Catholic Stuff You Should Know

On the heels of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Fr. Jacob and Fr. John discuss the symbolism of the Baptismal and Easter Candle and how we pass on faith from one generation to the next as we receive the light of Christ. They further discuss the role of anointing before public ministry and how sin mars our baptismal garment and dampens our flame, yet God is always working to restore even a sm...

This week Fr. Sean and Fr. John hash through the difficult challenges that face parents in selecting a high school. Distilling down the four basic motives, they hope to offer a deeper engagement of the question, one that offers salient and helpful suggestions for the cultivation of faith and the impartation of a worldview.

As the new year begins, Fr. Sean and Fr. Jacob reflect on why most resolutions fail and propose a more Christian approach: ordering our lives around love rather than self-improvement. They explore practical ways to love God more through attention and silence, to love the Church with fidelity rather than critique, and to love priests with prayer and charity.

Father Sean, Father John, and Father Jacob wish you all a Merry Christmas and share a few graces from the year. Merry Christmas and thanks for listening to CSYSK!

In the final days of Advent, Fr. Sean and Fr. John talk about the ancient O Antiphons, names for Christ drawn from Isaiah, that express Israel’s longing for a Savior. Hidden within these prayers is God’s reply, "tomorrow, I will come” revealing Christmas as the fulfillment of centuries of hope.

Using the film and literature adage of "Show, don't tell," Fr. Jacob leads Fr. Sean down a reflection of Catholic life using the analogies of light and perspective. How can priests and all the faithful show their faith rather than merely tell about it, and how can we all shift our perspective, or change the lighting, so that we can see our faith anew with wonder and awe?

As the second installation on Fr. John's new book "Illuminate," Fr. Jacob and Fr. John unpack some of the deeper contours of the opening verses of the Gospel of St. John. Focused on the themes of Word and Light, the podcast is meant to aid the reading of the book, as well as help anyone to discover the deeper mystery of Christ as we await his coming at Christmas. For more on the book, cf...

Fittingly published on Thanksgiving Day, Fr. Sean and Fr. John delve into the modern culture of health and well-being. Starting from the perspective of the natural good, they then assess the secular and ideological character of the health and wellness culture, before offering ideas around the Christian vision of it. And don’t miss the spicy excursus on botox!

Father Sean and Father Jacob are joined by Wyatt O'Rourke to talk about what the morality of the monetary system and how Bitcoin plays a role in that. They dive into what money is, the morality of money from a Catholic perspective, and how Bitcoin is a solution to that immorality.

Father Jacob and Father John discuss the recent document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding Mary, exploring her roles as Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix. They delve into the theological implications of these titles, the understanding of Mary's mediation, and her role in the Church. Their conversation emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach to Mariology.

Only a few weeks from Advent, Fr. John and Fr. Sean offer an introduction to Fr. John’s latest book, “Illuminate: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation.” As they discuss how the work came to be, its structure and form, they offer practical tips for preparing for the coming liturgical season. For more on the journal, visit https://www.avemariapress.com/products/illuminate?srsltid=AfmBOo...

Fr. John and Fr. Sean welcome their friend and author Dominic Polito for a discussion on his book Fathering Sons. In it they explore the need to rescue and restore authentic paternity in our cultural moment, and offer concrete ideas for a modern rite of initiation. As a firefighter of 20 years and father of five, Dominic brings an honest and inspiring example of how a lived and intentional fatherh...

A Day after St. John Paul II's feast day, Fr. Jacob and Fr. John riff on JPII's philosophical ideas of the human person as they try to come to a greater understanding of healthy self-determination tied to proper self-governance in light of truth. They discuss how man is in a way a "maker of himself" through his agency, and how man can make himself good or evil through his own will. But i...

Fr. Sean and Fr. John unpack the Five Solas of the Reformation — Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria — and explore how the Catholic Church understands grace, faith, and our cooperation with God.

After his recent travels with his parents, Fr. Jacob reflects with Fr. Sean about tourism, pilgrimage, art, architecture, and the consumption of past wonders while pondering what, if, and how we are building culture, architecture and the Church today.

Fr. John leads Fr. Jacob through part two of his reflections on the rolling effects of the rise of artificial intelligence. They explore contemporary western education and the problems that can arise from chasing technological literacy over all else.

Fr. Sean and Fr. John do a deep dive into the understanding of the Sacrament of Confirmation. If Confirmation is not a graduation, then how do we properly understand it? Listen to know the essentials and Confirmation 101.

Fr. Sean and Fr. Jacob answer a couple of questions from a long time listener about how to bring dead parishes back to life. Tune in to hear their thoughts and how you can help build up your local parish(es).

Fr. Jacob and Fr. John were able to get together in person for a quick episode to celebrate CSYSK’s 700th episode and they are even interrupted with a surprise interjection from the one and only Fr. Mike. Fr. Jacob leads Fr. John in a discussion considering the fruits of a creative life and co-creating with God the Creator.

Fr. Sean and Fr. John sit down with Bo Brustkern, Executive Director of Creatio, for a conversation on the beauty of creation and its essential place in our life of faith. Together, they explore Creatio’s mission and how encountering creation can draw us deeper into God’s presence.

Fr. Sean and Fr. Jacob dive into the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—and explore how they impact the way we interpret and pray with the biblical text.

The first of Father John’s fall series on A.I., Father Jacob and he take up the question from the perspective of the uncontrollability of the world. Unpacking the thought of Harmut Rosa and bringing Von Balthasar to bear, they seek to understand the contours of “resonance,” in place of the illusion of an engineered reality.

Inspired by Fr. Sean’s recent ministry in retirement homes, he and Fr. John reflect on the challenges and heartache that come with retirement and the deep value of staying connected to loved ones.

Join Fr. Sean and Fr. Jacob as they explore what it truly means to be disciples of Christ—not just within the walls of our parish, but out in the world. Be inspired to win, build and send for Christ.

Join Fr. Jacob and Fr. John as they explore life through the lens of Ignatian spirituality, inspired by the First Principle and Foundation. They focus on the importance of knowing our true end and how it can shape and direct our life.