Catching Foxes

We did it! A few weeks later than anticipated! Here's our review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Not going to lie, I'm pretty proud of this episode. Luke and Scott sat down and had a pretty nuanced conversation about The Force Awakens. Enjoy!Support Catching Foxes

In this episode you will discover just how crazy much we are in love with the Star Wars franchise. Yes, at one point Gomer connects some themes to theology or morality, but we let Star Wars be Star Wars, for the most part. ( I don't quote this article, but wish I had! Fun read for Thomists.)This is where we go off with Ring Theory and Darth Jar Jar Binks. If you haven't heard about this, it might break your brain or roll your eyes. For Gomer, he rolls his eyes. For Luke, his brain hath broke.Gomer reveals how many books he's read to prepare his heart. Luke reveals how much he's cried in anticipation of the movie. Then we mock George Lucas for a bit and Luke makes such an inappropriate comment, even for our show, that I had to edit it out. But, most importantly, CLICK THE PICTURE BELOW AND RESCUE YOUR CHILDHOOD FROM GEORGE LUCAS! (or watch this documentary on Netflix)And finally, what if you hate the prequels? What if a film student decided to rewrite history and suggest to George Lucas' finished script certain alterations that would make the prequels actually good movies with actual characters you care about and an actual plot surprise, rather than boring characters, stupid CGI set pieces, and the prequels simply explaining everything in the original triology. Here's a pitch for a new plot to Episode I, II, and III. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yLsvexWBVM8IYSGopKuSfsGk5YIgCwQWd23bqb5ryD4/preview" target="_blank"> <img class="thumb-image" alt="When George Lucas ruined your childhood because of his own peccadillos, Harmy's restoration of the Original Triology in this Despecialized Edition will warm your heart. Click it to discover a whole new world." data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/567450e21c121018863c655f/1450463460815/" data-image-dimensions="1437x808" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="567450e21c121018863c655f" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/567450e21c121018863c655f/1450463460815/?format=1000w" /> </a> <p>When George Lucas ruined your childhood because of his own peccadillos, Harmy's restoration of the Original Triology in this Despecialized Edition will warm your heart. Click it to discover a whole new world.</p> <a href="http://amzn.to/1OcxiBz" target="_blank"> <img class="thumb-image" alt="Lost Stars... Where Twilight meets Star Wars. Enough said. I read it just to find out why that Star Destroyer crashes on Jakku. This book chronologically starts with pre-Star Wars A New Hope and ends after The Return of the Jedi." data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/5674519940667a2b56886827/1450463642374/51PhgY9aWRL._SL300_.jpg" data-image-dimensions="300x300" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="5674519940667a2b56886827" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/5674519940667a2b56886827/1450463642374/51PhgY9aWRL._SL300_.jpg?format=1000w" /> </a> <p><em>Lost Stars...</em>&nbsp;Where Twilight meets Star Wars. Enough said. I read it just to find out why that Star Destroyer crashes on Jakku. This book chronologically starts with pre-<em>Star Wars A New Hope</em> and ends after <em>The Return of the Jedi</em>.</p> <a href="http://amzn.to/1mcUlG3" target="_blank"> <img class="thumb-image" alt="This one wasn't as awful as the reviews make it out. Listen to it on audiobook and it's fine. The ending is not as great as it should be, but it's probably because they are setting up for more. This book starts right at the end of Return of the Jedi." data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/5674525b2399a3bb143bc6e9/1450463835954/51EAv3L9PGL.jpg" data-image-dimensions="329x500" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="5674525b2399a3bb143bc6e9" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/5674525b2399a3bb143bc6e9/1450463835954/51EAv3L9PGL.jpg?format=1000w" /> </a> <p>This one wasn't as awful as the reviews make it out. Listen to it on audiobook and it's fine. The ending is not as great as it should be, but it's probably because they are setting up for more. This book starts right at the end of <em>Return of the Jedi</em>.</p> <a href="http://amzn.to/1mcUKrQ" target="_blank"> <img class="thumb-image" alt="This is a book about a video game about the movies. Yes! But it is good. It gives you a grunt's eye view of the Rebellion and is a great audiobook." data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/567452f005f8e2dd00662f86/1450463984882/" data-image-dimensions="329x500" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="567452f005f8e2dd00662f86" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/567452f005f8e2dd00662f86/1450463984882/?format=1000w" /> </a> <p>This is a book about a video game about the movies. Yes! But it is good. It gives you a grunt's eye view of the Rebellion and is a great audiobook.</p> <img class="thumb-image" alt="This sets up the Star Wars REBELS cartoon show and is a good back story. The guy with the lightsaber was the last Padawan, with his Jedi master being killed by the Clone Troopers. This will lead into the Rebellion, as the green woman here is helping gather resistance fighters. Good stuff. " data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56745347841abaf154fd7c80/1450464071662/616p2RlCTwL._AA300_.jpg" data-image-dimensions="300x300" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="56745347841abaf154fd7c80" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56745347841abaf154fd7c80/1450464071662/616p2RlCTwL._AA300_.jpg?format=1000w" /> <p>This sets up the Star Wars REBELS cartoon show and is a good back story. The guy with the lightsaber was the last Padawan, with his Jedi master being killed by the Clone Troopers. This will lead into the Rebellion, as the green woman here is helping gather resistance fighters. Good stuff.&nbsp;</p> <a href="http://amzn.to/1OcyMvJ" target="_blank"> <img class="thumb-image" alt="A buddy comedy. The Emperor and Vader get stranded on a planet that yearns to be free of Imperial rule. This book's anti-Emperor protagonist is the daddy to Hera, the green girl above and in the Star Wars REBELS cartoon. It seems like everything is a prequel these days. Oh well. It's a fun story of Vader slaughtering things and the Emperor being all manipulative, but of Vader." data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/567454812399a3a13cb8ed08/1450464385878/" data-image-dimensions="300x300" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="567454812399a3a13cb8ed08" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/567454812399a3a13cb8ed08/1450464385878/?format=1000w" /> </a> <p>A buddy comedy. The Emperor and Vader get stranded on a planet that yearns to be free of Imperial rule. This book's anti-Emperor protagonist is the daddy to Hera, the green girl above and in the <em>Star Wars REBELS </em>cartoon. It seems like everything is a prequel these days. Oh well. It's a fun story of Vader slaughtering things and the Emperor being all manipulative, but of Vader.</p> Support Catching Foxes

