What God is Not

This week Fr. Michael talks about an encounter he had in Rome, and how that encounter led him to consider his weaknesses and other people's wisdom. He talks about how we sometimes weaponize other people's weaknesses instead of recognizing their dignity as a person. References: Stop It - Bob Newhart Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join ou...

This week Mother Natalia continues her topic on discernment, talking about what not to do but also what to do. She also talks about ways that we see the resurrection in our lives, and the way that St. John saw it, not with the physical presence of Jesus (although he did see that too!) but with his initial viewing of the burial clothes. She talks about how important those signs are in our lives to...

This week Mother Natalia uses this episode to prep for a recording she's doing over at Pints! She talks about discernment and what not to do as you're discerning. 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 Our Website Our Nonprofit Send us Fan Mail Support the show

This week Fr. Michael responds to a correction from a listener, and uses that as inspiration for this week's topic. We talk about letting God work through us and using the gifts He's given us. We talk about how the authors of scripture were so in sync with the Holy Spirit that it showed in their inspired writings. Plus we have a mini-topic on charismatic renewal in the Byzantine Churches...

This week we're joined by special guest Fr. Boniface Hicks. Mother Natalia talks about the importance of repairing relationships which have suffered a rupture, regardless of the type of relationship. They give some examples of where ruptures have occurred in the past, and how a repair might come about. References: TED Talk from Becky Kennedy Tenderness Born Only Once by Conrad Baars Follow an...

This week Fr. Michael continues his discussion from several episodes ago on living out the gospel as a mom. Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia respond to some reflections that listeners passed along about life as a mom and creative almsgiving. References: Heroic Act of Charity Therapy of Spiritual Illnesses by Jean-Claude Larchet Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on...

This week we're joined by special guest Dr. Gerry Crete. We talk about some of the concepts from his book, Litanies of the Heart. We talk about the studies and prayer he's had over the years which led throughout his work. We talk about the inner self, the different parts that make up ourselves, and how the parts can interact with each other and our inner self. References: Litanies of the...

This week Fr. Michael walks through some of the prayers of the church which can be incorporated into your daily prayer life. These are everything from prayers before and after meals to a daily examination of conscience. A special shoutout to Antonette who took this picture of Fr. Michael! References: Publicans Prayer Book from Sophia Press Carsoslov (The Book of Hours) from Eastern Christian Publi...

This week Fr. Michael talks about scripture readings in Acts and John, and links them together to talk about division and having an undivided heart. He talks about the need for full attention to be given to God, and how it's hard to live this out sometimes. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Ch...

This week Mother Natalia talks about self-reflection on sin, recognizing where we've stumbled, how that has impacted others, and where we've grown. She uses a recent example of something that happened in community life to show us how this works practically. References: Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge Litanies of the Heart by Dr. Gerry Crete Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on In...

This week Fr. Michael unpacks a theme he sees in the post-Pascha Sunday readings around people saying yes to Jesus immediately vs qualifying the yes or asking follow-up questions before saying yes. He talks about the reasons why we might not say yes right away, and how our human experience can get in the way of our desire to say yes. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We&ap...

This week Mother Natalia talks about her recent poustinia, where she reflected on rest. Mother Natalia talks about taking to-do lists to pray while also trying to remember that prayer is relational and not something to fulfill check-boxes. 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 Mon...

This week we’re joined by special guest Brother Simeon Miriam from the CFRs. Brother Simeon was imminently about to start an 8-day poustinia, so in this episode we talk a bit about poustinia, the nights of poustinia he helped start in NYC, a bit about how he became Roman Catholic, and the love of breathing with both lungs. References: The Way of a Pilgrim The Philokalia Franciscan Friars of the Re...

This week Mother Natalia talks about imperfection and recognizing that we will always be imperfect, following a retreat she gave at Wyoming Catholic College. She and Fr. Michael talk about the externals of our prayer practice, both personal prayer and prayer during Diving Liturgy or Mass. They talk about how our relationship with Christ should grow and develop over time. References: From Christend...

This week Mother Natalia talks about attacks of the devil that lead to despair. She vulnerably shares some personal examples, and talks about people in her life who encouraged her during these moments of despair. Mother Natalia shares some writings from St. John Chrysostom related to despair as a way to encourage and strengthen us. Want to be a backstage listener? Become a patron on Patreon ! Refe...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on the names of Adam and Noah, how they're linked, and how they reflect the new Adam. Fr. Michael talks about becoming an altar and how we can live that out in our day-to-day lives. Want to be a backstage listener? Become a patron on Patreon ! References: The Beginning of Desire:  Reflections on Genesis by Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg Follow and Contact Us! Follow u...

This week Mother Natalia comes to us with some hot takes fresh off her poustinia. She talks about fear, love, vulnerability, and weakness. She talks about each of those in our relationship with God as well as our relationship with others. This episode is deep! Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Chri...

This week Fr. Michael talks about how to pray and providing suggestions to friends who ask for help in praying. He talks about how prayer methods (rote prayer, contemplative prayer, etc.) work differently for each person, but ultimately how important prayer is to our daily lives and relationship with God. References: The Art of Prayer by Kallistos Ware . The Practice of the Presence of God by Brot...

This week’s episode was recorded live at SEEK24. Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia are joined by Fr. Boniface Hicks. They talk about how our lives would change if we inherently knew that Jesus loved us. They talk about ways this is exhibited in daily life, in prayer, in the confessional. They also talk about a sticker that premiered at SEEK and how it came to be. Thanks to SEEK for having us and to S...

Today we conclude our series of the liturgies for Great and Holy Week. This week’s episode covers Great and Holy Friday, Great and Holy Saturday, and Pascha Sunday. This is our 200th episode. We're so grateful to our listeners for your prayers and support! Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Chr...

This week we continue our series of the liturgies for Holy Week. Today's episode covers Presanctified Liturgy on Holy Wednesday, matins for Holy Thursday, and Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday. References: The Year of Grace of the Lord by A Monk of the Eastern Church Isaiah 61:1-3 Therapy of Spiritual Illnesses by Jean-Claude Larchet Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We...

This week we're kicking off a three part series where we walk through the liturgies for Holy Week. Today's episode covers Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. References: The Year of Grace of the Lord by A Monk of the Eastern Church Great Lent by Fr. Alexander Schmemann Behold the Bridegroom Useless but not Worthless Monday Readings: Matt 21:18-43 , Ezekiel 1:1-20 , Exodus 1: 1-20 , Job...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on the encounter of Simeon and Anna with the child Jesus when Jesus was presented in the Temple. Fr. Michael also shares some creative ideas for almsgiving that you can incorporate during the Great Fast and even throughout the year. Episode 200! We're celebrating our upcoming episode 200 by hearing from you! Record a 20-30 second video (or audio only) clip talki...

This week Mother Natalia continues her discussion from a few episodes about the ache and longing we have in our hearts for eternity. She talks about the exodus and pilgrimage through this life, the goods that we can ache and long for, and how ultimately earth is not our home. References: Into Great Silence Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset The Ache Speaks with Mother Petra The Ladder of Divin...

On this week's episode, Fr. Michael works through some ideas he has for a homily he's giving later that day. He talks about the need to be cognizant of the work God is doing in our lives, our heads, and our hearts. References: Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset The Ladder of Divine Ascent by John Climacus Episode 200! We're celebrating our upcoming episode 200 by hearing from yo...