Do you have loved ones who have left the Faith, but feel powerless as to how to get them back into the Catholic Church?

Matthew Leonard has a powerful plan of action to help bring them back. It's not going to be easy - but it's very effective.

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In this episode of the Art of Catholic Podcast, Matthew Leonard sits down with Catholic Scripture scholar Curtis Mitch to unpack the doctrine of original sin and what actually happened in the Garden of Eden. They explore the biblical account of Adam and Eve, what the Church really teaches about the Fall, and how original sin affects every human person today.

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It's such a simple, familiar story.

The creation of man, the Garden of Eden...and of course, the fall of Adam and Eve.

But what really happened in the Garden?

If Adam was created with a bunch of special gifts, not to mention serious amounts of grace, why did he fall?

Not only that, but why do we have to suffer the consequences of his mistake?

These are big questions because if you don't understand what happened in the beginning, it can seriously mess up your understanding of what we're dealing with right now...not to mention how we're saved from it all.

That's why I invited my good friend, Catholic Scripture scholar extraordinaire Curtis Mitch, back to the Art of Catholic podcast.

In today's episode, we unpack the real doctrine of original sin, discuss what actually happened in the Garden of Eden, and dive into all the ways this simple story affects our ultimate destiny as members of God's family.

My conversation with Curtis explores questions such as:

- What gifts did Adam actually possess in the Garden?

- If he had no inclination to sin, how did Adam fall?

- Why did God allow him to fall?

- Why Original Sin isn't actually the sin of Adam

- If we didn't do it, why do we have to suffer the effects of Adam's fall?

- How Christ gives us more than Adam had

- And a whole lot more!

This is one of those podcasts you're going to return to because it's so rich!

In this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast, Matthew Leonard and author and professor Dr. Daniel Keating explore the astonishing Catholic doctrine of Deification.

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The conversation explores what Deification really means, and addresses questions such as:

• How can we possibly become "gods"?
• Is Deification in the Bible or Catechism?
• What the Saints say about Deification
• How Martin Luther & John Calvin believed in Deification
• Does Deification blur the lines between God and man?
• What are the major misunderstandings surrounding Deification?

However you imagine heaven to be, this podcast will open your eyes to an even deeper understanding of God's breath-taking love, and leave you awe-struck at all that he has in store for us.

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Deification: An Introduction

02:50 The Doctrine of Deification Explained

05:38 The Mechanism of Deification

08:16 Scriptural Foundations of Deification

11:05 The Role of Sacraments in Deification

14:02 Deification in the Old Testament

16:52 Deification in the New Testament

19:47 The Relationship Between Deification and Suffering

22:33 Prayer and Deification

25:22 The Importance of Daily Prayer

28:03 The Role of Participation in Divine Nature

30:58 Eastern vs. Western Perspectives on Deification

33:35 The Transformative Power of Prayer

36:21 Conclusion: Embracing Our Divine Destiny

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It's a simple, yet profound question.

Is God a person or an idea to you?

Seriously, take a moment and think about it.

Do you really see him as a person or is he some kind of ethereal idea floating up in the heavens?

For a lot of us - if we're being honest with ourselves - tend to think of him in non-personal terms.

He's this force or idea up above.

Yes, we talk to him on occasion. We ask him for things. We even praise him and receive him in the Eucharist.

But do we know him as a person?

And if not, how can we do that? How can we develop a truly personal, transformative relationship with the Lord?

Well, who better than to ask than a former hermit about how to truly commune with God?

Fr. Wayne Sattler - a former hermit and spiritual director for his entire diocese - is going to help us deepen our relationship with Christ on this powerful episode of the Art of Catholic podcast.

You do NOT want to miss it.

Taking a deep dive into the subject of his new book, Remain in Me and I in You, my wide-ranging conversation with Father Sattler includes:

• How to know God as a person, not just an idea
• What really happens in contemplative prayer
• The crucial difference between agape love and eros
• Why some people never attain higher prayer
• What Christ really meant when he said, "Follow me"
• The fundamental requirement for truly serving God
• And much more!

