The Poco a Poco Podcast with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Episode 311 - Silence of Interior Conversation Have you ever gotten stuck in your own head, replaying conversations, overthinking decisions, or arguing with yourself? In this episode, the friars continue their series on holy silence by reflecting on the silence of interior conversation. So much of our daily life happens inside that constant inner voice, planning, judging, rehearsing, worrying, self-criticizing, or trying to figure everything out on our own. The invitation is not to shut down our thoughts, but to bring them into relationship with Jesus. Instead of living in an endless monologue with ourselves, the friars invite us to turn that inner conversation into prayer: "Jesus, what do You think about this? What is true here? How are You with me right now?" This kind of silence opens the heart to communion. It helps us move from anxious loops and self-reliance into the peace of being seen, known, and accompanied by the Lord. Join us as we learn to stop arguing with ourselves and begin bringing our inner life into honest, healing conversation with Jesus. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!  🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at pocomerch.com/

Episode 310 - Silence of Memory Have you ever felt pulled back into the past, either by something beautiful you miss or something painful you still carry? In this episode, the friars continue their series on holy silence by reflecting on the silence of memory. Our memories can be a gift, helping us remember God's goodness and receive His grace again in the present. But they can also become places where we get stuck, trapped in nostalgia, old wounds, discouragement, resentment, or the ache of what once was. The friars explore how Jesus wants to meet us in our memories, not so we can live in the past, but so He can bring healing, integration, and peace. Whether we are remembering past consolations or painful experiences, the invitation is to return to the present moment where God is still real, still near, and still loving us now. Join us as we learn to bring our memories to Jesus, and let Him lead us from old noise into deeper stillness, healing, and communion. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 309 - Silence of the Imagination Have you ever noticed how quickly your mind can drift into "what ifs", old conversations, or stories that aren't actually happening? In this episode, the friars continue their series on holy silence by reflecting on the silence of the imagination. The imagination is a gift from God, one that helps us remember beauty, enter into Scripture, pray with the Rosary, and receive the world more deeply. But when it becomes untethered from reality, it can also pull us into fantasy, rumination, fear, resentment, comparison, or distraction. The friars explore what it means to let the imagination be purified and brought under the gentle custody of the Holy Spirit. This is not about shutting the imagination down, but allowing it to serve truth, beauty, intimacy, and communion with God. Join us as we learn to return from fantasy to reality, and let our imagination become a doorway to deeper prayer, healing, and union with Jesus. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 308 - Silence of the Senses What if the noise around us is keeping us from hearing the voice of God within us? In this episode, the friars begin a new series on holy silence, starting with the silence of the senses. They reflect on how our eyes, ears, taste, touch, and even smell are gifts from God, ways we encounter beauty, creation, and one another, but also how easily these senses can become overwhelmed, distracted, or pulled out of order. This conversation is not about rejecting the world or shutting everything off. It is about learning custody of the senses: allowing the Holy Spirit to bring stillness, freedom, and right order to the ways we see, hear, taste, touch, and receive the world around us. The friars invite us to consider where our senses may need healing, discipline, or purification, not so we can love less, but so we can love more deeply and become more available to God. Join us as we learn to quiet the noise, receive the gift of our senses rightly, and make more room for the silence where God speaks. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 307 - On Gossip Have you ever realized that a "harmless" conversation can sometimes start to tear someone down? In this episode, the friars talk about gossip, why it can be so easy to fall into, why it often feels like connection, and why it never really gives us the communion we're looking for. Whether it happens at work, in friendships, in community, or around the people we love, gossip can quietly train our hearts to tear down instead of build up. The friars reflect on the deeper questions beneath gossip: What am I seeking here? Am I trading authenticity for connection? Am I willing to let my discipleship reach even the way I speak about others? This conversation is a gentle invitation to bring Jesus into our words, our relationships, and the places where we feel tempted to belong at someone else's expense. Join us as we learn to speak with greater charity, courage, and freedom, and let our words become a place where Christ is present. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 306 - Limited Men Have you ever felt like everyone needs something from you, and you just don't have enough to give? In this episode, the friars reflect honestly on leadership, fatherhood, responsibility, and the ache of being limited. Whether it's emails, texts, meetings, ministry, family needs, or people asking for more than we can offer, there is a real poverty in wanting to love well while knowing we cannot do everything perfectly. They talk about the humility of naming our limits, the importance of healthy boundaries, and the grace of admitting, "I am a limited man." This isn't about giving less or closing our hearts. It's about learning how to give ourselves freely, honestly, and with Jesus, trusting that our limitations are not obstacles to His work. For parents, pastors, leaders, and anyone feeling stretched thin, this conversation is a reminder that we do not have to be infinite. We are invited to be faithful, poor, generous, and dependent on the One who never runs out. Join us as we learn to accept our limits and let Jesus meet us in the poverty of what we cannot carry alone. