The Inner Life

Father Joseph Johnson talks to Patrick about the value of silence in our lives. Topics included: why is silence is so important (5:16), why silence is so hard for us (16:56), caller: I try to find silence at mass (21:09), caller: is too much silence a bad thing? (26:13), caller: I wake up before the day starts to pray (33:23), the loneliness of silence (38:28), caller: we have to prioritize silence (44:04), caller: morning prayer time is important (48:10). 

Father Michael Hurley, OP gave Patrick two books that should be on every Catholic reading list. 

Fr. Michael Hurley, OP joined Patrick for a conversation about spiritual books. Topics included: how reading shapes us (5:10), Father Hurley's book recommendation (22:14), and Father's fiction recommendation (35:27). 

Book List: 

• St. Augustine's Confessions
• Loving Jesus with the Heart of Mary by Mother Teresa
• Jesus in Space by Cecilia Cicone
• Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
• Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen
• The Incredible Catholic Mass by Fr. Martin von Cochem
• The Way of Divine Love by Sister Josefa Menendez
• My Vocation is Love by Father Jean LaFrance
• Books by Michael O'Brien
• Louis de Wohl books
• The Saint Makers by Joe Drape
• Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas
• Praying With Dominic by Michael Monshau 
• Eucharist by Bishop Barron
• Humility Rules by J. Augustine Wetta OSB
• To Believe in Jesus by Sr. Ruth Burrows 

Caller shares a story of Gloria who does her work with quiet love. 

Sister Agnus Dei, SV joined Patrick for the first time for a conversation about the spirituality of work. Topics included: getting to know Sister Agnus Dei (1:33), a sacramental vision of the world (3:31), the dignity of work (6:09), how does faith influence work (12:59), caller: listening to lives of the saints help me during work (19:32), caller: I know someone who quietly cleans windows in the Church (24:07), difference between job and vocation (25:44), caller: I like to ask for St. Joseph's intercession (29:24), email: how I evangelize at work (38:18), caller: I ask God to help me during the day (40:33), email: I pray the rosary during downtime at work (42:14), sister's experience with work (44:03). 

Fr. Peter Dugandzic joined Patrick for the first time for a conversation about belief in God. Topics included: getting to know Fr. Peter (2:06), caller: why do atheists care about belief in God (33:17), family members who don't believe in God (33:17), email: my husband doesn't understand violence in the OT (38:27), caller: my teens are starting to doubt God (44:18). 

Please note: We had some audio issues at the beginning of the show, but resolved them during the second segment. 

Father Mike Martin, OFM Conv. discusses how the Widow from Mark 12 teaches us to be ridiculously generous. 

Father Mike Martin, OFM Conv., joined Patrick for a conversation about giving thanks and giving of ourselves. Topics included: how to cultivate gratitude (2:46), growing in humility (10:28), caller: my students read Corrie ten Boom's The Hiding Place and learn gratitude (14:18), caller: I ask my kids what they're grateful for at dinner time (18:39), what the relationship between gratitude and generosity (23:55), how to root out selfishness (29:30), becoming generous with our time (41:02), caller: my faith has helped me become grateful (45:20).   

Father Tom Wilson joins Patrick for a conversation about Accepting God’s Will When He Says No

• (2:32)  Discernment of God's will
• (5:32) what does it mean when God says no
• (11:46) When it seems like God doesn't care
• (15:23) How long should we wait for God to answer a prayer?
• (19:54) Listeners Call into the show
  • Jennifer - Story of how we prayed for children every year it took 7 years, but we eventually had one.
  • Mark - I was going through conversion last year and going to confession daily just to feel forgiven. It took months for it to sink in that I was forgiven. I learned to trust God.
  • Julie - It all comes back to trust. Jesus said he would never leave us, and he does what's best for us, so we have to trust his answer.
  • Debbie - What if God is still telling me NO? I'm patiently waiting on his yes.
  • Nora - God told me NO when I was 8. My dad wasn't a part of my life and I really wanted to know him, but God kept telling me NO. I found out later he raped my mom.
  • Katherine - I'm in my 70's and none of my prayers have been answered. Why is that?

Father Craig Vasek joined Patrick for a conversation about overcoming frequent sin. Topics included: what sin is (2:55), original sin (5:28), examining persistent sins (9:02), caller: I've struggled with a particular sin (18:41), caller: I'm struggling with procrastination (23:44), caller: I struggled with lust in the past (29:55), caller: taking the Lord's name in vain (40:58), caller: Service helped me overcome sin, and caller: I overcome a drug addiction (45:19). 

To follow Fr. Vasek's media, you can find them here: 

Fathervasek.com

Soundcloud.com/fathervasek

Facebook.com/fathercraigvasek