What is Anointing of the Sick? This sacrament can receive a lot of misunderstanding and confusion. Who can receive it? Is it for spiritual or physical ailment? What does it actually do? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle respond to these questions and offer their personal experiences of witnessing the sacrament. Snippet from the Show The Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and resurrection of Christ just as Baptism began it. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@asce...
Apr 03, 2024•50 min
How do you make a good confession? How do you cope with a bad confession? Going to confession is a very vulnerable thing. It can be a great experience, but occasionally, it can be a negative one. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss some of the common reasons why people may have a negative experience in confession. They offer advice on how to respond and how to potentially avoid them all together. Snippet from the Show "The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absol...
Mar 27, 2024•49 min
Confession can feel uncomfortable, intimidating, and even burdensome. However, the sacrament of confession is one of the greatest gifts from God. How can we understand that better? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle explain the joy and goodness of confession. They share their own feelings about the sacrament and how they have worked to overcome sin in their own lives. Snippet from the Show If you truly understand confession, you will realize how freeing it is. We want to hear from you! Email us at ...
Mar 20, 2024•42 min
Why is the Eucharistic theme so central to the Catholic life? Perhaps, you have heard the term “Eucharistic people” and wondered what it means and what that might look like. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss the impact of the Eucharist on our lives. They also offer advice on how to prepare well for receiving the Eucharist. Snippet from the Show Remember that you are encountering the living God. There is no reason that you should walk away the same. We want to hear from you! Email us at ...
Mar 13, 2024•47 min
What is the high point in life? Where ought everything to lead? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle continue their conversation around mystagogy as they discuss the Eucharist. They explain its importance and why everything ought to point to the Eucharist. Snippet from the Show Every bit of our life ought to be oriented towards encounter with Jesus Christ. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the sho...
Mar 06, 2024•45 min
Is Confirmation really important? What does it do that Baptism doesn’t already do? For many, Confirmation can seem like an afterthought or some rite of passage. However, Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle share why it is so much more than that. They explain its incredible significance and why it is essential for someone striving for salvation. Snippet from the Show The most underplayed sacrament of the life of the Church is one of the most important. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascen...
Feb 28, 2024•46 min
Is there anything pointing to Baptism in the Old Testament? Are there shadows of it that come into the light in the New Testament? Mike Gormley is here with a bonus episode to dive into this very topic. Enjoy this bonus content looking at typology of the Old Testament and Baptism. Snippet from the Show The sacramental life of the Church communicates the life of Christ to us. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to ...
Feb 27, 2024•30 min
Baptism is not just something to check off on the “To Do” list of the Christian life. So, what is it and what does it do? How can we understand the mystery of Baptism? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle tackle these questions and encourage believers to share the truth about Baptism. Snippet from the Show Baptism is salvific because it communicates the very life of God. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777...
Feb 21, 2024•57 min
How important are the sacraments? Are they just steps in the Christian life or do they bear a lot more weight in our journey towards salvation? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle continue their series on Mystagogy by addressing the importance of the sacraments. They discuss the mystery of the sacraments and why they are truly a matter of life and death. Snippet from the Show The sacraments are a matter of life and death: eternal life and eternal death. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@asc...
Feb 14, 2024•42 min
Every Knee Shall Bow is back for another season! Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are addressing the topic of Mystagogy. In this episode, they explain what Mystagogy is and why it is such an important part of the Christian life. Snippet from the Show The Lord wants to give you a deeper hunger for the divine life. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also...
Feb 07, 2024•39 min
What is happiness and how do you get it? This question has been at the forefront of humanity since the beginning of time. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Dr. Jennifer Frey to discuss happiness and the role virtue plays in attaining it. Snippet from the Show The reason why sin must be avoided at all costs is because it prevents you from being totally fulfilled with God. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “E...
Dec 20, 2023•57 min
There are a lot of opinions on liturgy in the Catholic Church. So, it is understandable to wonder, “Is there a right way to do liturgy?”. Mike Gormley is joined by Fr. David Hust to discuss the purpose and goodness of liturgy. They explain why it is so important to understand liturgy and all the ways that the faithful can participate in the liturgies of the Church. Snippet from the Show If we’re meant to be the light to the nations, we better get liturgy right. We want to hear from you! Email us...
Dec 13, 2023•57 min
How much do you know about Venerable Fulton Sheen? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Bonnie Engstrom to talk about this incredible man. Not only does Bonnie offer a wealth of knowledge on his life, but she also shares her experience of an incredible miracle through his intercession. Her story will leave you speechless. Snippet from the Show “For six months I had been asking Bishop Sheen to pray for my son on a daily basis, and in that moment that is who I called on.” We want to hear ...
Dec 06, 2023•50 min
Do you believe that prayer makes a difference? Is it obvious what kind of difference prayer makes? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Dr. Edward Sri to discuss the importance of prayer. They observe the importance prayer has in our relationship with God and how it affects every other part of our spiritual lives. Snippet from the Show Our daily prayer cannot simply consist of reciting prayers or reading spiritual books. It must involve meditation and opening our hearts and minds to ...
Nov 29, 2023•25 min
What is a woman? It is a simple question. However, the answer to this question has become a topic for debate in the culture today. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined once again by Dr. Abigail Favale in order to discuss the different sides of the debate and to answer the question “What is a woman?”. Snippet from the Show If I don’t speak the truth in love, am I participating in other people’s destruction? We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/co...
