The Art of Catholic with Matthew Leonard – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Art of Catholic, Matthew Leonard is joined by author Kevin Wells, who shares the powerful story of his wife Krista's battle with alcoholism, the impact it had on his spiritual life - and the incredible redemption God brought through the figure of a saintly priest.

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🔵 Watch my last interview with Kevin Wells, Priest & Beggar: The Jaw-Dropping Story of Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, here: https://youtu.be/TJpXJmyW4Bg

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00:00 Introduction: Pain and Redemption

01:27 Kevin Wells: Author and Advocate

04:16 The Journey of Writing 'The Hermit'

10:23 Facing Addiction: Kevin's Family Struggles

18:07 The Role of Father Flum

24:25 Patience in the Face of Suffering

30:08 The Power of Prayer and Hope

35:21 The Journey into the Interior Castle

38:30 The Role of Prayer in Healing

41:43 The Maternal Influence of Mary

44:11 Confession and the Power of Priests

49:54 Practical Advice for Spouses in Crisis

55:42 Patience and Trust in God's Plan

01:00:00 Hope and Redemption in Christ

About this Episode:

Have you ever been in a seemingly hopeless situation? A situation so dire that you despaired of ever seeing change or healing?

Many of us have been there...or are there right now.

Addiction, divorce, unfaithfulness, father wounds, mother wounds, abuse, hardened hearts, and a host of other painful issues are constantly manifesting themselves in our lives.

And while different situations present different challenges, the underlying truth remains the same.

Namely, that no matter how bad things may look, God is faithful and in control.

It's certainly not always easy to see, but it's the truth.

Just ask my guest on today's Art of Catholic podcast.

Author Kevin Wells found himself in a seemingly hopeless situation when his wife’s alcoholism began to tear their lives apart.

But as he trudged through years of pain, Kevin gradually learned to rest his head on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and allow himself to be stripped bare like Christ on the Cross.

And eventually, through the miraculous intervention of a saintly priest, his wife was healed, his family was redeemed, and his pain was turned into joy.

Full of heartache, struggle, hope, and healing it's a story you need to hear.

In this podcast, Kevin shares powerful insights about:

• The crucial role of patience in the face of dire situations.
• Why prayer is our refuge in the face of intense suffering and despair 
• What he would differently if he could go back to when it first began
• St. Teresa of Avila's guidance in the face of pain
• Practical advice for dealing with extremely difficult situations
• And more...     

Get ready to hear a powerful story of pain, bondage, and finally, exhilarating redemption, that puts on full display the love, mercy and power of God to overcome any situation - no matter how difficult.  

Give it 3 minutes and you won't turn it off. 

This is a truly powerful and moving story of a man, a woman, and bevy of children who live a life totally abandoned to God...even in the midst of gut-wrenching sorrow and suffering.

If you can listen without being inspired in some way, you may need to check your pulse. 

That's all I can say.

Matthew

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00:00 Encountering this Missionary Family 

04:01 Michael Henderson's Journey to Faith

06:54 From Baptist Roots to Catholic Discovery

12:31 The Struggle with Sin and Seeking Truth

20:29 The Eucharist: A Transformative Experience

34:54 Living Out the Faith After Conversion

41:07 The Call to Missionary Life

55:34 A Leap of Faith: Leaving Everything Behind

01:01:16 The Power of Community and Vocation

01:07:38 Miracles in the Mission Field

01:13:20 Facing a Crisis with Faith

01:21:23 Transitioning Back to the States

01:40:28 Living a Life of Mission and Service

About this Episode:

Surrendering to God’s will is hard.

For most of us, it’s a lifelong struggle to learn to let go of our own plans and embrace God’s instead.

But that struggle is crucial - because the more completely you’re able to abandon yourself to God’s will, the more peace you’ll find, no matter what your situation or circumstances.

No one knows this better than my most recent podcast guest, Michael Henderson...(you're gonna love this guy).

About ten years ago, Michael, his wife Veronica, and their (at the time) six, now nine (!!) beautiful children, discerned that God was calling them to a more radical surrender than most of us could ever imagine.

They sold their comfortable house and belongings in the U.S. and moved to Mexico, and later to Taiwan, to spread the Faith, all the while relying solely on God’s providence for their livelihood.

And boy, did God ever provide.

Their story is one of miracle after miracle, conversion after conversion, and an ever-deepening, radical trust in God to “take care of everything,” as the Surrender Novena puts it.

In this podcast, Michael shares stories like:

• How God used a Taekwondo gym in the middle of Mexico to transform local families
• The day his family arrived in Taiwan with no housing lined up, no money in their pocket, and his wife 2 months postpartum with their 7th child - and how God instantly provided for their every need
• The very serious recent family crisis that has brought them to an even deeper peace and reliance on God.

I have to say, personally, that this episode was an emotional one for me.

In fact, I'll give you just 3 minutes of listening before your jaw hits the ground.

The beauty of this family’s joy in every circumstance is undeniable, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet and become friends with Michael.

I hope this podcast moves you as deeply as it did me.

