This podcast episode delves into the topic of shame and its impact on spiritual and emotional healing. Fr. Michael, Fr. Christopher, and Joe discuss how shame is often a subtle and deeply rooted wound that affects people's ability to experience God's love and delight. They emphasize that shame is not just another wound, but a core wound since the fall of humanity. The hosts explain how shame can prevent individuals from walking confidently in their faith, as it leads to self-rejection, a sense of inadequacy, and a distorted view of one's worth.

The discussion also covers how shame can manifest in different ways, such as scrupulosity, striving for perfection, or struggling with vulnerability. Healing from shame, they argue, requires vulnerability—bringing one’s wounds to God and others in trusted relationships. They stress the importance of confession, openness, and allowing oneself to experience God's love even in moments of brokenness. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to seek healing by addressing childhood wounds and learning to accept love and forgiveness instead of living under the burden of shame.

What is "Catholic mindfulness"? Is it a new age add-on to Christian spirituality, or is it compatible with Catholic tradition and orthodoxy? "Mindfulness" can refer to the natural ability to focus our attention fully on the present moment. Defined thus, mindfulness can be understood as essential for meditative prayer and active recollection, and for the contemplative life in general.

Strongly influenced by Dr. Greg Bottaro's book, The Mindful Catholic, this episode explores the topic of mindfulness: what it is (and is not), the fruits of practicing mindfulness, basic practicals, and reasons why mindfulness is especially critical for Catholics in our anxious and distracted age.

Dr. Greg Bottaro's website:

https://catholicpsych.com

At the end of the day, we are never our own masters: we are either children of God and "slaves of righteousness", or slaves of sin and the Devil. While many of us in the Church are preaching an important message of God's mercy and seeking to address issues of unhealthy shame and guilt, we sometimes overlook or play down this simple reality of our sins and their power to enslave us. Mary Bielski rejoins our hosts in this episode of our Inner Healing Series to talk about the detrimental impact of sin in our lives and God's call for us to repent. Even faithful Catholics can remain bound in certain habits of sin (resulting in stagnation, emptiness and mediocrity); but God's power frees us, for it is "God's kindness [that] leads you to repentence" (Romans 2:4).