Listening During Lent - The Inner Life - February 25, 2026

IL – Father Tom McCarthy joins Patrick to discuss Listening During Lent  As an Augustinian what was Pope Leo trying to say with his letter? (5:10) What prevents us from listening to God during Lent? How can we combat temptations to distractions when trying to listen to God? (13:41) what does it mean that Pope Leo says Docility is at the core of conversion?  (17:02) Carol - I didn't have a way of listening, but I have one now...with Fr. McCarthy. I'm listening to him and he is phenomenal. He's humble, sort of quiet, and he's just phenomenal. So blessed in my spirit right now. Just want to say thanks for being there. (20:08) Break 1 Judy - I'm 83. Got married a long time ago. We got back from our honeymoon, and I said, 'Let's go to church.' He said we weren't going to do that. Felt cut off for the longest time. Needed a spiritual meeting and went to a Quaker meeting which is silent. Had liturgical dreams...would be in the church and dreamed in procession. Couldn't make the dream go away. Went back to episcopal church for a while and husband said we should go to Catholic church. It's been wonderful. (27:55) Leo - Listening now and my whole life. 81 and don't know what to do with the rest of my life. Talked to priests and they tell me to pray, and don't seem to get anything from it. (31:12) How does Fasting help us listen to God? (35:48) Break 2 (40:09) Fasting from Gossip? (42:32) Beth - Discerning God's will. Something I've always struggled with and felt I never got an answer. Sometimes no answer is THE answer and we expect something specific. Maybe God doesn't have that planned for us. Why doesn’t God always speak to us more clearly? Resources Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/13/260213d.html