Wannabe Saints

Everything is a gift. Even the things we so often take for granted.

With November here and Thanksgiving right around the corner, we're taking some time to reflect on the virtue of gratitude and what it actually means to live a life of thanksgiving.

As Catholics, gratitude is more than just saying thank you or feeling grateful when life is going well. It's recognizing that everything we have ultimately comes from God, and that our response should be one of thanksgiving.

In this reflection, we talk about the beautiful connection between gratitude and the Eucharist, why we're called to give thanks even in the midst of suffering, and how gratitude can become an antidote to pride, envy, and despair.

We also dive into the importance of showing gratitude toward the people God has placed in our lives. From honoring our parents and teaching our children to say thank you, to finding goodness in the people we struggle with, gratitude is something we're called to live out in our everyday relationships.

Plus, we share practical ways to grow in gratitude toward both God and others this Thanksgiving season.

Because gratitude isn't just something we say. It's something we live.

We hope this reflection encourages you to slow down, recognize the gifts you've been given, and intentionally turn back toward the Giver.

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Thank you for listening! If this episode encouraged you, please share it with someone who could use this reminder and leave us a rating or review. 🤍

We're back with a just-us episode! 🤍

This week, Rachael and Jordyn are diving deeper into the virtue of temperance. We touched on this virtue during our Built on Virtue series this summer, but there's so much more to unpack.

Temperance isn't just about saying no to another glass of wine, spending less time on our phones, or resisting the temptation to overindulge. It's about learning to rightly order our desires so we have the freedom to say yes to what is good.

We get personal about the areas where we're currently struggling with temperance and why breaking bad habits requires more than willpower. We talk about finding the root of our recurring sins, the difference between pride, vanity, and sensuality, and why God's mercy in confession is so much greater than our frustration with ourselves.

We also dive into our culture of convenience and instant gratification, how constant stimulation affects our ability to embrace silence and persevere through difficult things, and why teaching children self-discipline starts with practicing it ourselves.

Plus, we discuss the power of fasting, hidden acts of charity, and how even the smallest choices can help us grow in virtue.

Ultimately, temperance isn't about depriving ourselves of good things. It's about becoming free to love God and others better.

If you haven't listened to our short temperance reflection from the Built on Virtue series, be sure to check that out too!

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Paragraphs 1809 and 2342

Restored & Resilient by Mary

Morning Offering Prayer

Our Built on Virtue: Temperance reflection

Our chastity episode with Fr. Kevin

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📩 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @Wannabe_Saints

💛 Patreon: patreon.com/WannabeSaints

We're back with a just-us episode! 🤍

This week, Rachael and Jordyn are diving deeper into the virtue of temperance. We touched on this virtue during our Built on Virtue series this summer, but there's so much more to unpack.

Temperance isn't just about saying no to another glass of wine, spending less time on our phones, or resisting the temptation to overindulge. It's about learning to rightly order our desires so we have the freedom to say yes to what is good.

We get personal about the areas where we're currently struggling with temperance and why breaking bad habits requires more than willpower. We talk about finding the root of our recurring sins, the difference between pride, vanity, and sensuality, and why God's mercy in confession is so much greater than our frustration with ourselves.

We also dive into our culture of convenience and instant gratification, how constant stimulation affects our ability to embrace silence and persevere through difficult things, and why teaching children self-discipline starts with practicing it ourselves.

Plus, we discuss the power of fasting, hidden acts of charity, and how even the smallest choices can help us grow in virtue.

Ultimately, temperance isn't about depriving ourselves of good things. It's about becoming free to love God and others better.

If you haven't listened to our short temperance reflection from the Built on Virtue series, be sure to check that out too!

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Paragraphs 1809 and 2342

Restored & Resilient by Mary

Morning Offering Prayer

Our Built on Virtue: Temperance reflection

Our chastity episode with Fr. Kevin

🔗 Linktree – All Our Links

📩 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @Wannabe_Saints

💛 Patreon: patreon.com/WannabeSaints

We’re back with Rich Topf for Part 2 of our conversation on Theology of the Body!

This week, we dive deeper into what it actually looks like to live Theology of the Body in the world we’re in today. Rich unpacks the spousal meaning of the body, what marriage reveals about our relationship with God, and why learning to see ourselves as beloved children of God changes the way we see and treat everyone around us. Pasted text Pasted text

We also get practical about navigating social media and technology, especially with kids, and how parents can teach their children to recognize truth instead of simply shielding them from everything. We talk about creating opportunities for young people to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence, and discover who God created them to be. Pasted textPasted text

And we tackle the harder stuff too: pornography, sexual sin, shame, confession, forgiveness, and the hope that no matter our past, Christ can redeem it. Rich shares practical advice for changing the way we see ourselves and others—and reminds us that ultimately, living Theology of the Body comes down to learning how we were created to see, serve, and love. Pasted text Pasted text

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, start there and then come back for Part 2! 🤍

📚 Fire & Light — Fr. Jacques Philippe

🎥 Allegory of the Cave

🎥 You're Not You Yet

📖 Magnifica Humanitas — Pope Leo XIV

🔗 Linktree – All Our Links

What is Theology of the Body—and what is it not?

