The Art of Catholic with Matthew Leonard

Humanity is having an identity crisis of major proportions. People don't know who they are. And it's literally wreaking havoc across the world at this very instant. And St. John Paul II saw it coming. In fact, he provided the answers before many of the questions were even posed. Expanding upon the work of St. Thomas Aquinas and others, he developed a philosophy of the person called, appropriately, "personalism." It's a way to make sense of who we are and the dignity each of us possesses. Matthew Leonard and Dr. John Crosby, an eminent philosopher at Franciscan University of Steubenville, discuss the Holy Father's famous way of looking at the human person so that we can understand more deeply who we are…and help the world figure it out, too.

Even in the face of terrible tragedy like suicide, Catholic doctrine is clear that there is always hope. This is particularly the message of Divine Mercy taught by St. Faustina Kowalska (originator of the Divine Mercy Chaplet). Unfortunately, too many Catholics don't truly understand what the Catholic Church has to say in these matters. It's important not only for those who may have died, but for the sake of those left behind. Join Matthew Leonard and Fr. Chris Alar of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, for an honest and powerful look at hope and Divine Mercy in action.

Matthew Leonard interviews Dr. John Bergsma about his conversion to Catholicism, as well as discussing an overview of all of salvation history.

In this special 100th episode of the Art of Catholic, Matthew Leonard brings back John Henry Crosby, founder and president of the Hildebrand Project for a fascinating discussion revolving around a small, but powerful book titled Jaws of Death: Gate of Heaven by famous 20th philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand.

https://youtu.be/0xwGSThPczQ SCROLL DOWN FOR AUDIO ONLY It's impossible to read St. Paul's letters without coming across the topic of suffering. It's everywhere. And it's because the question of suffering is constantly nagging us. Why do we suffer? What does it mean? If God loves us, how come we suffer? Enter St. Paul. His teaching is absolutely essential to the understanding of suffering and how it can become beautifully redemptive through the Cross of Christ. So to unpack his amazing (very Catholic) teaching, I asked Dr. John Kincaid, an expert on St. Paul, to join me on the Art of Catholic. In this episode we discuss: The essence of the Catholic teaching on redemptive sufferingHow what I was taught as a Protestant about suffering didn't really understand St. PaulHow we can actually "rejoice" in our suffering along with St. Paul (Col. 1:24)Why it's okay to be weak (yep!)The incredible meaning behind Paul's discussion of "labor pains" in Galatians that will totally expand your view of redemptive suffering This is an incredibly eye-popping conversation and it's perfect timing for our liturgical time of the year, as well as what's going on in the world. God bless and enjoy! Matthew P.S. I was besieged with emails asking for more time to go through the FREE streaming of Catholic Mysticism & the Beautiful Life of Grace? So I've decided to leave it up a little longer! Join thousands of Catholics from all over the world and dive into what Christ calls the "one thing" necessary! CHECK IT OUT HERE! "Awesome study!" "These videos are SO POWERFUL..." "SERIOUSLY - THANK YOU!" "WOW!...SO DEEP AND BEAUTIFUL" "This is going to save a lot of people!"

What if I told you the game has changed? What if I told you that things have gotten so serious that there are often-ignored spiritual truths we have to be aware of or we're not going to survive the current climate? The reality is that we are at war. The forces of darkness are trying to destroy your life. They're trying to kill you. And it appears the battle has intensified, which means you have to be ready. And that's why I asked EWTN's Dan Burke to come on to the Art of Catholic and discuss his new book Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits. But we're not just talking about the warfare itself. We're going to talk about how to deal with it and protect yourself from the Evil One. Among other things we'll discuss: The current state of spirituality in the ChurchWhy we have to be aware of demonic forcesHow the Ignatian rules of spirituality combat evilThe most important rule of them allThe complementarity of Carmelite & Ignatian spiritualityThe importance of community Spiritual warfare is real. And Dan knows what he's talking about. This is a fascinating conversation that will open your eyes to the reality behind the spiritual curtain. God bless! Matthew P.S. There's still time to sign up for the FREE streaming of Catholic Mysticism & the Beautiful Life of Grace? Join thousands of Catholics from all over the world and be transformed this Lent! CHECK IT OUT HERE!

Matthew Leonard interviews Fr. Don Calloway about why now is the right time to consecrate yourself to St. Joseph.

This is not a normal interview. While I typically dive into subjects like Catholic spirituality, Scripture, and such, today I'm diving into you. That sounds weird, I know. Allow me to explain. My guests on the Art of Catholic are two gentleman dedicated to helping Catholics find their personal vocation. And before you say, "I'm already married" or "I'm going to be a nun." or "I'm (fill in the blank)."...wait!! I'm talking about something far beyond your "state in life". Luke Burgis and Dr. Joshua Miller have written an amazing book titled "Unrepeatable: Cultivating the Unique Calling of Every Person". It's about you! Right now! Wherever you are! And you don't want to miss this episode. Amongst other things, we discuss: The disastrous consequence of to reducing "personal vocation" to categories of priest, nun, married or singleHow your personal vocation continues regardless of changes to your state in lifeHow every person is "hardwired" with a motivational design by GodThe proper role of empathy (and how the Incarnation is "divine empathy"...whoa!)St. John Paul II's powerful statement that "vocation is being"The powerful role of "achievement stories" Trust me. This is a pretty unique interview that you don't want to miss. It could dramatically help you discover who God actually designed you to be. God bless! Matthew P.S. Looking for that next step up the spiritual ladder? Something designed to actually transform your life? CLICK to enroll in the totally FREE Science of Sainthood Mini-Course and experience God in a whole new way! "I've completed several sessions and find them SPECTACULAR!!!" Sara "This is the best, most powerful, most insightful study I have ever done, bar none. It has made a huge difference in my life!" Joriah "If you've ever wanted to deepen your life of prayer and actually make some progress in avoiding vice and growing in virtue, look no further." Dr. Brant Pitre – Renowned theologian & best-selling author CHECK OUT NEXT LEVEL CATHOLIC ACADEMY! GO ON A PILGRIMAGE with MATTHEW! PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND

Featuring Curtis Mitch https://youtu.be/OeQGhdrb2VY Have you ever read something in the Bible and thought, "Yikes! That doesn't sound like a loving God!" There are a lot of difficult events (not to mention direct instructions from God) that cause 21st century Christians a lot of angst. Of particular note is the extreme violence ordered by God against seemingly innocent people. So what gives? How does this square with the love taught by Christ and His Church? To provide some answers, I brought in Curtis Mitch. He's one of the sharpest biblical minds in the Catholic Church. (For the last 20 years he's been writing the commentary in the best-selling Ignatius Catholic Study Bible.) He's got serious Scripture skills and I love having him on the show. Among other things, we'll discuss: Why the Israelites engaged in the violent conquest of Canaan (killing everyone and everything...Yeah, I told you this one wasn't easy)What is herem warfare and why did God order itThe whole point of the Promised LandThe extremely dire consequences of idolatryHow to reconcile the violence of the Old Testament with the love taught by ChristWhat lessons we can learn from the Israelites for our spiritual life This might be the most difficult topic we've ever addressed. But it's a necessary one to address if we're going to proclaim the truth of God in the world (not to mention grow in our understanding and faith). Blessings, Matthew P.S. Looking for that next step up the spiritual ladder? Something designed to actually transform your life? CLICK to enroll in the totally FREE Science of Sainthood Mini-Course and experience God in a whole new way! "I've completed several sessions and find them SPECTACULAR!!!" Sara "This is the best, most powerful, most insightful study I have ever done, bar none. It has made a huge difference in my life!" Joriah "If you've ever wanted to deepen your life of prayer and actually make some progress in avoiding vice and growing in virtue, look no further." Dr. Brant Pitre – Renowned theologian & best-selling author CHECK IT OUT! PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND with MATTHEW! 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!

