Happy feast of Our Lady of Lourdes! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Sr. Mary Lisa Renfer of Sacred Heart Mercy Health Clinic to discuss the connection between today’s Marian feast and the World Day of the Sick. Other guests include Fr. Joseph Mary Wolfe to discuss the Lenten meditations he’s sharing for EWTN, and Beth Knobbe on this year’s CRS Rice Bowl campaign for Lent. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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A Prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick

Our Lady, Health of the Sick,
I look to you for the comfort of a mother’s love,
I pray to you on behalf of those who are suffering
and for my own healing needs.
Mary, your love strengthens me
and brings me peace.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick,
embrace all who are emotionally and physically ill that they may return to
good health under your tender care. And please intercede for my very
special needs. (mention your needs here).

Mary, your love strengthens me and brings me peace.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us. Amen.

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Sr. Mary Lisa Renfer is online at sacredheartmercy.org.

Beth Knobbe is online at crsricebowl.org.

Cincinnati Right to Life is online at cincinnatirighttolife.org.

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Happy feast of St. Scholastica! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., to share the story of how St. Benedict’s twin sister found the upper hand with him through prayer. Other guests include Allan Smith and Alexis Walkenstein to discuss news related to the sainthood cause of Fulton Sheen, and Kris McGregor from Discerning Hearts to reflect on a selection from the Office of Readings. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Collect for the Feast of St. Scholastica

As we celebrate anew the Memorial of the Virgin Saint Scholastica, we pray, O Lord, that, following her example, we may serve you with pure love and happily receive what comes from loving you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

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Allan Smith, author of The Holy Face and the Little Way

Alexis Walkenstein is online at beinawepr.com. Her book on Fulton Sheen can be found here.

Fr. Columba Jordan is online at ascensionpress.com.

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Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell discuss the aftermath of Super Bowl LX and the commercials and messages that came out during the course of it. Guests include Stephanie Mann with more on Robert Hugh Benson and friendship with God, Fr. Phillip Larrey on the Pope and artificial intelligence, and Kevin Schmiesing with This Week in Catholic History. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Prayer of Pope Clement XI

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.
I trust in you: strengthen my trust.
I love you: let me love you more and more.
I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.

I worship you as my first beginning,
I long for you as my last end,
I praise you as my constant helper,
And call on you as my loving protector.

Guide me by your wisdom,
Correct me with your justice,
Comfort me with your mercy,
Protect me with your power.

I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you;
My words: to have you for their theme;
My actions: to reflect my love for you;
My sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.

I want to do what you ask of me:
In the way you ask,
For as long as you ask,
Because you ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding,
Strengthen my will,
Purify my heart,
and make me holy.

Help me to repent of my past sins
And to resist temptation in the future.
Help me to rise above my human weaknesses
And to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love you, my Lord and my God,
And see myself as I really am:
A pilgrim in this world,
A Christian called to respect and love
All whose lives I touch,
Those under my authority,
My friends and my enemies.

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,
Greed by generosity,
Apathy by fervor.
Help me to forget myself
And reach out toward others.

Make me prudent in planning,
Courageous in taking risks.
Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.

Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer,
Temperate in food and drink,
Diligent in my work,
Firm in my good intentions.

Let my conscience be clear,
My conduct without fault,
My speech blameless,
My life well-ordered.
Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.
Let me cherish your love for me,
Keep your law,
And come at last to your salvation.

Teach me to realize that this world is passing,
That my true future is the happiness of heaven,
That life on earth is short,
And the life to come eternal.

Help me to prepare for death
With a proper fear of judgment,
But a greater trust in your goodness.
Lead me safely through death
To the endless joy of heaven.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Happy feast of the Martyrs of Nagasaki! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Dr. Matthew Bunson to discuss the missionaries, converts, and others whose incredible faith built the Church in Japan. Other guests include Andrew Petiprin on Pope Leo’s commends regarding how to interpret Scripture, and Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo from the Institute of Catholic Culture and Fr. Jonathan Duncan from the Bone Church Revival podcast to preview the Sunday Mass readings. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Prayer for the Martyrs of Nagasaki

