The Inner Life

Fr. Chris Walsh joins Patrick to discuss Discerning the Spirits What is discernment of Spirits? (15:42) Pamela I was going to Mass and Rosary every day when I was having health issues. Had a heart attack and ended up in hospital. Instead of listening to my body, I ended up in the hospital. Patrick - I'm writing a novel. I feel inspired by God and I've been discerning it for years. I sometimes wond...

Fr. John Eckert joins Patrick to discuss Baptism (2:32) why did Jesus need to get Baptized? How does Jesus’ baptism connect with our own baptism? (21:50) Break 1 (23:40) Christina - What about our baptismal promises? Are these the same in all Christian Churches that have valid baptism? What is the role of Faith in baptism? (31:54) email about getting baptized again. (37:35) Break 2 (38:56) R...

Check out this awesome Encore show from October 24, 2025 Fr. John Paul Erickson joins Patrick to discuss Conquering Fear (3:49) how do you distinguish between different types of fears? (11:22) Why does fear lead us into sin? (20:55) Break 1 Matthew - fear stands four: false evidence appearing real counter that with : face everything and recover (25:11) Ashley -I have a fear of death and then every...

Fr. Carter Griffin Discerning Commitments and acting in Prudence (5:43) What is prudence? How do you make good discernment? (13:22) Sacrificial nature of Commitments. (20:09) Lisa - Commitments. If a decision is imprudent in the classical sense of prudence, is it sinful? (23:55) Break 1 (28:25) Jim - I just retired and have more free time. How can I balance adding commitments to help others versus...

Fr. Richard Simon  joins Patrick to discuss Modern Wonder Workers: St Andre Bessette and Simple Faith (3:28) who was Saint Andre Bessette? The importance of humility in working wonders. (9:57) What are Miracles? (13:25) Nick - St. Andre Bessette. I think it is amazing the simple things that St. Andre embraced. God gives us little opportunities like he gave St Andre and then gives bigger oppor...

Fr. James Kubicki joins Patrick to discuss Meaning of the Magi (3:36) What is Epiphany? (9:04) Who were the Magi? (14:33) Christina - Family tradition we've celebrated...our mother started the nativity story and the gift exchange rather than Christmas. Marcos - I was born in Cuba and we kept our tradition alive. Every year on Jan 5th, mom would bake cookies and dad would collect hay. Every year a...

Fr. Spencer Howe joins Patrick to discuss Awakening Wonder through the eyes of GK Chesterton (5:22) what is wonderment? Who was G.K. Chesterton? (14:11) How does Chesterton argue that we have lot our wonder? (20:17) Break 1 Can you have wonderment while in suffering? What are practical ways we can increase wonder in our life? (31:35) Colby - I am currently in OCIA. A great place to start with wond...

Check out this Encore show from October 2, 2025 Fr. Patrick Hyde  joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Warfare Where do we see spiritual warfare in the bible? (7:13) how do we find a happy medium with spiritual warfare? (12:22) Elaine - When I was young, I grew up in a haunted house. When i was little, I'd have nightmares. I would go to my parent’s room. Would see 2 angels in their doorwa...

Check out this Awesome Encore from July 30, 2025 Msgr. Tom Richter  joins Patrick to discuss 6 Foundations of Prayer (part 3) (2:30) Father recaps the first four foundations of faith (18:44) Break 1 (20:18) 5th foundation of prayer: Humility. (37:47) Break 2 (38:59) 6th foundation of prayer: Purification (46:57) Regina - Humility...all the good things God gives people. What if you've been han...

Check out this awesome Encore from June 24, 2025 Msgr. Thomas Richter  joins Patrick to Discuss 6 Foundations of Prayer (part 2) What is the origin of the 6 foundations of prayer? (6:04) what are the first 3 foundations of prayer? (20:10) Break 1 (21:33) Fourth foundation of prayer- Pray from the Heart. (36:40) Break 2 (37:44) Michael - Question about my struggles with temptation. Struggling...

Check out this awesome Encore from May 21, 2025! Msgr. Tom Richter  joins Patrick to Discuss 6 Foundations of Prayer (Part 1) (4:01) why is it important to develop foundations of prayer? (11:05) First foundation of prayer: Awakened Faith (20:20) Break 1 David - How can I get more awaken faith if I already experience it in the past, but it has fallen away? How to reinvigorate the awaken faith...

Check out this Awesome Encore from September 26, 2025 Fr. Ramil Fajardo  joins Patrick to discuss Living a Life of Virtue Why is living virtuously needed for those in your family? (12:18) What are the Four Cardinal Virtues and how do they help? (21:39) Break 1 Dolores - My son is getting married tomorrow. I invited God parents to the wedding without him knowing. what should I do? (29:05) Leo...

