Bonus Points

As recently as a hundred years ago, the ember days were a familiar part of the Catholic year. These quarterly "mini-Lents" were a way to mark the change in the seasons, to thank God for the gifts of the earth, to fast, and to ordain new priests. Made optional in the 1960s, they have almost completely disappeared from the Catholic experience. In this episode of Bonus Points, we're tal...

Throughout the Bible, many mysterious figures appear about whom we know very little. One of these enigmas is the "disciple whom Jesus loved" or the Beloved Disciple who shows up in John's Gospel. Though traditionally identified as the apostle John, the son of Zebedee, scholars have proposed many candidates, such as Lazarus, Nicodemus, and John "the Elder". In this episode o...

The Holy Grail - the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper - is one of the most well-known and sought-after relics in Christian history. Considered lost by many, it has inspired quests in everybody from King Arthur to Indiana Jones. But it really lost at all? In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about the history of the grail legend and where I think it might be today. Website:...

Catholic life is full of prayers and objects, from Rosary beads to saint medals. One of the most popular medals is the St. Benedict medal. Like other saint medals, it has a depiction of the saint on the front. But unlike others, the St. Benedict medal also has an exorcism prayer engraved on it. Is this just superstition, or is it a crucial weapon in the spiritual fight? Find out on today's epi...

Miracles are common throughout Scripture, but do they still happen today? There are many who claim that they have received miraculous healings, or that God has communicated with them in a special way. Are any of these genuine? Is there any way to know? On today's episode of Bonus Points, we're looking at the Church's guidelines for investigating miraculous healings and private revelati...

In the last episode, we talked about what we know about Mary Magdalene. Today's episode of Bonus Points builds on that by talking about some lessons that I've learned from her. From the value of humility to the importance of contemplation, Mary Magdalene has much to teach us. Website: https://www. BonusPointsPodcast.com Bonus Points is proud to be a #Catholic podcast. 🇻🇦

Mary Magdalene is one of the most prominent women in the Gospels, but also one of the most mysterious and misunderstood. From a strong medieval devotion to modern conspiracy theories, Mary Magdalene's name comes up again and again throughout history. In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about what we know about this woman. We're especially focusing on whether Mary Magd...

1,500 years ago, St. Benedict of Nursia wrote his Rule for Monasteries, the most influential document in Western monasticism. The Rule governs every aspect of life as a monk, and is used by thousands of monasteries to this day. The Rule also has plenty to say about the qualities of a good abbot. In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're looking at what all of us can learn about good leader...

"Do you not know that all the drivers race the race, but only one wins the Piston Cup?" St. Paul never said that, but he might have if he had seen the Pixar classic Cars. Thanks to the toddler who controls my TV, I've now seen Cars somewhere around a thousand times, and I have some thoughts. On today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about the spiritual lessons we can...

When I was preparing for Confirmation in eighth grade, I chose St. Peter as my Confirmation saint. I chose him because I had forgotten to do the assignment where I was supposed to research different saints and prepare a presentation, and I was confident that I could talk about St. Peter off-the-cuff. Since then, he's had a lot to teach me, so I guess he doesn't have any hard feelings about...

I know that it's a cliche to talk about how transformative it is to become a parent, and I know that I'm certainly not an expert as a father. But I also know that being a parent has taught me a lot about prayer, and experiencing my own fatherhood has had an effect on my experience of God's fatherhood. In this episode of Bonus Points, we'll explore some of those lessons, and some id...

June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart on the Friday following the feast of Corpus Christi. In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about this devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: where it comes from, how it works, and why it's one of my favorite devotions. ❤️‍🔥 Website: https://www. BonusPointsPodcast.com Bonus P...

Bonus Points is back from its spring-semester hiatus, and we're ready for an awesome new season! It's been some time since the last episode, so it seemed fitting to make this episode about, well, time. As Catholics, we have many ways of marking different parts of the day, the week, and the year. We even have some celebrations that only happen a few times each century! On today's episod...

