The Art of Catholic with Matthew Leonard

It's not a pretty topic. But it has to be addressed. The extreme violence in Sacred Scripture (particularly the Old Testament) understandably causes a lot of people problems. After all, how are we supposed to reconcile this kind of bloodshed with a loving, merciful God? Why did He command it? How could He command it? Didn't Jesus say to love your neighbor and pray for your enemies? Sometimes what we read just doesn't seem to square with who we know Him to be. And you can't, as some do, simply gloss over or ignore this material. We're not. In fact, we're going to tackle it head on with my guest, Curtis Mitch. Among his other illustrious achievements, Curtis is the main guy behind the commentary in the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. He's been living, eating, and breathing Scripture for the last 18 years on that project. It's his full-time job. In other words, he knows the Bible like few others. So in this episode of the Art of Catholic, Curtis and I will discuss: The historical context of perhaps the darkest passage of Scripture Why God commanded the killing of the Canaanites...all the Canaanites in the land The insidious role of idolatry (both then and now) Why you can't call the Conquest of Canaan genocide (it's anything but) The beauty and logic of what scholars call "divine accommodation" The hidden mercy of God in all of this (it's there...trust me!) This episode will transform the way you understand God's dealing with people in ancient times, and how He deals with us today. God bless! Matthew P.S. 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

It's no surprise. Mother Teresa is the newest saint of the Catholic Church. I became Catholic the year after she died. I hadn't paid her much attention. And yet along with the rest of the world, I knew she was holy. Sure, there were detractors. There always are. They're nuts. While most people loved and respected Mother Teresa, she also made them uneasy. Let's be honest, she made a lot of Catholics uneasy! Hers might have been the "little way" of her namesake St. Therese of Lisieux, but it wasn't an easy way. Sainthood never is. In this episode I brought in phenomenal author David Scott. He's been a powerhouse in the Catholic universe for more than 30 years, publishing all over world and holding top editorial positions at the largest Catholic newspaper (Our Sunday Visitor) and Catholic News Service. He's currently the Vice Chancellor of Communications in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He's hands down one of the best Catholic writers around. And he's written a gorgeous little book about Mother Teresa that's unlike any other. His is beyond biography. David's book The Love That Made Mother Teresa is a spiritual exegesis of a life well-lived that will challenge and inspire you to ascend the spiritual ladder. In this amazing interview we'll discuss: What made a little Albanian nun so special How she practiced something called the "The Law of the Conservation of Charity" The response of Mother Teresa to those who derided her work and accused her of ignoring the "causes" of poverty The deep connection between the apparitions at Fatima and those of Mother Teresa The providential placement of her first home for the dying next to the temple of a terrifying Hindu goddess The intense spiritual struggle that tortured her for fifty years Prepare to be transformed by St. Teresa of Kolkata. God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't just listen to us talk about it. Do it! 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

We've all got questions. None more important then those dealing with our faith. Not long ago, I invited listeners to send me questions or issues with which they're dealing. I got some great responses from all over the world. So in this special episode of The Art of Catholic, we're going to deal with a few of them. (Some of these I deal with in my first book Louder Than Words: The Art of Living as a Catholic...the book which inspired the podcast!) Some of the important issues we'll discuss include: What to do when you really don't feel a relationship with Mary. How Mary makes sense in God's family The underlying reason for contraception in our culture Why contraception isn't even on the radar of most Protestants The insane end result of a contraceptive culture A response to a Protestant's inquiry regarding redemptive suffering including why and how it works The problem with "penal substitution" (a Protestant teaching about the Cross) and its relation to redemptive suffering This is an episode for Catholic and Protestant alike. Share it with friends! God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't just listen to us talk about it. Do it! 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

We've all heard it before - "The Catholic Church is all about violence and power. Just look at the Crusades! They're a perfect example!" The problem (for critics of the Church) is that idea is horse-hockey. That said, most of us have little-to-no understanding of the true heart of the Crusades...which is a complete shame. Because the fact is, the reason and rationale for what Pope Urban II began a thousand years ago is way deeper and more spiritual than what most people ever imagine. So to enlighten us all, I brought in Dr. Andrew Jones, an expert on the High Middle Ages. We're going to dive into the incredible history and backstory of the Crusades that no one ever talks about. We're going to uncover what the Crusades were really about. Among other things, in this episode we'll explore: Why the crusaders actually did it (when it cost most their fortunes, not to mention their lives) The deep connection between monasticism and the Crusades The little understood connection between Islam and the development of the Eastern Church Why truly understanding the Roman Empire is a necessity to understanding the Crusades The fascinating connection between Columbus and the Crusades Why the Crusades were nothing less than a ridiculously hardcore pilgrimage This is one you don't want to miss. It's going to totally transform the way you look at the history and spirituality of the Catholic Church. God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't just listen to us talk about it. Do it! 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

We say (or drone through) it every week – "I believe…" Do we really? Does the amazing truth of the Creed penetrate the fibers of our being the same way it did early Christians who were willing to die for it? If you aren't quite there yet, you might soon be. Especially after hearing my latest guest. To help us understand this amazing statement of faith I brought in the Catholic supernova - Dr. Scott Hahn. He has just released an exciting new book from Emmaus Road Publishing titled The Creed: Professing the Faith Through the Ages. And in this barnburner episode he unleashes incredible insights into what we profess to believe. Among other things, Dr. Hahn dives into: Where the Creed comes from Why its placement in the Mass is extremely significant The "rule of faith" The difference between the Apostle's Creed & Nicene Creed The "Discipline of the Secret" The revolutionary notion we profess each time we say the Creed How the Creed actually encourages and fosters science…(what?)! All this and a ton more in this special 50th episode of the Art of Catholic. Nobody can explain and expound the faith like Scott Hahn. So buckle up and enjoy the ride! God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't just listen to us talk about it. Do it! 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

They are the most infamous of sins. Why? Because they will knock you down, beat you up, and kick you to the curb. To put it bluntly, they can send you to hell. Thankfully, there are remedies for fighting these 7 Deadly Sins (aka the 7 Capital sins...perhaps due to their abundance in Washington D.C.) And in today's program, we're going to discuss the problems and solutions both. My guest is Dr. Kevin Vost who has written on this very topic. His book titled The Seven Deadly Sins: A Thomistic Guide to Vanquishing Vice and Sin is a perfect introduction to this vital topic. In this episode we'll: Learn the history of the development of the list of the 7 Deadly Sins Identify what moral theologians call the "daughters" of these deadly sins Discover how there's an actual pattern of relationship between sins…how one almost necessarily leads to another Learn the difference between sin and vice (they're not the same) Identify the virtues that overcome vice and help us move toward God This is a topic that is absolutely necessary to your spiritual growth. You've got to know your enemy so you can actually fight them. Matthew P.S. Don't just listen to us talk about it. Do it! 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

