Catholicism Unwrapped

As Fr. Andy Beerman celebrates 30 years of priesthood, he sits down with Fr. Andy Vogel to reflect on the people, moments, and graces that have shaped his vocation. Together they revisit ordination day, share humorous family memories, and recount moving encounters with God's mercy through the sacraments, anointing the sick, and the ministry of presence. Along the way, Fr. Beerman offers wisdom gai...

The Bible wasn't written in English. In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped, the Fathers Andy explore several Greek words and phrases from the New Testament that illuminate Catholic teachings on the Church, apostolic succession, and the Eucharist. You'll never read these passages quite the same way again.

The Bible is God's Word, but how are we supposed to read it? Many Christians claim the Bible alone is enough, yet thousands of denominations interpret it differently. So who is right? Fr. Andy Vogel and Fr. Andy Beerman dive into the Catholic approach to Scripture, explaining the three principles that guide biblical interpretation and help Catholics read the Bible within the fullness of God's reve...

From atomic bombs to self-defense, genocide to peace through prayer; this episode dives into one of the hardest moral questions in Christianity: when, if ever, is war justified? Fr. Andy Vogel and Fr. Andy Beerman unpack the Catholic understanding of Just War Theory and the deeper spiritual roots of conflict.

Some things seem harmless… until they’re not. In this episode, Fr. Vogel and Fr. Beerman take a closer look at practices like tarot cards, horoscopes, psychics, and more - asking a deeper question: where does that “power” actually come from? The answers might surprise you.

In this episode, Fr. Andy Vogel and Fr. Andy Beerman dive into one of the most mysterious and misunderstood passages in Scripture: the seven trumpets from the Book of Revelation. Are the seven trumpets happening right now? Are they signs of the end of the world? Why do so many videos online claim we are living in these times? Along the way, they discuss: why Catholics read the Bible in context the...

Most Catholics don’t go to confession. In fact, recent survey data shows that 68% haven’t gone in the past year, despite the Church’s clear teaching and the incredible graces available in the sacrament. So what’s really holding people back? In this episode, the Fathers Andy unpack: The most common fears about confession (and why they’re wrong) Why embarrassment, shame, and misunderstanding keep pe...

The Apostles’ Creed says Jesus descended into hell; but the Church doesn’t mean what many people assume. In this episode, the Fathers Andy explain what Scripture and the Catechism actually teach about the place of the dead, why no one went to heaven before Christ, and what happened on Holy Saturday. They also discuss limbo, purgatory, the salvation of children, and the hope the Church gives to tho...

Many Catholics have heard of practices like burying a statue of St. Joseph to sell a house, wearing a scapular for protection, or praying certain prayers for specific outcomes. But when does a devotion become superstition? In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped, the Fathers Andy discuss what the Catechism of the Catholic Church actually says about superstition, why it is considered sinful, and w...

Can God speak through dreams and visions? And if so, how should Catholics understand them? In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped, Fr. Andy and Fr. Andy explore what the Church actually teaches about dreams, visions, and how God communicates with His people. They discuss biblical and saintly examples, the difference between dreams and visions, and why not every meaningful dream is a message from...

In Part II of our Ignatian discernment series, we go deeper into the realities of consolation and desolation, drawing from the Catechism, the Ignatian spiritual exercises, and the lived experience of the spiritual life. In this episode, we explore why God sometimes permits spiritual dryness, how silence can actually deepen faith, and why feelings, good or bad, are not reliable measures of God’s pr...

God speaks. But not always the way we expect. In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped, Fr. Andy & Fr. Andy dive into the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises; unpacking consolation, desolation, and discernment in a world that never stops talking. They explore: • Why silence is often where God speaks most clearly • How to tell the difference between God’s voice and the enemy’s • What to do when prayer...

In this episode, we examine the cultural consequences Pope Paul VI warned about in Humanae Vitae. From divorce, pornography, and IVF to euthanasia, declining vocations, and loss of faith, we'll unpack how separating sex from procreation reshaped how we view love, marriage, and human life itself.

What’s the real difference between Natural Family Planning and contraception; and why does the Church insist the distinction matters? In Part 3 of our Humanae Vitae series, the Fathers Andy dig into questions most people have never been invited to ask: how the body actually works, what modern contraceptives really do, and whether the cultural promises of “control” and “freedom” have come at a hidd...

Modern culture tells us that children are a right, not a gift; and that technology can fix whatever nature cannot. But what if that story is incomplete? In this episode, the Fathers Andy continue their discussion on contraception by unpacking IVF, Humanae Vitae, and Pope Paul VI’s vision for the future of marriage, sexuality, and family life. They explore why the Church sees the human person as a...

What does Jesus actually mean when He says it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? In this episode, the Fathers Andy sit down with author Dan Hamlet, whose new book Through the Eye of the Needle tackles one of the most misunderstood teachings of Jesus head-on. Together, they break open: Whether wealth itself is sinful How Chri...

Every cultural revolution has a beginning. In Part One of our series on contraception, the Fathers Andy uncover the events, people, and pressure points that set the stage for one of the most defining moral debates of the last century. From the Anglican Lambeth Conference to the invention of the pill, from Casti Connubii to Humanae Vitae, and from Fr. Charles Curran to the modern dissent movement,...

From Pharaoh’s dream to modern-day Israel, the story of God’s chosen people is one of promise, exile, and fulfillment. In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped, the Fathers Andy explore the full sweep of Israel’s history; political, biblical, and spiritual. They unpack Daniel’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, the succession of empires that occupied Israel, and the longing for a true King who wo...

The “rapture” has gone viral again, but it’s not what the Catholic Church teaches. In this episode, the Fathers explain why, diving into what Scripture actually says about the end times, the thousand-year reign, Israel, and God’s promises to His people. Plus: a look at Nostra Aetate and the Church’s response to today’s events in Israel and Gaza.

When tragedy strikes, many are left asking: “Where is God in all of this?” In this episode, the Fathers Andy address the hard question of evil and suffering in the wake of the recent Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis. Drawing on C.S. Lewis’ The Problem of Pain and Bishop Barron’s insights, they unpack God’s active and permissive will, and how even in deep sorrow, our faith can endure and mak...

What can we really learn from the life and death of Charlie Kirk? In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped we explore the meaning of martyrdom and why the Church teaches that there is an even higher good than life itself. We discuss the importance of dialogue, the clash between objective truth and relativism, and how history shows the Church often grows stronger where it is most oppressed. We also...

In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped, the Fathers Andy dive into the Rosary. Where its prayers come from, why it’s such a central devotion in the Catholic faith, and the powerful role of Mary’s intercession. Along the way, they unpack some fascinating tidbits about Marian devotion, share insights on the Rosary’s history, and reflect on how this prayer can transform your spiritual life. If you’...

Sin leaves behind real damage; even after forgiveness. In this episode, we unpack the Catholic teaching on reparation: why it matters, how it flows from both justice and love, and what it means to “make amends” in union with Christ. We’ll explore the difference between forgiveness and repair, and how reparation shapes our spiritual lives and relationships.

Miracles are more than just extraordinary events; in the Catholic Church, they’re carefully examined, categorized, and even challenged. In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped, we break down the different degrees of miracles, explore why some dismiss them outright, and look at how the Church discerns the real from the fabricated. Whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this...

Aliens and salvation: What if we’re not alone in the universe? In this episode, Fr. Andy and Fr. Andy explore what the Catholic Church actually says (and doesn’t say) about the possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth. Could aliens exist within God’s plan for creation? Would they need salvation? Could they be baptized? And how would their existence affect our understanding of original sin, the...