The Second Vatican Council (aka Vatican II) was convened in 1962 by Pope St. John XXIII and lasted through 1965. It gathered all the bishops from around the world to produce 16 wonderful texts.

However, fifty years after its conclusion there’s still debate about what Vatican II taught and how the Council was implemented. In this episode, Fr. Blake and Brandon discuss what you need to know about the Council: why Vatican II was needed, a simple timeline, the key terms and people, what happened after the Council, the major controversies, and why the Council remains important today. They close with several recommended books on Vatican II to go deeper.

Note: At 28:52 , Fr. Blake refers to the "Council of the Magisteriums" but he meant "Council of the theologians."

The Bible is a complicated book. If you read or interpret it the wrong way, you'll quick go astray. In this episode, Brandon and Fr. Blake share some of the basic interpretative principles Catholics should use to understand Scripture, including recognizing the genre, using the "four senses," and reading the Bible from the heart of the Church.

We live in an age that does not know how to recognize and reconcile its woundedness. This explains why we lash out at others, why we seek false substitutes for God such as Netflix, food, pornography, and drugs, and why we avoid long periods of silent introspection. If we want to deepen our spiritual life, we must discern our wounds, asking Christ to name them and heal them. It’s the only path to freedom and the redemption of our personality.

The Catechism describes the family as a “domestic church” (ecclesia domestica), the first school of Christian life and a school for human enrichment. How can we excel in this school? How do we help our family members become holy? Brandon and Fr. Blake share tips from their own lives and from Fr. Blake’s ministry to young families.

In numerous studies, Millennials and Gen Z’ers mention “true friendship” as one of their most unmet needs. What is true friendship? What’s unique about Christian friendship? Brandon and Fr. Blake explore what ancient thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and Augustine have said about friendship, and also explain how to develop deep friendships ourselves.

Video games are surging in popularity. There are over a billion gamers in the world, and the gaming industry is eclipsing the impact of social media, Hollywood, and live sports. It's the new digital frontier, especially for evangelization. But why are so many young people drawn to video games? What longings do these games fulfill? And how should Christians engage this increasingly important realm? Brandon and Fr. Blake, avid gamers and guides, take you on a tour of this exciting landscape.

All links/resources in show notes: https://burrowshirepodcast.com/video-games

Fr. Blake's articles on video games (Word on Fire)

Carlo Actusi, possible patron saint of video games

All links/resources in show notes: https://burrowshirepodcast.com/library

Bible Commentaries

Other Books

Book Lists

Did you know there is one set of prayers that the Church recommends ALL Catholics pray, every day? It’s called the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church…and it’s not just for priests. Fr. Blake and Brandon talk about this transformative discipline, and how to overcome obstacles that beginners usually face. We also share some book recommendations and tips on how to get started with these prayers.

Few of us are geniuses, but all of us should be intellectuals. Brandon and Fr. Blake discuss the rich patrimony of the Catholic intellectual tradition and why we shouldn’t dumb down religion. They also offer tips on how to develop your own intellectual life.

One of the major themes of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) was the “universal call to holiness.” The Council Fathers urged all Catholics–not just priests and religious–to strive for sainthood. But what does it mean to be a saint in our time, to acquire holiness in the particular context we find ourselves in? Brandon and Fr. Blake discuss traits of our particular age which shape our pursuit of sanctity.