What lessons does a parish priest who battled the Devil (and won) have to share with us? Matthew Leonard is joined by author Kevin Wells who has published a great, very unique little book that shares the practical secrets of a holy life from St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars.

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Matthew Leonard is joined by author and professor John Mark Miravalle to discuss what beauty is - and why it matters.

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Given the joyful peal of St. Peter's bells still echoing around the world marking the election of our new Holy Father, it's the perfect time to talk about beauty.

After all, beauty is at the heart of everything Catholic.

God is beautiful.

Our Lady is beautiful. 

Our Church is beautiful.

I could go on...

But what is beauty? How can we define it? Do you know it when you see it? Is it even necessary for something to be beautiful if it is Catholic? Where does beauty fit into the everyday?

These are important questions deserving great answers...and we've got them in this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast.

Join Matthew and John Mark Miravalle, Professor at Mount St. Mary's Seminary and author of Beauty: What It Is and Why It Matters, as they discuss:

• Why beauty is essential to truth
• The crucial role of surprise in beauty
• The difference between beauty and manipulation
• Why beauty must be “felt”
• The moral DUTY of beauty for Christians
• Why “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is wrong
• And much more! 

Matthew Leonard is joined by Father Wayne Sattler, who lived the contemplative life as a hermit for years and has great wisdom to share on the spiritual life.

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If I say "hermit", what's the first thing that comes to mind?

An ancient Desert Father wearing a burlap sack, nappy beard, living a life of self-denial in a remote cave?

Or maybe a medieval nun, enclosed in a cell attached to a church wall, only receiving food through a small window?

What would one look like in the 21st century?

They're kind of hard to picture because that's pretty much all we have of hermits these days - pictures.

Not anymore. I've got one for you on the Art of Catholic podcast...and he's got some spiritual pearls to share with you.

After all, there's a deep knowledge and inexpressible sweetness in a life lived solely for God - and a deep wisdom that comes from being immersed in the Divine, all day every day.

But instead of having to go into the desert or monastery to hear their wisdom, you just have listen to this episode.

My guest on the Art of Catholic, Father Wayne Sattler, lived as a diocesan hermit for several years in a secluded one-room cabin in North Dakota. While there, his relationship with God deepened dramatically - and his insights into God's profound love for all of us are breathtakingly beautiful.

Tune in to our conversation as we discuss: - How to distinguish the beginnings of contemplation from other forms of prayer

• What is the "suspension of the senses" in prayer (and how to distinguish it from sleep:)
• The role of silence and self-denial in developing a deeper relationship with God
• Why we shouldn't fear what St. John of the Cross calls the Dark Night
• How understanding the body-soul connection can enhance our spiritual life
• And much more!

Now, if you're thinking to yourself, Wait a minute! If he's a hermit, how is he being interviewed on a podcast... ...that's a great question - and as you'll discover from our conversation, after calling him to spend years as a hermit, God has a new mission for Father Sattler now - and it's one that you'll definitely want to hear about.

God bless!

Matthew

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Episode Description

When one of your closest friends dedicates 20 years of his life to a project, it's going to come up from time to time in conversation.

And when that project relates to something that you're passionate about too, then you know those conversations are going to be powerful.

AND when that good friend just happens to be Curtis Mitch, Co-Editor of the new Ignatius Press Study Bible, and that conversation takes place on the Art of Catholic podcast...

...it makes for an episode you're definitely not going to want to miss! 

In today's podcast, Curtis and I dive into one of the most mysterious, misunderstood, and controversial books in the Bible - the Book of Revelation.

With the same brilliance you'll find in his commentary for the new Ignatius Press Study Bible, Curtis explains how we as Catholics are to interpret the image of the Woman Clothed with the Sun - and you might just be surprised at his take on it.

Our conversation also explores topics such as:

• The Vision of the Woman Clothed with the Sun
• The Multi-layered identity of the Woman in Revelation 12
• The very first prophecy about Our Lady
• The significance of the 12 stars crowning Mary in Revelation 
• How Revelation describes the "rebirth" of Christ's humanity in heaven
• And much more!  

After 20 years of eating, sleeping, and breathing God's Word, Curtis has a depth of insight on these topics that is unrivaled.

Enjoy the episode and God bless,

Matthew

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Lesson One of a beautiful, crash course on everything you need to know to move into a deeper, more fulfilling life of prayer according to the saints.

This incredible series from Matthew Leonard will stream FREE this Lent. 

