The Catholic Mama

Christine shares five (plus two bonus!) facts about Saint Pio of Pietrelcina aka Padre Pio in this episode, from his unfaltering obedience to the sometimes harsh decisions of the Church to his pleasant fragrance. She also includes some ideas on how to celebrate his feast day on September 23rd.

Christine is joined by Catholic author Jeannie Ewing on how to handle grief, especially during these confusing and anxious times, from a Catholic perspective. You can find the show notes for this episode at: https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-144-when-youre-grieving-life-as-it-once-was-with-jeannie-ewing/

In this episode, Christine shares an interview she did with Gary Michuta on his show, Hands On Apologetics, on Virgin Most Powerful Radio on non-intimidating ways to share the Catholic faith online.

Is the devil real? Do demons actually work to thwart our holy attempts? What can we do to protect our children from demonic influence? In this episode of The Catholic Mama podcast, Christine speaks with Kathleen Beckman, a Catholic wife, mother, and grandmother who has an impressive resume of evangelization and work within the Catholic Church, including training and working with exorcists for the past decade and a half, about her latest book A Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare. You can find the show notes for this episode at: https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-141-spiritual-warfare-and-protecting-the-family-with-catholic-author-kathleen-beckman/

Christine and husband Pat decide to have an informal Catechism study! They begin by explaining what the Catholic Catechism is, why people should study it, and then dive into Part One, Chapter One, Man's Capacity for God. Topics discussed are ways of knowing God, man's inherent religiosity, deism vs theism, the causes of unbelief, and more!

Christine chats with Armenian Catholic Simone Rizkallah of the Endow Group on how to develop a rigorous - but non-intimidating - Catholic intellectual mindset to help you grow in faith. You can find the show notes for this episode at: https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-139-developing-your-catholic-intellectual-side-with-simone-rizkallah/

To be boldly Catholic in our cancel culture means we risk losing our reputations, our jobs, and more. How can we be unapologetically Catholic in these uncertain times? In this episode, Christine and Pat discuss strategies on which battles to pick, how to stay strong, and ideas on how to fight against the loud anti-religious minority. (February 21, 2021)

While many Catholics know of Marian consecration and may have done it themselves, it can be difficult to present this time of prayer to children so they can participate in a consecration as well. Christine is joined by author Carrie Gress to discuss this and her book Marian Consecration for Children in this episode.Show Notes can be found here: https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-135-marian-consecration-for-children-with-carrie-gress/ (February 14, 2021)

What do Catholics believe and how does that affect the way we live as Catholics? In this episode, Pat and Christine discuss the final three lines of the Apostles' Creed and how to live the sacramental life. (February 7, 2021)

Catholic Answer's Karlo Broussard joins Christine to discuss his book Meeting the Protestant Challenge, which seeks to answer common objections to the Catholic Faith. From the papacy to the sacrament of reconciliation, Karlo offers biblical evidence to help Catholics stand firm behind Church teachings.Read the show notes for this episode: https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-133-meeting-the-protestant-challenge-with-karlo-broussard/ (January 31, 2021)

Having received questions lately about what it means to be Catholic, Christine and Pat have a discussion on the basics of Catholic belief. If you're new to Christianity, or simply curious about some of the core commitments of the Catholic faith, this is the episode for you! (January 24, 2021)

Part III in a mini-series on natural law theory and the Catholic Church's teachings on sexual morality, Christine and Pat discuss the natural family planning - why it isn't another form of contraception and how to use it in line with Church teaching. (January 17, 2021)

Part III in a mini-series on natural law theory and the Catholic Church's teachings on sexual morality, Christine and Pat discuss the natural family planning - why it isn't another form of contraception and how to use it in line with Church teaching. (January 10, 2021)

