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Episode 162 - My Brother's Keeper? Not every relationship is the same, so not every fraternal correction will be the same. This may vary between a parent and a child, between friends, between a boss and his subordinates, between strangers, or between a formator and the people their forming. In today's episode, we will discuss essential distinctions when it comes to fraternal correction and try to shed some light on what would be our responsibilities or what we are supposed to do when we encounter people in our daily walks of life and we would like to engage in fraternal correction. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at pocomerch.com!

My Brother's Keeper?

This lecture was given on April 27th, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at <a href="https://thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events" target="_blank">thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events</a> About the Speaker: Karin Öberg is Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University. Her specialty is astrochemistry and her research aims to uncover how chemical processes affect the outcome of planet formation, especially the chemical habitability of nascent planets. She did postdoctoral work at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics as a NASA Hubble fellow, focusing on millimeter observations of planet-forming disks around young stars.

Why Study Created Things? | Prof. Karin Öberg

We all have those people in our lives whom we love, but just ask too much of us.

Establishing limitations in relationships can be hard, but we need boundaries. Even Jesus did it when he spent time with just his disciples, or just his apostles; or just Peter, James, and John; or even just his father in heaven.

Fr. Mike explains not just why we need boundaries, but how we could do so without coming across as glib or too harsh.

He talks about how establishing boundaries will help us more effectively live the Christian life, and even help the one to whom those boundaries apply.<a rel="payment" href="https://ascensionpress.com/products/support-ascension">Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast</a>

Why We Need Boundaries

Episode 169 - Prayer and Repentance, Series on Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M. (Part 2 of 8) Growth in spiritual life is never easy. In the beginning, it's gonna take a LOT of effort. But as it goes on, you'll notice that it becomes more and more the Lord's work and less and less contingent on our human work. This is the second episode of our series on the Fire Within that talks about how St. Theresa sees the "giftness" of advanced prayer and the relationship between prayer and the profound growth in the spiritual life. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at pocomerch.com!

Prayer and Repentance

Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. is a doctoral student in Christology at the University of Fribourg. He serves as the Assistant Director for Campus Outreach with the Thomistic Institute in Washington, DC. Prior to the TI, he was an associate pastor at St. Louis Bertrand Church in Louisville, KY where he also taught as an adjunct professor at Bellarmine University. Born and raised near Philadelphia, PA, he attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville, studying mathematics and humanities. Upon graduating, he entered the Order of Preachers in 2010. He was ordained a priest in 2016 and holds an STL from the Dominican House of Studies.

Is Lying Always Wrong?  | Fr. Gregory Pine

"The good or evil of an action, as of other things, depends on its fullness of being or its lack of that fullness. Now the first thing that belongs to the fullness of being seems to be that which gives a thing its species. And just as a natural thing has its species from its form, so an action has its species from its object, as movement from its term. And therefore just as the primary goodness of a natural thing is derived from its form, which gives it its species, so the primary goodness of a moral action is derived from its suitable object… And just as, in natural things, the primary evil is when a generated thing does not realize its specific form (for instance, if instead of a man, something else be generated); so the primary evil in moral actions is that which is from the object, for instance, 'to take what belongs to another'." ST I-II.Q 18. A 2. SPONSORS EL Investments: <a href="https://www.elinvestments.net/pints">https://www.elinvestments.net/pints</a> Exodus 90: <a href="https://exodus90.com/mattfradd/">https://exodus90.com/mattfradd/</a> Hallow: <a href="http://hallow.app/mattfradd">http://hallow.app/mattfradd</a> STRIVE: <a href="https://www.strive21.com/">https://www.strive21.com/</a> GIVING Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/mattfradd">https://www.patreon.com/mattfradd</a> This show (and all the plans we have in store) wouldn't be possible without you. I can't thank those of you who support me enough. Seriously! Thanks for essentially being a co-producer coproducer of the show. LINKS Website: <a href="https://pintswithaquinas.com/">https://pintswithaquinas.com/</a> Merch: <a href="https://teespring.com/stores/matt-fradd">https://teespring.com/stores/matt-fradd</a> FREE 21 Day Detox From Porn Course: <a href="https://www.strive21.com/">https://www.strive21.com/</a> SOCIAL Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mattfradd">https://www.facebook.com/mattfradd</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/mattfradd">https://twitter.com/mattfradd</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mattfradd">https://www.instagram.com/mattfradd</a> MY BOOKS Does God Exist: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Does-God-Exist-Socratic-Dialogue-ebook/dp/B081ZGYJW3/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&amp;keywords=fradd&amp;qid=1586377974&amp;sr=8-9">https://www.amazon.com/Does-God-Exist-Socratic-Dialogue-ebook/dp/B081ZGYJW3/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&amp;keywords=fradd&amp;qid=1586377974&amp;sr=8-9</a> Marian Consecration With Aquinas: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Marian-Consecration-Aquinas-Growing-Closer-ebook/dp/B083XRQMTF/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&amp;keywords=fradd&amp;qid=1586379026&amp;sr=8-4">https://www.amazon.com/Marian-Consecration-Aquinas-Growing-Closer-ebook/dp/B083XRQMTF/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&amp;keywords=fradd&amp;qid=1586379026&amp;sr=8-4</a> The Porn Myth: <a href="https://www.ignatius.com/The-Porn-Myth-P1985.aspx">https://www.ignatius.com/The-Porn-Myth-P1985.aspx</a> CONTACT Book me to speak: <a href="https://www.mattfradd.com/speakerrequestform">https://www.mattfradd.com/speakerrequestform</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

09: What makes an act good or evil?

