Podcasts about Stockbridge

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012926.cfmWhen Jesus speaks of a lamp placed on a stand, He reveals how God works in history. What God makes known is meant to give light, and what He reveals is never accidental or incomplete.Father Mark Baron, MIC, shows how the Gospel and the First Reading proclaim a single, unified plan of salvation. The promise given to King David of a kingdom without end was never about political survival or earthly dominance. Even when Israel's kingdoms fell, God's promise did not fail. It was fulfilled in a way far greater than David could have imagined.At the Annunciation, the eternal kingdom promised to David takes flesh in Christ. God does not establish a political empire; He establishes a spiritual kingdom meant to rule hearts. From Abraham to Moses, from David to Christ, God's covenants expand His family until all are invited in. Israel is not discarded or replaced, but fulfilled. The Church is the continuation and completion of God's plan — the universal family gathered under Christ the King.Father Mark also clarifies modern misunderstandings that divide salvation history or reduce God's kingdom to end-times speculation. Catholic teaching proclaims one continuous plan, guided by the Holy Spirit, entrusted to the Church, and ordered toward charity, justice, and conversion of heart.Christ already reigns — in the Eucharist, in the Sacraments, and in every heart willing to receive His grace.Watch the full homily on DivineMercyPlus.org, the no-cost, ad-free Catholic streaming platform with exclusive Catholic content. ★ Support this podcast ★

On the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, reflects on a decisive moment in his own vocation and on the gift the Church receives through reason rightly ordered to faith. Saint Thomas shows us that clarity about God's will is not opposed to intellect but illuminated by it. As the Catechism teaches, “God can be known with certainty from created reality by the light of human reason” (“Catechism of the Catholic Church” 31).Father Chris explains several of St. Thomas Aquinas's classical proofs for the existence of God, especially the arguments from motion and efficient cause. Nothing moves or comes into being on its own. Because nothing causes itself, reason leads us to a First Mover and First Cause who depends on nothing else. As Scripture affirms, “Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes… have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made” (Rom 1:20; NABRE).Saint Thomas reminds us that faith is never blind. God invites us to love Him with our minds as well as our hearts, using logic, observation, and wonder at creation to recognize an intelligent Designer. Father Chris emphasizes that doubt can become a doorway to deeper trust when it is met with honest reasoning and grace, echoing Saint Faustina's call to trust in God's providence (“Diary of Saint Faustina,” 1578).Watch the full homily on Divine Mercy Plus, the free, ad-free Catholic streaming platform. ★ Support this podcast ★

The Marians' mission is inseparably tied to two great spiritual weapons: the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception; and Divine Mercy (“Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska,” 164). Blessed George Matulaitis-Matulewicz (1871–1927) exemplified this mission, guiding the Marians through persecution in Europe and establishing their presence in the United States. Father Chris Alar, MIC, emphasizes that Bl. George's holiness was practical and humble: “Let me be thrown away like a dirty, worn out dish rag … so that Your house may be a little cleaner and brighter afterwards.”Blessed George's life intersected with St. Faustina's mission, supporting her in writing the “Diary” and spreading Divine Mercy worldwide. Father Chris explains the importance of personal sanctity in renewing the Church: The sanctity of its members makes for a holy Church and holy world (see 1 Cor 12:12-27; NABRE). In a time of social unrest and ideological division, Fr. Alar calls us to overcome evil with good, defending truth and living mercy daily.Join the Marians in this mission by becoming a Marian Helper, supporting the spread of Divine Mercy through prayer and action. Watch the full homily on Divine Mercy Plus, the ad-free Catholic streaming platform that delivers exclusive content and YouTube videos without interruptions. For deeper insight, explore Fr. Chris's book Understanding Divine Mercy to understand the spiritual legacy of Blessed George and the modern Marian mission. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012626.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC addresses one of the most misunderstood teachings in all of Scripture: Is there truly a sin that God will not forgive?Jesus warns that a house divided cannot stand (cf. Mk 3:25), and Fr. Chris explains that the most dangerous division is not political or cultural — it is spiritual. It is the division that occurs when a soul refuses mercy. The Church teaches clearly: there is no sin beyond the mercy of God — except the refusal to ask for it.Drawing from Sacred Scripture, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1864, Fr. Chris explains the meaning of the sin against the Holy Spirit. Traditionally called final impenitence, it appears in three forms: presumption (“I don't need forgiveness”), despair (“God won't forgive me”), and refusal (“I will not ask”). Though they look different, all share the same root — a hardened heart that rejects mercy.Fr. Chris then deepens the teaching using Aquinas' framework. Sins of weakness (against the Father) and sins of ignorance (against the Son) are forgivable. But sins of malice — the deliberate choosing of evil against goodness itself — are said to be against the Holy Spirit. Even so, the homily offers powerful reassurance: the very moment a soul repents, mercy is already at work. Simply walking into the confessional is proof that the unforgivable sin is no longer present.The homily concludes with hope drawn from Aquinas and St. Faustina: while this sin is unpardonable in itself, we must never stop praying for mercy — for ourselves or for others. God's mercy is not limited by our past, only by our refusal.If you fear that you are beyond forgiveness, this teaching is not meant to condemn you — it is meant to call you home. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012526.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC addresses one of the deepest wounds of our time: division. Scripture asks plainly, “Is Christ divided?” (1 Cor 1:13; NABRE). The answer is no. Yet division arises when truth is rejected and replaced with opinion. Christ Himself warned that His coming would cause division—not because division is good, but because some would refuse the truth He reveals.Father Chris explains that unity is not built on compromise or competing viewpoints. True unity can exist only where truth is shared. Jesus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6; NABRE). When individuals or societies abandon objective truth, division becomes inevitable. Violence, confusion, and unrest are symptoms of a deeper problem: the refusal to stand on what is true.The Church, established by Christ and entrusted with His authority, exists precisely to safeguard and proclaim that truth. While her members can fail in their human weakness, the Church cannot err in her divine teaching when she definitively proclaims matters of faith and morals. As the Catechism teaches, “It is part of the Church's mission to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls require it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2246).Father Chris reminds us that division ends only when we surrender our will to God's will. The first commandment is not merely about avoiding false gods; it is about refusing to make ourselves the arbiter of truth. When we submit to Christ through the teaching of His Church, unity becomes possible—not a shallow peace, but a peace grounded in truth.This call is demanding, but it is also merciful. Truth is not meant to crush us; it is meant to free us. Only by standing together on the truth can the divisions of our world begin to heal.To deepen your understanding of how Christ guides His Church and communicates saving truth through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012426.cfmFather Jason Lewis, MIC confronts a question that has echoed since the time of Christ: Who is Jesus, really? As the Gospel recounts, some of Jesus' own relatives believed He was “out of his mind,” while the scribes accused Him of acting by the power of evil. Yet Jesus' works—healing the sick, casting out demons, forgiving sins—force a decision that cannot be avoided.Father Jason draws on the classic trilemma, popularized by C.S. Lewis: Jesus can only be one of three things—lunatic, liar, or Lord. A mere “good moral teacher” is not an option. As Lewis argued, a man who claimed divine authority and spoke as Jesus did could not simply be misunderstood or exaggerated. Either His claims were false, making Him gravely deceptive or delusional, or they were true, demanding our faith and obedience. Scripture itself bears witness to this truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:1, 14; NABRE).The Church has always proclaimed this same confession of faith. Saint Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16; NABRE), not by human reasoning alone, but by revelation from the Father. Father Jason reminds us that the fruit of Christ's life and teachings confirms this identity. Lies do not produce saints. Deception does not transform the world through sacrificial love, truth, and mercy across centuries.Because Jesus is Lord, He does more than teach—He gives Himself. In the Eucharist, entrusted to the Apostles and handed down through the priesthood, Christ remains truly present to nourish His people and draw them into divine life. This is the heart of the Gospel and the foundation of Christian faith.To grow deeper in your understanding of how Christ continues His saving work through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

Father Gabe Cillo, MIC, reflects on the witness of St. Marianne Cope, an immigrant and religious sister who did not hesitate when the call came to serve those suffering from leprosy on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii. While dozens of religious communities declined to send their members to serve, her community said yes. Saint Marianne went without fear, spending decades caring for the sick and dying, including St. Damien of Molokai in his final days. Her courage was not rooted in human strength, but in a supernatural certainty: Every person, especially the abandoned and suffering, bears the image and likeness of God.As death draws near, what remains essential becomes unmistakably clear. Father Gabe reminds us that in moments of illness, isolation, or approaching death, the soul longs for God with a new urgency. The Eucharist, a priestly blessing, and the presence of someone who comes “in the name of Jesus” are no longer small consolations; they are lifelines. Jesus tells us, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever” (Jn 6:51; NABRE).The saints understood this with great clarity. Saint Marianne Cope and St. Damien found their strength in the same source that sustains the Church today: the Most Blessed Sacrament. At the Last Supper, Christ entrusted Himself to the Apostles, commanding them, “Do this in memory of me,” handing on the gift of His Body and Blood through the priesthood across the ages. In the Eucharist, Christ remains truly present — Body, Blood, soul, and Divinity — faithful to His people until the end of Time.This living presence of Jesus is what steadies the heart when eternity comes into view. It is where the saints found courage, and where we, too, are invited to find our hope.To deepen your understanding of the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

