St. Anthony's Tongue

Lent is coming. It’s not too close. Not too far. I didn’t want to do a lent prep video. It’s too early. I also didn’t want to do a filler episode. Y’all don’t deserve that.So here is an episode where we linger. No script. No outline. Just seeing where lent takes us. We discuss medieval history, the real meaning of devotion, Christian mysticism and end with a guided meditation on a psalm.Thank you for lingering with me.To support my work please consider joining my Patreon: www.patreon.com/anthonystongue

Matthew 5 calls Christians to be salt and light, not in theory, but in visible mercy. This episode reflects on what happens when Catholics choose silence, excuse inaction, or hide behind “nuance” while suffering remains visible. It’s about sanctification, demonization, and the slow deformation that comes when mercy becomes optional.

In this Gospel reflection for Sunday’s reading from Matthew 5, we linger with the opening line of the Beatitudes. Instead of rushing through the list, we slow down and sit with the atmosphere of the mountain and the first words Jesus speaks.What does it mean to be blessed. What does it mean to be poor in spirit. And what is the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus says already belongs to them.This reflection is not about achieving holiness or spiritual performance, but about making room. About openness, surrender, and the interior posture that allows God to dwell within us.Sometimes Scripture asks us not to move forward, but to stay. To linger long enough for the Word to work.Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

They unpack how devotions can become performative habits that exhaust rather than transform. They contrast transactional images of God with receiving love freely. They define spiritual gluttony and trace prayer from vocal prayer to meditation and contemplative silence. They offer practical tips for moving from doing to being and invite listeners to rest into God's presence.

The discussion revolves around the theme of divine interruption in our lives. It highlights how God often calls us through presence rather than explanation, especially in messy situations. The urgency of Jesus’ call to the fishermen underscores the importance of responsiveness. Insights from mystics reveal how we can encounter God in our untidiness. Additionally, the fear of the Lord is framed as a gateway to faith rather than an obstacle. Listeners are encouraged to embrace silence and surrender, following Christ's enduring call.

Explore the fascinating world of misquoted saints and the theological missteps that arise from it. Discover how words attributed to figures like Jacinta of Fatima can lose their original meaning through translation. Unpack the origins of the famous peace prayer wrongly linked to St. Francis and learn about the true essence of his teachings. Dive into Catherine of Siena's insights, which challenge modern interpretations of self-actualization. This engaging discussion highlights the importance of accuracy in spiritual language and the rich depth of saintly wisdom.

What does it mean when John points to Jesus and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God”?In this episode, we enter the quiet mysticism of John 1 and the Baptism of Christ. “Behold” is not a command to analyze or define. It is an invitation to see, to receive, to stand before God rather than explain Him. At the Jordan, Christ is not made divine. He is revealed as the dwelling place of God. The Spirit does not merely appear. He remains. God does not visit. He dwells.This reflection explores how Christ’s baptism reveals the heart of the Incarnation, the removal of separation through self-giving love, the mystery of holy unknowing, and the promise that what dwells fully in Christ is what God longs to share with the human soul. Christianity is not only God with us. It is God within us.

Dive into the transformative world of mystic poets who illuminate the path to prayer. Explore why poetry is vital in Catholic mysticism and how desire shapes spiritual experiences. Discover John of the Cross's exploration of divine union and Jacopone da Todi's raw, honest approach to prayer. Gain insights into Columba's exile verses and Mechthild's imagery of surrender. This conversation unveils the beauty of longing and love, inviting you into a richer, contemplative spirituality.

OOPS! This originally only included the final 30 minutes. Here is the full 1hr 45 min version. Yikes. To submit Qs for future Q&As (and get early access and other perks) consider joining our patreon here: www.patreon.com/anthonystongue In this episode, I sit down and respond to a wide range of questions from you all, touching on prayer, confession, Christian mysticism, saints, suffering, hope, conversion, symbolism, and what it actually looks like to live a contemplative life in the middle of ordinary, busy days.Some of these questions are deeply theological. Some are personal. Some are tender and unresolved. All of them are honest.

What does the Nativity reveal about masculinity?In this video, we reflect on St. Joseph and the quiet, contemplative masculinity revealed at the birth of Christ. Against modern ideas of power, dominance, and performance, the Nativity offers something radically different. Strength expressed through tenderness. Authority shown through obedience. Holiness revealed through proximity to a vulnerable God.St. Joseph never speaks in Scripture, yet he stands at the very center of the mystery of the Incarnation. He guards the Child. He listens in the night. He acts without spectacle. In doing so, he shows us a masculinity shaped not by control, but by intimacy with God.This reflection explores the masculine mysticism of Advent and the Nativity, the fear of tenderness in modern Catholic masculinity, and the deeper strength found in silence, vigilance, and mutual gaze with God. We also consider Joseph as an image of the bridal posture of the soul, showing how availability to God can take shape in a man’s life.