The Liturgy Guys

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Christopher Carstens and Dr. Denis McNamara, faculty members at the Liturgical Institute, sit down with host Jesse Weiler every week to talk about Catholic Liturgy. At the end of each episode our Liturgy experts will take time to answer listener submitted questions. For more information about about the Liturgical Institute, visits us at www.LiturgicalInstitute.org.

The Liturgical Institute


    • Mar 3, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 265 EPISODES

    4.8 from 270 ratings Listeners of The Liturgy Guys that love the show mention: liturgical, wanna know, altar, denis, catholics, catholic faith, worship, jesse, faithful, theology, common sense, appreciation, beauty, deeper, church, holy, accessible, understanding, curious, god bless.



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    Latest episodes from The Liturgy Guys

    Eucharistic Miracles | S7 E16

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 40:17


    "Eucharistic miracles are these kind of odd aberrations where the ordinary looks kind of boring, but then these extraordinary miracles where the host turns into blood or flesh is actually really the ordinary thing. But we think of it as a miracle." LG Question: Should priests sing along with the congregation?

    Cultural & Cosmic Roots of the Blessed Sacrament | S7 E15

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 43:12


    The Liturgy Guys look at some of the roots of the eucharist in creation and in human culture. How is wine a hierophany? What is a hierophany anyway? Listen to find out! LG Question: If two Eucharistic processions converge, how do we handle having two monstrances with two hosts?

    Jean Hani on the Eucharist

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2023 47:44


    We revisit one of Denis McNamara's favorite philosophers, Jean Hani, and his book The Divine Liturgy: Insights Into Its Mystery. Hani is one of the foremost thinkers on the sacrifice of the mass. LG Question: When praying the Rosary, do you have to focus solely on canonized scripture?

    eucharist rosary hani denis mcnamara
    Liturgy Quiz X | Baptism Edition | S7 E13

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023 34:44


    Let the quiz commence! Test your baptism knowledge against intellectual titans, Denis McNamara, Christopher Carstens, and Jesse Weiler. LG Question: Is Ash Wednesday a Holy Day of Obligation?

    baptism quiz obligations liturgies holy days denis mcnamara christopher carstens
    Why Do You Believe in God? | S7 E12

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2023 41:02


    Christopher Carstens throws a curveball question to the group. Why do the Liturgy Guys believe in God? And why do we believe Christ our savior? This season is all about the Eucharist, but we can't begin to understand the Blessed Sacrament without asking ourselves these questions. LG Question: What are your five favorite Catholic books? To submit your Liturgy Guys Question, reach out to us on Twitter, or questions@liturgyguys.com. Stay tuned for Christopher's guest appearance on the  Five Books for Catholics podcast.

    Pope Benedict XVI | S7 E11

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2023 33:42


    Pope Benedict XVI, through his teachings and leadership, laid the foundation for everything The Liturgy Guys are about. This week we discuss his enormous impact on the Church, and on our own lives. LG Question: Can priests arrange their altar like Pope Benedict XVI in the so-called "Benedictine Arrangement?" To submit your Liturgy Guys Question, reach out to us on Twitter, or questions@liturgyguys.com.

    Saints and the Eucharist | S7 E10

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2023 31:46


    We're talking the saints. We're concluding the USCCB document on The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church. It concludes with sanctity and holiness. And so we'll look at some of the saints who have had the Eucharist as a center of their life on their way back to God. And take that as the final word that the bishops want us to hear. Gain sanctity. LG Question: Is it possible to have two mass intentions for one mass? Or do we have to move the intention to another day? This came up when our parish had a memorial mass for Pope Benedict XVI. To submit your Liturgy Guys Question, reach out to us on Twitter, or questions@liturgyguys.com.  

