“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” Taken from the first chapter of the Gospel of John, these inspired lines illuminate for us how the Lord of the Universe entered time and space in a very physical way. On this episode, Catholic philosopher and teacher Tim Gordon spoke about the efficacy of Eucharistic grace, how the Eucharist has touched and sustained his family during difficult times, and how the Eucharist helps deepen our relationship with Our Lord.

"The death of martyrs is the seed of Christians." - Father Jerzy Popiełuszko

Fr. Jerzy was beatified in 2010 and since 1984, 17 million people have visited his tomb. Every October 19, a 24-hour vigil is held to commemorate his death.

(Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko's sermon taken from His Sermons 1982-1984, translated by Ewa Hermacinski, Wydawnictwo Siostr Loretanek, 2010)

In the story of Martha and Mary, recounted in Chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke, Our Lord tells an anxious Martha, “There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” How transformative it is for our lives when we turn aside from earthly cares and put the focus squarely on Christ. To discuss how we can use our time before the Blessed Sacrament to help us choose the better part, we talked with author and spiritual advisor Fr. John Bartunek.

At a time of great uncertainty and chaos, we do well to bring to mind these words from the Gospel of John: “… through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The light of course is the Word Incarnate, Our Lord Jesus Christ. On this episode, we welcome His Excellency, Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas.

By some accounts, the term “breadwinner” has been in the common vernacular for a couple of hundred years and connotes someone who provides sustenance for their family. It is especially evocative in the context of a priest, whom we call “Father” and who literally provides supernatural bread for his children. For attorney turned Catholic priest Fr. James Altman, the responsibility of nourishing his family with the Holy Eucharist is not just a liturgical component of his vocation as a priest; rather, it goes to the very heart of who he is as a human being.

In this episode Dave Palmer, general manager of the KATH 910 AM radio station in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex, shared how he made the leap from high school theology teacher to radio host and general manager for one of the largest Catholic radio stations in the United States. He also shared several Eucharistic stories that have stood out to him during his career in broadcasting, as well as his advice for increasing one’s devotion to the Eucharist.

“If ever you fear, even for the slightest moment, that God does not remain with you, that somehow you are all alone in this world,” writes Fr. Sebastian White, O.P., editor-in-chief of the Magnificat, “you have only to look towards the tabernacle, and the small flame that signals what lies within it, to be assured of the presence of God.”

It seems that all of life today is a pursuit of something to complete us. Perhaps it’s always been the human condition, but it seems to be especially amplified in a world of never-ending noise and distractions. Where do we look? What can we trust? Can we really find that which fulfills the irrepressible longing of our souls?

Fr. Justin Braun, chaplain at the St. Philip Institute of Catechesis and Evangelization in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, explains how the Eucharist is what orients us towards true and lasting happiness.

A central tenet of the papacy of St. John Paul II was what he called “the New Evangelization” – namely, that all of the faithful are called to proclaim Our Lord Jesus Christ to all peoples. A key component of this evangelization is bound to the Eucharist as the beginning and end of all efforts to reach humanity with the good news of Christ’s love for all of us.

Tim Glemkowski of L'Alto Catholic Institute shares his insights on the role the Eucharist has played in his own efforts as a teacher, evangelist and author in the discussion that follows.

“If St. Joseph lived with Jesus for 30 years, his vocation was one of perpetual adoration. In many ways, the home of the Holy Family in Nazareth was the first Christian monastery,” writes Fr. Donald Calloway in his latest book, Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.

St. Joseph is one of the most beloved saints and figures from sacred scripture, and for good reason. Though we don’t have a copious record of his spoken words, his witness of love, faith and fidelity is an illumination for us all. To help unpack what St. Joseph’s example means for us as we contemplate how to better love and adore Our Eucharistic Lord, we asked Fr. Calloway to provide some reflections.