Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

• Overcoming Childhood Trauma Through Faith | Sr. Marilyn

  As a 10-year-old, Sister Marilyn of the Sisters of Mary watched her father murdered by family friends—then grabbed his gun to take revenge and had her finger on the trigger. Something stopped her in that moment, but the trauma of that experience hardened her heart with thoughts of anger and revenge. She felt like a failure and couldn't trust anyone. In front of the Blessed Sacrament years later, Jesus met her in that memory…and turned a would-be taker of life into a spiritual mother who gives life to thousands of the poorest children on earth. She found her vocation and the Lord miraculously healed her wounds. In this powerful conversation, we talk about trauma, forgiveness, Eucharistic healing, and the Sisters of Mary’s mission to the poorest of the poor around the world. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:35 Sisters of Mary: “Sisters and Mothers” 5:19 The day her father was killed 12:10 Running for the gun… and why she didn’t pull the trigger 16:00 The hidden lie: “I’m a loser” 18:10 A priest’s counsel that opened the door to healing 24:10 Adoration: meeting Jesus inside the memory 26:50 From taking life → giving life: discovering her vocation 33:05 Saying the killer’s name before Jesus—and forgiving 39:00 The Sisters of Mary across 7 countries 41:15 “The poorest of the poor” (more than material poverty) 49:45 A student’s story: “Why do I feel nobody loves me?” 53:40 Final encouragement: your wounds can become windows to God Whatever you've gone through, the Lord is ready to heal you. In all things, God works for the good of those who love him. Pursue his grace in the sacraments. Bring your trauma to the foot of the cross and spend time in Adoration. The Resurrection is on the other side of your trauma. You are not alone. ........ Learn more about the Sisters of Mary: https://worldvillages.org/sisters-of-mary/ ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

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• Is It Awkward To Talk About Jesus? Do It Anyway!

  Are you afraid it will get instantly awkward around the water cooler if you mention Jesus or talk about your faith? Yeah, it might. And Jesus told us it would be this way! His message is uncomfortable because he claims divinity. If he is who he said he was, then it has to change everything. We have to change EVERYTHING about the way we are living. And a lot of people don't want to do that. But you know what we should fear more than an awkward silence? Denying Christ...or depriving others of the chance to know and love the Lord because of our lack of an invitation. We should care about other people's souls! Evangelization is not easy. There are countless martyred saints who gave their lives while proclaiming Christ to people who didn't want to hear it. But you have so many opportunities to share the hope of our faith with other people in your every day life. Don't be a sissy when it comes to sharing your faith. Risk the awkwardness. Be yourself. Lead with love. You might save someone's life. ----- 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 Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/ ----- Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW

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• How to Identify Your Gifts to Live Out Your Calling with Dr. Bob Rice

  What if your calling isn’t something you have to chase… but something God already wrote into your soul? In this new episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, Dr. Bob Rice—Franciscan University professor, deacon, and joy-filled Catholic dad—joins me for a deep dive into how to discover your unique charisms, live out your personal vocation, and find meaning in being the one-of-a-kind person God made you to be. We discuss how to discern your own personal gifts, how to see your family as a “religious order” and identify your family charism, and why holiness doesn’t make you boring. He also offers some thoughts on the vocation of a deacon—what it is, what it isn't, and why it's important. This conversation is so packed with insights (and great analogies) from Dr. Bob that you might have to watch it twice! As St. Catherine of Siena reminds us, "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire." I pray this conversation can be the spark that helps you to discern and share your unique gifts as a precious child of God. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 3:56 What is a charism? (Dr. Bob explains) 6:00 Your vocation is now—not “someday” 10:00 Holiness doesn't make you boring 14:09 Discernment 101: stages, signals, and the “gift card” analogy 22:00 What a deacon really is (and isn’t) 27:24 Priest vs. Deacon 30:28 Your family as a religious order with a mission 40:00 How to name and guard your family’s charism 52:29 Praying the Magnificat together ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0   ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

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• Heaven on Earth: Saintly Relics and Your Call to Be the Church