Fasting? Powerful. Prayer? Absolutely necessary. Almsgiving? Can save you from death! In our last episode, we discovered the revolution that occurred in the Old Testament with regard to handling the consequences of sin. We saw how it evolved from something we had to wait and endure, to something akin to a debt we could "pay down" proactively. In other words, we discovered you can actually shave time off of purgatory through almsgiving. It was pretty huge. Now we're going to take it one step further. In today's program we're going to unpack the incredible meaning behind a simple little verse in Proverbs: "The treasuries of wickedness provide no benefit, but almsgiving delivers from death" (10:2). That's a pretty amazing sentence. And it's not hyperbole. It's not exaggeration. It's the truth...and we'll see it in Scripture. In this powerful episode we'll: Discover the little discussed details in the story of the raising of Tabitha from the dead and how they're all related to almsgiving Understand why almsgiving before all else is a cry for mercy Discuss the rationale for how almsgiving can help not just ourselves, but our beloved deceased Compare the difference between almsgiving and indulgences Get a new perspective on the Our Father and discover why St. Augustine declared that forgiving others is a powerful form of almsgiving It's a pretty powerful episode that will reorder the way you think about how to help your beloved deceased, as well as best prepare for your own departure from this world into the eternal bliss of heaven. God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't just listen to us talk about it. Do it! 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

If I was to ask you the quickest way out of purgatory, or even perhaps the quickest way into heaven, what would you say? "Be a saint." Good. But what should we do when we fall short? What about when we sin? The book I mention in the podcast. "Get to confession," you reply. Excellent. But then what? Is there a way to make up for what we've done? A way to remedy the damage that we've caused the Body of Christ now, so that we don't suffer later? Absolutely. It's almsgiving. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell you to start giving alms. I'm going to tell you why you're nuts if you don't. Trust me. You want to hear this. Because we're going to: Discuss why you want to spend as little time in purgatory as possible (hint: it hurts...a lot!) Show how Scripture describes sin in terms of a debt to be paid Demonstrate the incredible revolution with regard to payment for sin that occurred in the Old Testament between the time of King David and Daniel Examine Scripture passages that demonstrate the concept of purgatory and its miraculous relationship to almsgiving Explain how almsgiving can shortcut the consequences of your sinful actions...now and later! Don't listen if you enjoy suffering. For the rest of you, push "play" now! Matthew P.S. Don't just listen to us talk about it. Do it! 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

Pope St. John Paul II is one of the most beloved popes of all time. He touched the lives of millions. But his impact is far from over. JPII was a world-class philosopher. He taught us truths about ourselves, and humanity in general, in a way that made sense. He understood our deepest longings and turmoil. He could explain the inner workings of our heart in relation to God. In a nutshell, he taught us how to be fully human through Jesus Christ. But while most of us learned this from his speeches, encyclicals, and books, Andreas Widmer, former Swiss Guard and now Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at Catholic University of Americas' Busch School of Business & Economics, received his instruction in person. This giant of a man swore to protect and serve the Holy Father with his life. And in return, he learned what it means to truly live. In fact, he wrote a book about it called The Pope & the CEO: John Paul II's Leadership Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard. In this special episode of the Art of Catholic, we're going to: Hear beautiful stories about what JPII was really like in person Learn about the history and duties of the Swiss Guard Discover the relationship between JPII's famous Theology of the Body and the world of economics Discuss how JPII's view of poverty and the human person is necessary to understand the heart of Pope Francis Hear this modern saint's "simple" rule of life he practiced every day You don't get too many opportunities to hear personal witness about a saint. Andreas Widmer gives us that and much more! Matthew P.S. Don't just listen to us talk about it. Do it! 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

God didn't just create you...He thirsts for you! His heart is bursting with love for you! Yes, you! That is the underlying message of the mystics. It's also the underlying message of one of the best spiritual theologians in the United States. Dr. Anthony Lilles, Academic Dean at St. John's Seminary in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles can illuminate and discuss the interior life unlike anyone else I've heard or met. (You might remember him from episode 3.) His new book is Fire From Above: Christian Contemplation and Mystical Wisdom...and it's awesome. He is so steeped in the rich mystical tradition of spiritual giants like John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, that the power of their message almost bursts out of him. To be perfectly honest, I had something totally different in mind when I contacted Anthony to come on show. But then the Holy Spirit took over. Here's where He led the conversation: The mystical relationship between martyrdom and contemplation (inspired by the 21 young men martyred by Islamic militants in Libya) A deeper look into the mystical definition of contemplation The 3 essential elements of humanity every spirituality has to deal with (but only Christianity does) How forgiveness and the wounds of sin are related to contemplative prayer Why the Blessed Virgin is a key to a deep life of contemplation This is one of the most enjoyable conversations I've ever had on the show because it cuts right to the heart of what the mystical life is all about. It cuts to the heart of what our life is meant to be! Enjoy and God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't just listen to us talk about it. Do it! 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. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

Ever met someone who can trace their lineage back to some famous people? My dad's family had an ancestor on the Mayflower. My in-laws brag they're related to Stonewall Jackson. I recently discovered one of my relatives actually translated the spiritual masterpiece The Imitation of Christ a few hundred years ago. Family lines are very important and interesting. While not tied through bloodlines, there's a Catholic family that can trace it's lineage for 800 years...the Dominicans. And the offspring of the great St. Dominic has had an unbelievable impact on the Catholic faith. Just think of all the towering Dominican figures in our history: St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Rose of Lima, among others. In this episode of the Art of Catholic I'm joined by Br. Tim Danaher O.P., to talk a little about the history and impact of this amazing order. Among other things we'll discuss: The heresy that led to the founding of the Dominicans Why Dominicans are called "Hounds of the Lord" and "Black Friars" How St. Dominic gave us the rosary The impact of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas St. Albertus Magnus and why was he so important What makes Dominicans different from other orders in the Church (not better, just different:) All that and more on this episode of The Art of Catholic! God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to 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"! Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store. Want to experience Catholic Europe? Join Matthew on his pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, Avila, and many other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

