Fr. Brian Gross joins Patrick to discuss Transitions and the Spiritual Life

• What does hope have to do with transitions?
• (13:42) Mary - I just received a letter. It has to deal with inheritance. Father recently died. I'm going to trust God I make heaven, and let Him be in control.

(19:51) Break 1

• E-Frank - I believe that transitions are not only phases, but transitions of feelings.  They allow us to develop in God's likeness as more mature human beings.
• (26:25) Cindy - Had a huge transition.  God had a plan.  Husband passed suddenly.  Lots of questions.  Through the next year, I cared for parents who had health issues.  Wouldn't have had that capacity if I also had to deal with my husband being ill.
• Email – What do you do with a change that happens in the family like divorce?
• Cecilia - When we moved from Mexico to US, my life changed thanks to Relevant Radio!

(38:31) Break 2

• Rudy - I worked for Disney for 33 years. Got let go for writing something on FB. Blessing in disguise because now I work for a school district which is something much greater.
• (43:18) Dorothy - 6 years ago, lost my son. He died in the water trying to save his 3 boys and wife. 1000 people at his funeral. I just put one foot in front of the other and kept doing what I've been doing. He did save his boys and wife.  Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep doing what you're doing.
• Email talking about a change that deeply affected her prayer life.

Fr. Michael Hurley joins Patrick to discuss Confession: Our Lady Refuge of Sinners

• Who is our Lady of Refuge?
• (16:17) Nick - All of us must realize that absolution comes from Christ. The after effects are so important - spiritual direction, counsel, etc.

(22:46) Break 1

•  (29:06) Mira - One of my friends was told by a priest that you're 'good' if you go once a year. It's my understanding that we need to go more often than that. How often should we go?
• Phillipe - In confession and through the grace of God, first the boulders are removed - big sins, then the rocks are removed, pebbles, grains of sand. That's the way I like to look at confession. It helps you to recognize those different types of sins...grave sins, venial sins. It's a blessing to recognize sin.

(39:32) Break 2

• What if it has been awhile since having gone to confession?
• (46:35) Esmeralda - When you go to confession, you are forgive, but they're like stains. We go to purgatory and those are removed. There are reparations...are they there to remove the stains and what do they do to remove purgatory time.

Encore show from January 7, 2025

Fr. Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Friendship

• What is Friendship?
• (10:47) How do we navigate seasons of life?
• (15:20) Susanne - Greeting people daily.  Having been retired taking care of people. I've found that being kind like to the cashier at the grocery store.

(19:06) Break 1

• Maria - How can I attain a spiritual director so I can have a spiritual friendship?
• (22:59) Nora - I have a couple of nieces who are adults. They appreciate my friendship, but I don't hear back from them.  How should I deal with this?
• How do we know what friendships are good to have and which ones are not healthy?
• What is the role of forgiveness in friendship?
• Jessica - I was just recently at confession and my priest told me that I need to seek friends in the church. Why is that so important? I feel that I am old now and have a hard time understanding the why.

(40:44) Break 2

• How do you navigate friendships between men and women?
• Francesca - I'm a convert. 10 years ago. Old friends who are certainly non-Catholic. There's been tension. Any ideas if I should pursue this friendship or how to approach.

Fr. Ramil Fajardo joins Patrick to discuss Divorce

• What is the damage of Divorce?
• (10:05) what does the Church say about Divorce?
• (14:36) Linda - I'm an advocate for the tribunal. I work a lot with annulments and just want to thank Father for his work. I know how difficult it is.
• What is a Tribunal?

(19:23) Break 1

• How do you respond to someone who asks why get married in the first place?
• (24:17) why would you stay with someone who is abusing you?
• (30:31) Susan - I am divorced. I recently have been thinking about annulment. Should you look to have one only if you're considering remarriage?
• Linda - I went through a divorce 7 years ago. Wasn't catholic, but ex was. he wanted an annulment after, and I couldn't see how going through the annulment was going to heal me. I heard that annulment can heal, but only God can heal. Asked God to remove bitterness. I'm Catholic now and converted last Easter. A lot of good can come out of this, but at the time I didn't believe so.

(40:25) Break 2

• Denise -Nullification of a previous marriage and going through the tribunal process. I'm in that situation.  Married for 24 years. Away from the church for a long time. I want to receive communion, but told I can't until my husband gets his first marriage nullified. They're telling my husband his reasons aren't strong enough.
• What is the difference between annulment and declaration of nullity?
• What is lack of form?

Fr. Marcel Taillon joins Patrick to discuss Morality

• (4:06) What is Morality?
• (16:54) Joe - If one is a Christian and someone they are dating isn't, how can we be a witness to someone who doesn't believe the afterlife and Jesus? It's a different morality structure.

(23:16) Break 1

• Val - I think that sin contains us. When I have violated the 10 commandments, then I feel awful and have lingering pain that I could do that.
• (31:20) Can you be morally good without faith? (surprising answer)
• Lissa - I'm 54 and come back to the church. So thankful to be back. If I am doing something I know is wrong and going to keep doing it, will I have redemption? I'm a smoker and have reduced it from 30 to 7 cigarettes a day, but I haven't stopped. How can I say I'm leading a moral life if I continue to do it?

