The Inner Life

Father Eric Nielsen joins Patrick to discuss Divine Mercy

• (3:51) What is Mercy?
• Nick - We have a divine mercy ministry at our parish. Sick and dying ministry. I think we are told and taught to give. The Lord really touches our hearts to forgive. Errors we make are blessings and the Lord gives us perspective as to why we fell off. His mercy is unfathomable.
• Mary - My mom is 99. She has never forgotten her faith. Went to church on Easter Sunday. I thought I was putting false gods before her, but a priest said you're seeing God through her. After communion, a woman knelt down in front of her and kissed her hand. She works at the nursing home where she lives. We watch the goodness through all of us and find that forgiveness. That is my divine mercy.

(21:27) Break 1

• Kathleen - About 2 years ago, I experienced depression and anxiety. Confession really helped. Did Divine Mercy the night before and meditating in my prayer time. Anxiety and depression have now been lifted. Read St. Faustina's diary.
• (25:00) What is the role of Forgiveness of other in Mercy?
• (29:28) Teresa - I learned about divine mercy in 2000. 15 years ago, I did a fast and prayed and my son who was on meth had a breakthrough. Went to a mass and women were handing out divine mercy images. I started my mission of handing these pictures out and I'm blessed to be able to do that.
• Ronda - I had come into the church from Protestantism. Was in the room where the tabernacle was and divine mercy picture was there. I asked, 'Is this all real?' The rays started moving. That happened 3 times.
• (35:33) Ken - I thought I was dying, and I prayed that the blessed mother would intercede. Went to Jesus and asked for his mercy. Woke up the next morning and had a blood clot near my heart. Beautiful experience because I asked Jesus to have mercy. Felt like I was approaching the king of the universe. I no longer fear death.

(39:00) Break 2

• (40:05) Linda - Question: I'm new to it...I don't understand we offer you your body and blood. How do we offer something that's already His body and blood?
• (45:08) how do we get a plenary indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday?

Father Joseph Illo joins Patrick to discuss the Effects of the Resurrection

• What happened during the resurrection?
• (6:23) what are proofs for the Resurrection?
• Why is the Resurrection so pivotal to the Faith?
• (14:25) What are the effects of the resurrection in our personal lives?

(19:40) Break 1

•  What does hope have to do with the resurrection?
• (23:55) Testament of the Holy Father Pop Francis.
• (30:37) Philip - Maximilian Kolbe - his great sacrifice which mirrors Jesus's. The timing...July 1941. 14th of August he was injected with carbolic acid. For me...that heroic sacrifice is still life-giving. My death to sin...it brought me new life. That's what the resurrection means to me.

(34:05) Break 2

• Bradley - I was baptized on Easter. Before that, I've had 4 medical miracles. I came indirect contact with relics. Jesus's nail, thorn, nail, wood, I picked them up...prayed...3 months later my wife was getting tested and I prayed and she was cured of hypertension. That's why I became Catholic.
• (41:05) What is the Church’s teaching on the resurrection of the body?

Father Christopher Walsh joins Patrick to discuss Being Alive in Christ

• What does it mean to be alive in Christ?
• (8:34) What does baptism mean in our life and what does mortal sin do to our life in Christ?
• Kim - If you believe in the blood and Flesh of Jesus in the Eucharist, you have Christ alive in you, and you are live in Him and he is dwelling in you in your heart.
• Bella - My missionary life when I was single. Feeling that happiness, that childlike joy being in Christ. Finishing a mission before heading back home. That joy is so overwhelming. How can I improve that when dealing with clinical depression?

(22:02) Break 1

• Where can we find life in the Church?
• (29:41) What things can prevent us from feeling alive in Christ?
• (36:09) Addison - I am a youth minister in Diocese of Phoenix. My teens have radically changed me in the way they love the Lord. Every youth night, my life is just bursting with the love of Christ.

(40:30) Break 2

• How do the saints help us to grow in our life with Christ?
• (45:33) How does prayer life and the sacraments help us grow with Jesus?
• What is the role of humility in learning about the life of Christ?