There are 27 books in the New Testament...19 of them came from just two guys. Sts. Paul and John are two of the most influential men in the history of the world. 14 of the books of the most popular book in the history of the world (the Bible...just in case you were scratching your head) are traditionally ascribed to Paul. Not to be outdone, St. John wrote the "greatest piece of world literature, period" says John Bergsma. (Plus four other New Testament books.) These guys are Bible rock stars. Even so, they need some explication. Paul is sometimes clear as mud. (Have you read Romans?) John sometimes soars so high into the celestial mist that he needs to brought back down to earth. Theologians spend years trying to unpack what both have to say. We don't have that kind of time. But we do have Dr. John Bergsma. Bergsma's famous art! In this rollicking conclusion to my two part interview on New Testament Basics for Catholics, we'll finish off what we started in episode 42. First, we'll conclude our discussion of Luke and its sequel, Acts, and then pivot to Paul and John. Among other things we'll: Unveil the two stars of the book of Acts and the two sections of the book (Act 1 and Act 2:) Answer the famous question posed by an ex-priest of why Jesus kept promising a kingdom, but all we got was a Church Unpack the overall purpose of the book of Romans (good luck!) Explain what Paul means by the controversial phrase "obedience of faith". (A very important concept to understand for discussion with our Protestant brethren.) Identify the "good news" and "bad news" of Romans (We'll do the bad news first, of course.) Hear Bergsma explain why the Gospel of John the "greatest piece of world literature, period" Show why St. John is SO Catholic. You do NOT want to miss this episode. Enjoy! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to 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"! Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store. Want to experience Catholic Europe? Join Matthew on his pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, Avila, and many other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

If you totally understand the New Testament of Sacred Scripture, then you can ignore this podcast. For the rest of us mortals, this show is a gem. Best-selling author and professor Dr. John Bergsma explains the Bible like nobody else. His Bible Basics for Catholics is a masterpiece. While it focused on the overall story of salvation history, particularly the Old Testament, his sequel, New Testament Basics for Catholics illuminates the second half of the Bible. And it's even better than the first one (which sold a gazillion copies). John breaks the New Testament down by focusing on its four major authors. In part 1 of this interview, we'll discuss the first two - Matthew and Luke - and what's happening in their books. Among other things we'll learn: What is the unifying theme of the major New Testament authors? Why does Matthew kick off the New Testament with a genealogy? (John actually calls it biblical Tae Kwon Do) What's so shocking about the women mentioned by Matthew? What is Luke's theme and how is his audience different than Matthew's? What is the true meaning of mercy as found in the Gospel of Luke? (It's not what you think and it gives a whole new meaning to the Year of Mercy!) My previous show with John (Episode 6) remains one of my most popular. In this latest interview, you'll understand why I call him the "Blond Beast of Biblical Theology". Matthew P.S. Don't forget to 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"! Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store. Want to experience Catholic Europe? Join Matthew on his pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, Avila, and many other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

The Holy Spirit didn't just fall out of the sky at Pentecost. Well, I mean, he did, but all those tongues of fire, heavy winds and such weren't a random occurrence. Nothing God does ever is. There's a backstory. And once you know it, everything makes more sense. In this episode of The Art of Catholic, we dive into the events of the Old Testament that set up the birth of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Earth(quakes), Wind & Fire wasn't just a nominally successful 70s band. These elements often accompany theophanies, appearances of God. We're going to see why the crazy events at Pentecost unfolded as they did, looking at parallels to another very similar, very important event in the book of Exodus. Among other things we'll discuss: The ancient origin of Pentecost as a Jewish feast Why the Holy Spirit descended in tongues of fire in Acts 2 Why the Disciples started speaking in other languages What the voice of God actually sounds like (gulp!) Why the number of converts at Pentecost (i.e. 3,000) is really significant All that and more in this special Pentecost episode of The Art of Catholic! God bless you all! Matt P.S. Want to help Matthew increase his production of more Art of Catholic podcasts? You can do that (and get some free books and such) at Patreon.com/MatthewLeonard.

If you've ever scratched your head after hearing or reading Hebrews (or even if you just scratch your head), this episode is for you. Unless you're Catholic, it's pretty difficult to make heads or tails of the book of Hebrews. And even if you are Catholic it can seem a bit odd at times. But once you view it through the right lens, the teachings of Catholicism jump off the page like a 3D IMAX movie. In fact, it's a mini Catechism. This is the conclusion of my great conversation with author Shane Kapler who beautifully lays out the Seven Core Beliefs of Catholics in the Epistle to the Hebrews. (His book is great!) Among other things we'll discuss: How Hebrews lays out the Catholic "plan of salvation" in 7 verses (how appropriate) The grittiness of Jesus' humanity and how he learned obedience through suffering What the famous faith "Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11 teaches us about heaven and the communion of saints Why critics of Catholicism who say there's no mention of the Eucharist in Hebrews ("so it can't be a Catholic book") are dead wrong All that and more in episode 40 of the Art of Catholic. God bless and enjoy! Matt P.S. Don't forget to 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"!

Every book in the Bible is Catholic...but this one's really Catholic. When I was a Protestant missionary in Latin America, one of my fellow missionaries told me that he was trying to read the book of Hebrews, but he found it "just plain weird." He didn't know what to make of it. And it's no wonder. It's totally Catholic! (Uhhh...maybe that's why Martin Luther wanted to unload it from the canon of Scripture.) In this episode of the Art of Catholic we're going to begin our focus on the 7 core Catholic beliefs that underlie this amazing book of the Bible. My guest is a convert and gifted author named Shane Kapler, who wrote a book on this very topic titled The Epistle to Hebrews and the Seven Core Beliefs of Catholics. This is a great episode to start expanding your knowledge of Scripture. Among other things we'll discuss: Who wrote Hebrews and why it's one of the most argued topics in Scripture study Why Hebrews has special relevance today given the current condition of the world How Hebrews bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments The Jewish background of Hebrews (does that sound redundant?) How the doctrine of the Trinity is unveiled in Hebrews All that and more in episode 39 of the Art of Catholic. God bless and enjoy! Matt P.S. Don't forget to 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"!

Every so often I get the point where I just can't take it anymore. The Art of Catholic community knows I'm totally into spiritual theology. But every now and then I hit the wall. I just can't read another book on prayer, the 3 stages of the spiritual life, or the virtues. I need something a bit lighter. Enter Fr. Richard Infante, wonderful priest and talented author of Catholic fiction. He's got a new book called "Last Priest Standing" from Lambing Press, which is a collection of short stories and novellas. It's a fascinating peek into the private lives of priests which satisfies questions a lot of us have like: What do priests do in their free time? Do they want to talk about Church stuff with lay people? Do priests hang out together? (In casinos)? It's quite interesting and will certainly humanize priests for a lot of people. But the conversation goes deeper. With four master's degrees, including one in Fine Arts, he knows what he's talking about when it comes to Catholic fiction and its role in culture. Items in this show include: Can fiction be used to effectively catechize? Fr. Infante's "must read" works of Catholic fiction The importance of fine arts in evangelization Can Catholic fiction change the way you approach Scripture? My favorite work of Catholic fiction I recommend for everyone (which I'm betting most of you have never read) Enjoy and God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to 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"!

