Podcasts about fr mark

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011526.cfmWhy would God allow Israel to be defeated even while the Levites were carrying the Ark of the Covenant before the army into battle? And why would Jesus heal a leper — then sternly command him to tell no one? In this homily, Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, brings these unsettling questions together and shows that they reveal the same spiritual danger: presumption.Israel treated the Ark as a weapon, a mere tool, rather than a sign of fidelity to the covenant with God. Though God had called them to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex 19:6; NABRE), the people and their leaders were living in grave sin. Trust in sacred objects rather than trust in God and determined obedience to God led to Israel's defeat. The Ark was holy — but the hearts of the people of Israel had grown hardened.In the Gospel, Jesus heals a leper, yet warns him not to spread the news. Christ is protecting His mission. He did not come as a mere political liberator, but to establish the Kingdom of God within the human heart. Leprosy, Fr. Mark explains, is a powerful image of sin: slow-growing, numbing, disfiguring, and blinding. Sin deadens the conscience and distorts the soul far more than disease ever could.Christ touches the leper without fear. His mercy is stronger than corruption. He desires to cleanse what sin has deformed and restore the beauty lost through disobedience. The true enemy is not external forces, but the sin that takes root within us. Only repentance and humility allow God's Kingdom to reign in our hearts. ★ Support this podcast ★

Do not be afraid to be honest with who you are and where you are with God.

This Epiphany, let us be a people who are pilgrims of hope.

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23When the magi had departed, behold,the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,and stay there until I tell you.Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by nightand departed for Egypt.He stayed there until the death of Herod,that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,Out of Egypt I called my son.When Herod had died, behold,the angel of the Lord appeared in a dreamto Joseph in Egypt and said,“Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,for those who sought the child's life are dead.”He rose, took the child and his mother,and went to the land of Israel.But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judeain place of his father Herod,he was afraid to go back there.And because he had been warned in a dream,he departed for the region of Galilee.He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth,so that what had been spoken through the prophetsmight be fulfilled,He shall be called a Nazorean.

St. Nicholas Catholic Parish - December 24, 2025 - 6 PM Fr. Mark Guzman The Nativity Of The Lord by

St. Nicholas Catholic Parish - December 28, 2025 - 9 AM Fr. Mark Guzman The Holy Family Of Jesus Mary and Joseph by

What is your heart being attracted to and how is grace and love being realized?

St. John, Apostle, Evangelist (Feast)

Why does the Church place the martyrdom of Saint Stephen immediately after Christmas Day? Father Mark Baron, MIC explains that the tenderness of Bethlehem and the violence of Stephen's death belong to the same mystery: salvation. Christmas is not only the birth of a child; it is the coming of divine light into a darkened world — a light that saves, but also confronts.Salvation is more than a moment. It is participation in the very life of God through grace. Jesus enters the world as the Word made flesh, the Light of truth sent to reveal the Father and restore communion with Him. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn 1:5; NABRE). Yet when truth shines, darkness resists.Saint Stephen, filled with grace and power, lived a transformed life after Pentecost (Acts 6:8). His witness to Christ threatened those who clung to security without conversion. Unable to refute the truth, they attacked the messenger. Stephen, fixing his gaze on heaven, saw Christ standing at the right hand of the Father — the Savior welcoming His faithful witness home.Christmas teaches us that salvation must be endured, not assumed. Jesus Himself warns, “But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” (Mt 24:13). The Child in the manger is also the Light that exposes hearts, inviting repentance, perseverance, and real transformation.Saint Stephen reminds us that affection for Christmas is not enough. We are called to receive the truth Christ brings, even when it wounds, because within that pain is the healing God desires. To welcome the Light is to allow our lives to be changed. ★ Support this podcast ★

There is no reason to fear - love overcomes death.

In today's interview, Matt sits down with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR for his third appearance on Pints with Aquinas. The conversation focuses on prayer (particularly the Rosary), finding refuge in Jesus in the midst of a chaotic world, the division we experience today on social media, God's mercy, what religious life and the priesthood are like, plus answers to questions from Locals supporters.

