Recollection, Office Life, and Pope Francis

Opening Banter

• Hosts discuss their busy week, humorously referencing comedians Jim Gaffigan and Dane Cook about the chaos of parenting.
• Easter season is highlighted as a joyful but busy time.

Transition to Office Life

• Discussion about returning to office work after a period of working from home.
• One host shares the challenges of balancing work with family life, especially with six young children and homeschooling demands.
• The other host enjoys a unique office setup with fellow Catholic businessmen, allowing for faith-based discussions and idea-sharing.

Business and Catholic Principles

• Hosts explore how secular business podcasts often unknowingly adopt Catholic virtues like prudence and wisdom.
• Advice from a business perspective: surround yourself with the right people to change your life, and prioritize who you work with over the job itself.
• Reflecting on early career lessons:
• Taking risks is crucial for success.
• Money isn't everything once basic needs are met; pursuing it excessively can lead to disordered priorities.
• Hard work is valuable but ineffective if not directed toward the right goals.

Pilgrimage Promotion

• Promotion of Select International Tours, a long-time sponsor offering pilgrimages to holy sites worldwide.
• Visit selectinternationaltours.com for details.

High Levels of Manliness Warning

• A humorous callback to early episodes, warning listeners about the "high levels of manliness" on the show.

Remembering Pope Francis

• Hosts reflect on Pope Francis' passing:
• Personal memory: Pope Francis kissing one host's daughter in 2015.
• Notable moments: His global benediction during COVID and the phrase "shepherds need to smell like sheep."
• Speculation about the timeline for electing a new pope, with a nod to historical conclave delays.

Eucharistic Miracle Story

• Story of Father Peter of Prague, a 13th-century German priest who doubted the Real Presence.
• During Mass in Bolsena, Italy, the host bled, leading to the establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi by Pope Urban IV.
• St. Thomas Aquinas composed hymns like Tantum Ergo and Pange Lingua for the feast.
• The miraculous host is preserved in Orvieto, which the hosts will visit on their October pilgrimage with listeners.

Spiritual Insights from Solid Virtue by Father Balakius

• Discussion of Solid Virtue by Jesuit priest Father Balakius, published by Coresu Press.
• Recollection:
• Defined as watchfulness and awareness of God's presence, akin to an "earthly heaven."
• Benefits: Prevents sin, reduces weariness, and fosters joy in God's love.
• Three sources: solitude, silence, and avoiding news (to curb curiosity and anxiety).
• Particular Examine:
• Focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of faults, not just external behaviors.
• Analogous to treating the cause of a disease, not just symptoms.
• Requires self-knowledge, possibly aided by friends, a spouse, or spiritual direction.
• After correcting major faults, shift to perfecting daily actions and cultivating virtues.
• Spiritual Warfare:
• Involves a firm resolution to amend faults, renewed twice daily (morning and noon).
• Resolutions should be short-term (half-day increments) to avoid discouragement.
• Twice-daily examination of conscience (noon and evening) to track progress.
• Keep a log of faults to compare daily and weekly progress, ensuring empirical improvement.

Practical Applications

• Hosts emphasize the practicality of Balakius' advice, comparing it to business strategies like tracking KPIs.
• Encouragement to stay focused on one vice or virtue at a time, similar to St. Alphonsus Liguori’s 12 Steps of Holiness.
• Modern distractions (e.g., smartphones, social media) hinder recollection and willpower, making these practices challenging but essential.

Personal Reflections

• A host shares a poignant moment with his son, illustrating the power of undistracted presence as a form of adoration.
• Discussion about the struggle to focus on one task at a time, even when the task is good (e.g., mowing the yard vs. listening to audiobooks).
• The monastic principle of dedicating fully to the present task as God’s will.

Closing

• Invitation to join the hosts on their October pilgrimage to Rome, highlighting ideal weather and Eucharistic miracle sites.
• Recommendation to check out Solid Virtue and other Coresu Press publications.
• Cheers to Jesus!

Sponsors: Select International Tours (selectinternationaltours.com)

Drink of the Episode: Dalwhinnie 13-Year-Old Scotch (Scotch Malt Whisky Society, "Scotland the Brave")

Note: Listeners are encouraged to email Dave for more details about Father Peter of Prague or the pilgrimage.