The Inner Life

Father Eric Nielsen joins Patrick to discuss Almsgiving.

• (1:19) How do we give as Jesus would have us give? 
• (8:29) Love of Money is the root of all evils 
• (11:08) What is it about wealth that drives people to have a shriveled and shrunken heart? 
• Break 1 
• (28:15) Megan - There's a proverb...The righteous person leaves an inheritance for their children's children. How do we interpret that if we give everything away?
• Break 2
• (39:26) Who should we give money to, how much and how do we prioritize?
• (47:00) Jesus's goal is to teach us to love God and other people

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

Father Ramil Fajardo joins Patrick to discuss Relationship with Jesus

• (3:20) What is a relationship in general?
• How do we presume on relationships with Jesus?
• (11:48) what is required for a relationship with Jesus?

(19:26) Break 1

• Nick - We experienced a miscarriage. Daughter experienced it. Don't presume. Do we get down on our knees and express it?  Order on down...everything we get from Him.  Don't dwell on the failures.
• (26:01) Patrick shares an email from someone who is praying too much, according to his wife.
• Nate - I've been a practicing Catholic for a year and a half. Lector. Want to talk about how my relationship is so much stronger with Jesus now.
• (35:29) Charles - I start my day with thank you Jesus for another day. Help me to do it your way.

(38:36) Break 2

• How does a relationship with Jesus play out in our everyday lives?
• (42:29) what is the life of piety?
• How does our relationship with Mary and the Saint enhance our relationship with Jesus?

Father John Paul Erickson joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Movies

• (4:06) what are the dangers of movies the spiritual life
• Father shares a movie which he really enjoys
• (13:52) Sean - The Adventures of Robinhood from 1938. It's a very Catholic movie. Had a good impression on my life. Saw it when I was 6.
• Greg – Nefarious outstanding movie. Certain groups played it off as a horror film. It's good vs. evil. Some have avoided it because it deals with evil. The guy who did it also did God is Not Dead. One priest said every priest should see it for giving advice for confession.
• Mark - Calvary...Irish Film. 10 years old. About a priest who really lays down life for his flock.

(22:47) Break 1

• John - Of Gods and Men...French film. About monks serving souls in north Africa. Based on a true story.
• Barb - The Shack...about what it's like to be God and sacrifice your son. It shows God sacrificed his son as this guy sacrificed his daughter. Bring your tissues.
• (29:50) Nels - The Last Supper....newly released film.  Emphasis on Judas in that movie.
• Miriam - 7th Heaven...1930's.  Star5ring Jimmy Stewart. Unlikely love story ever told. Mention of God in the movie. He's an atheist and then things happen. My favorite movie.

(35:43) Break 2

• Roland - Journey to Bethlehem....nativity story.  Silence...the story of the Japanese Martyrs. Ignition Martyrs
• (39:16) Matt - Beckett, and the Cardinal.  Excommunication scene in Beckett is most powerful scene.  The Cardinal being more recent. Pope Benedict was advisor for this movie. Came out when V2 was written.
• Patrick shares some movie recommendation from listeners who write in.
• Roxanne - The Most Reluctant Convert...untold story of CS Lewis.  Very good.
• (43:02) Jean - King of Kings...1925. It's a silent movie and beautiful.
• Eric - The Scarlet and the Black. Based off the Scarlet Pimpernel. Hides thousands of Jews during WWII. I think it's a must see.

Resources - Spiritual Movies:

• Babette’s Feast (1987)
• The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
• Nefarious (2023)
• Calvary (Irish film) (2014)
• Of Gods and Men (2010)
• The Mission (1986)
• Arrival (2016)
• The Blue Kite (Chinese) (1993)
• The Shack (2017)
• The Last Supper (2025)
• The Chosen (series) (2017 – present)
• Seventh Heaven (1937)
• A Hidden Life (2019)
• A Man for All Seasons (1966)
• All That Remains: Dr. Takashi Nagai (2016)
• Journey to Bethlehem (Christmas) (
• Nativity Story (Christmas)
• Silence (2023)
• Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
• The Ten Commandments (1956)
• Ben Hur (1959)
• The Robe (1953)
• Becket (1964)
• The Cardinal (1963)
• Gattaca (1997)
• The Most Reluctant Convert: the Untold Story of C.S. Lewis (2021)
• The King of Kings (1927)
• The Scarlet and the Black (1983)
• The Sound of Metal (2019)
• Life is Beautiful (1997)
• The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
• The Lord of the Rings (2001-03)
• Groundhog Day (1993)
• A River Runs Through It (1992)

Father James Kubicki joins Patrick to discuss The Annunciation

• What is the annunciation?
• (6:22) Why do we celebrate the Annunciation today?
• Why did Gabriel appear to Mary to give her the news of the Messiah?

