You want to learn about the Catholic Faith, and want to be sure it's accurate. You have questions that haven't been answered, or you've always wanted to ask a priest something, but it slips your mind, or it seems obvious or inappropriate. You're willing to learn, but you might need to do it on your own time. This podcast aims to teach about the Catholic Faith, from Sacred Scripture, Church Teaching, Tradition, history, saints, and honest reasoning. Fr. Jack is a Roman Catholic priest who will sit down to answer questions, share some perspective, and explain particular points of the Faith. He's a New York native, who tries to go long enough to cover what matters, be interesting enough to teach something, and quick enough to get out before you get too bored. Episodes uploaded in bunches, based on your questions, your reminders, Father's timing, and his (limited) self-discipline. Email questions, thoughts or requested topics to acatholicpriesttalks@yahoo.com.
We go over what the Rosary is, where did it come from, and where it got it's name. Then we answer why it seems so repetitive, how to pray it, and what are some things to think about while we are praying. We finish with where to look for more information on the Rosary, with the Secret of the Rosary, by Saint Louis de Montfort.
We look at the phrase 'the Communion of Saints' as it appears in the Nicene Creed. We examine how Saint Paul refers to all believers as saints, and how that phrase still refers to the community of all believers. We also see how our actions and personal choices matter to others, and how to change the world, to stop systems of injustice or sin, we need to start by changing ourselves. We finish with a look at the Church Militant, Church Suffering and Church Triumphant, and how we can relate to saints.
We examine C.S. Lewis’ essay, “The Inner Ring.” We then develop some of the themes of wanting to fit in. We see how some groups are worth belonging to, and some are not. We see how those Inner Rings are unavoidable, and can even be good. Other times, whether in families, friends, education or employment, being ‘in the know’ is a dangerous thing, and doesn’t help us, or others. It can be about excluding others, and then we can never be happy, since there is always another level. It can also tempt us, because of Pride, to lose our souls. When we join an Inner Ring out of genuine love of the people, or because we like the task at hand, we find peace, and it helps us grow in God’s grace.
We discuss Theodicy, specifically the Problem of Evil: How can an all-loving, all-powerful God exist, if evil exists as well. It is a classic problem of the Existence of God and Evil. We separate Moral Evil from Natural Evil, and look at why God doesn't stop bad people, but also why God allows natural disasters. We look at various answers, like the answer from the Book of Job in the Bible, to atheism, limited theism, and why Christianity has a different answer. Finally, we touch on John Paul II's encyclical, Salvifici Doloris, and what meaning we can give suffering.
We speak about the Second Conversion, specifically about the seventh chapter in Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans. We try to answer the question: Why is it so hard to be a Christian? We also look at what choices we have when God brings up our Self-Loathing, Lust, Anger, our need to forgive others, and other 'unconverted' parts of us. Finally, we see how 'Dying to the Self' is not only a poetic idea from the New Testament.
We talk about three rules for prayer. Consistency is key for the spiritual life, as it is in any relationship, from friendship to romance to family. These rules seem to help many people who struggle with their consistency in prayer.
We talk about the Sacrament of Baptism, the Biblical roots of Baptism, including some of the uses of water in God's Plan of Salvation in the Old Testament and New Testament. We then talk about the different ways of baptizing someone, who can be baptized, and whether Baptism is needed for Salvation.
We talk about what is the Plan of Life, what could be a part of my personal Plan of Life, and why it helps us grow in the Spiritual Life.
We discuss the virtue of Humility, from Aquinas and St. Theresa of Avila, how to develop the virtue, and finish with the Litany of Humility.
We look at what Fraternal Correction is, and what St. Thomas Aquinas says about it. We also see why we should do it, and when we shouldn't do it. We finish with some things to keep in mind on how to do it.
We look at some terms related to this sacrament, then some ideas, what Reconciliation is and is not, and finish with how to go to Confession.
We begin by explaining the meaning of the terms concupiscence and temptation, the difference between temptation and sin, and then get into some points on how to fight temptation. We discuss the 7 Deadly Sins and the opposing virtues, and how to apply them, and finish with some final thoughts.
We look at St. Ignatius of Loyola's recommendations for making a daily examination of conscience, in both the Particular Examination and the General Examination.
We begin by looking at what the word means, and some basic truths about discernment. Then we look at how to make sure we are open to hearing God's voice, we then get into some more specific ways to help with discernment, and finish with some general rules to help us make better choices.
We examine friendship, starting with a personal question exercise, and look at some basic terms and ideas with Saint Thomas Aquinas. We then explain Aristotle's Three Types of Friendship, look at another way of categorizing friendships, and finish with those questions we answered at the beginning, to see if our understanding of friendship through Aristotle and Aquinas has changed some answers.
We continue our talk about Mary with the final two dogmas about the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Teaching of the Immaculate Conception, and the Teaching of the Assumption of Mary.
We look at Mary as the Mother of Jesus, as Intercessor, and as the Mother of the Church, all from the Bible. Then we begin to explain two of the Four Marian Dogmas: Mary as the Mother of God, and her Perpetual Virginity.
A look at a great short story, and how a small part of it can inspire us to begin things more carefully.
We continue our look with the rise of schools and universities, Charlemagne, manuscripts, architecture, the rise of Islam and the Crusades, and finish with the rise of the modern state and the birth of the Renaissance.
We talk about developments of the Middle Ages, like the breakdown of centralization, the birth of monasteries and hospitals, the influence of the calendar, Medieval art, literature, and growth in population.
We begin with a parable about forgiveness, and the obligation we have to forgive. Then we look at the difference and relationship between excusing and forgiving, ending with how to forgive, and some tips to help.
We finish our talk on some of the theology of the Mass, from the Preface to the Final Blessing.
We continue our talk about some of the theology of Mass, with a walk through the Mass from the Entrance to the Offertory.
We talk about the some of the theology of sacrifice, what makes Christianity different, why is there a separate priesthood, and why it's most properly called the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Lectio Divina is a method of prayer with the Bible. We go through what it is, what is isn't, how to prepare for doing it, and what are the general steps. Lastly, we walk through the specific steps of a way to do Lectio Divina, from prep to finish.
We discuss a general overview of the Early Church: the dates of the Gospels and New Testament, why Christians didn't fit in to Rome's culture, the first descriptions of the Mass, persecutions, toleration, becoming the official religion of the Empire, and some details that developed then, that we still have today. Also, if you listen closely, you'll catch a couple of emergency vehicles drive by.
We begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce," and then continue with a reflection on making choices based on the past and the future, and how the end result of our choices always affects how we view those previous choices.
Dryness in prayer: What is it? Why does it happen, and how to deal with it. We end with a brief example based on St. Theresa of Avila's explanations of 'the Four Waters' of prayer.
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