For College Catholics

Today I welcome Bro. Daniel Heffernan, who has recently made his Profession of Perpetual Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. He shares how he came to know the Will of God for his life, what is a Religious Brother, and why he chose to enter our Community. Download this episode and listen to his inspiring story! - A brief video about Bro. Daniel Heffernan can be found here: https://www.youtube....

Following the example of Jesus Christ, men and women have consecrated and continue to consecrate their lives to God and His Church through the profession of Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. They are the Monks, Nuns, Sisters, Brothers, Consecrated Women and Religious Order Priests. In this episode you’ll find out why this happens to this day in the Catholic Church, and what it means to be e...

Why was the ground Moses was standing on “holy ground”? (Exodus 3:5). Why did Jesus expel the money-changers and people who sold animals from the Temple of Jerusalem? (John 2:13). It’s because “sacred” things, places, times and people are meant to be treated in a different way than things that we have for daily (or “profane”) use. Today we’ll speak about why some things are sacred, and what makes...

Many miracles have happened thanks to touching or praying before the relics of the saints. Powerful signs have taken place by means of a miraculous medal or the Scapular of our Lady of Mount Carmel. But what are Sacramentals and what are the Relics of the Saints? Can we venerate these things? Is it not a kind of “Catholic superstition”? In this episode we talk about these amazing means that God ha...

What is one of the main differences between the Catholic Church and all the Protestant Churches? Perhaps having all seven Sacraments? But what are the Sacraments, who instituted them and why are they so important in your life? Listen in to get a better understanding of this amazing means to receive God’s grace! - The topics discussed in this episode can by found in the Catechism of the Catholic Ch...

In today’s episode, we will talk about what is the Grace of God, how it is necessary for our salvation, and how important it is to seek out God’s grace through the sacraments in order to navigate through our years in college and through our entire lives! Fr. Matthew shares some of his college experiences with us, so don’t miss out! - Scripture Passages: John 15:5 (“Without Me you can do nothing.”)...

In today’s episode we’ll address what is the Liturgy in the Catholic Church, and in what sense or what degree it is important in our life, especially during our college years. I invite Fr. Matthew to discuss how the Catholic Liturgy is the worship that the entire Mystical Body of Christ (Head and members) offers to God the Father. Listen in to know how to make the most of your participation in the...

The Martyrs of Abitene (Tunisia) were tortured and executed for celebrating Mass on Sunday under the persecution of Diocletian (4th Century A.D.). What was so important in the Eucharist that they “couldn’t live without the Mass”? What does the Lord promise to give us through the Eucharist and the Sacraments? What gave these men and women the courage to die for Christ? - Scripture Passages: John 15...

Today I welcome Fr. John Ezratty, who has been a priest or just over 20 years, and lives now in Denver. He has taught at the seminary, he has preached countless retreats, and he offers spiritual direction to countless college students and missionaries. He is also a FOCUS National Chaplain. Among other topics of conversation, he shares with us his vocation story, his wisdom, and some awesome moment...

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged” (Mt 7:1). One of our listeners asks how to avoid critical, judgmental thoughts. But what exactly is it that we’re supposed to avoid? Can we completely eliminate judgmental thoughts about our neighbor? Here are some answers and suggestions to free yourself from such negative burden. - Scripture Passages: Mt 7:1-3; Lk 6:36-37. - Fr. Patrick Wainwright is a...

Why do we say "AMEN" at the end of our prayers? What repercussions does it have for our life? “Amen” expresses both God’s faithfulness and man’s trust in God’s promises. To say “amen” implies believing and trusting in God's fidelity—an attitude that is not commonly found in the world today. - The topics discussed in this episode can by found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 1061-10...

In today’s episode, we talk about the Resurrection of our bodies, the 2nd Coming of Christ, and the Universal Judgment. Besides, I give some suggestions on how to face these realities without fear, but instead with true hope and a sense of responsibility. - Scriptural quotes: The Universal Judgment of the Nations (Matthew 25:31-46); on the Resurrection (Job 19:25-27; Jn 5:28-29); how God didn’t re...