In Part 1 of our conversation with Rich Topf, we dive into what St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body actually teaches us about the human person, our bodies, sexuality, and the way we are called to see one another.

We talk about some of the common misconceptions surrounding Theology of the Body, why it isn’t simply a list of rules or a call to Puritanism, and how understanding the meaning and purpose of the body can change the way we approach chastity and our relationships with others.

Rich also shares resources for anyone who wants to dive deeper into Theology of the Body and living out the Catholic faith.

And this is only Part 1! Make sure to come back for Part 2 as we continue the conversation. 🤍

📚 Fire & Light — Fr. Jacques Philippe

📚 Theology of the Body Explained

📚 Book/resource mentioned by Rich

🎥 Allegory of the Cave

🎥 You're Not You Yet

📖 Magnifica Humanitas — Pope Leo XIV

📖 Divini Illius Magistri — Pope Pius XI

☀️ Cardinal Newman Society — Catholic Summer Programs

🏕️ Benedictine College BCYC Immersion

🏔️ COR Expeditions

🔗 Linktree – All Our Links

In this episode, we sit down with our good friend Francesca Janssen for an honest conversation about what charity actually looks like in marriage, motherhood, friendship, and everyday life.

Francesca shares what it was like getting married and becoming pregnant with twins just a few months later—and how learning to be a wife and mother at the same time challenged her understanding of love, sacrifice, and relying on both her husband and the Lord.

We talk about the small acts of charity that make up a vocation, comparison and resentment in marriage, learning to ask for help, and the temptation to believe that taking care of yourself is selfish. Francesca also shares how exhaustion in those early months with twins taught her and her husband to stop keeping score and start working together.

We also dive into friendship across different seasons of life and what those of us who are single can learn now about selflessness, discipline, and preparing for whatever vocation God may be calling us to. Because no matter our season of life, we're all called to love and serve the people God has placed in front of us—and ultimately help one another get to Heaven.

More from Francesca Janssen

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In this episode, we sit down with Catholic psychologist Dr. Matthew Breuninger for a powerful conversation on healing, virtue, and what it actually means to live in the freedom Christ promises.

We unpack the ways our wounds can lead us to live out of self-protection and self-preservation—and how those patterns can quietly keep us from loving freely and growing in virtue. Dr. Breuninger shares practical wisdom on identifying our own self-protections, understanding virtue signaling, and recognizing how our attachment styles and childhood experiences can shape the way we relate to God and others.

We also dive into parenting, healthy attachment, and how parents can create safety for their children while still holding boundaries and teaching virtue.

This conversation is packed with practical wisdom for understanding ourselves more deeply, healing the places that keep us stuck, and becoming more free to love God and others well.

📖 The Whole-Brain Child — Dr. Daniel J. Siegel & Dr. Tina Payne Bryson

📖 No-Drama Discipline — Dr. Daniel J. Siegel & Dr. Tina Payne Bryson

📖 Finding Freedom in Christ: Healing Life’s Hurts — Dr. Matthew Breuninger

📸 Instagram: @askacatholictherapist

🌐 Wellspring Counseling & Coaching

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In the final episode of our Built on Virtue mini-series, we're exploring temperance, the virtue that helps us rightly order our desires and enjoy the good things God has given us without allowing them to control us. Together, we'll unpack why temperance is about far more than simply saying “no,” how it brings freedom and balance into our lives, and the practical ways we can grow in self-mastery each day. Whether you're struggling with excess, learning to discipline your desires, or simply striving to grow in holiness, this episode offers practical wisdom for living with greater freedom and becoming the person God created you to be.

More from Wannabe Saints

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💛 Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/WannabeSaints

In the third episode of our Built on Virtue mini-series, we're exploring fortitude, the virtue that gives us the strength to persevere in the pursuit of the good, even when it's difficult. Together, we'll unpack why fortitude is far more than bravery, how it enables us to face fear, endure suffering, and remain faithful in the midst of trials, and the practical ways we can grow in courage each day. Whether you're carrying a heavy cross, facing uncertainty, or simply striving to follow Christ more faithfully, this episode offers practical wisdom for living with true fortitude.

More from Wannabe Saints

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In the second episode of our Built on Virtue mini-series, we're exploring justice, the virtue that teaches us to give God and others what is rightfully due to them. Together, we'll unpack why justice is far more than fairness, how it orders our relationships with God and neighbor, and the practical ways this virtue shapes how we love, serve, and honor those around us. Whether you're striving to love others more authentically, grow in holiness, or strengthen your relationship with God, this episode offers practical wisdom for living justly each day.

🔗 Linktree – All Our Links

📩 Email us: [email protected]

📸 Follow us: @Wannabe_Saints

💛 Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/WannabeSaints