As headlines stir anxiety about the possibility of global conflict, Fr. Matthew Tomeny,MIC, turns our attention to a war already raging — one that has claimed more innocentlives than any battlefield in history. While nations prepare for external enemies, theChurch is called to confront a deeper crisis: the systematic destruction ofhuman life in the womb.Scripture teaches that peace is never merely political. It is moral and spiritual, what St.Augustine called the “tranquility of order.” When life is no longer received as a gift,society drifts into darkness. Jesus warns us plainly that without Him, humanity remainslost, but with Him we find “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6; NABRE). TheCatechism affirms that human life must be respected and protected absolutely from themoment of conception (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2270). This is not optionalteaching; it is foundational.Father Matthew explains that even where legal victories have been achieved, thedeeper battle continues in hearts and in culture. Laws alone cannot restore what hasbeen lost. A culture of life requires conversion, sacrifice, and reparation. Saint Faustinaunderstood this when she offered suffering for grave sins against life, appealing to theDivine Mercy to hold back judgment and bring repentance. Her Diary reveals that nosin, however grave, is greater than God's mercy when hearts turn back to Him (Diary ofSaint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 699).The call of the faithful is to pray, especially on days set aside by the bishops, for theprotection of unborn children. True peace will not come through fear or force, butthrough surrender — through trust in the mercy of God and a renewed commitment tochastity, responsibility, and reverence for life.Christ desires life, not death. When the Church proclaims this truth without compromise,she becomes a sign of hope in a world searching for peace.To deepen your understanding of Divine Mercy and reparation for sin, explore the Diaryof St. Faustina available at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012126.cfmMany people struggle with the Bible because they sense a tension between the Old Testament and the New. The God of the Old Testament is sometimes portrayed as harsh, violent, even distant, while the New Testament reveals mercy, healing, and love. Father Chris Alar, MIC addresses this confusion directly by reminding us of the question Christ Himself poses: “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (Mk 3:4; NABRE).Without Christ, humanity's vision is limited. In the Old Testament, death, war, and violence reflect a world still waiting for the full revelation of divine life. The Catechism teaches that God gradually prepared His people to receive the Gospel through salvation history, leading them step by step toward Christ (Catechism of the Catholic Church §122). The New Testament does not contradict the Old; it fulfills it.This contrast becomes striking when we consider Saint Agnes, whose feast the Church celebrates. Her very name echoes the Latin agnus, meaning lamb. Young, pure, and wholly given to Christ, she chose life in the fullest sense, even when it led to martyrdom. Her witness stands between death and life, between the violence of the world and the light of Christ. As Scripture proclaims, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10; NABRE).The culture of death persists whenever Christ is rejected, whether in ancient persecution or modern disregard for human dignity. Yet Christ remains the Light of the world, drawing us from darkness into truth, from death into life. In Him alone do we find the way, the truth, and the life. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012026.cfmIn the Gospel, Jesus' repeated conflicts with the Pharisees over the Sabbath reveal not rebellion against God's law, but a restoration of its true purpose. As Father Mark Baron, MIC explains, the Pharisees arose during a time of intense pressure to preserve Jewish identity. Their zeal to protect the Law led them to build layers of manmade regulations meant to prevent even the possibility of sin. What began as devotion slowly became a burden.When the disciples plucked heads of grain, the Pharisees accused them of unlawful work. Yet Jesus responds with divine clarity: “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath” (Mk 2:27; NABRE). God did not establish the Sabbath to enslave His people in fear, but to sanctify them. The commandment to rest is ordered toward holiness, not anxiety.Scripture confirms this purpose. “Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy” (Ex 20:8; NABRE). The Sabbath is a sign that God sanctifies His people, forming them into a holy nation (ref. Ex 31:13–14). To sanctify means to make holy, to perfect us in goodness. When rest becomes fear-driven rule keeping, the heart of the law is lost.Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath, restores it to its original intention: human flourishing through worship, surrender, and love. This is fulfilled for Christians in the Lord's Day, when the faithful gather for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass is not a burden imposed by God, but a gift through which He sanctifies us. To neglect it knowingly is not freedom, but loss.God's commandments are always a “yes” to life, goodness, and holiness. When rightly understood, they draw us closer to Him and restore us to what we were created to be.To deepen your understanding of how God sanctifies us through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011826.cfmBefore healing the man's body, Jesus heals his soul. The paralytic seeks physical restoration, but Christ addresses a greater paralysis: sin. Sin paralyzes the soul and separates us from God, the source of life. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” the scribes challenge (Mk 2:7, NABRE). Indeed, only God forgives, yet they fail to see the Divine in front of them. Jesus, God incarnate, reveals His authority not only by perceiving hearts but by forgiving sins and restoring the man.This moment prefigures the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Just as the man's friends interceded for him, Christ extends forgiveness through the Church and her priests. Fr. Chris emphasizes that when a priest declares, “I absolve you from your sins,” it is Christ acting in the confessional (John 20:23, NABRE). Spiritual healing comes first, for sin's weight is greater than any physical ailment.Christ's mercy invites us to rise from the mat of our sinfulness, just as the paralytic stood and walked. Repentance is not mere sorrow—it is transformation, a turning toward God and away from sin. Through infant baptism, God forgives the helpless on behalf of faithful parents and godparents, just as He healed the helpless paralytic by the faith of others. Intercessory prayer is essential; faith shared in community moves God's grace into our lives.We are called to participate actively: pray for one another, confess, and rise renewed. Christ's forgiveness restores, strengthens, and sends forth. The mat is left behind; the soul walks free. By addressing the deepest paralysis, Jesus demonstrates the power of His mercy and the Church's mission to bring all sinners to life.To explore the sacraments and God's work through intercession, visit Understanding the Sacraments (ShopMercy.org). ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011626.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC, draws us into the dramatic Gospel scene of the paralytic lowered before Jesus and reveals why this passage speaks so clearly of the Sacraments of the Church. What Jesus responds to first is not the man's condition, but faith — specifically, the faith of those carrying him. “When Jesus saw their faith” (Mk 2:5; NABRE), He forgives sins before He heals the body.This moment reveals something essential about Catholic belief. Faith is never completely private. We carry one another to Christ through intercessory prayer, just as parents bring children to Baptism and the Church brings sinners to Confession. The paralytic is helpless, yet forgiveness is granted because of the faith of others — an image that mirrors infant Baptism, where grace is given through the faith of parents and godparents. Sin is wiped away, not by personal achievement, but by Christ's mercy working through His Church.Jesus exposes the deeper paralysis beneath the physical one: sin. Before restoring strength to the man's limbs, He restores communion with God. This points directly to the Sacrament of Confession, where Christ continues His ministry of forgiveness through priests acting by His authority: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (Jn 20:23; NABRE). Forgiveness is not the end — it demands a response. Christ commands the man to rise. Mercy empowers transformation.Father Chris challenges us to ask: After Confession, do we stay down, or do we get up? Repentance is not merely sorrow; it is conversion, transformation. The mat that once held us becomes a witness to what God has healed. Christ frees us so that we may walk — changed, restored, and sent forth.To deepen your understanding of Confession and Baptism, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

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 ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011426.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC, reflects on the heart of the discernment of every vocation: learning to listen to God. Vocation is not just about priesthood or religious life — it is the unique call God has placed in your life. Marriage, single life, priesthood, religious life — each is holy, each is purposeful, and each is a path to sanctity when lived in prayer and trust.God speaks more often than we realize: through Scripture, the teachings of the Church, the Liturgy, the neighbors He places in our lives, and some of the quiet movements of our hearts. But to hear Him, we must create space for silence. Prayer is not only talking to God; it is letting God speak.Father Chris reminds us that God does not waste a single moment. Even seasons that feel uncertain, temporary, or difficult are part of His providential plan. What matters is the courage to say yes, even when the path involves sacrifice. Fruitfulness — not comfort — is the measure of a life lived for Christ.Every vocation requires trust. Every vocation includes a cross. But every vocation, faithfully lived, becomes a powerful witness of God's mercy, truth, and love in the world.Are we listening when God calls? ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/0113-memorial-hilary.cfmFather Gabe Cillo, MIC, explains a truth so foundational that everything in the Christian life depends on it: Jesus Christ is truly God. Not partly divine, not a created being, not “like” God — but fully God and fully man.Father Gabe reflects on how the Church has defended this truth from the earliest centuries, especially against the Arian heresy, which claimed that the Son was created and therefore not truly God. The Church rejected this error because salvation itself depends on Christ's divinity. If Jesus were not God, He could not forgive sins, defeat demons, give us the Eucharist, or reconcile humanity with the Father. As Scripture proclaims, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1; NABRE).This truth gives believers confidence and courage. When we make the Sign of the Cross, invoke the holy name of Jesus, or adore Him in the Eucharist, we are not addressing a mere creature — we are worshiping God Himself. The demons recognize His authority because it is divine. Every knee bends at the name of Jesus because His name is the name of God.Father Gabe reminds us that the Eucharist, salvation, and every Sacrament only have power because Christ is God. Holding fast to this truth strengthens faith, deepens worship, and renews our trust in the Lord who alone can save.To grow in understanding of how Christ's divinity works through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments, available at ShopMercy.org. Watch the full homily on YouTube and on Divine Mercy Plus, where Catholic content is free, ad-free, and faithful to Church teaching. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011226.cfmFather Daniel Klimek, PhD reflects on the beginning of Christ's public ministry and the radical call of discipleship. When Jesus calls the first apostles, He does not simply invite admiration, but demands surrender. Peter leaves his nets behind—his livelihood, his security, his safety—to follow Christ. Those nets, Fr. Daniel explains, symbolize the attachments and “safety nets” that often keep us from deeper freedom in God.Discipleship always requires sacrifice. Christ asks for totality, not partial allegiance. “You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Mt 6:24; NABRE). Idols must be broken so that Jesus may take first place in the heart. Yet this surrender is not rooted in fear, but in love. God desires intimacy, the love of a divine Bridegroom who wants the whole heart of His beloved.Father Daniel reminds us that true discipleship is not merely intellectual. The apostles were transformed because they spent time with Jesus—resting in His presence, listening, and being sanctified by Him. That same presence remains with us today in the Holy Eucharist. In Eucharistic adoration, Christ heals anxiety, grants supernatural peace, and draws souls into deeper friendship with Him.Even fatigue before the Blessed Sacrament is not wasted. Resting in Christ's presence is still prayer. As Scripture assures us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28; NABRE). Time given to Jesus is never lost—it is the sacrifice that forms true disciples.To grow in understanding of how Christ works through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments, available at ShopMercy.org. Watch the full homily on YouTube, where it is also available ad-free on Divine Mercy Plus, offering faithful Catholic content. ★ Support this podcast ★

