Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

Have you ever felt small? Like just one person among nearly 8 billion—how could you possibly matter?

That's no doubt how the apostles felt...fishermen of little consequence by the world's standards.

Until Jesus called them by using a phrase that rabbis would use to call specially gifted students: "Come follow me."

They were hearing something they'd dreamt of their whole lives—something they thought had passed them by.

That's why they dropped everything instantly.

They mattered to Jesus. And so do you.

God’s attention isn’t divided. He’s infinite. Which means He gives you His full, undivided love—right now...and he's calling you the same way: "Come follow me."

In those small-feeling moments, remember that God is perpetually pouring His grace over you. Sometimes we forget that God is there loving us, but He never forgets about us.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When do you most struggle with feeling insignificant or unseen? What triggers those thoughts?

2. How does the idea that God gives infinite attention to each person change the way you see your relationship with Him?

3. What would it look like for you to truly believe that God is calling you personally—not just Christians in general?

4. Are there moments in your life when you felt like God's call to you was clear? What were you called to and how did you respond?

5. What is one concrete way you can respond to God's call this week?

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Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Small Enough in the Eyes of God
(00:05:05) - Fishing Lessons for Saints

Suicide rates are rising—and almost all of us have been touched by it. If you’ve ever wondered “What happens to someone who dies by suicide?” or felt crushed by fear, guilt, or unanswered questions, this episode will bring you real hope.

I sit down with Fr. Chris Alar, author of After Suicide, to unpack what the Catholic Church actually teaches: why suicide is grave matter, why that does not automatically mean someone is damned, and how God can work mercy in ways we can’t see.

Our conversation also touches briefly on the lie behind assisted suicide and Fr. Chris tells a beautiful story that explains the power of offering up your suffering as a prayer for the living and those who have died.

We also talk about practical warning signs and what to do when someone is struggling with suicidal ideation.

If you’ve lost someone, love someone who’s struggling, or you’re carrying silent pain yourself—this conversation is for you. God's mercy is real—and it's powerful beyond our human comprehension.

Get Fr. Chris' book "After Suicide": https://www.amazon.com/After-Suicide-Theres-Hope-Them/dp/1596144343

Highlights:

0:00 Intro

5:00 The myth: “Suicide = automatic hell”

9:45 Catechism 2282: mitigating factors & God’s mercy

22:45 Catechism 2283: don’t despair—God can act in ways we can’t see

29:10 Your prayers can still matter (even when it feels “too late”)

37:03 Why some people prefer legalism over mercy

42:12 Suicide today is not an epidemic but a pandemic

44:35 The #1 risk factor for those considering suicide

46:13 Warning signs + what to say when you’re worried about someone

50:11 “I’m a burden” — the lie behind assisted suicide/euthanasia

56:18 Closing prayer + blessing

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or considering self-harm: please call 988 (U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or your local emergency number right now. If you’re outside the U.S., look up your country’s crisis line and reach out immediately.

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Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

Chapters

(00:00:11) - How to Help Someone Who's Suicidal
(00:00:56) - Missionaries of Joy
(00:04:49) - Read Your Own Book
(00:05:03) - After Suicide: The Catholic Church teaching
(00:06:53) - Is Abortion a Mortal Sin?
(00:11:08) - Mission at Joy
(00:16:22) - The Vocation of a Priest
(00:21:53) - The Life of Padre Pio
(00:26:45) - The Crucified Prayer Card
(00:31:01) - In the Elevator With Father Spitzer
(00:35:40) - "I struggle with impatience"
(00:36:40) - The message of divine mercy in the Catholic Church
(00:42:07) - Why Suicide Is an Epidemic
(00:46:11) - How to Talk to Someone About Suicidal Thoughts
(00:50:09) - Abused Suicide and Euthanasia
(00:55:12) - A Suicide by Dignity

I recently had the honor of being at the funeral of Micah Kim, the five-year-old son of my friend Paul J. Kim. And I don’t use the word honor lightly.

Because while the pain of losing a child is unimaginable…what I witnessed there was just as unimaginable: JOY.

At Micah’s wake, Paul stood next to his son’s casket—his little body dressed in cowboy boots—and he pointed and said:

“That’s my son’s body. He’s not there. My son is alive.”

Paul said they gave Micah the greatest gift a parent can give: baptism. His passport to heaven. And then I watched this family walk down the aisle behind the casket—hands on it, tears streaming down Paul’s face—and his other hand lifted high in praise as we sang Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

Listen to my reflection to hear how Paul's witness of joy in the face of tragedy and Micah's brief life are both tied to the truth of our baptism—that we are beloved children of God and he wants us to live forever with him.

In baptism, we are sealed in this identity and receive our ticket to heaven. We just need to lean into his love and let his grace transform our lives.

Our days here are numbered. But heaven is real, it lasts forever, and you don't need to prove yourself to earn God's love. Receive it!

Follow Paul J. Kim on Instagram to see how God is already using Micah for his glory: https://www.instagram.com/heypjk

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever witnessed faith lived out powerfully in the middle of suffering? What impact did it have on you?

2. Do you think our culture understands joy the way Christianity does? Why or why not? How does the Christian understanding of hope differ from simply “staying positive”?

3. Does your baptism shape your identity? What does it mean to you that, at baptism, the Father looks at you and says, “That’s my son. That’s my daughter”?

4. Where in your life do you find yourself trying to earn God's love or prove your worth? How can you work against that mindset?

5. What can you do this week to live like holiness is your top priority? What needs to change?

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Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Joy of a Five-Year Old's Funeral
(00:01:50) - The Sacrificial Baptism

When most people think about where God is, they look to the sky or point to a mountaintop. God is ON HIGH, right?

But the reality of the incarnation flips that vision upside down.

Christ dwelt among us. God came to the lowest of places to meet us in our brokenness and heal our sin.

Did you know the spot where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River is literally one of the lowest places on earth? That can't be an accident.

It reminds us that even when we are at our lowest point—a medical diagnosis, marital issues, problems with our children, job loss—God is right there alongside us. He doesn't want us to walk these trials alone.

Hear the words God spoke at Christ's baptism. They are meant for you, too:

“You are my beloved son… you are my beloved daughter… with whom I am well pleased.”

If you find yourself in a low place right now, take it to the Lord. He's already there next to you.

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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk
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Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Low Places of the Holy Land
(00:06:39) - The Words for When You're in the Lowest Spot

Have you ever noticed that when God shows up, he often does so in ways that are...completely ordinary?

Think about the Epiphany of the Lord that we are celebrating today. Angels fill the sky. A star bends the universe. Heaven breaks into earth. Kings come to pay homage.

And at the center of it all? A poor child. A nursing mother. A scene you could walk right past.

Fast forward two thousand years and God is still so often hiding His glory in plain sight, but we've lost the ability to contemplate and truly SEE him in the ordinariness of the world around us. God made Himself small—so ordinary that only the humble can see Him. And that’s exactly why so many of us miss Him.

We’ve trained ourselves to scroll past miracles. To numb ourselves when big questions stir in our souls. To distract instead of contemplate. And in doing that, we don’t just lose silence—we lose wonder.

As we enter the new year, let's cultivate a contemplative heart that recognizes Jesus in the bread and the wine...and in our spouse, family, friends, and coworkers. When you become humble enough to see God in the ordinary, life becomes a constant epiphany.

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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk

-----

Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

-----

Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Secret to Christ's Birth
(00:06:28) - The 7 Joys of Mary