year 303 named Genesius and hear his baptism story, and learn a prayer to renew your baptismal vows.

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Want to get really serious about being a saint? You need to get to the Roots.

This week, a lesson from nature helps us understand an important lesson in growing in holiness. Mike talks about how the devil tempts people to sin, what Root Sin is, and common violets in his mulch. He also stresses the importance of having a spiritual director.

Original Sin is our birth defect, but what are our handicaps resulting from it? How do we deal with them? And which one is the most important one to overcome?

In this episode, Mike talks about all the ways Original Sin handicaps us, zeros in on which one to address first, and shares a powerful prayer that many people have found effective.

What’s the big deal about Original Sin, anyway?

In this episode, Mike talks a little bit about the Knights of Columbus’ relationship with Special Olympics, why the sin of Adam gets passed on to all of us, and the gift our original parents lost for all of us when they ate the forbidden fruit.

What does a traffic jam have to do with being a saint?

In this first episode, Mike talks about memories of autumn, a trip home, and what it means to be a “saint in progress.”