When we are in mourning, we hardly feel blessed. Grief can shatter us in mind and spirit, it can take a heavy toll on the body, and it can devastate our faith. In these moments of weakness it is often difficult to see the light. The love of God is always there, but sometimes we can render ourselves numb to His compassion. But God can use our grief to help others and to build a bridge between us that was stronger than before, if only we let him into that space of hurt. Katy is back on the show to discuss moments of profound grief with Nicholas, and both of them have a message of faith and God's love from their own experiences.

It is hard to imagine Christianity without the prophets of old. They correct us when we've gone astray and speak to God on our behalf. Most importantly, they point to the coming of our Savior. Their words ring true throughout the ages, touching our hearts and guiding us even today. Many women also had the role of a prophet, though their contributions of often tragically overlooked. Fr Victor Cancino joins Nicholas to delve into these topics and more as we discuss the place of the prophets in our lives and the story of salvation.

One of the core Catholic experiences is participation in the Rite of Reconciliation, commonly known as Confession. We reflect on where we have fallen short of God's expectations and bring this to a priest who serves as Christ's messenger of absolution. Beyond the rote recitation of sins, it is an invitation to go deeper into our own nature with the intent of not just identifying our sins, but working through the root causes. Fr. Cochran joins Nicholas for an in depth discussion about this Holy Rite and how it can enrich our lives.

The Summa Theologica is a masterpiece in the Catholic lexicon. St. Thomas Aquinas beautifully lays out a logical way of understanding God and our faith. Our episode today specifically concerns his proofs of the existence of God. Using human reasoning and our understanding of the world around us, St. Thomas expertly explains this deepest of mysteries. To help us understand these concepts better, Fr. Hightower has joined Nicholas for an in-depth and relevant discussion.

In 2022, St Francis Xavier Parish was blessed by the arrival of Father Paul Cochran. In his time here he has proven vital to our community. Whether delivering moving homilies or mentoring the faithful, his service to this parish has earned him the love of its congregation. The path that brought him to us is a fascinating one, full of lessons and inspiration. In this episode, Nicholas has the honor of sitting down with this wonderful man to discuss his story, his faith, and his dedication to his vocation.

Throughout history, the Holy Spirit has moved our faith to greater understanding of God's remit for us. As our society has evolved over the last century, the ways in which women participate in and shape our faith have expanded and become more prominent. From the heroines of the Old Testament to the devoted disciples of Christ, women have walked with the Spirit in a myriad of ways. In this episode, Fr Pat Conroy sits down with Nicholas to look back at the contributions of women to the Church and look forward to the potentials of our future.

Catholicism has a deep tradition of faith and science, but scientific approaches rarely allow for the role of God in our observations of the physical universe. Fr Ed Kohler proposes a new paradigm to unify hard science with our understanding of God's creation. Part theology, part physics, Divine Mechanics provide a bridge between the two.

Further explorations of the world of Divine Mechanics can be found at Fr Kohler's YouTube channel: Paul Francis Ministry

1.4 billion voices lifted in joy on May 8th when the announcement rang out: Habemus Papam! Though his Papacy is only just taking form, we can see much of the character of Leo XIV in his Augustinian charism, his missionary work in the world, and his cardinalate. The name Leo also has great historic significance that gives us a vision of his hopes for our future. Fr Hightower joins us to give some opening analysis and impressions as we eagerly welcome our new Holy Father.