The Inner Life

Check out this Awesome Encore from July 30, 2025

Msgr. Tom Richter joins Patrick to discuss 6 Foundations of Prayer (part 3)

• (2:30) Father recaps the first four foundations of faith

(18:44) Break 1

• (20:18) 5th foundation of prayer: Humility.

(37:47) Break 2

• (38:59) 6th foundation of prayer: Purification
• (46:57) Regina - Humility...all the good things God gives people. What if you've been handled lousy things like an abusive family? Where's the goodness of God?

Check out this awesome Encore from June 24, 2025

Msgr. Thomas Richter joins Patrick to Discuss 6 Foundations of Prayer (part 2)

• What is the origin of the 6 foundations of prayer?
• (6:04) what are the first 3 foundations of prayer?

(20:10) Break 1

• (21:33) Fourth foundation of prayer- Pray from the Heart.

(36:40) Break 2

• (37:44) Michael - Question about my struggles with temptation. Struggling with pornography and temptation and feeling unworthy and staying away because of shame. How do I overcome that?
• How can I feel God’s love in a time of unrest?

Check out this awesome Encore from May 21, 2025!

Msgr. Tom Richter joins Patrick to Discuss 6 Foundations of Prayer (Part 1)

• (4:01) why is it important to develop foundations of prayer?
• (11:05) First foundation of prayer: Awakened Faith

(20:20) Break 1

• David - How can I get more awaken faith if I already experience it in the past, but it has fallen away? How to reinvigorate the awaken faith and bringing it back?
• (26:07) What is the second foundation of faith: Getting God Right.

(40:32) Break 2

• Patrick shares an email about offering daily activities in getting God right?
• (41:46) Third foundation of prayer: The Cross

Check out this Awesome Encore from September 26, 2025

Fr. Ramil Fajardo joins Patrick to discuss Living a Life of Virtue

• Why is living virtuously needed for those in your family?
• (12:18) What are the Four Cardinal Virtues and how do they help?

(21:39) Break 1

• Dolores - My son is getting married tomorrow. I invited God parents to the wedding without him knowing. what should I do?
• (29:05) Leo - I have fallen into sloth. What virtue can I work on to combat that?

(39:32) Break 2

• How can your life your life virtuously by making a plan?
• (44:34) Joshua - It is my birthday and on Friday's I normally fast. Should I still fast today?
• How do I know which virtue to build more when dealing with a difficult spouse?

Fr. Joseph Johnson joins Patrick to discuss Final Preparations for Christmas

• (4:10) why is preparation for Christmas so important?
• The O Antiphons
• (17:46) Cindy - In preparation, I recently lost my pet of 17 years. I feel like this is a moment where I'm preparing myself because we love those loved ones. I prepare by knowing this is the first they will spend in heaven; I know they are no longer with us. That is just a joy.

(22:40) Break 1

• (24:30) Nick - How to be grateful. Ever since I knew you from taking over for the Inner Life, you've been a loving figure. Maybe those who are starting late...it's never too late as we hear from the Sunday reading at Mass. God is always with us. Life is an advent...a time for preparing for the coming of Jesus.
• How can we prepare for Christmas?
• (35:30) Yollie - Give the Christ child presents at Mass with our presence at Mass.

(37:27) Break 2

• Maria - Preparation for coming of Christ is our whole life. Our journey. Every day we should be in his presence, not just Christmas. Strength to overcome our sorrows and love our enemies.
• (43:24) The Gift of the Magi
• Where can last minute stress help us grow in our spiritual life?

Fr. Rob Kroll joins Patrick to discuss The Holy Family at Christmas

• (3:17) Poverty of the Holy Family

(20:45) Break 1

• (23:00) Clementine - Holy family: When my children were little I would say prayers with them and ask the holy family to keep my family holy. I lost my son and at his funeral there were a lot of priests celebrating the funeral.
• Importance of families reaching out to others in there?

(35:34) Break 2

• How does God show up in the ordinary areas of life?
• (43:50) Trisha - Who was Saint Joseph Parents? And how long was Mary serving at the temple? Did she live in the temple?