We look at how Jesus prays in this section of the Catechism. It is revealed how Jesus learned to pray, the frequency of his prayers, and where he prayed. Jesus brought his needs to the Father including his last words and final “loud cry”. Through his example of filial prayer, we are able to pray to the Father as sons and daughters. We can ask him for anything as all of our thoughts, desires, troubles, fears, and needs are already with the Lord. “The Father accepts them and, beyond all hope, answers them by raising his Son.” Today’s readings are paragraphs 2598-2606.

This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Day 334: How Jesus Prayed

This is a special two-part episode of Pints with Aquinas. Part 1: I discuss 10 things that people miss about what Aquinas has to say about God and Atheism. Part 2: I read from a short story I wrote about a Christian and an Atheist, titled "A Shuttered Universe," in which the Christian becomes and Atheist, and the Atheist becomes a Christian and their correspondence back and forth. Questions/comments about the story? <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Fposts%2F36986185&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://www.patreon.com/posts/36986185</a> SPONSORS EL Investments: <a href="https://www.elinvestments.net/pints">https://www.elinvestments.net/pints</a> Exodus 90: <a href="https://exodus90.com/mattfradd/">https://exodus90.com/mattfradd/</a> Hallow: <a href="http://hallow.app/mattfradd">http://hallow.app/mattfradd</a> STRIVE: <a href="https://www.strive21.com/">https://www.strive21.com/</a> GIVING Patreon: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Fmattfradd&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://www.patreon.com/mattfradd</a> This show (and all the plans we have in store) wouldn't be possible without you. I can't thank those of you who support me enough. Seriously! Thanks for essentially being a co-producer coproducer of the show. LINKS Website: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fpintswithaquinas.com%2F&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://pintswithaquinas.com/</a> Merch: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fteespring.com%2Fstores%2Fmatt-fradd&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://teespring.com/stores/matt-fradd</a> FREE 21 Day Detox From Porn Course: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.strive21.com%2F&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://www.strive21.com/</a> SOCIAL Facebook: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmattfradd&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://www.facebook.com/mattfradd</a> Twitter: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmattfradd&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://twitter.com/mattfradd</a> Instagram: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fpints_w_aquinas&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://www.instagram.com/pints_w_aqu...</a> MY BOOKS Does God Exist: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDoes-God-Exist-Socratic-Dialogue-ebook%2Fdp%2FB081ZGYJW3%2Fref%3Dsr_1_9%3Fdchild%3D1%26keywords%3Dfradd%26qid%3D1586377974%26sr%3D8-9&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://www.amazon.com/Does-God-Exist...</a> Marian Consecration With Aquinas: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMarian-Consecration-Aquinas-Growing-Closer-ebook%2Fdp%2FB083XRQMTF%2Fref%3Dsr_1_4%3Fdchild%3D1%26keywords%3Dfradd%26qid%3D1586379026%26sr%3D8-4&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://www.amazon.com/Marian-Consecr...</a> The Porn Myth: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ignatius.com%2FThe-Porn-Myth-P1985.aspx&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://www.ignatius.com/The-Porn-Myt...</a> CONTACT Book me to speak: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=rCgpBoLhZJVKRCd1NDtcQWut88F8MTU4OTMzNTUzMkAxNTg5MjQ5MTMy&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mattfradd.com%2Fspeakerrequestform&amp;event=video_description&amp;v=4d9A1RSGbIQ">https://www.mattfradd.com/speakerrequ...</a> Website - mattfradd.com Facebook - facebook.com/mattfradd/ Instagram - instagram.com/pints_w_aquinas Twitter - twitter.com/mattfradd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

God and Atheism

There's one thing I know...

Opening Credits

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Humility

Confidence in God

Love of God

Union with God

Gratitude and Praise to God

Joy In The Lord

Docility to God's Will

Love of Neighbor

Abandonment to Divine Providence

Mortification

Desire and Efforts in Holiness

Sacraments

Conclusion

About the Author

End Credits

Many graces go unclaimed simply because souls don’t know how to receive them. This book reveals how to open your heart more fully to God’s gifts by imitating the Blessed Virgin Mary. By cultivating twelve of her essential qualities, you’ll learn how to dispose yourself to grace and cooperate with it in daily life. Along the way, you’ll discover how to overcome obstacles to faith, deepen devotion to Our Lady, and become a vessel of God’s grace for others.

