Godsplaining

You're "spiritual" but not religious? Is that a good thing to be? Could there be risks to that? What does that actually mean? On this week's episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Joseph-Anthony and Fr. Patrick sit down to discuss why data on those identifying as 'spiritual' is decreasing, how spiritual people are really just Catholic, and more.  Young Adults: Join the friars in Tampa, FL from April 24-26! https://godsplaining.org/young-adult-retreat-april-2026/ For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic Join the Friars for our annual Young Adult Retreat in Tampa, FL! https://godsplaining.org/young-adult-retreat-april-2026/ Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org   Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining Support the Podcast      Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining Shop our merch store: https://godsplaining.org/store/ Shop Books Written by the Friars Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1?srsltid=AfmBOoo3b2MbHxat33i-cwrd1AcSW_hPBfcHcm4-8XxJoCDn4OUgTBe_ Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/ St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392 Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/ Connect on Social Media Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/ Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/ Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Fr. Gregory welcomes retired, highly accomplished United States Army General and CEO of the McChrystal Group, Stanley McChrystal, to analyze common virtues and discuss dignity, excellence, and finding your inner strength.  The General's Books can be found here: https://shorturl.at/fmloa Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org   Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining Support the Podcast      Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining Shop our merch store: https://godsplaining.org/store/ Shop Books Written by the Friars Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1?srsltid=AfmBOoo3b2MbHxat33i-cwrd1AcSW_hPBfcHcm4-8XxJoCDn4OUgTBe_ Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/ St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392 Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/ Connect on Social Media Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/ Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/ Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony reflect on the readings for Palm Sunday, focusing on the themes of training the tongue, obedience, God's dominion over us, and the giving of ourselves to the Lord.  Find Fr. Gregory's "Training the Tongue" here:  https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech Providence College Pre-College Summer Program https://catholic-dominican.providence.edu/pre-college-program/ Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org   Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining Support the Podcast      Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining Shop our merch store: https://godsplaining.org/store/ Shop Books Written by the Friars Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1?srsltid=AfmBOoo3b2MbHxat33i-cwrd1AcSW_hPBfcHcm4-8XxJoCDn4OUgTBe_ Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/ St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392 Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/ Connect on Social Media Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/ Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/ Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Two friars explore how to disagree with charity while seeking truth. They recount formative debate memories and recommend a mindset of conversion, not conquest. Practical tips include prayerful preparation, steel-manning opposing views, and spotting bad-faith exchanges. They caution against performative online arguing and emphasize humility, clarity, and knowing when to disengage.

Two friars urge listeners to lock into Lent and prepare for Holy Week. They discuss veiling statues, the meaning of Jesus delaying to raise Lazarus, and how waiting shapes friendship with Christ. Reflections touch on Ezekiel’s promise, Romans on what drives us, and practical takeaways for prayer and meditation during the final days of Lent.

Priests-turned-counselors unpack dating red flags like pornography, pressure for premarital sex, and fast-tracked emotional bonding. They stress spotting poor self-control, manipulation, or anger and watching how someone treats others. They discuss weighing religion and openness to children, and warn against rigid checklists and mismatched communication or pacing.

Deacon Charlie Echeverry, a Catholic deacon and media producer active in film and EWTN, shares his path from entertainment into evangelization. He discusses the Seeking Beauty series, creative approaches to bridge secular and catechetical media, the role of story and art, and a season of insomnia that led to surrender and vocational discernment.

Conversations about spiritual blindness and recovering sight through faith. Reflections on light versus darkness and waking from spiritual sleep. Discussion of David’s unexpected calling and the meaning of Bethlehem. A close look at Jesus healing the man born blind and the symbolism of clay as restoration.

A lively conversation about Thomas Merton’s influential spiritual autobiography and why it stirred controversy. They trace the book’s impact on midcentury American Catholic life and compare Merton to Augustine. They revisit his conversion moments, his uneasy relationship with the institutional Church, and why monastic life ultimately called him.

Reflections on thirst in Scripture, from Israel’s desert need to Jesus offering living water to the Samaritan woman. A look at how God’s mercy transforms hardened hearts and pours love into believers. Connections between the rock in Exodus, Paul’s image of love poured out, and the Spirit making people spill life outward.