This week Mother Natalia talks about attacks of the devil that lead to despair. She vulnerably shares some personal examples, and talks about people in her life who encouraged her during these moments of despair. Mother Natalia shares some writings from St. John Chrysostom related to despair as a way to encourage and strengthen us. Want to be a backstage listener? Become a patron on Patreon! References: On Repentance and Defeating Despair: Letters to Theodore by St. John Chrysostom Follow...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on the names of Adam and Noah, how they're linked, and how they reflect the new Adam. Fr. Michael talks about becoming an altar and how we can live that out in our day-to-day lives. Want to be a backstage listener? Become a patron on Patreon! References: The Beginning of Desire:  Reflections on Genesis by Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ...

This week Mother Natalia comes to us with some hot takes fresh off her poustinia. She talks about fear, love, vulnerability, and weakness. She talks about each of those in our relationship with God as well as our relationship with others. This episode is deep! Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Support the Show.

This week Fr. Michael talks about how to pray and providing suggestions to friends who ask for help in praying. He talks about how prayer methods (rote prayer, contemplative prayer, etc.) work differently for each person, but ultimately how important prayer is to our daily lives and relationship with God. References: The Art of Prayer by Kallistos Ware. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives by Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica Follow and...

This week’s episode was recorded live at SEEK24. Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia are joined by Fr. Boniface Hicks. They talk about how our lives would change if we inherently knew that Jesus loved us. They talk about ways this is exhibited in daily life, in prayer, in the confessional. They also talk about a sticker that premiered at SEEK and how it came to be. Thanks to SEEK for having us and to Spoke Street Media for recording this episode. References: Fawn and Flight with Kristin...

Today we conclude our series of the liturgies for Great and Holy Week. This week’s episode covers Great and Holy Friday, Great and Holy Saturday, and Pascha Sunday. This is our 200th episode. We're so grateful to our listeners for your prayers and support! Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Support the show

This week we continue our series of the liturgies for Holy Week. Today's episode covers Presanctified Liturgy on Holy Wednesday, matins for Holy Thursday, and Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday. References: The Year of Grace of the Lord by A Monk of the Eastern Church Isaiah 61:1-3 Therapy of Spiritual Illnesses by Jean-Claude Larchet Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our...

This week we're kicking off a three part series where we walk through the liturgies for Holy Week. Today's episode covers Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. References: The Year of Grace of the Lord by A Monk of the Eastern Church Great Lent by Fr. Alexander Schmemann Behold the Bridegroom Useless but not Worthless Monday Readings: Matt 21:18-43, Ezekiel 1:1-20, Exodus 1: 1-20, Job 1:1-12, Matt 24:3-35 Tuesday Readings: Matt 22:15-23:39, Ezekiel 1:21 - 28, Exodus 2:5-10, Job 1:13-22,...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on the encounter of Simeon and Anna with the child Jesus when Jesus was presented in the Temple. Fr. Michael also shares some creative ideas for almsgiving that you can incorporate during the Great Fast and even throughout the year. Episode 200! We're celebrating our upcoming episode 200 by hearing from you! Record a 20-30 second video (or audio only) clip talking about how the podcast has impacted your life. Upload to your Google drive and then share with...

This week Mother Natalia continues her discussion from a few episodes about the ache and longing we have in our hearts for eternity. She talks about the exodus and pilgrimage through this life, the goods that we can ache and long for, and how ultimately earth is not our home. References: Into Great Silence Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset The Ache Speaks with Mother Petra The Ladder of Divine Ascent by John Climacus Psalm 137 Episode 200! We're celebrating our upcoming episode 200 by...

On this week's episode, Fr. Michael works through some ideas he has for a homily he's giving later that day. He talks about the need to be cognizant of the work God is doing in our lives, our heads, and our hearts. References: Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset The Ladder of Divine Ascent by John Climacus Episode 200! We're celebrating our upcoming episode 200 by hearing from you! Record a 20-30 second video (or audio only) clip talking about how the podcast has impacted your life....

