Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

Latest Episodes:

Hate your mom?! What Jesus really meant & what it means for YOU Sep 06, 2025

Show notes

Did Jesus really say, “Hate your mother”? It sounds more like a death-metal lyric, right? Nope…those are Jesus’ words in Luke 14.

So what’s up with that? Was He telling us to literally despise our parents? Of course not. But He was making one of the boldest, most shocking points He ever made: our love and loyalty to Him must be so much greater, so much higher, that even your deepest family bond looks like hate in comparison.

In this episode, I dive into this hard of Jesus and explain why love is free but costs you everything. What You’ll Discover:

What “hate your mom” really means (and doesn’t mean)

Why following Jesus will cost you everything and why that's GOOD news.

Why cheap grace can destroy faith and what costly grace really means.

Why you can’t call Jesus a “good teacher” He is either a Lord, a lunatic, or a liar.

The saints that went all in and never looked back

How putting God first doesn’t take away your life, but gives it back to you in fullness.

Jesus’s love is free, but it’ll cost you everything. And when you give Him everything, you discover the only life worth living.

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Come on a pilgrimage and retreat with me in Assisi! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

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Research links:

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/01/31/are-religious-people-happier-healthier-our-new-global-study-explores-this-question/

https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/religion-and-divorce

https://www.aau.edu/research-scholarship/featured-research-topics/people-religious-affiliations-live-longer-study-shows

Blessed Pier Giorgio’s Second Vatican-Approved Miracle: Fr. Juan’s Miraculous Healing Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Fr. Juan Gutiérrez’s basketball injury ultimately led to the upcoming canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati! In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Fr. Juan Gutiérrez, who experienced something extraordinary: a complete healing of his ruptured Achilles that was officially declared a Vatican-approved miracle and is considered the second miracle needed for the canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Fr. Juan didn’t go looking for a miracle. When he suffered a complete tear of his Achilles tendon while playing basketball with seminarians, his doctor told him there was little chance of recovery without surgery. He turned to prayer, and what happened next left his surgeon speechless and left the Vatican investigating what even medical experts couldn’t explain.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro

1:36 How a basketball game led to a torn Achilles

6:44 How a made-up novena became the turning point of the story

8:38 Intense heat during prayer—was something on fire?!

12:57 The surgeon's stunned reaction

16:29 Why God cares about the little things

16:55 Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Patron Saint of Ordinary People

18:27 What’s your Achilles heel?

20:46 What’s it like to be a subject of a Vatican Investigation?

29:55 Who was Pier Giorgio Frassatti really!?

33:32 Why are we given miracles?

35:02 From atheist to… Catholic priest!?

So many of us think, “God only steps in for the big stuff.” But Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding… turning water into wine. Not raising the dead or curing cancer. Why? Simply to save a couple from embarrassment.

Because that’s who He is. A Father who loves the details. A Savior who cares about your daily life. A Friend who meets you in your need, even when the world says it’s too small to matter.

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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

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The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/

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✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........

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What Jiu-Jitsu Taught Me About the Devil and Humility Aug 30, 2025

Show notes

What if I told you the most powerful spiritual weapon isn't talent and charisma but HUMILITY!

In this episode, I’m diving deep into the one virtue that makes you spiritually unconquerable. We’ll talk jiu-jitsu (yes, seriously ), the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, the ground game of Jesus, and why humility isn’t weakness, it's the key to strength, peace, and spiritual victory.

What You’ll Discover:

Why I love jiu-jitsu (and what it teaches us about spiritual battle)
The kind of spouse you should be looking for
What a Polish nun taught me backstage at World Youth Day
How God uses trials to keep us grounded
Practical ways to grow in humility (and spot pride when it sneaks in)

If you’re chasing success, struggling in your marriage, or battling pride and discouragement, this episode is for you! Because in God’s kingdom, the path to victory isn’t up… it’s down. The ground is where grace meets you. And if you’re willing to get low, you’ll find that’s where the real power is.

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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

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Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

Police Officer Burnout, PTSD, and Finding Hope Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

What happens when the one who runs toward danger… can’t outrun his own pain?

In this gripping episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Jeff Wrigley, a veteran police officer, father of 7, and Catholic convert, who spent decades racing into crises to protect others—all while silently falling apart on the inside.

