The War on Mediocrity

You can do all the right things, but what if love is missing? Fr. Zarse and Carson look at why charity is the greatest virtue, how it changes the way we love God and our neighbor, why it gives life to every other virtue, and what it means to choose love even when we do not feel it.

The theological virtue of faith is often misunderstood as believing without reason, but is that really what the Church means by faith? In this episode, we look at why faith and reason are not opposed, what happens when reason reaches its limits, and how faith actually perfects our intellect.

The supernatural virtue of hope is more than believing things will get better. Fr. Zarse and Carson Ackerman explore what Christian hope actually gives us when life is uncertain, suffering hits, or we find ourselves falling into the same sin again .

The guide to breaking free from habitual sin. Fr. Zarse and Carson Ackerman dig into why certain sins become so difficult to shake, how repeated choices begin to shape us, what we can learn from the patterns surrounding our falls, and what it actually takes to begin breaking free.

One year in, Fr. Joseph looks back on the people and moments that have made Sacred Heart feel like home. From parish life and priesthood to learning to swim, Kansas City barbecue, and the World Cup, he shares some of his favorite memories from his first year.

What if one of the most active, driven men in The Odyssey is also guilty of sloth? This week, Fr. Zarse and Carson use Odysseus as a surprising entry point into one of the most misunderstood deadly sins. What does sloth really look like? Can you be busy, productive, and constantly moving while still falling into it?

What happens in the moments after we fall into sin matters. Fr. Zarse & Carson Ackerman unpack how to turn back to God without getting trapped in shame or despair, how to trust His mercy, and why Confession is always the way home.

The Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the Church, but why should you pray it? Fr. Zarse explains the beauty of praying the Hours, his commitment to them, why they matter, and what's changing next year. 

"God will forgive me anyway." What happens when God's mercy becomes part of our justification for sin? Fr. Zarse & Carson explore presumption, the ways we justify sin, and what happens when we abuse the mercy of God.

Fr. Zarse explores the purpose of fasting, how to approach it with the right disposition, and why fasting without prayer can quickly become little more than dieting. He also discusses different ways to fast and what the Church actually teaches about Friday penance and abstaining from meat.

God may be more present in your day than you realize. Fr. Zarse & Carson explain how the daily examen can reveal what you missed, expose the patterns holding you back, and help you follow God's will more closely.

James Euston is back to continue his story, sharing about leaving Franciscan with two years remaining, making the leap of faith to enter seminary, and his time in formation.

"If you want to be a saint, you have to be magnanamous." - Fr. Mike Schmitz In this episode, Fr. Zarse and Carson unpack this often-overlooked virtue & why every saint seems to have it in common.

Fr. Zarse explains how striving for excellence in even the smallest tasks can help us grow in holiness, increase our virtue, and become who God created us to be

We often think free time is the same as rest, but it isn't. In this episode, we explore why we actually need leisure as a rest of the soul ordered toward love and worship, not just distraction or recovery from work.

Fr. Zarse and Fr. Joseph share their experience at the World Cup, a trip they were gifted that turned into a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Fr. Joseph talks about the opportunity and conversations around possibly meeting the Ghana national team and the president of Ghana football, as well as Ghana coming to Kansas City!

James Euston shares his story of bold leaps of faith, his reversion, his call to seminary, and time in Europe that shaped his discernment and vocation

The U.S. bishops consecrated our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but what does that actually mean? Fr. Zarse and Carson discuss the significance of this historic act, what fruits could follow for America, and what it asks of each of us today.

The virtue of prudence sits at the heart of every good decision we make. Fr. Zarse and Carson unpack how prudence is more than caution or overthinking, but right reason in action that helps us choose the true good in concrete situations. They discuss how to grow in prudence, its benefits, and the consequences of lacking it in daily life.

Landry Weber joins Fr. Zarse and Carson for a conversation about his vocation story. From playing wide receiver at Kansas State to discerning a call to the seminary, Landry shares the experiences and moments that led him to where he is today. Now three years away from ordination, God willing, he reflects on seminary life, discernment, and following God's call.

Fr. Zarse & Carson dig into what it really means to be "in the world but not of the world," not as a slogan but as something you actually live. We're constantly in environments that pull us in different directions, but the answer is not to run from the world.

  Take a deep dive into the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary with Fr. Zarse as we slow down each scene of the Gospel and uncover what's actually happening—and how it can change the way you pray the Rosary.

Fr. Zarse and Carson talk through the Catechism's teaching on forgiveness, pain, and mercy, and what it means to forgive when the hurt is still present.

Fr. Zarse shares his vocation story—every step of the way. From his childhood and college years to the leap of faith into seminary, he walks through the key moments that led him to the priesthood

Vulnerability is risky—and most of us avoid it. But without it, there's no real love, no healing, no growth. Fr. Zarse and Carson explore how Christ models true vulnerability, why it's essential for relationships and the spiritual life, and what it actually looks like to live it out with wisdom, humility, and trust in God.