 

Is anyone else starting to get some Terminator vibes from the whole ChatGPT thing? Am I the only one who hears in their head an Austrian accent when reading back what it spits out?

I’m kidding, of course....kind of :).

I admit to sometimes asking, "What can this thing really do?"

Because while I don’t think Artificial Intelligence is quite to the point where we need to start worrying about robot overlords, there are definitely some legitimate concerns when it comes to the ethics behind this new technology.

So how should Catholics respond to AI? 

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There are 27 books in the New Testament...19 of them came from just two guys. Sts. Paul and John are two of the most influential men in the history of the world. 14 of the books of the most popular book in the history of the world (the Bible...just in case you were scratching your head) are traditionally ascribed to Paul. Not to be outdone, St. John wrote the "greatest piece of world literature, period" says John Bergsma. (Plus four other New Testament books.) These guys are Bible rock stars. Even so, they need some explication. Paul is sometimes clear as mud. (Have you read Romans?) John sometimes soars so high into the celestial mist that he needs to brought back down to earth.  Theologians spend years trying to unpack what both have to say. We don't have that kind of time. But we do have Dr. John Bergsma. Bergsma's famous art! In this rollicking conclusion to my two part interview on New Testament Basics for Catholics, we'll finish off what we started in episode 42. First, we'll conclude our discussion of Luke and its sequel, Acts, and then pivot to Paul and John. Among other things we'll:   Unveil the two stars of the book of Acts and the two sections of the book (Act 1 and Act 2:) Answer the famous question posed by an ex-priest of why Jesus kept promising a kingdom, but all we got was a Church Unpack the overall purpose of the book of Romans (good luck!) Explain what Paul means by the controversial phrase "obedience of faith". (A very important concept to understand for discussion with our Protestant brethren.) Identify the "good news" and "bad news" of Romans (We'll do the bad news first, of course.) Hear Bergsma explain why the Gospel of John the "greatest piece of world literature, period" Show why St. John is SO Catholic. You do NOT want to miss this episode. Enjoy! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life! It's an easy step-by-step guide to help you rocket to God! Don't miss a show! Subscribe to The Art of Catholic by clicking this link and then clicking "View in iTunes" under the picture and then "Subscribe"! Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store. Want to experience Catholic Europe? Join Matthew on his pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, Avila, and many other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.  

If you totally understand the New Testament of Sacred Scripture, then you can ignore this podcast. For the rest of us mortals, this show is a gem. Best-selling author and professor Dr. John Bergsma explains the Bible like nobody else. His Bible Basics for Catholics is a masterpiece. While it focused on the overall story of salvation history, particularly the Old Testament, his sequel, New Testament Basics for Catholics illuminates the second half of the Bible. And it's even better than the first one (which sold a gazillion copies). John breaks the New Testament down by focusing on its four major authors. In part 1 of this interview, we'll discuss the first two - Matthew and Luke - and what's happening in their books. Among other things we'll learn: What is the unifying theme of the major New Testament authors? Why does Matthew kick off the New Testament with a genealogy? (John actually calls it biblical Tae Kwon Do) What's so shocking about the women mentioned by Matthew? What is Luke's theme and how is his audience different than Matthew's? What is the true meaning of mercy as found in the Gospel of Luke? (It's not what you think and it gives a whole new meaning to the Year of Mercy!) My previous show with John (Episode 6) remains one of my most popular. In this latest interview, you'll understand why I call him the "Blond Beast of Biblical Theology". Matthew P.S. Don't forget to grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life! It's an easy step-by-step guide to help you rocket to God! Don't miss a show! Subscribe to The Art of Catholic by clicking this link and then clicking "View in iTunes" under the picture and then "Subscribe"! Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store. Want to experience Catholic Europe? Join Matthew on his pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, Avila, and many other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

The Holy Spirit didn't just fall out of the sky at Pentecost. Well, I mean, he did, but all those tongues of fire, heavy winds and such weren't a random occurrence. Nothing God does ever is. There's a backstory. And once you know it, everything makes more sense. In this episode of The Art of Catholic, we dive into the events of the Old Testament that set up the birth of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Earth(quakes), Wind & Fire wasn't just a nominally successful 70s band. These elements often accompany theophanies, appearances of God. We're going to see why the crazy events at Pentecost unfolded as they did, looking at parallels to another very similar, very important event in the book of Exodus. Among other things we'll discuss: The ancient origin of Pentecost as a Jewish feast Why the Holy Spirit descended in tongues of fire in Acts 2 Why the Disciples started speaking in other languages What the voice of God actually sounds like (gulp!) Why the number of converts at Pentecost (i.e. 3,000) is really significant All that and more in this special Pentecost episode of The Art of Catholic! God bless you all! Matt P.S. Want to help Matthew increase his production of more Art of Catholic podcasts? You can do that (and get some free books and such) at Patreon.com/MatthewLeonard.

