Catholic Exchange

Dr. Alex Lessard joins the podcast to discuss the organization Adeodatus, "an educational nonprofit organized to support the ongoing renewal of Catholic liberal education through conferences, community-building, publication, consulting, and due diligence."

Dr. Lessard touches upon:

• The importance of the liberal arts and the role of the Church in education
• The whole-person approach to education vs. the utilitarian modern model
• The true purpose of learning: the ascent to wisdom and knowledge of God
• Why any scholar, when divorcing an academic field from its teleological end in God, loses expertise of the field itself
• Resources for grassroots implementation of Catholic principles of formation
• Technology in education: how we must control the tools lest they control us

Listeners can learn more at adeodatus.com. The first of three annual conferences is taking place later this month.

Catholic Exchange contributor Mary Beth Bracy  resolved on Divine Mercy Sunday to be "married to Jesus Christ immortal." She joins the podcast to share about her vocation as a Consecrated Virgin in the world. 

Mary Beth sheds light on:

• Saints who were consecrated virgins and the role of this vocation in the early Church
• Her resolutions, daily responsibilities, and prayer routine
• The community aspect of consecrated virginity, and role in parish life
• Maintaining her perpetual Eucharistic adoration chapel
• The importance of spiritual direction
• How writing helped her to discern
• Tips for discerning any vocation

Mary Beth's writing can be found at Catholic Exchange and on her blog, The Little Way.

If you enjoyed this discussion, please consider supporting the show.

Author Marlene Watkins joins the podcast to discuss her recent book Everyday Miracles of Lourdes:  Twenty Extraordinary Experiences Along the Way to the Grotto.

Marlene covers:

• The ministry and mission of the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers
• How Marlene's life was forever changed by her first trip to Lourdes
• The 70 approved, documented miracles of Lourdes, plus the 7800+ testimonies of healings
• How Our Lady of Lourdes continues to provide medical healings to this day, as well as spiritual healings and miraculous conversions
• How the peace and joy at Lourdes alleviates doubts and revitalizes the faith of pilgrims
• How Mary won over the heart of one Protestant convert
• How you can access the special graces of Lourdes--on pilgrimage or at home

If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider supporting the show.

Catholic historian and writer Elena Maria Vidal sets the record straight on the oft-maligned Catholic Queen of France and martyr of the Revolution. While candidly acknowledging the queen's faults, Elena's work paints a portrait of Marie Antoinette in all her complexity.

Drawing from her years of research, Elena discusses:

• Popular misconceptions about the queen, then and now
• The origin of the "let them eat cake" rumor
• What modern TV series and movies get wrong
• Marie Antoinette's strong Catholic faith and moral character, and many recorded charitable works
• The deeply Catholic milieu of the French court and its role in Christendom
• The truly demonic nature of the French Revolution and its pagan "Cult of Reason"
• How the queen was able to secretly receive the sacraments before her death
• Marie Antoinette's piety and equanimity at the guillotine

Elena has written several books about Marie Antoinette and her family, including two novels and a biography. They are available at the links below:

Marie-Antoinette, Daughter of the Caesars: Her Life, Her Times, Her Legacy

Trianon:  A Novel of Royal France

Madame Royale

Her latest research focuses on the Stuart dynasty. She blogs at https://teaattrianon.blogspot.com/.

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If you enjoyed this discussion, please consider supporting the show.

Fr. Michael Rennier joins the podcast to discuss his new book The Forgotten Language: How Recovering the Poetics of the Mass Will Change Our Lives.

Father Michael discusses:

• His conversion story: from Pentecostal student, to Episcopal priest, to Catholic priest
• How the transcendence and wonder of the Mass played a role in his conversion
• Combatting pride and surrendering to God's will
• Why beauty challenges us, as opposed to sentimental gratification
• How beauty, as an "encounter with eternity," communicates theological truths
• How to alleviate boredom at Mass
• Simple ways for parish priests to instill beauty in their liturgy and church buildings

If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider supporting the show.

Catholic therapist and author Bob Schuchts joins the podcast to discuss the latest edition of his classic book Be Healed: A Guide to Encountering the Powerful Love of Jesus in Your Life.

Bob addresses:

• Emotional pain and the Seven Deadly Sins 
• Lessons from decades as a therapist and the work of the John Paul II Healing Center
• Forgiveness and healing within the family
• Jesus as the Physician of Souls and the saints as our guides

Longtime culture-warrior and conservative author Bill Donohue joins the podcast to discuss his new book War on Virtue: How the Ruling Class Is Killing the American Dream.