The Imitation of Mary

In this episode, we welcome author, counselor, and speaker John Eldredge to the show, who is best known for his book Wild at Heart. We have a powerful conversation about intimacy with God in a world full of chaos, suffering, and spiritual hunger. We reflect on what it means to reclaim a "re-enchanted" Christian worldview, how to pray against chaos, the profound gift women have to offer the world right now. We also talk practically about how to pray as a couple, ask John to lead us in a guided "Pause" prayer, and invite you into a moment of stillness, surrender, and loving awareness of Jesus dwelling within you. Heather's One Thing - <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/track/3iEVhb9l6mFqj2I2LUDGua?si=54d4648751be4cfe"> Midst</a> from the Belonging Co. Sister Miriam's One Thing - <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/track/71za9Fyjl9BlyTB3mKvn3A?si=219f4c37ddbb464f"> The Story I'll Tell</a> by Naomi Raine Michelle's One Thing - <a href= "https://www.abidingtogetherpodcast.com/the-way-of-trust-and-love">The Way of Trust and Love</a> by Father Jacques Philippe Michelle's Other One Thing - <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Jayber-Crow-Wendell-Berry/dp/1582431604">Jayber Crow</a> by Wendell Berry John's One Thing - The Abiding Together Podcast! John's Other One Thing - <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/artist/5PWqtqZ9ZTiBUYSJeymF1K?si=8-E7JLwWTHiRObv17iUpdA"> William Augusto</a> Instrumental Background Music Other Resources Mentioned: <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://wildatheart.org/pause">The Pause App</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">John Eldredge's Website "<a href= "https://wildatheart.org/">Wild at Heart</a>"</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://wildatheart.org/books/waking-the-dead">Waking the Dead</a> by John Eldredge</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://wildatheart.org/books/the-sacred-romance">The Sacred Romance</a> by John Eldredge</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://wildatheart.org/experience-jesus-really">Experience Jesus. Really.</a> by John Eldredge</li> </ul> Announcement: Our 2026 Lenten book study will be "<a href="https://scepterpublishers.org/abide">The Way of Trust and Love</a>" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. Scepter Publishers has offered 15% off with the code ABIDE15. They also offer an <a href= "https://scepterpublishers.org/abide">ebook version</a> as well. We will announce more information about the study in the coming weeks! Journal Questions: <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How am I living like a "practical atheist"?</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Where are you experiencing chaos in your domain?</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">When in your day can you turn toward the Lord with a simple prayer?</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How have I experienced the friendship and communion of the Kingdom of Heaven in my life?</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Where in my life am I believing I am too much and not enough?</li> </ul> Discussion Questions: <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How would you define your domain? What has God entrusted to you?</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">When have you experienced God's beauty and order in the midst of chaos and hatred?</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How have simple prayers led to transformation in your life?</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How is God inviting you to be a healing remedy to the world right now?</li> </ul> Quote to Ponder: "The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it." (John Eldredge, Waking the Dead) Scripture for Lectio: "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17) Sponsor - Fully Alive Coaching Program: Fully Alive Coaching Program is a trauma-informed Catholic coaching program for women and men who desire deep healing without compromising their faith. Created by licensed marriage and family therapist Brya Hanan, Fully Alive integrates Catholic Inner Child Work and somatic awareness in a gentle, Spirit-led journey—honoring the body, protecting the soul, and restoring wholeness. For women and men who pray sincerely but still feel guarded, overwhelmed, or fragmented, Fully Alive offers a safe and structured path toward integration and life abundant. Learn more at <a href= "https://www.catholicinnerchildwork.com/fully-alive">catholicinnerchildwork.com/fully-alive</a> and follow @catholicinnerchildwork for more trauma-informed and integrative resources to support your healing. Use the code "abiding" or reference it during a consultation to get 10% off! Timestamps: 00:00 - Fully Alive Coaching Program 01:16 - Intro 02:02 - Welcome 04:18 - Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder 06:11 - Where is the Holy Spirit Moving the Church Now? 10:54 - Balancing the Love Story within a World at War 14:08 - Learning to Pray Against the Chaos 19:10 - How to Pray Together as A Couple 21:39 - Being in Union with God 26:13 - How Does God Use Fatherhood to Repair His Children? 29:30 - The Pause App 33:45 - We Are Created for Intimacy with Christ 37:48 - Women are Part of God's Healing Remedy to the World 40:22 - One Last Message from John 44:20 - A "Pause" Meditation 48:30 - One Things

S18 E4 - Communion with God with John Eldredge

Episode 76 - Trust God With Your Past, Week 2 of a series on A 30-Day Personal Retreat with the Litany of Trust, by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V., available here: https://stpaulcenter.com/trust10/ Grace is in the present; there is no grace in the past or in the future. The challenge, though, is that we're all professional escape artists. We can get antsy and we don't know how to be present, which means we don't know how to receive God's grace. We've got to give up the hope of a better past—it has happened and there's nothing we can do about it. We also have to stop living in a fantasy future that doesn't exist—there's no grace there, either. Jesus is Lord of our lives; the past, the present, the future. Trust him, and allow yourself to embrace today and all the grace he is waiting to give you here. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!

Trust God With Your Past

There’s an ancient symbol that uses a ship or boat to represent the Catholic Church. In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz takes that analogy a step further, using it to explain how everything Christians love about their church, whichever one it may be, originally came from the flagship or mothership of Christianity.<a rel="payment" href="https://ascensionpress.com/products/support-ascension">Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast</a>

Aren't All Churches the Same?