Alan Migliorato and Darryl Dziedzic, authors of the book Failing Forward: Leadership Lessons for Catholic Teens Today, joins Christine on this episode to talk about their book and give guidance on how parents can help foster leadership skills in their children.Show notes for this episode can be found at: https://thecatholicmama.com/life-skills/ep-129-raising-children-to-become-strong-catholic-leaders/ (January 3, 2021)

Christine shares an episode of her husband Pat's podcast, The Pat Flynn Show, in which he, Karlo Broussard of Catholic Answers, and Polycarp Paradigm's Eric Robinson discuss Purgatory: What evidence supports this within Catholic Scripture and Tradition? What are the different models of Purgatory? And why is Purgatory really good news for believers? (January 1, 2021)

Christine shares a recent radio interview with Gary Michuta host of Virgin Most Powerful Radio's "Hands On Apologetics" for three big obstacles that Catholics parents face when trying to raise faith-filled children and some ideas on how to combat the secular world.Show notes for this episode can be found at:https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-127-overcoming-obstacles-to-catholic-parenting/ (December 27, 2020)

In Episode 126 of The Catholic Mama podcast, after being attacked by the social justice mob online this week, Christine and Pat talk through what happened, the arguments for their position, and practical strategies and tips you can use if and when you are bullied online for your Catholic faith.Show Notes for this episode can be found at: https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-126-what-to-do-when-youre-attacked-online-for-your-catholic-faith/ (December 20, 2020)

In this episode, Christine details how and why every Catholic should dedicate their family and home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with this timeless devotion and simple enthronement ceremony. Show Notes for this episode can be found at: https://thecatholicmama.com/catholicism-saints/ep-125-why-and-how-to-have-a-sacred-heart-enthronement-at-home/ (December 13, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist and apologist Christine Mooney-Flynn interviews Dianne Ahern, author of Today I was Baptized, Today I Made My First Communion, Today I Made My First Reconciliation, Today We Became Engaged, Today Someone I Love Passed Away, Lost in Peter's Tomb, Secrets of Siena, Break-In at the Basilica, and Curse of the Coins. (December 6, 2020) See https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/baptized/ https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/firstcommunion/https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/firstreconciliation/https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/passedaway/https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/engaged/https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/secretsofsiena/https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/curseofthecoins/https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/breakinatthebasilica/https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/lostinpeterstomb/

The Catholic Church has denounced socialism/Marxism/communism for the past 150 years...but why? What is so wrong with socialism that Popes have written encyclicals on it, bishops have spoken against it, and even today, Catholics in good standing must reject it?In Episode 124 of The Catholic Mama podcast, Christine and Pat dive deep into socialism, why it is fundamentally flawed from the very start, and why, even now, it simply cannot work, is 100% immoral, and why Catholics must stand against it.Show Notes for this episode can be found at: https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-124-why-catholics-should-stand-against-socialism/ (December 6, 2020)

Host of the Classic Theism podcast and author of One Less God Than You, John DeRosa joins Christine in this episode to discuss strategies when confronted with popular atheist slogans.Show notes for this episode can be found at:https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-123-how-to-defend-christianity-against-popular-atheist-slogans-with-john-derosa/ (November 29, 2020)

Part II in a mini-series on natural law theory and the Catholic Church's teachings on sexual morality, Christine and Pat discuss the natural end of marriage. Next episode will complete the mini-series, diving into birth control and the concept of natural family planning. (November 22, 2020)

Life today is generally not set up for large families, and those who have or are considering an above average number of children might not know how to best navigate life as a mom or dad of many. In this episode, Christine talks with mom of seven, Catholic Rosie Hill, to give some great practical tips, from snacks to sleeping arrangements to date nights, for big family life. Show notes for this episode can be found at:https://thecatholicmama.com/lifestyle/ep-121-practical-tips-for-life-with-a-big-family-with-rosie-hill/ (November 15, 2020)