If you've ever scratched your head after hearing or reading Hebrews (or even if you just scratch your head), this episode is for you. Unless you're Catholic, it's pretty difficult to make heads or tails of the book of Hebrews. And even if you are Catholic it can seem a bit odd at times. But once you view it through the right lens, the teachings of Catholicism jump off the page like a 3D IMAX movie. In fact, it's a mini Catechism. This is the conclusion of my great conversation with author Shane Kapler who beautifully lays out the Seven Core Beliefs of Catholics in the Epistle to the Hebrews. (His book is great!) Among other things we'll discuss: How Hebrews lays out the Catholic "plan of salvation" in 7 verses (how appropriate) The grittiness of Jesus' humanity and how he learned obedience through suffering What the famous faith "Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11 teaches us about heaven and the communion of saints Why critics of Catholicism who say there's no mention of the Eucharist in Hebrews ("so it can't be a Catholic book") are dead wrong All that and more in episode 40 of the Art of Catholic. God bless and enjoy! Matt P.S. Don't forget to grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life! It's an easy step-by-step guide to help you rocket to God! Don't miss a show! Subscribe to The Art of Catholic by clicking this link and then clicking "View in iTunes" under the picture and then "Subscribe"!

Every book in the Bible is Catholic...but this one's really Catholic. When I was a Protestant missionary in Latin America, one of my fellow missionaries told me that he was trying to read the book of Hebrews, but he found it "just plain weird." He didn't know what to make of it. And it's no wonder. It's totally Catholic! (Uhhh...maybe that's why Martin Luther wanted to unload it from the canon of Scripture.) In this episode of the Art of Catholic we're going to begin our focus on the 7 core Catholic beliefs that underlie this amazing book of the Bible. My guest is a convert and gifted author named Shane Kapler, who wrote a book on this very topic titled The Epistle to Hebrews and the Seven Core Beliefs of Catholics. This is a great episode to start expanding your knowledge of Scripture. Among other things we'll discuss: Who wrote Hebrews and why it's one of the most argued topics in Scripture study Why Hebrews has special relevance today given the current condition of the world How Hebrews bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments The Jewish background of Hebrews (does that sound redundant?) How the doctrine of the Trinity is unveiled in Hebrews All that and more in episode 39 of the Art of Catholic. God bless and enjoy! Matt P.S. Don't forget to grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life! It's an easy step-by-step guide to help you rocket to God! Don't miss a show! Subscribe to The Art of Catholic by clicking this link and then clicking "View in iTunes" under the picture and then "Subscribe"!

Every so often I get the point where I just can't take it anymore. The Art of Catholic community knows I'm totally into spiritual theology. But every now and then I hit the wall. I just can't read another book on prayer, the 3 stages of the spiritual life, or the virtues. I need something a bit lighter. Enter Fr. Richard Infante, wonderful priest and talented author of Catholic fiction. He's got a new book called “Last Priest Standing” from Lambing Press, which is a collection of short stories and novellas. It's a fascinating peek into the private lives of priests which satisfies questions a lot of us have like: What do priests do in their free time? Do they want to talk about Church stuff with lay people? Do priests hang out together? (In casinos)? It's quite interesting and will certainly humanize priests for a lot of people. But the conversation goes deeper. With four master's degrees, including one in Fine Arts, he knows what he's talking about when it comes to Catholic fiction and its role in culture. Items in this show include: Can fiction be used to effectively catechize? Fr. Infante's "must read" works of Catholic fiction The importance of fine arts in evangelization Can Catholic fiction change the way you approach Scripture? My favorite work of Catholic fiction I recommend for everyone (which I'm betting most of you have never read) Enjoy and God bless! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life! It's an easy step-by-step guide to help you rocket to God! Don't miss a show! Subscribe to The Art of Catholic by clicking this link and then clicking "View in iTunes" under the picture and then "Subscribe"!

Hands down one of my favorite books of all time. Dr. Ralph Martin's The Fulfillment of All Desire played a huge role in my desire to learn about, and grow in, the spiritual life. It's a classic. (I've got hand-written notes all over the margins in my copy.) 2016 is the tenth anniversary of it's publication and it still sells like crazy. Why? Because it presents the path of spiritual growth from the masters of the spiritual life: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis de Sales, Augustine, and more. This book blew my mind and helped ignite the fire of love in my life for Christ. If you don't know Ralph, he's the Director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization and an associate professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit, president of Renewal Ministries, and host of the tv and radio show “The Choices We Face”. In case you didn’t think him cool enough already, Ralph was appointed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization...that's totally cool. And today, Ralph is on the show to talk about the The Fulfillment of All Desire and the spiritual life in general. In addition to nuggets of wisdom from the book, we'll discuss: How Ralph got into spiritual theology and the difference it's made in his life The huge impact of St. John Paul II in the universal call to holiness The 4 principles that govern the spiritual life The 3 stages of the spiritual life Ralph's biggest piece of advice for someone trying to grow in holiness Prepare to be inspired! Matthew P.S. Don't forget to grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life! It's an easy step-by-step guide to help you rocket to God! Don't miss a show! Subscribe to The Art of Catholic by clicking this link and then clicking "View in iTunes" under the picture and then "Subscribe"!