https://bbvproductions.co.uk/products/Faction-Paradox-The-Confession-of-Brother-Signet-AUDIO-DOWNLOAD-p389922366 The first season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things premiered worldwide on the streaming service Netflix on July 15, 2016. The series was created by the Duffer Brothers, who also serve as executive producers along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen. This season stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono, and Matthew Modine, with Noah Schnapp, Joe Keery, and Shannon Purser in recurring roles. The first season of Stranger Things received critical acclaim, in particular for its originality, homages to the 1980s, characterization, tone, visuals, and performances (particularly those of Ryder, Harbour, Wolfhard, Brown, Heaton and Modine). Premise The first season begins on November 6, 1983, in a small town called Hawkins. Researchers at Hawkins National Laboratory open a rift to the "Upside Down," an alternate dimension that reflects the real world. A monstrous humanoid creature escapes and abducts a boy named Will Byers and a teenage girl. Will's mother, Joyce, and the town's police chief, Jim Hopper, search for Will. At the same time, a young psychokinetic girl who goes by the name "Eleven" escapes from the laboratory and assists Will's friends, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, and Lucas Sinclair, in their efforts to find Will.[1] Cast and characters See also: List of Stranger Things characters Main cast Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers[2] David Harbour as Jim Hopper[2] Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler[3] Millie Bobby Brown[3] as Eleven ("El") Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson[3] Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair[3] Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler[3] Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers[3][4][5] Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler[6] Matthew Modine as Martin Brenner[7] Recurring Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Shannon Purser as Barbara "Barb" Holland[8] Joe Chrest as Ted Wheeler Ross Partridge as Lonnie Byers[9] Rob Morgan as Officer Powell John Paul Reynolds as Officer Callahan Randy Havens as Scott Clarke Catherine Dyer as Connie Frazier Aimee Mullins as Terry Ives[10] Amy Seimetz as Becky Ives Peyton Wich as Troy[11] Tony Vaughn as Principal Coleman Charles Lawlor as Mr. Melvald Tinsley and Anniston Price as Holly Wheeler Cade Jones as James Chester Rushing as Tommy H. Chelsea Talmadge as Carol Glennellen Anderson as Nicole Cynthia Barrett as Marsha Holland Jerri Tubbs as Diane Hopper Elle Graham as Sara Hopper Chris Sullivan as Benny Hammond Tobias Jelinek as lead agent Robert Walker-Branchaud as repairman agent Susan Shalhoub Larkin as Florence ("Flo") Episodes See also: List of Stranger Things episodes No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date 1 1 "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" The Duffer Brothers The Duffer Brothers July 15, 2016 On November 6, 1983, in Hawkins, Indiana, a scientist is attacked by an unseen creature at a U.S. government laboratory. 12-year-old Will Byers encounters the creature and mysteriously vanishes while cycling home from a Dungeons & Dragons session with his friends Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair. The following day, Will's single mother Joyce Byers reports his disappearance to the police chief Jim Hopper, who starts a search but assures Joyce that almost all missing children are quickly found. The lab's director, Dr. Martin Brenner, investigates an organic substance oozing from the lab's basement, claiming that "the girl" cannot have gone far. A nervous young girl wearing a hospital gown wanders into a local diner. The owner, Benny, finds a tattoo of "011" on her arm and learns that her name is Eleven. Brenner, monitoring the phone lines, sends agents to the diner after Benny calls social services. The agents kill Benny, but Eleven manages to escape using telekinetic abilities. Joyce's phone short circuits after receiving a mysterious phone call that she believes is from Will. While searching for Will in the woods, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas come across Eleven. 2 2 "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" The Duffer Brothers The Duffer Brothers July 15, 2016 The boys bring Eleven to Mike's house, where they disagree on what to do. Mike formulates a plan for Eleven to pretend to be a runaway and seek help from his mother, Karen. Eleven refuses, however, revealing that "bad men" are after her. Will's brother Jonathan visits his estranged father Lonnie in Indianapolis to search for Will, but Lonnie rebuffs him. Hopper's search party discovers a scrap of hospital gown near the lab. After recognizing Will in a photograph and demonstrating her telekinesis, Eleven convinces the boys to trust her, as they believe she can find Will. Using the Dungeons & Dragons board, Eleven indicates that Will is on the "Upside Down" side of the board and is being hunted by the "Demogorgon" (the creature). Mike's sister Nancy and her friend Barbara 'Barb' Holland go to a party with Nancy's boyfriend Steve Harrington. Searching for Will near Steve's house, Jonathan secretly photographs the party. Joyce receives another call from Will, hears music playing from his stereo, and sees a creature coming through the wall. Left alone by the swimming pool, Barb is attacked by the Demogorgon and vanishes. 3 3 "Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly" Shawn Levy Jessica Mecklenburg July 15, 2016 Barb awakens in the Upside Down: a decaying, overgrown alternate dimension. She attempts to escape but is attacked by the Demogorgon. Joyce believes Will is communicating through pulses in light bulbs. Hopper visits Hawkins Lab, and the staff permits him to view doctored security footage from the night Will vanished, leading Hopper to investigate Brenner and discover his involvement with Project MKUltra and that a woman named Terry Ives alleged years earlier that Brenner took her daughter. Eleven recalls Brenner, whom she calls "Papa," punishing her for refusing to hurt a cat telekinetically. Steve destroys Jonathan's camera after discovering the photos from the party. Nancy later recovers a photo of Barb, simultaneously realizing that Barb is missing. Returning to Steve's house to investigate, Nancy finds Barb's untouched Volkswagen and encounters the Demogorgon but manages to escape. Joyce paints an alphabetic board on her wall with Christmas lights, allowing Will to sign to her that he is "RIGHT HERE" and that she needs to "RUN" as the Demogorgon comes through the wall. Believing Eleven knows where Will is, the boys ask her to lead them to him. Eleven leads them, to their frustration, to Will's house. From there they follow emergency vehicles to a nearby quarry just as Will's body is recovered from the water. 4 4 "Chapter Four: The Body" Shawn Levy Justin Doble July 15, 2016 Joyce refuses to believe that the body found at the quarry is Will's. Mike feels betrayed by Eleven until she proves that Will is still alive, channeling his voice through Mike's walkie-talkie. The boys theorize that Eleven could use a ham radio at their school to communicate with Will. Nancy notices a figure behind Barb in Jonathan's photo, which Jonathan realizes matches his mother's description of the Demogorgon. Nancy tells the police about Barb's disappearance. She later fights with Steve, who only cares about not getting in trouble with his father. Hopper has suspicions regarding the authenticity of the body found in the quarry when he learns that the usual coroner was sent home. Hopper confronts the state trooper who found it and beats him until he admits he was ordered to lie. The boys sneak Eleven into their school to use the radio, while Joyce hears Will's voice through her living room wall. Tearing away the wallpaper, she sees him. Eleven uses the radio to channel Will talking to his mother. Hopper goes to the morgue and finds that the body is a fake, and, suspecting that Brenner is responsible, breaks into the lab. 5 5 "Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat" The Duffer Brothers Alison Tatlock July 15, 2016 Hopper searches the lab before being knocked out by the lab's guards. The boys ask their science teacher, Mr. Clarke, if it would be possible to travel between alternate dimensions, to which he answers that there could be a theoretical "gate" between dimensions. Hopper awakens at his house and finds a hidden microphone, realizing that Joyce was right the whole time. The boys follow their compasses, searching for a gate that could disrupt the Earth's electromagnetic field. Eleven recalls memories of being placed in a sensory-deprivation tank to telepathically eavesdrop on a man speaking Russian; while listening, she came across the Demogorgon. Fearing another encounter with the Demogorgon, Eleven redirects the compasses. Lucas misinterprets this as an act of betrayal, leading Mike and Lucas to fight and Eleven to telekinetically fling Lucas away from Mike. While Dustin and Mike tend to the unconscious Lucas, Eleven runs off. Nancy and Jonathan formulate a plan to kill the Demogorgon. While searching in the woods, they come across a small gate to the Upside Down. Nancy crawls through it but inadvertently draws the Demogorgon's attention. Jonathan unsuccessfully tries to look for Nancy, as the gate to the Upside Down begins to close. 6 6 "Chapter Six: The Monster" The Duffer Brothers Jessie Nickson-Lopez July 15, 2016 Jonathan pulls Nancy back through the gate. That night, Nancy is afraid to be alone and asks Jonathan to stay in her bedroom. Steve, attempting to reconcile with Nancy, sees them together through her bedroom window and assumes they are dating. Joyce and Hopper track down Terry Ives, who is catatonic and tended by her sister Becky. Becky explains that Terry was a Project MKUltra participant while unknowingly pregnant and that Terry believes Brenner kidnapped her daughter Jane at birth due to her supposed telekinetic and telepathic abilities. Nancy and Jonathan stockpile weapons to kill the Demogorgon, theorizing that it is attracted by blood. Steve is brutally beaten up in a fistfight with Jonathan after he insults Will and calls Nancy a slut. Jonathan is arrested and held at the police station for beating up Steve and inadvertently punching one of the responding officers in the face. Eleven walks into a grocery store and shoplifts several boxes of Eggo waffles. Searching for Eleven, Mike and Dustin are ambushed by two bullies but are rescued by her, as she uses her powers to break one bully's arm after he attempts to kill Mike. Eleven collapses and recalls being asked by Brenner to contact the Demogorgon and, in her terror, inadvertently opening the gate. She tearfully admits to Mike that she is responsible for allowing the Demogorgon to enter this dimension. Lucas sees agents, who have tracked down Eleven, preparing to ambush Mike's house. 7 7 "Chapter Seven: The Bathtub" The Duffer Brothers Justin Doble July 15, 2016 Lucas warns Mike that agents are searching for Eleven. Mike, Dustin, and Eleven flee the house. Eleven telekinetically flips one of the vans that block their path as the kids escape. Lucas reconciles with Mike and Eleven, and the kids hide in the junkyard. Nancy and Jonathan reveal their knowledge of the Demogorgon to Joyce and Hopper. Hopper also learns that Eleven is with the kids. The group contacts the kids, and everyone meets at the Byers' house. Joyce and Hopper realize that Eleven is Jane Ives. The group asks Eleven to search for Will and Barb telepathically, but her earlier feats have weakened her. They break into the middle school and build a makeshift sensory deprivation tank to amplify Eleven's powers. After telepathically entering the Upside Down again, Eleven finds Barb dead and Will alive, hiding in the Upside Down version of his backyard fort. Realizing that the gate is in the basement of the lab, Hopper and Joyce break into the lab and are apprehended by security guards. Nancy and Jonathan sneak into the police station to retrieve the weapons they purchased previously, planning to lure and kill the Demogorgon. In the Upside Down, the Demogorgon breaks into Will's fort. 8 8 "Chapter Eight: The Upside Down" The Duffer Brothers Story by : Paul Dichter Teleplay by : The Duffer Brothers July 15, 2016 Hopper, haunted by the death of his daughter Sara from cancer years earlier, gives up Eleven's location to Brenner, who in exchange allows Hopper and Joyce to enter the Upside Down to rescue Will. Nancy and Jonathan cut their hands to attract the Demogorgon at the Byers' house. Steve, intending to apologize to Jonathan about their fight, arrives just as the Demogorgon appears. Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan fight the Demogorgon and light it on fire, forcing it to retreat to the Upside Down. Meanwhile, Eleven and the boys hide in the middle school when Brenner and his agents arrive to kidnap Eleven; she kills most of them before collapsing from exhaustion. As Brenner and his remaining agents pin Eleven and the boys down, the Demogorgon appears, attracted by the dead agents' blood, and attacks Brenner and the remaining agents as the boys escape with Eleven. Hopper and Joyce enter the Upside Down's version of the Hawkins library, where they encounter several corpses of the Demogorgon's victims, including Barb, and find Will unconscious with a tendril down his throat. Hopper revives him using CPR after removing the tendril. The Demogorgon corners the kids, but Eleven recovers from her exhaustion and disintegrates it, causing them both to disappear. Will recovers in the hospital, reuniting with his family and friends. One month later, it is Christmas and Nancy is back together with Steve, and both are friends with Jonathan. Will coughs up a slug-like creature and has a vision of the Upside Down, but hides this from his family. Production Development Ross (left) and Matt Duffer, the creators of the series Stranger Things was created by Matt and Ross Duffer, known professionally as the Duffer Brothers.[12] The two had completed writing and producing their 2015 film Hidden, which they had tried to emulate the style of M. Night Shyamalan, however, due to changes at Warner Bros., its distributor, the film did not see a wide release and the Duffers were unsure of their future.[13] To their surprise, television producer Donald De Line approached them, impressed with Hidden's script, and offered them the opportunity to work on episodes of Wayward Pines alongside Shyamalan. The brothers were mentored by Shyamalan during the episode's production so that when they finished, they felt they were ready to produce their own television series.[14] The Duffer Brothers prepared a script that would essentially be similar to the series' actual pilot episode, along with a 20-page pitch book to help shop the series around for a network.[15] They pitched the story to a number of cable networks, all of which rejected the script on the basis that they felt a plot centered around children as leading characters would not work, asking them to make it a children's show or to drop the children and focus on Hopper's investigation in the paranormal.[14] In early 2015, Dan Cohen, the VP of 21 Laps Entertainment, brought the script to his colleague Shawn Levy. They subsequently invited The Duffer Brothers to their office and purchased the rights for the series, giving full authorship of it to the brothers. After reading the pilot, the streaming service Netflix purchased the whole season for an undisclosed amount;[16] the show was subsequently announced for a planned 2016 release by Netflix in early April 2015.[17] The Duffer Brothers stated that at the time they had pitched to Netflix, the service had already been recognized for its original programming, such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, with well-recognized producers behind them, and were ready to start giving upcoming producers like them a chance.[15] The brothers started to write out the series and brought Levy and Cohen in as executive producers to start casting and filming.[18] The series was originally known as Montauk, as the setting of the script was in Montauk, New York and nearby Long Beach locations.[17][19] The brothers had chosen Montauk as it had further Spielberg ties with the film Jaws, where Montauk was used for the fictional setting of Amity Island.[20] After deciding to change the narrative of the series to take place in the fictional town of Hawkins instead, the brothers felt they could now do things to the town, such as placing it under quarantine, that they really could not envision with a real location.