The Inner Life

Father Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss Thankfulness

• (7:22) How do we maintain thankfulness while also being realistic.
• What can we do to maintain thankfulness?

(18:08) Break 1

• Mike - We can be thankful for the opportunity to suffer with Christ. To me, that's one of the things he saved us from...from useless suffering.  Suffering with him makes it very valuable.
• How can we influence young people to be thankful?
• (25:48) Nick - Share a few insights to gratitude.  Give thanks to God for all circumstances.  You have to practice in easy times so when the hard times come along, you have it ingrained.  Praising others for their gifts is also a great remedy. Thankful for the Eucharist.

(36:41) Break 2

• What if someone is skeptical of God’s action in his/her life?
• (44:52)  Rosalie - How thankful I am for RR.  When you call in, millions are listening, and that's how we can evangelize each other and understand.

Father Patrick Hyde joins Patrick to discuss The Presentation of Mary

• (2:48) what is the feast of the Presentation of Mary?
• What is the protoevangelium of James?

(19:27) Break 1

• How does consecration affect us even if we are not in religious life?
• (26:46) Carol - I am a consecrated woman.  Not well known vocation.  Neither living in religious community or married.

(36:49) Break 2

• Elizabeth - I'm a widow.  Can I still be consecrated to God?
• (41:32) Diane - I'm consecrated.  Celebrated 21st anniversary.  Caritas Christi.  When they talked about discernment over a long period, that's what ours is.  Might lead them to a vocation.
• How can we prepare our hearts better for Christmas this advent with the 4 Cardinal Virtues?

Father James Kubicki joins Patrick to discuss Practicing Your Faith Daily

• (7:58) How do we prevent daily prayer from just being routine and not impacting our life?
• What is the value of having a routine?

(19:53) Break 1

• Father Kubicki discusses his new book on daily reflections
• (24:43) Bob - It is very important to have a set time and a set PLACE for daily prayer. I have built a chapel inside the closet.
• Maria - Morning and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of The Hours is a great way to pray daily - She is a 3rd Order Dominican.
• (36:03) Bashann - How can we have our prayer life be more alive, and not just part of a checklist?

(40:55) Break 2

• What other ways can we practice our faith other than prayer on a daily basis?
• Connie - Being prepared to do my daily prayer in the morning... I arrived 30 min before I start work to the office, so I can be in the car praying without distractions
• (47:21) Georgia - What point do you stop allowing kids not to participate  in family prayers? I have 8 children, when they hit the teen years they don’t want to be part of. I try to give them that space, or should I have basic expectation?

Resources

• A Year of Daily Offerings
  • https://ignatius.com/a-year-of-daily-offerings-ydop/

Father Ramil Fajardo joins Patrick to discuss Sacrifice

• (6:45) What is a sacrifice?
• (12:34) Ramon - I would like some advice to know if what I'm doing is a sacrifice for someone else or for me.
• Walter - Reading a book by Archbishop Luis Martinez called The Sanctifier.  Whole purpose of the Holy spirit's work is to reproduce Jesus in us. Sacrifice, joy, love.  Most important is sacrifice because that's our job on earth.

(22:11) Break 1

• Nick - When we look at the crucifix, it's a great invitation.  We saw what he went through and we unite our sufferings.  All of those sufferings that bring about death are unavoidable.  He asks us to offer it up. We have to receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity. I'm offering my struggles.
• (26:52) How do we cultivate the spirit of a Martyr?
• How can we cultivate sacrifice in our own lives?
• (34:45) James - There's a phrase in the psalms that talks about sacrifice of praise.  I would like to talk about that.

(38:12) Break 2

• How can families make sacrifices in their lives?
• (45:15) Kelly - If on a Friday, you begin to eat meat and then remember it's Friday, should you eat it or give it up?

Father Nicholas Federspiel joins Patrick to discuss Beauty and the Spiritual Life

• (7:28) How do you respond to someone who says the Church spends too much money on buildings and beautiful things?
• (10:24) How can you acquire a taste for beauty?

(21:16) Break 1

• Sister Margaret - Had a wonderful experience with falling leaves. So beautiful. Wrote a poem about it. I couldn't help praising God for it.
• (28:05) Karen - I take care of my parent's house. Live in an area with 100 plus year old trees.  Always in awe of landscaping and trees and mountains.  I feel like I'm in heaven there.
• Lynn - I'm an artist. In exodus 35, it says he showed them wisdom and understanding....related to art and beauty from God.
• Tony - In fall, the trees turn color.  They don't have to, but God thought of everything.  I reflect that every time I see the leaves.
• Carol - Beauty through a song from the movie, The Mission.  Had a Catholic theme.  Song was in the film.  Bishop had a beautiful comment about the song.

