The Inner Life

Father Tom McCarthy joins Patrick to discuss the First Year with Pope Leo

• (2:35) Where was Father McCarthy when Pope Leo was Elected?
• (5:51) what makes Pope Leo ideal for the role as the Holy Father?
• Restlessness of saint Augustine.
• Pope Leo’s role as a leader before being pope.
• (19:00) Rosa - I am so blessed. I'm 85 years old. I want to say we have a man of God. He tells the truth and that's what we all need to set us free. Loving kind.

(20:32) Break 1

• Clay - Wonderful we have an American Pope. I met Fr. Tom. I'm a convert to the faith.
• (24:49) Sandy - I admire the fact that he made it clear that he's not a political leader, he's a religious leader seeking peace at all costs.
• (32:32) Joseph - My experience...I'm a diesel mechanic. We had a tv in the shop at the time. Waiting for the shop. Saw smoke when it happened. Amazing thing was when he came out is that it's an American Pope. Everyone was joyous and happy. Not all of my co-workers are catholic and it was good to see this.

(38:35) Break 2

• Pope Leo’s message of peace.
• (45:06) Daniella - My husband and I are from Peru. We'd like to say he's a good man. We don't know him in person, but saw his mission in Peru. We're 3rd order Augustinians. Moved to California now. We lived in Lima
• (46:31) Pope Leo at the bank shows his humility.

Check out this great show from April 16, 2026

Father Michael-Joseph Paris joins Patrick to discuss Silence

• (4:15) no time for silence and wide is it so important?
• (12:53) Why is silence difficult for us to enter into sometimes?
• (16:26) Agnes - What is a suggestion for a teacher or mother with a house full of kids? How does she find silence in the middle of all that noise?

(19:26) Break 1

• (21:13) Visual Noise
• (24:36) Sonya - Last week, that quiet voice said come down to the lake (here in Maine). I heard the voice again asking me to come to the lake. Later, the voice said 'now.' I went down to the lake and all quiet around. Sat there for 10 minutes and told God I was there. He told me 'Be still and know that I am God.' Saw the stillness of the winter beauty and lost myself in His presence. I was running from being busy for so long.
• (29:49) Kathy - I've been to silent retreats before. I brought books and stuff. Went to dinner and it was like all were mad at each other because nobody was talking. I worked in schools and son and friends would come over. Told kids to go outside while I had my coffee. Mom used to get up early. Have to arrange time for it.
• Email – Mary keeps the radio off while driving.
• (36:53) Marie - Go to the woods. Find a tree, bush, flower, listen to a bird. Just check out and be in nature...He is there.

(39:02) Break 2

• (40:29) Michelle - It is so precious. Adoration chapel...people wonder what should they do when they're there. Just present yourself to the Lord. With me, it's hiking in the woods. Get tired enough to sit down and breathe and listen to mother nature. I need nature to bring the sense of awe.
• (45:15) What is Mental prayer?
• Matt - The silence that people have is something I strive for. This show has been really helpful to get to that.

Father Allen Hoffa joins Patrick to discuss the Types of Love

• (5:57) What is the necessity of love?
• (9:48) What is storge Love?

(18:350 Break 1

• What is phileo Love?
• (29:31) What is eros love?
• (32:44) Mary - I found it interesting about storge and I think if more people heard that...If I had a teaching like that when I was younger, I think it would be helpful. We should talk about it more in church. Real type of love and healthy.

(39:52) Break 2

• Ann - How does the Holy Spirit work into it all? Father doing a great job explaining types of love. How does the relationships of love fall into this with the Holy Spirit.
• (46:19) What is Agape Love

Father Christ Walsh joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola

• (3:03) Who was St. Ignatius of Loyola?
• What is an Ignatius retreat?
  (20:14) Justin - I have completed the meditations. Also a member of a lay community of Lay Ignatius Associates. Make 3 promises part of formation and commitment.

(23:17) Break 1

• Laura - My parish is offering spiritual exercises. Is it important to have a priest or a person who works with you on these exercise (mentor?) versus someone else?
• (29:01) Alex - How do you get over the fear of choosing wrong. I heard the priest talk about choosing the best decision, but in my life, sometime I worry about wasting time.
• What is consolation and desolation?
• (36:21) Don’t make change in spiritual desolation.

(39:34) Break 2

• (41:40) How do we know whether we are listening to God’s voice or our own?
• Email – How do you distinguish between desolation and grief?
• The Daily Examine.

Father Craig DeYoung joins Patrick to discuss the dignity of work

• (10:36) - Obedience to God
• (13:12) - Caller - simple tasks bring joy 
• (16:51) - Caller - changing jobs

(21:41) Break 1

• (22:49) - Finding meaning in work
• (28:10) - Work is God-given 
• (31:41) - Should I take a new job? 
• (36:40) - How vocation changes with age

(41:15) Break 2

• (42:34) - Praying at work
• (49:13) - Importance of Rest

Father Michael Hurley joins Patrick to discuss Pope Pius V

• (4:51) who was Pope Pius V?
• What was Pope Pius early life like?

(18:37) Break 1

• (20:23) Nick - Mine is to JPII. I met him in 87 with my mentor. On the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Great correlation with Pope Pius V. We brought rosaries and one lady gave us a rosary...when we got back, that rosary turned gold. I got a pic with the Pope, too.
• (23:31) What is the Council of Trent.
• What generates liturgical reform?
• (39:09) Mike - St. Maximilian Kolbe. Been a great saint in my life. As a young person. Met the man he died for at Auschwitz.

(42:47) Break 2

• (44:09) What is the role of the Saints?
• What do we need to do to become a saint?

Fr. Michael Hurley joins Patrick to discuss the role of the Saints: St. Catherine of Siena. 

