Catholic Exchange

Shane Kapler returns to the podcast to talk with Michael about his new book and how you can intersperse the Divine Mercy Chaplet with the rosary to bring new life into your daily prayer. Shane is the best-selling author of several books on prayer and the liturgy and is a frequent guest to Catholic Exchange. To learn more about Shane visit his website: http://www.explainingchristianity.com/index.htmlPlease consider supporting CE with your donation. $5 a month can enable us to release more episodes, at a higher quality, and do some programs that will excite you and teach you new ways of approaching your faith. http://catholicexchange.com/donateSupport the show

We are celebrating the centennial anniversary of when Mary appeared to three children in Fatima and changed the world. Our Lady of Fatima has inspired conversions, devotions, and is believed to be behind many miracles. After so many years, why has our Lady of Fatima been so inspirational and what does she have to still teach us? Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle joins Michael Lichens to kick off a new season of the Catholic Exchange podcast to discuss Our Lady of Fatima and how she still desires to inspire all of us.Donna-Marie is the author of Our Lady of Fatima: 100 Years of Stories, Prayers, and Devotions and Our Lady’s Message To Three Shepherd Children and the World, as well as many books and articles. Her wisdom, experience, and ability to tell a great story will leave you enthralled, whether you're first hearing about Fatima or are a veteran devotee of Our Lady.Resources Mentioned in this EpisodeYou can learn more about Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle on her personal website, donnacooperoboyle.com, find

With the release of Rod Dreher's anticipated "The Benedict Option," many Catholics are having a conversation about how best to raise their families and form healthy communities. What may surprise many is that such a project has been underway in the Catholic world for decades. Today, Michael welcome back Sam Guzman of the Catholic Gentleman to discuss his family life in a growing village around Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma and what such a community might look like. If you are wondering how to raise your kids in a secular culture or how to solve the issue of loneliness, listen in today. Support the show

On the new season of the Catholic Exchange Podcast, host Michael J. Lichens starts off by discussing the awkward questions of dating, marriage, and sex. Joining him are the hosts of the Fishers of Men podcast, Lara Sumera and Mary Ashley Burton. Lara and Mary are two actors, producers, and creative workers who have decided to tackle some of the hardest questions about how it is that one can be single, seek a relationship, all while maintaining their faith in a place like Los Angeles. Today's episode has some fine insight and more than a few laughs. Support the show

Today, Michael is pleased to welcome Patrick Coffin, the long-time host of Catholic Answers Live as he undertakes a new adventure in broadcasting. Patrick has a host of knowledge to share, from how to develop a great memory to how to get a lot of work done, and he's eager to share it all. Join him and Michael as we discuss the ways we can use his new platform to re-invigorate the culture. Support the show

Today Michael is pleased to welcome back David Clayton, the artist, iconographer, and professor at Pontifex University. David discusses the importance of beauty and why it's necessary to cultivate an appreciation of art, theology, and liturgy. Today's episode promises to be an intriguing one for anybody who wants to learn to identify and appreciate the beautiful things in God's creation. Support the show

The late Cardinal Egan was known as an energetic and charismatic defender of the faith throughout his priesthood as well as when serving as the Archbishop of New York. Known for his stances on matters of faith, his public appearances, and his ability to talk to anyone, Cardinal Egan has left behind a legacy that includes more than a few insights and stories. Today Michael is pleased to welcome Dr. Joseph McAleer, an editor to Cardinal Egan who has helped to collect some of the late Cardinal's best writings and stories into the new book, Practice for Heaven: True Stories from a Modern Missionary. Dr. McAleer recounts the many memories of Cardinal Egan, such as the prelate's journey into a record store to buy heavy metal in order to understand its influence on youth as well as his many lessons on how to obtain holiness today. Through Dr. McAleer's work, Cardinal Egan offers a wealth of teachings on becoming a saint and modern missionary.Support the show

