In this episode, Adam and David welcome back longtime friend and mentor Matthew Christoff of EveryCatholicMan.com to talk about what it really means to become a happier Catholic man.

Matthew shares the story behind his new devotional, “Becoming a Happier Catholic Man 2026,” and why he believes every man can be happier by drawing closer to Jesus, embracing suffering, and living a zealous Catholic life.

Topics discussed:

• Why God actually wills our true and lasting happiness
• The difference between fleeting pleasure and beatitude
• Practicing the presence of God in ordinary daily life
• Using “triggers” like sirens, cemeteries, and churches to turn the mind to God
• How technology, curiosity, and pornography are devastating modern manhood
• Homeostasis of the soul: breaking habits and building new spiritual baselines
• Why pornography and AI-generated lust are a major assault on men and women
• Confession, near occasions of sin, and forming a real battle plan
• The need for a “penance revival” to accompany the Eucharistic Revival
• Why evangelizing men is decisive for families, parishes, and culture
• How awe of Jesus, not just information about him, is the foundation of conversion
• The structure of the book: weekly Gospel commentary, awe-of-Jesus focus, maxims, and prayers
• Using the devotional as a couple and in the domestic church

Resources mentioned:

• Becoming a Happier Catholic Man 2026 – devotional for Sundays and feast days of the liturgical year
• EveryCatholicMan.com – Matthew Christoff’s apostolate and resources for men
• Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church (references used throughout the book)

Learn more and get the book:

Visit EveryCatholicMan.com or search “Becoming a Happier Catholic Man 2026” on Amazon.

Support The Catholic Man Show and get access to extra content and community at:

TheCatholicManShow.com

This episode is packed — saints, miracles, Marian devotion, vocations, fatherhood, fasting, silence, and the rise of a new generation of men hungry for God.

Fr. Charbel, a Franciscan Friar of the Immaculate, joins Adam and David in Tulsa along with first-class relics of St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Charbel, sharing powerful stories of faith, mission, intercession, and what young Catholic men are longing for today.

Fr. Charbel introduces the Franciscans of the Immaculate, an order founded to continue the Marian mission of St. Maximilian Kolbe:

• Total consecration to Mary as a fourth vow
• A spirituality built on St. Francis + St. Maximilian
• Missionary availability (“Send me anywhere in the world”)
• Heavy emphasis on prayer, poverty, obedience, and Marian devotion

He explains how Our Lady’s presence has shaped every major moment in salvation history — from Nazareth to the Cross — and why consecration gives Mary “permission” to form us the way she formed Christ.

As the newly appointed vocations director, Fr. Charbel reveals something astonishing:

40+ serious vocation inquiries in just two months.

Why the sudden surge?

• Men want something real
• They crave mission and purpose
• They want orthodoxy and reverence
• They want a spirituality that demands something of them
• Marian devotion draws them in a unique way

“It’s inspiring,” he says. “Young men want authenticity.”

The guys talk about:

• The Franciscan blend of active + contemplative
• The thrill of trusting God with everything
• Poverty that becomes a doorway to providence
• Why Franciscans never seem to fundraise (“God just provides”)

Religious life, he says, is more adventurous than most men realize.

St. Charbel Makhlouf, a Lebanese hermit, is becoming one of the most beloved saints of the century.

Father explains why:

• Lived a hidden, humble, ascetic life
• 23 years in community + 23 years as a hermit
• Entire life centered on the Holy Eucharist
• Body discovered incorrupt with supernatural light rising from his tomb
• Over 29,000 documented miracles since 1950
• Miracles among Muslims, Druze, Orthodox, and nonbelievers
• Global pilgrims: 2 million+ per year

One stunning story:

A Muslim sheikh publicly visited St. Charbel’s shrine to thank him for healing his mother of cancer.

“Why would God confirm the life of a hermit who spent his life before the Eucharist,” Father asks, “unless the Eucharist is truly what the Church says it is?”

What does a hermit from Lebanon have to teach us? A lot.

Fr. Charbel lays out practical takeaways:

• Faithfulness in the small things
• Silence — making space for God’s voice
• Daily prayer even without consolations
• Obedience and humility
• Eucharistic devotion
• Marian devotion as a way of being formed
• Asceticism and fasting: dying to self in small ways
• Doing your duty with love

As he says: “God doesn’t call you to be successful. He calls you to be faithful.”