Jeff opens up about what it's like to carry the invisible wounds of decades in law enforcement: the trauma that piles up, the pressure to stay composed, the moments of despair no one sees, and the burnout that nearly ended everything. He shares the moment it all broke, and the turning point that began his road back to joy.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

15:31 The stigma behind being a cop

20:15 How faith informed him as a police officer

25:22 Why bravery without fear is dangerous

31:10 It is responsible to recognize that there are threats in society

34:06 What's it like to be a first responder to tragedy

46:27 Why stuffing pain never works

50:51 PTSD and hidden anxiety in law enforcement

52:30 The simple prayer that saved his life

54:00 The lie of perfectionism as a cop

59:36 The importance of seeking good counsel

Jesus didn’t promise an easy life. He promised we wouldn’t go through it alone. If you’re carrying more than you can handle, this episode will remind you: faith isn’t about faking it. It’s about letting Christ into the dark and letting him carry you out.

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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

........

The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/

........

✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

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✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20

Are you Going to Heaven? Aug 23, 2025

Show notes

How many people are in heaven? How many are in hell?

That's exactly the question someone asked Jesus in Luke 13. And His answer? It wasn’t a number. It was a warning: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.”

In this episode, I unpack what Jesus was really saying and why asking how many is the wrong question. This isn’t about statistics. It’s about YOU. Your heart. Your relationship with God.

What You’ll Discover:

What Luke 13 actually means (and doesn’t)
Why salvation isn’t a system you figure out, it’s a person you cling to
The Church’s teaching on purgatory, hell, and mortal sin
What Pope Benedict XVI said about how few are truly ready for heaven
Why there’s still real hope for the rest of us

If you’ve ever assumed you were “good enough,” or felt too far gone, this episode will challenge you and give you hope.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:

Lumen Gentium: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

Spe Salvi - Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical on hope: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi.html

St. Cyril of Alexandria’s reflection on Luke 13:

https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_10_sermons_99_109.htm

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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

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Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

Divorce, Annulment, and the Catholic Faith - What No One Tells You Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

If you’ve been through a divorce or walked with someone who has been, you know the pain runs deep. But you are not alone, you are not disqualified, and you still belong in the heart of the Church.

God hates divorce. It’s true. Scripture says it. But here’s the part too many people miss: He hates divorce because of how much it hurts you. Because of the pain it passes from parents to kids. Because of how it can wound generations.

But God does not hate the people going through it. He doesn’t hate you if you’ve been divorced. And if you’re walking through that right now, hear me, you still belong in the Church. You’re still part of the family of God. And His love for you has not wavered.

In this episode, I sit down with Carolyn Klika, a faithful Catholic whose 30-year marriage ended when her husband began living as a woman. She’s lived the pain, wrestled with her faith, and discovered the peace, healing, and freedom that only Jesus can give.

Timestamps:

00:42 Why Catholics need to talk about divorce ️

10:54 Divorce does NOT make you a second-class Catholic

11:52 The first step to healing after divorce➡️

17:30 How to protect your heart from bitterness ️

31:01 How to be there for those going through divorce

39:50 Annulments explained

55:17 Turning her deepest pain into a mission of hope

Carolyn didn’t just survive her divorce; she turned her pain into a mission, launching a ministry that helps Catholics around the world find healing, restore their identity in Christ, and walk in freedom again. Whether you’re in the middle of a separation, navigating the annulment process, or trying to help someone else, this episode will show you that God can write a beautiful new chapter from even the most broken story.

Resources Mentioned:

CatholicDivorceHelp.com

 Support the mission: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

........

The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/

........

✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

........

✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20

Want Real Inner Peace? You Have to Fight for it! Aug 17, 2025

Show notes

Are you ready to become a spiritual warrior to attain true inner peace?

In the final week of our Living Peace series, we are talking about the difference between the world’s peace and the peace that Jesus offers us. If you have unresolved emotions, bad habits, or personal experiences holding you back from the peace that the Lord wants you to experience, this episode will start you on the path to conquering those obstacles on the journey to lasting peace.

If you want real peace, first you have to go to war.