• (4:13) Trivia 

(21:46) Break 1

• (23:04) Marriage or Religious Life
• (25:27) Back to trivia 

(42:09) Break 2 

• (42:46) Email: Book Recs 

Resources: 

Catherine of Siena 

https://a.co/d/02EwVJTl 

Lay Siege to Heaven: A Novel about St. Catherine of Siena

https://a.co/d/0gvPxusl 

Father John LoCoco joins Patrick to discuss Living Heroic Virtue: St Gianna Molla

• (2:28) who was Gianna Molla?
• (9:09) What is Virtue?
• How do you develop virtue?
• (17:28) Kathy - Living Heroic Virtue - My sister-in-law...she was married to my brother who was a cerebral palsy patient. Difficult to live with. Always gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. Also dear friend from Australia. She is a Baptist minister, but doesn't work full time. We don't agree about most things related to politics and other issues. Strong prayer partner.

(22:51) Break 1

• (24:26) Michelle - The Lord gave me a blessing. 30-40 years before I could grow and see with his eyes. I don't know if it's a special virtue, but forgiveness. Grew up with a wife-beating child molester. Took that long to forgive him. The Lord gave me an opportunity to see that man before he was corrupted by porn and alcohol. Forgive everybody, everything, every day.
• How to make space for the Lord in our lives?

(37:33) Break 2

• The importance of mentors in the spiritual life?
• (43:20) How to prepare for the big moments in life?
• Email – How is virtue so easily attained by Saints?
• Email – the little way as a way of growing in holiness.

Father Tom Wilson joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Reading

• (5:51) why is spiritual reading important?
• What is a good perspective to have while doing spiritual reading?
• (14:30) Joe – Ministers of Your Joy: Meditations on the Priesthood is a great book
• (19:11)Lorraine - Did you consider books for the blind? I'm blind and I have limited sources for them.

(22:47) Break 1

• Importance of reading at the level you are at.
• (29:17) Ricardo - My younger brother who is reading the Gospels and in reversion. Any recommendations for him? Also, books....3 ages of the Spiritual Life and also The fulfillment of all desire. I recommend those.
• Reading Academically vs reading Spiritually.

(38:49) Break 2

• (40:07) How to develop the habit of reading
• (44:32) Tom - Opinion about Sherry Wadell's works. She's written on Intentional Discipleship. Applies to what we learn from our spiritual reading on how to be a disciple. How to implement.
• (47:17) Father Gives his top 4 books to recommend to the listeners

Resources:

• In conversation with God
  • https://scepterpublishers.org/collections/in-conversation-with-god?srsltid=AfmBOoo2UcJd0idllbsjDTpr9o1dB4yhqXavQNCstRXUoLhwTeElS8sB
• A Sign of Contradiction by St John Paul II
  • https://www.amazon.com/Sign-Contradiction-Karol-Wojtyla/dp/1952826772
• Time for God by Fr. Jacque Philippe
  • https://www.amazon.com/Time-God-Jacques-Philippe/dp/1594170665
• Transcend: A guide to the spiritual quest
  • https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-guide-spiritual-Morton-Kelsey/dp/0824500156
• Ministers of Your Joy: Meditations on the Priesthood
  • https://www.amazon.com/Ministers-Your-Joy-Meditations-Priesthood/dp/1685952658
• Magnificat
  • https://us.magnificat.net/
• What Catholics Really Believe: Answers to Common Misconceptions About the Faith
  • https://www.amazon.com/What-Catholics-Really-Believe-Misconceptions/dp/0898705533
• Navarre Bible
  • https://scepterpublishers.org/collections/navarre-bibles?srsltid=AfmBOorZyOcMgJpKeh9lglvdGzQbmmbvAUE_boso07mHGy2NzmAYGMt0
• Xavier Society for the Blind
  • https://xaviersocietyfortheblind.org/
• The Three Conversions and the Three Ways of the Spiritual Life
  • https://www.amazon.com/Three-Conversions-Ways-Spiritual-Life-ebook/dp/B00U6X7YO6
• Confessions of Saint Agustine
  • https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-St-Augustine-Signet-Classics/dp/0451527801
• Abandonment to Divine Providence
  • https://tanbooks.com/products/books/abandonment-to-divine-providence/?srsltid=AfmBOooPKFdHpV1BPp_usd6ZZC-W3AMEat2T-5cIhzAkD9cG_QyD2LP4
• He Leadeth Me: An Extraordinary Testament of Faith
  • https://www.amazon.com/He-Leadeth-Me-Extraordinary-Testament/dp/0804141525
• Temptation and Discernment
  • https://www.icspublications.org/products/temptation-and-discernment?srsltid=AfmBOopSw4TckDzvXjaN_kFB-6mkTxSfxQH8PNS7zv_fxkLC15IDbFu5

Father John Eckert joins Patrick to discuss The Power of Scripture

• Where are Catholics at with the Bible?
• How the bible connects with itself.
• (18:35) Rudy - Book I read by Deacon Burke. went through the whole mass and wrote every part from scripture.

(22:23) Break 1

• (24:06) Living out Scripture.
• (31:50) Regina - Father touched on the old testament and continuity. Want to know more about how the new covenant differs.
• (36:39) Joe - On my way to Rome and two scriptures stuck out to me. He who lives in the spirit must walk in the spirit. Those who partake in fornication, idolatry have no inheritance the kingdom.

(42:19) Break 2

• (43:53) Lucy - Psalm 46 10 and how it's impacted my life. Friend gave me a mug with this scripture on it. In confession, the priest gave me that scripture and I accepted it. Be still...

Resources:

• Magnificat
  • https://us.magnificat.net/