There are a lot of important lessons in today's episode. Frist, Michael learns why he needs to read the preface. More importantly, Dr. Paul Chaloux—adjunct professor of theology at the Catholic University of America—shares with us the ways we can see suffering in the light of our Christian faith. It's an engaging question and conversation that we will return to in future episodes. Check out the book: Why All People Suffer: How a Loving God Uses Suffering to Perfect Us . Also check out Prof. Chal...
Sep 13, 2021•43 min
September 12, 2021 marks the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri, the greatest poet of Western Christianity. While Dante has had a profound impact on art over the centuries, Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmalz has undertaken an ambitious project to sculpt Dante's magnum opus, The Divine Comedy . Mr. Schmalz is the artist behind the famous Homeless Jesus statue, which can be found at churches throughout the world. He has also sculpted large public memorials such as Angels Unawares, t...
Sep 04, 2021•44 min
The family is proclaimed to be The Domestic Church or, as St. John Paul II said, the building blocks of society. The family's role in God's providence is so great that it can often come under attack. In our confused and chaotic age, how can parents protect their family and raise a saintly household? Today's guest, Kathleen Beckman, returns to the CE Podcast to share how families can put on the armor of God and protect their loved ones. Mrs. Beckman also discusses the necessary steps you can take...
Aug 17, 2021•49 min
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen died over forty years ago. However, his work remains as influential and inspiring it was when he was alive (if not more so!). What keeps people coming back to the televangelist and bishop after so many decades? Examining his work on the sacraments, Michael is joined by Al Smith, the founder and director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Mission Society of Canada and the editor of three Fulton J. Sheen anthologies, who takes a look at the work of the Archbishop. In toda...
Jul 30, 2021•50 min
The Catholic Exchange Podcast is honored to welcome back long-time contributor and author Fr. Edward Looney as our guest host. In today's episode, Fr. Edward Looney interview's author Anthony DeStefano about his latest illustrated book, Our Lady's Wardrobe. Mr. DeStefano is the author of A Travel Guide to Heaven, The Grumpy Old Ox , and is a frequent television host. Why parents should feel encouraged to pass Marian devotion down to their children. The reasons for why Mary has so many different ...
Jul 26, 2021•27 min
Catholic Social Teaching has a rich intellectual and spiritual tradition. However, despite the modern dialogue surrounding surrounding social justice, Catholic Social Teaching can get lost in forgetfulness and misinterpretation. Laura Zambrana, MDiv joins us to give a brief yet thorough introduction to the richness and depths of Catholic Social Teachings and how they can help us in our post-Covid world. Mrs Zambrana explains the theological foundations of true social justice while also going int...
Jun 12, 2021•42 min
Longtime Catholic Exchange contributors and frequent podcast guests Fr. Edward Looney and Jeannie Ewing discuss Mrs Ewing’s much read article, “ St. Joseph: Our Patron Saint of a Happy & Holy Death .” In this conversation, Jeannie discusses ways that St. Joseph’s example and support can help us to become better people in our faith, familial, and personal lives. Meanwhile, Fr. Edward gives his insights into the power of the saints in his life as a parish priest. Listen below or find Catholic ...
Apr 19, 2021•27 min
While we begin to wonder what our Post-COVID world may look like, now is a perfect time to acquire new and lasting habits for holiness. If you're not sure where to start making these habits, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR brings 800 years of the Franciscan tradition within the reach of laity. Today's episode of the CE Podcast discusses how we can take the first step to grow closer to sainthood in your daily life. Michael and Fr. Mark-Mary discuss the ways you can add a few minutes of prayer and contemp...
Apr 07, 2021•38 min
After a year of frustration and uncertainty, more people are able to return to Mass at their local parish. For many, this upcoming Easter weekend will feel like a homecoming of sorts after being physically absent during the last Paschal season. If you are among these pilgrims who can now come home, now is a great time to learn the art of meditating on the Catholic faith. Today, Michael is joined by long-time CE contributor and returning guest Fr. Edward Looney to discuss the practical steps you ...
Mar 30, 2021•42 min
Michael talks with Jason Shanks of the OSV Institute about OSV Innovation Talks and our approach to evangelizing our neighbors and, ultimately, our culture. We have a short but direct conversation about how we have (or haven't) approached the New Evangelization and what apostolates can do to bring more souls to the Church. To learn more about OSV Innovation Talks, go to OSVTalks.com. Support the show
Mar 17, 2021•28 min
Check out our full show notes and resources here : https://catholicexchange.com/st-therese-of-lisieux-against-the-plague-suzie-andres It's probably goes without saying that the past year has been difficult for most of us. We've had to endure a pandemic, rioting, a contentious election, and an economic crisis. Yet, we as Catholics have an incredible refuge and friend in one particular saint: St. Therese, or the Little Flower. CE contributor and prolific author Suzie Andres joins Michael Lichens t...