The guys discuss:

• Why we must be unashamed of Marian devotion
• The richness of her many titles:
• Mother of God
• Cause of Our Joy
• Mother of Good Counsel
• Undoer of Knots
• Seat of Wisdom
• Why Marian consecration doesn’t distract from Jesus — it leads to Him
• Why she is the “surest and quickest way” to holiness

Fr. Charbel emphasizes “You can never love her as much as Jesus already does.”

Fr. Charbel’s order publishes incredibly practical Marian books:

• “Preparation for Total Consecration” (33 days in the spirit of Maximilian Kolbe)
• “Beloved Disciple” — how to live your consecration daily
• “Rule of Life: St. Maximilian Kolbe’s personal spiritual notes” (brand new)

Visit: AcademyOfTheImmaculate.com

Learn about the order: MaryMediatrix.com

This episode starts with an apology and an update. It’s been a wild stretch—hospital visits, birthday mishaps, broken teeth, truck trouble, cows and pigs headed to the processor—but also a lot of grace and gratitude.

Adam shares about Lady Haylee's recent medical scare during pregnancy, the prayers from patrons, and what it’s like to walk through real uncertainty as a husband and father. The guys reflect on how quickly life can tilt from “normal” to “barely holding it together,” and yet how God can still anchor everything in hope and gratitude.

Over whiskey (a Pseudo Sue malt from Iowa), Adam and David shift into the main topic: spiritual blindness—how easy it is for men to be convinced we’re right, standing for the truth, and yet be totally off the mark.

Drawing from Scripture, the lives of the apostles, St. John of the Cross, Aquinas, and even Dante, they explore:

• Real-life trials and gratitude
• Haley’s hospitalization and recovery
• Kids’ birthdays, chipped teeth, and car trouble
• How chaos at home can either crush us or deepen our trust in God
• Miracles, doubt, and the desire for “proof”
• “If God would just give us a miracle, evangelization would be easy”
• The everyday miracles we ignore: the Eucharist, confession, conversions
• Why even those who saw Jesus’ miracles still doubted and fled
• Spiritual blindness in the apostles and in us
• Peter’s “I’ll never deny you” moment—and the fall that followed
• The apostles missing who Jesus really is, even after years of walking with Him
• Looking back on friendships and seasons of life and realizing, “I was blind to how unhealthy that really was”
• How our culture and attachments distort our judgment
• Bringing politics into our faith and letting ideology outrank the Gospel
• The overworking dad: when “providing” becomes an excuse to avoid the harder work of fatherhood
• Attachment to success, busyness, and being “the guy” who makes everything happen
• The “theology guy” who knows tons about the faith but never actually prays or serves
• St. John of the Cross and Aquinas on blindness of mind
• Disordered attachments as a cause of spiritual blindness
• Misapplying first principles and deforming prudence
• Why ignorance isn’t always innocent—especially when it’s chosen
• Dante, betrayal, and why some wounds cut so deep
• Why Dante places traitors and betrayers at the bottom of hell
• The pain of realizing someone you trusted was not who you thought
• How misplaced trust in people can tempt us to distrust God
• Practical ways to grow in spiritual clarity
• Daily (or even twice-daily) examination of conscience
• Honest fraternal correction and asking your friends to tell you the truth
• Living a real ascetical life: fasting, temperance, and taming appetites
• Submitting your judgment to the Church instead of making yourself the standard
• Turning to the sacraments—especially confession and the Eucharist—for renewed vision

Along the way, you’ll also hear:

• A story about accidentally using cardamom instead of cinnamon on a first date
• The strangely satisfying joy of a perfectly vacuumed game room
• The quiet fulfillment of husbandry—raising animals, caring for land, and stewarding what God has given

This episode is an invitation to ask hard questions:

• Where am I convinced I’m right, but might be deeply wrong?
• What am I attached to that clouds my judgment?
• Who do I trust enough to tell me what I don’t see about myself?

If you’ve ever looked back on a season of life and thought, “How did I not see that?”—this conversation is for you.

Opening: Setting the Record Straight

No, The Catholic Man Show isn’t joining The Daily Wire. A sincere congrats to Matt Fradd on taking Pints With Aquinas to a bigger platform—and a case for celebrating a brother’s success without the cynicism.

Why Moves Like This Matter

Media realities, families to provide for, and why “selling out” is usually just a lazy take. Bigger reach can mean more souls reached—full stop.

Pilgrimage Debrief: Rome, Florence, and Awe

• Florence surprises: the David, the Medici footprint, and why the city stole the show.
• Rome moments: St. Mary Major, the House of Loreto, and the joy of praying where the Holy Family lived.
• Padre Pio: devotion, controversy, and a frank take on the modern shrine aesthetic.

