The Inner Life

Father Peter Armenio joins Patrick to discuss Marriage and the Cross (3:09) What is Marriage? (22:09) Break 1 (23:25) Margaret - I'm in the process of converting and husband is against it. Any advice? (27:41) How is the man the head of the family? (39:32) Break 2 Carlos - I'll be married 58 years. The criticality is covenant vs contract. That's my experience. (43:04)  Elizabeth - My husband a...

Father Elliot Zak joins Patrick to discuss Evangelization in Modern Times Father shares a little bit about himself. (5:03) what is evangelization? (10:13) Nick - Love how you started the show. Key is finding where they're at and listening in. The greatest thing we can do to evangelize is give our witness. Lord gives us the inspiration to evangelize. We have to pray on those inspirations. Philip -...

Fr. Michael Hurley joins Patrick for the sixth of a special Lenten Series on the 7 Last Words of Jesus – today’s topic: “It is Finished” What would have the people heard from these words of Jesus who where there? (9:43) What is the deeper meaning of this message. (12:56) Robert - I don't understand the debate. it was about his mission on earth. I don't understand the bewild...

Bishop Joseph Coffey joins Patrick on the Solemnity of St. Joseph to discuss St. Joseph and Fatherhood Bishop Coffey shares a bit about himself and his ministry of the Archdiocese of the Military. (7:11) What is the Church’s teaching on Fatherhood? How was Saint Joseph the Father of Jesus even though they were not biologically connected? (11:41) What does God being referred to as Father tell...

Check out this encore show from March 26, 2025 Father John Paul Erickson  joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Movies (4:06) what are the dangers of movies the spiritual life Father shares a movie which he really enjoys (13:52) Sean - The Adventures of Robinhood from 1938. It's a very Catholic movie. Had a good impression on my life. Saw it when I was 6. Greg – Nefarious outstanding movie...

Father Joseph Illo joins Patrick to discuss St. Patrick's Day (3:33) who was Saint Patrick? (13:26) Sylvia - I heard St. Patrick raised people from the dead. Is that true? (18:53) Break 1 (20:29) Natalia - Origins...I wondered if father is familiar with How the Irish Saved Civilization. There's a discrepancy as to where St. Patrick was born. I think he was Roman and living in North Africa...I beli...

Check out this great show from April 7, 2025 Father Patrick Hyde  joins Patrick to discuss Joy in Lent (4:17) why do we talk about joy during Lent? What is joy? How important are circumstances in finding joy? (17:18) Danny - I find it's becoming hard to find joy in lent. In today's age, you don't see it. You tell people it's Lent, and then it's like...and then what? (21:36) Break 1 Susan - I'...

Fr. Dave Heney joins Patrick for the fifth of a special Lenten Series on the 7 Last Words of Jesus – today’s topic: “I Thirst” How does this word of thirst relate with the old testament? (12:02) Biblical meaning of water. What is the significance of the Passover cup? (20:10) Break 1 What is the importance of the Woman at the Well with Jesus’ words of “I Thirst&r...

Msgr. Robert Dempsey joins Patrick in studio to discuss Liturgical Practices in Lent What is the Liturgy? How is the liturgy different in Lent? What is the reason for the missing of the A (18:26) Break 1 Addison – Not Catholic. Doing a lot of research. What should I expect at a Mass during Lent? (26:25) Bonita - Tenebrae...when is it done and why? (30:07) Why is purple used during Lent? Laet...

Fr. Craig DeYoung joins Patrick to discuss Self Denial What is self-denial? (5:21) How does self-denial lead to freedom? How does self-denial lead to virtuous living? (16:27) Nicole - How this lent has been more fruitful for me and helping me lean more into it this way. (20:24) Break 1 How does time play into self-denial? (25:09) the community’s role in helping us with self-denial? (34:03) B...

Fr. Spencer Howe joins Patrick to discuss English Literature (2:41) what is the role of Literature in the life of the Church? What is the history of the Catholic Church in England? (10:26) what is the Catholic influence of Shakespeare. (18:55) Break 1 (19:50) Richard - I'm a reader of CS Lewis, George McDonald. I can tell you how I was put on to CS Lewis and then George McDonald.  (23:54) C.S...

Check out this great show from March 24, 2025 Father Dave Heney  joins Patrick to discuss Anxiety in the Spiritual Life What is Anxiety? (6:49) What is the biggest source of anxiety? What is scrupulosity? (12:58) Email - How can we stop worrying we aren’t going to go to heaven? Barbara - I have suffered with OCD and scrupulosity. In the last couple years, I discovered Dr. Greg Bottaro's...