This week Mother Natalia takes a mini-topic request on recent Byzantine saints and also talks about fasting. Her discussion on fasting covers some of the reasons she likes fasting, the ways she can grow, and then some general practicalities on fasting. References: Father Vasyl Lonchyna What Suffering is Not with Mother Iliana The Ladder of Divine Ascent by John Climacus Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's...

This week Fr. Michael uses the story of Zacchaeus as inspiration for this week's episode. He talks about the childlikeness found in Zacchaeus as well as his curiosity. Fr. Michael talks about all the ways that Zacchaeus' sin is pointed out to us in the Gospel, yet we see his quick repentance and conversion. References: Luke 19: 1-10 Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our...

This week Mother Natalia shares about a recent experience rock climbing. She talks about healthy and unhealthy fear, recognizing the help that others around us provide, and ultimately how rock climbing relates to the spiritual life. References: Scruples and the Sacraments The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Support the...

This week we're joined by Kristin Molitor from the Institute for Ministry Formation. Kristin talks about the fawn response to danger, perceived danger, and trauma. We talk about where the fawn response can show up in our relationships well after trauma or danger has passed. We talk about the concept of spiritual bypassing or spiritual platitudes and how those can be a way of us ignoring our deeper feelings and emotions. References: Institute for Ministry Formation Theosis and Tribulations...

This week Mother Natalia uses a scripture passage from 2 Peter as inspiration for her episode. She talks about being patient while waiting but also hastening towards our call, or whatever we're waiting for. We give some practical advice on waiting while simultaneously hastening, and also give an example of not pursuing the next step that God is calling us to. References: 2 Peter 3:11-12 Italy Tour with Chris Stefanik Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on...

This week Fr. Michael talks about the ordinariness lived out in a mother's vocation and her hiddenness in that ordinariness. He talks about three women who have given reflections on specific Gospel passages, and how those passages have convicted the moms in their vocation. We also talk about sacrifices that parents make as they raise their children. References: Matthew 6:5-6 John 3:30 Matthew 8:16 - 20 Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our...

This week we're joined by special guest Fr. Boniface Hicks. Mother Natalia and Fr. Boniface talk about sensitivity. They talk about being a person who is perceived as "too sensitive" and interacting with people who are more sensitive than ourselves. References: What Humility is Not with Fr. Boniface Hicks Institute for Ministry Formation Grief to Grace Tenderness Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's...

This week Mother Natalia talks about being open and vulnerable, receiving healing the Lord provides, and the general brokenness which both of them have. We talk about online personalities and how the personalities should not become our end-all be-all in terms of knowing Jesus and following Him. References: All Rise for Judge Natalia Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our...

This week Fr. Michael expands on a mini-topic request on the death of infants. We talk about death and mourning, the various hymns of farewell used, why limbo came to be a concept, and the reality of evil and death. References: The Hope of Salvation for Infants who Die without being Baptized Scruples and the Sacraments The Reed of God Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom...

This week Mother Natalia reflects on two different encounters she recently had. The encounters led her to reflect on being Jesus to others and gently evangelizing others. References: Evil Thoughts Five through Eight (the one about anger) The Philokalia Volume 2 Father Michael and Mother Natalia Out and About Chris Stefanik - Nobody Wants to Talk about This Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the...

We're in person this week! This week Father Michael walks through the prayers that are said as a bishop is vested at a hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Plus we've got a minitopic on confession. References: CSYSK Episode on Priestly Vesting Prayers Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Support the show

This week we're joined by Alex from Voice of Reason! We recorded this episode live at the Metropolitan Assembly in New Jersey. Fr. Michael and Alex talk about living a life of service and holiness, imitating the holy people around us, and bringing others to the faith. References: God With Us Voice of Reason (YouTube) The Forgotten: Catholics of the Soviet Empire from Lenin through Stalin Finding a Hidden Church Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on...

This week Mother Natalia and Fr. Michael talk about places in scripture where we see the theme of light as they reflect on SEEK24’s theme of Be the Light. References: Romans 13:12 1 John 1:5-7 John 4:7-42 Hymns for the feast of the Theophany of the Lord SEEK24 Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Support the show