The Inner Life

Father Brian O'Brien joined Patrick for a conversation about supporting priests. Topics include: the sacrament of Holy Orders (3:59), Fr. O'Brien's vocation story (6:38), misconceptions and challenges (9:54), priest burnout (18:37), email: what if your priest doesn't support you? (21:51), caller: I pray for priests during the rosary! (24:41), caller: I participate in the Seven Sisters Apostolate (27:55), getting to know your parish priest (30:49), caller: I pray for the priest during Communion (33:57), caller: should more priests live in community? (35:55), giving gifts to priests (40:5), I try to help my priest in any way possible (47:00). 

Resource: https://sevensistersapostolate.org/

Father Chris Walsh joined Patrick for a conversation about handing down the faith. Topics included: father's faith growing up (3:16), the family life of Jesus (7:20), caller: I thinking explaining the mass to kids is important (12:34), priests & family life (19:34), parents as primary educators (22:47), caller: I think its important to invest in good Catholic organizations (28:53), caller: we should take ownership of what we've learned (37:40), what if one spouse is more engaged in the faith? (39:21), if kids leave the faith (44:30). 

Resources: 

https://www.catholicicing.com/

https://market.catholicallyear.com/

Father Tom Wilson joined Patrick to discuss Jesus' Baptism. Topics included: the Baptism of the Lord in the Gospels (4:55), Baptism as a foundational moment (11:19), caller: my daughter won't baptize her children (21:56), Jesus as priest, prophet, and king (26:12), caller: recognizing Jesus as Messiah (31:22), knowing the date of our Baptism (37:48), connection between Baptism and confession (47:23). 

Father Rob Kroll, SJ joined Patrick for a conversation about making an examination of conscience. Topics included: what a conscience is (2:57), St. Ignatius of Loyola (9:35), awareness of our shortcomings (16:59), caller: I struggle with OCD (23:20), caller: how can I distinguish between mortal and venial sin? (28:27), email: I find myself committing the same sins (33:11), making time for an examination of conscience (40:23), and caller: I try to thank God for 1 to 3 min a day (42:36). 

Resources: 

https://scrupulousanonymous.org/

https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/examinations-of-conscience

Pathways of Prayer….
The Examen

by Fr. Rob Kroll
Although not invented by, or unique to, St. Ignatius, the Consciousness Examen (or, most
commonly, “the Examen”) is most often associated with him and with the order he founded. The Examen is a prayer of looking back over one’s day, reviewing it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to find the presence and action of God within it. Rather than bracketing the “stuff” of daily life as a distraction to prayer, the Examen invites us to explore and plumb the depth of our day for God’s
involvement within it. The Examen helps us appreciate where we have seen the face of God or heard God’s voice in the midst of ordinary life. An experienced hunter who sees animal tracks in the snow knows that a deer, fox or other creature has passed by. Just so, the Examen helps us identify clues to God’s “passing by” when perhaps at the moment we were too busy or distracted to notice. This prayer method, then, assists us to “find God in all things.” Prayed regularly, even daily, it makes us more
attuned to the movements of the Holy Spirit in our life of discipleship.
Unlike the Examination of Conscience used before Confession, the Examen’s focus is not primarily on sin (although it includes a recognition of sin). This prayer’s goal is deep gratitude for God’s gifts, and growth in discernment about how well (or poorly) I respond to the will of God in my daily life. The Examen also effects interior transformation and greater freedom because through it I come to
know better both myself and God’s dealings with me.
St. Ignatius recommended that the Examen be prayed twice daily for about 15 minutes, although doing it once a day in the evening will still be very fruitful. Traditionally there are five steps or movements. Initially they may seem mechanical, but over time the prayer takes on a natural flow.

5 STEPS OF THE EXAMEN
This outline is based on St. Ignatius’ presentation in the Spiritual Exercises (n. 43), and is adapted from
The Examen Prayer by Timothy M. Gallagher, OMV.
Transition I become aware of God gazing upon me with love as I begin my Examen. I
recall that God has created and ordained all things.
Step One: Gratitude I note the gifts that God has given to me this day, thanking God for them.

Step Two: Petition I ask God for insight so that this Examen is a work of grace, not mere navel gazing or ruminating over my day. I ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light so
that I review the day with His eyes and guided by grace.

Step Three: Review With God, I prayerfully review the day hour by hour with its many activities and encounters. Did I experience something surprising or unusual today: a call
or email from a friend I hadn’t heard from in years…a painful memory I had
considered forgotten…something beautiful in nature…a news story that
moved or disturbed me…As I walk through my day, I look for the stirrings of
my heart (feelings) and mind (thoughts). Which have come from God?
Normally the Holy Spirit acts to give us peace, joy, strength, encouragement.
Which stirrings have clearly not been of God but represent suggestions from
the enemy? I examine my choices in response to both sets of stirrings. How
did God delight in me today? How was God proud of me?

Step Four: Forgiveness I own honestly any ways that I have turned away from God somehow today,
whether by failing to love when an opportunity came long or by actively
doing wrong in thought, word, or deed. I ask for healing and forgiveness from
the God who removes my heart’s burdens. If necessary, I resolve to bring
myself to Confession.

Step Five: Renewal The Examen ends by looking ahead to the coming day with hope and confidence, entrusting it to God’s grace. With God, I concretely plan how to
live the next day in accord with His loving desire for my life.
The Examen helps us grow in self-knowledge as well as in discerning God’s presence, action and will in
daily life. Through it, we more easily find God in all things and love all things in Christ.

