This week we're joined by special guest, Fr. Nathan Symeon. Fr. Nathan Symeon talks about apophatic and cataphatic theology, but more specifically the differences between apophatic and cataphatic prayer. He talks about how we can experience apophatic prayer in our lives and the importance of paying attention to the Holy Spirit working in our prayer life. References: Searchers of the Lost - Fr. Nathan's podcast Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 6 min
This week we're joined by Bishop Erik Varden. Bishop Varden, Mother Natalia, and Fr. Michael talk about recognizing Jesus in others, living a contemplative life, the Syriac fathers, and the beauty of chastity. Be sure to check out Bishop Varden's podcast, Desert Fathers in a Year , in partnership with Exodus 90. Bishop Varden also has a website he posts to regularly. References: Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses by Bishop Erik Varden Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Faceboo...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 9 min
This week we're joined by special guest, Fr. Chris Seith. Mother Natalia and Fr. Chris talk about the monastic life and how their constant life of prayer calls us to incorporate God into our lives. They talk about Orientale Lumen and the call to reinvigorate the monastic life around the world. Mother Natalia and Fr. Chris talk about some of the differences in liturgical practices in the Byzantine and Roman rites and how those can be inspirational for both churches. Follow and Contact Us! Follow ...
May 28, 2025•1 hr
This week Mother Natalia talks about a revelation she had about sin and listening to God. She talks about how our thoughts impact the way we act. Mother Natalia talks about the way we need to practice listening to Our Lord so that we can be aware of how the devil is tempting us. References: Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives by Elder Thaddeus Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery ...
May 21, 2025•46 min
This week Fr. Michael talks about a recent discovery he made about rest and preparation. He talks about the importance of both and how they are linked together. Fr. Michael talks about how preparation makes many things go smoothly and give us time for rest. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Send us a text Support the show...
May 14, 2025•47 min
This week Fr. Michael talks about rules and the gift they can be in our lives. He talks about the difference between checking boxes and fully embracing the Church's teaching. Fr. Michael talks about how structure and order can easily veer into just checking the box instead of seeing the deeper picture. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Send us a tex...
May 07, 2025•1 hr 8 min
This week Mother Natalia repurposes a talk she gave recently about relationship and efficiency. She talks about her initial thought that relationship is greater than efficiency and how her thoughts on that changed. Mother Natalia gives some concrete examples of relationship and efficiency in action from her personal life. References: Rekindling Wonder by Fr. Chris Seith Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Ch...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 3 min
This week Fr. Michael talks about life after death, specifically the teaching of the early church Fathers. He uses the book Life After Death as part of his main talking points. We hear a bit about how this teaching helped Mother Natalia realize that her heart was truly Eastern. References: Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church A Simple House Life After Death by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos Leaf by Niggle by J.R.R. Tolkien Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebo...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 4 min
This week Mother Natalia talks about intentionally incorporating Jesus into our lives. She gives two examples of this in action in her own life, in embroidery and running, and how she was able to come to a prayerful understanding of that in her own life. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Send us a text Support the show...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 1 min
This week Fr. Michael talks about prayer, fasting, and alms-giving in relation to the Great Fast and the paradoxes that exist within each of those. He talks about humility and how we can find a paradox within our humility as well. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Send us a text Support the show...
Apr 09, 2025•55 min
This week Mother Natalia talks about some of the things she's excited to encounter while on the upcoming pilgrimage. She differentiates between pilgrimage and vacation, reminding us that we're supposed to be uncomfortable on pilgrimage. She connects pilgrimages to the Great Fast, and talks about how pilgrimages ultimately connect us to longing for heaven. References: The Shattering of Loneliness by Bishop Erik Varden Prayer Resources in the Great Fast from Mother Cecilia Follow and Contact Us! F...
Apr 02, 2025•50 min
This week Fr. Michael talks about the importance of knowing Jesus and encountering Him in prayer. He talks about the need to encounter Him in our regular devotions like Divine Liturgy, Mass, Rosary, etc., but how we must also seek Him out in one-on-one prayer. Fr. Michael talks about resting in Jesus and the importance of that as we continue our spiritual journey. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ t...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 7 min
This week Fr. Michael reflects on the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. He talks about how each of us can reflect the thoughts and actions of the younger son, the older son, and the father. He talks about the significance of the younger son wanting his inheritance now instead of when his father dies as well as the significance of the younger son working with pigs. References: Luke 15:11 - 32 Pilgrimage: We're going on pilgrimage! You can find all the details including dates, itinerary, and...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min
This week we're joined by special guest Joni Seith. Joni share with us the many sufferings she's endured over 30+years, and how she has used that suffering as a form of prayer. She talks about how her family has helped her in this, and how she's learned to be grateful despite her suffering. References: Pain of Grace by Joni Seith Eucharistic Prayer read by Joni Joni's blog Cor ad Cor Pilgrimage: We're going on pilgrimage! You can find all the details including dates, itinerary, and cost at the 2...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 6 min
This week's episode was recorded live at SEEK25. Fr. Michael talks about vulnerability in leadership. He references written and spoken vulnerability in leaders from group commitments, prayers said by the priest at baptism, and prayers said by the monastic or liturgical leader at night prayer. Thanks to the team at Max Studios for recording this episode! References: Brene Brown's TED Talk on Vulnerability The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis Chris Stefanick Pilgrimage to Italy SEEK Replay Pilgrimage: We'...
