Every Knee Shall Bow (Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast)

Mary does not say much in Scripture. There is a lot of her life that remains unknown. However, there are nods to Mary from the very beginning of the Bible all the way to the end. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle share and explain some of the typology of Mary that can be found throughout the Bible. Snippet from the Show Mary is the Ark of the Covenant. She crushes the enemy under our feet and pla...

The Rosary, the Miraculous Medal, the Brown Scapular - these are some of the most well-known Marian Devotions. But what is their origin? What is their purpose? How are they different from charms or magic? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss these Marian Devotions and respond to common questions about them. They share their experiences with Marian Devotions and how they have impacted their l...

Mary just plays the role that pagans had for female goddesses. Jesus only appeared to be human so Mary didn’t really conceive him or give birth to him. These are two common heresies that oppose the Church’s teachings on Mary. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle explain the origins of these heresies and offer instruction on how to respond to them. Snippet from the Show If you are a discipleship of J...

Do Catholics worship Mary? Was Mary always a virgin? All of the Marian dogmas solicit a myriad of rebuttals and some can be difficult to respond to. In this episode, Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle address some of the common arguments against Mary’s perpetual virginity and devotion to Mary. They respond to these arguments by citing both Scripture and Tradition. Snippet from the Show When you look...

Why is Mary so important? How is Mary meant to be a part of our lives? Perhaps, you are someone who has struggled in your devotion to Mary or maybe you have a deep relationship with her. Wherever you fall, you are sure to enjoy and gain so much from this series on Mary from Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle. Learn, be inspired, and grow in your love for Mary. Snippet from the Show “From Mary, we lea...

Do you know what Catholics actually believe about Mary? There can be a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to the Catholic Church's teachings on Mary. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle go through the Marian dogmas and explain each one so as to better equip you in your evangelization. Snippet from the Show Mary represents what the fullness of grace can do in the life of a creature. We want to he...

There is a significant de-emphasis in American Christianity on the sacramental life. Instead, many Christians are more focused on their personal faith. What are the dangers of this? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle take up these questions as a conclusion to this series on Mystagogy. Snippet from the Show All of the sacraments are material, visible, sensible signs that communicate the invisible,...

Priests were not first introduced in the New Testament. In fact, priesthood existed right at the beginning of the Old Testament. So, how can we understand the priesthood in the economy of salvation? How do we distinguish the Old Testament priesthood from the new? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle answer these questions and more. Snippet from the Show “In the whole history of humanity, there is only...

What is the purpose of a Catholic priest and what is it not? The Catholic priesthood can spark a lot of confusion. Are they a symbolic leader or a CEO? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle answer many of the common questions associated with the priesthood and emphasize why it is such an essential part of the Catholic faith. Snippet from the Show “The priest is not a priest for himself. He does not give...

What is the best thing you can do for your marriage? In their final episode on marriage, Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle address the topic of marital spirituality. They share their own experiences of developing a prayer life with their spouse and the challenges they faced. Together, they encourage every person to prioritize prayer in their marriage. Snippet from the Show Choosing to love and choos...

What does a truly Christian marriage look like? Continuing their discussion on the sacrament of marriage, Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss the characteristics and traits of a truly Christian marriage. They also discuss what sort of impact a Christian marriage ought to have on those who have received the sacrament. Snippet from the Show You should remind yourself every day of the vows you...

Have you ever thought of marriage as a sacrament of communion? The heart of marriage is not emotional support within a domestic relationship, but rather the mutual giving of two entire lives. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle compare and contrast how society and the Church view marriage and remind those partaking in and preparing for the sacrament that, when you serve your spouse and your childre...

Do you know what happens after you die? What does the Church tell us about what will occur after our death? Dave VanVickle and Michael Gormley take up these questions and explain the Church’s teachings. They explain how judgment works and why it is so important for those on earth to do penance for the dead. Snippet from the Show “Death proves also that life has meaning, because it reveals that the...

What is Anointing of the Sick? This sacrament can receive a lot of misunderstanding and confusion. Who can receive it? Is it for spiritual or physical ailment? What does it actually do? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle respond to these questions and offer their personal experiences of witnessing the sacrament. Snippet from the Show The Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death...

How do you make a good confession? How do you cope with a bad confession? Going to confession is a very vulnerable thing. It can be a great experience, but occasionally, it can be a negative one. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss some of the common reasons why people may have a negative experience in confession. They offer advice on how to respond and how to potentially avoid them all tog...

Confession can feel uncomfortable, intimidating, and even burdensome. However, the sacrament of confession is one of the greatest gifts from God. How can we understand that better? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle explain the joy and goodness of confession. They share their own feelings about the sacrament and how they have worked to overcome sin in their own lives. Snippet from the Show If you tru...

Why is the Eucharistic theme so central to the Catholic life? Perhaps, you have heard the term “Eucharistic people” and wondered what it means and what that might look like. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss the impact of the Eucharist on our lives. They also offer advice on how to prepare well for receiving the Eucharist. Snippet from the Show Remember that you are encountering the livin...

What is the high point in life? Where ought everything to lead? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle continue their conversation around mystagogy as they discuss the Eucharist. They explain its importance and why everything ought to point to the Eucharist. Snippet from the Show Every bit of our life ought to be oriented towards encounter with Jesus Christ. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@...

Is Confirmation really important? What does it do that Baptism doesn’t already do? For many, Confirmation can seem like an afterthought or some rite of passage. However, Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle share why it is so much more than that. They explain its incredible significance and why it is essential for someone striving for salvation. Snippet from the Show The most underplayed sacrament of t...

Is there anything pointing to Baptism in the Old Testament? Are there shadows of it that come into the light in the New Testament? Mike Gormley is here with a bonus episode to dive into this very topic. Enjoy this bonus content looking at typology of the Old Testament and Baptism. Snippet from the Show The sacramental life of the Church communicates the life of Christ to us. We want to hear from y...

Baptism is not just something to check off on the “To Do” list of the Christian life. So, what is it and what does it do? How can we understand the mystery of Baptism? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle tackle these questions and encourage believers to share the truth about Baptism. Snippet from the Show Baptism is salvific because it communicates the very life of God. We want to hear from you! Em...

How important are the sacraments? Are they just steps in the Christian life or do they bear a lot more weight in our journey towards salvation? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle continue their series on Mystagogy by addressing the importance of the sacraments. They discuss the mystery of the sacraments and why they are truly a matter of life and death. Snippet from the Show The sacraments are a matt...

Every Knee Shall Bow is back for another season! Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are addressing the topic of Mystagogy. In this episode, they explain what Mystagogy is and why it is such an important part of the Christian life. Snippet from the Show The Lord wants to give you a deeper hunger for the divine life. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/c...

What is happiness and how do you get it? This question has been at the forefront of humanity since the beginning of time. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Dr. Jennifer Frey to discuss happiness and the role virtue plays in attaining it. Snippet from the Show The reason why sin must be avoided at all costs is because it prevents you from being totally fulfilled with God. We want to hea...

There are a lot of opinions on liturgy in the Catholic Church. So, it is understandable to wonder, “Is there a right way to do liturgy?”. Mike Gormley is joined by Fr. David Hust to discuss the purpose and goodness of liturgy. They explain why it is so important to understand liturgy and all the ways that the faithful can participate in the liturgies of the Church. Snippet from the Show If we’re m...