[20] With the change in location, they had to come up with a new title for the series under the direction from Netflix's Ted Sarandos so that they could start marketing it to the public. The brothers started by using a copy of Stephen King's Firestarter novel to consider the title's font and appearance and came up with a long list of potential alternatives. Stranger Things came about as it sounded similar to another King novel, Needful Things, though Matt noted they still had a "lot of heated arguments" over this final title.[21] Writing The idea of Stranger Things started with how the brothers felt they could take the concept of the 2013 film Prisoners, detailing the moral struggles a father goes through when his daughter is kidnapped, and expand it out over eight or so hours in a serialized television approach. As they focused on the missing child aspect of the story, they wanted to introduce the idea of "childlike sensibilities" they could offer and toyed around with the idea of a monster that could consume humans. The brothers thought the combination of these things "was the best thing ever". To introduce this monster into the narrative, they considered "bizarre experiments we had read about taking place in the Cold War" such as Project MKUltra, which gave a way to ground the monster's existence in science rather than something spiritual. This also helped them to decide on using 1983 as the time period, as it was a year before the film Red Dawn came out, which focused on Cold War paranoia.[14] Subsequently, they were able to use all their own personal inspirations from the 1980s, the decade they were born, as elements of the series,[14][22] crafting it in the realm of science fiction and horror.[23] The Duffer Brothers have cited as influence for the show (among others): Stephen King novels; films produced by Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Robert Zemeckis, George Lucas and Guillermo del Toro; films such as Alien and Stand by Me; Japanese anime such as Akira and Elfen Lied; and video games such as Silent Hill and The Last of Us.[21][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] With Netflix as the platform, The Duffer Brothers were not limited to a typical 22-episode format, opting for the eight-episode approach. They had been concerned that a 22-episode season on broadcast television would be difficult to "tell a cinematic story" with that many episodes. Eight episodes allowed them to give time to characterization in addition to narrative development; if they had less time available, they would have had to remain committed to telling a horror film as soon as the monster was introduced and abandon the characterization.[15] Within the eight episodes, the brothers aimed to make the first season "feel like a big movie" with all the major plot lines completed so that "the audience feels satisfied", but left enough unresolved to indicate "there's a bigger mythology, and there's a lot of dangling threads at the end", something that could be explored in further seasons if Netflix opted to create more.[32] While explaining their intentions for the show, the Duffers adamantly stated their intentions to not explain the mythology in the show so they could leave a mystery and lot for the audience to speculate over their lack of understanding by the season finale, which they accepted but asked to be explained about at the very least, which they found like a really good exercise as they spent quite a bit of time with their writers' room figuring out exactly what the Upside Down would actually consist for, writing a 20-page mythology document whose details wouldn't be clarified for the audience until the show's fifth and final season.[33] Regarding writing for the children characters of the series, The Duffer Brothers considered themselves as outcasts from other students while in high school and thus found it easy to write for Mike Wheeler and his friends, and particularly for Barbara "Barb" Holland.[21] Joyce Byers was fashioned after Richard Dreyfuss's character Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, as she appears "absolutely bonkers" to everyone else as she tries to find her son Will Byers.[34] Other characters, such as Billy in the second season, have more villainous attributes that are not necessarily obvious from the onset; Matt explained that they took further inspiration from Stephen King for these characters, as King "always has really great human villains" that may be more malicious than the supernatural evil.[35] Casting The Duffers cast David Harbour as Sheriff Hopper believing this was his opportunity to play a lead character in a work. In June 2015, it was announced that Winona Ryder and David Harbour had joined the series as Joyce and as the unnamed chief of police, respectively.[2] The brothers' casting director Carmen Cuba had suggested Ryder for the role of Joyce, which the two were immediately drawn to because of her prominence in 1980s films.[14] Levy believed Ryder could "wretch up the emotional urgency and yet find layers and nuance and different sides of [Joyce]". Ryder praised that the show's multiple storylines required her to act for Joyce as "she's out of her mind, but she's actually kind of onto something", and that the producers had faith she could pull off the difficult role.[36] Upon being offered the role, Ryder felt intrigued at being given the pilot's script due to know knowing what streaming was and finding it "terrifying", with her sole condition to the Duffers for accepting the role being that, if a Beetlejuice sequel ever materialized as she and Tim Burton had been discussing since 2000, they had to let her take a break to shoot it, a condition the Duffers agreed and ultimately proved to work out when Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was greenlighted years later.[37] The Duffer Brothers had been interested in Harbour before, who until Stranger Things primarily had smaller roles as villainous characters, and they felt that he had been "waiting too long for this opportunity" to play a lead, while Harbour himself was thrilled by the script and the chance to play "a broken, flawed, anti-hero character".[21][38] Additional casting followed two months later with Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Millie Bobby Brown in an undisclosed role, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, and Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers]].[3] In September 2015, Cara Buono joined the cast as Karen Wheeler,[6] followed by Matthew Modine as Martin Brenner a month later.[7] Additional cast who recur for the first season include Noah Schnapp as Will,[3][5] Shannon Purser as Barbara "Barb" Holland,[8] Joe Keery as Steve Harrington,[39][5] and Ross Partridge as Lonnie Byers,[9] among others. Actors auditioning for the children's roles read lines from Stand By Me.[14] The Duffer Brothers estimated they went through about a thousand different child actors for the roles. They noted that Wolfhard was already "a movie buff" of the films from the 1980s period and easily filled the role, while they found Matarazzo's audition to be much more authentic than most of the other audition tapes, and selected him after a single viewing of his audition tape.[15] As casting was started immediately after Netflix greenlit the show, and prior to the scripts being fully completed, this allowed some of the actors' takes on the roles to reflect into the script. The casting of the young actors for Will and his friends had been done just after the first script was completed, and subsequent scripts incorporated aspects from these actors.[32] The brothers said Modine provided significant input on the character of Dr. Brenner, whom they had not really fleshed out before as they considered him the hardest character to write for given his limited appearances within the narrative.[34] Filming The brothers had desired to film the series around the Long Island area to match the initial Montauk concept. However, with filming scheduled to take place in November 2015, it was difficult to shoot in Long Island in the cold weather, and the production started scouting locations in and around the Atlanta, Georgia area. The brothers, who grew up in North Carolina, found many places that reminded them of their own childhoods in that area, and felt the area would work well with the narrative shift to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.[20] The filming of the first season began on September 25, 2015, and was extensively done in Atlanta, Georgia, with The Duffer Brothers and Levy handling the direction of individual episodes.[40] Jackson served as the basis of the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.[41][42] Other shooting locations included the Georgia Mental Health Institute as the Hawkins National Laboratory site, Bellwood Quarry, Patrick Henry High School in Stockbridge, Georgia, for the middle and high school scenes,[43] Emory University's Continuing Education Department, the former city hall in Douglasville, Georgia, Georgia International Horse Park, the probate court in Butts County, Georgia, Old East Point Library and East Point First Baptist Church in East Point, Georgia, Fayetteville, Georgia, Stone Mountain Park, Palmetto, Georgia, and Winston, Georgia.[44] Set work was done at Screen Gem Studios in Atlanta.[44] The series was filmed with a Red Dragon digital camera.[34] Filming for the first season concluded in early 2016.[41] While filming, the brothers tried to capture shots that could be seen as homages to many of the 1980s references they recalled. Their goal was not necessarily to fill the work with these references, but instead to make the series seem to the viewer like a 1980s film.[21] They spent little time reviewing those works and instead went by memory. Matt further recognized that some of their filming homages were not purposely done but were found to be very comparable, as highlighted by a fan-made video comparing the show to several 1980s works side by side.[14][45] Matt commented on the video that "Some were deliberate and some were subconscious."[14] The brothers recognized that many of the iconic scenes from these 1980s films, such as with Poltergeist, was about "taking a very ordinary object that people deal with every day, their television set, and imbuing it with something otherworldly", leading to the idea of using the Christmas light strings for Will to communicate with Joyce.[21] The brothers attributed much of the 1980s feel to set and costume designers and the soundtrack composers that helped to recreate the era for them.[14] Lynda Reiss, the head of props, had about a $220,000 budget, similar to most films, to acquire artifacts of the 1980s, using eBay and searching through flea markets and estate sales around the Atlanta area. The bulk of the props were original items from the 1980s with only a few pieces, such as the Dungeons & Dragons books made as replicas.[46] Visual effects To create the aged effect for the series, a film grain was added over the footage, which was captured by scanning in film stock from the 1980s.[34] The Duffers wanted to scare the audience, but not to necessarily make the show violent or gory, following in line with how the 1980s Amblin Entertainment films drove the creation of the PG-13 movie rating. It was "much more about mood and atmosphere and suspense and dread than they are about gore", though they were not afraid to push into more scary elements, particularly towards the end of the first season.[34] The brothers had wanted to avoid any computer-generated effects for the monster and other parts of the series and stay with practical effects. However, the six-month filming time left them little time to plan out and test practical effects rigs for some of the shots. They went with a middle ground of using constructed props including one for the monster whenever they could, but for other shots, such as when the monster bursts through a wall, they opted to use digital effects. Post-production on the first season was completed the week before it was released on Netflix.[14] The title sequence uses closeups of the letters in the Stranger Things title with a red tint against a black background as they slide into place within the title. The sequence was created by the studio Imaginary Forces, formerly part of R/GA, led by creative director Michelle Doughtey.[47] Levy introduced the studio to The Duffer Brothers, who explained their vision of the 1980s-inspired show, which helped the studio to fix the concept the producers wanted. Later, but prior to filming, the producers sent Imaginary Forces the pilot script, the synth-heavy background music for the titles, as well as the various book covers from King and other authors that they had used to establish the title and imagery, and were looking for a similar approach for the show's titles, primarily using a typographical sequence. They took inspiration from several title sequences of works from the 1980s that were previously designed by Richard Greenberg under R/GA, such as Altered States and The Dead Zone. They also got input from Dan Perri, who worked on the title credits of several 1980s films. Various iterations included having letters vanish, to reflect the "missing" theme of the show, and having letters cast shadows on others, alluding to the mysteries, before settling into the sliding letters. The studio began working on the title sequence before filming and took about a month off during the filming process to let the producers get immersed in the show and come back with more input. Initially, they had been working with various fonts for the title and used close-ups of the best features of these fonts, but near the end the producers wanted to work with ITC Benguiat, requiring them to rework those shots. The final sequence is fully computer-generated, but they took inspiration from testing some practical effects, such as using Kodalith masks as would have been done in the 1980s, to develop the appropriate filters for the rendering software. The individual episode title cards used a "fly-through" approach, similar to the film Bullitt, which the producers had suggested to the studio.[48] Music Main articles: Music of Stranger Things and Stranger Things (soundtrack) The Stranger Things original soundtrack was composed by Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon of the electronic band Survive.[49] It makes extensive use of synthesizers in homage to 1980s artists and film composers including Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Goblin, John Carpenter, Giorgio Moroder, and Fabio Frizzi.[50] According to Stein and Dixon, The Duffer Brothers had been fans of Survive's music, and used their song "Dirge" for the mock trailer that was used to sell the show to Netflix.[49][51] Once the show was green-lit, the Duffers contacted Survive around July 2015 to ask if they were still doing music; the two provided the production team with dozens of songs from their band's past to gain their interest, helping to land them the role.[49] Once aboard, the two worked with producers to select some of their older music to rework for the show, while developing new music, principally with character motifs.[51] The two had been hired before the casting process, so their motif demos were used and played over the actors' audition tapes, aiding in the casting selection.[51][52] The show's theme is based on an unused work Stein composed much earlier that ended up in the library of work they shared with the production staff, who thought that with some reworking would be good for the opening credits.[49] The first season's original soundtrack, consisting of 75 songs from Dixon and Stein split across two volumes, was released by Lakeshore Records. Digital release and streaming options were released on August 10 and 19, 2016 for the two volumes, respectively, while retail versions were available on September 16 and 23, 2016.[53][54] In addition to original music, Stranger Things features period music from artists including The Clash, Toto, New Order, The Bangles, Foreigner, Echo and the Bunnymen, Peter Gabriel and Corey Hart, as well as excerpts from Tangerine Dream, John Carpenter and Vangelis.[54][55] In particular, The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" was specifically picked to play at pivotal moments of the story, such as when Will is trying to communicate with Joyce from the Upside Down.[54] Music supervisor Nora Felder felt the song "furthered the story" and called it an additional, unseen, main character of the season.[56]