(37:45) Break 2

• What role does virtue play in beauty?
• (40:25) Linda - I have found the most beauty when I serve the poor and homeless.  The blessings and the things they do for each other and myself shows me God is at work through all our sisters and brothers.
• What role do Angels and Demons have to do with beauty?

Father Joseph Illo joins Patrick to discuss Liturgy and the Spiritual Life

• (3:30) What is Liturgy?
• How do you avoid superficiality when at Mass?
• (15:44) Mary Lou - I have been quietly evangelized by several Catholics in my life. Wept my eyes at my first Mass.  Priest who was saying the homily was a millionaire who became a priest. He told his conversion story. I wept at the beauty of it. I told told the priest I wanted to become a Catholic after that and all because of the beauty and reverence of the first Mass.

(21:57) Break 1

• What are the different parts of the Liturgy?
• Karen - Being a cradle Catholic and now in my late 60's.  It was when I was in my 30's that I really believed in the real presence. When I had an epiphany in Adoration, I really believed it was Jesus.
• (32:19)  Nick - Made me think about when I proposed to my wife and graduated to liturgy.  When we fall in love with the Lord in the Eucharist, we're truly in love with the Lord and all those angels.  If we truly love the Eucharist and believe in the Lord.
• Joseph - As a practicing Catholic, I recently developed a devotion to the Mass because of a show on RR where God spoke the word and brought the universe into existence.  Same priest said the words Christ spoke.  Made the connection which made me more devout into believing in the true presence.

(39:32) Break 2

• How has the liturgy changed over time?
• (44:20) How do we navigate the “liturgy wars”?
• Carol - Catechism teacher, how can you explain the Mass to them simply?

Resources

• The Spirit of the Liturgy -- Commemorative Edition
  • https://ignatius.com/the-spirit-of-the-liturgy-commemorative-edition-splcep/

Father Scott Bailey joins Patrick to discuss Scrupulosity

• (2:43) what is scrupulosity?
• What are signs that we might be scrupulous?
• (7:26) how can someone who struggles with confession find peace in the sacrament?
• (13:26) Ella - I'm convinced my young daughter has a major issue with scrupulosity.  She keeps asking to go to confession.  She keeps saying she has to go again.  She thinks everything is a mortal sin.
• Michael - I have a friend who suffers from it. He's working at dealing with it. I'm an addict in a 12 step program. I see a lot of similarities between scrupulosity and addition. AS one who suffers, if they'd use the 12 steps, it would be a plus.

(21:16) Break 1

• Iris - I had something bad happen to me when I was young, and didn't tell anyone.  I fear the woman who called about her daughter earlier is dealing with the same thing.
• (24:46) Rae - If someone has been away from the church, made a confession, and then thought of something later, and was troubled by that, even though the priest said you were forgiven, should I be worried about that and take it to confession.
• How does Pride play into scrupulosity?
• Sarah - suffered from it in the past.  He identified that I was dealing with it. My penance was to sit in front of the manger and contemplates God's love and mercy.
• (33:29) Mary - I struggle with repeating (starting a prayer) and don't think it's good enough and then start over. It makes it difficult to get through and finish because I'm constantly starting over.

(38:26) Break 2

• (39:27) Latasha - I struggle with repeating (starting a prayer) and don't think it's good enough and then start over. It makes it difficult to get through and finish because I'm constantly starting over.
• Who are some good saints about scrupulosity.

Resources:

• Scrupulous Anonymous
  • https://scrupulousanonymous.org/

Check out this inspiring encore show from September 19, 2024

Father Joseph Illo joins Patrick to discuss Eucharistic Adoration

• What is Eucharistic Adoration.
• (7:30) what is the history of Eucharistic adoration?
• What is so special about Eucharistic Adoration?
• (17:28) Mary Pat - Sacre Cour in Paris and even through the war, they had 24/7 adoration.  Tabernacle of Paris.  Was at Olympics and they had a sacrilegious thing going on and all lights went there except Sacre Cour.

(21:21) Break 1

• Lori - When you go to adoration, is it ok to put headphones on and pray the rosary or chaplet?  Also, what happens if you fall asleep during adoration?
• (26:02) How to deal with distractions in adoration?
• Patrick shares an email about the helpfulness of virtual adoration
• Barbara - Would never have survived my son's deployment without Eucharistic adoration.  Also has helped with many crises in life. It's essential.
• Marilyn - Raised doing holy hours when she was young and now carries that tradition as an adult.