A Feast-Day Field Note

St. Hubert, patron of hunters, meets a proud dad moment: a 12-year-old’s first solo hunt, patience under pressure, and why rites of passage matter for boys.

Main Topic: Obedience Without Caricature

• Aquinas on obedience: not the greatest virtue (charity is), but among the highest of the moral virtues because it orders us to the good.
• Catechism on authority (cf. 1897ff): authority is legitimate when it seeks the common good and respects moral law; unjust commands do not bind.
• Three “levels” of obedience
• Modern resistance to authority vs. Christian freedom: obedience is not blind; it’s charity and justice in action.

Socrates, the Coliseum, and Costly Witness

A lively back-and-forth: unjust sentences, martyrdom, and whether courage sometimes looks like staying put.

Fatherhood and the Pattern of Obedience

• Children learn reverence for God’s authority by seeing Dad obey the Church, pray when he doesn’t “feel like it,” and submit his will to the good.
• House rules and spiritual rule: why outside authority often works better than self-made resolutions.

Community Corner

Thanks to patrons, cookies, and a few inside-baseball notes about keeping a niche Catholic show on the air without taking a dime personally.

• Celebrate good work when Catholic creators get a larger platform.
• Obedience isn’t weakness; it’s strength directed toward the highest good.
• Legitimate authority deserves assent; unjust commands do not.
• Fathers model obedience that forms a family’s conscience.
• Pilgrimage sharpens conviction—beauty and history catechize the heart.

• St. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologiae, II–II, q.104 (obedience).
• Catechism of the Catholic Church: on authority and the common good (around 1897–1904).
• St. Hubert: patron saint of hunters.
• Padre Pio: witness of obedience amid misunderstanding.
• House of Loreto, St. Mary Major, Florence’s David: moments where beauty meets belief.

Recording on the move along the Adriatic, the guys sit down in Italy with their spiritual guide and friend Fr. Stuart Crevecour to talk about Eucharistic adoration—what it is, why it matters, and how to begin. From stories of Eucharistic miracles in Cascia and Orvieto to practical advice for dads bringing kids to the chapel, this episode explores how adoration “holds a moment of the Mass” so Christ can transform our week. Along the way: pilgrimage anecdotes, incorrupt saints, and a few dad-joke detours.

On the Road (and Sea): Why This Episode Is Different

First-ever episode recorded in transit—pilgrimage vibes, College GameDay energy, and what a Jubilee year in Italy feels like.

Eucharistic Miracles: From Casual Irreverence to Deep Conversion

The bleeding breviary in Cascia and the miracle preserved in Orvieto become cautionary tales—and catalysts—for reverence and faith.

What Adoration Is (and Isn’t)

Fr. Stuart offers a simple frame: adoration as a moment of the Mass held in contemplation—the elevation “stretched” so we can gaze and be changed.

Does It Really Do Anything? Why Go

From “just try it” to “I can’t live without my hour,” we hear how steady time before the monstrance re-centers a life and renews prayer.

Awkward at First: How to Start a Holy Hour

Bring a rosary or a good spiritual book. Expect silence to feel long. Keep going. Over time, conversation gives way to presence.

Spiritual Communion: When You Can’t Receive

Making a spiritual communion at home or in church keeps us oriented toward the tabernacle—especially helpful in seasons of waiting or constraint.

Benediction: A Different Kind of Blessing

Why the blessing at the end of adoration is unique: you’re being blessed by Christ himself, truly present in the Host.

Family Adoration (Without the Panic)

Practical ideas: parish “family holy hours,” short come-and-go windows, and training kids gently in reverence (yes, even page-turning).

If Your Parish Doesn’t Have Adoration

How to ask your pastor for a weekly hour or occasional exposition—and ways laity can help make it happen.

From Medieval Piety to Today’s Renewal

How devotion blossomed after Corpus Christi and grew again in recent decades—feeding vocations, parish life, and personal holiness.

• Adoration deepens Communion. It doesn’t replace the Mass; it disposes us to receive the Eucharist more fruitfully.
• Start small, stay steady. Twenty minutes grows into an hour; over time, you won’t want to miss it.
• Bring the kids. Create kid-friendly windows or family hours; let children encounter Jesus and learn chapel habits gradually.
• Spiritual communion matters. If you can’t receive sacramentally, orient yourself to the tabernacle and keep showing up.
• Benediction blesses uniquely. The blessing is given with Christ himself, not merely by the priest.

• “Adoration is a moment of the Mass held in contemplation.”
• “You can’t outgive the Lord—show up and let Him do the work.”
• “Hang out with Jesus often; we become like the people we’re with.”
• “Correct the [Eucharistic] abuses, but don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.”

