The Inner Life

Bishop Michael Martin joins Patrick to discuss Joy

• (6:02) Why are we called to rejoice by Paul?
• Who are people that are joyful and how are they joyful?

(18:09) Break 1

• Mary Lou - how I stay joyful. The ability to feel it without bypassing it. I will feel joy as deep as i feel the sorrow. Sorrow and pain enable us to feel joy.
• (25:55) Molly - Mass is celebrated in such a solemn manner. Seems like it should be more joyful? Slight disconnect there for me.
• What if we feel guilty because we don’t feel Joy?
• (34:32) Bob - Joy. Acronym: Serving Jesus, Other and Yourself. Just open yourself to Jesus and you will experience joy.

(37:22) Break 2

• How do we become more deeply rooted in the theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Love?
• Joy in the hearts of those with special needs?

Father Tom Wilson joins Patrick to discuss Healing from Past Wounds

• How can Jesus relate with our wounds?
• (6:09) how do family wounds affect us?
• What is the path to healing?

(19:27) Break 1

• Linda - Forging past traumas. I forgave the person who hurt me. I was raped. I blamed the last 15-16 years blamed everything on this incident. Found healing to forgive this person.
• Patrick reads a chilling email about past wounds.
• (33:36)  Julie - Share my experience. My older daughter and myself were abused by ex-husband. Read books on healing. Prayed. Also my daughter who was abandoned was healed.

(37:59) Break 2

• (41:37) How do you deal with remorse from slandering someone who hurt you?
• Anne Marie - Had a very abusive father. I went to a retreat which helped me a lot. I was able to be near my dad.

Father Chris Walsh joins Patrick to discuss Christmas with Lectio Divina

• (3:59) Why are Christmas Celebrations important?
• How does Lectio Divina connect with us in our world today?

(20:02) Break 1

• How much of scripture should we
• (25:00) what is the meditation and contemplation?
• (28:26) Michel - giving gifts. In Matthew 6, supposed to give in secret. How do we relate that to Christmas giving? is boastful to buy expensive things?

(34:47) Break 2

• What is a good translation of the bible to use for Lectio Divina
• (40:04) What is Visio Divina?
• (42:50) Fr. Bill - I was directing a retreat at Trappist Abbey. I begin with Scripture, read in silence, then stop and contemplate.

Father Michael Hurley joins Patrick to discuss Superstition

• (10:45) What are rituals in the Catholic Church?
• How are some rituals in the Catholic Church turned into superstitions?
• Are brown scapulars superstitious?

(24:34) Break 1

• Is burying Saint Joseph in your yard going to help you sell your house?
• (40:15) Heidi - Superstition. How can you say scapular is superstition?? Listening to guest pries laugh and didn't enjoy? Is blessed Mother a liar?
•  Betty - Superstition. my nephew and his dog. boy said dog is going to be fine. he put Holy Water in dog's dish. Dog drank it. Is that superstitious or is this true faith?
• (43:04) Tim - my wife bought St. Joseph statue to sell house. She buried statue. She believes it is because she buried the statue that house sold. I don’t.

(46:52) Break 2

(49:54) Claire - Is wearing religious medals for protection against the devil is superstitious? Especially St. Benedict medals.

Tim - Superstition:  satanic rosary beads sometime are ending up in Churches. Also what about the St Jude Novena prayers where you are supposed to pass them on to people. Be careful what you pick up in back of the Church.

Mary Anne - Are miraculous medal, 1st Friday and 1st Saturday superstitious at all? Sometimes seems to border on it. what do you think?

Father Chris Walsh joins Patrick to discuss Marian Apparitions

• When did Marian apparitions start happening?
• (4:46) what is the difference between private and public revelation?
• What is the story of Juan Diego?
• (14:14) Norman - Does the Catholic Church recognize apparitions of Our Lady to non-Catholics, like Zeitoun apparition in Egypt?

(17:12) Break 1

• How does Mary add to Jesus glory?
• (23:15) Burnadette -What about Our Lady of Champion? A lot of people don't know about the visionary.
• Why does Mary have so many different titles?

(35:00) Break 2

• Candy - I have a devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. She helped me convert.
• (39:52) Peter - how do I deal with someone who adheres to an apparition that hasn't been approved?
• Laurel - Our Lady appears in different forms. Confuses me. What does she like in heaven?
• What is the importance of pilgrimages to Marian apparition sites?

Father Matthew Spencer joins Patrick to discuss the Domestic Church

• (7:24) What is the purpose of the Domestic Church?
• Pete - Domestic Church. I am a religious education teacher too. I find it frustrating that parents don't take their kids to mass on Sunday.

