Cast Right Catholic Podcast

Keeping with the theme of wakefulness, Pat reflects on the famous story of “doubting Thomas” after the resurrection. Retelling the events of the Gospel passage and plunging into those eight days that Thomas waited for Christ to show him the wounds of the passion, Pat reflects on how it's really the story of believing Thomas, of persevering Thomas, and how Thomas should be a model for us too.

Every New Year's Eve, we try to stay awake until midnight, to be there to herald a new year and time in life. But this tradition hints at an even deeper spiritual reality—the call to spiritual wakefulness. What does it mean to stay awake? How do we do so? Pat reflects on what the Gospel teaches us about these questions!

Our lives and our world need forgiveness. Pat discusses why this is, and breaks open the depths of this important Christian teaching.

Pat's second son was born just a few weeks ago. Here, he reflects on how this life change has impacted him, and shaped the way he sees his vocation and the Christian call to love!

Do you struggle to believe Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist? Does adoration feel more like you “fake it until you make it”? Pat discusses how we can approach this great mystery and hard teaching in a new way, so that we can allow Christ to help us access the beauty of what the real presence actually means for us!

Have you ever asked or been asked: Is the Eucharist necessary for salvation? Or, why do Catholics have an “obligation” to go to church on Sunday? The Eucharist, the church teaches, is the source and summit of the Christian life—but what does that mean? Pat and John discuss!

How do we define happiness? Even subconsciously, what do we believe is the way to happiness? These may be some of the most important and consequential questions a person asks in his/her life! Pat discusses the ways we are sometimes inclined to answer, how he has been inclined to answer in his own life, and what the Gospel has to say about it!

Two words we don't usually put together: emptiness and hope. But how might Holy Saturday, with the church's empty tabernacle, teach us the truth about hope? Pat reflects!

It's Holy Thursday. The passion of Christ begins. The greatest event of love in history. But what does it actually mean to be loved? Pat and John discuss!

In lent, we talk a lot about suffering. But what are we supposed to suffer? To suffer is to “carry from underneath”—what does Jesus want us to carry, to bear, in this world? What did He really bear and carry—what did He suffer—when He carried the cross? And what does it mean for us? What does it mean for lent? Pat reflects and shares his thoughts on it!

After Jesus heals the leper in Mark 1, He says something that confuses most of us: “see to it that you say nothing...” Why?! Isn't saying something to others, giving testimony, the point? Pat reflects on what Christ might want for the leper, and what He wants for us too!

Many of us have heard Christ's words, that “the way is narrow which leads to life.” But what does this mean for us, and how does it actually look or play out in our lives? John and Pat discuss!

What do you bring to the Mass? What is the treasure you offer to God? And how do you do it, practically speaking? John and Pat discuss!

The advent story reaches its summit: the birth of Jesus Christ. Pat tells the story, exploring the mystery and beauty of this most holy night!

The last two weeks the drama has been building—the pregnancy of Elizabeth, the annunciation to Mary, unveiling in their bodies the mysterious movement and development of salvation history. This week, they meet. Pat reflects on the visitation of Mary with Elizabeth, the last episode before Christ's nativity!

The advent story continues! It's week two of the Advent Series, and the story progresses to Mary's annunciation. Pat recaps last week's reflection on Elizabeth's pregnancy with John the Baptist, and segways into the conception of Christ in Mary. He continues to draw out significant elements of the narrative, and the meaning of the story for all salvation history, as well as for us today.

As part of of advent, Pat plans a series of talks telling the story of the months leading up to Christ's birth, as told in the Gospel of Luke. After a short introduction to the plan, Pat begins the story where Luke does: with Elizabeth, and the conception of John the Baptist. Pat places it in the context of salvation history and draws out the implications for and applications to our lives today.

The church year is ending. We just celebrated the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. But why is this the last Sunday? What is the significance of this solemnity? Pat and John discuss, sharing personal reflections and insights.

Amidst a challenging and contentious election and election season, how do we stay centered on Christ? Pat reflects, challenging listeners with a simple question that ultimately helps us recognize where we are placing our hope, for ourselves, our neighbor and our community: What is your creed?