Featuring Dr. John Bergsma https://youtu.be/pi1Qr6_Cko4 Discovered in 1946 by a guy throwing rocks into a cave, the Dead Sea Scrolls have been called "the greatest archeological find of the 20th century." And they're totally Catholic! Join Matthew Leonard and scrolls expert Dr. John Bergsma as they unlock some very illuminating secrets from these famous scrolls. It's a conversation that may help fill in some cracks you didn't even realize were there. Among other things they'll cover: What the Scrolls teach us about the EucharistThe mysterious Essenes and Christ's relationship to themWhy Matthew, Mark, and Luke say the Last Supper was on a different day than the Gospel of John...and how to reconcile that differenceWhy in the world John the Baptist lived in the wilderness eating weird stuff and wearing animal skinsHow the Scrolls shed light on what books make up the Bible (or don't) This is a jam-packed interview that will help you see the story of Scripture in a whole new way! God bless! Matthew Other Art of Catholic podcasts featuring Dr. Bergsma: 006 Bible Basics with John Bergsma042 New Testament Basics with John Bergsma043 (More) New Testament Basics with John Bergsma076 Psalm Basics for Catholics NEXT LEVEL CATHOLIC ACADEMY IS OPEN! Doors have re-opened to the fastest growing school of Catholic spirituality in the world. This is the place to have your spiritual life absolutely transformed: "I've completed several sessions and find them SPECTACULAR!!!" Sara "This is the best, most powerful, most insightful study I have ever done, bar none. It has made a huge difference in my life!" Joriah "It's so great!!!! Get on board." Ola "If you've ever wanted to deepen your life of prayer and actually make some progress in avoiding vice and growing in virtue, look no further." Dr. Brant Pitre – Renowned theologian & best-selling author

Featuring Dr. Jay Richards https://youtu.be/y9APG8CDzjM The confusion is pervasive. The consequences are catastrophic. What is a Catholic supposed to believe when it comes to evolution? Is it okay or not? Can Darwinism be reconciled with Church teaching as many argue (or even assume)? To answer these (and many other related questions), I brought in a man I consider to have one of the most remarkable minds in the Catholic Church. His name is Dr. Jay Richards, a New York Times best-selling author and convert to Catholicism (from Calvinism). Jay is an Assistant Research Professor in the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute, and the Executive Editor of The Stream. He's smart. Very smart. And he's got a lot to say on the topic of evolution. In fact, he edited and contributed to a powerful book titled "God and Evolution" which I found very interesting. You will, too. Among other things, Jay and I discuss: The predominant views of how the world came to beHow the Church views the famous "Origin of Species" by Charles DarwinThe fundamental difference between a Darwinist and a theistThe conundrum of "theistic evolution"Intelligent DesignWhy there is so much confusion in Catholicism about evolution This is one of those episodes that's going to challenge some of your fundamental presuppositions and make you say, "What? Really?" Enjoy! God bless! Matthew P.S. It's almost time! Doors re-open to the world's fastest growing online school of authentic Catholic spirituality on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th! CLICK HERE to check it out and get on the Wait List! (Wait List members are eligible for Early Bird Discounts!) "If you've ever wanted to deepen your life of prayer and actually make some progress in avoiding vice and growing in virtue, look no further." Dr. Brant Pitre – Renowned theologian & author of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist

Featuring Dr. Carrie Gress https://youtu.be/Za5oeIDXnrU Every now and then you come across someone who opens your eyes to the reality behind the curtain a little bit more. My guest just tore the whole curtain down. Dr. Carrie Gress has written an eye-popping exposé titled, The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing Culture from Toxic Femininity. It's a barn-burner. And before any of you men think, "Well, I guess I'll go find something a little more manly..." STOP! This is something you NEED to hear. There is a war going on for the hearts and minds of your wives, daughters, sons, friends...even yours! And you're about to hear the sounds of battle. In this episode, Dr. Gress and I discuss: The force behind the breathtaking rise of lesbianism and transgenderismThe insidious relationship between the Russian Revolution and the Women's Lib movementThe increasingly popular world of goddess worshipWho is Lilith and why you need to be aware of "her"What popular publications are dangerous and why (This will surprise you...)Why men aren't fighting backWhy the Virgin Mary is the real point of attack Of course, we also discuss the antidote to all of this craziness so that we can reclaim what has been lost and get culture back on track. Go pour yourself a cup of coffee and prepare yourself for an extremely important episode of the Art of Catholic. God bless! Matthew P.S. Doors re-open to the world's largest online school of authentic Catholic spirituality on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th! CLICK HERE to check it out and get on the Wait List! (Wait List members are eligible for Early Bird Discounts!) "If you've ever wanted to deepen your life of prayer and actually make some progress in avoiding vice and growing in virtue, look no further." Dr. Brant Pitre – Renowned theologian & author of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist

Every now and then you meet a person whose life blows your mind. I recently met that guy while in Israel. His name is Msgr. Hilary Franco, a priest of 64 years and unlike anyone you've ever encountered. He's a living treasure-trove of knowledge spanning the last six decades of Church history. But it's his personal history that wows. (You can read all about it in his incredible memoir Bishop Sheen: Mentor and Friend.) What makes his life so special? Only the fact that he lived and worked very closely for years with two of the most incredible Catholics in the history of the modern Church – Pope St. John Paul II and soon-to-be Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. No joke. And boy, does he have stories. And you're about to hear some of them. For example: How Sheen prepared for his Emmy Award winning television showThe secret identity of the Angel erasing the blackboard on the Life is Worth Living (Sheen's program that had 40 million viewers...a week!)The beautiful encounter between Venerable Fulton Sheen and St. John Paul IISome inside scoop on Vatican II And while he's lived quite the life. Msgr. Franco isn't not done yet! He currently represents the Vatican at the United Nations and is helping promote the Catholic faith around the world. This guy is a total dynamo and you're going to love him. Enjoy! God bless! Matthew P.S. Doors re-open to the world's largest online school of Catholic spirituality at the end of summer 2019! CLICK HERE to check it out and get on the Wait List! (Wait List members are eligible for big Early Bird Discounts!) "If you've ever wanted to deepen your life of prayer and actually make some progress in avoiding vice and growing in virtue, look no further." Dr. Brant Pitre – Renowned theologian & author of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist

https://youtu.be/NkpOkZ842g4 The infection has gone deep. Case in point...Several years ago I was at a very orthodox Catholic conference on the West Coast. Great talks. Great people. Great event. Then the wheels came off. During the homily at Mass, the priest gave a completely anti-Catholic homily. He didn't do it on purpose, but it was anti-Catholic nonetheless. I was flabbergasted. I turned to a friend seated next to me, and asked, "Are you hearing what I'm hearing?" He nodded, just as frustrated as I was. Later, we proceeded to have a conversation about one of the most misunderstood topics in Christianity - salvation. That friend with whom I spoke so many years ago, Dr. Michael Barber, is my guest on this episode of the Art of Catholic. He wrote a book on this very topic (Salvation: What Every Catholic Needs to Know). And we're about to continue that discussion begun so many years ago. We're going to discuss: The major difference between Catholic and Protestant views on salvationHow exactly the Cross is a revelation of loveWhy the Cross was even necessaryThe role of good works in salvationThe strange relationship between economics and salvationThe big difference between salvation and redemptionThe controversy over the statement - "There is no salvation outside the Church" This is one of those meaty episodes for which the Art of Catholic is well-known. And you're going to love it! God bless! Matthew P.S. Doors re-open to the world's largest online school of Catholic spirituality at the end of summer 2019! CLICK HERE to check it out and get on the Wait List! (Wait List members are eligible for big Early Bird Discounts!) "The most dynamic, clearest path to spiritual transformation you'll find anywhere." - Mike Aquilina, Author & EWTN Personality

I've met a lot of converts to Catholicism over the years. But John Michael Talbot is unique, to say the least. And it's not just because he's a multi-platinum selling, Grammy / Dove award winning Contemporary Christian Music pioneer. It's more. Lots of people convert, but John Michael has embarked on a full-fledged movement to transform the way Catholics live...which continues to this day. And the story of his life will both intrigue, inspire, and perhaps even provoke you to take a look at your own life. It did for me. Among other things we'll cover: How he became CatholicHow the Doobie Brothers saved his life (yup!)Why he believes St. Francis of Assisi is the key to renewal (Check out his brand new book "Francis of Assisi's Sermon on the Mount")His take on the direction of AmericaWhy he loves the Eastern Catholic ChurchHis emphasis upon the role of the Holy Spirit (& Our Lady) So sit back and enjoy a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation with John Michael Talbot, an icon for our times. God bless! Matthew P.S. New pilgrimage announcement coming soon. And I've got a hint for you...St. John Paul II and his favorite Lady. Don't miss another episode! Subscribe to the Art of Catholic today!

