What God is Not

Fr. Boniface Hicks and Mother Natalia discuss repairing relationships, translating sacred prayers, miraculous events, self-reflection, faith in God, tenderness in apologies, unique goodness in relationships, emotional birth, and prayer intentions in a heartfelt and insightful conversation.

This week Fr. Michael continues his discussion from several episodes ago on living out the gospel as a mom. Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia respond to some reflections that listeners passed along about life as a mom and creative almsgiving.References:Heroic Act of CharityTherapy of Spiritual Illnesses by Jean-Claude LarchetFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

Author and inner self expert Dr. Gerry Crete discusses exploring the inner self, parts work, and the complexity of individuals beyond social media. He also reflects on his journey of faith and finding belonging in a Byzantine Catholic church.

Father Michael discusses the importance of daily prayers, including prayers before and after meals, private prayer practices, and the significance of integrating prayers into daily routines. He also compares Melkite and Trososlav prayer books, emphasizes the value of consistent prayer practices like the prayer rule of Saint Pecomius, and highlights the benefits of reflecting on daily events through a daily examination of conscience.

This week Fr. Michael talks about scripture readings in Acts and John, and links them together to talk about division and having an undivided heart. He talks about the need for full attention to be given to God, and how it's hard to live this out sometimes.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

This week Mother Natalia talks about self-reflection on sin, recognizing where we've stumbled, how that has impacted others, and where we've grown. She uses a recent example of something that happened in community life to show us how this works practically.References:Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth GoudgeLitanies of the Heart by Dr. Gerry CreteFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

This week Fr. Michael unpacks a theme he sees in the post-Pascha Sunday readings around people saying yes to Jesus immediately vs qualifying the yes or asking follow-up questions before saying yes. He talks about the reasons why we might not say yes right away, and how our human experience can get in the way of our desire to say yes. Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

This week Mother Natalia talks about her recent poustinia, where she reflected on rest. Mother Natalia talks about taking to-do lists to pray while also trying to remember that prayer is relational and not something to fulfill check-boxes.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

This week we’re joined by special guest Brother Simeon Miriam from the CFRs. Brother Simeon was imminently about to start an 8-day poustinia, so in this episode we talk a bit about poustinia, the nights of poustinia he helped start in NYC, a bit about how he became Roman Catholic, and the love of breathing with both lungs.References:The Way of a PilgrimThe PhilokaliaFranciscan Friars of the RenewalFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

This week Mother Natalia talks about imperfection and recognizing that we will always be imperfect, following a retreat she gave at Wyoming Catholic College. She and Fr. Michael talk about the externals of our prayer practice, both personal prayer and prayer during Diving Liturgy or Mass. They talk about how our relationship with Christ should grow and develop over time.References:From Christendom to Apostolic Mission by University of MaryScrupulosity and the SacramentsThe Reed of God by Caryll HouselanderFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show