How are parents supposed to broach the topic of sex from a Catholic perspective? At what age should they begin? How does Theology of the Body factor in? In this episode, Christine is joined by Moira from ModernCatholicMom.com to discuss this very important topic. Show notes for this episode can be found at: https://thecatholicmama.com/exploring-faith/ep-120-teaching-children-about-theology-of-the-body-with-moira-from-modern-catholic-mom/ (November 8, 2020)

What's the reasoning behind women wearing veils at Mass? Why is breastfeeding so hard even when it's the most natural thing in the world to do? How can we discipline our children with a Catholic perspective? What can you do to choose a good spouse for you? Christine answers this questions in this episode. (November 1, 2020)

How do we decide what is good for us? How does the Church arrive at her teachings on birth control and natural family planning? In this episode, which is part I in a mini-series, Christine and Pat discuss Natural Law Theory, its definitions and how to apply to humans as rational animals. (October 25, 2020)

As the churches begin to reopen after Coronavirus quarantine, we'll be heading back to Mass soon. After months away, many parents have the same question on their minds - How are my children going to do in Mass? Catholic children's book author and convert Jennifer Sharpe shares some great advice on how to engage children in the Mass. (October 18, 2020)

What do you do when you want to believe in God, Jesus, and the Catholic faith but feel that you don't have the appropriate amount of data in order to do so? In this episode Christine Mooney-Flynn and husband Pat Flynn tackle a listener-submitted question on what to do with doubts about faith, providing answers and resources. Be sure to visit The Catholic Mama website for all the resources mentioned in today's show. (October 11, 2020)

In our current culture, femininity has been hypersexualized, and girls and women are wrongly told that in order to be beautiful they must use and display their bodies in specific and sexual ways. In this episode, Christine Mooney-Flynn chats with Catholic wife and mother Adele Collins from @simplelifemusings to discuss the beauty of femininity from a Catholic perspective. https://www.instagram.com/simplelifemusings/

No matter your baseline, now's the time to develop a fruitful spiritual life. In this episode, Christine Mooney-Flynn and Pat Flynn discuss ways that they have found to be the most doable, interesting, and productive during quarantine and how they plan to continue them when quarantine is over. (September 27, 2020)

The teachings of faith AND works in the Catholic Church may be one of the most misunderstood doctrines. In this episode, Pat Flynn and Christine Mooney-Flynn tackle this topic, as well as offer ideas for how to live a life of faith and take a 30 day faith challenge. (September 20, 2020)

Catholic wife, mother, author, and speaker Claire Dwyer joins Christine in this episode to dive into the lives of the Catholic saints: How to embrace the saints no matter how long ago they lived, which saints are particularly great for mothers and fathers, and how we can use their example to lead our own lives. (September 13, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn interviews memorist and Holy Apostles College professor Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson shares her story on this episode of The Catholic Mama podcast - from before she was born, when her mother attempted to chemically abort her to the consequences that stemmed from that event for much of her life. (September 6, 2020)

Genie Shaw of BarefootAbbey.com joins Christine Mooney-Flynn on this episode of The Catholic Mama podcast to talk about why we should celebrate Easter for more than just one day and how to keep the celebrations going at home through Pentecost. (September 6, 2020)

Based on a listener submitted question, in this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelists Christine Mooney-Flynn and Pat Flynn discuss justification, sanctification, and how to grow in holiness with your spouse, if you're both committed to a life of faith. (If you're looking to convert your spouse, give a listen to Episode 91). (August 23, 2020)

