I feel like this list of seven significantly important and ancient Christian practices is often hidden in the shadow of its more well known cousin list, the Corporal Works of Mercy. Tune in for some overview and tips on how to live these out each day!

Links/Resources:

“7 Ways to Practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy” - Catholic Exchange article by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV (click here)

“The Spiritual Works of Mercy” - U.S. Catholic Bishops document (click here)

Part 5 of our 8-part series is all about God fashioning a human family with an eye to a much more wide-ranging and long term plan of salvation. Spoiler alert: He specifically chose profoundly flawed people to do so - hope for you and me! You won’t want to miss this one.

Links/Resources:

Dr. John Bergsma’s terrific book, “Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture of Salvation History”: click here

Dr. Scott Hahn’s equally terrific book, “A Father Who Keeps His Promises”, similar to Dr. Bergsma’s but more in-depth: click here for a FREE copy + shipping/handling

We recently lost Dr. Tom Howard, English professor, renowned author, and Catholic convert. Among his many remarkable books, this title stands out in my own formation so prominently that I wanted to review it at length on the podcast. Don’t miss this episode!

Links/Resources:

Link to purchase the book on Ignatius Press’ website: click here

“Died: Thomas Howard, Author Who Said ‘Evangelical Is Not Enough’” (obituary in Christianity Today: click here)

“Thomas Howard: Chance or the Dance? - Part 1” (outstanding YouTube interview with Howard by “Socrates in the City” host Eric Metaxas: click here)

… Part 2 (click here)

In part 4 of our 8-part series, Mike dives (sorry) into Genesis’ Great Flood narrative (aka the story of Noah and the Ark). Few biblical topics generate as much interest (& heated debate!) as this one, so all hands on deck as we sail into the stormy seas of Gen. 6-9!

Links/Resources:

Dr. John Bergsma’s terrific book, “Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture of Salvation History”: click here

Dr. Scott Hahn’s equally terrific book, “A Father Who Keeps His Promises”, similar to Dr. Bergsma’s but more in-depth: click here for a FREE copy + shipping/handling

“Noah Movie - ‘Creation Clip’” (Protozoa Pictures) - https://youtu.be/OwSWRdbSQK0

“Noah’s Ark: The Real Story” (somewhat problematic documentary, but worth checking out at least to get a better idea of how the subject is typically approached in a secular framework) - youtube.com/watch?v=6x3UWQQrUXs

Moving along into part 3 of our 8-part series, Mike explores the first few chapters of Genesis and provides some keys that will help you to unlock some interesting doors you’ll find there. Don’t miss this episode!

Links/Resources:

Dr. John Bergsma’s terrific book, “Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture of Salvation History”: click here

Dr. Scott Hahn’s equally terrific book, “A Father Who Keeps His Promises”, similar to Dr. Bergsma’s but more in-depth: click here for a FREE copy + shipping/handling

“Creation & Evolution” (Catholic Central) - youtube.com/watch?v=B_sE07heyy4

“Misreading Genesis” (Bishop Barron) - youtube.com/watch?v=UVsbVAVSssc

“How Does the Church Teach Us to Interpret the Creation Story in Genesis?” (Catholic Answers) - youtube.com/watch?v=81bIlPWpsG4

“Were Adam & Eve and The Garden of Eden Just Myths?” (The Catholic Talk Show) - youtube.com/watch?v=hy69ERcra2U

Dudes, if you’re reading this instead of just listening to the episode, you’re most heinously wasting time! You may be surprised to find just how much totally perspicacious content there is to unpack from this movie series. So let’s bag it, shall we?

Some might be surprised that a text written 400 years ago could be so compelling and relevant, but this work from one of the great spiritual masters is just that! Join Mike for a flyover of one of de Sales’ many masterpieces.

Links/Resources:

Link to paperback edition discussed in this episode: click here (also available as eBook)

Wikipedia entry on St. Francis de Sales: click here

Franciscan Media’s bio page on St. Francis: click here

Does Mike mean the delicious spicy dip? Nope. He’s of course going deeper than that! Join him today for some quick tips on how to develop a more productive, peaceful, and life-enriching approach to conversation and relationships.

Second up in this 8-part series, Mike takes a closer look at some basic Catholic biblical interpretive principles and why they’re so important. What is the Bible? What ISN’T it? How can we read it correctly? Do we only need the Bible, or is tradition important to consider? This and more

Links/Resources:

Dr. John Bergsma and Dr. Brant Pitre have recently released “A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament”, the first of a monumental 2-part series and a must have for your shelf! click here

Gary Michuta continues to amass a great amount of work on the so-called “Deuterocanon”, the seven biblical books missing from most non-Catholic Bibles. Here’s his newest text, “Case for the Deuterocanon”: click here

Jeff Cavins’ team over at Ascension Press has tons of incredible resources under the umbrella of the “Great Adventure” Bible and related study materials: click here

Trent Horn’s “Hard Sayings” takes a deep dive into some of the more challenging/disturbing passages of Scripture and he provides a wealth of interpretive keys: click here

Catholic Church official documents on Scripture (MUST reads!)

Providentissimus Deus (“On the Study of Holy Scripture”, Pope Leo XIII, 1893): click here

Divino Afflante Spiritu (“On Promoting Biblical Studies”, Pope Pius XII, 1943): click here

Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Vatican II, 1965): click here

For good measure, EVERYTHING CARDINAL JOSEPH RATZINGER (AKA POPE BENEDICT XVI) EVER WROTE!

In this first of an 8-part series, Mike introduces some important foundational questions about the existence and nature of God. Why do you believe what you believe about the divine? Have you ever really, deeply, thoroughly asked yourself that question? All that and more!

Links/Resources:

Word on Fire (Bishop Robert Barron): https://www.wordonfire.org/

Society of Catholic Scientists website (Dr. Stephen Barr reference): https://www.catholicscientists.org/about/leadership

Magis Center for Reason and Faith/Magis Institute (Father Robert Spitzer): https://magiscenter.com/

The Gracious Guest homepage: https://www.thegraciousguest.org