Father Ramil Fajardo joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Benefits of Celebration

• How do we celebrate in the presence of the Death of Pope Francis?
• (5:59) why is celebration an important part of the Christian life?
• Mary - My mom is 99. She used to have everyone over. She'd have a huge open house. Father died at 54 on Easter Sunday. Everyone was there to say goodbye. Every Easter we say it was sad, but everything will be ok...think about dying, but we're joyful for his goodness.
• (20:13) Tom - I'm curious about how do I discover that Easter joy. I'm a very joyful person, but Easter Sunday was difficult because my children and family weren't there.

(29:05) Break 1

• Dean - The divine mercy novena takes on a special meaning with the death of Pope Francis. Intensifies the joy of Easter. Chocolate and red wine, wearing bright colors, new life outdoors. Left an angel on my porch at Christmas. Leaving it there as a reminder of the joy.
• What are some practicalities in celebrating?

(40:13) Break 2

• How does music help us celebrate in the Church?
• (45:41) Patrick shares an email about the need to celebrate through suffering

Father James Kubicki joins Patrick to Honor Pope Francis

• What was he main focus of Pope Francis’ ministry
• (10:50) Perth -I'm a convert and was just talking to family members who are protestant. Defending the pope on his stances. I didn't know much about him and didn't look further until 4 months ago when I came back to the church. Today I saw an interview and it softened my heart and made me cry. He was for the people.
• Mary Lou - I remember hearing that when he was living in Argentina before coming Pope and throughout his papacy, he used to take the bus wherever he worked. Never took special cars, maid, chef, etc. Was with the poor. It profoundly influenced me so many ways in letting to ego and materialism.

(20:40) Break 1

• (27:45) Roland - I live in Metro Philadelphia. Was at world meeting of families. Was touched by his warmness. I'll never forget it. I served as a Spanish translator. To see everyone in such peace and love was a vision of heaven on earth.
• Mphasa - He touched my heart. His resilience. He was there for the people and there was so much Jesus in him. I will carry that on.
• (34:27) Barb - I think his work with Laudato Si was beautiful. It was a great opportunity to be ecumenical. It brought in a lot of people to the church and speaking to an issue that was relevant to them.
• Ray - My father passed away at the time the white smoke went up and that's why he's been a special figure for me.

 (39:26) Break 2

• How did Pope Francis promote hope?
• (44:27) Brian - I'm a convert of 12 years. First pope. whether he focused on the environment or whatever, he was always trying to find a common ground with all people.
• How did Pope Francis promote devotion to Saint Joseph?

Check out this great encore show from April 2, 2025!

Father Michael Hurley joins Patrick to discuss Intellect and faith

• When it comes to Jesus, we must care and we must mind (2:53)

• What does the intellect teach us about the life of faith? The intellect is a human faculty that is a direct reflection of God. (4:04)

• Faith should be accessible to us all (11:27)

• Our capacity to love is finite. Do you want to grow in love? The only way to expand your love is to expand your mind? (14:48)

• Break 1 (22:28)

• The difference between the intellect, the will, and the passions? (23:51)

• Dean - As we talk about reason and faith, we need to think about how can we make it accessible to all people? The illumination of God is so important. (27:35)

• Email – Bob – Is supernatural faith necessary for salvation and are people who lack faith culpable for that lack of faith? (31:10)

• Glen - There is a difference about learning about Jesus, and knowing Jesus. (33:43)

• Break 2 (36:45)

• Addressing the objection, “I just believe” or “I kind of know the faith already and you can’t teach me anything new about the Church”. (37:38)

• Regina - What does Jesus mean when he says: 'unless you become like little children, you cannot enter into the kingdom'. (41:33)

• Resources: 
  • Angelic Warfare Confraternity

Check out this encore show from March 21, 2025!

Father Tom Wilson joins Patrick to discuss Fasting.