Bill shares his opinions on:

• The "vital virtues" that are prerequisites to success
• Why Hollywood's depravity is a coordinated effort to corrupt hearts and minds
• Wokeism as a replacement religion
• How average American Catholics can protect themselves and their children in the culture war

In this episode, Kristen speaks with Archduke Eduard Habsburg, Hungarian Ambassador to the Holy See, about his forthcoming book The Habsburg Way.

Eduard outlines seven rules for a holy and happy life, including:

• Get Married (and have lots of children)
• Be Catholic (and practice your faith)
• Believe in the Empire (and subsidiarity)
• Die Well (and have a memorable funeral!)

We discuss several noteworthy figures from his ancestry, and how each of these principles guided both their public and private lives.

Learn about:

• The tensions between the Faith and diplomacy
• The recipe for a successful Catholic marriage
• The differing Habsburg reactions to the Reformation and the Enlightenment, and how these affected the Church
• The principle of subsidiarity as the bedrock of governance 
• How the United States and the Habsburg Empire are more alike than you think!

In this episode, Catholic actress, speaker, and author of Pure Power  Nicole Abisinio joins us to discuss her background and current work in Catholic filmmaking.

Nicole opens up about:

• Her background in Hollywood and her dramatic conversion to Catholicism
• How she spreads the Gospel message in the filmmaking industry
• Pureflix, the wholesome alternative to Netflix 
• Her newly released project, The Advocate, spreading awareness about human trafficking
• The spiritual warfare battles that surround us every day
• Lifelong healing through prayer and the sacraments 

Phillip Campbell is a Catholic author, teacher, publisher, and regular contributor to Catholic Exchange.

Join us as we discuss:

-The writing process from idea to execution

-The future of Catholic literature

-How to instill a love of reading in your children

-How living in the digital age changes how we read and reduces reading comprehension

-Homeschooling options for Catholic families 

Links:

Phillip's latest book Wounds of Love, a story about Padre Pio for young adults

The Church and the Dark Ages

Cruachan Hill Press: "Catholic Books for Nerdy Intellectuals"

Homeschool Connections

Articles at Catholic Exchange

This episode features Scott Weeman, founder of Catholic in Recovery, to discuss his latest book, The Catholic in Recovery Workbook.

Topics include:

• Scott's incredible story of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction
• His ministry and faith-based approach to healing
• How the cross of addiction can open doors to grace
• How the devil exploits wounds to entrap souls in sin
• Practical steps for Catholics struggling with addiction

In this episode, Kristen speaks with Fr. Jeffrey Kirby about his new book A Journey to Mount Carmel: A Nine-Day Preparation for Investiture in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady.

Topics include:

• Who should wear the brown scapular? What does the devotion entail?
• What are Our Lady's promises to those who wear the scapular with devotion?
• What is the difference between the brown scapular and other scapulars?
• How does the preparation for investiture mirror the baptismal promises?
• How can we wear the scapular as a public witness to our faith?

Today, October 7, is the feast of Our Lady of Victory, commemorating the Catholic victory at the 1571 Battle of Lepanto through the faithful's recitation of the Rosary.  In that spirit, CE editor Kristen Van Uden is joined by editor Al Smith to discuss two of Archbishop Fulton Sheen's seminal works on war: A Declaration of Dependence and War and Peace.

Topics include:

-Why atheism is at the root of the evils of totalitarianism
-What constitutes a just war
-Why Bp. Sheen believed the differences between the totalitarian regimes of midcentury Europe and the "decadent West" were of degree, not kind
-How true independence is only found in dependence on God
-How Catholics must respond to global wars with a renewed commitment to prayer
-Bp. Sheen's Seven Pillars of Peace

Other books mentioned:

Wrath of God by Fr. Livio Fanzaga

Gods of Atheism by Fr. Vincent Miceli, SJ

Kristen is joined by Kimberly Perez, M.S., LMHC, Catholic Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the founder of Divine Mercy Healing & Counseling Center in Fort Myers, Florida, to discuss the relationship between the Faith and mental health.

Topics include:

• Embracing our inherent worthiness as children of God
• The relationship between sin and woundedness
• Problems with the secular approach to mental health
• How to discern whether an ailment is primarily spiritual or psychological
• Healing through prayer and the sacraments
• Pride and self-love as the root of sin
• Why worldly pursuits inevitably make us unhappy
• Scrupulosity 
• Self-esteem and spiritual warfare
• How narcissists and other abusers use the same tactics and lies of demons
• Efficacious suffering vs. toleration of abuse--how to know the difference
• Despair and perseverance 

Kristen speaks with Fr. Edward Looney about his latest book How They Love Mary,  available now from Sophia Institute Press.

Topics covered include:

-little known saints and devotions to Our Lady
-how all devotions to Mary point to her Son
-how to discern the particular ways Mary is calling you to honor her

Today we speak with Annette Bergeon of Endow (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women). We discuss how living the Faith in community is the antidote to today's social media-obsessed secular culture.