There is one doctrine of the Church that changes everything...and I mean everything! And once you get it, your understanding of salvation is radically transformed. I'm talking about deification. Yup! You and I are were created to be divine! St. Peter declares very clearly that we are destined to become a "partakers" of the divine nature of God (2 Pt 1:4). But that's not the only place in Scripture this amazing doctrine is found. It's all over the place! So to unpack what it is and where it's found in the Bible, I invited Curtis Mitch on to the Art of Catholic podcast. (He's the guy who wrote the amazing commentary in the very popular Ignatius Catholic Study Bible.) There's nobody I'd rather have on the program to address this from a scriptural point of view. Here are just a few of the highlights of this episode: Christ's words about deificationWhere deification is found in the prayers of the MassWhy our deification was always God's goalHow prayer relates directly to the process of deificationHow deification sheds light on Adam's Fall in the Garden of EdenWhy the Incarnation of Christ is the key to understanding deification I loved this conversation with Curtis, and so will you. So sit back, hitch up your pants, and get ready to hear why you are destined to be a god...literally. God bless! Matthew P.S. It's coming MAY 1st! CLICK HERE to be notified so you get in before the doors close! "The most dynamic, clearest path to spiritual transformation you'll find anywhere." - Mike Aquilina, Author & EWTN Personality

Featuring Michael Matheson Miller Everything has gone haywire. At every corner our traditional way of life is being undermined by forces that seem to come from every direction. It's a constant assault. And it's extremely easy for a Catholic to get caught up in being a "child of the times" without even realizing it. It's a slippery slope. We've got to be able to identify and understand the danger and consequences of the ideological war that is attempting to re-define truth, freedom, and reality itself. So I turned to Michael Matheson Miller for help. He's a sought after public speaker, writer, and a Distinguished Fellow at the Acton Institute...and he knows what he's talking about. Join us for an expose of the underlying ideas and forces that are seeking to tear apart not just the Church, but the whole world. Among other things we'll discuss: What is a "Catholic mind?"Why Pope Benedict XVI said we live in a "Dictatorship of Relativism"Whether Catholicism provides an answer to every question. (The answer may surprise you.)The true definition freedom?Why a lot of respected secular academics believe computers will evolve into conscious beings...seriously.The danger of ideologyand a whole lot more... This is an important episode. The secularism of the world is not neutral. It's a specific worldview. And it's high time we understand it, or we'll go down the drain with it. It's high time to think like a Catholic! God bless! Matthew P.S. It's coming! CLICK HERE to sign up for the wait list to be notified when it goes live. "The most dynamic, clearest path to spiritual transformation you'll find anywhere." - Mike Aquilina, Author & EWTN Personality

https://youtu.be/jmii0zRKP5A I've got ten bucks that says you've never heard a lot of this stuff. When I was coming into the Church 20 years ago, I struggled mightily with the Virgin Mary. Partly, it was because I couldn't find Marian doctrine and devotion in Sacred Scripture. I was blind. Eventually, I came to realize how deeply Mary is woven into the fabric of the sacred text once you know how to really read the Bible. But Brant Pitre just blew my mind on a few things I'd never heard. (That's saying something given the fact that I've produced an entire series on Our Lady.) You're going to love this. So sit back and enjoy a wide-ranging, but pinpoint discussion on some incredible truths about Mary that will make you marvel at the handiwork of God. Among other things we discuss: The deep connection between Israel's Ark of the Covenant and MaryHow the Book of Numbers provides evidence of Mary's Perpetual Virginity and why Joseph was abstinent...so cool!Scriptural proof that Mary could've easily made a vow of virginity (as the Church Fathers teach)How the Collyridians (you've heard of them, right?) prove Catholics aren't Marian idolatersWhy John calls himself the "beloved disciple" and how it relates to Mary This is one of the best interviews I've ever had on the Art of Catholic. Don't miss it! God bless! Matthew P.S. It's coming in a little more than a month! Don't miss out on Next Level Catholic Academy and take your spiritual life to new heights! CLICK HERE to learn more. "The most dynamic, clearest path to spiritual transformation you'll find anywhere." - Mike Aquilina, Author & EWTN Personality

Decisions, decisions... Life holds a lot of options and it's often hard to know which way to go, especially when it comes to serious, life-changing matters. Thankfully, we've got help. St. Ignatius of Loyola penned his famous Spiritual Exercises to enable people to discern the spirits - discern God's will for their lives. And the great thing is that's it's not pie-in-the-sky. It's super practical and down-to-earth. In fact, understanding his Exercises can save you a lot of headache and heartache. So join me and one of the most intelligent and holy priests I know, Fr. Aaron Pidel, SJ, for an in-depth discussion of St. Ignatius and his guide for our lives. We're covering: A bit of the (wild and wooly) background of St. IgnatiusHis massive conversionAn overview of the famous Spiritual ExercisesHow Ignatius allows feelings to come into play without them taking overThe massive role of consolations and desolationsPractical discernment of God's will Given my love of spiritual theology, this is an episode that is extremely close to my heart. I know you're going to get a lot out of it. God bless! Matthew P.S. I make a BIG announcement at the beginning of the podcast. Here's a little teaser... It's coming! Click here to sign up for the wait list to be notified when it goes live. P.P.S. I'm heading back to Italy! Join me in March 2019 for an amazing pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Orvieto, LaVerna, and much, much more! https://youtu.be/Sf-mJzhVh9s Here's Fr. Aaron's Guide to an Ignatian hour of prayer that I mentioned in the podcast: "Fr. Pidel Principles and Foundation of Ignatian Meditation"Download

"'Slaves of Mary?' Are you kidding me?" That was my first (second, third...tenth) reaction to the words of St. Louis de Montfort in True Devotion to Mary, the classic text on our topic. The whole idea of consecrating yourself to anyone other than Jesus Christ made zero sense to me. Not anymore. I now understand and completely embrace the whole idea of consecration to Our Lady. And I can tell you from experience that it's life-changing. It can change yours, too. So join me for a conversation on the deep power and beauty of Marian consecration with Joshua Mazrin, Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Venice. Among other things, we're going to discuss: Why Protestants automatically reject Marian consecration as hereticalThe deep theology underlying Marian consecrationHow Scripture lays the foundation for Marian consecrationOur Lady's intimate relationship with the Holy SpiritThe connection between the Immaculate Conception and Marian consecrationHow Marian consecration is related to Baptism Have a blessed Advent! Ave Maria! 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! CLICK HERE to subscribe to the Art of Catholic podcast!

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!

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!

What should we do? That's the question that keeps coming up in my conversations and email exchanges. What is the appropriate response of faithful Catholics to this ongoing crisis? While some are leaving and others are all-out attacking, most of us are caught somewhere in the middle. We've always thought of ourselves as faithful Catholics. We've always honored our priests and bishops. We've always been a bit awed by the papacy. So we're torn. We want this all to be fixed, but don't know what tools are really at our disposal. We're not totally sure what attitude and posture should we take. That's what I want to address in this episode. And I'm going to do it with Sacred Scripture. I think it gives us some pretty clear direction. So in this podcast we'll discuss: The Scriptural origins of the Catholic priesthood Why it can never be "us" vs "them" The role of the Holy Spirit in choosing a pope Extremely important takeaways from the story of King Saul and David The powerful tool used by the prophet Daniel The end result we should all be praying for Based on what's going on, this is an important episode that will provide some rich food for thought as you discern and pray about your personal response to the crisis. God bless you and keep the Faith always! Matthew P.S. HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! 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! CLICK HERE for details! P.P.S. Pilgrimage to Catholic Italy! 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!