Jan 28, 2021•1 hr 26 min
When you think of spiritual warfare, you're likely thinking of the classic horror films. But spiritual warfare is something all of us are called to and that includes the whole family. Best-selling author and CE contributor Kathleen Beckman joins us an unusual but important topic. Kathleen Beckman's latest book, Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Strategies for Deliverance and Healing, explores how families can incorporate prayer, angels, and the saints into our daily family life and how such pra...
Jan 12, 2021•40 min
Today, Michael is joined by CE contributor R. Jared Staudt, whose work discusses the theological value of culture and beauty and how they can help evangelize the world. R. Jared Staudt, PhD is Associate Superintendent for Mission and Formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and Visiting Associate Professor for the Augustine Institute. He is author of Restoring Humanity: Essays on the Evangelization of Culture (Divine Providence Press) and The Beer Option (Angelico Press) and the editor of Renewing...
Dec 04, 2020•29 min
Beginning with a brief story from the life of 18th century English Bishop Richard Challoner, Michael begins a discussion about the long, treasured history of Catholic Catechisms. Today's guest Aaron Seng of Tradivox is undertaking the work of collecting, publishing, and finally digitizing catechisms that reach back to centuries, many by saints and celebrated figures of Catholic history. And many risked their lives to publish such simple, holy lessons. Links Find out about the work of Tradivox an...
Nov 18, 2020•29 min
It's election day! The citizens of the United States will cast their ballots today after a long, strange, and frustrating election season. While many websites and channels will be covering the breaking news with analysis and predictions, Michael and returning guest Derek Rotty want to look to how we live our faith post 2020, no matter who wins the election. Derek discusses important Catholic values such as solidarity and conscience and how they help us to form bonds with our neighbors and truly ...
Nov 04, 2020•53 min
Note from Michael: I apologize for the audio quality on my part. It's an issue we're working on. But, Simone has some great things to share and her audio quality is great. So, enjoy and we'll have cleaner audio next week. (Cheers, MJL) Chances are, you didn't get to experience Lent or Easter in any kind of community. Many churches were closed during the Church's holiest year amidst the growing COVID-19 pandemic. In this time of uncertainty and isolation, how can we grow in spiritual friendship w...
Apr 15, 2020•33 min
Holy Week means accompanying Christ through His Passion. This has become an even greater challenge while many of us are sheltering in place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. But the promise of redemption through Christ's resurrection still call to us. Today, we are joined by liturgist and Liturgy Guys podcast host Christopher Carstens to discuss how we can get through Holy Week in the midst of a pandemic. To get deeper into the subject of the Easter Mysteries, check Mr. Carstens's latest books, A De...
Apr 06, 2020•42 min
The Christian life is rough, even in the best of times. During a pandemic, it can be especially difficult to enter that narrow way. Long-time teacher and spiritual director Dan Burke joins us to discuss this and other themes of his book, Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits (https://bit.ly/3dC1hZ2). Mr. Burke is the author of numerous books and courses, many of which you can find at SpiritualDirection.com. He is also the president and founder of the Avila Institute . If you would lik...
Mar 28, 2020•35 min
If you need to figure out how to be truly happy, you can't get a better guide than St. Thomas Aquinas. In today's episode, Michael welcomes Dr. Kevin vost to discuss what the Angelic Doctor taught about the good life and what we can do to live more at peace (hint: it involves Jesus). Check out our links below: 12 Life Lessons from St. Thomas Aquinas is Dr. Vost's latest book, which covers much more than we could. http://bit.ly/VostPod Check out Dr. Vost's website at http://drvost.com/ Dr. Vost i...
Mar 17, 2020•38 min
2020 is the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX declaring St. Joseph the “Patron of the Universal Church.” Many saints and laity have indeed found a friend in St. Joseph, including editor and host, Michael. To take a deeper dive into St. Joseph, friend of the show Fr. Donald Calloway is back to discuss his latest book, Consecration to St. Joseph . Some links: Learn more about the Consecration to St. Joseph: https://www.consecrationtostjoseph.org/ Fr. Calloway's website: https://www.fathercalloway....