(18:00) Break 1

• Dean - annunciation is as important as Christmas
• (23:25) How is today a special day for the unborn?
• (28:09) Sophia - it's crucial to give OUR fiat every day to God like Mary

(36:53) Break 2

• What is the difference between the way Mary answers the angel Gabriel and how Zachariah responded?
• (42:50) Len - Holy day of Opportunity for today
• Alex - John 2:5 Mary said 'Do whatever he tells you' reflects on what she said to Gabriel
• Patrick shares an email from Gail about the gentleness and Humility of the Holy Spirit

Resources:

• Life is always a good. Initiating Processes for a Pastoral Care of Human Life
  • https://www.laityfamilylife.va/content/laityfamilylife/en/life-is-always-a-good.html

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?

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)

• Father Timothy Gallagher joins Patrick to discuss Avoiding Solitude in the Spiritual Life (03:14)
• Fr. Timothy Gallagher's Website: Ignatian Discernment Institute | Discernment of Spirits(3:45)

- Rule 13: What Ignatius does in this rule is to give us a kind of parable to help us understand how the world the flesh and the devil affect us. His image of the enemy in this case is “the false lover”. (6:20)

• - Rita: How does solitude work when it comes to hermits? they are always alone 

Being a hermit is a canonical vocation in the Church. (31:54)

How do you begin a time of prayer? Ignatius asks us to invite the eyes of God to look upon us during prayer. What did people see in the eyes of Jesus when they came to Him with good will. Invariably they saw His infinite love in His eyes. Prayer is two persons in communication, the human person and the divine. Take a moment to see that the eyes of God with His infinite love are looking upon us. Learning more about formation in prayer is going to lead us to a deeper prayer life. (40:18)

• Email – Anonymous: I go to regular Confession and have a spiritual director. Sometimes it feels like venting difficulties is gossiping. What do you think? (44:41)

Father Peter Armenio joins Patrick to discuss the Virtues of St. Joseph

• Why is Saint Joseph the greatest saint?
• (9:48) What is a virtue?
• (18:18) Erma - He is my go to saint. He's been there when I've asked for help with marriage. Pray to him when people are dying. Ask for him when I need help around the house.

(21:25) Break 1

• (25:09) Trevor - St. Joseph is my confirmation saint. I pray the workman prayer each day before work.
• (33:15) Bob - Looking for a reference from the catechism for a relationship between Joseph and Jesus. Is there anywhere I can look on this topic? Can't find anything.

(37:30) Break 2

• (38:48)  Rita - 20 years ago, my nephew and I went into business and we named the business FJ for St. Joseph. Still in business. I go to him frequently for problems. I started to say a daily novena to St. Joseph and keep repeating it and enrolling people with their needs.
• (43:11) Flo - I love Saint Joseph and virtues. Do you have more information to learn about virtues?
• (46:28) Where do we need Saint Joseph in our world today?

Resources:

• Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father
  • https://www.amazon.com/Consecration-St-Joseph-Wonders-Spiritual/dp/1596144319
• In Joseph’s workshop
  • https://escriva.org/en/es-cristo-que-pasa/in-josephs-workshop/

Father John Eckert joins Patrick to discuss Missionary Work: Saint Patrick

• Who was Saint Patrick?
• What is missionary work?
• (12:28) How can we live as missionaries?

(21:07) Break 1

• Ben - Why aren't we supposed to drink green beer. What did Father mean by that?
• (24:51) How can casual moments be opportunities to spread the Gospel?
• (26:59) Liz - In terms of family members and being missionaries for Christ, what do grandparents do for unbaptized grandchildren?

(34:14) Break 2

• Maureen - I know where the origin of the wearing' of the green comes from. I'm from Ireland. From an old Irish song.
• (38:18) How do we evangelize to people do not hold the same moral values as you?