Ah yes. Our old pal from college, Andy Lesnefsky. Luke and I remember the living embodiment of a prank phone call. Andy is all grown up now and helped evangelize tens of thousands of people through his #ShareJesus campaign at RedeemedOnline.com last Lent, and is going even bigger for this Advent.But even more important that #ShareJesus is the way Andy is dedicated to his original work as a high school youth minister. He ditched ladder-climbing years ago and has remained at the same parish for the last 10 years, building relationships and changing lives.We talk about his founding RedeemedOnline.com because of the total lack of a Social Media strategy by Catholic ministries to engage the billions of people online. His videos last year got 1.5 million views and he's learned a lot from this campaign, which he freely shares on this episode. This one is a keeper. And a sharer. #ShareAndyTheme music brought to you by BenSound.com. Support Catching Foxes

This was a tough one. That's all I got. Love you, Matt! <img class="thumb-image" data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56457ca7e4b03c048d1fbe5b/1447394472781/" data-image-dimensions="604x453" data-image-focal-point="0.7244444444444444,0.591715976331361" data-load="false" data-image-id="56457ca7e4b03c048d1fbe5b" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56457ca7e4b03c048d1fbe5b/1447394472781/?format=1000w" /> I Live yet do not Live in MeI live yet do not live in me,am waiting as my life goes by,and die because I do not die.No longer do I live in me,and without God I cannot live;to him or me I cannot givemy self, so what can living be?A thousand deaths my agonywaiting as my life goes by,dying because I do not die.This life I live alone I viewas robbery of life, and soit is a constant death — with noway out until I live with you.God, hear me, what I say is true:I do not want this life of mine,and die because I do not die.Being so removed from you I saywhat kind of life can I have herebut death so ugly and severeand worse than any form of pain?I pity me — and yet my fateis that I must keep up this lie,and die because I do not die.The fish taken out of the seais not without a consolation:his dying is of brief durationand ultimately brings relief.Yet what convulsive death can beas bad as my pathetic life?The more I live the more I die.When I begin to feel reliefon seeing you in the sacrament,I sink in deeper discontent,deprived of your sweet company.Now everything compels my grief:I want — yet can’t — see you nearby,and die because I do not die.Although I find my pleasure, Sir,in hope of someday seeing you,I see that I can lose you too,which makes my pain doubly severe,and so I live in darkest fear,and hope, wait as life goes by,dying because I do not die.Deliver me from death, my God,and give me life; now you have wounda rope about me; harshly boundI ask you to release the cord.See how I die to see you, Lord,and I am shattered where I lie,dying because I do not die.My death will trigger tears in me,and I shall mourn my life: a dayannihilated by the wayI fail and sin relentlessly.O Father God, when will it bethat I can say without a lie:I live because I do not die?Translated by Willis BarnstoneSt John of the CrossSupport Catching Foxes