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🔵 Watch Lesson One on YouTube

If you’ve ever struggled to pray or find it difficult to take your relationship with God to the next level, you’ve got to see this new series from Matthew Leonard and the Science of Sainthood!

“Outstanding!!! Thank you!”

"I was so skeptical...just thought here's another program to do. I am amazed at the things I have experienced in this program!"

Introduction to Real Prayer starts with the basics, covering topics like why pray to begin with, how it works, and what we’re supposed to pray for.

But that’s just the beginning.

You'll be guided through the ins and outs of Vocal, Meditative, and Contemplative prayer, learning not just what they are, but how to do them.

We’re even providing Guided Audio Meditations with each lesson to help you practice what you’re learning!

But that's not all. This series also covers topics like:

• Overcoming Distraction
• Spiritual Consolations & Dealing with Dryness
• The Beautiful Power of Silence
• The 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life
• and more!

 In short, it’s a powerful, free, crash course on real prayer that teaches everything you need to know to move into a deeper union with God...and stay there.

Listen to Lesson One, Sign Up, & join thousands of Catholics around the world learning to move into a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with the God of the universe who is waiting for you to join him…in prayer!

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Watch the full interview with Cameron Bertuzzi here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTglQJoqWtc

It's hard to believe, but more than 26 years have passed since I became Catholic.

Even so, I still get asked on a fairly regular basis about my conversion story.

And I totally get it. Everyone loves a conversion story.

After all, it's inspiring to hear about all the little winks and nudges from God - not to mention all the momentous, life-changing, divine thunderbolts that God uses to draw his beloved children home to the Church. 

I had my fair share...and then some.

That said, conversion is normally a process. It takes time.

And for me, part of it was the pursuit of a deeper spiritual life.

I unexpectedly found something in the Catholic faith that I never quite did as a Protestant.

And I recently sat down with a young man named Cameron Bertuzzi on his very popular podcast Capturing Christianity to share that part of my story.

Today's Art of Catholic podcast contains an excerpt from that interview.

In this episode, Cameron and I discuss the massive role the spiritual life of the Church played in my conversion, as well as the ways in which my understanding and practice of the spiritual life exploded once I became Catholic.

During our conversation, I also address some of the practicalities I learned were involved in the spiritual life, such as:

• The stages of spiritual growth
• The teachings of the saints on how to pray
• How it all works together
• ...And much more!

This is a unique conversation that people have told me they've found truly helpful. 

God bless,

Matthew

In this episode of the Art of Catholic, Matthew Leonard is joined by author Kevin Wells, who shares the powerful story of his wife Krista's battle with alcoholism, the impact it had on his spiritual life - and the incredible redemption God brought through the figure of a saintly priest.

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🟢 Get Kevin's book, The Hermit: The Priest Who Saved a Soul, a Marriage, and a Family, here: https://ignatius.com/the-hermit-hermp/

🔵 Watch my last interview with Kevin Wells, Priest & Beggar: The Jaw-Dropping Story of Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, here: https://youtu.be/TJpXJmyW4Bg

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00:00 Introduction: Pain and Redemption

01:27 Kevin Wells: Author and Advocate

04:16 The Journey of Writing 'The Hermit'

10:23 Facing Addiction: Kevin's Family Struggles

18:07 The Role of Father Flum

24:25 Patience in the Face of Suffering

30:08 The Power of Prayer and Hope

35:21 The Journey into the Interior Castle

38:30 The Role of Prayer in Healing

41:43 The Maternal Influence of Mary

44:11 Confession and the Power of Priests

49:54 Practical Advice for Spouses in Crisis

55:42 Patience and Trust in God's Plan

01:00:00 Hope and Redemption in Christ

About this Episode:

Have you ever been in a seemingly hopeless situation? A situation so dire that you despaired of ever seeing change or healing?

Many of us have been there...or are there right now.

Addiction, divorce, unfaithfulness, father wounds, mother wounds, abuse, hardened hearts, and a host of other painful issues are constantly manifesting themselves in our lives.

And while different situations present different challenges, the underlying truth remains the same.

Namely, that no matter how bad things may look, God is faithful and in control.

It's certainly not always easy to see, but it's the truth.

Just ask my guest on today's Art of Catholic podcast.

Author Kevin Wells found himself in a seemingly hopeless situation when his wife’s alcoholism began to tear their lives apart.

But as he trudged through years of pain, Kevin gradually learned to rest his head on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and allow himself to be stripped bare like Christ on the Cross.

And eventually, through the miraculous intervention of a saintly priest, his wife was healed, his family was redeemed, and his pain was turned into joy.

