The Inner Life

Father Matthew Spencer, OSJ joined Patrick for a conversation about work. Topics included: work & God's plan (2:56), why do we work? (9:24), St. Anthony of the desert (12:24), caller: we used to pray in the Navy (16:27), caller: I feel my husband engages more with work than with us (22:16), caller: I left my advertising job (25:28), what if I don't like my job? (30:09), caller: I try to keep p...

Father Bryce Sibley joined Patrick for the first time to discuss prayer as receiving God's love. Topics included: what prayer is (5:35), understanding the walls that we have in prayer (12:32), distortions about God (20:37), feelings & the presence of God (27:54), if our sin is too great for God (38:25), and unforgiveness (44:23). 

Father Matthew Widder joined Patrick for a conversation about fasting. Topics included: Jesus' fasting (3:14), temperance & pride (8:54), caller: what if I enjoy fasting? (15:41), caller: is it OK to fast from social media? (23:54), caller: fasting from food is easy; what should I do? (28:53), caller: my mom told me to offer up my fasting (32:28), caller: is it OK to fast at 77 years old? (40:...

Father John Paul Erickson joined Patrick for a conversation about discernment. Topics included: what discernment is (3:39), vocations (11:08), caller: how do I discern? (20:46), caller: discerning the big decisions (25:45), do we get better at discernment with time? (29:03), caller: should our pastor be our spiritual director? (36:23), caller: I feel like I missed a calling (38:57), caller: story...

Father Patrick Hyde, OP joined Patrick for a conversation about scrupulosity. Topics included: what scrupulosity is (3:29), signs of scrupulosity (11:37), caller: did I make a good confession? (19:18), caller: The Mindful Catholic has helped me (27:40), preparing for confession (35:25), email: how do I grow in trust? (41:37), and seeking professional help (45:27). 

Father Peter Armenio joined Patrick for a conversation about religious doubt. Topics included: doubt (4:10), the anthesis of faith (10:02), caller: question vs. doubt (14:55), do questions lead to doubt (20:58), email: sometimes I doubt God’s love (24:42), email: Zachariah & Mary’s responses to the angel (30:34), caller: am I worthy of God? (32:40), email: I’m doubting my Mormon faith (36:47),...

Father Brian O'Brien joined Patrick for a conversation about supporting priests. Topics include: the sacrament of Holy Orders (3:59), Fr. O'Brien's vocation story (6:38), misconceptions and challenges (9:54), priest burnout (18:37), email: what if your priest doesn't support you? (21:51), caller: I pray for priests during the rosary! (24:41), caller: I participate in the Seven Sisters Apostolate (...

Father Chris Walsh joined Patrick for a conversation about handing down the faith. Topics included: father's faith growing up (3:16), the family life of Jesus (7:20), caller: I thinking explaining the mass to kids is important (12:34), priests & family life (19:34), parents as primary educators (22:47), caller: I think its important to invest in good Catholic organizations (28:53), caller: we...

Father Tom Wilson joined Patrick to discuss Jesus' Baptism. Topics included: the Baptism of the Lord in the Gospels (4:55), Baptism as a foundational moment (11:19), caller: my daughter won't baptize her children (21:56), Jesus as priest, prophet, and king (26:12), caller: recognizing Jesus as Messiah (31:22), knowing the date of our Baptism (37:48), connection between Baptism and confession (47:2...

Father Rob Kroll, SJ joined Patrick for a conversation about making an examination of conscience. Topics included: what a conscience is (2:57), St. Ignatius of Loyola (9:35), awareness of our shortcomings (16:59), caller: I struggle with OCD (23:20), caller: how can I distinguish between mortal and venial sin? (28:27), email: I find myself committing the same sins (33:11), making time for an exami...

Father Dave Heney joined Patrick to discuss spiritual resolutions. Topics included: prayer for the New Year (5:55), realistic resolutions (10:26), caller: being in a state of grace is my resolution (14:35), resolutions for families (19:20), caller: I need to get more organized (25:54), parish resolutions (32:35), finances (36:56), holy mass and spiritual direction (42:42), and how to keep our reso...

Father James Kubicki, SJ joined Patrick for a conversation about good spiritual reading! Topics included: the importance of spiritual reading (3:25), what to look for (7:25), the Catechism & lives of the Saints (10:34), caller:  Every Day with St. Francis de Sales (17:19), Caller: Are novels OK for Spiritual reading? (21:11), Caller: The Fulfillment of All Desire (27:36), caller: Manual for Eu...

Father Peter Armenio joined Patrick to discuss the beauty and joy of the Rosary. Topics included: what the rosary is (3:09), the rosary and Christian history (11:25), caller: does the Rosary put me in a state of grace? (15:55), the rosary as the epitome of the whole Gospel (18:55), caller: praying with rosary beads (25:54), caller: I prayed the rosary during COVID (28:24), how Fr. Peter began pray...