(18:18) Break 1

• (19:49) What are some good ways for families to teach their children?
• Andrew - use Catechism of Catholic Church to teach to kids. grew up in Nigeria and this is what they do. teachers also need to improve their program and base it on this.

(34:20) Break 2

• (35:52) Rosa - my children want to baptize their children. what else can I do to explain importance of religion?
• Mary Joe - Domestic Church. We homeschooled for 30 years. Parents shouldn’t be intimidated and should realize that you learn so much when teaching children.
• Kahlet - we have 4 kids. When they were growing up, we didn't put them in any activities that conflicted with Church time.

Check out this awesome encore show from December 5, 2024 about the power of silence! 

Father Eric Nielsen joins Patrick to discuss Silence

• Why is silence important?
• (11:41) Vince - What is the connection between silence and Eucharistic adoration.  It seems like every time I try to be in silence, I'm distracted.
• Marylou - It’s my middle name! I had a Carmelite spiritual director.  I told him I felt like crying during contemplative prayer. He said it's like driving down a 2 lane road with things in the back. When you put the brakes on, everything comes to the front.  I thought it was a beautiful metaphor.

(23:37) Break 1

• Why do we tend to reject silence in our lives?
• (28:21) John - Balance between going out and building skill sets and achieving that silence in daily living.  Hobbies - you get adrenaline rushes over certain hobbies.  What is the proper balance between this and contemplation?

(35:39) Break 2

• Patrick shares several emails asking about silence
• (39:59) what are some good practical ways to develop silence in our life?
• Grace - I worked in healthcare for 40 years. When you're working in that field, you have to do everything in succession.  I started going to church after retiring.  I started counting due to what I was used to.  Moved to the front row to remove that distraction.  I have a prayer book that is marked up and it's my workbook.

Fr. Matthew Widder joins Patrick to talk about the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

(3:44)-What is the Immaculate Conception?

(8:12)-Why the Immaculate Conception moved to Monday?

(12:05)-What is Original Sin and its effects?

(16:50)-Caller Nick about the Fiat

(22:15)-Caller Linda about titles of Mary 

(26:17)-Caller Isabel about the role of St. Anne in the Immaculate Conception

(29:03)-Immaculate Conception Rooted in Scripture

(34:19)-Maureen at abortion place on the Immaculate Conception

(40:50)-Denise shares story of her daughter saved on the Immaculate Conception

Father Marcel Taillon joins Patrick to discuss St. Nicholas: Generosity

• (4:07) Who was Saint Nicholas?
• (12:58) What is the importance of Generosity?
• Charles - Comment about a generous person who helped me at Christmastime several years ago.

(18:34) Break 1

• Mike - My mom taught us...we had nothing, but we adopted another family every year who had less.  Carried on in my life now.
• How does generosity help us conform to Christ?
• (27:35) Lori - was getting a divorce in 1995 and wanted to find new friends. They knew I didn’t have money for Christmas for my kids so they sent me a check (anonymously). Found out last year.
• Rejean - Something our family did in gift giving. Radio station had gift drive and they had a book of requests from local families. We participated.
• Marie - we were a family of 8. St. Nicholas always came to the barn. Got apples and hard candies.

(37:51) Break 2

• John - Was with the police department and family of 4 gave us gifts to give to another family.
• (43:05) James - At our parish, Santa Clause would come and kneel before the creche. Would help children realize that Jesus came first. How God has been generous to your family. Got $30,000 from a stranger.

Father Eric Nielsen joins Patrick to discuss Silence

• Why is silence important?
• (11:41) Vince - What is the connection between silence and Eucharistic adoration.  It seems like every time I try to be in silence, I'm distracted.
• Marylou - It’s my middle name! I had a Carmelite spiritual director.  I told him I felt like crying during contemplative prayer. He said it's like driving down a 2 lane road with things in the back. When you put the brakes on, everything comes to the front.  I thought it was a beautiful metaphor.

(23:37) Break 1

• Why do we tend to reject silence in our lives?
• (28:21) John - Balance between going out and building skill sets and achieving that silence in daily living.  Hobbies - you get adrenaline rushes over certain hobbies.  What is the proper balance between this and contemplation?

(35:39) Break 2

• Patrick shares several emails asking about silence
• (39:59) what are some good practical ways to develop silence in our life?
• Grace - I worked in healthcare for 40 years. When you're working in that field, you have to do everything in succession.  I started going to church after retiring.  I started counting due to what I was used to.  Moved to the front row to remove that distraction.  I have a prayer book that is marked up and it's my workbook.