    Conversion | S7 E9

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2023 24:25


    The topic today is conversion. Turning away from sin. The sacrament of penance is a great way to respond to the gift of the Eucharist. Liturgy Question: Why do some confession booths have three doors when only two people are talking? Tweet us or send your Liturgy Questions to questions@liturgyguys.com The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church

    The Eucharist Transforms Us | S7 E8

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2023 22:37


    The Eucharist transforms us. We are alive in Christ, living more fully, and then we take that divine life out to the world.  Liturgy Question: Sometimes my parish adds extra bell rings during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Are those rings needed, and what do they mean?

    Responding to the Gift | S7 E7

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2022 37:35


    How do we respond to the gift of the Eucharist? With worship and thanksgiving. That's this week on The Liturgy Guys.    

    The Paschal Mystery Machine | S7 E6

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 29:08


    The Liturgy Guys conclude their review of Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, the document published by the USCCB. Season Seven is all about the Mystery of the Eucharist. Inspired by the National Eucharistic Revival. For more Catholic content, visit Ex Corde at Benedictine College.

    The Real Presence of Christ | S7 E5

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 42:51


    This week's episode is all about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Because this season is all about the National Eucharistic Revival. The Liturgy Guys continue their overview of the document put out by the USCCB, Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church. Liturgy Guys is a production of Benedictine College For more Catholic content, visit Ex Corde at Benedictine College.

    The Sacrifice of Christ | S7 E4

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 38:58


    The Liturgy Guys continue their review of Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, the document published by the USCCB. Season Seven is all about the Mystery of the Eucharist. Inspired by the National Eucharistic Revival. For more Catholic content, visit Ex Corde at Benedictine College.

    The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church | S7 E3

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 42:39


    The Liturgy Guys review Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.z Season Seven is all about National Eucharistic Revival. For more Catholic content, visit Ex Corde at Benedictine College.

    Taking the Pew Survey | S7 E2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 35:41


    The Pew Survey revealed that only one third of Catholics believed in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. But is that what the results actually reveal? Was the infamous Pew Survey asking the right questions? Ask your liturgy questions at questions@liturgyguys.com Ex Corde: https://excorde.org/ Adoremus: https://adoremus.org/      

    The National Eucharistic Revival | S7 E1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2022 32:05


    The Liturgy Guys are jumping on board the National Eucharistic Revival. What is the Eucharist all about? Why is it a thanksgiving? Why is it a sacrifice? Why is a rite? Why it an offering? Why is it a mystery? This season, Denis McNamara, Christopher Carstens, and Jesse Weiler tackle the big questions about the Blessed Sacrament. Ask a Eucharist question questions@liturgyguys.com   Ex Corde at Benedictine College https://excorde.org/   Center for Beauty & Culture https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/centers/beauty-culture/index   Adoremus Bulletin https://adoremus.org/   BVM Studio https://bvmstudio.com/   National Eucharistic Revival https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/  

    national revival eucharist eucharistic blessed sacrament denis mcnamara christopher carstens liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 35 | Pope Francis Apostolic Letter | DESIDERIO DESIDERAVI

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2022 48:31


    I bet you thought the Liturgy Guys were finished, didn't you? Well, so did they! But then Pope Francis wrote another Apostolic Letter about the Liturgy??? 

    S6 Episode 34 | The Concluding Rites

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2022 33:50


    The Mass has ended, and so has Season 6 of the Liturgy Guys.  Go in peace.

    S6 Episode 33 | Communion Procession

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2022 47:39


    Last episode was about how to receive the Eucharist.  And this one is too!

