Posted on Thursday, January 30, 2020

097: Consecration to St. Joseph: Crazy or Crucial?

by Matthew Leonard

(Scroll to bottom for audio podcast.)

It’s quite possible you (or others you know) have made a total consecration to Our Lady. (I’ve done it twice.)

But St. Joseph? Really?

Yep…at least according to my guest, Fr. Don Calloway, vicar provincial of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception.

In fact, Fr. Calloway calls this the “time of St. Joseph.” And after this extraordinary conversation, I totally agree with him!

I’ve had a devotion to St. Joseph for years, but now I see him in a totally different light…and you will, too.

Join us as Fr. Don and I discuss, among other things:

Why consecration to St. Joseph is powerful even if you’re already consecrated to Mary
Why the idea of consecration to St. Joseph took time to get traction
Why St. Joseph is known as the “Terror of Demons”
Debunking the idea St. Joseph was an old man
Whether “Foster Father of Jesus” is an appropriate title
Why St. Joseph is the “Patron of the Dying” (including some very cool scriptural insights)

This was an extremely fun and informative conversation and you’re going to love it!

Matthew

P.S. Have you heard? I’m offering a FREE Lenten video study titled “Catholic Mysticism & the Beautiful Life of Grace!” Part of the popular online series, the Science of Sainthood, it’s unlike any Lenten series you’ve ever done…and it’s free! CHECK IT OUT HERE!

GO ON A PILGRIMAGE with MATTHEW!

PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND

Want to Walk in the Footsteps of St. John Paul II, St. Faustina, and St. Maximilian Kolbe? Join Matthew Leonard for an amazing pilgrimage to Poland, the most Catholic country in the world!

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Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2018

082: Historical Holiness: How Religious Orders Illumine the Path to Perfection

by Matthew Leonard

Yes, some look like Jedi hippies. Yes, their giant rosaries look like medieval weapons. Yes, many haven’t worn socks in a very long time.

But they’re the real deal.

About whom am I talking? Catholics with a religious vocation. You know…monks, nuns, and such.

And while most of us aren’t called to their life, we should pay very close attention to them.

Why?

Because they can show laity the pursuit of holiness in its essential contours. In other words, they can show us the way to heaven.

So in order to get inside the life and mind of the “religious” and see what we can learn, I brought Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. onto the program. As you’ll see, he’s an extremely sharp guy and explains the deeper things very clearly.

Among other things, we discuss:

What are the “evangelical counsels” and how we can live them
A fascinating (and brief) history of religious life (perfect for converts and those who need to brush up on their history a little:)
What it means to have a truly intentional life
How the religious model of life can restore sanity during our current crisis
Why religious life is a kind of second baptism
The shocking answer to the question, “Does God love some people more than others?”

All that and a whole lot more in this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast.

God bless!

Matthew

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!

Grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life!

CLICK HERE to subscribe to the Art of Catholic podcast!

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Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2018

073: Part 2 Rediscovering the Power of JPII’s Theology of the Body

by Matthew Leonard

There are several questions every Christian needs to ask themselves on a regular basis.

The problem is that the world has warped most of our minds to the point that even if we answer them, we’re not answering correctly.

And there are consequences. (More on the questions themselves later…)

In our last episode, Number 72, we began our rediscovery of St. John Paul II’s theological time bomb known as the Theology of the Body. It’s something many have forgotten, but is desperately needed by a culture in steep decline.

The Holy Father knew the human condition. He understood it deeply. And he provides not just answers, but a roadmap for recovery.

So in this the second (and final) part of our discussion on Theology of the Body, I’ll lay out:

The questions every Christian needs to ask themselves on a regular basis
The Catholic response to the world’s twisted notion of freedom
How the sense of shame can be both good and bad
Why we now have the “battle of the sexes”…in which we all lose
How both prudishness and promiscuity are related to the heresy of Manicheanism…and why it matters
John Paul II’s key ingredient for overcoming humanity’s use and abuse of each other
The secret weapon that crushes lust of the flesh (which might totally surprise you)

This is another power-packed episode that will help you both understand the problem faced by our culture today, and provide a guide to recovery.

You don’t want to miss it.

Of course, all of the above is just the first part of the show! I’m also joined once again by my trusty companion, the great biblical brain, Curtis Mitch. (He’s the genius who writes the commentary for the best-selling Ignatius Catholic Study Bible.)

Curtis will continue to lay down some of the biblical background for the issues we’re discussing from Romans 12. This guy’s amazing and explains scripture beautifully.

God bless!

Matthew

“All who have been lost were lost because they did not pray.” St. Alphonsus Liguori.

Don’t be lost! Grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life!

It’s an easy step-by-step summary of the spiritual giants of the Church designed to help you rocket to God!

Don’t miss a show! Subscribe to The Art of Catholic by clicking this link and then clicking “View in iTunes” under the picture and then “Subscribe”! (I listen to my podcasts on using Overcast. It’s free and works better than the Apple Podcast player. Get it here.)