What God is Not

This week Fr. Michael shares his vocation story. He starts early - with his grandparents - and then makes his way to childhood and college years. Fr. Michael shares how the Lord worked in his life to show him the peace and joy he'd receive as a priest. References: Father Michael on Chris Stefanick's show Father Michael's vocation episode on Catholic Stuff Follow and Contact Us! Foll...

This week Mother Natalia talks about Zaccheus, the searching he did to find Jesus, and how that searching is in response to Jesus searching for him. This is the same in our lives. We are searching for Jesus as a response to Him searching for us. Mother Natalia talks about how Zaccheus was "all in" with Jesus and how that's a model for her life, including in her response to hospitali...

We were featured on SEEK in December and we're dropping the episode here in case you missed us! Father Michael and Mother Natalia share stories of their friendship, how SEEK played a part of their lives, and then talk about Divine Liturgy. SEEK is an annual retreat put on by Focus the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. SEEK 22 is wrapped, but put this on your radar for SEEK 23. Refer...

This week we’re joined by special guest Casey Dail. Casey talks about her experience as a foster mom and the balance she has to practice of attachment and detachment. She links some of her experiences to the ecstasy experienced in the cross. Casey recently started a coaching practice. If you’re interested in working with her or would like to know more about her experience as a foster mom, you can...

This week Father Michael talks about the reality of loneliness within our vocation. We talk about relying on God instead of others to satisfy loneliness. References: From Whence Mother Natalia Came The Space Trilogy Series by C.S. Lewis Book 1: Out of the Silent Planet Book 2: Perelandra Book 3: That Hideous Strength Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Sobornost by Catherine Doherty Urodivoi by Cather...

This week Mother Natalia shares her vocation story up to the decision to enter the monastery. References: Mother Natalia has been on two episodes with Matt Fradd Episode One: Why Sr. Natalia Become a Nun Episode Two: Eastern Catholicism w/ Mother Natalia An Explanation by Luke Spehar Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Mic...

This week's episode is long but so worth it! We're happy to welcome to the podcast special guest Melkite Joe. Melkite Joe shares a bit of his life story that led to his discernment to enter Holy Transfiguration Monastery in California. If you would like to donate to Melkite Joe's fundraiser, you can find all the details here . Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebo...

This week Mother Natalia talks about judgement. She gives some practical examples of judgement and the way it causes a block or barrier between herself and the person as well as herself and God. References: Wounded by Love by Elder Porphyrius Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom...

Father Michael uses two Gospel passages along with some prayer requests in his life to talk about unanswered prayer and how our unanswered prayers unite us with our forefathers.   References: Hidden Sins, Perceivable Virtue (The episode inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray) The Year of Grace of the Lord Luke 14: 16 - 24   - parable about the wedding banquet, read 2 Sundays before Christmas Luke...

This week Mother Natalia talks about how loving people shows us the love of God, and that in loving, both the the lover and the beloved receive fruit. The ability both to give love and receive love are because God gives us those abilities. In loving each other we love God, and that love can heal us. Growing in holiness helps us to grow in love. References: The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St John Cl...

This week we're joined by special guest Catherine! Catherine is a catechumen at the Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary's where Fr. Michael is pastor. Catherine talks about her journey to becoming a catechumen. She shares how truth and beauty  helped her come to the realization of God’s existence. References: Video Parody of Adele's Hello with Christ the Bridegroom Monastery and the Merceda...

This week Mother Natalia shares some reflections she had on poustinia about worry and being present. References: Matt 6: 24 - 24 The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence The Monastery's video on poverty: Be Poor with Me Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jeanne-Pierre de Caussade Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodre...

We're back with another episode on the Mystery of Crowning, with special guest Fr. Joel Barstad. References: Mystery of Crowning: Part 1 Mystery of Crowning: Part 2 Behold the Bridegroom Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Email us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.com S...

This week we meet Beth from the media team. Beth talks about her personal vocational discernment and not fearing the unknown. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Email us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.com Send us Fan Mail Support the show

This week we continue our discussion on the Mystery of Crowning with Fr. Joel Barstad. We talk about the Gospel (John 2: 1 ‑11) and Epistle (Ephesians 5: 5:20‑33) which are read at the Mystery of Crowning. References: Mystery of Crowning: Part 1 The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Support us on Patreon Join our...

We're joined this week by Mother Cecilia. Mother Cecilia is one of the original founders of Christ the Bridegroom Monastery, and has been at the monastery for 12 years. Silence is a topic near and dear to her heart, and in this episode she talks about what silence is not, in an effort for us to understand what silence is. References: The   Silence of God by Andrew Peterson Follow and Contact...

This week Father Michael and Mother Natalia do an on-the-spot Lectio Divina of Psalm 16 (Septuagint )/Psalm 17 (Vulgate). We are grateful to everyone who donated to the Monastery fundraiser this past weekend. The nuns released a video called Be Poor with Me: Reflections on Poverty which was shown at the fundraiser. Happy viewing! Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We'r...

This week Mother Natalia talks about  graces she received during her honeymoon, continuing on the graces from her life profession. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Email us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.com Send us Fan Mail Support the show

This week we're joined by special guest, Andrew Whaley. Andrew is the founder of Calix, an organization focusing  on interactions with the unchurched and dechurched. We talk about positive interactions in evangelization, the truth in beauty, and how beauty can bring others to Christ. References: Calix - Andrew's main website Disarming Beauty: Essays on Faith, Truth, and Freedom by Julián...

We were so elated after Mother Natalia's life profession and had a live episode out in Burton, Ohio. We shared this via Instagram but also recorded it for our non-Instagram followers. Happy listening! If you want to watch this episode, check out the video on our Instagram page. Episodes that talk about the Life Profession Divine Liturgy: Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four If you missed Mo...

This week's episode concludes our review of the monastic life profession series. Previous Episodes: Part One Part Two Part Three If you missed Mother Natalia's Life Profession you can watch the recording up on the monastery's Facebook page . Registration for the Bridegroom's Banquet is open! Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join...

We're joined this week by special guest Father Deacon Jonathan Deane. He uses the Trisagion Prayer as a jumping off point in the discussion. We discuss sin, having the image of God but losing the likeness of God, and our ultimate destiny. References: Light for Life Series by God with Us Publications. Part One - The Mystery Believed Part Two - The Mystery Celebrated Part Three - The Mystery Li...

The  life profession already happened but we're still walking through the life profession ceremony. If you missed the first two episodes you can find Parts One and Two here! And today we're joined by special guest, Fr. Steve Flynn. If you missed Mother Natalia's Life Profession you can watch the recording up on the monastery's Facebook page . Registration for the Bridegroom&apo...

We're back with special guest, Fr. Joel Barstad, this time talking about the Mystery of Crowning. This is part one of at least two, as we barely got into the mystery of crowning in this episode! We reflect on marriage and some of the day to day interactions between a husband and wife. References: National Catholic Register article on the Rite of Betrothal in the Latin Rite Episodes on Patris...

This is part two of two! Sister Natalia walks through the prayers that are said in a monastic life profession liturgy. She reflected on the liturgy during her life profession retreat earlier, and gives us some insight into her journal entries from her retreat. Part One can be found here . Also, check out a written reflection from Sister Natalia on Life Profession. Sister Natalia's Life Profes...