Prayer is difficult at times, but the Church provides outstanding examples and aides for us to learn how to take our prayer life to the next level to find that great intimacy with Christ. Today Michael is joined by Dr. Anthony Lilles who uses examples of the saints to show us how we can learn to pray through difficulty, business, and distraction to find union with God. Support the show

Michael is joined by Kevin Hartigan, Catholic Relief Services Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia to discuss the current situation in the Middle East, namely the many people who are displaced by the growing conflict in Syria and Northern Iraq. Mr. Hartigan shares what the Catholic Church is doing for those in the most terrible need and how, even in the most brutal of places, the light of Christ shines in the darkness. Support the show

Michael is pleased to welcome back author and frequent guest Dr. Kevin Vost to the Catholic Exchange Podcast. In July, Kevin celebrates the tenth anniversary of MEMORIZE THE FAITH (https://goo.gl/ajIhWi), a book that has helped countless people memorize innumerable facts about their faith. Kevin introduces us to the method he's developed, based on St Thomas Aquinas, and shares how one young boy had even managed to memorize all the popes. Support the show

Michael kicks off a new season of the CE Podcast with Jennifer Roback Morse, the founder of the Ruth Institute and a writer on a mission. We discuss Pope Francis, the controversy of Amoris Laetitia, as well as some even more controversial topics like birth control and surrogacy. Support the show

Michael is joined by artist Timothy P. Schmaltz, creator of the Homeless Jesus sculpture that was recently blessed by Pope Francis and has been something of a media sensation. Mr. Schmaltz discusses the statue's rise to fame, the controversy in some places, and how his artwork is inspired by a great devotion to Christ. Support the show

Michael is joined by CE contributor and author Jeannie Ewing to discuss the state of grief that many of us will undergo and how we can use these dark nights of the soul to move to feeling Christ's healing love. Jeannie has two children with special needs and has overcome so much and offers a compassionate and hopeful answer to the burdens that life throws at us. Support the show

Michael is proud to bring on Melkite Seminarian Thomas Moses to discuss how Holy Week looks for the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and how we can learn from this ancient rite a way of participating with Christ's last days and his joyful Resurrection. cngr5ykdSupport the show

Fr. Edward Looney has dedicated his life to Mary and showing others how to grow in devotion to her. Today he joins Michael to talk about how we can start praying the rosary by incorporating litanies into your prayer. Even if you've never prayed the rosary, or you're not quite a fan yet, Fr. Edward can help you to learn. Bishop Robert Barron calls even praises this method and says "it can only help to deepen your spiritual life and your relationship to Mary."Support the show

Michael welcomes Jeff Cavins to the Catholic Exchange Podcast to discuss how we can make sense of suffering, especially in the light of Christ. We also learn how to help others cope with theirs. If you have any comments, write to us at editor@catholicexchange.comSupport the show

Karen Edmisten stops by the CE Podcast to talk about how we can share the faith with those around us, even if it doesn't always feel like Evangelization. Support the show

Michael is proud to welcome Dawn Eden to the podcast to discuss her latest book, Remembering God's Mercy: Redeem the Past and Free Yourself from Painful Memories. We discuss what painful memories can do and how healing them can be a productive part of our spiritual life. Support the show

Michael is proud to invite Kathleen Beckman to discuss how we can find God's Healing Mercy in this Year of Mercy. Kathleen gives great insights from her latest book on how we can find the healing mercy of God whether we are strong in our faith, have painful memories, struggle with unforgiveness, are in a period of doubt, or even diabolical suffering. Listeners can purchase Kathleen's book at a special 35% discount using promotion code CE35 at sophiainstitute.comSupport the show

Michael is proud to welcome two brothers from the Order of Preachers, the Dominicans. Brothers Timothy Danaher and Joseph Martin Hagan stop by the CE Podcast to discuss the 800th Jubilee of their Order and how the charism of St. Dominic is still expressed in their work. Listeners can learn more about through books from Sophia Institute Press by using promotion code CE35 at sophiainstitute.comSupport the show