Ep 200 - The Debrief Your Soul Has Been Waiting For: The Daily Examen

In this homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the rich biblical imagery of the vineyard found in both Isaiah and the Gospel is explored to reveal God's enduring call for righteousness. Beginning with a lighthearted childhood memory of farm life, the reflection dives into the historical and spiritual significance of Jesus's parable of the wicked tenants. Christ, the rejected heir who was crucified outside the city walls, becomes the cornerstone of a new kingdom, inviting baptized believers to labor in His vineyard through the grace of the sacraments. Tying this Gospel message to Respect Life Sunday, the homily challenges the faithful to produce good fruit by protecting human dignity from womb to tomb, defending the vulnerable from evils like human trafficking and euthanasia, and upholding God’s design for marriage and society.

Who are guardian angels, and what is their specific mission in our daily lives? In this episode of The Manly Catholic, host James Caldwell welcomes back author, speaker, and content creator Patrick O'Hearn to discuss his book, Angel of God. Patrick breaks down Catholic theology surrounding the heavenly hosts, exploring the nine choirs of angels, how angels serve as unique guardians, and the seven specific roles assigned to them by God—from defending us against temptation to offering our prayers before the Heavenly Father. The conversation covers: How guardian angels protect us in physical and spiritual dangers. Practical advice for fathers and husbands on invoking their family's guardian angels. Catholic teachings on naming guardian angels and navigating occult misconceptions. Daily practices to deepen your devotion to your angel through prayer and the Sacraments. A sneak peek at Patrick's new children's book, A Tale of the Sanctuary Lamp. Whether you are looking to revitalize your prayer life or teach your children about their best heavenly friend, this conversation provides inspiring insights into spiritual warfare, angelic devotion, and God's protective grace.

What does true spiritual toughness look like when the world demands passivity? In this episode of The Manly Catholic, host James Caldwell welcomes back Dr. Dan Schneider—professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and expert on spiritual warfare—for his fourth appearance on the show. Together, they break down a lineup of the most relentless, courageous, and "gangster" saints in Church history—men and women who refused to back down in the face of violent empires, interior vices, or demonic forces. From a Capuchin friar leading 20,000 men into battle holding only a wooden crucifix, to an elite Roman Praetorian Guard left for dead who walked right back to confront the Emperor, this discussion pulls no punches on what it takes to forge heroic virtue today. Dr. Dan and James explore the difference between physical combat and the interior battles every man must fight, the trap of spiritual softness, and why modern men need to direct their strength toward the true enemy rather than those they are called to protect.

Fr. Dom's homs is back this week (well, the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time). He talks about the one thing that can destroy that love in us. Sin. The first line of today's reading from Sirach tells us that wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. Fr. Dom admits he gets that one personally. Before he gave his life to God at 27, anger and pride felt good in a twisted way...like control. Sound familiar? That grip broke the day he actually let God in, and he's been trying to hand that same freedom to other people ever since. Sin drags you down, he says. It drags you down into the cold and dark, and the only way out is to actually let go of the weight. Don't play with it. How often do we try and justify our actions in our minds? We've been forgiven a debt we could never repay, and the real test of whether that's sunk in is whether we'll forgive the small stuff we're owed.

Alphonse Ratisbonne hated the Catholic Church. He put on a Miraculous Medal as a joke, just to win a bet with a Catholic friend. Days later he walked into a church in Rome, saw Our Lady standing exactly as she's pictured on that little medal, and walked out a changed man. He became a priest. That conversion, and the hidden nun behind the medal that caused it, is the whole episode today.