These are not easy times for Catholics. I've received a lot of emails from people, and had a lot of conversations over the last several weeks with Catholics on the brink of despair. How could this happen? What is going on? What are we going to do? I share your pain and confusion...deeply. And while I'm horrified by daily revelations about the cancer that is eating our Church alive, I also know that Christ is King and His Church will endure. In this episode of the Art of Catholic I'm going to weigh in on where I find myself coming down in all of this. And I want to provide some food for thought and prayer as we continue to watch all of this unfold. It's my desire to give you some hope and a plan of action. The crisis isn't going away. It shouldn't go away. It needs to be dealt with immediately. But I also want to remind you why the Catholic Church is, and will always be, holy...in spite of humanity's best attempts to muck it up. Blessings, Matthew P.S. Join me for a time of spiritual renewal in March 2019: Rome, Assisi, Orvieto, LaVerna, and much, much more! Check it out here! Grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life!

There's a lot of confusion about love these days. That needs to change. On this episode of the Art of Catholic, we'll peel back some of the deeper layers of love. In fact, we'll get to the heart of Christian love. My guest wears spectacles and dark socks with his tennis shoes, but can still drain 3's in a pickup game. His name is Dr. Michael Healy and he's the former Academic Dean at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He's smart. And this is his specialty. His "Nature of Love" course at Franciscan literally changed my life. It opened me up to deeper understanding of the reality and demands of love. (And it helped me convince his daughter to marry me:). Now I want to share him with you on this episode of the Art of Catholic. He's an expert in the texts of St. John Paul II, among others, and is going to enlighten us all with some of the philosophy of love that every one of us needs to understand in order to fulfill the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is obviously a huge topic and there's a lot more to say. That said, we get to a good portion of it in this very enlightening conversation. Among other things he'll answer: How should Catholics approach the topic of love? Is there a difference between love of neighbor and love of God? Can we have a truly disinterested love? Why is love so often the occasion for sin? What is the relationship between sex and love? Can we call same-sex attraction love? Is the religious life is an objectively higher calling than marriage? What about marriage in heaven? It's a fascinating conversation you're not going to want to miss. God bless! Matthew P.S. I'm heading back to Italy! Join me in March 2019 for an amazing pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Orvieto, LaVerna, and much, much more! Check it out here! Grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life! Related Episodes: 013: The Question of Hell with Dr. Michael Healy 072: Rediscovering the Power of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body 073: Part 2 Rediscovering the Power of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body CLICK HERE to go to iTunes and leave a review of The Art of Catholic. Help spread the faith!

Parts of it should actually scare you. All of it should inspire you. The Our Father is the most famous of all prayers, taught to us by God himself. And while you've probably droned through it a few thousand times, have you ever really dug into what you're saying? For a long time, I hadn't. And my guess is it's the same for many of you. So in celebration of the upcoming (at least in many countries) Father's Day holiday, I thought I'd pay homage to the Our Father on the Art of Catholic podcast, by unveiling the inner logic of Christ's own prayer. Because this isn't just a prayer, it's a deep, rich teaching that provides a window into the very identities of both God and man, and our incredible relationship. I have a chapter devoted to this deep and beautiful prayer in my book, "Prayer Works: Getting a Grip on Catholic Spirituality." So I thought I'd just do a kind of audio book reading of that chapter for you. In it, we'll cover things like: The incredible power of words The scariest petition ever All the forms of prayer The order in which we should ask for things from God The meaning and theology underlying each petition of the Our Father After listening to this episode, my guess is that you'll never pray the Our Father the same way again. Happy Our Father's Day! Matthew P.S. I'm heading back to Italy! Join me in March 2019 for an amazing pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Orvieto, LaVerna, and much, much more! Check it out here! Grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life!

You may think you've heard it all when it comes to Mary. Think again. I'm betting that my buddy Curtis Mitch is going to lay some new thoughts on you about Our Lady as we continue to celebrate May, the month of Mary, on this episode of the Art of Catholic. Curtis, as many of you know, has been writing the commentary on the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for about 20 years. I've never met anyone with his depth and breadth of scriptural knowledge. He's the perfect guy to turn to when it comes to going next level about Mary. The truth is, the Virgin Mary is a mystery we've yet to fully unpack. Her God-given power and vital role go so far beyond what we can imagine. But we're going to start to change that. In this special episode of the Art of Catholic, Curtis and I will dive into several different texts to discuss: Why "Queen of Heaven" is totally a scriptural title (and not a medieval invention) How the Annunciation in Luke 1 identifies the Queenship of Mary The multiple levels of meaning of the woman "clothed with the sun" in Revelation 12 Why the 10th son (not the 1st) of David came to the throne and how his mother is connected to Mary Why Bathsheba was given a throne and how it points to the royal role of Mary How the crucifixion of Christ actually points to Mary's Queenship Really understanding how the Queenship of Mary changes everything. Your mother is literally the Queen of Heaven and Earth! And it's right out of the Bible itself. God bless and enjoy this great episode! Matthew P.S. I'm heading back to Italy! Join me in March 2019 for an amazing pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Orvieto, LaVerna, and much, much more! Check it out here! 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! Other episodes you might enjoy: 06: Bible Basics With John Bergsma 043: (More) New Testament Basics with John Bergsma 054: Understanding Extreme Violence in the Bible with Curtis Mitch

It's the book quoted by God the Father. It's the book quoted by Christ on the Cross. It's the one book we read at almost every Mass. It's the Psalms. While many view the Psalms as merely a collection of beautiful poetry (which it is), there's a whole more going on in this amazing book of the Bible. In fact, it's no exaggeration to say it's one of the most important in all of Sacred Scripture. Yes, they're all important, but the Psalms are special. St. Basil the Great said that the Psalms actually train the soul. He declared they are "the elementary exposition of beginners, the improvement of those advancing, the solid support of the perfect, the voice of the Church" (On the Psalms). In other words, they'll help you get to heaven. So I brought in one of the most popular Art of Catholic guests to illuminate us even more. Dr. John Bergsma is the author of a new book titled Psalm Basics for Catholics. It's the latest in his line of best-selling "Basics for Catholics" books. But he's more than an author. He's one of the popular teachers at Franciscan University of Steubenville. (He's been voted Teacher of the Year...twice!) In this episode we're going to dive into the book of Psalms. Among other things, we'll discuss: Why the Psalms are really five different books How the Psalms are directly connected to the Eucharist Why the Psalm 23 ("the Lord is my shepherd...) is totally Catholic Why St. Athanasius said the Psalms are a synopsis of the entire Bible How the Psalms can form your prayer life A reading plan for the Psalms All that and more on another bang-up episode of the Art of Catholic podcast. God bless! Matthew P.S. I'm heading back to Italy! Join me in March 2019 for an amazing pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Orvieto, LaVerna, and much, much more! Check it out here! "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! Podcast links mentioned: 06: Bible Basics With John Bergsma 043: (More) New Testament Basics with John Bergsma Speaking Events: May 3 - Pine Haven Boys Center Gala Dinner, Nashua, NH May 11 - St. Andrew Catholic Church May 12 - St. Paul Center event in Arlington, TX

Ever felt yourself sinking? St. Peter certainly did when after he briefly walked toward our Lord on the surging waves of the Sea of Galilee. And you have to hand it to Peter. He jumped out of the boat during a raging storm. All because Christ said, "Come." That's exactly what Jesus says to us every day…"Come." No matter what storm is raging in your life, you can walk over the crashing waves toward our loving Lord. That's not pious sentiment for a Hallmark card or an "inspirational" cubicle poster featuring cats. There's something in that passage most people totally miss that raises the whole story on a different level. Christ literally says, "Take heart, it is I: have no fear." These words are far more than mere encouragement. In this brief episode I recorded in Jerusalem, I'll tell you why Jesus' word's to the Disciples can totally change the way you view every struggle in your life. They're the secret to astonishing faith. God bless! Matthew P.S. If you liked this episode, you might like: 019: The Kenosis of Christ As Model for Us...What? P.S. As a special Lenten gift, I'm giving you "Beer, Chocolate & Value-Added Suffering" for FREE. It's chapter 5 of my book Louder Than Words: The Art of Living as a Catholic. Click the image of the book or the link above and it will come right to your inbox. God bless!