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 305 - On Comparison and Insecurity Have you ever looked at someone else's gifts, vocation, prayer, family, or life and suddenly felt like you weren't enough? In this episode, the friars talk about the very human struggle of comparison and insecurity. Whether it shows up in ministry, community, relationships, social media, or the hidden places of the heart, comparison can quietly pull us away from the truth of who we are in God. They reflect on how insecurity is often connected to deeper narratives we have picked up along the way, the stories that tell us we are less than, not gifted enough, or somehow behind. But the Father does not compare His children. He sees each of us uniquely, loves us personally, and invites us to live from the truth of our identity instead of the fear of not measuring up. Join us as we learn to bring comparison and insecurity back to Jesus, and let His voice remind us who we really are. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 304 - Knicks in Five What if the joy of victory is meant to teach us something deeper? In this episode, the friars take a very Poco a Poco turn, from celebrating the Knicks' championship win to reflecting on what sports, fandom, loyalty, and shared joy can reveal about the spiritual life. Behind the fun, the emotion, and the city-wide celebration is something profoundly human: the desire to belong, to suffer together, to hope together, and to share in a victory that somehow becomes our own. They explore how the joy of another's win can point us toward something greater: the victory of Christ. Just as fans rejoice in a team's triumph, we are invited to rejoice in the Resurrection, in the communion of saints, and in the gift of being part of a Body where grace is never private and victory is meant to be shared. Join us as we celebrate, laugh, and look beyond the scoreboard. Let's look at the deeper victory we are all invited to share in Christ. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 303 - Borrowing Peace What if peace isn't something you have to create on your own? In this episode, the friars reflect on the gift of "borrowing" from Jesus. His peace, His confidence, His mercy, His steadiness, especially when our own hearts feel overwhelmed, anxious, or shaken. Like a child borrowing calm from a loving parent, we're invited to bring our storms to the One who is never overcome by them. They explore how Jesus offers us His very life: in prayer, in the Eucharist, and in the quiet steadiness of His presence. When we feel disregulated, afraid, ashamed, or unable to hold everything together, we don't have to manufacture peace by ourselves. We can receive His. This conversation is an invitation to return to Jesus in the boat, Jesus in the Eucharist, Jesus who gives His body and His peace to us so that what we receive from Him can become what we offer to others. Join us as we learn to borrow peace from Jesus, and become a place of calm, mercy, and safety for others. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 302 - Intimacy with Jesus: Ask, Seek, Knock Have you ever done all the Catholic things but still felt distant from Jesus? In this episode, the friars speak to the person who believes, prays, goes to Mass, tries to live faithfully, and yet still wonders why prayer can feel dry, disconnected, or more like duty than relationship. They explore what it means to move from simply doing the right things to actually bringing your heart to Jesus. This conversation is an invitation to ask, seek, and knock with honesty. What's happening in my heart? Where do I feel blocked, afraid, ashamed, or self-reliant? Where is Jesus inviting me into healing, repentance, formation, and deeper intimacy? The friars offer gentle guidance for learning how to pray with the heart, encounter Jesus in Scripture, and let Him meet the places we often keep hidden or protected. Join us as we learn to bring our whole hearts to Jesus, and rediscover that prayer is not just something we do, but a relationship He longs to deepen. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 301 - Seen, Known, Understood by God Have you ever tried to explain what you're carrying and felt like nobody really got it? In this episode, the friars talk about the deep human desire to be seen, known, and understood, and the pain that comes when we feel missed, dismissed, or alone in our experience. Whether it's suffering, leadership, race, vocation, family life, or the hidden weight of something hard to explain, being misunderstood can leave us feeling isolated. The friars reflect on what it means to listen with compassion, validate someone's experience, and resist the urge to fix, explain, or minimize what we don't fully understand. At the same time, they invite us to bring the ache of being misunderstood back to the Father, the One who sees in secret, knows the heart, and never misses what we carry. Join us as we learn to receive others more deeply and rest in the God who sees, knows, and understands us completely. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 300 - Words and the Word ft. Fr. Gregory Pine, OP Have you ever thought about how much power your words actually carry? In this special 300th episode, the friars are joined by Fr. Gregory Pine, OP, to talk about words, speech, and the deeper invitation behind how we communicate. Drawing from his book Training the Tongue, Fr. Gregory reflects on how our words are not just sounds or information; they can build communion, reveal the heart, wound, heal, bless, and bring us closer to one another. Together, they explore how speech opens the door to real encounter: with God, with others, and even with ourselves. From the voice of the Good Shepherd to the Word made flesh, this conversation invites us to see language as something sacred, a gift meant not only to avoid sin, but to grow in love, truth, and deeper relationship. Join us as we learn to listen more deeply, speak more faithfully, and let our words become places where the Word can be known and loved. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 299 - Winning Summer What does it actually look like to rest well? As summer begins, the friars talk about how to enter a season of more space, flexibility, and rest without drifting into idleness. Whether it's summer break, vacation, weekends, or simply a change of rhythm, these moments can become a real gift, but only if we bring Jesus into them. In this episode, they reflect on the difference between true Sabbath rest and just checking out. Rest isn't a break from prayer, charity, or our relationship with God. It's an invitation to receive life with Him in a new way with intentionality, joy, good recreation, and space to be renewed. They also offer practical encouragement for staying grounded: keep prayer at the center, stay connected to others, choose wholesome fun, and look for small ways to love each day. Join us as we learn how to win summer, not by doing more, but by resting with Jesus and letting Him renew what matters most. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page