Hands down one of my favorite books of all time. Dr. Ralph Martin's The Fulfillment of All Desire played a huge role in my desire to learn about, and grow in, the spiritual life. It's a classic. (I've got hand-written notes all over the margins in my copy.) 2016 is the tenth anniversary of it's publication and it still sells like crazy. Why? Because it presents the path of spiritual growth from the masters of the spiritual life: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis de Sales, Augustine, and more. This book blew my mind and helped ignite the fire of love in my life for Christ. If you don't know Ralph, he's the Director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization and an associate professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit, president of Renewal Ministries, and host of the tv and radio show "The Choices We Face". In case you didn't think him cool enough already, Ralph was appointed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization...that's totally cool. And today, Ralph is on the show to talk about the The Fulfillment of All Desire and the spiritual life in general. In addition to nuggets of wisdom from the book, we'll discuss: How Ralph got into spiritual theology and the difference it's made in his life The huge impact of St. John Paul II in the universal call to holiness The 4 principles that govern the spiritual life The 3 stages of the spiritual life Ralph's biggest piece of advice for someone trying to grow in holiness Prepare to be inspired! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to 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"!

"For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways" (Psalm 91:11). Since the last show was, shall we say, a bit dark, I decided we needed a burst of light. How much more light can you get than angels? And to shed light on an already bright and beautiful topic, I've got author, speaker, EWTN host, and all around terrific human being, Mike Aquilina. Mike has written a ton about the angels. (Check out his beautiful devotional "A Year With the Angels" when you have a chance.) Today's show includes the following topics: Are all angels alike? Do they have a primary role? How are angels and humans different? The greatest piece of advice ever with regard to guardian angels How to establish a relationship with your guardian angel Can fallen angels (i.e. demons) ever be saved? Does our relationship with angels change in heaven? What do the Church Fathers say about angels? All that and more on this bright, beautiful and powerful episode of the The Art of Catholic! Happy Easter! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to 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"!

Light the blessed candles, grab your crucifix, and find your biggest bottle of holy water. My guest today on the Art of Catholic is author Dr. Paul Thigpen and our topic is spiritual warfare. In particular, we're discussing his really fascinating book titled "Saints Who Battled Satan: 17 Holy Warriors Who Can Teach You How To Fight The Good Fight and Vanquish Your Ancient Enemy." And I'm gonna tell you right now, this is no typical saint book. It's pretty wild. "Who is Paul Thigpen", you ask? He's the editor of TAN Books and the best-selling author, co-author or compiler of forty-five titles. Among his most popular books are The Burden: A Warning of Things to Come and The Rapture Trap: A Catholic Response to End Times Fever. Paul is a convert to the Catholic faith and has served the Church as an award-winning journalist, historian, apologist, catechist, and member of the National Advisory Council of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. His work has been translated into twelve languages (including Canadian). And he's an expert in spiritual warfare. This episode is not meant to be sensationalistic. But that doesn't mean the hair on the back of your neck won't stand up from time to time. As St. Paul declares in Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Satan is real. He wants to kill you. We must learn to fight. Who better to learn from than the saints who have battled and won? Enjoy! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to 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"!

Perhaps the most dramatic and gut-wrenching moment of the crucifixion is Christ's cry of dereliction: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" But many people have no idea what it actually means. Like so many other converts to Catholicism, I was raised with a misunderstanding of how the Cross of Christ actually saves me. Believe it or not, over the years I've heard some homilies at Mass make the same mistake. (Not in my home parish...just in case my parish priest is reading this:) But it's important. Because if you get the Cross wrong, you get everything wrong. In this special Triduum/Easter episode of The Art of Catholic, I'll briefly discuss: What Jesus actually did on the Cross: both the correct and incorrect views How the way we're saved dramatically impacts our view of salvation and thus how we live How to understand the apparent abandonment of the Son by the Father as he hung on the Cross Why the Cross should fill us with confidence This episode will help you dive more deeply into the mystery and tragic beauty of what is happened on Golgotha. (And as a huge bonus, I'm opening the show with a clip from the great Truth & Life Audio Bible.) God bless and have a blessed Triduum and Easter! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to 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"!

Your eyes were opened...and that's a good thing. If you listened to Part 1 of my discussion with the renowned author and speaker Dr. Brant Pitre (BrantPitre.com), not only were you probably incensed by the attacks of skeptics on the Gospels, you were heartened by Brant's destruction of their arguments. The truth of the matter is that we can trust in the origin of the Gospels. We can trust that Christ is who he says he is. In Part 2 of our interview, our discussion based around his new book The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ includes the following: When the Gospels were written and why it matters How do we explain apparent differences or discrepancies in the Gospels? Why Jesus knew exactly who he was...God (though Gospel critics say otherwise) The incredible connection between Jesus and the Old Testament book of Daniel (and how the Angel Gabriel plays into all this) The real reason Jesus was sentenced to death by the Jewish leaders Why the first Christians believed in the resurrection (including the role of Jonah and the Whale...what?) All of this and more showing how reasonable and rational the Christian faith actually is! Just like the first part, this is an episode every Catholic needs to hear! Blessings, Matthew P.S. Don't let Lent just slide by. Grab it by the horns! Click the link to get a FREE, short chapter from my book Louder Than Words. It's called Beer, Chocolate & Value-Added Suffering and it will transform your perspective on Lent and the whole spiritual life! 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"!

Let's start with two simple, yet crucial questions: "Do you trust the Bible?" and "Do you believe Jesus is God?" Many of you are thinking, "Of course, Matt!" Even so, you certainly know a lot of people in our post-Christian world who don't agree. They're skeptics. And there are a lot of people seeking to create more of them. In fact, some people who spend their professional lives studying the Gospels go around making wild claims about Jesus and the Gospels that just don't pass historical muster: claims such as "We can't trust the Gospels because we don't have any idea who wrote them," or "Jesus never claimed to be divine." It's crazy! And the awful thing is, they're using shoddy "historical" arguments to destroy the faith of a lot of Catholics, and people don't even realize it. They trumpet their "scientific" findings and somberly declare that the Gospels don't stand up to careful scrutiny and call into question Christ's claims. But it's a sham. Their positions are full of holes so big you could drive a truck full of Bibles through them. And to prove it, I've brought in a ringer. Dr. Brant Pitre (www.BrantPitre.com) is one of the most popular Catholic apologists for a reason. You may have seen or heard him on television, the radio, or at a Catholic conference. Brant is in demand. He's an extremely intelligent, yet easy to understand Scripture scholar and author who has written best-sellers like Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist and Jesus the Bridegroom. His latest book is a bombshell. It's called The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ. This is truly one of the most important books to come along in a long time. It crushes skepticism about the divinity of Jesus and the origin of the Gospels and demonstrates why it is totally logical to believe the Gospels can be trusted and that Jesus is who he says he is – God. What we're discussing in this episode is probably the most important thing happening in Catholicism right now, and most people aren't even aware of it. In short, this is an important show every Catholic needs to hear. Blessings, Matthew P.S. Don't let Lent just slide by. Grab it by the horns! Click the link to get a FREE, short chapter from my book Louder Than Words. It's called Beer, Chocolate & Value-Added Suffering and it will transform your perspective on Lent and the whole spiritual life! 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"!