• Christ fasted before His public ministry. It was a time of preparation, just as it is for us. Catholics between the ages of 14 and 59 are to fast 2 days per year.  Fasting is supposed to help us become more in tune with our Lord, spiritually. It reminds us that the blessings that we choose to set aside are less important than the Lord who gave them to us in the first place. (1:09)
• John - I was unaware that we had to abstain from meat on Fridays. By listening to RR, I found out otherwise. I've been fasting on all Fridays. (22:16)
• Marie: I'm a mom and decided to give up social media for Lent. I thought it wouldn't be much of a sacrifice, but as we've been in Lent, I realized how much I was missing with my daughter. Didn't realize I had a problem with it. (28:27)
• Ilka is fasting from meat and also eggs, dairy and butter. Any fast that helps us change direction a little bit, is going to be helpful? (32:43)
• Patrick: I've added something rather than taking away. My Lenten 'fast' has been reading the Gospel of John. (35:14)
• Miguel – I decided to give up smoking during Lent. (45:13)

Check out this encore show from March 28, 2025

Father John LoCoco joins Patrick to discuss Modern Idols

• What is an idol?
• (6:41) How can we identify we are placing out trust in something other than God?
• How is materialism one of the greatest idols against God.
• (15:09) Phyllis - I'm battling modern idols right now. Feeling secure when I don't have enough funds in my account. Money. Found myself not trusting God.
• Patty - For years I've been considering spending a lot of time with sacramental. I love them because they have Mother Mary and Jesus. Talked to a religious sister about it. Wondering if I'm committing idolatry.

(22:04) Break 2

• Are there other passages that talk about idolatry
• (26:12) Butch - Is playing things like board games with family members an idol if it's done excessively...like every night? Could that be considered an idol?
• Janet - Coming to realization after 30 years of marriage that I think I idolize the outcome of my children's lives. I'm watching some ugly journeys. Is that a form of idolatry?
• (33:28) Idolatry in relationships?

(37:16) Break 2

• How do you talk with family who are committing idolatry?
• (42:40) What is the difference between Addiction and Idolatry
• How can we put God in the center of our lives?

Resources:

• Strange Gods
  • https://www.avemariapress.com/products/strange-gods

Check out this great encore show from April 8, 2025

Father Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss Charitable Chastisement

• How do you discern when to offer correction to someone?
• (14:14) Judy - I wish somebody had loved me enough to chastise me. I walked away from faith, husband, etc. Nobody said Judy...you can't do this. I think it's important that we love enough to do that. I've come back to God and I know how much he loves me. It took a long time to accept the fact that he forgave me.
• (17:57) Thomas - I do sales for a living. When you have the truth and a way to convey it...chastisement, etc. tonality and all are everything. One of the ways to chastise is to site another source. Another way is the tonality...like... raising the voice. Coming from a place of love.

(22:16) Break 1

• What are things we can say to help build a relationship?
• (25:11) Mary - My sister was seriously ill. Didn't realize it was terminal. I told her she had to get it together because she was very ill. I talked to a priest and he went to see her and everything was taken care of.
• Patty – I have been wanting to control my husband who is living in sin and the Lord told me what to do in talking with him and it worked out great!

(37:36) Break 2

• Isabelle - My dad wasn't a Catholic. He was sick...92...and I used to go to church every day. I asked a lady from church if she could take a priest to see him. He went to confession and received the Eucharist. 9 days later...he died.
•  (41:36) Candy - How do I talk to a 3 and 8-year-old about accepting correction or even correct them? I'm a mother of 3. I don't know how to better handle it.

Check out this great encore from March 24, 2025

Father Dave Heney joins Patrick to discuss Anxiety in the Spiritual Life

• What is Anxiety?
• (6:49) What is the biggest source of anxiety?
• What is scrupulosity?
• (12:58) Email - How can we stop worrying we aren’t going to go to heaven?
• Barbara - I have suffered with OCD and scrupulosity. In the last couple years, I discovered Dr. Greg Bottaro's book and he has a chapter called Surrender to the Will of God. Admitting we are powerless over this. That is what I have to do every day. Just turn it over to God.

(22:09) Break 1

• What is the difference between anxiety, fear and stress?
• (27:41) Lisa - Are there are people who are predisposed to worry and anxiety genetically.? If they don't have faith, but tendency toward perfectionism. How advice would you offer to them?
• Thomas - Comments on healing between psychiatric approach and spiritual approach. Action between mental health work and spirituality. Finding healing and that people have the power to trust God and not get anxious.

(40:51) Break 2

• Leticia - Anxiety developed into a eating disorder. I battle with that. I do what you are suggesting...Jesus I trust in you. I take some medication. I teach catechism...takes my mind off it.
• (46:38) what can we do to keep anxiety down?