Episode 298 - How Does Jesus See My Sin? Have you ever felt like your sin says more about you than God's mercy does? In this episode, the friars reflect on how we experience our own sin and how easy it is to fall into shame, discouragement, anxiety, or self-condemnation. They explore the difference between healthy sorrow for sin and the kind of shame that begins to define us, isolate us, and keep us from bringing our weakness honestly to Jesus. This conversation is not about taking sin lightly. It's about learning to see our sin with the mind and heart of Christ. Jesus does not ignore our sin, but He also does not reduce us to it. He meets us there with mercy, patience, and a love that calls us deeper into freedom. Join us as we learn to stop staring only at our weakness and begin again by looking at Jesus, who sees us fully and still calls us beloved. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page

Episode 297 - When One Door Closes... What do you do when the plan you had suddenly falls apart? In this episode, the friars reflect on the role of closed doors in discernment, those moments when something we hoped for, planned for, or tried to control simply doesn't happen. A missed flight, a changed plan, a lost opportunity, a relationship that doesn't unfold the way we imagined… sometimes reality interrupts us and invites us to listen more deeply. Rather than seeing every closed door as failure, the friars explore how these moments can become places of surrender, curiosity, and trust. Not because every disappointment is easy or painless, but because Jesus is present even there. The Resurrection reminds us that no door is more closed than the sealed tomb, and even there, God was not finished. Join us as we learn to trust Jesus in the detours, the disruptions, and the closed doors, and discover that what feels like an ending may become the place He begins something new. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page

Episode 296 - Revelation of the Resurrected One Have you ever wondered why it can be so hard to recognize Jesus, even when He's right in front of you? In this episode, the friars reflect on the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus, moments where those closest to Him don't recognize Him at first. From Mary Magdalene in the garden to the road to Emmaus, they explore the mystery of how the risen Lord reveals Himself: personally, patiently, and often in unexpected ways. They unpack how Jesus meets people exactly where they are, in grief, confusion, doubt, and even ordinary moments and how those encounters change everything. This isn't just something that happened back then. It's a pattern that continues today. The same Jesus still comes, still pursues, and still reveals Himself in ways uniquely meant for each of us. For those who feel like they've never had that "breakthrough" moment, this episode is a gentle reminder: the Lord is closer than you think, especially in the Eucharist, where the Resurrection is made present again. Join us as we open our eyes to the risen Jesus and learn to recognize Him already at work in our lives. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page