1. Arrive and acknowledge: a slow Sign of the Cross; “Lord, I’m here.”
2. Read briefly (5–10 min): a Gospel passage or trusted spiritual classic.
3. Pray a decade or the whole Rosary.
4. Rest in silence: “I look at Him and He looks at me.”
5. Finish with gratitude and one concrete resolution for the week.

• Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia (Eucharistic miracle)
• Orvieto (miracle tied to the Feast of Corpus Christi)
• Sacré-Cœur, Paris (longstanding perpetual adoration)
• St. Thomas Aquinas (Eucharistic hymns for Corpus Christi)
• St. John Vianney (on simple adoration)
• St. John Paul II (modern renewal of adoration)
• St. Peter Julian Eymard (19th-century apostle of the Eucharist)

• Keep expectations age-appropriate. Five or ten minutes is a win.
• Prep gently before you enter; debrief after with hot chocolate or a donut.
• Rotate one-on-one holy hours so each child sees Dad pray

Commit to one adoration visit this week. If your parish lacks exposition, pray before the tabernacle—or make a daily spiritual communion at home, oriented toward your parish church.

Adam and Dave are broadcasting from the heart of Assisi, Italy—knee-deep in pilgrimage vibes with St. Francis, St. Clare, and the whole crew. They break down the "establish" pillar of fatherhood (you know, the third leg of protect-provide-establish) and get talk about turning your home into fertile soil where your family's faith thrives. Recorded right after a providential run-in with a fan who spotted Adam's voice in the wild—shoutout to Kel from Illinois!

Key Highlights:

• Pilgrimage Gold: Fresh off praying at St. Francis' tomb and St. Clare's incorrupt body. Plus, stories of Francis dodging death in the Holy Land because even the Saracens couldn't handle his holiness. Spiritual overload = total win.
• The Father's Job: Establish a Culture: Forget the 30-something basement-dwellers—it's time to till that family soil like a pro vintner. They riff on winery chats: Every plot's different, climates change, so adapt your strategy. Build traditions around high feasts (Christmas Nativity read-aloud before gifts? Yes!), guard your wife's prayer time, and echo that husband-wife holiness down to the kids.
• Resilience Like the Saints: One bad call ruins your day? No. Channel St. Clare ("No suffering bothers me!") and blind-but-joyful St. Francis. Practice gratitude, God's-will-be-done prayers, and bounce back fast—'cause your mood sets the home tone.
• Focus or Bust: Saints win by laser-focus on holiness. Ditch the noise (X, YouTube, endless projects). Adam's hack: Stopwatch your day. Shocking how 25 minutes of "deep work" gets hijacked by texts. Apply it home—clock real presence with kids over fence-painting busywork.

Adam's Four Pillars to Cultivate Christian Life:

1. Silence – God's language. Train kids to quiet appetites at home so they can apply it at Holy Mass.
2. Reverence – Rebel against irreverence. Yes sir/ma'am, genuflect at churches, dress sharp for Mass—builds love for the Eucharist.
3. Hard Work – Outpace 90% by pushing past "I can't." Sports, chess, prayer, fasting—saints weren't smarter, just tougher.
4. Charity – The supernatural crescendo. Serve without quid pro quo (Catechism 2223). Punch in pure love, St. Nick-style.

• Grandpa Power: You're the tradition custodian! Give "state of the union" fireplaceside talks like Adam's grandpa—wisdom from the trenches and the hilltop.
• Soul-Crafting Close: Italian churches are stunning, but one holy soul outshines 'em all. You're the craftsman for your wife's and kids' souls—steward God's talents like your life depends on it (spoiler: it does).

Action Steps for Catholic Dads:

1. Tonight: List 3 family traditions to start (feast-focused first).
2. Tomorrow: Stopwatch 1 hour of undistracted kid-time. No phone.
3. This Week: Guard your wife's prayer slot—strictly.
4. Pray: "Lord, till my home soil for saints."

In this episode, we sit down with Fr. Morey, the prior at Clear Creek Abbey, to discuss the vital role of fathers in passing down faith and tradition. Fr. Morey shares insights from his life as a Benedictine monk, including the importance of spiritual protection for families, the power of fasting as a group, and how manual labor connects men to reality. We dive into why a lack of tradition signals a loss of culture, the spiritual warfare fathers face, and practical advice for men striving for holiness. Plus, learn about the "deposition of charges" at the monastery and why relics, not money, are the true treasure. Join us for a conversation filled with wisdom from the cloister, recorded at the ninth annual Catholic Man Campout at Clear Creek Abbey.