O God our Father, source of strength to all your saints, you brought the holy martyrs of Japan through the suffering of the cross to the joys of eternal life; Grant that we, encouraged by their example, may hold fast the faith we profess, even to death itself; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

*****

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Happy feast of St. Agatha of Sicily! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Mike Aquilina and Courtney Brown to discuss the heroic witness of this early Christian virgin and martyr. Other guests include Rita Heikenfeld with Bible Foods, Gary Michuta from Hands On Apologetics, and Dr. John Bergsma on preparing for Lent with Scripture. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Prayer of St. Clement of Alexandria

May we all live in the peace that comes from You. May we journey towards Your city, sailing through the waters of sin untouched by the waves, borne tranquilly along by the Holy Spirit, Your Wisdom beyond all telling. Night and day until the last day of all, may our praises give You thanks, our thanksgiving praise You: You who alone are both Father and Son, Son and Father, the Son who is our Tutor and our Teacher, together with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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RECIPES FROM RITA: GRAIN-FREE POTATO CRUST QUICHE

Ingredients

1-1/2 lbs baby “creamer” or Yukon gold potatoes (if using larger potatoes, peel and cut up)
1-1/2 tablespoons salt for boiling potatoes, plus ¼ tsp for sprinkling
8 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 cup onion, diced
1-1/2 cups cheese, shredded
1-1/2 cups half and half, or equal parts whole milk and heavy cream
5 eggs
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp smoked or regular paprika (optional but good)
Handful fresh greens, shredded (optional)
Chives, to garnish, optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400.
Add potatoes and enough water to cover. Add 1-1/2 tablespoons salt. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat and cook until tender, about 20-30 minutes, depending on size. Drain and set aside.
While potatoes cook, set a 10-inch cast iron pan (or a heavy-bottomed, oven-safe pan) over medium heat and add bacon. Cook until bacon is crisp and leave fat in pan.
Remove bacon and set aside.
Add onions to fat and cook, stirring often, until golden. Remove onions to plate with bacon.
Add potatoes to skillet in a single layer. Sprinkle with ¼ tsp salt.
Use the bottom of a glass or measuring cup to press firmly into bottom and about 1 inch up the sides, closing gaps to form a complete crust.
Whisk eggs. Add half and half, ½ tsp salt, pepper and paprika. Whisk to incorporate air into mixture.
Stir in cheese, onion, greens, and most of the chopped bacon (set some aside for garnish). Pour into crust.
Bake 25-30 minutes, or until filling is set and cooked.
Let cool on rack 15 minutes. Garnish with bacon and parsley or chives, if desired.

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Keith and Tami Kiser are online at readnarnia.org.

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Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Deacon Nathan Biersdorfer to continue a series on Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. Other guests include Gary Zimak on preparing well for Lent, and Karlo Broussard from Catholic Answers. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Act of Love
O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

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Cincinnati Right to Life is online at cincinnatirighttolife.org.

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Happy feast of St. Blase! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell discuss his patronage against all ailments of the throat. Guests include Bear Woznick on the importance of true Catholic friendship, Kris McGregor to reflect on a selection from the Office of Readings, and Steve Ray on false gods in the Bible. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Prayer of St. John of the Cross

O Blessed Jesus,
give me stillness of soul in You.
Let Your mighty calmness reign in me.
Rule me, O King of Gentleness,
King of Peace.

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Info on the Lenten retreat with Fr. Boniface Hicks can be found at instituteofcatholicculture.org.

Fr. Patrick Briscoe’s guided Lenten journal can be found here.

Fr. Tony Stephens is online at adelebrice.org.

Tanner Kalina and the Pillars of Faith project can be found at ascensionpress.com.

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Happy feast of the Presentation of the Lord! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell discuss the many theological and devotional layers of this significant event in the life of the Holy Family. Other guests include Kevin Schmiesing with This Week in Catholic History, and Fr. Tony Stephens from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion to discuss the recent opening of the sainthood cause of Servant of God Adele Brise. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Collect for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Almighty ever-living God, we humbly implore your majesty that, just as your Only Begotten Son was presented on this day in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so, by your grace, we may be presented to you with minds made pure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

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Sr. Allison Regina Gliot, FSP, author of The Light They Left

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