Full of heartache, struggle, hope, and healing it's a story you need to hear.

In this podcast, Kevin shares powerful insights about:

• The crucial role of patience in the face of dire situations.
• Why prayer is our refuge in the face of intense suffering and despair 
• What he would differently if he could go back to when it first began
• St. Teresa of Avila's guidance in the face of pain
• Practical advice for dealing with extremely difficult situations
• And more...     

Get ready to hear a powerful story of pain, bondage, and finally, exhilarating redemption, that puts on full display the love, mercy and power of God to overcome any situation - no matter how difficult.  

Give it 3 minutes and you won't turn it off. 

This is a truly powerful and moving story of a man, a woman, and bevy of children who live a life totally abandoned to God...even in the midst of gut-wrenching sorrow and suffering.

If you can listen without being inspired in some way, you may need to check your pulse. 

That's all I can say.

Matthew

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00:00 Encountering this Missionary Family 

04:01 Michael Henderson's Journey to Faith

06:54 From Baptist Roots to Catholic Discovery

12:31 The Struggle with Sin and Seeking Truth

20:29 The Eucharist: A Transformative Experience

34:54 Living Out the Faith After Conversion

41:07 The Call to Missionary Life

55:34 A Leap of Faith: Leaving Everything Behind

01:01:16 The Power of Community and Vocation

01:07:38 Miracles in the Mission Field

01:13:20 Facing a Crisis with Faith

01:21:23 Transitioning Back to the States

01:40:28 Living a Life of Mission and Service

About this Episode:

Surrendering to God’s will is hard.

For most of us, it’s a lifelong struggle to learn to let go of our own plans and embrace God’s instead.

But that struggle is crucial - because the more completely you’re able to abandon yourself to God’s will, the more peace you’ll find, no matter what your situation or circumstances.

No one knows this better than my most recent podcast guest, Michael Henderson...(you're gonna love this guy).

About ten years ago, Michael, his wife Veronica, and their (at the time) six, now nine (!!) beautiful children, discerned that God was calling them to a more radical surrender than most of us could ever imagine.

They sold their comfortable house and belongings in the U.S. and moved to Mexico, and later to Taiwan, to spread the Faith, all the while relying solely on God’s providence for their livelihood.

And boy, did God ever provide.

Their story is one of miracle after miracle, conversion after conversion, and an ever-deepening, radical trust in God to “take care of everything,” as the Surrender Novena puts it.

In this podcast, Michael shares stories like:

• How God used a Taekwondo gym in the middle of Mexico to transform local families
• The day his family arrived in Taiwan with no housing lined up, no money in their pocket, and his wife 2 months postpartum with their 7th child - and how God instantly provided for their every need
• The very serious recent family crisis that has brought them to an even deeper peace and reliance on God.

I have to say, personally, that this episode was an emotional one for me.

In fact, I'll give you just 3 minutes of listening before your jaw hits the ground.

The beauty of this family’s joy in every circumstance is undeniable, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet and become friends with Michael.

I hope this podcast moves you as deeply as it did me.

A couple of weeks ago, I was interviewed on the EWTN show Take 2 with Jerry & Debbie about my discovery of the Catholic spiritual life a few years after I entered the Church.

As a brand new Catholic, I didn't yet understand the incredible spiritual patrimony that was ours.

But once I learned more about it...and began to practice it...that's when everything changed!

And it was such a powerful conversation that I'm sharing it with you on the Art of Catholic podcast.

You'll hear us talk about some of my story, as well as some spiritually crucial topics such as:

• What a healthy interior life looks like for regular Catholics

• The importance of community in our spiritual journey

• The absolute necessity of authentic meditation

• The role of spiritual direction

• Practical tips on how to deepen your prayer life

I'm so grateful to Jerry and Debbie and all the wonderful folks at EWTN for inviting me onto their show - and for graciously allowing me to share the episode with you on my podcast.

If you want to hear a very practical discussion about how to make real spiritual progress, this episode is for you!

In today's Art of Catholic podcast, Matthew Leonard is joined by Catholic evangelist John Edwards, who shares stories and insights he's gained from guiding countless men to a deeper relationship with Christ.

But don't think for a second this is an episode only for men.

We hit topics that affect everyone like:

• Shattering the lies we tell ourselves
• Why isolation is the Devil's playground
• The most pressing problem haunting men (Listen up, ladies! You need to hear this.)
• The beautiful power of weakness
• Why community is absolutely essential for men & women 

This is a must-listen episode for anyone longing for the deep joy that comes from an intimate relationship with God and the mystical body of Christ.