  On the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Jesus reminds us: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” He was speaking of his Body—and by baptism, you are joined to that Body. That means the Church is a living temple right now: the Church Triumphant (in heaven), the Church Suffering (in purgatory), and the Church Militant (us!). As a member of the Body of Christ, you are consecrated for holiness. And you've got some work to do! Namely, building up the kingdom of God on earth in your everyday life. And you know who did that really well? The saints! In this on-the-road reflection, I'm joined by Fr. Jonathan Meyer, a priest in Bright, Indiana where I recently hosted a REBOOT event, to talk about making the invisible visible—icons, sacramentals, and relics—and how surrounding yourself with the saints can inspire you in your personal pursuit of holiness. Fr. Meyer shows us his incredible saintly relic collection (including St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, St. John Paul II, St. Padre Pio, St. Mother Teresa, and even a reliquary with the Twelve Apostles and fragments of the True Cross!). We also peek at his St. John Vianney–inspired bedroom setup (epic!) that reminds him how he is supposed to live when he wakes up in the morning. And we visit Ars Café, the parish's no-distraction coffee shop space to actually listen and build real relationships. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro with Fr. Meyer & the Feast of St. John Lateran 0:46 – “Destroy this temple…” What Jesus meant 0:49 – Church Triumphant, Suffering, and Militant (Lightning round!) 1:45 – Why Catholics use tangible reminders (icons, sacramentals) 2:35 – Fr. Meyer's relics collection 6:15 – St. John Vianney’s room… in Indiana?! 8:07 – You are consecrated for holiness 8:45 – “Go to Mass” (yes, even the license plate!) 9:01 – Ars Café: listen, slow down, evangelize through friendship Together—saints and fellow sinners—we are all part of the living temple of the Church! Heaven is closer than you think. The saints are praying for you. And Jesus is building his temple in you. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How does seeing the Church as the Body of Christ—rather than just a building—change the way you think about your faith life? 2. What helps you keep your heart fixed on heaven in the middle of ordinary life? 3. What visible signs in your home or parish help you remember that you belong to something eternal? 4. Where is God calling you to “build the Church” in your daily life—home, work, friendships, community? 5. What could you change in your environment—music, images, schedule—to draw your heart closer to God? ----- 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://moj.reallifecatholic.com ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/

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• The Good News About Death—Souls, Purgatory, and the Power of Prayer

  What happens after we die? If the answer is "nothing," then what are we doing here? The good news is that we ARE headed somewhere. Our Christian hope changes everything—we have our eyes fixed on heaven as a final destination. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote, our entire story can be redeemed by a good ending. Jesus won that victory for us, so death becomes a comma instead of a period. This hope also grants us the opportunity to perfect ourselves after death—and to pray for those who have died before us who are in Purgatory preparing to meet the Lord. We can even reconcile with our loved ones through these prayers and sacrifices for their souls. You can help get them to heaven...and they will be made pure once they get there. The sin and wounds of their earthly existence will be erased. It's a beautiful and healing aspect of our theology! Learn more in my video reflection and join me in praying a decade of the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the holy souls in Purgatory. Hope does not disappoint! Chapters: 0:00 Is your life going somewhere? 1:52 Pope Benedict XVI on hope 4:38 Proof from near death experiences 6:30 The Church’s teaching on purgatory 9:40 How to reconcile with loved ones who have died 11:30 Pray a decade of the Divine Mercy Chaplet with us DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. When you think about your “final destination,” what emotions come up—fear, apathy, hope? Why? 2. How does believing that “if the ending is good, the whole story is redeemed” change the way you view your struggles and failings? 3. What are your thoughts on Purgatory? Did any part of the Church’s teaching on purgatory surprised you or bring relief? 4. Is there someone who has died with whom you still feel “unfinished business”? What concrete prayer or sacrifice can you offer for them this week? 5. After praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet, did you notice any shift in your heart (peace, forgiveness, gratitude)? Who can you invite into this hope right now? ----- Watch my interview with John Burke on near death experiences: https://youtu.be/-9Y-hE_ZFQM ----- Sign up for updates from Real Life Catholic to hear about our upcoming series on joy: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ----- Pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/chaplet-of-the-divine-mercy-387 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/  

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