Spiraling Upwards

In this episode we consider the definition of a "saint," and open a conversation about the key role God's "holy ones" play in bringing other souls to salvation, as coworkers in the vineyard with Christ.

In this episode, we introduce the idea that each of the twelve months of the year has a particular devotion associated with it, and give a brief summary of each devotion.

Today we explore the wondrous gift of Christ's blood poured out, not merely so as to shield us from divine wrath, but as a testament of Divine Love and a fountain of mercy for us.

On this feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24), we discuss the joy at the heart of our Lord's Precursor and his mission to prepare the way for Christ.

In this episode we probe the Catholic idea of a "mystery," not as something unknowable, but as something infinitely knowable, which has been revealed specifically so that we can know it.

Tomorrow the Catholic Bishops of the United States will consecrate the USA to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; this episode explores what is meant by this consecration to the Sacred Heart.

We conclude our series on the Sacraments by discussing Holy Orders, considering how the handing down of the Apostolic authority, and the mission to teach the nations and sanctify the world, is a special sign of God's love for His Church.

In this episode, we explore the Sacrament of Christian Marriage, instituted by our Lord Jesus to be a sign of His self-sacrificial love for His Bride, the Church, and of how we should love Him in return.

This episode strives to unveil the richness of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, and explore why it is we should have an ardent desire that we and our loved ones might have access to it.

This episode discusses the "Easter Sacrament," the Sacrament of Confession/Penance, by which we come, contrite and humble to receive the fullness of God's loving mercy.

This episode delves into the Eucharistic teaching of John, Ch. 6, as a means of opening up the treasures of this Blessed Sacrament by which Jesus Christ gives His very self to us to be our food.

In this episode we consider the Sacrament of Confirmation, by which the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, anoints a baptized soul for the mission of bearing witness to Christ in the world.

Here we discuss the Sacrament of Baptism, which opens up for us the Life of Grace, joining us to the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, the Son of God, Jesus Christ by means of the human nature He took to Himself in the Incarnation.

Today we begin a new series on the Seven Sacraments, by asking generally what the Sacraments are, and how they meet our human need for sensible signs that bring about interior grace in our souls.

In this episode, we discuss the idea of demonstrative proof, and why Christ contents Himself with confounding His enemies, while He demonstrates His Resurrection fully only to chosen witnesses.

In this Good Friday bonus episode, we dig into the reality of Christ's Passion, and how we should go about being authentically compassionate to Him.

In this episode we discuss the idea of human suffering, as the rational experience of pain, and how our suffering becomes a means of participation in the redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ.

On this Feast of the Annunciation, we take a moment to pray imaginatively about the extraordinary moment when God came into His world through the consent of a 14 year-old girl.

In this episode we consider the importance of drawing close to the childlike heart of our Savior Jesus Christ, as an antidote to the overly self-conscious, self-critical pursuit of Straight A's in the spiritual life.

Today we zoom out, to look at the purpose of this Lenten time through the overall analogy of "Spring cleaning," and to ask where in the clutter we should begin again to put our interior life in order.

Today we discuss the idea of what it means to offer the Mass for someone as the primary intention, and how this is done by means of an alms as a Mass offering.

We now consider the role that the charitable giving of alms can play in our Lenten practices, as a fit tool for keeping the thorns out of our soil, and increasing the fruit we are producing for the Lord.

Whatever reasons the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist have for fasting... this episode explores why we fast during Lent, and are encouraged to fast throughout the entire year (cf. Matthew 9:14-15).

Continuing with last episode's material, here we pay special attention to the aspect of how even those things which oppose our pursuit of union with God fit into God's Providence in making us holy.

Today we discuss a related topic: how we may categorize all of the things that in any way touch our lives, insofar as we need to enjoy them, endure them, remove them, or sacrifice them, so as to grow closer to God.

This episode explores the different elements of music (Melody, Harmony and Rhythm), and how when they are well-ordered or disordered in the music we listen to, they can have an impact our interior life.

We continue the discussion of celebration with some thoughts on music and the role it plays in pulling us together, and teaching us the importance of harmony.

In this episode we continue last week's discussion about celebration, by considering what Feasting is, as opposed to Gluttony, and what Fasting is, as opposed to Dieting.

In keeping with last week's New Year's resolution tip, here we return to the reason of this ongoing Christmas Season celebration, and why we shouldn't simply box things up the day after and go back to "normal."

With today's podcast we discuss the idea of a "New Year," and the implications for our spiritual life when we can actually make a new beginning, a rediscovery of the perennial truth and reality of our Salvation.

On this Christmas Eve, we consider the Love represented by the fourth candle of the Advent wreath, which is the perfect Love of Christ.

In this episode we focus our attention upon the third candle of the Advent wreath, and the Joy which He gives us to taste now, in anticipation of the completion of that Joy in His Presence.

In this episode we focus our attention upon the second candle of the Advent wreath, and the Peace which it reminds us that Christ our King and Good Shepherd is coming to bring.

In this episode we focus our attention upon the first candle of the Advent wreath, and the virtue of Hope for the "Advent," the "coming" of our Savior, of which it reminds us.

In this episode we discuss the art of listening, considering in particular Mortimer Adler's caution that we be diligent in making sure we understand what the other person is actually saying, before we agree or disagree.

The second year of the Spiraling Upwards Podcast concludes today with the completion of our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass, considering the commission given in the final words of the Mass "Ite, missa est!" "Go, it is sent!" 

In this penultimate episode of our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass, we meditate on what it means to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church, by which our souls are nourished with the very life of God.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the Agnus Dei, by which we are given the grace to hear John the Baptist's Proclamation of our Paschal Lamb, and to respond with humility and trust.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the Prayer for Peace and the Sign of Peace, by which are reminded that it is sin, and not the Faith of the Church, that causes division and strife in the world.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the Our Father, considering what it means to pray this, the perfect prayer, in the very presence of the Lord who gave it to us.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the Doxology, which concludes the Eucharistic Prayer and expresses our wonder at giving God all honor and glory!

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with a consideration of the Mystery of our Faith.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the beginning of the Eucharistic Canon, leading up to the Consecration of the Most Holy Eucharist.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the singing of the Sanctus, as we join with the mighty host of angels in their everlasting hymn of praise.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the Preface, as we ready our hearts for the Holy Sacrifice by raising them toward the Lord in thanksgiving.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the "Orate, Fratres," by which the people are reminded just how important is their assistance at the Holy Sacrifice.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the Offertory, by which we offer ourselves together with the unblemished host to be made into a holy sacrifice to God.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the Creed, by which we profess the totality of what God has revealed in order to draw us into the depth of His Wisdom and Love.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the Homily, the "living commentary" which God uses to deepen our understanding of the Scriptures proclaimed, and to give them a greater efficacy in our daily lives.

In this episode we continue our prayerful walk through the Holy Mass with the Proclamation of the Scriptures, by which our hearts are cleansed and made ready to receive the Lord Himself.