In this episode, the dogs talk about early mornings (1:50), trucks (9:40), and beards (10:00). Connor considers what it means to be overwhelmed by beauty (6:45) and Rob asks the dogs to differentiate possessions and belongings (12:50). They all discuss how to have a healthy attachment to material goods (19:55), their plans for the end of the world (39:10), and approaching the final horizon of death as a saint (43:08).

Quotes:

“The human heart is wired for God.” (Connor, 7:22)

“We have a longing for God, which is goodness.” (Mike 25:30)

“It’s important to have a relationship with things according to reality.” (Connor 29:55)

“Part of walking through the pilgrimage of life is being properly attached to the things that belong to you, but not in a way that makes them your final end.” (Connor, 31:50)

“The only thing you get to take with you is what you’ve given away.” (Cardinal George, 32:07)

“Here was a man words cannot describe. Death could not defeat him nor toil dismay him. He was quite without a preference of his own; he neither feared to die nor refused to live. “ (second reading from the Office of Readings on November 11th)

Media:

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In this episode, the dogs talk about the Atlanta Braves (0:34) and “baseball guys” (04:00). Rob brings up the objective characteristics of beauty (9:01) and his concerns over Facebook’s newest attempts to make the internet even more immersive (16:30). Connor critiques some recently viewed dystopian films (22:50). Mike speaks about the limits of technology as it relates to the human experience (34:21) and they all discuss what it means to be “gripped by the spirit of love” (36:30) so as to experience a foretaste of Heaven.

Quotes:

“Beauty is the manifestation of truth.” (Denis McNamara, 9:27)

“Relating to God in a true way helps you relate to human beings in a more embodied way.’ (Connor, 31:50)

“Part of the enticement of technology is that it gives the façade that we are capable of handling more than we actually are.” (Mike, 34:21)

“We have an infinite desire to relate.” (Connor, 35:50)

Media:

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In this episode, the dogs discuss the renovations to the chapel at UIC (01:35). Mike brings up a Ratzinger quote about the Eucharist as thanksgiving (04:40) and Connor responds with some thoughts on what it means to live as a human who appropriately responds to value (11:12).  They close by discussing how to authentically embrace suffering (14:20) and Rob brings the conversation back to Christ’s humanity and His intimate relationship with us (20:05).

Quotes:

“Is the entirety of my existence transformed into thanksgiving?” (Mike, 06:55 in response to Ratzinger’s quote)

“Can I offer up my limitations, my lack, as a way to glorify God?” (Mike, 08:53)

“The normal person is the one who responds to value according to the hierarchy of goods.” (Connor, 11:12 in summary of Hildebrand)

“God doesn’t heal places, he heals people.” (Jim Rafferty, 20:05)

Media:

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In this episode, the dogs talk about situations when anger is the appropriate response to evil. 

Connor recounts his experience at a recent Joe Pug concert in Berwyn, IL (02:30) and Rob’s nine-year-old nephew shot his first deer (04:45). Rob shared the fruit of his five-day silent retreat (08:30) and the encouragement he received to have anger toward evil (12:24) to the extent that it reflects God’s own steadfast resistance to sin and death (25:50). Connor brings up Lewis’s reflections on God as a skilled surgeon and they all reflect on their experiences of celibacy (37:43).

Quotes:

“Keep the edge. Don’t let go of the edge.” (Linda Couri, 12:24)

“It’s God’s goodness that is almost scary because He’s not going to stop until I’m all the way healed.” (Connor, 28:31 in response to A Grief Observed)

“I get to wake up every morning, 5 am, make some soup!” (Ignacio, 38:21)

Media Mentions:

Shout-Outs:

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In this episode, the dogs talk about how to take care of Gremlins (2:10) and exploding kittens (4:40). Connor shares his fear of unmet expectations (6:30) and they all discuss what it means to ultimately trust that God is a good father (11:30) who will provide for his children (13:00). Rob asks for grace on his upcoming retreat (19:45) and they all come up with the characteristics of a stout heart (Rob, 21:31; Mike, 23:10; Connor: 25:20).