In today's episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn shares a recent radio show she did with Gary Michuta on "Hands on Apologetics" on what the New Age Movement is, how it dovetails with those who claim to be "spiritual but not religious" and why it's so insidious in our culture. (August 16, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn shares an episode of her husband's podcast in which they discuss her journey into the Catholic faith, reflect on the meaning of the atonement, the process of sanctification, and the unyielding love of God. (August 9, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn talks with Mary Haseltine, a wife, homeschooling mom of six boys, doula, and pregnancy author. Mary joins Christine in this bonus episode to answer followers' questions on topics ranging from raising young men, homeschooling, and natural family planning. (August 5, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn discusses with Catholic author Brendan Lyons his most recent work, High King and how fiction can bring Catholicism to life in a unique way. (August 4, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn talks with Emily Malloy about baking bread. Who *isn't* baking bread right now?? The shortage of yeast in the grocery stores at the moment tells us that, yeah, pretty much everyone is. Catholic creative Emily Malloy joins Christine on this bonus episode to give some great tips on getting started baking bread if you find yourself in quarantine with tons of flour and dry active yeast and want to take your bread game to the next level. (August 3, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn reflects on how the definition of marriage in a contemporary popular context is quite different than what the Catholic Church teaches about it. In this episode, Dr. Perry Cahall, author of the recently released book Living the Mystery of Marriage: Building Your Sacramental Life Together, joins Christine to define marriage and talk about what he wishes all couples would know and understand about marriage, whether they're engaged or a long-time couple, including why Catholics cannot in good conscience use contraception. (August 2, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelists Christine Mooney-Flynn and husband Pat Flynn provide a hodge podge episode today! Christine and Pat talk about starting a business, responding to criticism, the problem of suffering and pain, and more. (July 26, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Genie Shaw of BarefootAbbey.com joins Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn to talk about ways to add sacred music, quiet, and liturgical living into your home life. (July 19, 2020)

What is prayer really? Why should we pray? And how should we? In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn and Pat Flynn discuss Prayer 101 to answer these questions, as well as offer practical tips and a general schedule of their own daily and weekly prayers to help listeners develop a deeper prayer life. (July 12, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic wife, mother, author and speaker Mary Lenaburg joins host Christine Mooney-Flynn to talk about her book Be Brave in the Scared: How I Learned to Trust God during the Most Difficult Days of My Life and the events that shaped her faith and her life since her daughter became severely disabled as an infant and what lessons we can learn and apply to our own lives. (July 5, 2020)

To answer the questions "Is Catholicism a Religion or a Relationship?" we need to first understand what religion means. In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn and husband Pat Flynn dive into the meaning of religion and answer the question of what Catholicism really is. (June 28, 2020)

March 21 is International Down Syndrome Day and so it's with joy that Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn is joined by Catholic wife, mother, creative, and convert Chelsea Movilla-Diago of The Catholic Kitchen to talk about her journey to the faith and her fourth child's Down syndrome. (June 21, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn and husband Pat Flynn discuss the coronavirus - plain facts (no hype) and what we as Catholics can do in the face of this trial, the response to which has varied wildly, from complete mockery and disregard to downright hysteria and panic hoarding. But because of our faith, which includes hope and redemptive suffering, Catholics should view this world event differently than the general population. (June 14, 2020)

Compare a Catholic and a Protestant Bible and you'll notice that one is bigger than the other - the Catholic Bible includes seven more books from the Old Testament, called the Deuterocanon, than the other. Why were these books stripped from the non-Catholic Bibles? Why should they be there? What pieces of Catholic doctrine are missing when these books are removed? In this episode of The Catholic Mama podcast, Christine talks with Catholic apologist, author, and radio host Gary Michuta to answer these questions. (June 7, 2020)

To complement last week's episode on true Catholic manhood, on this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn and husband Pat Flynn take a look at what the Catholic woman should strive for in her daily life and what her duties are to God, her husband, and her children. Using both the Roman Catechism and Catholic teaching, as well as personal testimony, they sketch out the Catholic woman. (May 31, 2020)

In this episode of The Catholic Mama, Catholic evangelist Christine Mooney-Flynn, two years into being a full-time stay-at-home mom, shares advice on what worked - and what she wished she had done differently - when she transitioned from working in an office full time to being a homemaker, including tips on what to do leading up to giving your two-week notice and how to make these big changes a little less difficult throughout. (May 24, 2020)