What does the spiritual life of a ninja blackbelt surfer look like? The answer might surprise you. (The dude quotes Aquinas, for crying out loud.) Join me for the conclusion of my conversation with adventurer and EWTN radio host Bear Woznick. We're getting deeper into the practicalities of meditative prayer and the overall trajectory of the spiritual path for Catholics. But that's not all. A big part of the discussion centers around what it means to actually "let go and let God," and what happens when you do. (You'll even hear how in the world I ended up on a mountain in Guatemala three months after leaving the corporate world.) We'll also dissect something a lot of Catholics have never heard of, called penal substitution. It's the theory of salvation that Bear and I used to hold as Protestants, but makes no sense of the Cross or human suffering. God bless and enjoy! Matt P.S. Don't let Lent just slide by. Grab it by the horns! Click the link to get a free, short chapter from my book Louder Than Words. It's called Beer, Chocolate & Value-Added Suffering and it will transform your perspective on Lent and the whole spiritual life!

I meet a lot of people in my line of work...none like this guy. Have you ever talked prayer with a guy who is a World Surfing Champ? Ever discussed the spiritual life with a bona fide ninja blackbelt? How about chatting virtue with anyone who rode their bike (i.e. bicycle) from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean? Me, neither. That is, until I met Bear Woznick. (Yes, that's actually his legal name.) Bear Woznick is unlike anyone else I know. I met him recently at a men's conference in Florida where we were both speakers. His life, I quickly discovered, is like a movie. That doesn't mean it's perfect. Simply that it's a bit more "exciting" than most of ours. (Seriously, have you ever repelled off the 25th floor of your beachfront condo? He has.) Bear is an author, speaker, and EWTN radio host and who loves the Church and expresses it in a very unique way. You're going to find his story and his message truly inspirational. Blessings, Matthew P.S. Don't let Lent just slide by. Grab it by the horns! Click the link to get a free, short chapter from my book Louder Than Words. It's called Beer, Chocolate & Value-Added Suffering and it will transform your perspective on Lent and the whole spiritual life!

I already know the answer, but I'm going to ask anyway: Have you ever been fully satisfied? How about completely free? For how long? How long until you want a new smartphone? How far into the woods do you need to hike to "get away from it all"? How long before the new car smell wears off? (Approximately 3 1/2 minutes for those with children.) Most of us discovered a long time ago that nothing here can satisfy us for very long. It just can't. And it's not only satisfaction we crave. We want freedom. (Why else do people try to fly without a plane or deep sea dive hundreds of feet without an oxygen tank?) We want to crush the barriers in life that hem us in and quench that thirst that comes from deep inside. It's a constant gnawing - a constant struggle. Why? Because we were created for true freedom! We were designed to be fully satisfied! But there's only one way you can achieve it. So in this episode of the The Art of Catholic, I'm going to provide some keys to help you redirect and quench the spiritual angst you have for more...because that's your destiny! God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't let Lent just slide by. Grab it by the horns! Click the link to get a free, short chapter from my book Louder Than Words. It's called Beer, Chocolate & Value-Added Suffering and it will transform your perspective on Lent and the whole spiritual life!

I told you it was good. Part one of my interview with Mike Aquilina about his book Keeping Mary Close: Devotion to Our Lady Through the Ages was awesome. The conclusion is even better. You've got to hear Mike because he really gets fired up showing how even heretics and atheists understood early Christian devotion to the Mother of God, and mocked them for it. He also discusses how love of Mary is channeled to God using a very sweet example from his own life. Our discussion also gets into how the motif of the family life of God is a key to understanding Mary. At one point, he even invokes the Odd Couple! (You're not going to hear that on any other podcast!) Some of the other questions we discuss: They may not have had rosaries, but did early Christians have physical ornaments that expressed their devotion to Our Lady? Given it's intensity, was there ever a danger of Mary eclipsing Christ in devotion in the early days? (Ever heard of the Collyridians? Me, neither!) Do Muslims really venerate Mary? Who were some of the hardcore "Marian" Church Fathers? (Cue Cyril of Alexandria and the heresy of Nestorianism.) All that and more in this episode of The Art of Catholic. God bless and enjoy! Matt P.S. Make Lent count this year! Grab a FREE chapter called "Beer, Chocolate & Value-Added Suffering" from my book "Louder Than Words: The Art of Living as a Catholic". It will totally explain redemptive suffering and transform how you live every moment of every day!

I sure wish I'd known this 18 years ago. I'd probably have become Catholic a lot faster. In this episode of The Art of Catholic, I've got one of my favorite people, Mike Aquilina, ready to lay down some serious Early Church knowledge. But we're not just interested in history. We're going to dig into what the Early Church believed and practiced with regard to the Virgin Mary. Adding to the already legendary stack of books he's written is "Keeping Mary Close: Devotion To Our Lady Through The Ages"...and it's awesome. I read a lot of Marian literature when working on The Bible and the Virgin Mary series for the St. Paul Center. What sets this book apart from others is that its focus is upon the Early Church. Speaking as a convert who had serious issues with Mary, this book would have helped me immensely when I was dealing with who she is and what the Church has taught about her through the ages. In fact, I'm a little hacked off that he waited so long to write this. But since this is the Year of Mercy, I'm going to set that aside and turn him loose so that all of you can experience the incredible knowledge bomb he's about to drop. Some of the questions I ask are: When did devotion to Our Lady begin? (The answer is going to surprise you.) What did ancient extra-biblical sources say about Mary? (Ever heard of The Ascension of Isaiah or the Infancy Gospel of James? How about the Gospel of Thomas?) How does ancient devotion to Mary differ from what we do today? (They weren't praying rosaries, after all!) All that and much, much more! Enjoy! Matt P.S. You can't have a relationship with Jesus or His Mother without prayer. Prayer is the relationship, for crying out loud! So grab my FREE cheat sheet on how to develop a life of deep prayer called 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life. It can change everything!