    S6 Episode 32 | Communion Rites and Rongs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2022 36:48


    The Liturgy Guys discuss how to receive The Holy Sacrament!

    communion rites holy sacrament liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 31 | Communion Rite BINGO!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2022 39:33


    The Liturgy Guys talk all things Communion Rite.  Including the Lord's Prayer, the Rite of Peace, and the Fraction.  General Instruction of the Roman Missal No. 80-83.

    lord peace prayer communion bingo rite fraction general instruction liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 30 | The Chief Elements of the Eucharistic Prayer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2022 44:06


    Does everyone have their General Instruction of the Roman Missal?  Good.  Turn to the section on The Eucharistic Prayer and No. 79: The chief elements making up the Eucharistic Prayer may be distinguished in this way...

    prayer chief elements eucharistic roman missal general instruction
    S6 Episode 29 | Eucharistic Prayer No.3

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2022 45:26


    The Liturgy Guys delve a bit deeper into the text of Eucharistic Prayer No. 3. 

    prayer eucharistic liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 28 | The Eucharistic Prayers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 41:02


    The Liturgy Guys reflect on the four Eucharistic Prayers and some of their, "particular features."

    eucharistic prayers liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 27 | The Liturgy of the Eucharist Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 44:31


    The Liturgy Guys have hit warp drive.  In this episode, they cover everything from the Offertory Chant all the way to the Prayer of the Offerings.  That's No. 23 — No. 30 in the Order of Mass.

    S6 Episode 26 | The Liturgy of the Eucharist

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 48:44


    Welcome to The Liturgy of the Eucharist!   By no means the last episode on this topic!  Or even the seventh to last! Order of Mass No. 21 No. 22.

    S6 Episode 26 | Jean Hani and The Divine Liturgy Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2022 37:10


    Completing our detour sandwich! Liturgy Guys finish their discussion on Jean Hani, and his reflections on the nature and meaning of the Holy Sacrifice. Now we'll be fully prepared to dive into the Liturgy of the Eucharist!

    S6 Episode 24 | Trivia for Triduum

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 37:28


    Easter Triduum approaches!  The Liturgy Guys share some of their favorite factoids about this most holy season.  For example, did you know it's not pronounced, "Tri-Doom?"

    S6 Episode 23 | Jean Hani and The Divine Liturgy Pt. I

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2022 37:34


    Before diving into the Liturgy of the Eucharist, The Liturgy Guys discuss the nature and meaning of the Holy Sacrifice.  For help, they turn to the works of French philosopher Jean Hani.  Denis has been struck with, "Hani-itis," a self-diagnosed very contagious, non-real disease (as well as Appendicitis, a medically diagnosed, non-contagious, very real disease for which he received an appendectomy last weekend—all is well, though prayers are appreciated) and he hopes to inflict the former, not the latter, on this fellow Liturgy Guys.

    S6 E22 | The Homily

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2022 44:08


    The Liturgy Guys discuss the Homily, the Creed, and the Universal Prayer.

    homily universal prayer liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 21 | Psalm-body Up There Likes Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2022 40:20


    This episode is all about the Responsorial Psalms in the Liturgy of the Word.  Feel free to sing your own responses, but remember, The Liturgy Guys won't be able to hear them unless you type them out, and send them to questions@liturgyguys.com.  

    S6 Episode 20 | The Word of the Lord!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 39:33


    This episode is all about the Liturgy of the Word.  Thanks be to God! This is also the episode where you hear Denis' campaign slogan for class president.

    S6 Episode 19 | Liturgy Quiz of the Word

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 43:34


    This week, we set the table for Liturgy of the Word with another unofficial Liturgy Quiz.

    S6 Episode 18 | Collect-ing Our Thoughts

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 32:50


    The Liturgy Guys begin with a discussion on the Gloria, and move in to what is known as the "collect."  

    collect liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 17 | The Penitential Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2022 44:53


    "Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault..." This week, The Liturgy Guys acknowledge their sins, and discuss the Order of Mass No. 4: The Penitential Act.

    penitential liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 16 | Divinization

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 36:43


    This week, The Liturgy Guys turn to Patristic documents and sacred scripture to ponder the question of Divinization.  What does it mean to, "...become God?"

    god patristic divinization liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 15 | The Sign of the Cross

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 30:54


    In our triumphant conclusion to the first part of the Introductory Rites in the Order of Mass, The Liturgy Guys discuss the first words spoken by the Priest to his flock... or should they be sung?

    cross mass priest liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 14 | The Priest Celebrant's Chair

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 40:13


    Folks, the Priest Celebrant has reached his chair, and The Liturgy Guys are on the edge of their seats (well, actually, they should be standing). This week, we discuss the significance of the Priest Celebrant's Chair.