Episode 210 - Loved and Celebrated, Series on "The Father" by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR (Part 5) What does it mean to be loved and celebrated? We are favored sons and daughters worthy of celebration—of being served. We are worthy and loved by God and this episode talks about a step in the right direction on what it means to be loved and celebrated. This is a gentle call to conversion and repentance, an invitation to allow ourselves to be loved sacrificially and give God and others permission to love and celebrate us. Here's the link to the graph that we referenced in the video: https://bit.ly/pocofreedomgraph The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at pocomerch.com! You can get your copy of The Father (by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR) at https://ascensionpress.com/thefather

Loved and Celebrated

Father Mike Schmitz teaches us that forgiveness is rooted in justice. It doesn’t forget or ignore the injustice done, but it frees us from the need to get revenge. When you forgive, the one who hurt you is released from their debt to you, and you are released from the pain so you can move on.<a rel="payment" href="https://ascensionpress.com/products/support-ascension">Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast</a>

Forgiveness

<ol><li>Join Dr. Peter to go way below the surface and find the hidden meanings of obsessions, compulsions and OCD.  Through poetry and quotes, he invites you into the painful, distressing, fearful and misunderstood world of those who suffer from OCD.  He defines obsessions and compulsions, discusses the different types of each, and evaluates two conventional treatments and one alternative treatment for OCD.  Most importantly, he discusses the deepest natural causes of OCD, which are almost always disregarded in conventional treatment, which focuses primarily on the symptoms.  </li><li>Lead-in  <ol><li>OCD is not a disease that bothers; it is a disease that tortures. - Author: J.J. Keeler</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li> “It can look like still waters on the outside while a hurricane is swirling in your mind.” — Marcie Barber Phares</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Poetry or word picture (prayer of the scrupulous)</li></ol></li></ol> Aditi Apr 2017 <ol><li>Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  OCD.  That is what we are addressing today. <ol><li>Here is what OCD is like for Toni Neville -- she says:  “It’s like being controlled by a puppeteer. Every time you try and just walk away he pulls you back. Are you sure the stove is off and everything is unplugged? Back up we go. Are you sure your hands are as clean as they can get? Back ya go. Are you sure the doors are securely locked? Back down we go. How many people have touched this object? Wash your hands again.” </li></ol></li><li>Introduction  <ol><li>We are together in this great adventure, this podcast, Interior Integration for Catholics, we are journeying together, and I am honored to be able to spend this time with you.  </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>I am Dr. Peter Malinoski, clinical psychologist and passionate Catholic and together, we are taking on the tough topics that matter to you.  </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>We bring the best of psychology and human formation and harmonize it with the perennial truths of the Catholic Faith.   </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Interior Integration for Catholics is part of our broader outreach, Souls and Hearts bringing the best of psychology grounded in a Catholic worldview to you and the rest of the world through our website soulsandhearts.com</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Today, we are getting into obsessions and compulsions -- a really deep dive into what's really going on with these experiences.  <ol><li>I know many of you were expecting me to discuss scrupulosity today -- And you know what?  I was expecting I would be discussing scrupulosity well, but in order to have that discussion of scrupulosity  be well-founded, we really need to get into understanding obsessions and compulsions first.  I have to bring you up to speed on obessions and compulsions before we get into scrupulosity, and there is a lot to know</li></ol></li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>The questions we will be covering about obsessions and compulsions.  <ol><li>What are Obsession and Compulsions? Getting into definitions.  <ol><li>Also What are the different types of obsessions and compulsions, the different forms that obsessions and compulsions can take</li><li>What is the experience of OCD like?  From those who have suffered it.  </li></ol></li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Who suffers from obsessions and compulsions -- how common are they?  Who is at risk?</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Why do obsessions and compulsions start and why do they keep going?</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>How do we overcome obsessions and compulsions?  How do we resolve them?  <ol><li>What does the secular literature say are the best treatments"  -- Medication and a particular kind of therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention</li><li>Alternatives  </li><li>Can we find not just a descriptive diagnosis, but a proscriptive conceptualization that gives a direction for healing, resolving the obsessions and compulsions  Not just symptom management.</li></ol></li></ol></li><li> </li></ol></li><li> </li><li>Definitions  <ol><li>Obsessions  <ol><li>DSM-5: Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2):  <ol><li>Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or impulses that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress.</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action (i.e., by performing a compulsion).</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Not pleasurable</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Involuntary  <ol><li>My compulsive thoughts aren't even thoughts, they're absolute certainties and obeying them isn't a choice. - Author: Paul Rudnick</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>To resist a compulsion with willpower alone is to hold back an avalanche by melting the snow with a candle. It just keeps coming and coming and coming. - Author: David Adam</li></ol></li><li> </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Individual works to neutralize the obsession with another thought or a compulsion.  </li></ol></li><li> </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>From the International OCD Foundation:  Obsessions are thoughts, images or impulses that occur over and over again and feel outside of the person’s control. Individuals with OCD do not want to have these thoughts and find them disturbing. In most cases, people with OCD realize that these thoughts don’t make any sense.  Obsessions are typically accompanied by intense and uncomfortable feelings such as fear, disgust, doubt, or a feeling that things have to be done in a way that is “just right.” In the context of OCD, obsessions are time consuming and get in the way of important activities the person values. </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Common Obsessions  <ol><li>Sources  <ol><li>What is OCD? Article by the International OCD Foundation on their website</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>WebMD article How Do I Know if I Have OCD? By Danny Bonvissuto February 19. 2020</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Northpointrecovery.com blog What Types of OCD Are There? Get the Breakdown Here by the Northpoint Staff from May 3, 2019</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Article entitled Common Types of OCD: Subtypes, Their Symptoms and the Best Treatment by Patrick Carey dated July 6, 2021 on treatmyocd.com</li></ol></li><li> </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Contamination  <ol><li>Body fluids --- blood, urine, saliva, feces -   I gave my baby niece a serious illness when I held her --  I'm sure I got a disease from using the public restroom.  </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Germs for communicable diseases -- may be afraid to shake hands, worried about catching gonorrhea</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Environmental contaminants -- radiation, asbestos</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Household chemicals -- cleaners, solvents</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Dirt</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>If you put the wrong foods in your body, you are contaminated and dirty and your stomach swells. Then the voice says, Why did you do that? Don't you know better? Ugly and wicked, you are disgusting to me. - Author: Bethany Pierce</li></ol></li><li> </li><li>Losing Control  <ol><li>Giving in to an impulse to harm yourself --  I could jump in front of this bus right now.  </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Fear of acting on an impulse to harm others -- what if I stabbed my child with this knife?</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Fear of violent or horrific images in your mind </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Fear of shouting out insults or obscenities -- </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Fear of stealing things</li></ol></li><li>&amp;nbsp...</li></ol></li></ol></li></ol></li></ol>

