Three Dogs North

In this episode, the dogs talk about what it means to lead by love and treat others as “an end in themselves” (14:10). Their conversation on leadership spans baseball (0:50), combat (20:18), parish life (25:40), fatherhood (28:30), cycling (36:30), and basketball (33:37).

Quotes:

“How can you not be romantic about baseball?” (Brad Pitt, 03:00)

“Take care of those who are entrusted to you in the flesh.” (Rob, 5:38)

“The person is the kind of good which does not admit of use and cannot be treated as an object of use and as such the means to an end. The person is the kind of good towards which the only proper and adequate attitude is love.” (St. Pope John Paull II, 14:10)

“Being a leader requires asking other people to make sacrifices and that’s harder than just making sacrifices yourself.” (Rob, 19:43)

“Work is dignified.” (Mike, 28:10)

“I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” (John 15:15, 30:05) 

Media Mentions:

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In this episode, the dogs talk about Michael Metz’s lack of a nickname (00:30), pig iron plants (02:30), and how to get out of the stone age (05:20). Connor returns to last episode‘s conversation about expectations and desires (08:00), Rob speaks about the temptation to squash desire (11:50) and the fruits of Kreeft’s book on suffering in one of his small groups (12:30). The dogs proceed to talk about suffering (22:58) demons in Tobit (29:40) and why God won’t answer Job’s questions (36:00). 

Quotes:

“Suffering has made me more myself.” (Connor, 22:58)

“I don’t want this grief to go away.” (quote from Andrew Garfield, 24:36)

“The more you love, the more you suffer.” (Connor, 25:30)

“The only real meaning of human life is love and yet the more you let go of your own expectations and enter into communion with the other, the more you make yourself vulnerable.” (Connor, 27:51)

“Even in suffering there can be love. It’s not either joy or suffering, but the possibility of joy in suffering.”  (Michael Metz, 32:00)

“I’m not answering questions so that the questions go away.” (Connor, 36:00)

“I have found enough clues to live by.” (quote from Peter Kreeft, 37:10)

“The only thing that satisfied the human heart is a face.” (Michael Metz, 39:00)

Media Mentions:

Shout-outs:

Miscellany:

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In this episode, the dogs talk about college football coaching shake-ups (00:33), the start of Advent (05:40), and the altar server pizza party at Mike’s parish (07:10). Mike asks the other dogs how they find a balance between desire and expectation (16:10). Rob describes the mystics and their posture of holy indifference as a way to heal from human expectations (21:22) and Connor pinpoints freedom as the main difference between desire and expectations (21:46). Mike very vulnerably acknowledges his own unmet expectations of priesthood and the healing transformation that came from giving those expectations back to the Lord (32:29). They finish up with some classic ribbing on “faith journeys” and “seasons” (39:55).

Quotes

Media Mentions

Shout-outs

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In this episode, the dogs catch up about beef milk (02:55) Mike’s grandfather (09:07) and Squid Game (13:10). Connor brings up Hildebrand’s delineation of the classical man (18:41). Rob then asks for an explanation of those fundamental principles (22:02) and they all discuss.

Quotes:

Media Mentions:

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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:

Shout-Outs:

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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:

Miscellany:

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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)

Media Mentions:

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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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