How about if we do it differently this time? I don't know about you, but it seems like every year Ash Wednesday just sneaks up on me and I'm left scrambling trying to figure out what I'm going to do for Lent. I'm guessing I'm not the only one. But let's make a change. Let's make this Lent the best one ever. How? I'm glad you asked. In this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast we're going to discuss: How to prepare for Lent...and keep it rolling all 40 days How the Catholic liturgical calendar mimics the spiritual life What the pre-Vatican II Church (and current Polish Catholic Church) did to prepare for Lent...(and it sounds like a pretty good idea) Why the Crown of Thorns has to precede the Crown of Life The nuclear power of redemptive suffering (and how it works) The two Lenten practices to avoid All that and more in this power-packed Lenten episode of the Art of Catholic! God bless you! Matthew If you liked this episode, check out these, too: Episode 47 - The Secret Back Door Out of Purgatory Nobody Talks About Episode 48 - How Almsgiving Can Save Your Life…Now and Later P.S. As a special Lenten gift, I'm giving you "Beer, Chocolate & Value-Added Suffering" for FREE. It's chapter 5 of my book Louder Than Words: The Art of Living as a Catholic. Click the image of the book or the link above and it will come right to your inbox. God bless!

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.) Walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Check out the new video about my Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2018! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for trip details.

Tick...tick...tick... Famous Catholic author, George Weigel, said Pope St. John Paul's Theology of the Body is a "theological time bomb set to go off with dramatic consequences sometime in the third millennium of the Church." That time has come. In fact, we're practically past time. Unless you've been under a rock for the last few weeks, you've surely heard about the ever-increasing number of famous figures accused of sexual abuse and immorality. Hollywood moguls, US Senators and Congressmen, famous actors...the list goes on and on. While I'm glad this has all come to light, realize it's nothing new. This has all been going on since almost the beginning of time. But we seem to have reached a crisis point in modern culture. People are starting to realize that something is wrong. Terribly wrong. And they want answers to questions they don't even know how to formulate. St. John Paul II saw it coming a mile away. In fact, right from the beginning of his pontificate he provided the answers in a series of Wednesday audience lectures that became known as the Theology of the Body. And while a lot of Catholics have heard of it, they've never really dug into it. And even if we've dug into it, many of us have forgotten the power of John Paul II's incredible insights. So I'm bringing it back. In this episode, we'll explore: Why the Garden of Eden is the key to our sexuality and identity as human persons How "male and female" is a reflection of God Himself How our situation is now different than Adam and Eve...in a positive sense! Why human bodies matter...really matter Why human beings can never be treated as a means to an end There's a lot in this episode to chew on, especially in light of recent events. And my scriptural guru buddy Curtis Mitch, will sink his razor sharp theological teeth into it all and unpack the biblical foundations for Theology of the Body from the writings of St. Paul. 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.) Walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Check out the new video about my Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2018! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for trip details.

We're not supposed to talk about them. They're supposed to be like that embarrassing uncle no one mentions by name at family functions. But that's crazy. In this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast we're going to unveil the beautiful theology and practice of indulgences. Far from being an indefensible leftover we'd rather sweep under the medieval rug, indulgences are a powerful witness to God's mercy. They are an incredible help in our journey to heaven. But we need to understand them. So as to help us make use of the Church's treasury of merit (and really understand what in the world the "treasury of merit" even is), I brought in Mary Moorman. She's a brilliant lady who recently wrote a pretty thick book on the topic titled, "Indulgences: Luther, Catholicism, and the Imputation of Merit". Among other issues, we'll discuss: What an indulgence is and how to obtain one Pope St. John Paul II's insightful take on indulgences The very important difference between sacraments and indulgences Why indulgences can be a (very) surprising bridge between Catholics and Protestants Why Martin Luther should have loved indulgences...but didn't The deep connection between almsgiving and indulgences Why you can't understand indulgences without understanding the nature of sin As with so many topics we cover on the Art of Catholic podcast, this one is both theologically rich and eminently practical. And just to round things out, I'm once again bringing in the brilliant Bible scholar, Curtis Mitch, to add a little "somethin'-somethin.'" It's another incredible installment of Next Level Scripture. He provides some unbelievably cool Old Testament background on the whole subject that brings the whole topic into focus. Any way you slice it, this is a great episode. Hope you enjoy. God bless! Matthew P.S. If you liked this episode, you'll probably like these, too: 047: The Secret Back Door out of Purgatory Nobody Talks About 048: How Almsgiving Can Save Your Life...Now & Later "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.) Walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Check out the new video about my Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2018! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for trip details.

Have we lost? Because a lot of people think so. Earlier this year a book came out called The Benedict Option. It's a runaway bestseller written by a famous former Evangelical named Rod Dreher. He basically says we've lost the culture war and radical change in lifestyle is needed if Christianity is going to survive in the West. And he's right...most of the time. While Dreher's call for a retreat into a kind quasi-monastic existence rings true on many levels, it misses a key ingredient that can change everything...Mary. Enter Dr. Carrie Gress. In this year of the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions, she provides a little different slant...a Marian slant. Her new book "The Marian Option: God's Solution to a Civilization in Crisis" presents what I think is Dreher's missing link. If you don't recognize the hand of Mary in our past then you can't understand her pivotal role for our future. So in this episode, Dr. Gress and I will discuss: What exactly is the Marian Option Why Mary is the "Cultivator of Culture" The fascinating connection between Islam and the apparitions at Guadalupe, Fatima, and Lourdes Why Mariology stopped developing in the East after the Great Schism Why ecumenism without Mary is false ecumenism It's a fantastic and illuminating discussion in which I'm betting you'll learn a few things and gain some deeper insight into this transitional moment in human history. But as the infomercials say, "That's not all!" Because after my conversation with Carrie, the amazing Curtis Mitch will answer a very intriguing and bothersome question on our second installment of Next Level Scripture. You don't want to miss it. God bless! Matthew P.S. If you liked this episode, you'll probably like these, too: Episode 055 - Unveiling the 3 Secrets of Fatima Episode 027 - Part 1 – The (Very) Ancient Origins of Marian Devotion Episode 028 - Part 2 - The (Very) Ancient Origins of Marian Devotion CLICK HERE to grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to the amazing, undeniable parallels between Our Lady and the Ark of the Covenant in Sacred Scripture. It's the perfect size to share with others who don't appreciate Our Lady. "And what shall we say is the Ark, but holy Mary?" St. Ambrose of Milan 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.) Walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Check out the new video about my Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2018! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for trip details.

Twenty years ago, I lost my faith. I didn't lose my belief in or about faith, but I officially gave up the certainty that I had enough of it to be saved. It was Easter Vigil, 1998. That's when I became Catholic. 2017 is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Rebell…I mean, Reformation. It's been a catastrophe. There are now more than 40,000 Protestant denominations…and counting. As a result, Christianity has become the poster child for hypocrisy. The religion that professes one faith in Jesus Christ, can't even agree what faith is. Not since Martin Luther, anyway. He had some strange ideas about it, ideas most of our Protestant brethren don't even really understand. And to be honest, a lot of Catholics don't really have a firm grasp of the topic either. So we're going to set the record straight. I brought in my biblical bazooka named Curtis Mitch. You remember him. He's the guy who wrote the commentary in the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. He was also my guest on the extremely popular episode 54, explaining the extreme violence in Sacred Scripture. This time we'll explore: What the Catholic Church actually teaches about faith The pivotal doctrine of Luther most Protestants don't understand (and don't even really know) When ecumenism is actually destructive How Luther's doctrine destroyed the family motif of faith Why primacy of faith (in its true sense) is a Catholic, not Protestant doctrine A proper understanding of the obedience of faith As you're going to see, Curtis Mitch is a theological and scriptural blitzkrieg. And this is a conversation and topic that every Catholic needs to hear and understand. Not just because it helps us to dialogue with our Separated Brethren. But because a correct understanding of the virtue of faith is at the heart of the Catholic faith itself. God bless and enjoy! Matthew If you liked this episode, you'll probably like these, too: Episode 022 – Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger Episode 039 – The 7 Core Beliefs of Catholicism…in Hebrews? "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.) Walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Check out the new video about my Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2018! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for trip details.