How did a podcast about the rosary beat out Joe Rogan? What actually is the rosary, and why can all Christians grow spiritually from praying with it? And what does it mean to be a great leader --whether in a church, marriage, or career?Today I'm sitting down with Fr Mary-Mary, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, as we dive into his vocation, the power and purpose of the rosary, handling abusive situations in relationships and church matters, as well as the need to celebrate victories. I think you'll enjoy this candid discussion. Rosary in a year Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rosary-in-a-year-with-fr-mark-mary-ames/id1776236328Rosary in a year Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rx1puBjE0xZBiuy4BT4i7NEW: Check out our Merch store! https://shop.lilaroseshow.com/Join our new Patreon community! https://patreon.com/lilaroseshow - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Brave+: Screen Time Made Good - Get a week free trial at https://braveplus.com/lila-We Heart Nutrition: https://www.weheartnutrition.com/ Get high quality vitamin supplements for 20% off using the code LILA. -EveryLife Women: https://www.everylife.com/lila Buy diapers and women's health products from an amazing company and use code LILA to get 10% off!-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee and Save up to 25% with promo code 'LILA' & get up to four FREE gifts this Christmas season: http://www.sevenweekscoffee.com00:00:00 - Intro00:02:57 - Mary showing up more in media00:05:29 - Respect Mary, but pray to Mary?00:18:15 - Fr Mark-Mary's Confession:00:23:59 - In-N-Out Vocation00:27:15 - Culture of Spiritual Direction00:32:32 - Does everyone need a spiritual director?00:40:21 - Why Fr Mark-Mary Likes online dating00:45:58 - Abuse in Marriage, Church, Relationships00:50:00 - Why more people need help00:55:44 - Spiritual Abuse / Marriage01:05:52 - Jocko and Leadership01:13:21 - Denying men from Franciscans01:18:34 - Men leaving Franciscan order01:22:10 - Annulments01:25:03 - Rosary in a Year01:27:59 - Battle of Lepanto01:30:27 - History of the rosary01:38:03 - 3 Goals With Rosary01:42:44 - Most surprising thing about RIAY Podcast01:44:37 - Difficulty from Success01:59:38 - Jesus receiving praise02:07:15 - Reflections on Mary and Advent:02:13:20 - Marriage, Partnership, Unity02:16:32 - Fr Mark-Mary Asks Lila Questions02:32:36 - How Lila Got into Pro-Life space

Advent Weekday

Matthew 1:18-24This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,but before they lived together,she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,yet unwilling to expose her to shame,decided to divorce her quietly.Such was his intention when, behold,the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,"Joseph, son of David,do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.For it is through the Holy Spiritthat this child has been conceived in her.She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins."All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall name him Emmanuel,which means "God is with us."When Joseph awoke,he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded himand took his wife into his home.

Advent Weekday

If you welcome God and are willing to listen, trust, and obey, wonderful things will happen.

Fr. Mark E Thibodeaux, author and pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans, LA, speaks more about his newest book about the deep yearning within the season of Advent.

Fr Mark De Battista says true faith is shown not by words but by obedience to God's will, and we find peace and happiness when we trust and obey, rather than presume we know better than God.

Author and pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans, LA, Fr. Mark E Thibodeaux, joins Jim and Joy to share his newest book, “Hope and Light for Advent.”

We prepare our hearts by coming to the deep realization of how much we need Him.

Advent Weekday

What is it you have to do to not just prepare for His arrival but to go with Him?