Nov 22, 2023•28 min
Gender, feminism, equality, etc. are all prevalent topics in the culture today. However, it can sometimes feel difficult to gain a thorough understanding of these issues and engage in conversation about them. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by professor and author Dr. Abigail Favale to discuss some of these issues. Snippet from the Show “Whoever controls the narrative, who controls language, they decide what is real, what is knowable, what is good, what is bad.” We want to hear from y...
Nov 15, 2023•37 min
What does it mean to think Christologically? How do you put Christ at the center of all thought? Intimacy with Christ is a goal in the Christian life, but the how and why for this goal are not easily understood. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. to discuss the difference between thinking about Christ and thinking with Christ. Snippet from the Show In all things, seek the face of God. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your que...
Nov 08, 2023•52 min
The cross of infertility is one that many people bear. Many of these people suffer in silence and are unsure what to do in the face of their infertility. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Emily Chapman to discuss her own challenges with infertility and how it affected her on a deeper level. Together, they address what people can do in the face of infertility and why the Church does not permit IVF, surrogacy, or contraception. Snippet from the Show "We are all called to trust God with...
Nov 01, 2023•47 min
What does pro-women healthcare look like? In the culture today, women’s healthcare fails too often to address the actual needs of a woman’s body. There is a lack of understanding and respect when it comes to hormonal health and true fertility care. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Teresa Kenney to discuss why this is the state of women’s healthcare and what pro-women healthcare should look like. Snippet from the Show The reality of the human body is amazing. It is such a beautifu...
Oct 25, 2023•48 min
Here’s where it gets sticky: contraception. Contraception may be one of the most talked about and most difficult topics when it comes to evangelization. It is personal, it is polarizing and it can be difficult to understand. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss the origins of contraceptives, the Church’s teachings on them, the harm they cause and how you can talk about it with others. Snippet from the Show Contraception limits the gift of one person to another. We want to hear from you! Em...
Oct 18, 2023•46 min
Welcome to a special bonus episode with Michael Gormley…on a different podcast! Enjoy this conversation between Gomer and Ryan O’Hara, the host of the Better Preach podcast. Together they discuss how to teach and preach so as to actually make disciples. Snippet from the Show You can’t make a disciple if you’re not a disciple. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! Y...
Oct 16, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Moving in together is a common “step” that many couples see as necessary and normal in a relationship. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss why cohabitation can have such negative effects on a relationship. They also share how to talk with a couple who is cohabitating and how to encourage them towards something different. Snippet from the Show Couples who do not live together prior to marriage are more likely to have happy marriages. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpres...
Oct 11, 2023•43 min
Transgenderism, or gender dysphoria, is a very relevant topic in our world today. So, what is it? And more importantly, how are we supposed to respond to it? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Jason Evert to discuss transgenderism, gender dysphoria, gender stereotypes, and more. Together, they share how we can respond to all of it with Christ-like love. Snippet from the Show Try to listen to gender dysphoria with reverent curiosity. A person’s story is often a roadmap to their heal...
Oct 04, 2023•53 min
Theology of the Body teaches the positive and beautiful message of sexuality within the context of human and divine love. How do we communicate this good news to our children? How do we reject and avoid the pornographic culture while not instilling fear of sexuality or hatred of the body? And what is chastity, really? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle answer these questions and more. Snippet from the Show Protecting our children’s innocence is not the same as keeping them naive. We want to hear fr...
Sep 27, 2023•36 min
What does it mean to fall in love? How do we stay in love? St. John Paul II addresses this in his great “ethical analysis of love” chapter in Love and Responsibility. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle address some of the chapter’s key topics: sexual urge, love as attraction, love as desire, love as benevolence, and reciprocity. Snippet from the Show “You have to possess yourself in order to give yourself.” We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments D...
Sep 20, 2023•36 min
Men and women are the same! Men are from Mars and women are from Venus! We hear contradictory messages about men and women all the time. “They are the same.” “They are radically different.” Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle address these contradictions by looking at Scripture and sharing the wisdom of the Church. Snippet from the Show Fatherhood and motherhood are the perfection of masculinity and femininity. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comm...
Sep 13, 2023•51 min
Every Knee Shall Bow is back with a brand new season! Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are returning to explore the great work of St. John Paul II: The Theology of the Body. Using St. John Paul II’s wisdom, Mike and Dave will be discussing many of the challenges we face today and how we can grow in greater love with God, one another, and ourselves. Snippet from the Show The simplest easiest way to end Satan’s kingdom is marriage. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com wi...
Sep 06, 2023•42 min
Guess who’s back?! Mike “Gomer” Gormley is joined by Dave VanVickle for a special bonus episode to wrap up this season of Every Knee Shall Bow. Dave shares a bit about his life from the past three months. And together, Dave and Mike wrap up this season of Every Knee Shall Bow on the essential elements of discipleship. Snippet from the Show The only gift greater than knowing Jesus is to love him. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forg...
May 31, 2023•45 min
What are the essential elements of Catholic Discipleship? Mike "Gomer" Gormely has been answering this question for the last few weeks and today he puts it all together. Mike outlines the traps a disciple can fall into. He also shares how we can continue to grow in intimacy with Christ. Snippet from the Show At the end of the day, each day, you are only one act of honest repentance away from undoing the works of Satan, exposing his works to the light of Christ, and returning home. We want to hea...
May 24, 2023•45 min
Do you know what it means to be restored by Christ? Christ is always offering us a newness of life. However, what does that look like? Mike “Gomer” Gormley continues his discussion on the essential elements of Catholic Discipleship moving from the Purgative Way to the Illuminative Way. Snippet from the Show “If the soul is to make progress, there must be a gradual reclothing of her with the graces in which Christ desires to see her.” We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com ...
May 17, 2023•32 min