Episode 295 - Who Did It Better? Does it sometimes feel like the people who mess up the most end up closer to God? As the friars wrap up their reflections on the Prodigal Son, they wrestle with a real and honest question: Did things actually turn out better for the one who left than for the one who stayed? In this episode, they unpack the tension between comparison and truth. While the younger son experiences a powerful return, that doesn't mean sin is the better path. God can redeem anything, but that doesn't make it the plan. The deeper invitation isn't about having a dramatic story, but about entering into real relationship with the Father, right where you are. They also reflect on the subtle danger of doing all the "right" things without ever truly encountering God, and how both sons are invited out of an orphan mindset and into deeper intimacy. Join us as we let go of comparison and rediscover that the goal isn't a better story, but a deeper relationship with the Father. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 294 - Be Merciful As Your Father Have you ever wanted to forgive, but just couldn't seem to get there? This week, the friars reflect on the call to "be merciful as your Father is merciful" and the real, often slow journey of forgiveness. They unpack the tension of holding pain while still being invited into mercy and how forgiveness isn't something we force, but something we receive and grow into over time. Through the lens of the older son, they explore what it means to stay close to the Father, to "borrow" His heart, and to take small, honest steps toward healing, even when it's hard. Join us as we discover how God meets us in our wounds and gently leads us into freedom, one step at a time. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 293 - Older Son (Spiritual Sense) Have you ever been hurt by someone and struggled with what forgiveness is supposed to look like? In this episode, the friars revisit the older son in the Prodigal Son story, but now through a deeper, spiritual lens. Not just what he did, but what he felt. The loss, the frustration, the sense of being overlooked, and the real difficulty of being invited into forgiveness before you're ready. They explore the complexity of the human heart, how joy and pain can exist at the same time, how past wounds resurface in present moments, and how God meets us not with pressure, but with presence. This conversation is an honest look at what it means to carry hurt, to wrestle with forgiveness, and to let the Father meet you in the middle of it. Join us as we enter the older son's story and discover a God who doesn't rush healing, but walks with us through it. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 292 - Older Son (Literal Sense) Have you ever felt frustrated, overlooked, or distant, even though you find yourself doing the "right" things? In this episode, the friars dive into the older son in the Prodigal Son story, not symbolically at first, but simply as he is. His words, his reactions, his position in the family. And what starts to emerge is something deeply human: a struggle with comparison, entitlement, and not fully receiving the Father's love. They unpack how easy it is to stay close in proximity but far in relationship and how the older son's experience can quietly mirror our own spiritual lives. Join us as we take an honest look at the older son and allow the Father to meet us right where we are. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Ever feel like God is inviting you back to something, but you're not quite sure how to step into it? After time away, Fr. Angelus returns, and the conversation picks up right where grace has been quietly at work. There's a sense of homecoming here, but also a deeper invitation to listen, to trust, and to respond to what the Lord is doing beneath the surface. In this episode, the friars reflect on what it means to return, not just physically, but spiritually. They talk about the movements of the heart, the subtle ways God calls us forward, and how renewal often begins in places we didn't expect. Join us as we welcome Fr. Angelus back and lean into the quiet, steady work of God who is always drawing us deeper. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 290 - The Father's Banquet Have you ever struggled to receive love that you feel you don't deserve? As the Lenten journey through the Prodigal Son continues, the friars turn to one of the most striking moments in the parable, the Father's banquet. What should be a moment of pure joy is, for the son, also deeply uncomfortable. After everything he's done, he's not just welcomed back, he was celebrated. In this episode, the friars reflect on the tension between shame and mercy. What does it feel like to be fully seen, fully known, and still fully loved? Why can receiving God's love sometimes feel harder than earning it? And how do we begin to live as sons and daughters again after we've fallen? Join us as we enter into the mystery of the Father's banquet, and discover a love that doesn't just forgive, but restores, celebrates, and calls us back to life. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 289 - An Unfading Mercy Do you ever feel stuck confessing the same sins over and over again? Continuing their reflection on the Prodigal Son, the friars explore a powerful truth: God's mercy isn't a one-time moment, it's something we encounter again and again. Like a path worn into the ground, the Father continually goes out to meet His children, never tiring, never holding back. In this episode, they reflect on what it means that God's mercy is "new every morning", and how His love doesn't diminish, no matter how many times we return. For those who struggle with discouragement, shame, or the feeling of "starting over," this is a reminder that the Father's embrace is always full, always real, and always waiting. Join us as we rediscover a mercy that never fades and a Father who never stops coming to meet us. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 288 - The Father's Embrace What do you expect to find when you finally turn back toward God? Continuing their Lenten journey through the Prodigal Son, the friars arrive at the turning point of the story, the moment the son returns home. Expecting rejection, punishment, or distance, he instead finds something completely unexpected: the Father running toward him with compassion. In this episode, the friars reflect on the heart of the Gospel. The Father doesn't wait for perfection, explanations, or repayment. He runs, he embraces, and he restores dignity before a single word of apology is finished. Join us as we rediscover the mercy of a Father who never stops watching the road and who runs to meet us the moment we begin to come home. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 287 - The Necessary Consequence of Sin Have you ever looked at your life and quietly thought, "How did I end up here?"? Continuing their Lenten reflection on the Prodigal Son, the friars look at the hard truth: sin always leads somewhere. What begins as freedom and excitement ends in isolation, shame, and a loss of dignity. The son who demanded his inheritance finds himself alone in the pigsty, cut off from communion and facing the reality of his choices. In this episode, the friars invite us into a sober, honest look at our own lives. Not to condemn, but to see clearly. Because when we face the real consequences of sin, we also begin to rediscover hope. Join us as we name the cost of going our own way, and remember that the Father's mercy is always waiting. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi:  https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 286 - Give Me My Inheritance Have you ever wanted God's gifts, but not the relationship that comes with them? Continuing their Lenten journey through the Prodigal Son, the friars reflect on the bold and painful demand: "Father, give me my inheritance." They explore the deeper movement beneath those words, the desire to take control, to live on our own terms, and to separate blessing from belonging. This episode looks honestly at the nature of sin: how we grasp at what was meant to be received, how freedom can be misused, and how chasing independence often leaves us isolated and burdened. What looks flashy and exciting on the surface can quietly bend the heart inward, cutting us off from the very love we were made for. Join us as we ask the Lord to reveal where we've chosen autonomy over intimacy, and to lead us back to the freedom of being sons and daughters in His house. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 285 - From Son to Orphan How does a beloved son end up living like an orphan? As Lent begins, the friars enter deeply into the parable of the Prodigal Son, not starting with the return, but with the rupture. What happens in a heart that makes someone walk away from home? What wounds, doubts, shame, or disappointments lead us to take our inheritance and try to live without the Father? In this episode, they reflect on the subtle shift that happens long before the son leaves: the movement from trust to self-reliance, from intimacy to isolation, from sonship to an orphan spirit. They explore how sin and shame distort our vision of God's goodness, and how easy it is to believe we're better off on our own. This conversation isn't about condemnation, it's about awareness. Because before we become "prodigal," we often become wounded. Join us as we begin Lent by asking the Lord to reveal where we've chosen distance and to restore us to the truth of being sons and daughters again. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 284 - Signs of Hope Is it still possible to hope when so much feels heavy, confusing, or broken? In this episode, the friars take an honest look at the state of the Church and the world and refuse to stop at discouragement. They talk about suffering, darkness, and the temptation to despair, but also about the quiet, real ways God is at work bringing renewal, healing, and new life. From families choosing faith in small, daily ways, to renewed hunger for prayer, Scripture, and the sacraments, this conversation names the concrete signs of hope that often go unnoticed. Not flashy movements or quick fixes, but steady, faithful people responding to grace where they are. Join us as we learn to see with hope again and recognize the Holy Spirit already at work, even now. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 283 - Franciscan Jubilee What do we do when the Church invites us to slow down and then calls us to go deeper? In this episode, the friars reflect on the newly announced Jubilee Year of St. Francis and what it means not just for Franciscans, but for the whole Church. They share why this moment feels like a continuation of grace rather than a reset, an invitation to keep living the Jubilee spirit of holiness, simplicity, and trust. They talk about St. Francis not as an unreachable saint, but as a brother who shows us how to follow Jesus with clarity and freedom. This conversation explores holiness as something concrete and lived: simplifying our lives, returning to prayer, falling in love with the Eucharist, and letting ourselves be captivated by Christ again. Join us as we begin this Jubilee year together, learning, little by little, how to follow Jesus more simply and more fully. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 282 - Human Stuff Why are the most ordinary parts of life often the hardest to navigate? In this episode, the friars lean into the everyday realities we all deal with: conflict, communication, expectations, and the awkward moments we'd rather avoid. From navigating tough conversations to managing unspoken expectations and misunderstandings, they talk honestly about how "human stuff" can quietly shape our relationships for better or worse. Rather than offering quick fixes, the conversation invites us to grow in maturity, courage, and clarity to stop avoiding discomfort and start choosing honesty, vulnerability, and charity in the messiness of real life. Join us as we laugh, reflect, and learn how God meets us right in the middle of our very human stuff. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 281 - A Pro-Life Examen Have you ever felt overwhelmed or unsure about what being "pro-life" actually looks like in your everyday life? Rather than focusing on politics or arguments, this conversation centers on discipleship: prayer, sacrifice, courage, and small, concrete steps that flow from the Gospel. It's an invitation to examine our hearts with humility and let God show us where He's calling us to deeper faithfulness. In this episode, the friars invite us into a yearly pro-life examen. A prayerful pause to notice where indifference, distraction, or fatigue may have crept in, and to remember why the dignity of human life matters so deeply to our faith. They speak honestly about how easy it is to grow numb and why staying awake to this reality is an act of love. Join us as we ask the Lord to renew our hearts and teach us how to love and defend life more intentionally. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 280 - How Do We Celebrate? Why is it so hard to celebrate what's good, especially when it's happening in ourselves or others? Drawing from Scripture, the lives of the saints, and everyday experiences of community and brotherhood, this conversation invites us to see celebration not as competition or self-focus, but as a way of rejoicing in what God is doing. To bless another is to acknowledge grace at work and to receive blessing is often an act of humility itself In this episode, the friars wrestle with a surprisingly tender question: how do Christians celebrate well without fear, pride, or false humility? They talk about affirmation, gratitude, and the discomfort many of us feel when blessings are named out loud, whether it's a gift, an accomplishment, or simply being seen. Join us as we learn how celebrating well can heal shame, strengthen relationships, and help us rejoice more freely in God's goodness. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 279 - A New Year's Resolution What if this year's resolution isn't about fixing your life, but about trusting God in the middle of it? As a new year begins, the friars talk honestly about goals, growth, and the tension between good intentions and real life. But the conversation quickly turns deeper. Drawing from the Gospel scene of the storm at sea, they reflect on the haunting question the disciples ask Jesus: "Do you not care that we are perishing?" This episode invites us to start the year not by avoiding the storms we're in, but by naming them and discovering that Jesus is already in the boat with us. His silence isn't indifference. His meekness isn't distance. It's the quiet confidence of a God who cares deeply, stays close, and is already at work. Join us as we begin the year by seeking the one resolution that changes everything: learning to trust that He truly cares. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 278 - The Blessed Mother Have you ever struggled to believe that God could really work through your weakness? In this episode, the friars turn their gaze to the Blessed Mother and the quiet, radical way she lived the Beatitudes. They reflect on Mary's poverty of spirit, her meekness, and her total availability to God, not as something distant or unattainable, but as a lived posture of trust, openness, and surrender. They explore how Mary's emptiness became the space where God did His greatest work, how her confidence came from knowing who she was before the Father, and how her motherhood continues to draw close to us in our own poverty and need. Join us as we entrust ourselves again to our Mother and learn how her "yes" teaches us how to receive God more fully in our own lives. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Check out the Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes book at https://ascensionpress.com/products/eight-promises-of-god-discovering-hope-through-the-beatitudes