Father John Paul Erickson joined Patrick Conley for a conversation about the power of sacramentals. Topics included: what sacramentals are (2:40), how the physical world reveals God (10:31), caller: how to we prevent against superstition? (19:10), caller: I love the rosary and my crucifix (24:59), email: I make prayer shawls (28:39), caller: how do I dispose of sacramentals? (30:37), caller: what...

Father John LoCoco joined Patrick for a conversation about overcoming anger. Topics included: how father deals with anger (2:26), anger and trust in God (5:21), the Sermon on the Mount (7:10), how anger restricts our freedom (10:33), caller: is anger ever justified? (13:54), situations that cause anger (18:03), anger in politics (25:52), caller: I used to get angry in traffic (29:28), caller: how...

Bishop Andrew Cozzens joined Patrick for a conversation about the Bible and the beauty of the Eucharist. Topics included: Eucharistic Congress update (4:02), manna in the desert and Jesus' teaching (5:53), bread of life discourse (12:21), living the Eucharist (14:19), the Last Supper (29:44), Suffering (34:42), Bishop Cozzens' story of paraplegic man (40:23), the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit (46:...

Father Matthew Spencer, OSJ, joined Patrick for the third of a three-day series on the Beatitudes. Topics included blessed are the clean of heart (3:40), the importance of chastity (12:07), caller: giving online to my parish (14:58), 'for they shall see God' (17:55), what kind of 'peace' are we to make? (22:53), how do we foster peace? (27:10), what does it mean to be a Son of God (30:24), caller:...

Father Matthew Spencer, OSJ joined Patrick for the second of a three-day series on The Beatitudes. Topics included: who the meek are (4:02), how do we inherit the earth? (8:24), what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness (19:21), for they shall be satisfied (28:53), caller: I'm waiting for justice after my husband was shot (32:47), blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy (3...

Father Matthew Spencer, OSJ joined Patrick for the first of a three-day series on The Beatitudes. Topics included: the Sermon on the Mount (2:07), what is real happiness (7:06), caller: the Beatitudes & God's will (10:26), why does Jesus sit down when He teaches (16:47), blessed are the poor in spirit (19:19), attachments (23:37), caller: I realized material things couldn't make me happy (29:2...

Father Ethan Southard joined Patrick for a conversation about carols, hymns, & movies. Topics included: O Come O Come Emmanuel (4:31), silent night (9:13), Caller: Noche Paz (18:52), caller: Little Drummer Boy (21:26), Christmas Movies (25:59), caller: Do you Hear what I hear? (37:04), caller: O Holy Night (42:22), caller: 12 Days of Christmas (44:43). 

Father Richard C. Hermes, S.J. joined Patrick for a conversation about Christmas traditions. Topics included: Celebrating Christmas as a Catholic (4:55), Christmas food (12:54), caller: we set up a nativity play as a family (18:52), feasting during the holidays (21:38), caller: we went out to help others one Christmas (25:04), caller: WWII & Vietnam Christmas story (28:52), caller: we had our...

Father Michael Hurley, OP joined Patrick for a conversation about grief and loss during the holidays. Topics included: grief during the holidays (3:55), suffering and God's plan (6:40), grief as a help from God (13:20), caller: my mom passed away this year (19:30), Jesus present during suffering (21:53), email: we lost our dad last year (26:24), caller: accepting loss is important (30:22), caller:...

Father Carter Griffin joined Patrick for a conversation about humility. Topics included: what humility is (2:56), living humility (7:34), caller: Isn't it prideful to say that God wants a personal relationship with me? (18:15), compassion & humility (21:43), caller: how do I help parents that want their kids to get into elite schools? (25:54), learning from humiliation (33:32), caller: is my l...

Sister Agnus Dei, SV joined Patrick for a conversation about silence. Topics included: why silence is important for our relationship with the Lord (4:50), how Sister embraces silence (10:44), caller: I have a routine of silent prayer (16:49), Advent & Silence (22:14), silence as a training ground (25:07), what we should expect during silence (32:51), caller: I'm trying to embrace silence more...

Fr. Craig DeYoung   joins Patrick to discuss Gaudete Sunday and Joy.   (2:50) – What is Gaudete Sunday and what does it mean?   (6:36) – What does it mean to rejoice?   (11:54) – Obstacles to joy   (16:56) Break 1   (18:46) – Martha - How do find joy during periods of grief?   (25:33) – Difference between joy and happiness   (30:45) – Paula - I worked for a priest who was a very joyful person and...