86 Obsessions, Compulsions, OCD and Internal Family Systems

Leaving the Zoo

Homily from the Second Sunday of Advent. To be gripped by God is not supposed to be comfortable. The Prophet says that the great gift of the Spirit is the fear of the Lord. But what is it?<dl style="margin : 0; padding-top:0;"><dt style="font-weight:normal;"> Mass Readings from December 8, 2019:</dt><dt style="font-weight:normal;"> Isaiah 11:1-10</dt><dt style="font-weight:normal;"> Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17</dt><dt style="font-weight:normal;">Romans 15:4-9</dt> Matthew 3:1-12

12/08/19 The Gift That Changes Everything

Father Mike Schmitz explains why God focuses on justice in the Old Testament and then shows his mercy in the New Testament. To some readers of the Bible it may seem like God changed, but the truth of the matter is much more profound.<a rel="payment" href="https://ascensionpress.com/products/support-ascension">Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast</a>

Did God Change?

In this groundbreaking episode, Dr. Peter explains how to conceptualize narcissistic "personalities" and narcissistic reactions through the lens of Internal Family Systems.  Looking at narcissism through the lens of subsystems and parts is an entirely new paradigm that makes it easier to accept the reality the unmet attachment and integrity needs that fuel narcissistic positions and behaviors.  Through four case vignettes, Dr. Peter illustrates how both covert and overt narcissism look and function from a parts and systems perspective.

120 Understanding Narcissism More Deeply with IFS

What Do You Mean by God

What Do You Mean by Church

Christianity the Next Generation

Early Worship and the Sacraments

Apology Not Accepted

Logos Christology and Theology in the Postapostolic Age

The Christian Canon and the New Testament

The Theologians and the Third Century

Early Ecclesiology

The Fourth Century and the Council of Nicaea

The Church After Constantine

The End of the Ancient World

The End of the Early Church

Looking Ahead and Coming Full Circle

Dr. James Papandrea’s clear, engaging guide to the Patristic era reveals how the early Christians faced challenges strikingly similar to ours today — heresies, moral confusion, and cultural clashes. You’ll meet the theologians, martyrs, and Church mothers who shaped doctrine, defended truth, and formed the sacraments and liturgy as we know them. With charts, summaries, and context, this resource shows how the Church’s foundation in Scripture and Tradition still anchors us today.

Reading the Church Fathers

Episode 156 - I Am The Resurrection Do we live our lives believing—having faith in the ressurection? In this ongoing journey of stripping the things we clothe ourselves with, Jesus wants us to give him the things that hold us back and desires to give himself in return. We have sins that isolates and causes us to go into hiding, but the gift of the resurrection breaks it all open. This episode focuses on the importance of the resurrection. An invitation to allow the hope of the resurrection to enter into all of our darkness and all of the different areas of our lives, in this Valley of Tears as we continue to journey through it. This Easter season let's pray to have an increase in faith in the Lord and his resurrection. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at pocomerch.com!