Have you ever thought about the fact that God is wounded?

Yes, the Church teaches that God is impassable in his nature and cannot suffer.

But as the God-man, Jesus Christ suffered and died out of his great love for us and mysteriously carries these wounds into eternity.

And there's a sense that this divine vulnerability to wounds and suffering is still present by the loss of souls that Christ loves so fiercely.

It's a deeply fascinating and powerful topic that has a lot of implications for how we are to approach both God and the spiritual life in general.

And it's the topic of a scintillating conversation I had with with renowned spiritual theologian and author Father Donald Haggerty on this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast.

Touching on a variety of topics from his new book, The Hour of Testing, my conversation with Father Haggerty uncovers his deep insights into:

• The breathtaking beauty of divine vulnerability
• The mystical wounds of Christ
• Developing pure receptivity in prayer
• Why God conceals himself as we seek him
• A powerful way to bring back family members to the Faith
• Developing a thirst for souls
• And much more!

God bless!

Matthew

What lessons does a parish priest who battled the Devil (and won) have to share with us? Matthew Leonard is joined by author Kevin Wells who has published a great, very unique little book that shares the practical secrets of a holy life from St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars.

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Matthew Leonard is joined by author and professor John Mark Miravalle to discuss what beauty is - and why it matters.

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Given the joyful peal of St. Peter's bells still echoing around the world marking the election of our new Holy Father, it's the perfect time to talk about beauty.

After all, beauty is at the heart of everything Catholic.

God is beautiful.

Our Lady is beautiful.

Our Church is beautiful.

I could go on...

But what is beauty? How can we define it? Do you know it when you see it? Is it even necessary for something to be beautiful if it is Catholic? Where does beauty fit into the everyday?

These are important questions deserving great answers...and we've got them in this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast.

Join Matthew and John Mark Miravalle, Professor at Mount St. Mary's Seminary and author of Beauty: What It Is and Why It Matters, as they discuss:

• Why beauty is essential to truth
• The crucial role of surprise in beauty
• The difference between beauty and manipulation
• Why beauty must be "felt"
• The moral DUTY of beauty for Christians
• Why "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is wrong
• And much more!

Matthew Leonard is joined by Father Wayne Sattler, who lived the contemplative life as a hermit for years and has great wisdom to share on the spiritual life.

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If I say "hermit", what's the first thing that comes to mind?

An ancient Desert Father wearing a burlap sack, nappy beard, living a life of self-denial in a remote cave?

Or maybe a medieval nun, enclosed in a cell attached to a church wall, only receiving food through a small window?

What would one look like in the 21st century?

They're kind of hard to picture because that's pretty much all we have of hermits these days - pictures.

Not anymore. I've got one for you on the Art of Catholic podcast...and he's got some spiritual pearls to share with you.

After all, there's a deep knowledge and inexpressible sweetness in a life lived solely for God - and a deep wisdom that comes from being immersed in the Divine, all day every day.

But instead of having to go into the desert or monastery to hear their wisdom, you just have listen to this episode.

My guest on the Art of Catholic, Father Wayne Sattler, lived as a diocesan hermit for several years in a secluded one-room cabin in North Dakota. While there, his relationship with God deepened dramatically - and his insights into God's profound love for all of us are breathtakingly beautiful.

Tune in to our conversation as we discuss: - How to distinguish the beginnings of contemplation from other forms of prayer

• What is the "suspension of the senses" in prayer (and how to distinguish it from sleep:)
• The role of silence and self-denial in developing a deeper relationship with God
• Why we shouldn't fear what St. John of the Cross calls the Dark Night
• How understanding the body-soul connection can enhance our spiritual life
• And much more!

Now, if you're thinking to yourself, Wait a minute! If he's a hermit, how is he being interviewed on a podcast... ...that's a great question - and as you'll discover from our conversation, after calling him to spend years as a hermit, God has a new mission for Father Sattler now - and it's one that you'll definitely want to hear about.

God bless!

Matthew