What God is Not

This week Mother Natalia takes a mini-topic request on recent Byzantine saints and also talks about fasting. Her discussion on fasting covers some of the reasons she likes fasting, the ways she can grow, and then some general practicalities on fasting. References: Father Vasyl Lonchyna What Suffering is Not with Mother Iliana The Ladder of Divine Ascent by John Climacus Follow and Contact Us! Foll...

This week Fr. Michael uses the story of Zacchaeus as inspiration for this week's episode. He talks about the childlikeness found in Zacchaeus as well as his curiosity. Fr. Michael talks about all the ways that Zacchaeus' sin is pointed out to us in the Gospel, yet we see his quick repentance and conversion. References: Luke 19: 1-10 Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Faceb...

This week Mother Natalia shares about a recent experience rock climbing. She talks about healthy and unhealthy fear, recognizing the help that others around us provide, and ultimately how rock climbing relates to the spiritual life. References: Scruples and the Sacraments The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodre...

This week we're joined by Kristin Molitor from the Institute for Ministry Formation. Kristin talks about the fawn response to danger, perceived danger, and trauma. We talk about where the fawn response can show up in our relationships well after trauma or danger has passed. We talk about the concept of spiritual bypassing or spiritual platitudes and how those can be a way of us ignoring our d...

This week Mother Natalia uses a scripture passage from 2 Peter as inspiration for her episode. She talks about being patient while waiting but also hastening towards our call, or whatever we're waiting for. We give some practical advice on waiting while simultaneously hastening, and also give an example of not pursuing the next step that God is calling us to. References: 2 Peter 3:11-12 Italy...

This week Fr. Michael talks about the ordinariness lived out in a mother's vocation and her hiddenness in that ordinariness. He talks about three women who have given reflections on specific Gospel passages, and how those passages have convicted the moms in their vocation. We also talk about sacrifices that parents make as they raise their children. References: Matthew 6:5-6 John 3:30 Matthew...

This week we're joined by special guest Fr. Boniface Hicks. Mother Natalia and Fr. Boniface talk about sensitivity. They talk about being a person who is perceived as "too sensitive" and interacting with people who are more sensitive than ourselves. References: What Humility is Not with Fr. Boniface Hicks Institute for Ministry Formation Grief to Grace Tenderness Follow and Contact...

This week Mother Natalia talks about being open and vulnerable, receiving healing the Lord provides, and the general brokenness which both of them have. We talk about online personalities and how the personalities should not become our end-all be-all in terms of knowing Jesus and following Him. References: All Rise for Judge Natalia Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We&apo...

This week Fr. Michael expands on a mini-topic request on the death of infants. We talk about death and mourning, the various hymns of farewell used, why limbo came to be a concept, and the reality of evil and death. References: The Hope of Salvation for Infants who Die without being Baptized Scruples and the Sacraments The Reed of God Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We&a...

This week Mother Natalia reflects on two different encounters she recently had. The encounters led her to reflect on being Jesus to others and gently evangelizing others. References: Evil Thoughts Five through Eight (the one about anger) The Philokalia Volume 2 Father Michael and Mother Natalia Out and About Chris Stefanik - Nobody Wants to Talk about This Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Insta...

We're in person this week! This week Father Michael walks through the prayers that are said as a bishop is vested at a hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Plus we've got a minitopic on confession. References: CSYSK Episode on Priestly Vesting Prayers Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Grou...

This week Mother Natalia and Fr. Michael talk about places in scripture where we see the theme of light as they reflect on SEEK24’s theme of Be the Light. References: Romans 13:12 1 John 1:5-7 John 4:7-42 Hymns for the feast of the Theophany of the Lord SEEK24 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 we're joined by special guest, Mother Petra! Mother Petra and Mother Natalia talk about experiencing an ache for beauty and how that ache can be given to us by God. We talk a lot about C.S. Lewis, a favorite of both Mother Petra and Mother Natalia. Plus we've got a mini-topic on praying with religious art. References: Mother Petra on The Journey Home The Weight of Glory by C.S....

This week we're joined by special guest Kyle Washut, president of Wyoming Catholic College. We talk about how our relationships across all areas of life impact each other, the founding of Wyoming Catholic College, and what it's like to intentionally create a college that "breathes with both lungs." References: Poustinia by Catherine Doherty Erin Planned Follow and Contact Us! F...

We've got a crossover episode! Fr. Michael records this week with Fr. Mike Rapp from Catholic Stuff You Should Know . Fr. Mike asks Fr. Michael all the questions about Byzantine tradition and practices. 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...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. In this feast, we shower the cross in the church with flowers to show the significance and importance of the feast. Fr. Michael talks about the need for us to look at our personal crosses with this same sort of significance and reverence. Plus we've got a mini-topic this week on dating. References: Ministering to Mons...

This week Mother Natalia talks about usefulness vs worthlessness. Our worth is not found in what we do but who we are. This is certainly a hard topic for us to process and we need reminded of this regularly. We also have a mini-topic on holiness. References: A Sign of Uselessness Death in the Shadows by Paul McCusker Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube...

This week Fr. Michael talks about the parable of the wedding banquet found in Matthew, another scripture passage that has confused both him and Mother Natalia. We talk about inspiration we've had from the passage, linking it back to the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve's nakedness. We talk about our need to give up our attachments in order to accept the glorious garment given to us at the...

This week Mother Natalia talks about the Protoevangelion of James and walks through some of the tradition found within it. We talk about traditions jointly shared between the Eastern and Western churches, and some of the traditions that are believed in the East. References: Protoevangelion of James Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodread...

Today's episode is inspired by an episode from The Symbolic World . Fr. Michael uses the Pentecost for the Zombie Apocalypse episode to talk about ministering to those in the world and meeting people where they're at in their lives. References: Pentecost for the Zombie Apocalypse Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group F...

This week we're joined by special guest  Rachel Schmitt who is our Operations Manager. Rachel and Mother Natalia talk about saying yes in generosity and no in prudence when we're asked to do something. They talk about aligning your will with the Father's so you can know if your yes or no is the right decision, and they give some practical examples of this in action. Bonus, Rachel&ap...

This week Fr. Michael talks about St. Ephrem, or St. Ephraim depending on your spelling preference. He highlights some key facts that we should all know about this great saint. References: Cereal and the Prayer of St. Ephraim Serial (2 of 2) and the Prayer of St. Ephraim Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's T...

This week Mother Natalia talks about tenderness and ways we experience the tender heart of the Father and Our Lady.  She talks about the ways she's experienced tenderness from Fr. Michael and Fr. Boniface, tenderness in spiritual direction, and tenderness in interactions with others. References: Our Lady of Tenderness Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on Yo...

This week Fr. Michael continues his topic from last week on fear of the Lord. We talk about what the fear of the Lord is, what it is not, and how it's misunderstood. References: Episode 1 - Be Not Afraid 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 Nonprofi...

This week's episode is part one of two on Fear of the Lord. Fr. Michael talks about self-reliance, relying on God, and not being afraid to ask for help. Tune in next week for part two! References: Lord of the Spirits Podcast Bridegroom's Banquet Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pilgrimage Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Grou...