Fr. Joseph Johnson joins Patrick to discuss Final Preparations for Christmas (4:10) why is preparation for Christmas so important? The O Antiphons (17:46) Cindy - In preparation, I recently lost my pet of 17 years. I feel like this is a moment where I'm preparing myself because we love those loved ones. I prepare by knowing this is the first they will spend in heaven; I know they are no longer wit...

Fr. Rob Kroll joins Patrick to discuss The Holy Family at Christmas (3:17) Poverty of the Holy Family (20:45) Break 1 (23:00) Clementine - Holy family: When my children were little I would say prayers with them and ask the holy family to keep my family holy. I lost my son and at his funeral there were a lot of priests celebrating the funeral. Importance of families reaching out to others in there?...

Fr. Michael Hurley joins Patrick to have a Sunday Bible Study Matthew 1:18-24 (7:51) Father shares some background on this passage. (12:49) father Shares this Sunday’s Gospel (18:57) Break 1 What is the betrothal of Joseph and Mary? (26:03) Sandy - Why does it matter that Joseph came from the same line of David when he wasn't the biological father of Jesus. Why does it say Joseph was a right...

Fr. Eric Nielsen joins Patrick to discuss Christmas Movies Why are Christmas movies important? What is the importance of Scrooge’s story? (16:23) David - My favorite Christmas movie is 'A Bocelli Family Christmas' (19:58) Break 1 Deb - Christmas Carol Movie. I have 7 versions and watch all of them every Christmas. (24:41) Tony - It's A Wonderful Life is my favorite Christmas Movie. My wife a...

Check out this encore show from December 4, 2025 Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris joins Patrick in studio to discuss Silent Prayer What is he language of God? (8:42) Jan - Silence. There is a silence that exists after the guests go home. There is joy when guests come and the silence after they leave is saddening. Can you help me appreciate this more? (13:14) silence as an invitation to prayer (15:39) Judy...

Fr. John Paul Erickson joins Patrick to discuss Finding Peace What is peace in our current world? (12:01) how does putting things off relate with a lack of peace? (14:54) Melanie - My friend can't do Christmas because their father died on Christmas. How can I help them find peace? (18:55) Break 1 (19:56) Rosa - My granddaughter has been cutting herself. Her mom is hard on her and I don't have the...

(2:44) On today's Inner Life, Fr. Tom Wilson joins to elaborate on Gaudete Sunday and joy. (7:05) The color the vestments the priests wear is Rose (9:00) How Do We Rejoice When Circumstances Don't foster good feelings?   (19:43) Break 1 (26:44) Olivia - I have a son who is going through some hard times.    (38:52) Break 2 (40:18) One of the best things a person can do for joy ...

Check out this encore from December 9, 2025 Fr. John LoCoco  joins Patrick to discuss Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Feast of Juan Diego. What is the Story of our Lady of Guadalupe? (9:30) Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Maternity (19:30) Break 1 (20:34) Richard - What has the scientific investigation of the tilma revealed? The number of the Aztecs that converted equaled the number of people the...

John Eckert joins Patrick to discuss God’s Faithfulness How is the faithfulness of God shown in the Bible (13:17) how God is faithful in times that are tough (19:06) Break 1 How are the sacraments a sign of God’s faithfulness to us? (20:30)  How gentle Gods in his interactions with us. (36:23) Break 2 (37:51) Julie - I don't feel God's presence in my life. From the beginning to th...

Dave Heney joins Patrick to discuss The Value of Tradition (3:54) What is Tradition in the Church? (19:01) Break 1 What is the importance of family Traditions? (23:19) Sandra - Tradition of pinatas and the origin. It comes from the Augustine’s of Mexico. Symbol represents seven deadly sins. Christi - The Jesse Tree. Having the little ones decorate the ornaments. (28:15) Pat - A couple tradit...

Fr. John LoCoco joins Patrick to discuss Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Feast of Juan Diego. What is the Story of our Lady of Guadalupe? (9:30) Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Maternity (19:30) Break 1 (20:34) Richard - What has the scientific investigation of the tilma revealed? The number of the Aztecs that converted equaled the number of people the Church in Europe. Sal - I was drawn to an addictio...

Fr. Joseph Illo joins Patrick to discuss The Immaculate Conception (6:33) What is the Immaculate Conception? How is Mary the new ark of the covenant? (15:07) why was the Marian Dogma declared so late in the Church’s life? (21:24) Break 1 What is original sin? (26:43) George - Adam and Eve verse Jesus and Mary observation, in regard to immaculate conception. (33:45) Break 2 How is the Immacul...

Fr. Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss St. Nicholas: The Spirit of giving Who was Saint Nicholas? (5:24) why do we need to be aware of Church teaching? (15:37) Maria - Story about generosity. I was in a class with a bunch of different instruments, and the nuns said we needed to each bring a dollar to school to help pay for a broken drum. (17:44) Break 1 Geri - Tradition: We would use our dads at...