Msgr. Tom Richter joins Patrick for the fourth of a special Lenten Series on the 7 Last Words of Jesus – today’s topic, Spiritual Abandonment The Allusions of Control. (8:53) Jesus and Psalm 22. (21:24) Break 1 (22:27) Tom - I've always wondered if Jesus felt because of his humanity we as human would feel abandoned by God. Was that an expression of his human feeling because he was full...

Bishop Donald Hying joins Patrick to discuss Surrender to God What makes surrender so important? (7:27) What is the motivation to spiritual practices? (12:34) John - I've got 2 sons struggling with drugs. Talk to them all the time about it. Not having control and putting it in God's hands. Bonita - My brother is in a nursing home. They're going to put him on hospice. Wondering if he's in the right...

Fr. Marc Lenneman joins Patrick to discuss Strengthening the Will (3:06) what is our will? What are the effects of original sin on the will? (10:11) what are good and bad convictions? (15:05) Mary from MN – How do you fight an affection to a specific sin? (18:54) Break 1 Suzie - I say I have a crazy or addict brain. I'm much better during Lent. Try really hard all year, but especially during...

Msgr. Jason Gray joins Patrick to discuss Lessons from Bishop Fulton Sheen Msgr. Gray’s background (4:40) who was Bishop Fulton Sheen and what is his legacy? (9:34) Nick - Part of Militia of Immaculata. Headquarters was in Peoria until it moved. Tomb of Bp Sheen is there and adoration chapel. He had a saying...those who leave do it for what they think it is. He taught me how to love and lear...

Father Joseph Illo joins Patrick to discuss Redemptive Suffering (3:19) What does the Church teach about suffering and God’s plan for suffering? (20:34) Break 1 Father talks about the importance of responding to suffering well (26:01) Yolie - A friend had a baby as the result of a rape. Refused to abort. Was alone after that and had to deal with shame. Is that redemptive suffering? (31:37) P...

Fr. Joseph Johnson joins Patrick for the third of a special Lenten Series on the 7 Last Words of Jesus – today’s topic: Mary’s Role at the Cross (3:26) What is the context in these words of Jesus from the Cross? What Who does John represent in this scene? (13:25) What is Mary’s role in the Passion of our Lord? (18:08) Break 1 What are practical ways in which we can share in...

Father Ryan Brady joins Patrick in studio to discuss The Gift of Giving and an encounter with Pope Leo (3:12)Father Brady meets the pope and gives a good gift from the heart. (9:15) the sacrificial effect of giving (12:46) How does giving make us better people? (20:31) Break 1 (21:36)  Christina - At what point is the stuff you have a problem? I had a dream of St. Therese of Avila and I think...

IL – Father Tom McCarthy joins Patrick to discuss Listening During Lent   As an Augustinian what was Pope Leo trying to say with his letter? (5:10) What prevents us from listening to God during Lent? How can we combat temptations to distractions when trying to listen to God? (13:41) what does it mean that Pope Leo says Docility is at the core of conversion?  (17:02) Carol - I...

Check out this great show from March 11, 2025 Father Rob Kroll  joins Patrick to discuss Mortification Where does the word mortification come from? (5:21) what does mortification include? How do we find the happy medium in mortification? (19:03) Laurie - A long time ago, my kids were going away from the faith. Stopped putting sugar in coffee.  Would it be efficacious to cut out the cream...

Check out this Encore show from March 10, 2025 Father Bobby Blood  joins Patrick to discuss Simplicity in the Spiritual Life What is simplicity? (7:58) What are traps that interfere with our relationship with Jesus? How do we know if we are needing to change something in our prayer life? Albert - We go through life with battles and also the spirit world. Our Lord gives us gifts on his childre...

IL – Fr. James Kubicki joins Patrick for the second of a special Lenten Series on the 7 Last Words of Jesus – today’s topic: Repentance Who was St. Dismas? (7:53) where does the word repentance come from? (17:31) Deacon Shawn - I think the comment about conversion vs repentance is tied together. Reading a book . Repentance is a big part of it. Self reliance on God vs. Surrender....

Fr. Allen Hoffa joins Patrick to discuss Sacramentals What is the goal of Sacramentals? (16:03) Karen - My brother when he was in his late teens was involved in drugs. My mom had placed a scapular inside his pillowcase. He didn't know it. The next morning, she looked at the scapular and it was all knotted up. She believes something happened. Brother didn't do it. How would one explain that? (...

Fr. John Eckert joins Patrick for the start of a special Lenten Series on the 7 Last Words of Jesus – today’s topic, Forgiveness What was he scene of the Crucifixion? How is trust in God the Father shown in this word? (16:20) Jason - I grew up in a tough household. Joined military at 17. Mom had mental illness, dad was a military man and constantly gone. Haven't seen them for years. Fi...