By now you've come to expect this. And by "this", I mean challenging topics. Well, this one is a doozy. We're going to talk about nature. And by that I don't just mean forests and rivers and cute little squirrels. I also mean human nature. My guest is the brilliant Dr. Ben Wiker, author of an incredible new book titled, "In Defense of Nature: The Catholic Unity of Environmental, Economic, and Moral Ecology." He's a genius at showing how the respect and care for creation necessarily leads to respect and care for human nature...and vice versa. In other words, it's illogical to be an environmentalist and try to destroy humans at the same time. Similarly, if you are a defender of life and human nature, you need to not forget about the natural world. If the tree hugger alarm bells are faintly ringing in your brain, don't worry. I'm not that guy. (I haven't even worn Birkenstocks since the 90s.) This is an incredibly deep topic and a massive issue between Left and Right, Liberal and Conservative. To bridge the gap, this episode exposes the fact that there is real unity in nature, unity between the physical and spiritual realms. And that unity has consequences. If that seems obvious to you, just wait. I'm betting that you're going to have some serious "Holy Toledo!" moments during this episode. Among other things, Dr. Wiker and I discuss: What is catholic ecology? (Yes, I intended a small "c".) Who was Francis Bacon and why should his bacon be cooked. The connection between landfills and sin. (Not gonna lie. This one threw me at first.) The evil underbelly of (and religion surrounding) recycling How contraceptive principles actually apply to food a.k.a. "Why you'll never look at Froot Loops the same way again" Why sometimes what's good for the economy is not good for you This is an episode that doesn't pull any punches. But it does provide a common foundation form which we can approach a very serious and damaging divide. So put a bowl of granola in one hand and a gun in the other, lean back, and enjoy! 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"! Walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Check out the new video about my Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2018! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for trip details.

I'm tired of people asking, "Where have all the good men gone?" It's not really all that hard to figure out. They've gone where they've been told to...out. Men are meant to play a God-given, pivotal role in the family, in the Church, and in culture at large. It's a role that's too often abandoned or belittled...to dire effect. We lack children. We lack vocations. We lack men. We are in a crisis that is simply not being addressed by enough people. And if we don't change things quickly, the extensive damage will only get worse. This is not a "let's beat our chests and be men" episode of the Art of Catholic. Nor is it a "let's hammer on men" episode. This is an episode centered around an epidemic that desperately needs attention from both sides of the gender aisle (and yes, there are only two). It's a topic crucial to the vitality of the Church. To help address the issue I brought in Bear Woznick, a giant of a man who just completed the second season of a new EWTN show called "Long Ride Home." In this episode we'll tackle: The incredible statistics that show why kids stop going to Mass (It will blow your mind...) Why most men don't sing at Mass Part of the truth behind the priest shortage Why Catholic women should be applauded...loudly How women can help - need to help - men be men How the liturgy plays a role in the crisis (and its solution) We need to stop asking "Where have all the good men gone?" We know where they are. Now let's go get them. God bless! Matthew If you don't have a real life of prayer, you're fooling yourself spiritually. 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"! Walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Check out the new video about my Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2018! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for trip details.

Ever wonder how we got into the mess we're in? Why is the modern world so opposed to the Christian faith? What went wrong and how do we get back on track? These are pretty tough questions, which is fine because I've got a pretty smart guest. Today on the Art of Catholic I brought in Dr. Andrew Jones. He's got a PhD in Medieval History and is an expert on the Church in the High Middle Ages. He's also the Executive Director at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. Some of you will remember him from Episode 51 when he spoke about the Crusades. But as big a topic as that was, this is even bigger. Dr. Jones is going to use his deep knowledge of Catholic history to drop a bomb on the modern world. Namely, he'll expose some of the underlying reasons things are the way they are (a fat mess), and give some direction as to the solution. He spells it all out in his new, fat book titled "Before Church & State" that took 10 years to write. (Yes, 10 years.) Here's the thing I love about Andrew. He's a contrarian. Not just because he likes to argue, but because he loves the truth. Andrew lives to totally destroy the anti-Catholic paradigms and false narratives with which we were all taught to believe...stuff we didn't realize was anti-Catholic! Among other things, we'll discuss: Why the modern categories of Church and State are totally anti-Catholic The lie of "public" and "private" in the realm of faith How the modern world has re-defined religion and boxed us in Why modernism wants everyone to be the same (even while preaching "individualism") Why the term "religion" is code for "things that don't really matter" to the modern world How 13th century France points to a better structure founded on charity Why Catholics must forcefully reject modernity's definition of Christianity Why the term "religious liberty" is a hoax Why all Catholics should understand the notion of "Sovereignty" I'm sure you've noticed this is a big list. Well this is a big episode...a very important episode. I'm guessing you're going to walk away from this one thinking, "Whoa...I might need to re-think some things." God bless! Matthew 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 guide 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"! Check out the new video about my pilgrimage to the Holy Land! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for trip details.

It's one of the most overlooked miracles in Scripture. All too often we focus so much on the Passion, death and Resurrection of Our Lord that we breeze right over a pivotal event in our eternal pilgrimage - the Ascension. That would be a huge mistake. Not long ago I picked up one of my many books by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Not a good idea if you have a lot of items on your "to-do" list. He's so incredibly brilliant that I just couldn't stop reading. Benedict's focus was on the importance of the Ascension and how it leads to Pentecost and beyond. It was a real eye-opener. I learned a lot and I can't wait to share it with you. Among other things, in this episode I'll cover: Why the Apostles were strangely "full of joy" after Christ disappeared Where I would've loved to have been a fly on the wall before the Ascension How the Ascension points to our divine destiny Why Jesus rose on a cloud (and not something else) Why the people in Lystra weren't totally wrong about Paul and Barnabas…and what that says about us How the tongues of fire at Pentecost should burn us now This was not a planned episode. It just happened...perhaps through the Holy Spirit. I think he's trying to tell us something. Give a listen and God bless! Matthew 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 guide 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"! Check out the new video about my pilgrimage to the Holy Land! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for more details.

Holy Week is upon us. Hasn't Lent flown by? It seems like Ash Wednesday was just a couple weeks ago. And oftentimes we get to this point thinking we could have done a lot more...So let's do something about it. In this episode of the Art of Catholic, we're not going to just talk about theology. We're going to enter into it. How? By meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary as a kind of progression or maturation in the spiritual life. What do I mean by that? Well, it seems to me that the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary are a kind of parallel to the 3 stages of the Spiritual Life: the Purgative, the Illuminative, and the Unitive Ways spoken about by spiritual giants like John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and many others. And if you've never heard of those stages, no worries. I give a brief overview of them in this episode. I found some Scripture passages that evoke some of the spiritual fruit of the Sorrowful Mysteries and wrote short meditations about how the Mysteries relate to the spiritual life. The aim of this episode is simply to help you enter into the beautiful mystery of Holy Week in a more powerful way. We're going to let the reality of what Jesus has done seep into our very souls. We may be near the end of Lent, but there's still time to prepare for a powerful encounter with the Passion, death, and resurrection of our Savior and Lord. Let's do it! God bless and you and have a wonderful Holy Week! Matthew Want to go deeper into prayer? If you really want to understand the ins-and-outs of deep prayer: what it is, how to do it, the 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life, vocal, meditative, & contemplative prayer in the Catholic tradition - this is the book for you! "Matthew Leonard, in an engaging style, shows how ancient Catholic prayer traditions still meet the needs of today's Catholics."—His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington "We all need help to grow spiritually...Matt Leonard shows us the way." - Dr. Scott Hahn, author, speaker, and Professor of Scripture and Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville 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 guide 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"! Pilgrimage to the Holy Land! Join Matthew on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, Mt. Tabor, and so many more incredible holy sites! Walk in the footsteps of our Lord! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for more details.