Key Points:

• The role of fathers as spiritual protectors of their families.
• Why fasting and prayer are essential for building virtue.
• The connection between manual labor and a man’s soul.
• How receiving and transmitting tradition is key to a thriving culture.
• Clear Creek Abbey’s fundraising efforts to complete their monastery.
• Call to Action: Visit clearcreekmonks.org to support the monastery’s mission.

Overview

Adam shares a sideline story from coaching I-9 flag football—including a bold moment of public prayer—and the guys dive into practical Marian devotion for men. Plus: the legendary Catholic Man Show Campout, a hilarious kiddo/arcade saga, and this week’s whiskey.

In This Episode

• Coaching & Courage: How an I-9 format works for big families, simple plays that win, and leading a team in prayer after a teammate’s injury.
• Being Bold in Public Faith: Why most people respect prayer, overcoming hesitation, and letting charity—not fear—set the tone.

Marian Devotion for Men:

• Mary as Queen Mother and model disciple (why Mariology protects sound Christology).
• Practical “Marian hacks”: entrusting your prayers to Mary; asking for her heart before Holy Communion; Undoer of Knots novena.
• Old Testament typology (Jael, Judith, New Eve) and “she will crush your head” (Gen 3:15).
• Whiskey of the Week: Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling from Tomatin (Highland), 9-year, charred hogshead, ~59% ABV—hot but opens beautifully with a splash; oak-forward finish.
• Campout Buzz: Men flying in from across the country; new activities; documentary coming to YouTube.
• Family & Fun: The token machine misadventure (fire trucks, free passes, and a parental facepalm).

Key Takeaways

• When in doubt, pray anyway—most onlookers receive it as a kind gesture.
• Daily Rosary is a proven aid against habitual sin (per spiritual masters).
• Offer your prayers through Mary so she can “clean them up” and present them to Jesus.
• Consider Total Consecration (St. Louis de Montfort) to root your day-to-day in Marian discipleship.

Mentions & Resources

• Rosary episode with Dominicans: Fr. Gregory Pine, Fr. Patrick Briscoe, Fr. Joseph Anthony Kress
• Select International Tours – long-time show sponsor for pilgrimages
• Devotions: Our Lady, Undoer of Knots novena; Total Consecration (St. Louis de Montfort); Glories of Mary (St. Alphonsus Liguori)

This week on The Catholic Man Show, Adam and David welcome Chris Carstens—Director of the Office for Sacred Worship in the Diocese of La Crosse, teacher, author, and liturgical scholar.

Together, they dive deep into the heart of Catholic worship and explore:

• How fathers can introduce young children to the beauty of the Mass—even when it feels like a workout.
• Why children belong in the main body of the church, not just the cry room.
• The meaning and role of altar serving and how it shapes boys into men of faith.
• Insights into the ordinary form vs. extraordinary form conversation, and how Pope Benedict XVI envisioned “mutual enrichment.”
• What the Eucharistic revival accomplished and why the Mass itself is the greatest act of Eucharistic adoration.
• Practical steps to make parish liturgies more beautiful, reverent, and evangelizing.
• Resources and books to help families grow deeper in love with the liturgy, such as A Devotional Journey into the Mass and A Biblical Walk Through the Mass.

About our guest:

Chris Carstens has spent over 25 years in liturgical ministry, teaching at the Liturgical Institute and Christendom College, and serving as editor of Adoremus Bulletin. He is the author of several books on Catholic worship and continues to help parishes and families rediscover the beauty of the Mass.

👉 Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Adoremus Bulletin
• A Devotional Journey into the Mass (Sophia Institute Press)
• Biblical Walk Through the Mass by Edward Sri
• Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre

Why does the Rosary matter? How do you pray it well when distractions hit? And what about devotion to Mary — is it too much, or exactly what we need?

In this episode of The Catholic Man Show, Adam and David welcome three Dominican priests:

• Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.

• Fr. Patrick Briscoe, O.P.

• Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P.

They dive into:

✅ The history and power of the Rosary

✅ Practical advice on handling distractions in prayer

✅ The Luminous Mysteries and why they matter today

✅ Mary’s role as Mediatrix of Grace

✅ Live audience Q&A

This lively, insightful, and often funny conversation will deepen your love for the Rosary and inspire greater devotion in your prayer life.

Looking for a book to turn your home into a saint-making machine?

https://ascensionpress.com/products/living-beyond-sunday-making-your-home-a-holy-place

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