The Inner Life

IL – Father Carter Griffin joins IL to discuss making sense of suffering. Josh and Father Griffin discussed suffering and free will (8:31), CS Lewis and The Problem of Pain (10:48), innocent children suffering (15:52), the greatest evil of the Christian life (17:43), how we learn to look at suffering as God sees it (23:53), if suffering is God's discipline for us (26:47), and redemptive suffering (44:03). Callers: Tom asks about free will as a terror (30:42) and Renato shares his story of losing a child (36:44). 

Father Joseph Johnson joins IL to discuss making leisure holy. He and Josh discussed what true leisure is (7:42), how to find leisure without sloth (12:40) what sloth is (17:05), how we structure our week (23:15), structuring our week will take time (30:17), and two practical leisure activities (49:21). Callers share how they help their families with leisure (35:06) and ask how to find rest if you work in health care (43:00).

Father Matthew Spencer, OSJ joined IL to discuss navigating marriages when one spouse isn’t Catholic. Father and Josh discussed advice for single people seeking marriage (7:58), married couples with different faiths (12:34), Josh’s journey to Catholicism (15:32), advice parents can give to children (20:30), and spouses who convert for the other (32:58). Callers asked for advice about a spouse that has stopped practicing the faith (26:10), a spouse who isn’t Catholic (36:49), and a spouse who said her husband loves the Church more than her (44:02). 

Father Chris Walsh joins IL to discuss discernment of spirits and the Spiritual Exercises. Topics included who St. Ignatius (2:32), what discernment is (6:15), what spiritual exercises are (10:28), if we have to do spiritual exercises (15:12), caller's discernment about kidney transplant (15:12), discernment about kidney transplant (20:20), discernment about a caller's daughter who left the Church (25:13), discernment in desolation (29:11), obstacles to decision making (31:34), making small decisions (35:06), seeking counsel (37:43), caller's story of choosing life (42:24). 

Father Sam Martin joins IL to discuss the reality of miracles. Topics include what a miracle is (3:22), a caller miracle at Lake Superior (9:09), a caller who survived a car accident (16:10), what miracles teach us about Jesus (23:24), a caller's hearing of M.S. (29:36), and a caller's story of her miracle daughter (41:30). 

Father John McDonald joins IL to discuss outreach to the poor. Topics included food insecurity (7:05), contempt (10:18), what charity is (11:27), the rich man and Lazarus (12:22), thou shalt not steal (14:46), isolation (23:39), avoiding suffering (27:26), The Good Samaritan (31:12), food pantries (34:29), how we can help the poor (39:22), prayer (41:27), discerning donation (45:27), and saints (49:30). 

Father Tom Wilson joins IL to discuss martyrdom. Topics included the life of St. John the Baptist (7:00), Herod and John (12:15), Doubt (14:57), if martyrdom is worth it (18:15), St. Paul and martyrdom (25:42), humility (31:01), marriage and martyrdom (33:17), humiliation (40:04), giving testimony (45:18). 

Father Matthew Widder joined Josh for a discussion about praying for those who left the faith. Topics included Sts. Monica and Augustine (6:57), advice to parents (11:42), Good family doesn't guarantee religious children (13:44), why people leave the faith (20:05), conversion (26:33), my brother doesn't think he needs God, what should I do (31:04), encouraging college students to attend mass (40:04), when to discuss the faith with those who have left it (48:32). 

Father Michael Nixon joins IL for the first time to discuss evangelization. Topics included getting to know Fr. Michael (7:12), what evangelization is (9:45), the importance of knowing Jesus (14:38), renewing our encounter with Jesus (18:46), obstacles to evangelization (24:04), hostility to Christianity (29:18), evangelization in the medical word (37:20), the importance of Scripture in evangelization (42:37), and a book recommendation (46:46).