Godsplaining

Do Catholics really have to go to Mass every Sunday? And why does the Church call it an “obligation”?

In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Patrick Briscoe unpack the Sunday Mass obligation and explain why obligation and freedom aren’t enemies. In fact, having certain non-negotiable commitments can free us from constantly having to decide what matters most.

The friars discuss why Sunday Mass should be a question of when—not whether—why even a less-than-ideal Mass is still worth attending, how worship gives God what He is due, and why the Mass provides a foundation for the entire week.

They also explore what can be lost in being “spiritual but not religious,” the importance of worshiping as a community, and the surprising freedom that comes from allowing our lives to be ordered toward God.

 

Join Exodus 90 for St. Michael's Lent with with Fr. Columba Jordan starting on August 12th: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining

 

For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

Support the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

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To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Fr. Bonaventure welcomes Fr. Timothy Gallagher, OMV, back to Godsplaining for a conversation about St. Ignatius of Loyola and the discernment of spirits.

How do we recognize what is drawing us toward God, and what is pulling us away? How should we respond when we experience discouragement, confusion, anxiety, or spiritual desolation? What role should our emotions play in the spiritual life?

Drawing from his latest book Thinking Like a Saint: Discernment of Spirits in the Catholic Tradition, Fr. Gallagher explains St. Ignatius’ practical rules for discernment and how they can help Catholics move from simply reacting to their interior experiences to understanding and responding to them.

Fr. Gallagher also explains why Ignatian discernment isn’t uniquely Ignatian in its substance, but is deeply rooted in the broader Catholic spiritual tradition, including the wisdom of St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales, St. John of the Cross, St. Thomas Aquinas, and others.

Listen and learn how to become more attentive to the movements of your heart, recognize the action of the good spirit and the enemy, and live with greater spiritual freedom.

 

Get your copy of Thinking Like a Saint: Discernment of Spirits in the Catholic Tradition: https://ignatius.com/thinking-like-a-saint-tlsp/

Listen to Fr. Gallagher's podcast on Discerning Hearts: https://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/fr-timothy-gallagher-discernment-of-spirits/

Look into Ignatian Discernment Institute's Upcoming Events: https://www.discernment.institute/events 

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

What if your biggest toxic trait could actually point you toward the Saint you need most?

Fr. Patrick and Fr. Joseph-Anthony take on some of today’s most common “toxic traits” and pair them with the Saints who show us a better way. They tackle everything from narcissism and holding grudges to ghosting, impulsivity, FOMO, and gaslighting.

As shown through the lives of the Saints, the friars clarify that holiness doesn’t entail losing your personality. Christ sanctified the Saints' unique personalities, weaknesses, strengths, and struggles—and He wants to do the same with us.

your toxic trait and the Saint you would pair it with? Let us know in the comments.

All you Holy Men and Women, pray for us!

 

Join Exodus 90 for St. Michael's Lent with with Fr. Columba Jordan starting on August 12th: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining

 

For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

What do you do when you've been genuinely hurt by someone in the Catholic Church? What if a therapist, friend, or loved one tells you that leaving the Church is the answer?

In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure discuss church hurt, trauma, abuse, forgiveness, and the difficult distinction between the holiness of the Church and the failures of her members. The friars explore why Catholics shouldn't dismiss real experiences of pain or mistreatment, why the failures of priests and other Catholics don't negate Christ's promises to His Church, and how someone who has been hurt can begin to heal without abandoning the faith.

During their discussion they offer practical advice for Catholics struggling to return to a parish or trust Church leaders again—including when it may be appropriate to create space, attend another parish, seek professional and spiritual guidance, and allow healing to unfold over time.

What does forgiveness require? Does forgiveness always mean reconciliation? And can God bring something new out of even our deepest wounds? Listen to the full episode to hear what the friars have to say.

 

Join Exodus 90 for St. Michael's Lent with with Fr. Columba Jordan starting on August 12th: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining

 

For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Why are more people cutting off family members, friends, and loved ones? What does the rise of “no contact” reveal about the way we understand relationships?

Fr. Gregory sits down with Ethics and Public Policy Center Fellow and author Noelle Mering to explore the growing phenomenon of fractured relationships. They discuss the influence of social media and therapy-speak, the meaning of “toxic” and “traumatic,” our increasing discomfort with disagreement, and the temptation to treat relationships like online spaces that can simply be blocked, muted, or unfollowed.

Noelle and Fr. Gregory also consider how politics and ideology can reshape our understanding of family, obligation, and identity—and why Christian faith offers a radically different vision of love: one rooted in relationship, responsibility, forgiveness, and the dignity of the person in front of us.

 

Pre-order No Contact by Noelle Mering here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/804101/no-contact-by-noelle-mering/

Check out her book Awake, Not Woke: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology

Follow her work with Theology of Home: https://theologyofhome.com/

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU

Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1

Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org