Resources:

• Advent Office of readings:
  • https://liturgies.net/Liturgies/Catholic/loh/advent/december20or.htms
• Consecration to St. Joseph
  • https://consecrationtostjoseph.org/

Fr. Michael Hurley joins Patrick to have a Sunday Bible Study Matthew 1:18-24

• (7:51) Father shares some background on this passage.
• (12:49) father Shares this Sunday’s Gospel

(18:57) Break 1

• What is the betrothal of Joseph and Mary?
• (26:03) Sandy - Why does it matter that Joseph came from the same line of David when he wasn't the biological father of Jesus.
• Why does it say Joseph was a righteous man?

(36:50) Break 2

• Richard - did Mary come from that line as well and where is it written?
• (39:41) Donna - I had a friend who had said Jesus had brothers. Can you equip me to respond to her?
• Why is Joseph so important in the Christmas story?

Fr. Eric Nielsen joins Patrick to discuss Christmas Movies

• Why are Christmas movies important?
• What is the importance of Scrooge’s story?
• (16:23) David - My favorite Christmas movie is 'A Bocelli Family Christmas'

(19:58) Break 1

• Deb - Christmas Carol Movie. I have 7 versions and watch all of them every Christmas.
• (24:41) Tony - It's A Wonderful Life is my favorite Christmas Movie. My wife and I often quote this movie.
• What is he plot of It’s a Wonderful Life?
• Pat - Peanuts' Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life
• (34:04) Tim - Beyond Christmas from 1940 is a good one.

(37:05) Break 2

• (39:47) Sandy - It's A Wonderful life is #1. One of the very first lines in the movie is often glazed over. Remember the conversation between the angels and God?
• Bobbie - The Homecoming, the origin of the Walton's
• (43:33) LeeAnn - My favorite Christmas movie is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' This is a newer movie directed by Dallas Jenkins.
• What is the redeeming quality of the Grinch?

Resources:

• A Christmas Carol (any version)
• It’s a Wonderful Life
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• A Bocelli Family Christmas (and The Journey)
• Beyond Christmas (1940)
• The Homecoming – origin of the Walton’s
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
• Merry Beggars Christmas Carol
  • www.relevantradio.com.

Check out this encore show from December 4, 2025

Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris joins Patrick in studio to discuss Silent Prayer

• What is he language of God?
• (8:42) Jan - Silence. There is a silence that exists after the guests go home. There is joy when guests come and the silence after they leave is saddening. Can you help me appreciate this more?
• (13:14) silence as an invitation to prayer
• (15:39) Judy - I thought I was going to go mad during silent Adoration. I thought I could find comfort but could not. Can you help?

(19:50) Break 1

• (21:05) Email from MT – Why do sins seem to become really profound when I am in silence and especially before receiving the Eucharist?
• Maureen - I wonder if the devil is trying to disquiet people in adoration who have trouble with silence?
• (26:57)  Ben - I am a seminarian. I want to share that silence has helped with my vocation and discernment. I would not be here without it.
• (31:17) Nicole - I wanted to go on a Silent Retreat but now have to cancel. I find it hard to put myself in silence. How can I make a spiritual retreat for myself.

(36:51) Break 2

• Mark - Talking about silence. My grandfather starting going on silent retreats during the 1950s. We used to go on a yearly silent retreat. Some years I couldn’t wait to talk but other years I couldn't wait.
• (43:16) David - Going to Adoration really trained me to be in the Presence of the Lord.
• What is the correlation of creating space in our hearts for silence and making room for our Lord?

Fr. John Paul Erickson joins Patrick to discuss Finding Peace

• What is peace in our current world?
• (12:01) how does putting things off relate with a lack of peace?
• (14:54) Melanie - My friend can't do Christmas because their father died on Christmas. How can I help them find peace?

(18:55) Break 1

• (19:56) Rosa - My granddaughter has been cutting herself. Her mom is hard on her and I don't have the nerve to say anything. Father how can I help my granddaughter find peace?
• Cidalia - I have gone through what line 1 has with granddaughter. I hope she could go out with her for coffee or church and see if that helps. I prayed with my granddaughter and prayed on FRAA with Fr. Rocky.

(34:23) Break 2

• Email from a listener who is struggling to find peace with her family during Christmas who doesn’t celebrate Jesus during Christmas?
• (41:54) What is the connection between forgiveness and peace?