Each year at the Easter Vigil, we hear the Exultet (or Exsultet), also known as the Easter Proclamation. Not only is it an announcement of Christ's victory, it's also a whirlwind tour through salvation history. Oh, and it talks about bees more than the average song. In today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about some interesting parts of one of my favorite prayers of the l...

Sometimes when we pray, we have a very tangible experience of God's love and closeness. Prayer is enjoyable, and we feel like we could spend all day in the chapel. Other times...not so much. What causes dryness in prayer? What can we do about it? On today's episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about what to do when you don't want to pray. Website: https://www. BonusPointsPodcast....

A little over a week ago, I was part of a class trip to Washington, DC. Between the bus ride and the museums, I had a few thoughts in my head throughout the day about what spiritual value we can take from the idea of a field trip. On today's episode of Bonus Points, we'll talk about how field trips remind us of the need to "go out" as a Church, the importance of our incarnational and sacramental w...

Everybody knows that food is important for us physically. If you don't eat, you will die. But food is much more than just fuel to sustain our bodies. Food is about tradition, culture, and what it means to be family. In this episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about what food can teach us about the meaning of tradition. Website: https://www. BonusPointsPodcast.com Bonus Points is proud to be a #...

Last time, we talked about how monastic life is not just for a select few, but is the "reference point for all Christians" according to Pope Saint John Paul II. We focused on the three evangelical counsels and how they apply to all of us, not just monks and nuns. In today's episode, we're looking at what other lessons we can learn from the monastery, from the value of a stable routine to the impor...

In the West, we sometimes think of the monastic life as one "option" among many. It's good for those who are called to it, but doesn't have much to offer the rest of us. In the Eastern Catholic world, however, the monastic life is seen as the ideal to which all Christians aspire. John Paul II called it the "reference point for all the baptized" in Orientale Lumen . In today's episode of Bonus Poin...

For most of history, having a good memory was essential for success. Today, most of us are content to "outsource" our memories to our phones and the Internet. But perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to forget the importance of remembering. This episode of Bonus Points will offer some reflections on the spiritual significance of memory, especially its role in the liturgy. Website: https://www. BonusPo...

Do you know what animal is mentioned most in the Bible? Or where to start reading your Bible in the first place? This installment of Question & Astle includes a little bit of everything, from the existence of the multiverse to the end of the world. On this episode, we discuss: Are all angels male? What animal comes up most in the Bible? I want to start reading my Bible more, but I don't know w...

Thanks to Nativity sets and Christmas cards, you probably have a pretty clear mental image of Christ's birth. Amid the shepherds and animals, we often imagine three lavishly-dressed travelers bearing gifts. Each January, the Catholic Church celebrates the arrival of the Magi, but how much do you really know about these wise guys? In this episode of Bonus Points, we're talking about the Magi: who t...

Every year around Christmas time, we hear claims that Jesus was not actually born on December 25th. Headlines, articles, and youtube videos tell us that the date was chosen to coincide with a Roman pagan holiday, like Saturnalia or Sol Invictus. What should we make of these claims? Does the Bible tell us when Jesus was born? If not, where does the December 25th date come from? On this episode of B...

The Advent season is more than just pre-Christmas, or even the first season of the Catholic liturgical calendar. Rather, it is an opportunity to focus on what St. Bernard of Clairvaux called the "three comings of Christ". During Advent, we commemorate the First Coming (the Nativity), we prepare for the Second Coming at the end of time, and we open our hearts for Christ's coming here and now throug...

Catholics are known for good fish fries and loving Mary a whole lot. In this episode, we're talking about the latter. While more can always be said about Marian devotion, this week on Bonus Points, we're talking about what it means to call Mary a Queen, a Mother, and the Model of discipleship. I'll also give a little bit of my own experience with devotion to Mary, and how we can all be more like O...