We all go through difficult times, but a miscarriage or the death of a young child is a uniquely horrific pain. Maria Walther shares with us about the pain and the joy, the loss and the hope that sustains us when a mommy miscarries. While many people shrink away when someone is suffering, Maria reaches out with love and care. She discusses how Facebook has become for her Grand Central Station for prayer and intercession, receiving requests and calling on her friends to pray. I cannot think of another person who exercises the "spirituality of accompaniment" more than Maria. Luke shares a little bit about how the loss of his father drew him to God and Gomer talks about where his boy Noah got his name, and how that name made something beautiful happen.You will enjoy this episode. You will not cry. At all. I promise.Music provided by www.BenSound.com.  Support Catching Foxes

Luke and Gomer discuss how hard it is to evangelize your own families and how easy it is to become an overzealous, preachy, arrogant jerk to your family instead. Luke recounts some personal experiences on how, back in college, his home visits were filled with arguments with his family. That is, until his mom told him he was being arrogant.What leads us to place of arrogance? How can we avoid it? How do we stop using the truths of the faith as baseball bats against others?Luke let's us in on the secret around minute 30 and Gomer gives you the best tip possible on how to evangelize one's parents, especially if you are young.Here's something things to help you out (Amazon.com affiliate links help us out!)How to Share Your Faith with Anyone by Terry BarberSomething Other Than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It by Jennifer FulwilerNot God's Type: An Atheist Academic Lays Down Her Arms by Holly OrdwayLife Teen Blog: That Awkward Silence by Mark HartFind us here!https://www.facebook.com/catchingfoxespodcasthttps://twitter.com/thelukethehttps://twitter.com/layevangelisthttps://twitter.com/cfoxespodcastSupport our Sponsor, CatholicMatch.com! <a href="http://www.catholicmatch.com/?referrer_code=CJ&amp;campaign_code=7919592" target="_blank"> <img class="thumb-image" data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/563339b8e4b0b94d8f67f87f/1446197688182/" data-image-dimensions="500x98" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="563339b8e4b0b94d8f67f87f" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/563339b8e4b0b94d8f67f87f/1446197688182/?format=1000w" /> </a> Support Catching Foxes

We interview Fr. Mike Schmitz, of the Diocese of Duluth and the University of Minnesota Duluth Newman Center. He's a phenomenal homilist and you should subscribe to his homilies. He also grows an amazing beard every winter, has a vast comic book knowledge, and deeply loves his vocation to the priesthood.Chris Farley, our beloved actorTommy BoyChristopher Nolan Batman TrilogyLife-sized Replica of Han Solo frozen in carbonite for $7,000Here is an amazing article by Dr. Peter Kreeft on Discernment. I read it 10 years ago and it is just as good today as it was back then.When Catholic schools go lame, they do the Enneagram and Primal ScreamOH BOY! You should definitely read Theology and Sanity by Frank Sheed! (and if you click this particular link it is connected to our Amazon Affiliate account and you help support the show!)Fr. Mike and Mike Gormley, united by the SOLT mission in Belize!When Homosexuality hits home.Fr Mike's article: My Side of the Confessional: What Is It Like for a Priest? FIND US EVERYWHERE!https://twitter.com/frmikeschmitz https://www.facebook.com/catchingfoxespodcasthttps://twitter.com/thelukethehttps://twitter.com/layevangelisthttps://twitter.com/cfoxespodcastSpecial Guest: Father Mike Schmitz.Support Catching Foxes