(39:27) Break 2

• Can you take photos of the Eucharist?
• Sandy - Used to go with friend to Basilica in Baltimore at 4am.  It was dark when we went in and it was light when we came out.  It was so profound!  an hour with Jesus and then there was light!
• Duncan - Encouraging priests to speak about adoration and encourage parishioners to go.  Jesus is really there and it shouldn't be a secondary thing to do.  Has had it at his parish for 20 years.  So many graces and miraculous things including vocations.
• 11:50 Gloria - Goes to a small church near house.  Tabernacle is off to side and they have 4 kneelers by tabernacle.  Is that adoration or do you have to have Jesus in the monstrance?  I do a holy hour in front of the tabernacle.
• (46:52) - Troop shepherd for American Heritage Girls troop.  Teaches Catholic faith awards.  Working on patch for Eucharistic miracles. Going into adoration chapel with them next week for first time. How do I get across to the young people about silence and being in the presence of God?

Father Allen Hoffa joins Patrick to discuss Chastity and Abstinence

• (4:29) What is chastity?
• Where did sacrifice go in our culture today?
• (10:29) What is Abstinence?
• (14:07) Teresa - I've been at it for 32 years (abstinence). I've had a lot of temptations.  Look to St. Francis de Sales.  We avoid temptations.  When I date, I set up my boundaries. I'm widowed 40 years.  Broke it once and never want to go back to it again.

(19:05) Break 1

• How can Scripture be a weapon against impurity?
• (21:49) Tim - I read years ago that over the centuries it's gone back and forth between celibacy and priests being married.  Wasn't sure if that was true.
• Why is Chastity and Abstinence so important for the Catholic Faith?
• (28:36) Rose - Married 34 years. I decided to stop intimate relations with husband and turn myself to the Lord. He's been going through pornography.  I've talked to my priest about it. My priest says I should separate from my husband.  He says I should pray for him more.

(36:59) Break 2

• What should we do if we fall?
• (42:26) Marie - Senior marriage and senior dating.  I'm 70 and boyfriend is same age.  We've been in previous marriages.  Dating beyond the years of childbearing, are the rules different for us?  Are we allowed to do passionate kissing knowing there is a boundary?
• Alice - I've been married 24 years.  Husband and I started having oral sex.  I hated it.  I've lost complete interest in him and he repulses me now.  Not sure if it's because of age or what.  I don't know where to go from here.

Resources:

• Integrity Restored
  • https://integrityrestored.com/

Father Matthew Spencer joins Patrick to discuss Saint Joseph

• (3:35) why is Saint Joseph the patron of the oblates of Saint Joseph?
• Tom - I love St. Joseph.  He came to me recently.  I am very grateful to him for nearly saving my life.  I want his help everyday.
• (16:54) Christine - When I was 5 years old, we had a nativity set that was cardboard.  My father put the old one in the fire and the only thing that didn't burn was St. Joseph.  We had a devotion to him because of what happened to him.

(20:08) Break 1

• What is the connection between Saint Joseph of the Old Testament and the New Testament?
• (24:55) Irene - Husband would pray to St. Joseph.   When he was dying, I was praying the litany while he was receiving viaticum and passed at St. Joseph.
• Philip - A friend was selling his house.  Asked me to pray for sale of home.  He had taken a blessed statue and buried it.  I got on his case about it.  I said, 'Let's dust him off and put him in the house.'  We did and he sold the house.  We need to honor him.
• (32:28) Glen - I fell in love with St. Joseph.  He got me thinking and family members got me rekindled to St. Joseph.  Had pornography addiction and prayers to him kept me away from it for years now.

(37:33) Break 2

• 11:41 Sheryl - When my son was accepted to Notre Dame, we were excited, but unsure if we could afford it.  He ended up getting a merit scholarship.  Notre Dame is in St. Joseph County and the school is on St. Joseph Street.
• What can Saint Joseph teach us about masculinity?
• (43:45)  Kathleen - He's helped me so much.  I've always called on him.  I'm 72, and in my 20's I prayed for children.  Had 9.  I said a novena for my daughter to find a job and on the 10th day, she got the job.
• What can Saint Joseph teach us about the sanctity of work?

Resources

• REDEMPTORIS CUSTOS
  • https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_15081989_redemptoris-custos.html