Episode 277 - Meekness: The Manger and the Storm Have you ever felt frustrated when Jesus seems quiet while everything around you is falling apart? In this episode, the friars continue reflecting on "Blessed are the meek," turning to two striking images: Jesus asleep in the manger and Jesus asleep in the boat during the storm. Both reveal a confidence rooted not in control, but in trust. Trust in the Father, trust in victory, even when chaos is loud and fear feels close. They talk honestly about the frustration we feel when Jesus seems distant or inactive while we're struggling. And they invite us to see that His silence isn't absence, it's the patience of love at work. Join us as we learn to trust Jesus in the storm and discover the peace that comes from knowing He is already with us. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Check out the Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes book at https://ascensionpress.com/products/eight-promises-of-god-discovering-hope-through-the-beatitudes

Episode 276 - Jesus, Meekness, and Fighting Satan What if meekness isn't weakness but the strongest way Jesus fights? In this episode, the friars turn to "Blessed are the meek" and uncover how meekness is not passivity or timidity, but the fruit of deep confidence and identity as sons of the Father. They explore how Jesus enters the ultimate battle, not with force or armor, but with humility, vulnerability, and unwavering trust in who He is. This is how He confronts temptation, resists Satan, and claims victory. They reflect on how our own battles are often fought in the same place: our identity. When we're rooted in the Father's love, insecurity loses its power, and we're free to stand firm without grasping, proving, or defending ourselves. Join us as we learn how meekness becomes strength, identity becomes armor, and Christ's victory becomes our own. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Check out the Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes book at https://ascensionpress.com/products/eight-promises-of-god-discovering-hope-through-the-beatitudes

Episode 275 - Peace, Mercy, and Vulnerability What if real peace only grows where we're willing to be vulnerable? In this episode, the friars reflect on "Blessed are the peacemakers" and "Blessed are the merciful", showing how both Beatitudes invite us to step toward others with honesty and humility. Making peace means entering hard conversations without defenses. Mercy means letting go of the "high ground" we hold over those who've hurt us. Both require lowering ourselves, just as Jesus does. They explore how vulnerability isn't weakness but the place where reconciliation becomes possible, where forgiveness takes root, and where the heart of Christ is revealed. Join us as we learn the courage to be vulnerable and the freedom that comes from choosing mercy and peace. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Check out the Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes book at https://ascensionpress.com/products/eight-promises-of-god-discovering-hope-through-the-beatitudes

Episode 274 - Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit What if the places you feel most empty are the places God is closest? In this episode, the friars explore what it really means to be poor in spirit, not as an idea, but as the lived experience of feeling powerless, stretched, or unable to fix what hurts. They speak into the poverty we feel in our families, our vocations, our emotions, and our prayer, and how these very places become the doorway for God's coming. Advent reveals that poverty isn't a flaw to overcome but an invitation to trust, surrender, and let God be the one who fills what we cannot. It's the space where the Kingdom breaks in. Join us as we learn to stop resisting our poverty and discover God waiting for us there. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Check out the Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes book at https://ascensionpress.com/products/eight-promises-of-god-discovering-hope-through-the-beatitudes

Episode 273 - Feeling Good vs. Being Good What if the things we use to "feel better" are the very things keeping us from becoming good? In this episode, the friars continue exploring the Beatitude "Blessed are the pure of heart" looking at the quiet ways we avoid honesty with ourselves, through distraction, self-soothing, numbing, or chasing comfort.  They unpack why it's so hard to face what's really going on inside us, and how purity of heart begins with the courage to stop running and let Jesus meet us in our reality. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Check out the Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes book at https://ascensionpress.com/products/eight-promises-of-god-discovering-hope-through-the-beatitudes