Bruce in Brentford and Chantelle in Stockbridge face the big ten!

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123125.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC, confronts a hard but urgent truth drawn from Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church: the Antichrist is not only a future figure, but a present spirit at work in the world. Reflecting on the First Letter of John, Fr. Chris explains that Scripture speaks of both a singular Antichrist still to come and many “antichrists” already active—those who have departed from Christ by rejecting His Church (1 Jn 2:18–19; NABRE).This deception is subtle. It often disguises itself as independence, spirituality without authority, or self-made salvation. Yet the Catechism warns that before Christ's return, the Church must endure a final trial marked by religious deception that offers false solutions at the price of apostasy (Catechism of the Catholic Church §675). To deny the Church established by Christ is to deny Christ Himself, even when His name is still spoken.Father Chris reminds us that the Church is not man-made, but God-made—founded by Christ, entrusted to the Apostles, and preserved through apostolic authority (Mt 16:18; NABRE). Though imperfect in her human members, she remains divinely protected in her mission. Like Noah's Ark, the Church may feel uncomfortable at times, but outside of it there is only drowning.The answer to confusion is not retreat, but fidelity. Through Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, God sustains His remnant and strengthens them to remain faithful witnesses. Evil has already been defeated, but souls are still at stake. Our task is not fear, but perseverance—praying, teaching, and living the truth so that others may return to Christ through His Church.“Anyone who knows God listens to us” (1 Jn 4:6; NABRE).To deepen your understanding of the Sacraments Christ gave His Church, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123025.cfmThe mystery of Christmas overturns every illusion of self-salvation. God does not wait for humanity to climb back to Him. He comes down.Father Anthony Gramlich, MIC, draws us into this central truth of the Incarnation: Fallen humanity cannot raise itself by its own efforts. Grace is not something we generate. Redemption begins with divine humility.The world repeatedly offers a different promise — especially in modern spiritual movements — that we can elevate ourselves through technique, effort, or enlightenment. But Scripture reveals the opposite. Because of sin, humanity cannot lift itself to God. Instead, God lowers Himself to lift us. As St. Paul writes, Christ “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave” (Phil 2:7; NABRE). Born in poverty and obscurity, rejected by the world, Jesus enters fully into our human condition — without sin — in order to heal it from within.Father Anthony traces this saving pattern through salvation history itself. Humanity fell through the wood of the tree in Eden, and humanity is raised through the wood of the Cross. God is born on wood, works with wood, and dies on wood so that what once led us away from Heaven becomes the instrument that brings us back. Christmas is already pointing toward Calvary, and Calvary toward resurrection.This mystery demands proclamation. The angels announced it. The shepherds ran to see it. Anna spoke of it to all who awaited redemption. Christmas is not meant to remain silent or sentimental. It is the celebration of a God who acts, a God who saves, and a God who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. To speak about Christmas rightly is to speak about Jesus Christ — the One who came down so that we might be raised up by grace.“Though he was in the form of God… he humbled himself” (Phil 2:6a & 8a; NABRE). ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123025.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC reflects on the coming Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the Purification of Mary — a mystery often misunderstood, and sometimes misused, to challenge the Church's teaching on Our Lady. What appears, at first glance, to be a ritual of purification reveals instead a profound lesson in obedience, humility, and grace.Mary did not submit to the law because she was sinful. Her purification was legal, not moral — a requirement of Mosaic law tied to childbirth, not guilt. Just as Jesus did not need Baptism yet freely accepted it, Mary did not need purification yet humbly embraced it. Grace raised her above the law, Fr. Chris explains, but humility placed her beneath it. Together, Jesus and Mary show us that obedience to God's law is not weakness, but witness.The Presentation also reminds us that every child belongs first to God. In the ancient law, the firstborn was not owned by the parents, but lent to them by the Lord. Parenthood, therefore, is stewardship — a sacred trust for which we will one day answer. Faith must be passed on by example, just as Mary and Joseph lived the law faithfully before their Son.Father Chris then turns our attention to Simeon and Anna, the “quiet in the land.” They did not seek power, spectacle, or influence. They waited in silence, prayer, and hope. Their lives testify that holiness is not measured by activity, but by fidelity. This is a special word of encouragement for the homebound and forgotten: quiet prayer, offered faithfully, shapes salvation history.Finally, Simeon's prophecy confronts us with a sobering truth. Christ does not condemn us — we judge ourselves by our response to Him. When His law meets a heart that loves, it lifts us up. When it meets indifference or rejection, we turn away on our own. Salvation is not a one-time declaration, but a daily surrender. Like  St. Thérèse of Lisieux taught, we are not called to climb to heaven by our strength, but to place ourselves in Christ's hands and let Him do the lifting.Grace invites. Humility responds. And the hand of Jesus raises all who are willing to endure in Him ★ Support this podcast ★

Father Chris Alar, MIC turns our attention to the Feast of the Holy Family and the profound truth it reveals about God's design for human life. The Holy Family is not a symbol shaped by culture or preference. It is a revelation. God chose to enter history through a family — a man, a woman, and a child — and in doing so, He revealed the foundation upon which both the Church and society stand.Father Chris warns that Satan's most persistent attacks have always been aimed at these two bedrocks: the Church and the family. Marriage is redefined. Gender is redefined. Parenthood is fragmented. Even within Catholic homes, silence has been replaced by constant noise, family meals by screens, and shared life by isolation. The result is not freedom, but fragmentation — a loss of humanity itself.Drawing from Pope Paul VI, Fr. Chris highlights the essential pillars of a holy family: silence, love, and discipline. Silence creates space for God to speak. Love orders the home toward self-gift rather than self-interest. Discipline — rooted in the word disciple — forms children for heaven, not merely for comfort. Parents are not called to be passive observers of their children's lives, but faithful stewards accountable to God for their souls.The family, Father Chris reminds us, is the domestic Church — the first place where obedience, forgiveness, sacrifice, and prayer are learned. It is where children discover who God is by watching how love is lived. Even in broken or difficult situations, God's grace remains active. Single parents, those abandoned or wounded, are not forgotten by the Church. Their fidelity, sacrifice, and perseverance often become powerful witnesses of divine providence.Ultimately, the Holy Family shows us that commitment is not a burden but a mission. Joseph protected. Mary trusted. Jesus obeyed. God became man within a family so that all families might be drawn into the family of God. A holy family, Fr. Chris teaches, is not only our greatest defense against the world — it is our most powerful way of transforming it. ★ Support this podcast ★