St. Juan Diego, Hermit (Optional Memorial)

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120725.cfmIn today's homily, Fr. Mark reminds us that Advent is far more than holiday gatherings and seasonal noise. It is a sacred time to prepare our hearts for the presence of Christ. Just as we clean and organize our homes before welcoming guests, God calls us to put our spiritual house in order before welcoming His Son. Scripture reveals that the Lord is a God of order (Gen 1:1–3). Creation itself moved from chaos to harmony by His Word, and this same divine order is what He desires for every human soul.But sin disrupts that harmony. It creates disorder within us and among us—fractured families, broken relationships, wounded communities. This is why John the Baptist cries out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 3:2). Repentance is not self-loathing; it is metanoia—a turning back to the God who restores order, peace, and purpose. As St. Faustina wrote, “A contrite soul is a magnet for God” (Diary, 1485).Advent is a penitential season because we cannot encounter the presence of Jesus—especially in the Holy Eucharist—without first making space for Him. At every Mass, the priest invites us to “call to mind our sins” so our hearts may be properly prepared to receive the One who became flesh and dwelt among us. The Sacrament of Penance is not a burden but a gift. It is God's mercy reorganizing the disordered places in our hearts, bringing light where there is darkness and peace where there is turmoil.True repentance lifts us up. It purifies the will, strengthens virtue, and restores the joy that disorder steals. When we do good, we become good. When we welcome grace, order returns. And when order returns, peace follows. This is how we prepare for Christ—not only at Christmas, but every day until He comes again.Grow deeper this season with more teachings on DivineMercyPlus.org, our free and ad-free Catholic streaming platform. ★ Support this podcast ★

Preparation for Advent means getting ready to meet the person of Christ

Advent Weekday

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120425.cfmIn this powerful Advent homily, Fr. Mark reveals why the Church gives us such seemingly “unrelated” readings during the early days of the season. Beneath the surface, he shows a single thread tying them together: Israel's longing for a Messiah who would finally give humanity the power to live God's will. From the failures of the Old Testament to the warnings of the prophets, the people discovered what we must rediscover—misery always follows when we trust ourselves more than God.Israel's exile, their suffering, and their longing formed the backdrop for Advent hope: a Messiah who would restore not only the kingdom, but the human heart. As Fr. Mark explains, God's will is never arbitrary. Because “God is goodness itself” (CCC 199), His will can only be good, healing, and life-giving. When we surrender to that will, we stand on the unchanging rock of divine truth—immovable, stable, and at peace. “Order brings peace,” says St. Thomas Aquinas, and Advent invites us to let God reorder our desires so that our hearts may rest in Him.Jesus warns us in today's Gospel that salvation is inseparable from doing the Father's will. Advent, then, becomes a season of holy realignment: turning from sin, renouncing self-reliance, and trusting in God's providence with the same hopeful expectation Israel once knew. As we prepare for Christmas, Fr. Mark urges us to pray with conviction: “Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done.”To deepen your Advent journey, explore more teachings on DivineMercyPlus.org and the free, ad-free Divine Mercy Plus app. Visit the link in our bio for homilies, reflections, the Rosary, the Chaplet, and Advent resources to guide you toward Christ.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy#frmarkbaron #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #catholictiktok#godswill #advent #preparetheway #catholichomily #dailyhomily #scripture #faith #hope #repentance ★ Support this podcast ★

As we move deeper into Advent, is there one thing in particular to work on with God?

God is always present to us even when we don't recognize it.

Matthew 24:37-44Jesus said to his disciples:"As it was in the days of Noah,so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.In those days before the flood,they were eating and drinking,marrying and giving in marriage,up to the day that Noah entered the ark.They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.Two men will be out in the field;one will be taken, and one will be left.Two women will be grinding at the mill;one will be taken, and one will be left.Therefore, stay awake!For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.Be sure of this: if the master of the househad known the hour of night when the thief was coming,he would have stayed awakeand not let his house be broken into.So too, you also must be prepared,for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