It might seem a bit odd to discuss beauty at the beginning of Lent. Actually, I find it totally appropriate. After all, this is a season of stripping away the outer layers of this world and conforming ourselves to Him who is beauty. If God is the Beatific Vision, then beauty matters all the time...perhaps especially in Lent. The topic of beauty is something I've wanted to address for a long time because it's all too often ignored. I would go so far as to say that it is crucial for Catholics to reacquire a true understanding and appreciation for beauty. Its lacking is not only a major contributor to massive cultural decline in the Western world, but also for the decline of people practicing Christianity. We've forgotten how to make the faith beautiful. And I don't mean just sprucing it up. I mean the essence of our faith. My guest is John Henry Crosby, a cultural entrepreneur and founder of the Hildebrand Project. Promoting a renewed aesthetic is in his blood. After this show, it will be in yours, too. Among other things, we discuss: The vital role of beauty in salvation The difference between beauty and luxury Why beauty is the foundation of love How utilitarianism crushes the soul Why sin keeps us from recognizing beauty How to start a life of beauty Any program dealing with the Catholic faith is important. A show dealing with one of the most powerful, yet forgotten elements of our faith is doubly important. I pray we all take it to heart. God bless! Matthew Want to go deeper into prayer? If you really want to understand the ins-and-outs of deep prayer: what it is, how to do it, the 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life, vocal, meditative, & contemplative prayer in the Catholic tradition - this is the book for you! "Matthew Leonard, in an engaging style, shows how ancient Catholic prayer traditions still meet the needs of today's Catholics."—His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington "We all need help to grow spiritually...Matt Leonard shows us the way." - Dr. Scott Hahn, author, speaker, and Professor of Scripture and Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville 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 guide 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"! Pilgrimage to the Holy Land! Join Matthew on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, Mt. Tabor, and so many more incredible holy sites! Walk in the footsteps of our Lord! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for more details.

Make no mistake, this episode is going to challenge you. But it can also dramatically transform your relationships with other people...and God. It's full of deep and practical wisdom that you can start to practice immediately. Our topic is kindness - real kindness - the kindness identified by St. Paul in Galatians. In other words, this is way beyond the "be nice to one another" stuff we learned in pre-school. It's the virtue that radically re-arranges our priorities and changes the world. My guest is Charlie McKinney, the President of Sophia Institute Press. He's on the show to discuss an extremely powerful book titled The Hidden Power of Kindness by an amazing 20th century priest named Fr. Laurence Lovasik. Fr. Lovasik is one of these priests who is so full of wisdom that it seems to radiate out of every statement he makes. He wrote more than 30 books and spoke around the globe for decades, helping people draw closer to the Lord. I've read some of his other works before turning to The Hidden Power of Kindness. Don't know why it took me so long. After perusing The Hidden Power of Kindness, I knew I had to promote Fr. Lovasik on The Art of Catholic. I'm positive you're going to love it as much as I do. Here's a sampling of the material Charlie and I discuss: What is true kindness (perhaps not what you think) The 3 simple "do's" and "don'ts" of the Fraternity of Kindness The one essential characteristic of all kindness The helpful distinction between greed and God-given love of self How to overcome unexplainable dislike for another person How to overcome anger with meekness How to be more considerate of one another What is necessary for correction to be kind and effective at the same time This is easily one of the most practical and transformative episodes I've ever recorded. If you heed the advice in this podcast, it will transform your life...guaranteed! God bless! Matthew Want to go deeper into prayer? If you really want to understand the ins-and-outs of deep prayer: what it is, how to do it, the 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life, vocal, meditative, & contemplative prayer in the Catholic tradition - this is the book for you! "Matthew Leonard, in an engaging style, shows how ancient Catholic prayer traditions still meet the needs of today's Catholics."—His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington "We all need help to grow spiritually...Matt Leonard shows us the way." - Dr. Scott Hahn, author, speaker, and Professor of Scripture and Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville 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 guide 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"! Love the show and want more people to hear the Catholic faith? Leave a review by clicking here and then the "View in iTunes" button under my picture. This pushes the show up the rankings and puts it in front of more people. Pilgrimage to Rome and Southern Italy! Join Matthew on a pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Sorrento, Monte Cassino, Siena, the Amalfi Coast and other amazing sites from October 9-18, 2017! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for more details.

It sounds like a wild exaggeration. But according to best-selling author Mike Aquilina (a generally trustworthy source), it was music that saved the ancient world from its descent into despair. My first thought was "Seriously?" Yep. He's not kidding. It's all in his book "How the Choir Converted the Word: Through Hymns, With Hymns, And In Hymns" from Emmaus Road Publishing. (The book is worth a look for the subtitle alone.) Given the state of some current liturgical music, I was skeptical to say the least. (I probably should have told the publisher that before I agreed to blurb the book.) But since everything else I ever read by Mike is pure gold, I agreed. I wasn't disappointed. This book rocks. Music really did save world. But it wasn't without conflict. Music isn't always used for holy purposes. (Ever been to a Def Leppard concert? Yeah...me neither.) That's as true today as it was in the ancient world. In case you haven't noticed, music continues as a battlefront in modern culture. And it's a battle we have to win. So today on the Art of Catholic, we'll look at how the Church used music to convert the world, as well as how it can happen again. "If we did it once," says Mike Aquilina, "we can do it again." So let's get to it! In this 2017 kickoff episode, Mike and I discuss: The deep relationship between music and beauty Why trumpets were the electric guitars of the biblical club scene (and even used as weapons) Why the Israelites made the best music in the ancient world The reason early Christians were strangely ambivalent, sometimes even hostile, about music How music brought down one of the most powerful heresies in the history of the Church All that and much, much more in this incredibly noteworthy episode of the Art of Catholic. God bless! Matthew Want to go deeper into prayer? If you really want to understand the ins-and-outs of deep prayer: what it is, how to do it, the 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life, vocal, meditative, & contemplative prayer in the Catholic tradition - this is the book for you! "Matthew Leonard, in an engaging style, shows how ancient Catholic prayer traditions still meet the needs of today's Catholics."—His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington "We all need help to grow spiritually...Matt Leonard shows us the way." - Dr. Scott Hahn, author, speaker, and Professor of Scripture and Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville 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 guide 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"! Love the show and want more people to hear the Catholic faith? Leave a review by clicking here and then the "View in iTunes" button under my picture. This pushes the show up the rankings and puts it in front of more people. Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store. Pilgrimage to Rome and Southern Italy! Join Matthew on a pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Sorrento, Monte Cassino, Siena, the Amalfi Coast and other amazing sites from October 9-18, 2017! It's the trip of a lifetime! Click here for more details.

A little bit of knowledge goes a long way...especially when it comes to prayer and Scripture. In fact, you don't need to have any hardcore theological training or lots of letters after your name to get a lot out of prayer. That said, actually studying the Bible - what Pope Benedict XVI calls the "soul of theology" - will put your prayer life on steroids (which is still legal). And a key to understanding Scripture is known as typology. ("Ty-what?") Typology is a 25 cent word that shows how the people, places and events of the Old Testament point forward to the people, places, and events of the New Testament. It shows connections. In this episode of The Art of Catholic, I share a personal experience from my meditations the other day in my parish's adoration chapel. I thought it a good example of how making connections (i.e. typology) in Scripture can really juice up your time with Our Lord. In this mini-cast, I'll focus in on the 5th Joyful Mystery (The Finding of Jesus in the Temple) and discuss: Parallels between Jesus and Solomon The importance of the theme of wisdom Connections between Our Lady and the Queen of Sheba The different levels of meaning of Temple and why Jesus went there as a 12 year old Why the Magi brought Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh Happy Advent! Merry (Almost) Christmas! Happy (Almost) New Year! Matthew Want to go deeper into prayer. If you really want to understand the ins-and-outs of deep prayer: what it is, how to do it, the 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life, vocal, meditative, & contemplative prayer in the Catholic tradition - this is the book for you! "Matthew Leonard, in an engaging style, shows how ancient Catholic prayer traditions still meet the needs of today's Catholics."—His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington "We all need help to grow spiritually...Matt Leonard shows us the way." - Dr. Scott Hahn, author, speaker, and Professor of Scripture and Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville 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 guide 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"! Love the show and want more people to hear the Catholic faith? Leave a review by clicking here and then the "View in iTunes" button under my picture. This pushes the show up the rankings and puts it in front of more people. Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store.