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 ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122225.cfmFather Daniel Klimek, MIC confronts a growing indifference toward the Blessed Virgin Mary—even among Catholics—and reminds us that authentic Christianity is always Marian. The words of the Magnificat are not poetic exaggeration; they are divinely inspired truth: “From now on will all ages call me blessed.” (Lk 1:48; NABRE). Reverence for Mary is not optional sentiment—it is a biblical directive.Mary's song echoes the praise of Miriam in the Old Testament, yet now the liberation announced is not political, but eternal. Through the womb of the Virgin, Christ enters the world. She becomes the Ark of the New Covenant, bearing not the law written on stone, but the Word made flesh. To diminish her role is to misunderstand the Incarnation itself.Father Daniel warns that indifference toward Mary is one of the most subtle spiritual dangers of our time. When Marian devotion is reduced to a “personal spirituality,” something essential is lost. From the Cross, Jesus entrusted His Mother to the beloved disciple—and in him, to every Christian: “Behold, your mother” (Jn 19:27; NABRE). This was not symbolic poetry; it was a sacred investiture.To honor Mary never detracts from Christ. As the saints affirm, devotion to the Mother always leads more deeply to the Son. The Immaculate Heart is inseparably united to the Sacred Heart. When we receive Mary into our spiritual life, as St. John did, our faith becomes more profound, more biblical, and more fully Catholic.Mary is not an accessory to the Gospel. She is at its heart. To receive her is to receive one of Christ's final gifts from the Cross—a Mother who intercedes, protects, and leads us unfailingly to Him. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122125.cfmFather Chris, MIC leads us into the hidden strength and obedience of Saint Joseph—a man whose silence speaks louder than words. While Mary's fiat is rightly celebrated, salvation history also depended on Joseph's quiet “yes.” Without it, Jesus would not have had the legal lineage of David, nor the protection and provision of a faithful earthly father.Joseph stands as the head of the Holy Family, chosen by God to guard what was most sacred. Though sinless perfection belonged only to Mary, the Church has long taught that Joseph was sanctified for his mission. Astonishingly, God Himself chose to live in obedience to Mary and Joseph, revealing the dignity of family life and the authority entrusted to fathers.Matthew's Gospel shows us the Nativity through Joseph's eyes. Faced with confusion and fear, Joseph chose charity over judgment. Only after he resolved to act mercifully did God send clarity through an angelic dream. Scripture reminds us that God's guidance often follows—not precedes—acts of trust. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid” (Mt 1:20; NABRE).Saint Joseph models humility, courage, chastity, and obedience to God's will. As patron of the family and the Church—two realities most fiercely attacked—his role is more urgent than ever. His life teaches us that holiness is often hidden, obedience is rarely loud, and faith is proven in action.Saint Joseph, patron of a happy death, pray for us. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121925.cfmWhen God is about to do something great—something that will change lives—He almost always begins with preparation. That preparation is rarely comfortable. It often includes waiting, suffering, and long seasons that seem unanswered. Father Anthony Gramlich, MIC reflects on this divine pattern by drawing our attention to two couples marked by infertility and faith: Manoah and his wife in the Old Testament, and Zechariah and Elizabeth in the New Testament.Samson's birth followed years of suffering, yet his consecration began before he ever took a breath. In the same way, the birth of John the Baptist comes only after decades of hidden fidelity. Zechariah and Elizabeth were “righteous in the eyes of God,” yet they carried a heavy cross. Their story reveals a hard truth of the spiritual life: holiness does not exempt us from suffering. Often, it deepens it.Zechariah's moment of doubt silences him, but God's promise is not silenced. The angel Gabriel declares, “Your prayer has been heard” (Lk 1:13; NABRE), reminding us that prayers offered in faith are never wasted—even when the answer comes long after hope seems reasonable. God works on His timetable, not ours, and His plans exceed human logic.This Gospel teaches us not to ask “why” in suffering, but to trust that God is preparing something greater than we can imagine. As the Church leads us toward Christmas, these Scriptures invite us to prepare not just our homes, but our hearts. Christ does not enter through decorations or schedules, but through faith refined by trust.“For nothing will be impossible for God” (Lk 1:37; NABRE). ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121825.cfmFather Matthew, Tomeny, MIC reflects on St. Joseph — the silent guardian of the Holy Family — and the mystery that unfolded when God entrusted him with Mary and the Christ Child. The Gospel tells us Joseph was “a righteous man” (Mt 1:19; NABRE), not because he had all the answers, but because he responded to God with humility, reverence, and obedience. Faced with a situation beyond human explanation, Joseph chose mercy over judgment and trust over control.Father Matthew explores the Church's rich tradition on Joseph's response to Mary's pregnancy. Rather than suspicion, many saints and theologians saw in Joseph a profound reverential fear — a recognition that he was standing before the work of the Holy Spirit. Like St. Peter who said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Lk 5:8; NABRE), Joseph considered himself unworthy to be so close to such holiness. His desire to step back was not rejection, but awe.God, however, reveals Joseph's role through the angel: “Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home” (Mt 1:20; NABRE). Joseph's obedience gives Jesus His legal lineage as Son of David and provides the Holy Family with protection and stability. Though he never speaks a word in Scripture, Joseph's faith speaks loudly.As Christmas approaches, this homily invites us to imitate St. Joseph — to stop striving for control and allow Christ to dwell in the home of our hearts. True righteousness is found not in understanding everything, but in humbly saying "yes" when God asks us to make room for Him. ★ Support this podcast ★

In today's homily, Fr. Tyler Mentzer, MIC, reflects on the genealogy that opens the Gospel of Matthew — a passage we often rush past, yet one filled with profound hope. “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Mt 1:1; NABRE) is not merely a list of names. It is the story of salvation unfolding through real people, real families, and real brokenness.This lineage includes saints and sinners, faithful patriarchs and corrupt kings, Jews and Gentiles, holiness and grave sin. Scripture does not hide the dysfunction. David's adultery, idolatrous rulers, exile, foreign bloodlines — all are present. And yet, this is precisely where Christ chooses to enter. God does not wait for a perfect family tree. He enters human history as it is and redeems it from the inside out.Father Tyler reminds us that Matthew deliberately frames this genealogy as a new beginning — a new Genesis. Just as creation began “in the beginning,” so now a new creation begins with Christ. Jesus stands at the center of history, time, and salvation. As Scripture teaches, “... whoever is in Christ is a new creation” (2 Cor 5:17; NABRE).This message is especially powerful as Christmas approaches. Many families carry wounds, strained relationships, and painful legacies. Yet the Gospel assures us that when Jesus is invited into a family, into a heart, into a life, everything begins to change.Sin does not have the final word. Grace does.As we prepare for Christmas, Fr. Tyler challenges us to ask honestly: Where is Christ still waiting to be invited in? When we say yes to Him, the Lord who “will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21; NABRE) begins a work of restoration that reaches backward, forward, and into eternity. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121625.cfmIn today's homily, Fr. David Gunter, MIC, draws us into the prophetic urgency of Zephaniah and the hope that follows divine correction. Speaking to a time of widespread apostasy and moral confusion, the prophet confronts a people seduced by false worship and corrupt leadership. Yet Zephaniah does not end with judgment. He announces restoration.Scripture reminds us that God never abandons His people:“But I will leave within you    the meek and humble.The remnant of Israel    will trust in the name of the Lord.” (Zeph 3:12).Throughout salvation history, the Lord preserves a faithful remnant — not the proud or powerful, but those supple to grace. Saint Paul echoes this truth when recalling Elijah's despair: “So also at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace” (Rom 11:5). Advent places this message squarely before us. The birth of Christ sets the restoration of humanity in motion — for Israel and the Gentiles alike.Father Gunter challenges us to recognize that we are living in a new season of preparation, one that calls for silence, repentance, and humility rather than distraction and noise. Those who recognized the Messiah — Anna, Simeon, Joseph, Elizabeth, and above all the Blessed Virgin Mary — were humble souls formed by prayer and trust. The same humility is required of us today. As the psalmist declares, “God alone is my rock and salvation… my refuge is in God” (Ps 62:7a & 8c). This Advent, the question is not whether God is offering grace — He is — but whether we are prepared to receive it. Through Confession, prayer, and fidelity, let us become the remnant ready for Christ to be born anew in our hearts.Advent places this message squarely before us. The birth of Christ sets the restoration of humanity in motion — for Israel and the Gentiles alike. ★ Support this podcast ★

Father Matt reminds us that God never stops speaking — but too often, we are the ones who stop listening. Not because God is unclear, but because we already have our own plans, expectations, and conclusions. At the root of this resistance is a deeper struggle: We do not want to submit to God's authority or His will.In today's reflection, Fr. Matt discusses the prophecy of Balaam in the Book of Numbers. Balaam, a pagan soothsayer, is compelled to proclaim the truth: “A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel.” Though Balaam himself was far from holy, God still spoke through him, showing that divine truth is not limited by the weakness of the messenger. That prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ — the true King, whose authority extends not just over Israel, but over all nations.The same King enters Jerusalem humbly, riding on a donkey, praised by children, and rejected by leaders who refuse to listen. Their question — “By what authority are you doing these things?” — is not born of curiosity, but of hardened hearts. They hear the words, but they are willfully deaf to their meaning.Father Matt challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we listening for God's voice, or only for what confirms what we already want? Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, true blessing comes when we say, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” God speaks in Scripture, in the poor, in His Church, in prayer, and in the Eucharist — but He will not force our ears open.God speaks. The question remains: will we listen? ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121425.cfm“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice” (Phil 4:4). On Gaudete Sunday, Fr. Matt reminds us why the Church pauses in Advent to rejoice: the Lord is near. Advent is not only preparation for Christ's first coming at Bethlehem, but vigilance for His Second Coming, when He will “judge the living and the dead,” as we profess in the Creed. This joy is born from hope — the hope Israel carried for centuries as it awaited the Messiah who would heal, redeem, and restore.The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would open blind eyes, unstop deaf ears, make the lame leap, and cause the mute to sing (Is 35:5–6). Yet as Fr. Matt explains, these miracles point to something even deeper. Christ came not merely to heal bodies, but to heal souls. Spiritual blindness, deafness, paralysis, and death caused by sin are far more devastating than physical illness. Jesus' miracles are signs that He alone restores life through grace.John the Baptist understood this. From prison, he sent his disciples to Jesus — not out of doubt, but so they might encounter the Lamb of God themselves. Christ's response revealed the truth: salvation was at hand. Still today, joy depends on recognizing our need for Him. When we cling to sin, we choose darkness over light and forfeit the freedom Christ offers. But when we repent and receive His mercy, the light conquers the night.Jesus told St. Faustina, “I am the King of Mercy… before I come as a just Judge” (Diary, 83). In the Eucharist, He comes even now. If we rejoice at His coming today, we will rejoice when He comes again.To deepen your understanding of Christ's healing grace, explore Understanding the Sacraments and the Diary of St. Faustina at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