In today’s episode, starting from a scene taken from the Lord of the Rings, I discuss the Private Judgment which will happen at the end of our lives, eternal salvation, Heaven and Hell. These are truths that Jesus Christ revealed both through parables and through His interactions with different people. Two of the clearest expressions of these truths are the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk...

In today’s episode I talk about the finitude of our temporal life, and the eternity of life in Heaven. “Memento mori” is a phrase that has become a bit of a fad in certain environments today, but it has been around in Christian culture for many centuries. While the secular world sees death in a negative and sometimes pessimistic way, the death and resurrection of Christ has given it a whole new an...

In today’s episode I talk about how thanks to Jesus Christ and His death on the Cross, we have been reconciled with God. By the action of the Holy Spirit, the Church is given the power to forgive sins (2 Cor 5:18-19). It is through Baptism and the Sacrament of Penance, that our sins are forgiven, and our relationship with God restored. God is willing to forgive any amount of sins, and as grave as...

In today’s episode we welcome Dr. Lawrence Feingold, who is a Doctor in Theology. He is Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. He is an expert in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. (You can find a more extensive bio in the previous episode #55). In this episode we speak about how to make sense of the existence of EVIL in the world, while believing...

In today’s episode we welcome Dr. Lawrence Feingold. He is Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. He is an expert in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. Among other very profound books, he wrote: The Eucharist: Mystery of Presence, Sacrifice and Communion; Faith Comes From What Is Heard: An Introduction to Fundamental Theology; Touched by Christ: T...

In today’s episode I talk about the preeminent member of the Body of Christ, that is the Virgin Mary. She is the Mother of Jesus, and therefore, the “Mother of God”, as confirmed by the Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431). She is always interceding for us, just as she did in the Wedding at Cana (Jn 2:1-12). In Heaven, Jesus continues to love her as He did in this earth, and grants her everything she ask...

In today’s episode we talk about how the Church Christ is the Mystical Body of Christ, and as members of it, we are all members of Christ and members of one another. There is a communion of goods and a communion of people. There are three stages in the one Catholic Church: those that are in Heaven, those that are in Purgatory, and those that are still on this earth. We consider the example of St....

In today’s episode we welcome Fr. Stephen Pullis, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, to talk about how to expect the Holy Spirit to act in the life of any college student, and what to do in order to be open to His sanctifying action. We speak about how he sanctifies us, especially through the sacraments, through interior inspirations and through the “actual” graces God gives us. We also speak...

In today’s episode I interview Fr. Stephen Pullis a Priest from the Archdiocese of Detroit. Ordained to the Priesthood in 2011, he is now the Director of Graduate Pastoral Formation at Sacred Heart. On the weekends, he is an associate priest at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. In this interview, he tells us how he discerned his vocation to the Priesthood. He also shares some tips for spiritual di...

In today’s episode we talk about how the Church Christ established is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. This should help us learn to recognize which is the true Church of Christ. We look at the example of St. Josaphat who worked for the unity of the Catholic Church, and died a martyr for this reason. At the end of the episode, I give you some personal advice for your own spiritual life. This epis...

In today’s episode we talk about the Catholic Church. How it was founded by Jesus Christ and enlivened by the Holy Spirit. We speak about how it has a human element and a divine element. We talk about what IS the Catholic Church; some of the names given it in the New Testament; and some of the symbols used to describe it. We look at the example of St. Edmund Campion, S.J., an English martyr, as a...

In today’s episode we talk about how the Holy Spirit worked in the life of a French young man called Jacques Fesch, who lived in France from 1930 to 1957. He was convicted for killing a policeman, and condemned to death at the guillotine. His conversion and spiritual growth in prison were miraculous.  The last entry in his journal, before going to his death read “In five hours, I will see Jesus”....

In today’s episode we speak about the Holy Spirit, and how He works silently and unnoticeably to vivify the Catholic Church, and to sanctify our souls. He is the unsung hero of our salvation. The Holy Spirit builds, animates and sanctifies the Church. So, as some ancient writers have said, the Holy Spirit is like the soul of the Catholic Church. Besides the Holy Spirit sanctifies the individual so...