Mar 06, 2020•27 min
If you have any memories of St. Valentine's Day, it's typically for the cards, candy, and big pink hearts everywhere. But who was St. Valentine and why is he so mysterious while his holiday is such a big deal? To celebrate this day of romantic love, Michael invites his wife Sophie on to tell her the story of St. Valentine and where his relics have ended up. From a flower-crowned skull in Rome to a wax effigy concealing St. Valentine's bones in an old Missouri mission, the bones of St. Valentine ...
Feb 16, 2020•46 min
The saintly bishop Fulton J. Sheen was often approached by numerous people who had a simple request: “Teach us how to pray.” While he reached millions of souls via radio and TV, the bishop also penned dozens of pamphlets and short books address varying topics of prayer. However, many of those writings were forgotten later on. Thanks to the work of Allan Smith , Director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Mission Society of Canada and editor of Bishop Sheen Today, the many works of Bishop Sheen ar...
Feb 13, 2020•47 min
Catholics have produced some of the finest novels ever written, but you wouldn't always know that from today's selections. Some of the faithful have certainly noticed and have started to bring their experience and creativity into the fictional realm in hopes of shaping the broader culture and to re-introduce the Catholic voice to fiction. Today's guest, W. L. Patenaude , is one such author. Patenaude's debut novel, A Printer's Choice , is the rooted his work in ecology and theology, as well as h...
Jan 21, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Canadian sculptor Timothy P. Schmalz has made public art like the Canadian Veterans' Memorial and Golden Leaves , the hometown memorial statue to Gordon Lightfoot. Recently he has become more well-known for his religious art, such as his Homeless Jesus statues that can be found all across the world. Today, Michael kicks off a small series exploring the art and work of Schmalz while focusing on how our spiritual lives can lead to abundant creative lives. If you are an aspiring Catholic artist in ...
Jan 13, 2020•43 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Today we welcome Susan Johnson, an author, teacher, and advocate to talk about faith and mental health. In her latest book, Some Dreams Are Worth Keeping , Susan discusses the role her own faith has had in bringing a sense of hope and healing, even when the weight of mental anguish is pressing down. Today's episode is full of hope and even some great joy. It's also tackling some dark topics and showing how the light of Christ can pierce through the darkness that can surround us. Check out Susan ...
Sep 09, 2019•26 min
Masculinity is a question that comes up a lot in our culture. Even more so if you're as hopelessly online as Michael. Across podcasts, long YouTube videos, and countless websites, you can find an assortment of gurus and teachers who proclaim they have the instructions on how to be a real man. With the Catholic Church facing one crisis after another, how can reclaiming masculinity help our Church and her many children? To tackle these questions and begin pointing to a solution, pastoral counselor...
Aug 16, 2019•31 min
You only have a few days for prayer and penance. How is it going? If you find that you wished you had tried harder or done more, there is still time. Michael is joined by Derek Rotty to talk about the books, prayers, and practices you can use to have a good, holy Lent with even just a few days left. Find Derek at DerekRotty.com , and then find his article at CE "There is Still Time to Redeem Your Lent" (http://bit.ly/2X8jvbw) Also check out Derek's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channe...
Apr 13, 2019•29 min
Lent quickly approaches and many of us could still use a trusted guide for the holy season. Today we look at one beloved spiritual director, Ven. Fulton J. Sheen. Today, Michael talks about Fulton J. Sheen and how he can guide us through Lent with Allan Smith . Allan is the is the Founder and Director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Mission Society of Canada , as well as the creator of Bishop Sheen Today . Allan is the editor of The Cries of Jesus from the Cross: A Fulton Sheen Anthology , whi...
Feb 22, 2019•40 min
Father Augustus Tolton was born into slavery and, despite seemingly insurmountable odds, rose to become the first black priest in the United States. His cause for canonization has been opened but many are just learning about this heroic priest who served his Church and community despite racism, bigotry, and opposition within the Church. Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers shows us how the faith, hope, and love of Fr. Tolton can inspire us today no matter what we are called to overcome. We also discuss ho...
Feb 15, 2019•48 min
Memento Mori has been explored by nearly every saint. The remembrance of death has influenced artists and authors throughout history. Yet, the age-old practice of remembering our death has almost entirely disappeared. Today's guest, Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble, has thought a lot about her own death and the practice of Memento Mori. Join us as we discuss how incorporating Memento Mori into our Lent can prepare us for the joy of the Resurrection at Easter. Check our Sr. Theresa's Remember Your Deat...
Feb 08, 2019•25 min
