The Burrowshire Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#011: What You Need to Know About Vatican II Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

The Second Vatican Council (aka Vatican II) was convened in 1962 by Pope St. John XXIII and lasted through 1965. It gathered all the bishops from around the world to produce 16 wonderful texts.

However, fifty years after its conclusion there’s still debate about what Vatican II taught and how the Council was implemented. In this episode, Fr. Blake and Brandon discuss what you need to know about the Council: why Vatican II was needed, a simple timeline, the key terms and people, what happened after the Council, the major controversies, and why the Council remains important today. They close with several recommended books on Vatican II to go deeper.

Note: At 28:52 , Fr. Blake refers to the "Council of the Magisteriums" but he meant "Council of the theologians."

LINKS

Documents of Vatican II– start with 4 constitutions
The Irony of Modern Catholic History by George Weigel
What Happened at Vatican II by John O’Malley
Conciliar Octet: A Concise Commentary on the Eight Key Texts of the Second Vatican Council by Fr. Aidan Nichols, OP
The Council in Question: A Dialogue with Catholic Traditionalism by Fr. Aidan Nichols, OP and Moyra Doorly
The Disputed Teachings of Vatican II by Thomas Guarino
The Reception of Vatican II edited by Matthew Lamb and Matthew Levering
Vatican II: Renewal Within Tradition edited by Matthew Lamb and Matthew Levering
The Spirit of the Liturgyby Pope Benedict XVI

#010: Understanding the Bible Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

The Bible is a complicated book. If you read or interpret it the wrong way, you'll quick go astray. In this episode, Brandon and Fr. Blake share some of the basic interpretative principles Catholics should use to understand Scripture, including recognizing the genre, using the "four senses," and reading the Bible from the heart of the Church.

Links

The Word on Fire Bible
Dei Verbum (Vatican II)
The Word of the Lord: 7 Essential Principles for Catholic Scripture Study by Dr. Steven C. Smith
The Bible Compass: A Catholic’s Guide to Navigating the Scriptures by Dr. Edward Sri
Light on the Dark Passages of Scripture by Dr. Mark Giszczak
The Bible is a Catholic Book by Jimmy Akin

#009: Spiritual Woundedness Jul 02, 2020

Show notes

We live in an age that does not know how to recognize and reconcile its woundedness. This explains why we lash out at others, why we seek false substitutes for God such as Netflix, food, pornography, and drugs, and why we avoid long periods of silent introspection. If we want to deepen our spiritual life, we must discern our wounds, asking Christ to name them and heal them. It’s the only path to freedom and the redemption of our personality.

LINKS

The Praktikosby Evagrius Ponticus
Heart Speaks to Heart: A Review of Life and Healing Prayer by Fr. John Horn
https://JPIIhealingcenter.org

#008: Making Your Family Holy Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

The Catechism describes the family as a “domestic church” (ecclesia domestica), the first school of Christian life and a school for human enrichment. How can we excel in this school? How do we help our family members become holy? Brandon and Fr. Blake share tips from their own lives and from Fr. Blake’s ministry to young families.

It is here that the father of the family, the mother, children, and all members of the family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way “by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity.” Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and “a school for human enrichment.” Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous – even repeated – forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life. (CCC, 1657)

LINKS

Catechism on “The Domestic Church” (paragraphs 1655-1658)

#007: True Friendship Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

In numerous studies, Millennials and Gen Z’ers mention “true friendship” as one of their most unmet needs. What is true friendship? What’s unique about Christian friendship? Brandon and Fr. Blake explore what ancient thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and Augustine have said about friendship, and also explain how to develop deep friendships ourselves.

LINKS

Laelius De Amicitia (Treatise on Friendship) by Cicero
Friends and Friendship for Saint Augustine by Sr. Marie Aquinas McNamara
Spiritual Friendshipby Aelred of Rievaulx

#006: Video Games and Culture May 20, 2020

Show notes

Video games are surging in popularity. There are over a billion gamers in the world, and the gaming industry is eclipsing the impact of social media, Hollywood, and live sports. It's the new digital frontier, especially for evangelization. But why are so many young people drawn to video games? What longings do these games fulfill? And how should Christians engage this increasingly important realm? Brandon and Fr. Blake, avid gamers and guides, take you on a tour of this exciting landscape.

All links/resources in show notes: https://burrowshirepodcast.com/video-games

Fr. Blake's articles on video games (Word on Fire)

“Kingdom Hearts III” and the Essential Goodness of the Heart
Video Games: A Lesson on the Importance of Aesthetics
Video Games and Music
Video Game Culture and the Millennial Soul (Evangelization & Culture Journal, only available to members of the Word on Fire Institute)

Carlo Actusi, possible patron saint of video games

Daily Mail - "Patron Saint of the Internet"
Our Sunday Visitor - "With a miracle approved, beatification awaits computer programmer Carlo Acutis"

#005: How to Start a Good Catholic Library May 06, 2020

Show notes

Every Catholic should have a solid home library, as Brandon and Fr. Blake explain. But why is that important? Which books should we definitely have? And where can Catholics find good book recommendations? Join the two bibliophile hosts as they discuss.

All links/resources in show notes: https://burrowshirepodcast.com/library

Must-Have Catholic Books

Bible (we recommend Ignatius Bible, RSV-CE)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Vatican II Documents

Bible Commentaries

Other Books

Liturgy of the Hours (4-volume set)
- To Know Christ Jesus(Frank Sheed)
- Life of Christ(Fulton Sheen)
- The Lord(Romano Guardini)
  - Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives(Pope Benedict XVI)
  - Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration(Pope Benedict XVI)
  - Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week(Pope Benedict XVI)
- St. Vladimir Seminary Press "Popular Patristics" series

Book Lists

Brandon Vogt - Best Catholic Books of All Time
Bishop Barron - Bishop Barron’s Recommend Books
Mortimer Adler - Great Books of the Western World

#004: How (and Why) to Pray the Liturgy of the Hours Apr 23, 2020

Show notes

Did you know there is one set of prayers that the Church recommends ALL Catholics pray, every day? It’s called the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church…and it’s not just for priests. Fr. Blake and Brandon talk about this transformative discipline, and how to overcome obstacles that beginners usually face. We also share some book recommendations and tips on how to get started with these prayers.

LINKS

Liturgy of the Hours (4-volume set)
The Everyday Catholic’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours by Daria Sockey
A Layman’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours: How the Prayers of the Church Can Change Your Life by Fr. Timothy Gallagher
iBreviary app: Apple + Android
iBreviary online

#003: Catholic and Intellectual Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

Few of us are geniuses, but all of us should be intellectuals. Brandon and Fr. Blake discuss the rich patrimony of the Catholic intellectual tradition and why we shouldn’t dumb down religion. They also offer tips on how to develop your own intellectual life.

LINKS

How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods
Bishop Barron’s Recommended Books (PDF)
100 Best Catholic Books of All Time by Brandon Vogt
The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods by A. G. Sertillanges, OP

#002: Becoming Saints in Our Time Mar 23, 2020

Show notes

One of the major themes of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) was the “universal call to holiness.” The Council Fathers urged all Catholics–not just priests and religious–to strive for sainthood. But what does it mean to be a saint in our time, to acquire holiness in the particular context we find ourselves in? Brandon and Fr. Blake discuss traits of our particular age which shape our pursuit of sanctity.

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