I Am The Resurrection

In this episode we discuss the power of Christ to untie the knots of bitterness and unforgiveness in our life as we grow in holiness. We discuss the lies that come from our wounds and cause us to make agreements and judgements because of our hurt. We chat about the simple, but sometimes hard path towards greater freedom in Christ. We close our time together with a beautiful prayer led by Sister Miriam. We pray you would allow the Lord to untie the knots in your life this week! Michelle's one thing - <a href= "https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SSwIyCTDdWQ8skHeoC9k0_icrUzS2i-3Ntf-2nv3yak/edit?usp=sharing"> Rosemary Fig Sauce</a> Heather's one thing - <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Loved-Am-Invitation-Conversion-Healing/dp/1594715467/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=loved+as+i+am&qid=1618862644&s=books&sr=1-1">Loved As I Am</a> - Sister Miriam James Heidland Sister Miriam's one thing - <a href= "https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xnC_0G4eOdsh-MNtEosiL9-yqAWI-SO_/view?usp=sharing"> Forgiveness Meditation</a> and <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8rVfw013TQ">Talk on Forgiveness by Fr. John Burns and Sr. Miriam </a> Other Episodes on This Topic: <a href= "https://www.abidingtogetherpodcast.com/podcastarchive/s05-e24-forgiveness?rq=forgiveness"> S05 E24: Forgiveness </a> <a href= "https://www.abidingtogetherpodcast.com/podcastarchive/s05-e15-healing-the-whole-person-interview-with-dr-bob-schuchts?rq=interview"> S05 E15: Healing the Whole Person - An Interview with Dr. Bob Schuchts</a> Discussion questions: <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What struck you from this week's episode?</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What does it mean for you to be tenderhearted? Are there particular situations or experiences that have caused you to close your heart?</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What is the biggest or most visible knot in your life? Are you ready to be honest, open and willing to address this area with the Lord? Why or why not?</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What is an area that you struggle with forgiveness?</li> </ol> Journal Questions: <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What agreements have you made - I am… I'm not… I will never… I will always… - when you have been hurt? Take a moment to practice forgiveness and breaking these agreements and untying these knots.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What beliefs about yourself or judgements about others are acting as a knot in your life? What is the origin of these beliefs and judgements and what does the Lord say is true?</li> </ol> Quote to Ponder: "Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive." - C.S. Lewis Scripture for Lectio Divina: "All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ." - Ephesians 4:31-32 This episode is sponsored by MyCatholicDoctor. Our sponsor for today's episode is MyCatholicDoctor. For more than 2000 years, the Catholic Church has led the world in healthcare, answering the call of Jesus Christ to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God is near. At MyCatholicDoctor, they answer that call by providing evidence-based, holistic Catholic healthcare to all of God's people. MyCatholicDoctor is a nationwide organization that brings a network of faithful medical professionals to patients through video visits, in-person care, and a referral network. As a telehealth provider, they can initiate your medical care virtually, order any necessary labs or imaging, and send prescriptions to the pharmacy of your choice. We provide services of a range of specialties such as primary care, functional medicine, physical therapy, pediatric care, sleep medicine, and addiction treatment. Their team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and certified educators meet you where you are in your suffering, and accompany you on a path to healing. They integrate Catholic spirituality into their care to ensure God comes first in the decisions, treatments and procedures to heal your mind, body, and soul. Not only do they work with patients and their families, but they also collaborate with schools and universities to meet the needs of their students through our telehealth resources. When you visit MyCatholicDoctor, you will find a provider who not only meets your immediate medical needs, but exceeds your expectations for the level of compassion, understanding, and appreciation for you as sons and daughters of Christ. To find out more about the services they provide, meet their providers, and schedule an appointment, visit mycatholicdoctor.com. As a special thank you to our Abiding Together listeners, they are offering $25 off for your first appointment through May 30th. Please visit <a href= "http://mycatholicdoctor.com/abide25">mycatholicdoctor.com/abide25</a> to claim your gift certificate.

S09 E19: Untying the Knots

Fr. John and Fr. Sean explore this week’s topic through the lens of two thought-provoking writings: A Meditation on Givenness by St. John Paul II and The Thoughtful Home by Dia Boyle. Together, they reflect on the essence of home and its profound impact on a a family as well as a priest’s life in a rectory.

A Meditation on Givenness and Home

In this episode, Fr. Sean and Jacob discuss a parent's important role in creating a religious environment and culture at home to foster their child's desire to live out the Christian life, ultimately leading them toward their vocation.

Fr. How Can I Make My Son A Priest?