In Revelation 12, Scripture presents a woman “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1). As Fr. Chris explains, this image points unmistakably to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her heavenly glory reveals the one chosen by God to bear Christ, the King who “is to rule all the nations” (Rev 12:5). Yet confusion arises when the passage speaks of her crying out in pain. These are not physical labor pains from the birth of Jesus. According to the Church's tradition, Mary's true labor pains were spiritual—suffered at the foot of the Cross, when she gave birth to the Church itself (cf. Jn 19:26–27).This mystery comes alive in the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Standing before the sun, upon the moon, and clothed with stars, Mary reveals that she is not a goddess but a mother who leads souls to the one true God. Her image spoke directly to the Aztec world, proclaiming that human sacrifice was over. No longer would hearts and blood be offered to false gods. Instead, God Himself would offer His own Heart and Blood to feed His people in the Holy Eucharist. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6:51).Mary's message still resounds today. She unites what was divided, drawing every people and culture into communion with Christ. As Mother of the Church, she continues her mission: to bring us always to her Son, Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.To deepen your understanding of the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121125.cfmOn December 11, the Marian Fathers celebrate the spiritual founding of our community, dating back to 1670 when St. Stanislaus Papczyński made his solemn oblation and offered his whole being to God and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without original sin. In his vow, he promised to promote and defend her honor even to the cost of his life. Today, Fr. Matt reminds us that this mission continues.Before the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was officially defined in the 1800s, St. Stanislaus endured opposition and misunderstanding—yet he remained steadfast. Why? Because Mary is the New Eve, created immaculate to cooperate perfectly with Christ, the New Adam, in God's plan of redemption. As Fulton Sheen often noted, humanity fell through a man, a woman, and a tree—and God redeemed us through a Man, a Woman, and the Tree of the Cross.Mary's sinlessness reveals the beauty of the new creation, where Jesus makes all things new. She shows us not only who she is, but who we are called to become through grace. Fr. Matt explains why the Church Fathers taught that Mary experienced no birth pains in Bethlehem: her true labor pains came later at the Cross, where she became the Mother of all the living. Her Immaculate Conception is not a detail—it is the key to understanding who we are in Christ and the destiny God desires for us.As we approach Christmas, distortions about Mary often resurface, especially depictions that undermine her immaculate dignity. But honoring her means honoring God's work in her. St. Stanislaus's vow challenges us today: defend her honor, protect the truth of the faith, and never allow the Queen of Heaven to be diminished. When we keep Mary in her rightful place, the Holy Spirit finds a dwelling place in us just as He did in Nazareth. ★ Support this podcast ★

In tonight's sleep hypnosis with Jessica, you'll drift toward deep relaxation as she guides you into a snowy New England evening. Through a visualization meditation, you'll wander the winter streets of Stockbridge - letting its calm, storybook stillness ease you into rest. As always, tonight's episode will start with a relaxing introduction from Jessica, before we sink into tonight's Sleep Hypnosis. Want more Sleep Magic? Join Sleep Magic Premium ✨ Enjoy 2 bonus episodes a month plus all episodes ad-free, access to Jessica's complete back catalog of over 60 episodes, and show your support to Jessica.  To Subscribe 

Today, December 10th, the Church celebrates the optional memorial of Our Lady of Loreto, commemorating the miraculous Holy House that journeyed from Nazareth to Loreto, Italy. As Pope Francis officially inscribed it into the General Roman Calendar in 2019, this feast reminds us of the profound mystery of the Incarnation and the sanctity of the Holy Family. Tradition tells us that angels transported Mary's childhood home to protect it during the Crusades. Historical sources, including the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, note that the stones match those from Nazareth, with Greek and Hebrew inscriptions confirming its origin (Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913).The Holy House, now enshrined in the Basilica della Santa Casa, is not merely a relic but a living icon of God's presence, where the Word became flesh. Fr. Chris reflects on the domestic church, the family, and our responsibility to teach and live the faith at home: “Are you teaching your faith in your home? Are you living the virtues of our faith?” (DH 12/10). Just as Mary and Joseph nurtured Jesus in their household, parents today are called to instill faith, hope, and love within their families.Our Lady of Loreto is also the patroness of aviators, a reminder that God's protection spans both the ordinary and extraordinary journeys of life. Fr. Chris shares how personal faith is nurtured by fathers and spiritual mentors, highlighting the transformative power of guidance, prayer, and example. In a society where the family is under attack, turning to the Holy Family and Our Lady of Loreto offers protection, inspiration, and hope for every household. Let us pray for our families, asking Mary and Joseph to guide, protect, and bless them, especially during this Christmas season. ★ Support this podcast ★

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 ★

The Scripture readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120525.cfmTo encounter Christ is to encounter the One who heals—physically, spiritually, supernaturally. Today's Gospel reminds us that miracles are not mythology but reality. Two blind men cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.” Their plea becomes the seed of what the Church would later cherish as the Jesus Prayer—“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”The Fathers of the Church teach us that Scripture works on multiple levels. Historically, the miracle happened. Allegorically, the story unveils the drama of the spiritual life. We, too, are often blind—moving through seasons of darkness, dryness, and desolation. St. John of the Cross calls this the “dark night of the senses,” a purification God permits so that we learn fidelity beyond feelings.Yet God does not leave the faithful in darkness. For those who persevere, He leads them into illumination, contemplation, even the grace of infused prayer—where, as St. Teresa of Avila describes, the soul is “invaded by the supernatural.” Prayer shifts from something we do to something God does in us.This is the heart of the Jesus Prayer. Slowly, reverently, breathed in rhythm with the heart, the soul becomes accustomed to the presence of Jesus. The Eastern saints tell us that one can reach the place where even in sleep the heart continues to pray.This is our call: not merely to “say prayers,” but to become prayer. To carry Jesus in every breath. To let His name shape our thoughts, our conversations, our interior life. When we invoke His Holy Name, He draws near—because He desires intimate communion with us.To go deeper in your spiritual life, visit DivineMercyPlus.org, our free, ad-free Catholic streaming platform. And for guidance in prayer and contemplation, see the link in bio for resources and books that can help you journey into the heart of Jesus.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #catholictiktokAdditional tags: #jesusprayer #easterncatholic #prayerlife #frdanielmaria #holiness #contemplativeprayer #scripturestudy #dailyhomily #spiritualgrowth #christianprayer ★ Support this podcast ★

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 ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120325.cfmAdvent invites us to wait—not passively, but with trust. As Fr. Tyler Mentzer reflects on Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” he reminds us that God's provision is never merely sufficient; it is abundant, verdant, and overflowing. In a world where we're tempted to grasp, control, or hurry, Advent teaches us to rest in the “fertile pastures” where the Good Shepherd gives us repose.Fr. Tyler shows how the Lord's generosity is revealed through Scripture: the prophecy of Isaiah, the miracles of Jesus, the multiplication of loaves, and the Eucharist—our “juicy, rich food” and “pure choice wine.” The Catechism teaches: “Hope is the confident expectation of divine blessing” (CCC 2090). Advent hope means trusting that God's timing is perfect, His providence lavish, and His guidance steady—even in the “dark valley.”Like Jesus in the desert and on the Cross, we are invited to wait on the Father rather than take matters into our own hands. The fruit of this waiting is abundance, courage, resurrection life, and the promise that we “shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”Watch the full homily on YouTube, DivineMercyPlus.org, the DM+ app, and wherever you get your podcasts.Deepen your Advent with exclusive Catholic content on the free, ad-free Divine Mercy Plus streaming platform. Explore the Diary of St. Faustina and Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org.More resources available at the link in our bio.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #frtylermentzer #catholictiktok#advent #psalm23 #goodshepherd #eucharist #hope #waitingonGod #trustGod #CatholicHomily #dailyhomily #JesusChrist ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120225.cfmIn Proverbs 8, Scripture reveals a tender mystery: before the world began, the Eternal Son “was beside Him… playing before Him at all times.” Before creation, before the angels, Jesus rejoiced in the Father's presence with the freedom of a child. Fr. Anthony reminds us that this childlike joy is not optional—it is essential to the spiritual life. “Unless you become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 18:3).We work, plan, strategize, and try to control everything. But God models something different: on the seventh day He rested—not out of fatigue, but delight. He teaches us to receive, to enjoy, to play. Children do this naturally. They don't resent the snow; they run into it with joy. They teach us spontaneity, hope, and wonder—dispositions that open the heart to grace.The saints lived this way. St. Therese taught her “little way” precisely because she recognized her own littleness and God's greatness. St. Faustina wrote Diary only out of obedience, abandoning her own will for God's. This surrender is the heart of Divine Mercy: “My will does not exist; now I do the will of God” (Diary).Childlikeness is not immaturity—it is spiritual clarity. It is trusting that God will truly provide everything, spiritually and materially. It is receiving Holy Communion with the joy of a child opening a Christmas gift. It is letting Jesus “clean the house” of your soul. It is learning to say with Mary: “Let it be done to me according to Your word.”Explore more Catholic teaching at DivineMercyPlus.org, and get the Diary of St. Faustina at ShopMercy.org.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #franthonygramlich #catholictiktok #dailyhomily #adventreflection #childliketrust #jesuslovesyou #trustgod #holymass #eucharist #sttherese #divinemercydevotion ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120125.cfmIn today's homily, Fr. Daniel offers a challenging but deeply Catholic truth: salvation belongs to Christ alone, yet His grace reaches far wider than we often imagine. Jesus praises the faith of the pagan centurion, teaching that many from east and west will recline with Abraham in the Kingdom (cf. Mt 8:11). This isn't sentimental pluralism—it's the mystery of a God whose grace cannot be confined, even as He has entrusted the fullness of truth to His Church.The Catechism affirms that the Church possesses the “fullness of the means of salvation” (CCC 816), yet also acknowledges that elements of truth and goodness in other religions ultimately come from Christ, the one Way, Truth, and Life (Jn 14:6). As St. John Paul II taught, actual graces can move any soul toward virtue, awakening the conscience and preparing the heart for deeper conversion.But this does not lessen our missionary call. Every person deserves the fullness of truth—the sacraments, the Eucharist, the tender strength of Our Lady, and the saving intimacy of Jesus Christ. “Go, therefore, and make disciples” remains a command of love. And as Fr. Daniel reminds us, judgment considers not only what we have done, but what we have been given. Those who reject the Gospel after receiving much will be accountable for more.In the end, God's mercy is vast, but truth is not relative. Christ alone saves, Christ alone is divine, and Christ alone conquered death. Yet His grace works tirelessly—even in hidden places—to draw every heart toward Himself. May we cherish the fullness we've received, evangelize with zeal, and trust that God never ceases reaching for His children, from every nation, religion, and corner of the earth.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #frdaniel #catholictiktok #homily #dailyhomily #gospelreflection #catholictruth #salvation #evangelization #jesuschrist #eucharist #catholicchurch ★ Support this podcast ★