Quotes:

“I am not the architect of my own life and the happiness that is in store for me is not because I’ve planned it or because I chose the right thing.” (Connor, 8:30)

“My life is a story that is being written by God, not me.” (Connor, 11:05)

“You just have to be a kid and let the Father provide, because sometimes you forget to put on your pants.” (Mike, 13:05)

“A stout heart is not looking for anything other than reality.” (Rob, 22:45)

“I want my heart to be convicted of the things I assent to believe with my mind.” (Mike, 25:00)

“When one enjoys consolation, let him consider how to conduct himself during the time of ensuing desolation, and store up a supply of strength as defense against that day.” (St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises 323, 25:20)

“A stout heart is confronting reality with the absolute courage and conviction that the Lord is in it, that there is no better reality if I had just planned ahead better.” (Connor, 27:25)

“To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That’s when you will have to make a decision. To be or to do? Which way will you go?” (John Boyd, 29:35)

“The more and more I’m radically available, the more and more people will come and demand my love for them.” (Mike, 32:15)

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In this episode, the dogs talk about a Korean War chaplain who is a candidate for canonization as well as the specific graces they are praying for right now. 

Connor talks about a redo July 4th celebration in September (4:48) and Mike shares that he will be attending Fr. Emil Kapaun’s funeral mass in Wichita, KS (6:50). Rob asks the group for help in discerning what graces to ask for on his upcoming retreat (10:45). Connor and Rob circle around the idea of Divine intimacy (11:35) and Mike shares his recent desire for a decluttered heart in prayer (13:11). The dogs close out the episode sharing inspiring stories about Fr. Kapaun’s leadership and his servant’s heart (18:24)

Quotes:

“All man, all priest.” (description of Fr. Emil Kapaun, 8:56)

“When God wants someone to die for sin, he sends his son.” (from Monsieur Vincent, 26:55)

Media Mentions:

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In this episode, the dogs talk about encroaching technology and the role of the parish priest. After discussing which celebrities they would have dinner with [00:24], Connor and Rob give brief updates about life on campus [6:36]. Connor laments plumbing problems [9:00] and Rob discusses the lag he feels keeping up with multiple assignments [10:25]. Connor describes settling into his role as a shepherd and they all consider the function of the modern priest [15:13]. Connor pitches his idea to revive the AIM away message [18:55] and Mike shares his initial refusal to use Bluetooth in his vehicle [24:20].

Quotes:

“The role of the modern day priest is to properly order the charisms of the people of God.” (attributed to Bishop Barron, 16:06)

“I used to be able to throw a pigskin a quarter mile.” (Uncle Rico, 23:30)

“We are not properly engaged with the objects in our lives.” (Connor, 28:03)

“The problem is not the phone, it’s you.” (Connor, 29:17)

Media Mentions:

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In this episode, the dogs talk about finding awe in a transcendent universe [5:50] and their varying experiences of childhood boredom [8:50]. Rob brings up a farmer who recites Paradise Lost while ploughing the field [19:45] and Connor talks about settling into humanity as a way to find true joy [21:30]. Mike shares about a recent hiking trip [25:50] and they all discuss moments that transcend the subjective. 

Quotes:

[11:20] “Boredom is running up against the poverty of humanity. We are a question mark to ourselves and we do not have the capacity to fulfill what we ultimately desire. We are dependent on some transcendent other to provide the thing we want the most: permanent, eternal communion.” (Connor)

[7:40] “Sloth is the inability to love something that is lovable” (Peter Kreeft)

[35:25] “Sooner or later, we enjoy only souls” (from Letters to Young Men as cited in The Priest is Not His Own)

Media Mentions:

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In this episode, the dogs experience some technical difficulties [8:55] and Danstrom dreams up his ideal audio interface [9:33-11:10] with some mock encouragement from Johnson and Metz [10:44]. Johnson brings up a new technique in prayer [11:20] and they all discuss using this new prayer as a way to enter into communion with Christ. Danstrom reflects on loneliness and its ability to worsen situations that are already difficult [20:10] and Johnson shares the fruit of this new reflection in the confessional [24:50].

Quotes:

Media:

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