Episode #42 The Miraculous & the Macabre: Weird Catholic Handbook with Author Michael Lichens

Do you savor a good ol' fashioned ghost story? Do you enjoy stepping into a room filled to brim with human bones? What about facing your mortality head on? Well, well, well. Do I have a podcast (and a book) for YOU! In this Cupalo Conversations podcast, Lauren Hannon interviews Michael Lichens, an author and editor with a deep passion for the overlooked aspects of Christian history. They discuss Michael's latest book, 'Weird Catholic Handbook,' exploring themes such as ossuaries, saints, relics, and the phenomenon of incorruptibility. Michael retells the tail of some of America's most famous ghost stories and exorcisms, providing a historical perspective on these topics and how they relate to modern spirituality. In this conversation, Michael J. Lichens discusses the resurgence of spirituality in uncertain times, exploring haunted and holy places in the U.S., the impact of historical tragedies on spirituality, and the importance of imagination in understanding history. He reflects on the sensitivity to everyday spaces, the role of unusual experiences in deepening faith, and the confrontation with the fear of death. Lichens also addresses skepticism towards the miraculous and emphasizes the need to revive the tradition of storytelling as a means of connecting with our shared human experience. 00:00 Introduction to Michael Lichens and His Journey 02:34 Newly Published Weird Catholic Handbook 03:19 Bone Churches: Their History & Spiritual Complexity 07:37 Catholic Saints and Relics 08:55 Phenomenon of Saintly Incorruptibility 12:59 Ghost Stories & Exorcisms 21:20 The Rise of Spirituality in Post War & Modern Times 22:46 Haunted & Holy United States 28:03 Sensitivity to the Lives of Those Who Came Before 30:24 The Role of the Unusual in Deepening Faith 33:00 Confronting the Fear of Death 35:30 Addressing Skepticism Towards the Miraculous 39:15 Understanding Human Nature Through History 41:32 Reviving the Tradition of Storytelling Tune in and discover the bizarre and extraordinary stories that have shaped Catholicism and our human history with Michael Lichens and his "Weird Catholic Handbook" Connect with Lauren Hannon Sign up for "Cupalo Newsletter" (Lauren's email newsletter): https://cupalo.substack.com/ Follow Lauren on LinkedIn: / hannonlauren Check out Cupalo's website: https://cupalo.io