Admit it. Just like everybody else, your 2016 New Year's resolutions are already in the toidy. (That's a technical term.) And for most of us, those resolutions dealt with habits we've acquired and want to get rid of like smoking, drinking, or Jazzercise. Then there are those virtuous habits we want to acquire. Virtuous habits will get their own podcast at a later date. Since most of us remain in the "I've got to stop this or it's going to kill me!" or "I'm tired of confessing this same thing over and over" mode, I want to give you 5 key ideas to help you overcome sinful habits so you can spiritually grow and rocket your way to God. Enjoy! Matt Click here to grab a copy of my free pdf 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life. It's not too late to make a new, New Year's resolution that really change your life!

I've made no bones about the fact that Mary was easily the most difficult issue I faced in becoming Catholic. This show is about the scriptural argument that got me over the hump. In the last two episodes (23 & 24), we dealt with the Immaculate Conception. This time, we're going to fill in some background on the Ark of the Covenant from the Old Testament, and then explore the stunning parallels laid out by the Gospel of Luke between that original Ark and the Virgin Mary. Like I said, the dots I'm about to connect are one major reason I fully embraced Church teaching on Our Lady. It's pretty powerful stuff. But as they say on infomercials...That's not all!" I'm also going to drop a really cool insight from Pope Benedict XVI about Mary's Visitation to Elizabeth that I recently heard at Mass. It literally made me "oooh" out loud. (Trust me when I say there are very few things I ever hear in the cry room that make me say "ooooh"...unless you're referring to every time a one-year-old licks the mirror on the door.) I pray the rest of your Advent is blessed and you have a very Merry Christmas! Matthew P.S. New Year's resolution! Pray more effectively! But don't wait for January 1st. Start now! Grab 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life! right now!

The more you understand it, the more you realize the Immaculate Conception is a fundamental part of the Gospel message. And, yes, it's in the Bible...big time. This is part 2 of what I started in Episode 23. This episode is going to focus on the Angel Gabriel's encounter with Mary in the Annunciation scene from Luke chapter 1. Far more than just a classic scene in every school's Christmas play, it's a necessary scene in the drama of salvation. And it demonstrates the fact that Mary was conceived without sin. Of course, there are always people who will object. St. Thomas Aquinas himself declared that Mary was conceived with original sin in his famous Summa Theologica. So I'm also going to answer some of the common objections to the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and show why objectors shouldn't be so quick to use Thomas for their position of dissent. I promise this is a very, very interesting and informative show. You're going to walk away with a greater appreciation for the amazing role Our Lady plays in getting us to heaven! Hope your Advent is full of joy! 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.

You may love Mary, but can you explain the Immaculate Conception? Better yet, can you explain it from the pages of the Bible? The dogma that Mary was preserved from the moment of her conception from the effects of Original Sin is one of the most important, yet misunderstood Catholic teachings. Many Catholics, not to mention Protestants, don't realize the vital role played by this dogma, much less understand that the roots of the Immaculate Conception are deep in Sacred Scripture. It's totally in there. So this episode of The Art of Catholic is all about beginning to illuminate how the Mother of God is part of the divine thread that God has woven into the fabric of salvation history. How the biblical role she plays in the drama of our salvation actually demands the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. We'll also see how Our Lady's first "appearance" in the opening book of the Bible (Genesis), helps make sense of some of the crazy stuff in the last book of the Bible (Revelation). In other words, Mary's role helps shed light on traditionally difficult passages. So let's get started! 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.

It's not just because we want to look cool or think bigger is better. Catholic Bibles are simply bigger than Protestant Bibles. (And I don't mean they're printed in a larger font. I mean ours have more books than theirs.) The question is "Why?" It's a huge issue...one of, dare I say, biblical proportions. One of the fundamental principles of Protestantism is the doctrine of sola scriptura - the Bible alone. In other words, it teaches that the only sure authority upon which we can base our lives is the Bible because it alone is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. Of course, this belief raises obvious questions. For example, if the Bible is the only authority, then who has the right to interpret it? You? Your pastor? Your mechanic? It's a problem. In fact, the issue of authority was the original impetus behind my eventual move to Catholicism some eighteen years ago. But the problem of authority doesn't just come into play with regard to interpreting Scripture. It has a colossal impact on the book itself. In other words, who decides what books are actually inspired and which are just wise sayings? How did we get the canon of Scripture in the form we now possess? And why are Catholic Bibles different than those of our Protestant brothers? That's what this show is all about. As you're going to see, I've brought in an expert on this topic. His name is Rob Corzine, a friend, and one of the vice presidents of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He's a very smart cookie. (Someone please get me the etymology of that phrase.) And it's a pretty fair bet that you're going to come away from this episode with whole lot more understanding about the important and fascinating history of Sacred Scripture than before. Enjoy! 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!

This one may be better than the first (which is saying something). In Episode 020 of The Art of Catholic, I began an interview with Dr. Andrew Jones about the very different world of the High Middle Ages. (By different, I'm not only referring to their penchant for body armor and ale.) In particular we talked about the huge impact of the Fourth Lateran Council, and started to dabble in how medievals viewed the 4 Senses of Scripture as a way of life, not just how to approach a book. (If you're thinking, "sounds like a snoozer" you'd be mistaken. It's been a very popular episode. Reports are even circulating about Fourth Lateran Council costume parties since the episode posted.) This is part two of my interview with Andrew. And it might even be better than the first. Among other things we're going to get into some very interesting material like how the High Middle Ages had a wildly different view of the relationship between Church and State; a much more intimate and integrated relationship between priests and laity; and even why medievals only received the Eucharist a few times a year (even though they were at Mass). This is not about romanticizing the past. Yes, Andrew does have a "I'm A Monarchist and I Vote" bumper sticker on his car. But aside from that (and the coat of arms on all of his sweaters), you'd never know he was a avid medievalist. In fact, we'll discuss some of the dangers inherent to the worldview of the High Middle Ages. But also what we can learn from it, too. Enjoy! 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!

Okay. I'm about to ask you a question. Be honest...Raise your hand if you've ever heard of the Fourth Lateran Council. Okay...How about Pope Innocent III? For those of you with your hands still up, how many of you can give me any details on either?...Anyone? Bueller? (That never gets old.) Believe it or not, not knowing is a giant hole in our education. Everyone should know something about both because they played a pivotal role in the history of the Church. Lateran Four is every bit as big as Nicea, Trent, and Vatican II. In fact, it continues to heavily influence how we live today. (Full disclosure...I didn't know "jack" about it until this interview. So don't feel bad if you didn't either.) To plug the information hole in my head and yours, I've brought in Dr. Andrew Jones, an expert on the High Middle Ages (which doesn't refer to people in their late 50s.) He knows all about the Church in the 11th to 13th centuries. Andrew has spent years researching this incredibly rich and fascinating time period and is going to share with us why it was so important. What I think you're going to find is that much of what took place back then is incredibly applicable to our present circumstances. So go put on your suit of armor, grab an ale, and enjoy. 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! P.S.Click here to help more people experience solid Catholic material by leaving The Art of Catholic a rating and review.

