The Inner Life

Father Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Friendship. 

• (4:29) did Jesus navigate friendships?
• (11:15) Keith - wanted to give my friend Maria a boost - I met her through a priest, and she is such a gem. We are best friends
• (14:34) Nicky - I have a good Church because of a friend who I helped me a lot.
• 11:24 Patrick Quantity time leads to quality time

(22:09) Break 1

• (27:15) Speaking truth to friends even when it is difficult.
• (30:49) - What types of virtues are nourished from good friendships?
• John - 17yrs ago I was at my lowest and I met a deacon who became like a father to me.
• (36:40) Melissa - I have a daughter and she finds it difficult to find friends and they don't seem receptive

(40:54) Break 2

• (42:48) Nick - I am on the other end of the spectrum - how do we admit that a lifelong friendship has died and properly mourn that even though the person is still living?
• (45:57) Tom - I have a friend of 62 years and I found someone who brought me back into the church and I want to help someone like he helped me

Father Marc Lenneman joins Patrick to discuss Finding God in Creation. 

• (8:34) – Why is creation “good”
• (13:14) – What does it mean for creation to give glory to God?

(25:28) Break 1

• (26:50) - Dave - I spend a lot of times in the woods in the fall and it opens up a sense of prayer and reflection that is difficult to explain in words
• (38:18) – Email from listener asking about finding creation to the world near us and around us.

(43:16) Break 2

• Kristi - How to let go of the need to always feel busy and 'doing'.

Book Recommendations for this episode:

• In the Beginning by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger 
• https://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Catholic-Understanding-Ressourcement-Retrieval/dp/0802841066

Father Michael Hurley, OP joined Patrick for a conversation about angels. Topics included: what is an angel? (4:06), angel hierarchy (11:46), caller: Relevant Radio has helped me develop a relationship with my angel (18:56), angels & our spiritual life (22:59), caller: my wife's conversion (26:30), caller: revelation & angels (32:04), angels as spiritual beings (36:58), caller: my guardian Angel protected me while driving! (39:04), caller: why are some angels called saints? (41:15), caller: can we have more than one guardian angel (47:23)

Father Scott Bailey joined Patrick for a conversation about growing in humility. Topics included: what humility is (2:52), caller: how to be humble when people compliment my voice? (13:38), Scripture and humility (15:31), humility is a virtue (19:12), caller: humility for my great granddaughter (23:38), Prodigal Son (28:51), caller: the Litany of Humility (31:25), what if we don't know we need humility? (33:59), counting the good things in our life (37:38), caller: praying for son with special needs (38:45), caller: all Glory to God (41:10), and caller: modeling humility (44:58).  

Father Dave Heney joined Patrick for a conversation about Christian burial practices. Topics included: Christian theology of death (3:05), Catholic funerals (11:29), caller: embalming (19:03), caller: impact my brother-in-law had after death (23:17), caller: black at funerals (34:04), writing our own obits (38:31), funeral do's and don'ts (40:22), caller: we don't have a tombstone for my dad (43:30), caller: family brokenness (45:01), caller: masonic flag Ok at funeral? (47:06). 

Father Joseph Johnson joined Patrick for a conversation about the Trinity. Topics included: being spiritual but not religious (3:53), Scripture (14:53), caller: St. Augustine on the Trinity (21:52), the Trinity & our experience (30:53), caller: the Book of Revelation & the Trinity (35:41), and the Trinity and the Mass (42:32). 

Father John Paul Erickson joined Patrick for a conversation about being spiritual & religious. Topics included: the virtue of religion (2:52), organized religion (9:29), caller: I am spiritual, but I do go to church (13:34), caller: I used to be spiritual, but not religious; now I have reverted (17:22), being religious, but not spiritual (21:31), caller: giving alms at McDonalds (23:52), caller: what does it mean to be spiritual? (27:51), caller: substance vs. form (33:11), caller: Jesus condemned religiosity (35:07), what if religion is boring? (41:23), caller: how do we evangelize Buddhists? (45:21) and caller: the importance of the Eucharist (48:20). 

Fr. Brian O’Brien joins Patrick for a conversation about Preparing for Mass & Uniting Our Personal Prayer to the Mass 

• (4:00) – Why are we tempted to not prepare for Mass and What are the benefits of preparing yourself for Mass?
• (9:08) How do Clergy prepare themselves for Mass and how can people in the congregation offer intentions at Mass?
• (23:00) – Importance of silence in Mass
• Joe - I prep in the car on the way there and try to meditate in the pew before mass begins.
• (25:09) – Kids should be brought to Mass.
• Email from Beth – Family starts with a prayer as they drive to Mass and talk about the readings beforehand.
• Jan – I watch Bishop Barron and pre-read the readings.
• Email from Mary – I like to prepare in various ways to for the Mass, particularly with wearing themed clothing to match the liturgical calendar.
• (32:59) – What should we do after Mass?
• Deacon Martin - Taught that every Friday is Good Friday, and every Sunday is Easter Sunday so prep can start on Monday, so we don't have to cram it in 30m before Mass.
• (40:02) – the importance of confession before Mass and how do you address the argument that Mass is boring?
• Jason - How I prep for mass with young family.
• Cathleen - Priests in Baltimore always said prayer to HS before homily.
• (49:38) - Where to find the readings for Sunday Mass?

Original Air Date: May 31, 2023

Father Peter Armenio joined Patrick for a conversation about God's will. Topics included: God makes a move toward us & Mary (3:50), understanding signs (15:50), caller: I moved out of living with my boyfriend and got more into the faith (21:52), being open to God (25:25), caller: discerning God's voice (29:49), caller: Job discernment; what should I do? (35:48), the Apostles (40:53), caller: leaving to follow Jesus (44:27). 

Father Eric Nielsen joined Patrick for a conversation about particular and final judgement. Topics included: God’s judgement (2:30), particular judgement (9:51), correcting others (14:48), judgement belongs to God (19:52), caller: dying before confession (22:19), final judgement (30:46), virtue of hope (33:52), caller: judgement of Children (39:33), caller: what about those who committed suicide? (44:02), and caller: I think it’s important to apologize to those we hurt (48:14).