    S6 Episode 13 | The Profound Bow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2022 39:10


    The Liturgy Guys are back from their mid-season break to take us step by step through the Order of Mass.  We are now at the foot of the altar, where the Priest makes a profound bow, "...venerates the altar with a kiss and, if appropriate, incenses the cross and the altar. Then, with the ministers, he goes to the chair."

    S6 Episode 12 | Liturgy Quiz Part VIII (Advent Edition)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2021 49:37


    This week on The Liturgy Guys, Denis and Jesse go head to head in a battle of wits against Chris Carstens' nearly unbeatable Liturgy Quiz.  But this time they have a little help.  Today's episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience at Benedictine College.  Let's see if D-Mac's students have been doing their homework.   WATCH: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSrZpwgUc0I Facebook: https://fb.watch/9ZXjwOz8C0/ ExCorde: https://excorde.org/site/podcasts/liturgy-guys  

    S6 Episode 11 | Are You a Victim at Mass?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2021 32:43


    What does it mean to be a “victim” at Mass?  In this special video episode of The Liturgy Guys, Jesse Weiler and Christopher Carstens join their co-host Denis McNamara on his home turf at Benedictine College.  This episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience by the fellows and production staff of Ex Corde. WATCH YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmfpWgma_i0 Facebook: https://fb.watch/9QyRUwXsYC/ ExCorde: https://excorde.org/2021/the-liturgy-guys-live-s6-e11-are-you-a-victim-at-mass

    mass victim benedictine college denis mcnamara christopher carstens liturgy guys
    S1 E41—Rebroadcast | Let‘s Get Metaphysical

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 38:14


    Enjoy this rebroadcast of a classic episode, in which the Liturgy Guys discuss the metaphysics of music, and how that effects liturgical music.  

    metaphysical liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 10 | The Entrance Chant

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 34:08


    Last week, we discussed the importance of the opening procession, but what do we hear as the priest approaches the altar?  Moving swiftly on through the third clause of the first sentence of the Introductory Rites of the Order of Mass found in the Roman Missal, our hosts offer a rich discussion on the Entrance Chant, with plenty of laughs along the way.

    S6 Episode 9 | The Process of Procession

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2021 32:57


    The Liturgy Guys take us step-by-step through the opening Mass Procession.

    procession liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 8 | Assembly Required: How Mass Begins

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 34:23


    For the past several weeks, we've been preparing for Mass, and now we're ready to begin!  This week, The Liturgy Guys dive into The Order of Mass in the New Roman Missal.  No. 1 of The Introductory Rites, "When the people are gathered..."

    S6 Episode 7 | Preparation for Mass

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 37:22


    This week, The Liturgy Guys discuss preparations for Mass.

    mass preparation liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 6 | Vestments

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 37:29


    This week, the Liturgy Guys discuss the importance of vestments in the liturgy.

    vestments liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 6 | Vestments

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 37:41


    This week, the Liturgy Guys talk about the importance of vestments.

    vestments liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 5 | Instituted Ministries

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 38:18


    The Liturgy Guys discuss the importance of ministries at mass.

    ministries instituted liturgy guys
    S6 E4 | Sacri-Stans

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 34:07


    This week The Liturgy Guys continue to go through the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and discuss the ministers of the Mass.

    mass stans roman missal general instruction liturgy guys
    S6 Episode 3 | Coffee Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 33:48


    How do we perceive the sacraments?  Theologian Karl Rahner had a few ideas, and this week, the Liturgy Guys discuss his article, “The Theology of the Symbol,” over a pot of piping hot coffee.

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