The Inner Life

Check out this awesome show from October 3, 2024, on the hidden sin of pornography.

Father Allen Hoffa joins Patrick to discuss Exposing the Harmful Sin of Pornography

• What is Integrity Restored and what has Father been doing to fight the battle against Pornography?
• (10:23) What is Pornography according to the Church?
• What do you say to people who think Pornography is a private sin?
• (17:17) Why is Porn known as the Drug of Choice?

(20:2) Break 1

• How does AI affect Pornography?
• Is Human trafficking tied to Pornography?
• (27:02) Mary Lou - Has had a personal experience. was engaged to a physician. He was addicted to porn, and I had to end the whole thing.  I've never married because the three men in her life had issues with pornography.

(38:59) Break 2

• We got an email from a woman who was addicted to porn.
• (40:31) What can we do to fight Pornography?
• Ann - Exposed to porn as a child. Thoughts still come up. Is there a prayer out there or something I can do to block these thoughts?
• (47:31) George - At what point if you deal with an addiction can you begin dating again?

Resources:

• Integrity Restored
  • https://integrityrestored.com/
• Three Pillars to Purity
  • https://www.threepillarstopurity.com/
• The Porn Disaster
  • https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_NHctyX-UTJDdwG5c_YT8-mzX7vTUXZJ
• Hope’s Garden
  • https://hopesgarden.com/

Father Dave Heney joins Patrick to discuss Grandparents

• What does the Church teach about Grandparents?
• (10:07) How can grandparents transition from parents to grandparents?
• Kathy - Son married a woman who convinced him to leave the faith and join her church.  2 kids.  We are allowed to see them rarely.  Difficult to navigate.  sometimes we are excluded from seeing them.

(22:14) Break 1

• Janice - Wonderful experiences with grandchildren.  Used to take the train 3 days a week because daughter had to help family.  They were the best day of my life.
• Nancy - 6 grandchildren.  I support my children in raising them and keeping Catholic faith alive when with them.
• (34:57) Bonnie - My parents were from the same town.  Dad was Catholic, mom was not.  Closer to mom's side.  Catholic side was not blocked out and highly respected even though gatherings were usually at the other side of the family.  Grandmother's prayers helped me.

(38:43) Break 2

• Mary writes in to mention Catholic Grandparents Association
• ( 45:17) What is the role of grandparents in terms of faith?
• (40:07) Joe - There are grandparents raising grandchildren.  Different perspective from being a regular grandparent.
• Claire – I have some advice for grandparents.

Resources

• Catholic Grandparents Association
  • https://www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org/worlddayforgrandparentsandtheelderly/

Father Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss Prayer Routine

• (5:50) how can people start a prayer routine?
• (13:35) John - Used to get up early in the morning and not remember what I prayed.  Now I get up move around and get into one of the readings of the Mass.  Always start with gratitude for the day.
• Mary Lou - My prayer routine, over the years it has grown and matured.  Pray the Rosary and do other things during my prayer and contemplative prayer.  It has matured to where I feel more comfortable in contemplative, quiet prayer rather than vocal prayer.

(22:16) Break 1

• When do you know when to persist and when to pivot in prayer?
• (29:19) What to do in dryness of prayer?
• (33:31) Mary - My routine is to pray slower, meditate on everything I'm saying.

(37:53) Break 2

• What re external effects on prayers?
• (43:00) Bridget - I have a prayer habit every day.  I pray my rosary on porch.  Going to have surgery for lung cancer.  Everyone tells me to have faith, but you still worry.  How do you combat that?
• Teresa - I always thank God for breath and life every morning.  When I say the Memorare, I say 'holy family.'  It gives me comfort throughout the day.

Father Matthew Widder joins Patrick to discuss All things Mary

• (4:12) why is Mary so important in the Catholic Church?
• Why are there so many devotions to Mary?
• (15:04) Angela - When I was meditating on God and talking to Him and Mary, all of a sudden, I felt that if you get closer to Mary, you get closer to her son. Felt it was a message. What to do about spiritual attacks?
• John - I write meditations on the blessed mother.  Our father chose Mary, his ideal student.  She alone kept perfect attendance.  Even to the final class...the crucifixion.

(22:37) Break 1

• Mary - Mary was a devout Jew, but I wondered if young women grew up wondering if I could fulfill the prophecies?
• (29:09) Gracie - My sister thinks I'm committing the worst sin by praying to Mary. I don't know what to do to make her feel otherwise.  We were raised Catholic. What can I do to convince her?
• Joseph - My fascination with Mary has been through books and movies.  I hear about apparitions, and when we pray to her, are we heard the same way she heard her children at Fatima, etc?

(38:55) Break 2

• Diane - Confronted by someone.  If Mary is without sin, why does she need a savior?
• (46:54)  Rita - I have a lot of Baptist friends. I'm Catholic and they want to know why do we go to Mary and not directly to Jesus?

Father Carter Griffin joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Healing

(4:45) What exactly is spiritual healing? 

(6:52) What about spiritual wounds

15:38  How does the Lord bring about spiritual healing

18:01 Brenda-I was spiritually healed and set free from my anxiety/depression

Break 1

24:02  E-Frank- How to be spiritually healed after I attacked someone spiritually years ago.