In our most theological podcast to date, Luke asks a question from Alicia to Gomer, then Gomer talks FOR. EV. ER.From the Catching Foxes Podcast Facebook PageHere's a topic that I am wondering if you guys could touch on. Sacrifice. Not in the Lenten way but in the old world way. Why was sacrifice important? What was it? Why the sacrifice of the Mass and why we have the liturgy of the Eucharist that we have? Why did Christ offered himself as a sacrifice and how can we tap into that notion today as 21st-century people?This is huge. First, we actually talk about Lenten sacrifices for about 10 minutes and Luke does a killer impression of a Catholic consumer of Starbucks during Lent. Then we open up the slaughterhouse and talk about killing animals to escape sin. Oh yeah. We go there. You'll hear words like "substitution," "orgies," "appeasement," and "theLukethe." Also we talk about the most annoying and amazing story in Scripture: the almost-sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham, and when you hear it this way, you'll appreciate it a whole lot more.And, consequently, you'll appreciate the Mass a whole lot more as well. <img class="thumb-image" alt="abraham-sacrificing-isaac.jpg" data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/561d652be4b08862a3449df9/1444767037790/abraham-sacrificing-isaac.jpg" data-image-dimensions="1042x800" data-image-focal-point="0.7123287671232876,0.8452380952380952" data-load="false" data-image-id="561d652be4b08862a3449df9" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/561d652be4b08862a3449df9/1444767037790/abraham-sacrificing-isaac.jpg?format=1000w" /> Thanks to BenSounds.com for the theme music.Support Catching Foxes

Brother Peter Francis is the nicest bear-man you will meet this side of the Misty Mountains and so we just let him talk for an hour and a half. <img class="thumb-image" alt="This is the very essence of Brother Peter Francis- no thought of himself, just the hilarious joy every teenager at camp would get out of his full-habit belly flop!" data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56134e18e4b0b653d9103382/1444105752954/" data-image-dimensions="539x353" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="56134e18e4b0b653d9103382" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56134e18e4b0b653d9103382/1444105752954/?format=1000w" /> <p>This is the very essence of Brother Peter Francis- no thought of himself, just the hilarious joy every teenager at camp would get out of his full-habit belly flop!</p> We dive into his background as the "Guy on the Couch" in my first apartment after college. Then Luke reminds me that also was the "Guy on the Couch" in my apartment for a while. This forces me to take stock of my life, especially the quality of my friends and their poor life choices. <img class="thumb-image" alt="The Servants of Christ Jesus! I should totally get some sort of &quot;founding&quot; credit. Half the Order is related to me or my parish in one way or another!" data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56134e38e4b02bdcb2d7627f/1444105785755/Servants.jpg" data-image-dimensions="1728x1179" data-image-focal-point="0.7894736842105263,0.2261904761904762" data-load="false" data-image-id="56134e38e4b02bdcb2d7627f" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56134e38e4b02bdcb2d7627f/1444105785755/Servants.jpg?format=1000w" /> <p>The Servants of Christ Jesus!&nbsp;I should totally get some sort of "founding" credit. Half the Order is related to me or my parish in one way or another!</p> We reminisce about his Middle School youth ministry days and the ancient art of Lectio Divina. We also talk about how he was my Jedi Master in the Holy Spirit, teaching me to pray "in the Spirit" at 2:00 AM in my dirty kitchen. My favorite part was how he discovered his call to leave everything behind and enter the Servants of Christ Jesus religious order. Luke's would probably be Br Peter's experience of homelessness in Barcelona as his poverty pilgrimage seemingly tanked. <img class="thumb-image" alt="Day Five, praying the rosary with thousands of pilgrims, he finds his close friends standing right in front of him. What a story!" data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56134dfbe4b009e45cc3b8dd/1444105724106/" data-image-dimensions="960x540" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="56134dfbe4b009e45cc3b8dd" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/56134dfbe4b009e45cc3b8dd/1444105724106/?format=1000w" /> <p>Day Five, praying the rosary with thousands of pilgrims, he finds his close friends standing right in front of him. What a story!</p> You better be wearing cheap socks, because their about to be blown off your feet!Thanks to BenSounds.com for the music theme.Support Catching Foxes

David knows what it means to pray, preach and proclaim, and he watched the Francis Effect hit the streets of Philly. Listen in as he describes the impact of Pope Francis on our country. <img class="thumb-image" data-image="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/560b07c5e4b0b03fb6fab5e8/1443563533927/" data-image-dimensions="1780x832" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" data-load="false" data-image-id="560b07c5e4b0b03fb6fab5e8" data-type="image" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/551def6fe4b09619c3abc306/t/560b07c5e4b0b03fb6fab5e8/1443563533927/?format=1000w" /> Music by BenSounds.comSupport Catching Foxes