In this episode, we’ll explore Jesus’ very specific definition of peace, and how it offers us so much more than the “ceasefire” of the world’s counterfeit peace. We’ll also look to examples of spiritual warriors who risked it all to overcome evil and sin in the world to pursue Christ’s peace that surpasses all understanding.

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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

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Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

One Million Eyewitnesses Saw the Blessed Mother in Egypt!? Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

In 1968, something extraordinary happened at St. Mary’s Church in Zeitoun, Egypt: a glowing, floating figure, identified as the Blessed Virgin Mary, appeared night after night, drawing crowds of up to 250,000, defying power cuts, and even prompting both the Egyptian government and the Coptic Patriarchate to investigate. Seen by Muslims and Copts alike, captured on film, and witnessed by over a million people over two-and-a-half years, this is one of the most compelling recorded miracles ever.

I’m joined by Dr. Travis Dumsday (Philosophy Professor, Concordia University–Edmonton; author of The Marian Apparitions at Zeitoun & Evidential Inquiry) to sift through eyewitness testimony, debunk every naturalistic claim, from mass hallucinations to holograms, and reveal the astonishing details that leave no room for doubt.

Timestamps:

00:00 Proof of the supernatural seen by 1 million

2:33 Muslim transit workers’ first sighting of Mary!

4:47 Lights out, but Mary’s apparition couldn’t be switched off

15:09 How Mary united Christians and Muslims

17:50 Did Mary stop a looming genocide?

27:49 Top natural explanations—and why they fail ❌

45:52 Why Disney still couldn’t pull this off today

Resources Mentioned:

Dive deeper: Get The Marian Apparitions at Zeitoun & Evidential Inquiry here: https://svspress.com/the-marian-apparitions-at-zeitoun-an-evidential-inquiry/?srsltid=AfmBOopQHCPtBmi2w0vVS6RRKCHd9tVpuWPr2lT1wvgVvd68cHUyqdIf

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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

........

The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/

........

✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

........

✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20

.........

Listen to the "Chris Stefanick Show" as a podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZOMMAyrrwyFVVcEPU85vV

How to Be as Free as a Dead Man and Let Go of Your Attachments Aug 09, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to week 6 of our Living Peace series. We’re still on this journey toward deep inner peace, and today we dive into spiritual detachment: a life-changing practice that unlocks unshakeable joy, deep contentment, and heroic love. If you’ve ever felt your heart chained by worry, ambition, or the need for approval, this episode will set you free. We don’t detach to escape; we detach to love, learning to live in the freedom Christ died to give us.

What You’ll Discover:

How the samurai–Zen master story reveals the power of radical freedom
Why medieval monks used bones to break the world’s grip on their hearts
Seneca’s Secret: learning to die as a pathway to true spiritual freedom
Christian detachment: detaching from lesser loves to embrace the greatest treasure of Christ’s love
The three life-changing fruits of spiritual detachment: Unshakeable joy, deep contentment, and heroic love.
Join the waitlist to receive FREE EARLY ACCESS to our Living Peace program! Coming this Fall! https://mailchi.mp/b10a369356c7/pjky3k02q7

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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

....

Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

20 Years in Prison—How His Failure Turned into a 100% Success Story Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Jim Blum, a man who served 20+ years behind bars and found God, purpose, and healing in the unlikeliest place: prison. We talk about what it’s like to be sentenced to 32 years, what actually happens after the gavel drops, and how God used Jim’s lowest point to launch one of the most successful reentry ministries in America. We unpack why most inmates go back and why Jim’s My Father’s House has a 100% success rate. And we explore what really changes a man: humility, prayer, and the experience of being truly loved.

Timestamps:

2:19 The moment the gavel dropped and Jim was sentenced to 32 years in prison

3:10 What it’s like to see your mom cry as you're led away in cuffs

20:38 When your resume says “20 years in prison”—what happens next

23:02 What it’s like to walk out of prison... with nowhere to go

23:44 Why 60–70% of inmates return and why The Father’s House guys don’t

42:47 What it’s like to personally pick up a man from prison on release day

47:34 The invitation we all need: Love people we’re uncomfortable loving

Resources Mentioned:

 My Father’s House: https://myfathershousedenver.org/

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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/