083: Archbishop Vigano & the Power of Fear

by Matthew Leonard
by Matthew Leonard

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Not sure if you caught it, but Archbishop Vigano recently told the American bishops they’d better be afraid…very afraid.

Why?

Because if you want to become a saint, the first thing you need is fear.

Fear isn’t typically the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about growth in sanctity, but it’s a must. Not any old fear, of course…we’re talking fear of the Lord – one of the most powerful gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Isaiah 11).

And Archbishop Vigano’s recent letter nails it.

So in this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast, I’m going briefly unpack why I think the one paragraph letter he wrote is, in a way, the most powerful letter he’s written so far…at least on the spiritual level.

Among other things, I’m going to get into:

  • Why fear of the Lord doesn’t equal terror
  • How fear is directly linked to the virtue of temperance (and why that’s so important)
  • Why spiritual fear leads to hatred of sin
  • The beauty of filial fear
  • How the gift of fear moves us to reverence

This is a super powerful podcast because it shows how instead of just complaining, we can become part of the solution to the Church crisis.

May God bless you and the whole Catholic Church!

Matthew

Oh yeah…Here’s the link to Divine Intimacy on the EWTN Religious Catalog, I mentioned in the podcast.

P.S. I’m leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Jim Caviezel, star of The Passion of the Christ!

We’ll also be joined by Fr. Don Calloway and John Michael Talbot! It’s going to be epic!

CLICK HERE for details!

 

 

P.P.S. If you’d rather go to Italy, I’m heading there on pilgrimage, too!

Join me in March 2019 for a time of deep spiritual renewal and amazing adventure in Rome, Assisi, Orvieto, LaVerna, and much, much more! CLICK HERE for details!

 

CLICK HERE to subscribe to the Art of Catholic podcast!

14 Responses

  1. Your best podcast to date Matthew!
    Truly inspiring.
    How about something on the Kergyma of Our Faith – sin, redemption and. Grace as a follow up?

    God Bless you and all you hold dear and close to your heart.

  2. Loved the explanation and I hope those who are bewildered, losing faith listen again and let it sink in as this give us more hope of Christ’s salvation …. never listen to the world as they are lost and are a distraction of our eternal reward.

  3. Matthew
    Thanks once again for such informative podcast! Prayers and penance, two most important ingredients on the road to sanctity, please keep reminding us of this to spur us on to holiness!

    1. Thank you, Joyce. Unfortunately, prayer and penance are easier to talk about than actually do:). May the Lord give us grace for both. God bless you!

  4. This is really, really good and should be heard by every faithful Catholic – this podcast is a gem of truth and consolation for these troubled times we find ourselves swimming in.

  5. Excellent.
    I remain a committed Catholic who is also fasting and praying in the confidence that the Holy Spirit will guide the Church until the end of time.

  6. Matthew,

    Your recommendations to pray and to do penance are perfectly in line with those of the greatest lay person in the Church’s history: Our Lady. Marvelous!
    I’m sure that, through her intercession, those prayers and that mortification will be brought to the Holy Spirit for His intervention in raising up the right people at the right time.

  7. Thank you Matthew. I do pray, but “Penance” yes penance – that’s what I need. Like St. Therese of Lisieux, doing little things with great love. Putting your money where your mouth is. Thank you.

    1. It’s what we all need, but often fail to do, Melanie. I think St. Therese is a great example to follow because she makes a penitential life palatable by focusing on small things. God bless!

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