Many of us have been told before that God has a “special mission” for our lives, a special way we were designed to help build His civilization of love—but what does that mean, and what does it look like to live it out? Pat offers some food for thought, sharing from his own personal journey in recent months.

Identity, arriving at a true understanding of who we are, is a major struggle in most of our lives as we cling to the things we “do,” what the world says, what others think, and sometimes even what we tell ourselves. John and Pat discuss, seeking to unpack what the Gospel teaches us about identity, and how to approach the great mystery that is our very self.

How does prayer change the way we relate to one another? What does prayer, and the way we relate to God, got to do with our relationships with others? Pat dives in!

What is the aim of our conversations? What is our goal when talking to others, about difficult topics or really anything? And how do we have fruitful conversations, holding to what we know to be true, while being open to others and recognizing the reality of their own subjective experiences? Pat and John discuss. They apologize for abrupt end, where the recording is unexpectedly cut off! But Pat gives a short wrap up to close.

What is freedom? Pat and John discuss the ways in which we all are slaves to something, or some things, and the truth about freedom as revealed in the Gospel! Ultimately, it's what we are “bound to” that determines the depth and breadth of our freedom.

The world is broken—but how do we process the events of the world, of history and of our lives in a way that fosters love for our neighbor? Pat shares how he does so, using a simple tool that he explains here.

How does all we have been discussing about Christianity become real in our lives? How do we actually allow Christ into our day to day living, so we can truly live under the Father's blessing? Pat dives in and discusses how to create a plan of life where we give Christ permission to heal us and transform our day to day living!

John and Pat discuss what prevents them from actually living out the faith, and what helps them work past those “obstacles” in their day to day living!

Pat ties together themes, ideas and concepts discussed in previous podcasts to drive home the meaning of the gospel: Healing. In doing so, Pat reflects on and discusses how this healing is to become Christ-centered, to live from Christ as the source of our life. Ultimately, this completely changes the way we see and experience the world around us, and one another!

Pat and John explore what drew them to the Catholic Church, and in doing so tell the story of their friendship. Ultimately, it's all grace revealing truth and beauty, drawing them through their friendship into deeper friendship with Christ! P.s. Pat apologizes for going off the rails in the middle for a little bit...but they hope it is all still edifying and inspiring!

Following up on the previous podcast, Pat reflects on how we actually enter into the life that is truly life, and shares what he believes to be the one thing necessary to become fully alive. Asking a simple question—“What story are we living?”—Pat plunges into the Christian narrative to lay bare the voices of the world, the flesh and the devil, and hone in on the voice of the Good Shepherd!

Pat and John discuss how we measure our lives, and what it means to be truly successful. In doing so, they unveil what we are tempted to believe and how we often mistakenly gauge our lives, while seeking the true measure of a meaningful and “successful” life.

Building on the previous podcast, Pat provides a few important clarifications and, using more personal anecdotes and scripture passages, further explores how we allow Christ to shepherd us day by day, amidst all our various and emotional experiences!

Pat discusses navigating difficult emotional situations, so that we can learn how to sincerely “not be afraid” and experience Christ's peace in the midst of life's challenges and our own turbulent emotions! This is only part 1, so stay tuned for part 2 and some important clarifications as we tread together into this deep water!

Pat and John discuss their most recent experiences of fatherhood—John with the birth of his daughter, and Pat with his son's recent illness. They address their struggles and difficulties, but the way those experiences have helped them understand who they are called to be, and who God is to all of us as Father.

Pat reflects on the Easter scripture passages, relating them to personal experiences and our world today to unpack what they mean for us, and how they reveal Christ's invitation to newness of life, a new way of living!

Pat plunges into the tomb with Christ, and the upper room with the apostles, reflecting on the meaning of Holy Saturday in our own lives!

Pat reflects on Jesus' body, His picking up of the cross, and what it means for us today!

Pat and John reflect on Holy Thursday, including personal experiences and personal reflections, while discussing what Christ and the apostles must have been thinking and feeling 2000 years ago today!

A short episode by Pat, one of the two podcasters, letting you know who we are, what we're doing, and where our name “Cast Right Catholic” comes from!