What God is Not

This week we're joined by Mother Iliana who has released a new book, The Light of His Eyes. We talk about how the book came to be, some concepts from the book, and ways Mother Iliana  has seen the Lord working in her life. References: The Light of His Eyes by Mother Iliana Taare Zameen Par (Every Child is Special movie) The Soul of Shame by Dr. Curt Thompson Follow and Contact Us! Follow us o...

This week Fr. Michael talks about Alive in Christ, an aesthetical boot camp for Byzantine Catholic young men. He talks about the idea for the camp, the structure, and the ways that he sees the boys grow as leaders. Fr. Michael also gives an overview of the chastity talk he gave to the dads, and Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia talk about invitations to chastity and unchastity. Follow and Contact Us!...

This week Mother Natalia reflects on God's extravagance with us, our extravagance with Him, and our extravagance with each other. She gives examples of extravagance from Scripture and we have a mini-topic at the end of the episode. 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 Monast...

This week Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia talk about Marian apparitions, the Catholic belief surrounding Mary, and their interactions and experiences with the Mother of God. Thank you to our patrons on Patreon for suggesting the topic! References: Prelest For Little Eyes by Rebecca O'Loughlin Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads...

This week Mother Natalia talks about her recent poustinia camping experience with Sister Onuphria. We hear about the general humanness of the experience, but then Mother Natalia is able to relate it to the spiritual life and scrupulosity. References: The Spiritual Life and How to be Attuned to it by St. Theophan the Recluse Beyond Checking Boxes The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander Follow and Con...

This week we're joined by Sean and Rebecca O'Loughlin, brother and sister-in-law of Father Michael. We talk about their early friendship and dating, realizing love for each other, and family life. We also talk about pregnancies and births, both easier and difficult, miscarriages, fostering, and adoption. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! J...

This week Mother Natalia reflects on her recent retreat which used some of the steps from AA as inspiration. She talks about discovering ways in which she bargains with God on giving up certain sins, and talks about the hurt and healing that comes in the process of giving up sins. References: Eustace Scrubb by Sarah Sparks Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on Yo...

On today's episode, Fr. Michael reflects on his recent trip to the Holy Land. He talks about community found in our faith and seeking the truth. Fr. Michael talks about the different ways we can be led to the faith, and how God uses those different ways to help us see the good, true, and beautiful. If you're in the Colorado area, don't skip the banter! Follow and Contact Us! Follow...

On today's episode Fr. Michael talks about seeing good in the midst of negative interactions with people. He talks about how God created everything good and how when we sin we're still seeking the good. 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 Nonp...

Today Mother Natalia reflects on Pentecost, the return of praying the Heavenly King prayer, and kneeling and penance that is reintroduced after the celebration of Pentecost. Plus we’ve got a mini-topic on angels! 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 Nonp...

This week Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia talk about prayer. Mother Natalia talks a little bit about what the term "spousal prayer" means at her monastery. We talk about the "outcome" of prayer and advancing in prayer. References: Beginning to Pray by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads...

This week Mother Natalia talks about healing, living in the present moment, and allowing Our Lord to work in the present reality. 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 Father Michael links the story of the loaves and the fishes to the story of the Samaritan woman. He talks about how we can see God working in our lives and differentiating that from the "work that we're doing." We've also got a special announcement for our Photina patrons! Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Good...

Today we're joined by special guest, Barry Alvord, father of Beth from our media team. Barry talks about a time in his life when he experienced three big crises, how he realized he was struggling with negative thoughts, and how he sought to counteract them. References: Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives by Elder Thaddeus The Monks of Tibhirine by John W. Kiser Wounded by Love by Elder Porphyriu...

Today's episode was inspired by a talk on Fellowship that Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia gave for God with Us Online. Fr. Michael uses today's episode to talk about all the stuff they didn't have time for in that talk. Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia talk about the importance of fellowship, serving others, and foot washing. References: Fellowship, the talk for God With Us Online Sett...

Today's episode is a recording of the talk Mother Natalia gave at the SoCal Byzantine Retreat Day in March. Mother Natalia talks about the promises God makes to us and that He fulfills His promises. She uses the scripture of the day for the feast of the Annunciation to link the promises in the  Annunciation to the promises made in the Old Testament, and then talks about ways we can see God&ap...

Today Fr. Michael talks about shame, the causes of it and what we can do to prevent it. We talk about how Jesus approaches us in our sin, looking to cover our shame but not hide our sin, and how we can use that same approach with ourselves and others we encounter. We have practical discussion about "shaming" others, and how that can be problematic when we do not know the entire story. Re...

This week Fr. Michael talks about how we're all called to live authentic Catholic lives, striving for salvation of souls and not necessarily "checking the Catholic boxes". He specifically talks about how parish priests and monastics can help the laity in this regard, and how the needs of parishes differ from one parish to the next. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and F...

Father Michael and Mother Natalia recorded this episode live in California! On today’s episode they talk about the longing Israel had for God to fulfill His promises, and how we also have desires God longs to fulfill. Our aches and His promises are gifts. References: Watch it Live! Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Micha...

This week Mother Natalia continues with her topic of goodness from her last episode, and uses a homily as a jumping off point to talk about gifts. The homily followed the reading about Noah and the flood, and talked about how Noah and the people in the Ark were waiting for the gift of land to be able to live. Mother Natalia also talks about the difference between gifts and the giver, and how we ca...

This week Fr. Michael is joined by special guest, Fr. Nathan Symeon. Fr. Nathan and Fr. Michael walk through the readings for that Sunday and talk about the themes they're hearing in the readings which they use for a homily. References: Married Priesthood Leaning In (episode on fasting) Hebrews 11: 24-26, 32-40, 12:1-2 John 1: 43-51 Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook W...

This week Mother Natalia reflects on goodness and our inherit goodness given to us from God. She talks about the ways in which we are less than human when we do not choose the good and the ways that our free will is supposed to help us choose the good. References: Therapy of Spiritual Illnesses by Dr. Jean-Claude Larchet Eyes to See The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis Christy by Catherine Marshall Live R...

Today we're joined by special guest  Pauline Meert. Pauline is the co-founder of Sophia Montessori Academy in Denver, Colorado. Pauline gives some practical suggestions of engaging kids in church, how our expectations should change for the children based on their age, and why we should bring our kids to church. References: Mass Chaos - previous episode on Catholic Stuff You Should Know The Gi...

This week Mother Natalia talks about ways she's encountered God and His joy, despite going through a very hard time in her life. She talks about her grandmother's funeral and how that impacted her and her family, and she vulnerably talks about her prayer life and her candid prayers. References: SoCal Byzantine Catholic Day Retreat Natalia - Movie about Mother Natalia's Life Professi...

In today's episode Father Michael reflects on homilies for our pre-Lenten gospels, Zacchaeus Sunday and the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. The homilies are ones he's given as well as homilies given by other priests. References: Byzantine Gospel Reflections Searching for the Searcher - previous episode on Zacchaeus Fr. John Kachuba's Last Homily for Meatfare Sunday Follow a...