Advent Weekday

Fr. Mark reminds us that Advent is not Christmas—it is a penitential season meant to awaken our souls, sharpen our spiritual vision, and prepare us to stand before the Lord. Across the 24 Churches that make up the Catholic Church, Advent (or its equivalent) is lived with deep seriousness: 40-day fasts, vegan disciplines, weeks of total abstinence, and long seasons of preparation. Their witness challenges us in the Roman Rite to rediscover what this season truly is: a call to repentance, renewal, and readiness.Advent invites us to slow down the “ho-ho-ho” and lean into the holy *“woe”—*the humble acknowledgment that we are sinners destined for judgment, yet infinitely loved by a merciful God. Remember the season. Recognize your need. Renew your spiritual life. Prayer, fasting, almsgiving, confession, daily conversion—these are not optional extras but the heart of Advent itself.Live this season with purpose. Let your preparation be real, intentional, and penitential, so that when Christ comes—at Christmas or at the hour of your death—you will be ready to stand before Him with a heart made new.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #catholictiktok #frmarl #advent #penance #fasting #conversion #preparetheway #secondcoming #judgment #mercy #holiness #repentance ★ Support this podcast ★

Sharing our gratitude to move our hearts deeper towards God.

When everything else falls away, what remains is God and His Kingdom, and His love.

St. Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, Martyr and His Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)

Our "King" is humble and loving enough to come to the altar for us to receive Him.

Our "King" is humble and loving enough to come to the altar for us to receive Him.

Being faithful will always cost us something, but being unfaithful will cost us even more.

Do we care enough to share our faith or are we passive? 

Today's Mass Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111925.cfmIn today's homily, Fr. Mark Baron reflects on the harrowing story from 2 Maccabees: a mother witnessing the martyrdom of her seven sons for refusing to abandon God's law. As Fr. Mark highlights, the woman's courage was rooted in hope—hope in God's providence, mercy, and the promise of eternal life. This hope allowed her to endure unimaginable suffering, guiding her sons to remain steadfast, even in the face of death (2 Maccabees 7:1–31). The passage underscores the dignity of choosing God over worldly life and reminds us that our faith calls us to something greater than ourselves. Fr. Mark draws a parallel to the early Christian martyrs, who drew inspiration from these events to face persecution with unshakable resolve. He also challenges modern believers to live boldly for the truth, resisting “weenieism” or compromise in a culture often hostile to God's law. Our ultimate confidence comes from knowing God Himself: omnipotent, merciful, and the source of all goodness (Ex 3:14). By fixing our hearts on Him, we too can face trials with courage and trust in His divine plan. Let the witness of the Maccabean martyrs inspire us to serve God faithfully, to prioritize eternal life, and to live nobly for what truly matters. Learn how to strengthen your faith and pray for perseverance—link in bio. ★ Support this podcast ★

True wisdom doesn't come from books or clever ideas — it comes from God Himself. As Fr. Mark reminds us, divine wisdom is the light of God that orders all things in creation and directs them toward their ultimate purpose. Today's readings from Wisdom 7:22b–8:1 and Luke 17:20–25 show us that this divine wisdom is not something distant or abstract; it's the very presence of God's Kingdom living within the soul.Before the Fall, humanity walked in the light of God's wisdom. But sin darkened our understanding, blinding us to the truth about who God is and how we are meant to live. The Book of Wisdom reminds us that divine wisdom is “holy, unique, manifold, subtle, loving the good, and all-powerful.” It is this wisdom that restores the order lost by sin and allows us to see reality through God's eyes. When we live according to His divine order, peace and fulfillment follow. When we reject it, disorder and unhappiness rule our hearts.Jesus teaches in today's Gospel that “the Kingdom of God is within you.” This means that the Kingdom is not merely a place but the very life of God alive in the soul of the righteous. As St. Faustina recorded in her Diary, Jesus said, “My Kingdom is my life in the human soul.” To live wisely, then, is to allow the Kingdom of God to take root in us — to let divine wisdom order our thoughts, our choices, and our desires according to God's plan.Fr. Mark urges us to ask daily for the gift of wisdom — a wisdom that enables us to live rightly, see eternally, and walk in peace. The truly wise are those who look not merely to this world but to eternity, shaping their lives by the light of divine truth. May we pray: “Lord, grant us wisdom, that we may live wisely, love deeply, and build Your Kingdom within and around us.”#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #catholictiktok #frmarkbaron #wisdom #kingdomofgod #bookofwisdom #gospelreflection #divinewisdom #catholichomily #dailyhomily ★ Support this podcast ★

St. Leo the Great, Pope, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)