<ol><li>Summary:  Join us as we review how philosophers and modern secular psychologists understand mental health and well-being.  In this episode, we look at the attempts to define what make us happy, from the 4th century BC to the present day.  Arristipus, Aristotle, Descartes, Freud, Seligman, Porges, Schwartz, and two diagnostic systems.  We take a special look at how positive psychology and Internal Family Systems see well-being.  </li><li>Lead in  <ol><li>In  June of 1991 I was really traumatized  <ol><li>Just left a spiritually and psychologically abusive group and I was struggling</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>How could this have happened</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>I thought I was giving my life to God -- and then I find out the community I was in was like this -- </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>Had to confront my own behaviors in the community -- manipulation, deception, betrayals of trust -- things like that.  </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>I knew I had to recover.  And so I went on a quest</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>I was still Catholic, I never lost my faith, but I felt really burned by the Catholic Church</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>I wanted to learn everything I could about social influence, about group dynamics, about psychological manipulation -- in part so what happened before would never happen again, and also to tap into wisdom that I didn't have access to in my very sheltered community. </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>In short, I was on a quest to find out the best of what secular psychology had to offer.  </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>I would have gone to a Catholic Graduate </li></ol></li><li> </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>What I was looking for</li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>What I found</li></ol></li><li> </li><li>Introduction  <ol><li>Question may arise, "Why Dr. Peter, since you are a Catholic psychologist, why are you even looking at these secular sources? Why even bother with them?  Don't we have everything we need in Scripture, in the traditions of the Church, in the writings of the Church Fathers and the saints, and in magisterial teaching?  I thought this was a Catholic podcast here.  <ol><li>Let me ask you question in return then -- Let's say you're experiencing serious physical symptoms -- something is wrong medically.  You have intense abdominal pain, right around your navel, your belly is starting to swell, you have a low-grade fever, you've lost your appetite and you're nauseous and you have diarrhea.  How would you react if I were to say to you: "Why are you considering consulting secular medical experts?  What need have you of doctors and a hospital?  Don't you have everything you need in Scripture, in the traditions of the Church, in the writings of the Church Fathers and the saints, and in magisterial teaching?  <ol><li>If I responded to you like that, you might think I'm a crackpot or that I believe in faith healing alone or that I just don't get what you are experiencing.</li><li>Those are the symptoms of an appendicitis, and that infected appendix could burst 48-72 hours after your first symptoms.  If that happens, bacteria spread infection throughout your abdomen, and that is potentially life-threatening.  You would need surgery to remove the appendix and clean out your abdomen.  </li></ol></li><li>Remember that we are embodied beings -- we are composites of a soul and a body. The 17th Century Philosopher Rene Descartes' gave us a lot of great things, including analytic geometry,  but he was wrong splitting the body from the mind in his dualism.   Descartes' mind-body dualism, the idea that the body and the mind operate in separate spheres, and neither can be assimilated into the other which has been so influential in our modern era.  <ol><li>In the last several years we are realizing just how much of our mental life and our psychological well-being is linked in various ways to our neurobiology -- the ways that our nervous systems function.  And the relationship between our embodied brain and our minds is reciprocal -- each affects the other in complex ways that we are just beginning to understand.  In other words, brain chemistry affects our emotional states.  And our emotional states and our behaviors affect brain chemistry.  It's not just our minds and it's not just our bodies and it's not just our souls -- it's all of those, all of what makes me who I am, body, mind, soul, spirit, all of it.  </li></ol></li><li> <ol><li>And since Scripture, the Early Church Fathers, the Catechism and so on are silent on neurobiology, neurochemistry, neurophysiology and so many other areas that impact our minds and our well-being, as a Catholic psychologist I am going to look elsewhere, I'm going to look into secular sources.  I just don't think it's reasonable to expect the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican to be experts in these areas -- it's not their calling.  I just don't think anyone is going to find an effective treatment for bulimia by consulting the writings of the Early Church Fathers or in St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica.  That is unreasonable .  And it's just as unreasonable, in my opinion, to ignore the body and just try to work with the mind.  </li></ol></li><li> </li><li>I also believe that God works through non-Catholics in many ways -- many non-Catholic researchers and clinicians and theorists are using the light of natural reason to discover important realities that help us understanding well-being, and they are inspired to seek what can be known with good motivations, with good hearts and sharp minds to help and love others.   I am a Catholic with upper-case C, a big C and I am catholic with a lower-case C -- a little C.  Catholic with a little C.  According to my Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Third Edition, which I rely on for wordfinding, according to this thesaurus, the synonyms for Catholic with a small c include the following terms:  universal, diverse, broad-based, eclectic, comprehensive, all-encompassing, all-embracing and all-inclusive.  That's what catholic with a small c means.  So I am Catholic with a big C and catholic with a small c.  </li><li>And a final point about why I look to secular sources -- The Church herself encourages us to look to all branches of knowledge and glean what is best from them.  <ol><li>From the CCC, paragraph 159  "Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth." "Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are."</li><li>And from the Vatican II document, the Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World, paragraph 62 reads:  In pastoral care, sufficient use must be made not only of theological principles, but also of the findings of the secular sciences, especially of psychology and sociology, so that the faithful may be brought to a more adequate and mature life of faith.</li></ol></li><li>Finally, I will say that considering the whole person -- Soul, spirit, mind and body -- all of the person is so much more helpful in the proc...</li></ol></li></ol></li></ol>

90 Your Well-Being: The Secular Experts Speak

Who are you, deep inside, at the core of your being?  Who lives in the inmost chamber of your personhood?  Join us on an adventure to discover your core identity.  Catholic experts Dr. Gerry Crete and Dr. Peter Martin find the convergences and synergies in Scripture, the early Church Fathers, the Eastern and Western Catholic monastic traditions, Doctors of the Church, the medieval Catholic theologians, the writings of contemplative saints, and the magisterial teachings of the Church -- supplemented by attachment theory, Internal Family Systems and other parts and systems approaches in the modern era – all in the service of answering the question – “Who is my inmost self?”  What do the words inmost self, heart, soul, “nous,” and the “eyes of the soul” mean from a Catholic perspective?  We bring together the best of the old and new, the spiritual and the secular, to help you know who you are at your core, all grounded in an authentically Catholic understanding of your human person.  With an experiential exercise from Dr. Gerry, too.   For the full experience with visuals, slides, B-roll, conversation and discussion in the comments section and so much more, check us out on our YouTube channel here:  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/@InteriorIntegration4Catholics">www.youtube.com/@InteriorIntegration4Catholics</a>

158 Who is Your Inmost Self?

Peace is not simply an absence of war. Fr. Mike breaks down the Catechism’s teachings about peace as the &quot;work of justice and the effect of charity.” We learn that to cultivate true peace, we must do more than avoid anger, hatred, and harm to our neighbor; we must actively work toward becoming agents of peace. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2302-2306.