(41:36) Break 2

• (43:12) Bridget - Pascal’s wager and how that can help with the thought of morality and an experience I had with sexual immorality.
• Lauren - Question about development of conscious for someone who has struggled with sin a lot as a child.

Fr. Patrick Hyde joins Patrick to discuss the sacrament of the Eucharist.

·          (2:55) Fr. Hyde shares his experience of consecrating bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time.

·         (11:32) Fr. Hyde unpacks the sacramental theology of why Jesus gave us his Body and Blood in forms of bread and wine with the purpose of restoring humanity.

·         (18:07) Walt – The way we receive the Eucharist has diminished. Do you agree?

·         (23:58) Fr. Hyde speaks to what makes us a Eucharistic people and how we can better prepare for and give thanks for receiving the Eucharist.

·         (32:17) Tom – How do we kindle the fire in our hearts to better prepare us to receive the Eucharist?

·         (38:33) Email – Can you help me profound humility of Jesus in the Eucharist?

·         (39:20) Fr. Hyde discusses how keeping the Eucharist at the forefront of our daily lives

·         (45:06) Fr. Hyde gives advice on how we can share our devotion to the Eucharist with those who do not believe in the real presence.

 

ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_20030417_eccl-de-euch.html

Fr. Eric Nielsen joins Patrick to discuss Baptism

·         (3:30) Fr. Eric discusses the importance of the sacrament of Baptism and how it restores our relationship with God. We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to conform our life to Christ.

·         Fr. Eric discusses the history of Baptism including the proper matter and form to have a valid sacramental Baptism.

·         (17:52) Dan - What is the Church's opinion of the thief on the cross who wasn't baptized, but Christ said would be in heaven?

·         Fr. Eric shares that the thief needed the grace of Christ and needed an act of the will to accept his suffering, uniting it to the sufferings of Christ on the cross.

·         (23:45) Barb - We celebrate our kid’s baptism day and burn their baptism candle. It is always a very special day.

·         (25:20) Jen - At a Catholic school, many kids are not baptized, but interested. How should we deal with that if they are not Catholic and do not attend Mass?

·         Fr. Eric discusses the criteria of when priests should deny the sacraments on a case by case basis.

·         Cindy – Can I baptize high school students who want to be baptized but do not want to go through OCIA?

·         Fr. Eric clarifies Church teaching on who can baptize and when it is appropriate.

·         (37:11) Fr. Eric shares interesting stories of improper baptisms.

·         (38:30) Carlos – The father of my daughter’s babies does not want them baptized. It is a high risk pregnancy. What should we do?

·         Fr. Eric shares the importance of baptism, right after these babies are born in this case.

·         Marco - Are baptisms of immersion valid?

·         Linda I am going through RCIA. My husband and I are not married in the Church but he is Catholic. Does my baptism change anything?

·         Fr. Eric clarifies why Mormon baptism is not valid.

·         (48:03) Fr. Eric reflects on why Jesus was baptized.  

Fr. Carter Griffin joins Patrick to discuss Apologetics

(3:45) What does the word Apologetics Mean?

(8:36) We could even appreciate arguments against the faith by learning apologetics and being respectful of our opponents

(13:15) You don't need to be a world-class apologist to be an effective apologist

(21:26) -What are some of the common apologetics questions people ask? 

(25:09)  Nick-The power of apologetics in my life and how I'm implementing it in my life

(29:19)-How to avoid getting bullied in the faith

(31:14)  Marty-Sometimes it seems like the Catholic Faith is too overwhelming for me. 

(37:41)-What makes for a good and bad argument?

(40:47)-Bill-Trying to do apologetics to get people into the Church or for them to have a stronger relationship with Jesus

(49:10)-How someone could grow in their apologetics? 

Fr. Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Friendship

• What is Friendship?
• (10:47) How do we navigate seasons of life?
• (15:20) Susanne - Greeting people daily.  Having been retired taking care of people. I've found that being kind like to the cashier at the grocery store.

(19:06) Break 1

• Maria - How can I attain a spiritual director so I can have a spiritual friendship?
• (22:59) Nora - I have a couple of nieces who are adults. They appreciate my friendship, but I don't hear back from them.  How should I deal with this?
• How do we know what friendships are good to have and which ones are not healthy?
• What is the role of forgiveness in friendship?
• Jessica - I was just recently at confession and my priest told me that I need to seek friends in the church. Why is that so important? I feel that I am old now and have a hard time understanding the why.

(40:44) Break 2

• How do you navigate friendships between men and women?
• Francesca - I'm a convert. 10 years ago. Old friends who are certainly non-Catholic. There's been tension. Any ideas if I should pursue this friendship or how to approach.

Tom Wilson joins Patrick to discuss Epiphany

• Why is the epiphany important?
• (4:59) what is the epiphany?
• Who were the kings
• Chris - there are two types of kings. good kings and bad kings who serve themselves. I think I am different kings at different moments
• (20:03) Barbara - Can you talk about the chalk on the door? AND why Gold?

(24:15) Break 1

• What gifts can you give Jesus?
• (31:20) What does the Mass have to do with Epiphany?

(38:10) Break 2

• In what way are we called to be good country men in the USA?
• (44:07) why is the miracle of the wedding feast of Cana important?

Resources:

• Mystery of the Magi: The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men
  • https://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Magi-Quest-Identify-Three/dp/1621576299