28:50 How can people damage their souls so badly and no feel its effects?

32:58 Angela-I'm trying to find balance and not be overwhelmed. Sometimes my friends demand too much from me and I don't know how to help them without hurting myself

37:09-Marcy-I suffered from anxiety over my past sins, even though I confessed.  I had to learn to forgive myself

Break 2

43:44 Patricia-I’m feeling depressed after I had a conversation w/my granddaughter about going back to confession and she took it as if I was hurting her.

47:56 Molly-I hated myself after assaulted even though was told it wasn’t my fault. But I was gradually completely healed.

Resources

New book from Fr. Carter Griffin:  Forming Families, Forming Saints – St. Paul Center (stpaulcenter.com)

Father James Kubicki joins Patrick to discuss St. Ignatius of Antioch

• What is the connection between Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Saint Ignatius of Loyola?
• (6:20) How did Saint Ignatius live and die?
• What does Saint Ignatius teach us about the higher hierarchy of the Church?

(20:03) Break 1

• What is a Church father?
• (23:13) Why is it important to read from the Church Fathers?

(38:28) Break 2

• What is the relationship between St. Ignatius and St. John the Apostle?
• (44:09) Tom - What is the relationship of St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Polycarp?
• How can we grow in friendship with the saints?

Resources

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

Bishop Michael Martin joins Patrick to discuss Natural Disasters

• (4:39) what are people who are facing natural disasters?
• What was it like coming off of the National Eucharistic Congress and facing the Hurricanes?

(19:03) Break 1

• What are natural disasters?
• Is it okay to use technology to protect ourselves against natural disasters?
• (29:55) How can we be good stewards of creation?
• (33:19) Deloris - I think God is mad at us because we're fooling around with His nature that He created.  Trying to teach us something.

(39:40) Break 2

• (40:47) Carla - Through everything we've seen...God has shown us how much good is out there with volunteers, donations, etc.   We have seen so much good.  We know he's with us.  See it with neighbors, community, across the country.  Linemen have been wonderful.
• How does God speak to us through natural disasters?
• Does Praying help avert Natural Disasters?

Resources

• Catholic Charites: Diocese of Charlotte
  • https://ccdoc.org/

Father Peter Armenio joins Patrick to discuss Marriage

• (3:20) Is there a sacredness to marriage?
• How does the trinity work with marriage?

(19:52) Break 1

• Barbara - Would like to talk about Trinitarian part of marriage.  Married 50 years.
• (31:26) Karen - Never give up and keep trying.  Married 61 years. Had plenty of struggles and made it.  3 retreats.  Marriage encounter and Retrouvaille.  Amazing marriage now. Off to Fatima at the end of month.

(35:03) Break 2

• 11:45 Marie - I think a lot of couples miss the point...the sacrament of marriage.  It's very important.  Didn't get married in church right away and went through many problems compared to those who went through it the right way. Could have saved us a lot of problems.  Get it done right the first time.  Also, attend retreats.
• (40:19) what does it mean to be open to life?
• Mary - Married 62 years.  Parents were divorced.  When I was getting married, made a novena that ended on my wedding day that BVM would protect our marriage.  I attributed it to Mary.  4 children...1 miscarriage.

Father John Eckert joins Patrick to discuss Fatima

• (3:57) What is the story of Fatima?

(21:42) Break 1

• Maria - Did our lady of Fatima show up the 13th of the month from may to October or was it the first Friday? Is there a special devotion on the 13th?
• (24:26) Paulina - Went on a pilgrimage there.  Had friend who was sick with cancer and had a longer than expected life expectancy.
• Linda - As a child, I had a dream of the virgin Mary of Fatima. I'm in my 70's now and it's kept my faith so strong. She has helped me continue that faith.
• (37:50) Al - I've prayed to Mary and have had some miracles.  Did the people actually see the miracle of the sun or just the children?  I've heard both and believe it was everyone there.

(42:54) Break 2

• How can we use devotion in our life?

Resources

• Inside the Light: Understanding the Message of Fatima
  • https://tanbooks.com/products/books/inside-the-light-understanding-the-message-of-fatima/?srsltid=AfmBOorH1GC_K6h9nVprfj5QP_bYvxoYqfVvtX9zqsCw4ZcMf4a-3fDS

Father Ramil Fajardo joins Patrick to Vatican II

• (3:33) who started the Second Vatican Council
•  When did Vatican II begin?
• What was the need for Vatican II

(21:09) Break 1

• Michelle - Born in 56. 7 or 8 when things changed. Came out with new catechism. Sisters were so excited about it. Got there (school) the next year and was appalled.  Took out communion rails and I found it so disorienting. Not against VII, but it was such a blow.
• (29:08) what are the 4 major Documents of Vatican II?

(36:37) Break 2

• How can we heal from the abuses of this time?
• (42:59) Dean - Became a Catholic because of VII.  The documents are beautiful. The critics only find a few passages.  Long standing rumor that a lot of predatory documents were being presented.  Alternative documents are the ones that became the documents of V II. Any truth to this?
• Michelle - What do we do after we read the documents?  Where do we go from there? It doesn't seem like there's anything that can be corrected. How can parishes adjust to some of the mistakes that were made?