Episode 272 - They Will See God What if seeing God isn't about trying harder, but desiring Him more simply? For this week, the friars turn to the Beatitude: "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God." In this episode, they explore what purity of heart really means, not moral perfection, but a heart that looks to Jesus without distraction, without divided desires, without constantly turning back toward the world. They talk about intimacy with God, the battle against distraction, how sin clouds our vision, and how purity isn't about hating yourself but forgetting yourself so you can finally fix your gaze on the One who loves you. Through the lens of St. Francis, the saints, and our own daily struggles, this conversation invites us to reorient our hearts toward the Father and receive again the joy that comes from seeing Him clearly. Walk with us as we learn to desire what He desires and see God in a new and life-changing way. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Check out the Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes book at https://ascensionpress.com/products/eight-promises-of-god-discovering-hope-through-the-beatitudes

Episode 271 - Fire, Desire, Theosis What do you really hunger and thirst for? As the friars continue through the Franciscan Lent, they dive deep into the Beatitude: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied." This conversation is about holy desire, the kind that burns, refines, and draws us closer to God Himself. They unpack what it means to let go of lesser hungers, to purify our desires, and to rediscover the fire that leads to union with God. From St. Francis' radical poverty to our own longing for holiness, the friars remind us that this journey isn't about doing more, but actually about becoming more like Him. Join us as we learn to hunger for what truly satisfies, the very life of God alive within us. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Check out the Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes book at https://ascensionpress.com/products/eight-promises-of-god-discovering-hope-through-the-beatitudesa

Episode 270 - Franciscan Lent After a season of Jubilee rest, the friars return with fresh hearts and a new invitation: to enter the "Franciscan Lent", a hidden season of simplicity, detachment, and joyful expectation. Drawing from the life of St. Francis and the Beatitudes, they explore what it really means to become small, to depend completely on God, and to let Him provide what we cannot. This episode isn't about doing more, it's about letting go, trusting deeply, and rediscovering the joy that comes from poverty of spirit. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ Check out the Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes book at https://ascensionpress.com/products/eight-promises-of-god-discovering-hope-through-the-beatitudes

After a time of rest and renewal during the Jubilee Year, Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus, and Fr. PT are returning on November 5th. As we look forward to their return, enjoy re-listening to this previously released episode and join us in gratitude for the ways God has been at work during their time away. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! --- God wants to go back into our lives and our stories—and start speaking light, redemption and truth over that. There's the need for us to have a radical opening of our hearts and honesty to what really is happening in our lives. We have to be searching and fearless to admit what's inside our "junk room" and bring that to the Lord. Whatever makes our lives unmanageable is just a symptom of something else. We not only need to look at the things that make our lives unmanageable but also we look at the things that drive them and the ripple effect that it had caused. This episode focuses on the gift and highlights of the remaining step.

After a time of rest and renewal during the Jubilee Year, Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus, and Fr. PT are returning on November 5th. As we look forward to their return, enjoy re-listening to this previously released episode and join us in gratitude for the ways God has been at work during their time away. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! --- When we struggle it can be really difficult, and sometimes we even face impossible situations that may feel like there's no answer. In our poverty, there's the need to admit we're powerless—that life is not okay anymore and figure out what do we do with that. And as we are brought to our kness—utterly defeated. We can let go of ourselves as our own authority and give ourselves to a greater power, to Christ. Only then can we make a daily decision to turn our will to the care of God—say Yes to the connection we have with Him every day, even with all the craziness that's going on. This episode talks about the first three steps of The Twelve Steps that allow the foundation of our lives and our hearts to be set in experiencing renewal and recovery. And it is a reminder that tells us when we can't, Jesus can. We just have to let him.

As Fr. Mark-Mary mentioned, the friars will be taking a meaningful break to embrace the rest and the joy of the Jubilee Year. While they are away, please enjoy listening (or re-listening) to this previously released episode, and join us in continuing to pray for Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus, and Fr. PT as they follow God's will and heed the call of the Jubilee. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! --- At some point, our lives are unmanageable and we need help. When we want to turn away from sin and our struggles, we turn to God to save and heal us. We are given clarity to open our eyes and see our life in a new or different way. And while we're accepting reality as it is, we recognize what we can and cannot control, we realize what is asked of us everyday. When we live that reality one moment at a time, that's the time we can accept life in a particular way and enjoy it! This episode talks about the Serenity Prayer and what it means to be in recovery and seek healing and conversion.

As Fr. Mark-Mary mentioned, the friars will be taking a meaningful break to embrace the rest and the joy of the Jubilee Year. While they are away, please enjoy listening (or re-listening) to this previously released episode, and join us in continuing to pray for Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus, and Fr. PT as they follow God's will and heed the call of the Jubilee. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! --- Do you wonder about Mary's firsthand memory or experience of God?  We can relive Mary's memory and experience of God through the rosary. Rosary is like experiencing God with Mary—in her heart, her hospitality. Mary is the most perfect Christian, the most perfect woman who's all about Jesus, and in this month of the Rosary, we are invited to take time and be with Her more and be able to love Jesus a lot more through her. In this episode, we're gonna dive deep and talk about the Rosary, Mary, and Marian Devotion, and how we can open ourselves up to receive the hospitality of Mary.