The entire Catholic faith boils down to one thing - be like Christ. That's the point of prayer and the purpose of the sacraments. It's the whole enchilada. And if you want to know what it means to be like Christ, look no further than Philippians 2. The opening verses of St. Paul's letter to the Church at Philippi are the key to unlocking his inner life; the self-sacrificial, self-emptying, life-giving love of of Jesus Christ. Of course, St. Paul wasn't alone in his discussion of the incredible, loving humility of Our Lord. Another beautiful description is given by St. Leo the Great. These days they're joined by theologians with lots of letters after their names who call this self-emptying of Christ kenosis. I just call it hard. In this episode of The Art of Catholic, we'll go through this important and beautiful passage of Scripture, showing how it provides the foundation for the way we are supposed to live. 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! P.S. If you'd like to subscribe to the podcast or leave a rating and review of the show (which really helps!), click here.

Do you believe in the Trinity? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is both all God and all man at the same time - consubstantial with the Father? Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God? Most of you are nodding your internal head, saying "Yes, Matt, of course we do." These are issues most Christians take for granted. We believe them because they are fundamental to our faith. We believe them because they are what have been taught to us, handed down from generation to generation. But why? The quick answer is very simple: Because of Christ. He founded the Catholic Church and gave the Apostles authority. But then what? Acts 1:20 tells us: "His office let another take." In other words, their authority was passed on. And many to whom they passed the torch were the men who, through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, formulated many of the doctrines and beliefs we now take for granted. The belief system of Christianity didn't drop down out of the sky in a catechism. The truth that existed in its fullness in Jesus Christ was unpacked over the centuries. And many of the guys that did that unpacking were the Fathers of the Church. In this episode of "The Art of Catholic", we're going to finish what we started in Episode 17. (This is part 2 of "Introduction to the Fathers", which is the first lesson in the Journey Through Scripture Bible study titled "The Bible and the Church Fathers.") We'll discuss the development of doctrine and start to get to know a few of these towering figures of the faith. What you're going to start to realize is that these men are not just historical figures. We call them "Fathers" because that's what they are. They "father" us in the faith, leading us to Our Father in heaven. Enjoy! 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!

We all want to know where we come from. What are our biological roots? Who are we related to? People spend a lot of money every year tracing their family tree (hoping it forks!). As Christians, we should desire to know our family tree, too. Like in our natural families, we should want to know who has gone before us in the Faith and what they believed. We should want to know our history. Now's our chance. In this Art of Catholic episode, I'm featuring the first half of Lesson One of The Bible and the Church Fathers. This study is part of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology's Journey Through Scripture Bible study program...and you're going to love it. It's a great primer on the men upon whose shoulders we stand. I've been presenting Journey Through Scripture all over the country (and world) for more than eight years. While I wrote the study, much of it is based upon Mike Aquilina's book The Fathers of the Church (3rd edition). As I mentioned, what you're about to hear is part 1 of Lesson One, which is titled Introduction to the Fathers. In my next episode, I'll have part 2. For now, pour yourself a nice tall cup of coffee, sit 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! Already enjoyed the show? Please take a moment to leave a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!!

Are you concerned about your children and grandchildren? Do you worry whether or not they'll stay in the faith? Have they already left? Allow me to introduce you to someone who has devoted his life to doing everything he can to help them stay, or bring them back. His name is Mark Hart, and he's the Executive Vice President of Content and Identity at Life Teen, one of the leaders in evangelizing young Catholics. Join us as we discuss the current state and future of our youth...the future of our Church. And we're not just talking problems. We're talking solutions. 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! Please take a moment to leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!!

You can have all the money in the world, but you can't buy suffering insurance. Doesn't matter if you're Catholic, Protestant, Pagan or Martian. Everybody experiences it. And when Jesus offered himself back to the Father for our sake, he didn't merely deal with the consequences of sin. Rather, he struck at the root of suffering - Original Sin - the sin of Adam. But he did it in a way that seems crazy in the eyes of the world. He took the very consequences of sin - suffering and death - experienced them as one of us, and made them the path to salvation. This is the mystery of the Cross...a mystery he invites us into through Redemptive Suffering. To dig into this deep subject, I brought in Jeff Cavins. You may know Jeff from his stint as host on EWTN's Life on the Rock, or his Bible Timeline videos, or even his books and speaking gigs. He's one of the most well-known Catholic evangelists in the world. And his preferred topic is suffering. Why? Because as he'll share, he's suffered. And he knows you do, too. But he also knows the power and beauty of Redemptive Suffering, which is the subject of his latest book, "When You Suffer: Biblical Keys For Hope and Understanding." Amongst other things, Jeff and I answer questions like: What is redemptive suffering? How does it work? Why can it transform your life? This is a great episode that can literally transform your life. 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! Please take a moment to leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!!

Question: What do adoption, 80s singer El DeBarge, and the spiritual life have in common? Answer: Bob Rice. Any man who plays the accordion (and has an album starring said instrument titled "The Gospel Accordion to Bob Rice") is just a little on the unusual side. But if by "usual" you mean boring and predictable, I'll take unusual any day. And trust me when I say this show was anything but boring and predictable. It goes in a lot of crazy directions, all of which point up to Christ. In addition to the oddities of his instrumentation, Bob is an author, speaker, musician, and theologian. Many of you have experienced his dulcet tones at a summer conference at Franciscan University or another venue. For those of you who have not, you're about to. Five will get you ten that you've never heard some of the things you'll hear on this podcast anywhere else. Grown men aren't supposed to have this much fun. So buckle up, prepare to smile, and click the "play" arrow below for a good time. 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! And don't forget to head over to iTunes and leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!!

"Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. Amen" We say that "Fatima prayer" at the end of every decade in the rosary. But what exactly are we begging deliverance from? This is probably the deepest podcast I've done to date. How could it not be when dealing with the scariest topic in the world...hell. Nobody wants to think about eternal damnation, but many of us have questions like: Does hell actually exist? How is a place of eternal, unending pain and punishment compatible with a God of perfect love and mercy? How can we be truly happy in heaven if those we love are suffering in hell? Is it possible we'll all end up in heaven eventually? Do some people actually choose hell? Is it true that the constant repetition of Barry Manilow's greatest hits play a role in eternal suffering? To answer these questions and more, I've brought in Dr. Michael Healy, a professor of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He's currently writing a book on hell and is one of the most lucid thinkers I know. He can take deep topics and explain them in a way that makes sense...which we need with this one! So turn on all the lights, grab a rosary, and light a fire (just to put the conversation in context). It's time to talk about hell. 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! And don't forget to head over to iTunes and leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!!

Question: What do you get when you take a Canadian Presbyterian pastor's kid and send him to an orthodox American Catholic university where he has to take a Natural Family Planning class with a pretty girl? Answer: A convert with eight kids! That's what. But unlike a lot of Catholic converts in the public eye, Kevin Lowry is a businessman. That doesn't mean he doesn't do the normal convert stuff. His conversion story, which we're going to hear a good bit of, is in Surprised by Truth 2. He's also the author of a book titled Faith at Work: Finding Purpose Beyond the Paycheck. Kevin speaks at parish missions and conferences, too, and even serves as a consultant for The Coming Home Network for Marcus Grodi. But as I said, he's a little different than many converts with a platform. Kevin's full-time gig is that of Chief Financial Officer for a digital marketing company (not to mention being a father to all those kids). What does that mean? It means he's a practical guy that a lot of people can relate to. He's a passionate Catholic man who loves the Lord, loves the Church, and is a witness to how the Lord can change your life. So sit back, pour yourself a warm cup of coffee, and enjoy a fabulous story. 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! And don't forget to head over to iTunes and leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!!

Paul got knocked off his high horse (maybe). Augustine heard a voice say "take and read." David Currie got a catalog. The Lord moves us to conversion in mysterious ways. If you're thinking "a catalog doesn't seem like the most interesting of manners in which to convert", you're wrong. I love this conversion story. I mean, how many convert stories have you heard where a guy who really, really wants to become Catholic is refused entry? And David Currie is not only the author of some very popular books (e.g. Rapture: The End Time Error That Leaves The Bible Behind and Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic), he is one of the most genuine people I've ever met. This man loves the Catholic faith like few others. You can literally hear it in his voice. So sit back and enjoy the beautiful, heartfelt, often humorous journey of one man (and his family) into the arms of Mother Church. 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 forget to head over to iTunes and leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!!

Do you consider yourself an evangelist? Can you easily share the Catholic faith with others? Does the phrase "New Evangelization" conjure up images of people knocking on your door? Even if your answers were "No." "No." "Yes.", you can relax...but not too much! My guest on this edition is Terry Barber, founder and President of St. Joseph Communications, and founder and chairman of Lighthouse Catholic Media. Many regard him to be the godfather of Catholic apologetics and evangelization in the United States. In fact, if you've ever listened to a Catholic cd featuring someone like Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, or a host of other speakers, odds are it's because of Terry Barber. As you're going to see, this guy is a fireball. And he's got a lot of practical tips and advice for how anyone - even a wallflower - can effectively share the faith. No joke. In fact, he's got a new book out titled – "How To Share Your Faith With Anyone – A Practical Manual for Catholic Evangelization". We all know people who have fallen away or never had Jesus to begin with. And we've all struggled with how to get them engaged in the faith. The struggle is over. God bless and enjoy the program! 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 forget to head over to iTunes and leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!!

Lots of people have stories. Few of them are as exceptional and inspirational as this one. Shak Hill is a former Air Force fighter pilot pilot who flew classified Top Secret missions, including combat in Desert Storm. He finished off his military career serving as a flight commander in the presidential wing at Andrews AF Base, MD, providing congressional and VIP support. He made a run at the US Senate in 2014 in the state of Virginia. He's authored two books and is a public speaker, as well. That's the bio. But you've got to hear the story. 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 forget to head over to iTunes and leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!!

Lots of saints make strong statements about prayer. St. Alphonsus Ligouri is probably the scariest. Referencing St. Teresa of Avila, he once stated that "He who neglects mental prayer needs no devil to carry him to hell. He brings himself there with his own hands." Yikes! Lucky for you (and me), we're not talking prayer with him today. Instead, Mr. Dan Burke is the featured guest in this episode of The Art of Catholic podcast. While not a saint (yet), Dan is definitely a sage when it comes to the spiritual life and loves to quote Teresa of Avila, too. In fact, he's the founder and president of The Avila Institute, as well as the Executive Director of EWTN's National Catholic Register. He also blogs and podcasts over at SpiritualDirection.com. Dan has written a wonderful series of books under the heading of "Navigating the Spiritual Life" through Emmaus Road Publishing. And in this episode we're discussing some of the contents of one of those books titled, "Finding God Through Meditation." It's all about St. Peter Alcantara. Who is he? None other than the spiritual director for Teresa of Avila. Prepare to grow! 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!

Everybody comes from some kind of family. Some are good. Some are bad. Most are crazy in some way or another. Regardless, family is the building block of all society because our families image the family of God. And as we all know, families are under attack. In fact, one of the biggest problems men face in today's society is that we're constantly being fed this ludicrous idea that men are idiots. Family life, particularly the role of father, needs to be reclaimed. Join Matthew this week on The Art of Catholic podcast as he interviews activist and author Brandon McGinely about the importance of family life, particularly from the perspective of fatherhood. Brandon's work has appeared in print in National Review, Fare Forward, and the Pittsburgh Catholic and online at First Things, The Federalist, Public Discourse, and Acculturated. He's also the editor of a new book from Our Sunday Visitor titled The Joys and Challenges of Family Life: Catholic Husbands and Fathers Speak Out... a book to which I contributed a chapter. 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! Oh yeah…PLEASE head over to iTunes and leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!

This is a great conversion story. Dr. Taylor Marshall is the president and founder of the New St. Thomas Institute. But in a previous life he was an Episcopalian priest who found the Lord through a chance encounter with a baseball card. You heard me right...a baseball card. Give it listen and don't forget to please leave the show a rating! God bless! Matt "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!

Did you know that check you just wrote to your favorite charity may actually be hurting the very people you're trying to help? It's true! How is that possible? In quite a few ways, actually. In fact, certain kinds of aid can actually devastate them. In the 4th episode of The Art of Catholic podcast, I interview Michael Matheson Miller from the Acton Institute about the harm that can actually come from some of the forms of charity with which we've grown familiar. Odds are this episode will totally change your view (and actions) regarding foreign aid. 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 forget to PLEASE head over to iTunes and leave the show a rating! Doing so helps promote the podcast and gets Catholic material in front of people who may never otherwise be exposed to the faith. Thank you!