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 ★

Today's Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112625.cfmToday's guest homilist, Fr. Richard Shuaibu of the Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria, joined us at the National Shrine to share a living testimony of the Gospel we heard proclaimed—Christ's promise that “not a hair on your head will be destroyed” because eternal life is secure in Him. Introducing him, Fr. Chris reminded us that while persecution is rising across the world—especially in Nigeria—the victory of the Christian is not measured by earthly safety but by fidelity that leads to heaven.Fr. Richard's powerful witness brought this truth into sharp focus. He spoke of daily persecution: churches burned, priests martyred, families displaced, children abducted, communities attacked simply for bearing the name of Jesus. And yet—he stood before us with unshakable peace. Why? Because the enemy cannot conquer the heart that belongs to Christ.He reminded us that Christians do not fight with weapons of destruction, but with weapons of conversion: the Holy Rosary and the maternal protection of Our Lady. Even amid violence, miracles occur. Even in the jungle, faith endures. And even under threat of death, Fr. Richard proclaimed the truth: “There is no God but the Lord, and Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”Please pray for Fr. Richard, for the Church in Nigeria, and for all who suffer for the Gospel. And may his witness strengthen us to stand firm in Christ, who alone is our hope and our life.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #catholictiktok #frchrisalar #persecution #martyrs #nigeria #prayfornigeria #courage #faith #rosary #ourlady ★ Support this podcast ★

Today's Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112625.cfmAs we reach the final days of the liturgical year, the Church invites us to lift our eyes toward the ultimate realities: Christ's return, the purification of the world, and God's unshakeable plan for His people. Fr. Chris reminds us that the Scriptures, the Catechism, and the Church-approved Marian apparitions all speak with one voice: we are already living in the “last hour” (CCC 670), and yet God's mercy remains our refuge and our hope.From Akita to La Salette, Fatima to Quito, Heaven has warned of chastisements—but always with a mother's plea: If you pray, if you repent, if you return to God, the course of history can change. The future is not fixed. Divine Mercy is God's final outreach before His justice, as Jesus told St. Faustina: “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy” (Diary, 300). These messages are not meant to terrify but to awaken, calling each of us to deeper prayer, conversion, and fidelity to the sacraments.Fr. Chris breaks open what Heaven asks of us in these times: trust in Divine Mercy; a Eucharistic life; confession; consecration to Jesus through Mary; the Rosary and Chaplet; fasting; accepting our daily crosses; and leading others to Christ through Mary's maternal guidance. These are not extraordinary tasks—they are the ordinary path to holiness, given with extraordinary urgency. The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the Era of Peace will come, but God invites us to participate in their arrival through our own response.Now is the time to turn back to the Lord. Now is the time to pray. Now is the time to choose trust over fear. Heaven has spoken—and its message is mercy.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism#frchrisalar #endtimes #fatima #akita #lasaLette #divinemercyplus #catholictiktok #eucharist #rosary #chapletofdivinemercy #catechism #secondcoming ★ Support this podcast ★

The Place Persecution Cannot ReachIn today's homily, Fr. Tyler reflects on a truth revealed by the Vietnamese Martyrs—117 canonized, more than 300,000 known to God alone—who witnessed with their blood that no earthly power can touch the deepest sanctuary of the human person: the heart. Persecution may imprison the body, silence the voice, or press upon the mind, but it cannot force the interior surrender of one's freedom. As the Catechism teaches, the heart is “the seat of moral decision,” the place where we choose for or against God.Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc and his companions lived this truth heroically. Arrested, tortured, ransomed, and arrested again, they remained interiorly free—joyful even—because their choice for Christ was rooted in the depths no chains could reach. Their witness echoes that of the Apostles singing hymns in prison, and above all, Christ Himself on the Cross. From His place of suffering, Jesus freely offered His life: “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18). His heart remained sovereign, forgiving His persecutors, entrusting Himself to the Father, and rising in glory.Fr. Tyler reminds us that persecution in our own age may be subtler—cultural pressures, moral confusion, spiritual weariness—but the battleground is the same. Nothing in this world, no government, movement, or ideology, can make the choice of our heart for us. Every Christian must decide: Will I choose Christ today, especially when the cross becomes heavy? The Vietnamese martyrs, the Apostles, and the Lord Himself show that true freedom is found in fidelity, even in suffering. As the liturgical year draws to its close, the Gospel calls us to stay awake, to guard that sacred interior ground where God speaks and where love chooses Him in return.May we, like the martyrs, give Christ our “yes” anew today, remaining faithful until the end when He leads us through death into eternal life.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism#frtyler #vietnameseMartyrs #saintandrewdunglac #martyrdom #persecution #catholichomily #saintoftheday #choosechrist #catholictiktok ★ Support this podcast ★

Today's Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112325.cfmIn today's homily, Fr. Anthony reminds us of a truth Americans rarely ponder: we have never lived under a king — yet our entire faith rests on the Kingship of Jesus Christ. Unlike earthly monarchs who seek power, privilege, and protection, Jesus rules from a place no human king would ever choose: the Cross. His throne is wood, His crown is thorns, His royal robes are His own Precious Blood. This is the radical reversal of the Gospel — a King who saves not by “saving Himself,” but by pouring Himself out in total self-gift. As Scripture says, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).The mockery of the rulers, the soldiers, and the thief — “Save yourself!” — echoes the temptation we all face: self-preservation over self-surrender. Yet Jesus reveals the true meaning of kingship: mercy. On Calvary, He establishes a kingdom not of domination but of redemption. He conquers sin, death, and Satan by embracing the Cross, proving that divine authority is expressed through sacrificial love. The Diary of St. Faustina echoes this mystery when Jesus says, “The flames of mercy are burning Me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls” (Diary, 1074). Christ thirsts for souls, not for earthly glory.Fr. Anthony urges each of us to enthrone Jesus as King in our hearts. The real battle is not with political enemies or cultural currents, but within — between virtue and vice, grace and temptation. To invite Christ the King is to ask Him to conquer our interior enemies quickly and decisively. And where the King reigns, He places His Queen — the Blessed Virgin Mary — beside Him. Through truth, humility, and repentance, the kingdom of God takes root within us, leading us to the final victory: rising with Christ after our death, just like the good thief who prayed, “Jesus, remember me.”For more Catholic teaching, visit DivineMercyPlus.org and the link in our bio. Deepen your understanding of Christ's saving work and the Sacraments with Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism#franthony #christtheking #dailyhomily #catholicpreaching #jesuschristking #calvary #divinemercydevotion #maryourmother #catholictruth #gospelteaching ★ Support this podcast ★

Today's Mass Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112025.cfmPilgrimage Promo: https://youtu.be/LSw5E8f5jNYRegister for the Pilgrimage Here: https://marian.org/events/pilgrimage-medjugorjeAs we approach the end of the liturgical year, Fr. Jason Lewis reflects on Jesus' anguished words to Jerusalem — the city that should have recognized “what makes for peace” (Lk 19:42). Like Eden and the Temple, Jerusalem was meant to be the spiritual center of the cosmos, yet its people often turned from the very Source of life. Jesus laments a blindness of heart that leads to ruin, reminding us that true peace is found only when we return to God with humility and trust. As the Catechism teaches, “Peace is the tranquility of order” rooted in God Himself (CCC 2304).Fr. Jason shows how Our Lady, the Queen of Peace, leads us directly to her Son, the Prince of Peace. Her message echoes the words Jesus gave to St. Faustina: “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy” (Diary, 300). Medjugorje, a place of deep conversion for many, calls us to pray from the heart, read Scripture, adore Christ in the Eucharist, fast, and make frequent confession — the very sacramental life through which Divine Mercy heals and restores us. Access to grace in the Eucharist and Confession reveals why the Church calls the Sacraments “powers that come forth from the Body of Christ” (CCC 1116).The world promises peace through wealth, comfort, or distraction, yet these leave us empty. Only Jesus offers a peace that endures (cf. Jn 14:27). Our Lady invites us to trust, surrender, and choose the narrow path that leads to life. To deepen your understanding of the Sacraments, visit ShopMercy.org for Understanding the Sacraments. To grow in Divine Mercy spirituality, see the Diary of St. Faustina at ShopMercy.org. For guidance on praying the Rosary and Chaplet, visit the link in our bio.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #frjasonlewis #queenofpeace #medjugorje #divinemercydevotion #masshomily #confession #eucharist #catholicprayer #holymary #spiritualwarfare #peaceinChrist ★ Support this podcast ★

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 ★

Original airdate: March 08, 2022 At some point in our life, we all go through difficult times when we experience pain, disappointments and loss. These experiences can have a profound impact on us, for better or worse. According to my guest, Stephen Cope, crises does not have to derail us. It can be the very thing that can help us find our purpose and step forward as our best selves. This is the central theme of his new book “Dharma in Difficult Times.” Stephen Cope is a psychotherapist, Kripalu Yoga teacher, scholar and best-selling author of several books on yoga and meditation. He is the founder of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living in Stockbridge, Massachusetts—the largest center for the study and practice of yoga in the Western world. Yoga Journal named him one of the most influential thinkers, writers, and teachers on the current American yoga scene. Stephen offers his insight into how we can identify purpose as we find our way through our darkest times. He explains what it means to find our Dharma using examples from his own life and the lives and teachings of some famous figures from history. 

In today's homily, Fr. Matt offers a sobering reminder: a nation cannot survive spiritually if its people abandon truth. As Catholics, we are called not only to believe the faith, but to study it, to guard it, and to allow it to shape our daily lives. The Church teaches that the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Truth” (John 14:17), and when we invite Him into our hearts, He strengthens us to love what is good, reject what is false, and persevere through every trial. This is why the Catechism says that life in Christ transforms the whole of our existence (CCC 1691).Fr. Matt reminds us that a country's spiritual health depends on the conversion of its people. We must let the Holy Spirit place divine truth on our hearts—not as an idea, but as a lived reality. St. Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom 12:2). A renewed mind becomes a renewed family, a renewed Church, and a renewed nation.We are called to pray deeply for our country, not in despair, but with hope rooted in Divine Mercy. In moments of darkness, the Lord asks us to return to His Heart, where truth and mercy are never separated. Divine Mercy Plus offers many resources to help you grow in faith and understanding; visit the link in our bio to explore talks, articles, and ways to ground your spiritual life in the truth Christ entrusted to His Church.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #catholictiktok #frmattolea #holyspirit #truth #conversion #pray ★ Support this podcast ★