Endow has recently released a new series for teens focused on faith-based dignity, friendship, and leadership. Learn more at EndowGroups.org.

This is a fun one. You might not give much thought to the virtue of prudence. However, prudence is the virtue that allows you to take control of your life and choose the other virtues.

Today we welcome Fr. Gregory Pine, a Dominican and doctoral student as well as author of the new book Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly. We tackle the big, small, and scary questions about prudence and how you can grow in this overlooked virtue.

Check out Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly to learn more. Also check out Fr. Pine's previous book, Marian Consecration With Aquinas.

You can listen to more of Fr. Pine's insights on the podcasts Godsplaining and Pints With Aquinas.
 
Also check out Fr. Romano Guardini's monumental book, Learning the Virtue's That Lead You to God. Finally, we also recommend Fulton J. Sheen's Victory Over Vice. 

Photo by Sylvie V on Unsplash

You can find our show notes and resources at https://catholicexchange.com/how-we-can-walk-with-mary-in-lent-feat-fr-edward-looney (http://bit.ly/2GQBEEX).

It's hard to believe, but the beginning of Lent is quickly approaching. In hopes that we can make this Lent bear great spiritual fruits, long-time CE author Fr. Edward Looney joins Michael to discuss how Mary can help us through our Lenten journey. 

By examining the life of Mary and the words she has given us at her apparitions, Fr. Looney shares how we can walk with Mary and have intercede for us in Lent and beyond. You'll also discover that Mary truly seeks to heal us and bring us to her Son, our Lord. 

You can stream this episode below or find us wherever you enjoy listening to podcasts. 

Among some other subjects that we touch on:

• The prayers Mary requested us to make at seven apparitions.
• How Mary's prayers can convert sinners (check out Fr. Looney's article on this subject here on Catholic Exchange)
• Mary's help in overcoming entrenched sins.
• Why we ask Mary to pray for us now.
• Why we should pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary during Lent.
• How Jesus heals Mary's broken heart (and how He can do the same for you).
• How to pray to hear God's voice.
• How St. Faustina and Mother Mary can guide us in putting more of our trust in God.
• The apparition of Mary in Champion, Wisconsin.
• Why Lent is a special time to ask Mary to help you pray for your departed loved ones.

Some resources we mentioned:

• "An Unexpected Miracle at Lourdes" by Sheila Beirne.
• "Lessons I Learned From Scripture After My Mom Passed Away" by Fr. Edward Looney.
• The Mother Cabrini Shrine on Lookout Mountain in Colorado.
• Find Fr. Looney's Previous interviews in our archives, "Seeking a Marian Heart" and "Learning to Love the Rosary."
• You can also read Fr. Looney's previous articles on Catholic Exchange.
• You can also find Fr. Looney on Facebook, Twitter, and his website, EdwardLooney.com.
• Fr. Looney's latest book, A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary, is available through Sophia Institute Press.

An interview with Al Smith, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Mission Society of Canada.

In today's episode, we discuss Fulton J. Sheen and his approach to love, the greatest commandment. While love gets confused in our culture, Ven Sheen offers a comprehensive view of love and how we can love more deeply.

You can purchase The Greatest Commandment: A Fulton Sheen Anthology on Love at your local Catholic bookstore or online through Sophia Institute Press. You can also find the previous anthologies, The Cries of the Jesus from the Cross: A Fulton Sheen Anthology (2018) and  Lord, Teach Us To Pray: A Fulton Sheen Anthology (2020).

You can check out these previous articles and interviews from Al Smith, available here on Catholic Exchange:

• “Fulton J. Sheen’s Lessons on Love & the Greatest Commandment”
• “Every Catholic Home Needs a Good Book on the Sacraments”
• “Fulton J. Sheen: My Guide As I Learn to Pray”
• “What Fulton J. Sheen Can Teach Us About Prayer”
• “Ven. Fulton J. Sheen as a Lenten Guide”

While our technology gives us access to tools and information beyond our imagination, it often feels like our phones are a distraction. More than helpful, our phones can be a source of angst and confusion. As Catholic Christians, though, we often have found a way to use new technology to deepen our faith. 

The Amen app is one such tool from the Augustine Institute. Bringing together prayer, meditations, scriptures, and scholarship, Amen is possibly the most comprehensive Catholic app available. Today's guest, Eddie Trask of the Augustine Institute, talks about the ways that your phone can be a reminder of God's grace and not just a source of distraction and anxiety. 

• Find the Amen app in your app store or at AmenApp.org
• Check out the Augustine Institute at augustineinstitute.org

 Photo by Grant Whitty on Unsplash