Father Dave Heney joined Patrick to discuss spiritual resolutions. Topics included: prayer for the New Year (5:55), realistic resolutions (10:26), caller: being in a state of grace is my resolution (14:35), resolutions for families (19:20), caller: I need to get more organized (25:54), parish resolutions (32:35), finances (36:56), holy mass and spiritual direction (42:42), and how to keep our resolutions (48:31).

Father James Kubicki, SJ joined Patrick for a conversation about good spiritual reading! Topics included: the importance of spiritual reading (3:25), what to look for (7:25), the Catechism & lives of the Saints (10:34), caller: Every Day with St. Francis de Sales (17:19), Caller: Are novels OK for Spiritual reading? (21:11), Caller: The Fulfillment of All Desire (27:36), caller: Manual for Eucharistic Adoration & Searching for and Maintaining Peace (30:30), caller: I like reading Catholic poets! (34:35), caller: The Way of the Pilgrim (38:51), caller: He Leadeth Me (42:36), and Caller: The Heart of the Matter (44:47). 

Full List: 

· Scripture

· Catechism of the Catholic Church

· Imitation of Christ - Thomas à Kempis

· Introduction to the Devout Life – St. Francis de Sales

· Confessions – St. Augustine

· Magnificat magazine or Give Us This Day magazine

· Story of a Soul – St. Thérèse of Lisieux

· He Leadeth Me – Servant of God Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ

· Blessed Carlo Acutis biography

· Every Day with St. Francis de Sales – translated from Italian into English

· Consecration to the Blessed Virgin – St. Louis de Montefort

· Christ, the Life of the Soul – Blessed Columba Marmion

· Novels by Michael O’Brien e.g. By the Rivers of Babylon, Theophilos

· Novels by Frederick Buechner (Presbyterian): one about St. Brendan (Brendan), one about St. Godric (Godric)

· The Fulfillment of All Desire – Ralph Martin

· Manual of Eucharistic Adoration – the Poor Clares

· Anything by Fr. Jacques Philippe: Searching for and Maintaining Peace, Interior Freedom, In the School of the Holy Spirit, Thirsting for Prayer, Time for God

· Catholic Poets: Hound of Heaven (Francis Thompson), Pope St. John Paul II, St. Thomas Aquinas, Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ

· The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way – Reginald French

· Fr. Arceny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father

· St. Silouan the Athonite

· Wounded by Love by St. Porphyrios

· The Gospel Comes with a House Key – Rosaria Butterfield (not Catholic)

· The Heart of the Matter – Graham Greene

· Works of dialogue between contemporary spiritual figures and saints by Peter Kreeft

Emailed suggestions:

· The Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor

· In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden

· Revelations of Divine Love by St. Julian of Norwich

· Dr. Brant Pitre: Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist and Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary

· Poetry of Fr. Paul Murray, OP

· Poetry of John Donne (not Catholi

Father Peter Armenio joined Patrick to discuss the beauty and joy of the Rosary. Topics included: what the rosary is (3:09), the rosary and Christian history (11:25), caller: does the Rosary put me in a state of grace? (15:55), the rosary as the epitome of the whole Gospel (18:55), caller: praying with rosary beads (25:54), caller: I prayed the rosary during COVID (28:24), how Fr. Peter began praying the rosary (31:12), caller: the rosary & my son's motorcycle accident (34:08), caller: is there a rosary book recommendation? (34:08), caller I prayed the rosary for my husband to join the Church (44:02), caller: I named my kids after Mary (46:32). 

Book Recommendation: https://www.theologicalforum.org/Category/104/Product/339/Handbook_of_Prayers_Vinyl_Classic_

Original Air Date: 10/10/23

Father John Paul Erickson joined Patrick Conley for a conversation about the power of sacramentals. Topics included: what sacramentals are (2:40), how the physical world reveals God (10:31), caller: how to we prevent against superstition? (19:10), caller: I love the rosary and my crucifix (24:59), email: I make prayer shawls (28:39), caller: how do I dispose of sacramentals? (30:37), caller: what if a sacramental isn't blessed (34:12), caller: crucifix helped a friend with nightmares (38:27), caller: are sacramentals idol worship? (41:04), sacramental suggestions (48:44). 

Original Air Date: 7/14/23

Father John LoCoco joined Patrick for a conversation about overcoming anger. Topics included: how father deals with anger (2:26), anger and trust in God (5:21), the Sermon on the Mount (7:10), how anger restricts our freedom (10:33), caller: is anger ever justified? (13:54), situations that cause anger (18:03), anger in politics (25:52), caller: I used to get angry in traffic (29:28), caller: how do I deal with anger in marriage (34:18), email: I pray for others in traffic (39:19), how we cultivate meekness (41:44), caller: anger helps me to learn about myself (44:42), caller: my spouse in angry a lot; what should I do (46:33)? 

Bishop Andrew Cozzens joined Patrick for a conversation about the Bible and the beauty of the Eucharist. Topics included: Eucharistic Congress update (4:02), manna in the desert and Jesus' teaching (5:53), bread of life discourse (12:21), living the Eucharist (14:19), the Last Supper (29:44), Suffering (34:42), Bishop Cozzens' story of paraplegic man (40:23), the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit (46:53), Eucharistic Congress and Revival (49:04). 

Original Air Date: 11/21/23