This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Day 301: Peace

Fr. Mike's inspiration for this week's topic was T.S. Eliot's poem, The Waste Land. Join him and Fr. John as they discuss the chaos of the wasteland and the hope we should have in knowing God will restore the world back to paradise.

Paradise Springs Eternal

Father Mike Schmitz tells us what you can do when you’re overwhelmed. Sharing the advice of engineers, artists, and St. Paul himself, Father Mike helps us plan a course of action one step at a time.<a rel="payment" href="https://ascensionpress.com/products/support-ascension">Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast</a>

Overwhelmed?

Dr. Peter discusses some of his journey to harmonize psychology with Catholicism and invites listeners to get in touch with him as we form a community of Catholics who are committed to both human and spiritual formation and who are willing to put in the work to grow, even in this time of crisis and especially in this time of crisis.

8 The Chasm Between Psychology and Catholicism

Summary:  Dr. Peter walks you through the four tracks or pathways Catholics commonly follow with their anger at God, tracks proposed by Michele Novotni and Randy Petersen in their 2001 book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/420935.Angry_with_God">Angry with God</a>, and elaborates on them extensively.  These four tracks are 1) Trust in God Track; 2) the Cover-Up Track; 3) the Wrestle with God Track; and 4) the Long-Distance / Disconnect Track.  We discuss how to better resolve anger issues with God through a wide variety of means with a focus on practical solutions.  Dr. Peter emphasizes the importance of God images, felt safety and protection, a sense of trust, the infused virtue of Faith, courage and fortitude, and the critical role of emotional co-regulation in working through anger at God.

107 How to Work Through your Anger at God

Is sacrifice just offering up something to make someone else's life better? Theology makes it sound more complex. So, what is Sacrifice? How is the Mass a sacrifice? 📖 Fr. Pine's Book: <a href="https://bit.ly/3lEsP8F">https://bit.ly/3lEsP8F</a> 🖥️ Website: <a href="https://pintswithaquinas.com/">https://pintswithaquinas.com/</a> 🟢 Rumble: <a href="https://rumble.com/c/pintswithaquinas">https://rumble.com/c/pintswithaquinas</a> 👕 Merch: <a href="https://shop.pintswithaquinas.com">https://shop.pintswithaquinas.com</a> 🚫 FREE 21 Day Detox From Porn Course: <a href="https://www.strive21.com/">https://www.strive21.com/</a> 🔵 Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mattfradd">https://www.facebook.com/mattfradd</a> 📸 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mattfradd">https://www.instagram.com/mattfradd</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Why Sacrifice is SO Important | Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.

Resources: <ul> <li><a href= "https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/prayer">Prayer: The Great Means of Salvation and Perfection</a> - St. Alphonsus Liguori</li> <li><a href="http://SpiritualDirection.com/shop">Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits</a> - Dan Burke</li> <li><a href= "https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/the-contemplative-rosary"> The Contemplative Rosary</a> - Dan Burke and Connie Rossini</li> <li><a href="http://onelink.to/92tyk4">The Contemplative Rosary App</a> (phones and tablets only)</li> <li><a href="http://SpiritualDirection.com/shop">A Catholic Guide to Mindfulness</a> - Susan Brinkmann OCDS</li> <li><a href= "https://avila-institute.org/events/">Avila-Institute.org/events</a> - website</li> <li><a href="http://avila-institute.org/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer">Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EWTN Religious Catalogue</a> – online</li> <li><a href="https://www.sophiainstitute.com">Sophia Institute Press</a> - online</li> </ul>

Negative Thoughts Interrupting Prayer?

In this episode we talking about spiritual pruning and how its a difficult part of the process, but necessary to bring about growth and good fruit. One Thing We Love This Week: <ul> <li>Sr. Miriam's One Thing - <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMVb8eo5NUw">Safe</a></li> <li>Sr. Miriam's Other One Thing - <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cp8mC9ZVnQ">Beyond The Blue</a></li> <li>Michelle's One Thing - Print from Katie Fitzgerald - Sr. Miriam quote</li> <li>Heather's One Thing - Lifepoint Worship <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJLoKmQ_hkw">"Closer"</a></li> </ul> Discussion Questions: <ol> <li>What areas in your life is God pruning or wanting to prune right now?</li> <li>Fruit can be good or bad. What are the fruits that are growing in your life?</li> <li>What areas do you need to let God shift your perspective that you are not a victim, rather you are a "strugglers" and with God we are "overcomers"?</li> </ol> Journal Questions: <ol> <li>What areas do you distrust that God has your good in mind?</li> <li>What are the motives behind the choices you make in the big areas of life?</li> <li>What areas do you need to repent and begin again?</li> </ol> Quote to Ponder: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does beat fruit he prunes to make it even more fruitful." - John 15:1-2 ￼

S03 Episode 03: Pruning

How do we pray? Prayer is essential for our relationship with the Lord. The Catechism teaches that we must study the Scriptures, learn how to pray, and have the will to pray. Fr. Mike shares two different sources of prayer: the Word of God and the Liturgy of the Church. He explains how the Holy Spirit guides us in prayer and teaches us how to speak with God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2650-2655. 

This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.