As Fr. Mark-Mary mentioned, the friars will be taking a meaningful break to embrace the rest and the joy of the Jubilee Year. While they are away, please enjoy listening (or re-listening) to this previously released episode, and join us in continuing to pray for Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus, and Fr. PT as they follow God's will and heed the call of the Jubilee. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! --- What makes us most free, is this submitting to God and this dependence on Him.  Yes, freedom is actually dependent on obedience rather than kind of doing whatever I want. When we fall in love with God and we experience that love, this deep interior freedom takes place and it becomes the most important thing of our lives—even to a point that is greater than our circumstances. This episode is the first part of our series on Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacque Philippe that talks about what it means to live in freedom as sons and daughters of God and how this freedom can become greater than the circumstances of our lives.The first of the nine beatitudes of Matthew said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The world is constantly trying to define us—it tries to tell us who we are. Our successes, belongings, talents, people in our lives, our jobs, culture and technology, all these things tends make us who we are. We beclothed ourselves with these things and we are tempted to find our identity in them. But again, "Who Is God and Who Am I?". To understand what it means to be truly free and live in freedom as sons and daughters of God, we have to keep this question before us. We have to let go of other worldly things and not be afraid of staying in the place of spiritual poverty before the Lord. This episode is the fourth and last part of our series on Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacque Philippe that talks about freedom in spiritual poverty. An invitation for us to remain in this place of poverty and let God define us, give us everything and ultimately lead us to the kingdom of heaven.

As Fr. Mark-Mary mentioned, the friars will be taking a meaningful break to embrace the rest and the joy of the Jubilee Year. While they are away, please enjoy listening (or re-listening) to this previously released episode, and join us in continuing to pray for Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus, and Fr. PT as they follow God's will and heed the call of the Jubilee. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! --- What makes us most free, is this submitting to God and this dependence on Him.  Yes, freedom is actually dependent on obedience rather than kind of doing whatever I want. When we fall in love with God and we experience that love, this deep interior freedom takes place and it becomes the most important thing of our lives—even to a point that is greater than our circumstances. This episode is the first part of our series on Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacque Philippe that talks about what it means to live in freedom as sons and daughters of God and how this freedom can become greater than the circumstances of our lives.We cannot grow in freedom unless we grow in faith, hope and love—that's the recipe for freedom. Faith, hope and love are the three theological virtues that connect us to God. As Christians, we are people who believe in God, hope everything from Him, and want to love Him with all their hearts and to love their neighbors. This episode is the third part of our series on Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacque Philippe that talks about the key role of theological virtues in acquiring internal freedom with a particular focus on the importance of Hope. An invitation to freedom for those who feel defeated and those who might've lost a sense of hope in the Lord.

As Fr. Mark-Mary mentioned, the friars will be taking a meaningful break to embrace the rest and the joy of the Jubilee Year. While they are away, please enjoy listening (or re-listening) to this previously released episode, and join us in continuing to pray for Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus, and Fr. PT as they follow God's will and heed the call of the Jubilee. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! --- What makes us most free, is this submitting to God and this dependence on Him.  Yes, freedom is actually dependent on obedience rather than kind of doing whatever I want. When we fall in love with God and we experience that love, this deep interior freedom takes place and it becomes the most important thing of our lives—even to a point that is greater than our circumstances. This episode is the first part of our series on Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacque Philippe that talks about what it means to live in freedom as sons and daughters of God and how this freedom can become greater than the circumstances of our lives. We think we're most free when we can kind of be in control.  "I'm free when I get to get up every day and just have control over my life and my circumstances."  That's not a Catholic freedom according to Jacque Philippe, but it is actually being able to accept reality as it is. We struggle with freedom because it's hard to accept our weakness. It's quite difficult to accept our sinfulness—it's hard to accept these different parts of our lives. But if we don't accept ourselves, our realities, we either live in memories or fantasies where Jesus can't reach us. This episode is the second part of our series on Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacque Philippe that talks about and the importance of acceptance towards being truly free.

As Fr. Mark-Mary mentioned, the friars will be taking a meaningful break to embrace the rest and the joy of the Jubilee Year. While they are away, please enjoy listening (or re-listening) to this previously released episode, and join us in continuing to pray for Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus, and Fr. PT as they follow God's will and heed the call of the Jubilee. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! --- What makes us most free, is this submitting to God and this dependence on Him.  Yes, freedom is actually dependent on obedience rather than kind of doing whatever I want. When we fall in love with God and we experience that love, this deep interior freedom takes place and it becomes the most important thing of our lives—even to a point that is greater than our circumstances. This episode is the first part of our series on Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacque Philippe that talks about what it means to live in freedom as sons and daughters of God and how this freedom can become greater than the circumstances of our lives.