In case you hadn't noticed, we're at war. We need a weapon. A powerful one. One feared by the Devil. Most of us already have one. It's called the rosary. And if wielded properly it cuts through the darkness like a light saber (especially if it's glow-in-the-dark:). In this special episode of The Art of Catholic, I interview Fr. Donald Calloway, author, speaker, and Vicar Provincial of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. He knows the rosary. In fact, he wrote a great book on it titled Champions of the Rosary: The History and Heroes of a Spiritual Weapon. So I brought him in to give us all a greater appreciation for the history, beauty, and power of the "Bible on Beads." Among other things, we discuss: The miraculous origin of the rosary through St. Dominic The history of the Marian Psalter (which predated the rosary) How the horrific Black Plague shaped the rosary The epic defeat of the Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Lepanto (because of the rosary!) Why you should know a guy named Alan de la Roche The crucial role of England in preserving the rosary The indulgences associated with the praying the "Bible on Beads" All that and more in this jam-packed episode of The Art of Catholic. It's a show you don't want to miss. So grab your rosary (and your coffee) and join us! Hail Mary! God bless! Matthew What is an authentic Catholic life? Louder Than Words: The Art of Living as a Catholic covers topics like evangelization, redemptive suffering, what we can know about heaven, Sacred Scripture, prayer, the Eucharist, and more. But it also illuminates the final end toward which it's all ordered - divinity - real participation in God's divine nature! This book is a clarion call for spiritual growth proclaiming the transforming power of an authentic Catholic life. "A theological thrill ride that will leave you breathless and exhilarated by God's love. Matthew Leonard knows the Catholic faith and, even more impressively, he knows how to articulate it in a way few others can. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and get this book." Mark Hart, author, speaker, & Executive Vice President of Life Teen International "Full of biblical wisdom and practical insight, readers will be inspired and challenged to grow, and then motivated and empowered to go forth." - Dr. Scott Hahn, author, speaker, & Professor, Franciscan University of Steubenville 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 guide 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"! Love the show and want more people to hear the Catholic faith? Leave a review by clicking here and then the "View in iTunes" button under my picture. This pushes the show up the rankings and puts it in front of more people. Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store.

I've heard it. You've heard it. I used to even say it! "The Catholic priesthood isn't biblical."...Wrong! If you were to boil the (so-called) Protestant Reformation down to its essence, it basically did away with the priesthood. Most Protestants have no sacramental life because there are no priests to give them the sacraments. (Most don't believe in the sacraments at all.) They believe (and I realize I'm painting with a broad brush here) in something called "the priesthood of all believers." After all, 1 Peter 2:5 says, "and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Our Separated Brethren take this to mean that every Christian has equal potential to minister for God, thus there is no need for a separate ministerial priesthood. But that's not what the Bible says. In this episode of the Art of Catholic I interview Fr. Tommy Lane, a Professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount St. Mary's Seminary, who wrote a tremendous book called "The Catholic Priesthood: Biblical Foundations". And in this episode we discuss: The two kinds of priesthood in the New Covenant of Christ Old Testament history of priesthood (including the original priesthood of fathers and sons and that mysterious guy Melchizedek) How we know Christ established a new priesthood even though he never used the word "priest" (a common Protestant argument) Why we view the Last Supper as the moment of the Apostles' ordination Why the author of Hebrews emphasizes the humanity of Christ as the new high priest (while asserting his divinity, of course) We couldn't hope to cover every aspect of the scriptural foundations of the Catholic priesthood in one episode, but we covered a lot. Enjoy! God bless! Matthew Priests are required to pray every day...and so are we! If you really want to understand the ins-and-outs of deep prayer: what it is, how to do it, the 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life, vocal, meditative, & contemplative prayer in the Catholic tradition - this is the book for you! "Matthew Leonard, in an engaging style, shows how ancient Catholic prayer traditions still meet the needs of today's Catholics."—His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington "We all need help to grow spiritually...Matt Leonard shows us the way." - Dr. Scott Hahn, author, speaker, and Professor of Scripture and Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville 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 guide 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"! Love the show and want more people to hear the Catholic faith? Leave a review by clicking here and then the "View in iTunes" button under my picture. This pushes the show up the rankings and puts it in front of more people. Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store.

Why do Catholics exalt Mary? I don't mean in general. I mean specifically. The answer may surprise you. Is it because she's perfect? Kind of. But there's a deeper reason. So in this "brief" episode, I'll dig in a little to the underlying, foundational reason we venerate Our Lady. In this episode we'll discuss: Why the Immaculate Conception is demanded by Mary's divine maternity The vital role of the Council of Ephesus in 431AD in Marian doctrine Why St. Thomas declared Mary was predestined to be the Mother of God How Mary is intimately united to the hypostatic union The definition and distinction of hyperdulia (and why people who say Catholics worship Mary are nuts) All that and more in this episode of the Art of Catholic! 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! 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"! Love the show and want more people to hear the Catholic faith? Leave a review by clicking here and then the "View in iTunes" button under my picture. This pushes the show up the rankings and puts it in front of more people.

A lot of passages in Scripture make me uncomfortable. But this one scares the dickens out of me. In Matthew 12:36, Jesus declares "I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter." Uhhh..."every careless word"? (Insert teeth chattering.) Now I don't know about you, but I've said some pretty ridiculous things in my life...things for which I would love to take the eternal Etch A Sketch, turn it upside down, and shake. (By the way, did I ever tell you I was in a 1970s Etch A Sketch commercial with my brothers and sisters? Story for another time...) And I'm betting there are plenty of people reading this that are just as terrified of that verse as I am. Well, fear not! In this special episode of the Art of Catholic, I'm actually the one being interviewed by none other than Marcus Grodi about this very difficult verse. Perhaps you've seen Marcus on his EWTN show The Journey Home. (I was on that show once, too...a long time after the Etch A Sketch commercial.) Marcus is a wonderful man and in this show we'll discuss things like: How words are more powerful than we realize The vital role of silence Why what's in your heart is the key to your speech How St. Paul provides help in gaining control over your thoughts The secret to maintaining "silence" even when speaking (this one rule is worth listening to the whole show...not that the rest isn't great, too:) So unless you don't have a tongue (or you're a professional mime), this very special episode is for you! Matthew It's got a whole chapter on silence and controlling your tongue! If you really want to understand the ins-and-outs of deep prayer: what it is, how to do it, the 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life, vocal, meditative, & contemplative prayer in the Catholic tradition - this is the book for you! "Matthew Leonard, in an engaging style, shows how ancient Catholic prayer traditions still meet the needs of today's Catholics."—His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington "We all need help to grow spiritually...Matt Leonard shows us the way." - Dr. Scott Hahn, author, speaker, and Professor of Scripture and Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville 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 guide 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"! Love the show and want more people to hear the Catholic faith? Leave a review by clicking here and then the "View in iTunes" button under my picture. This pushes the show up the rankings and puts it in front of more people. Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store.

They're the most talked about "secrets" in the world. But they're often misunderstood. In July, 1917, Our Lady appeared to three children and revealed to them several amazing visions and prophecies that all came true. They've become known as the 3 Secrets of Fatima. And while we know what they are, they're not just part of the past. They're relevant now...more than ever. There's no doubt that truly understanding and applying the message of Mary at Fatima can change the world! So in celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (Oct 7th) and the fact that the 100th anniversary is on October 13, 2017, this episode of the Art of Catholic will dive into these secrets including: How Mary foretold World War II What Mary showed the children and how it affects us today How Our Lady can change the course of history Why Mary showed the children a terrifying vision of hell The role of Russia in world events and conversion of the world How the assassination attempt on St. John Paul II in 1981 relates to the 3rd Secret Cardinal Ratzinger's (Pope Benedict) interpretation of the 3rd Secret While they're the most talked about secrets in the world, they're often the most misunderstood. We're going to put that to rest on this episode of The Art of Catholic! God bless! Matthew The heart of Mary's message at Fatima revolves around prayer. If you really want to understand the ins-and-outs of deep prayer: what it is, how to do it, the 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life, vocal, meditative, & contemplative prayer in the Catholic tradition - this is the book for you! "We all need help to grow spiritually...Matt Leonard shows us the way." - Dr. Scott Hahn, author, speaker, and Professor of Scripture and Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville 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"! Love the show and want more people to hear the Catholic faith? Leave a review by clicking here and then the "View in iTunes" button under my picture. This pushes the show up the rankings and puts it in front of more people.