Mar 05, 2025•44 min
This week we're joined by special guest, Mother Iliana. Mother Natalia and Mother Iliana talk about a mistake that was made that impacted their relationship. They give background on all the other things going on in their individual lives before the mistake was made, and how those things made the mistake seem much bigger and smaller. They talk about the repair that was made in their relationship, and how each of them experienced the healing. References: What Suffering is Not with Mother Iliana Th...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 3 min
This week Fr. Michael reflects on a sentence in a prayer that the priest prays during Divine Liturgy, "...in the greatness of your mercy you have brought all things out of nonexistence into being..." Fr. Michael talks about what it means for God to be mercy, to give mercy, and why God brought us into being in the first place. He reads some reflections from Archbishop Raya in the Byzantine Book of Prayer. References: Byzantine Book of Prayer from Byzantine Seminary Press Pilgrimage: We're going o...
Feb 19, 2025•59 min
This week Mother Natalia reflects on her recent poustinia, where the Lord placed the idea of rest on her heart. She talks about the ways she can rest in her monastic life allowing God to take charge in her life. She talks about how we are all called to rest, despite labor also being important to the rest of our lives. Mother Natalia also talks about the importance of recognizing beauty in the world, and how that beauty reflects back to God. References: Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word: Meditatio...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr 3 min
This week Mother Natalia talks about ruptured relationships and the hurt that comes in that rupture. She talks about offering up relationships to the Lord, recognizing that healing in the relationship may not come in this life, and the desire to have union with everyone in heaven. She links this to Saints Stephen and Paul, who did not have a great relationship on this life, but now through union with God, have an amazing relationship in heaven. Special thanks to Kyle and Drew from Catholic Creat...
Feb 05, 2025•1 hr
This week Fr. Michael talks about anamnesis and relates it to our day-to-day life. He talks about the origins of anamnesis in Liturgy and how we can remember the good God has done in our individual prayers. He also talks about epiclesis and the interplay with anamnesis. Fr. Michael talks about how anamnesis can be twisted and used in an evil way, not just in the good way we encounter during Liturgy or in our day to day lives. References: Gematria Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr
This week we start out with a mini-topic on the icon of the Trinity. Then for the main topic, Fr. Michael reflects on a prayer that is said during matins where we beg God to save us through the intercession of the holy martyrs. He relates the intercession of the martyrs to gift giving. Fr. Michael talks about everything surrounding gift giving, both the intention of the giver and the vulnerability of the receiver. He talks about how the saints and martyrs give to us by praying for us and how we ...
Jan 22, 2025•55 min
We're joined again this week by special guest, Fr. Chris. Fr. Chris is back with us to talk about Tolkien and Lord of the Rings. Fr. Chris talks about the difference between authority and power; mind and forming matter vs mind over matter; and the use of technology in our lives and how we can feel ourselves being controlled by it instead of us controlling technology. References: Tolkien-ology with Fr. Chris Seith Pt. 1 Rekindling Wonder by Fr. Chris Seith Beginning to Pray by Metropolitan Anthon...
Jan 15, 2025•57 min
This week we're joined by special guest, Fr. Chris Seith. Mother Natalia and Fr. Chris talk about Aragorn's Today is Not that Day speech and how it relates to the spiritual life. Fr. Chris talks about some of Tolkien's intentions in writing the book, how technology plays a role in the book, and how we can learn from that. References: Searchers of the Lost - Fr. Nathan's Podcast Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Tw...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 3 min
This week Fr. Michael reflects on nostalgia, and the ways it can be manifest in both good and bad ways. He talks about how nostalgia is a way of thinking about the transcendent that we experienced in the past, which is ultimately our longing for heaven. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Send us a text Support the show...
Jan 01, 2025•1 hr 2 min
This week Fr. Michael reflects on Psalm 63, which he has felt the Lord calling him to give as a penance in confession. Fr. Michael walks through some of the verses in the Psalm and contemplates some ways we can link the passages to our daily life. References: Psalm 63 (or 62 if you're in the Septuagint) Unwisting Legion Pilgrimage: We're going on pilgrimage! You can find all the details including dates, itinerary, and cost at the 206tours website . Want to hear this directly from Fr. Michael and...
Dec 25, 2024•43 min
This week Mother Natalia and Fr. Michael reflect on the entrance of their friend and spiritual daughter, Maddie, into Christ the Bridegroom Monastery. Mother Natalia then reflects on one of her favorite stichera that we sing during the Nativity, and encourages us to reflect on it in this week leading up to the celebration of Nativity. References: Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodread...
Dec 18, 2024•54 min
This week Fr. Michael reflects on a passage in Luke where Jesus encounters the man living with the legion of demons, which he then casts out. He talks about how the devil twists the truth and beauty and the world, perverting it which leads to sin. He sees this both in the man inhabited by the demons but also in the townspeople. Fr. Michael talks about ways we can also have this same distortion in our lives, even if we're not possessed by demons. References: Luke 8: 26-39 The Real Meaning of Luci...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr
This Mother Natalia talks about her recent experience on a long run and how that compares to the spiritual life. She breaks down her run into three parts, each of them equating to us persevering in holiness. References: Rekindling Wonder by Fr. Chris Seith Akathist of Thanksgiving Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Send us a text Support the show...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 6 min
This week Fr. Michael takes inspiration from Matthew's gospel to talk about Jesus not being accepted as a prophet in his own home. Fr. Michael takes this further to talk about the ways we can be jealous of others, even of the good that they're doing. He talks about living with hardship and trying to not be jealous of others who are having different experiences than us. References: Protoevangelium of James Hot Mess Hot Takes Matt 13: 53-58 Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Faceboo...
Nov 27, 2024•1 hr 1 min
This week Mother Natalia shares something that she asked for in prayer. She shares how that impacted her as she tried to remember that as she went about her day. Mother Natalia makes a suggestion to us on how to incorporate this into our lives as well. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the Bridegroom Monastery Our Website Our Nonprofit Send us a text Support the show...
Nov 20, 2024•47 min
