This week Mother Natalia takes a mini-topic request on recent Byzantine saints and also talks about fasting. Her discussion on fasting covers some of the reasons she likes fasting, the ways she can grow, and then some general practicalities on fasting.References:Father Vasyl LonchynaWhat Suffering is Not with Mother IlianaThe Ladder of Divine Ascent by John ClimacusFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the...

Martyrdom and Fasting

A Byzantine Catholic Podcast about Divine Mystery                      WhatGodIsNotPodcast@gmail.com

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This week Fr. Michael unpacks a theme he sees in the post-Pascha Sunday readings around people saying yes to Jesus immediately vs qualifying the yes or asking follow-up questions before saying yes. He talks about the reasons why we might not say yes right away, and how our human experience can get in the way of our desire to say yes. Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur Website...

Letting Jesus be Jesus

This week Mother Natalia talks about her recent poustinia, where she reflected on rest. Mother Natalia talks about taking to-do lists to pray while also trying to remember that prayer is relational and not something to fulfill check-boxes.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.

Word from a Poustinik: Rest

This week we’re joined by special guest Brother Simeon Miriam from the CFRs. Brother Simeon was imminently about to start an 8-day poustinia, so in this episode we talk a bit about poustinia, the nights of poustinia he helped start in NYC, a bit about how he became Roman Catholic, and the love of breathing with both lungs.References:The Way of a PilgrimThe PhilokaliaFranciscan Friars of the RenewalFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads Gro...

Knights of Poustinia with Br. Simeon Miriam

This week Mother Natalia talks about imperfection and recognizing that we will always be imperfect, following a retreat she gave at Wyoming Catholic College. She and Fr. Michael talk about the externals of our prayer practice, both personal prayer and prayer during Diving Liturgy or Mass. They talk about how our relationship with Christ should grow and develop over time.References:From Christendom to Apostolic Mission by University of MaryScrupulosity and the SacramentsThe Reed of God by Cary...

Word from a Poustinik: Imperfection

This week Mother Natalia talks about attacks of the devil that lead to despair. She vulnerably shares some personal examples, and talks about people in her life who encouraged her during these moments of despair. Mother Natalia shares some writings from St. John Chrysostom related to despair as a way to encourage and strengthen us.Want to be a backstage listener? Become a patron on Patreon!References:On Repentance and Defeating Despair: Letters to Theodore by St. John ChrysostomFollow and Con...

Martyrdom and Fasting

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