Dr. Alex Lessard joins the podcast to discuss the organization Adeodatus, "an educational nonprofit organized to support the ongoing renewal of Catholic liberal education through conferences, community-building, publication, consulting, and due diligence."

Dr. Lessard touches upon:

• The importance of the liberal arts and the role of the Church in education
• The whole-person approach to education vs. the utilitarian modern model
• The true purpose of learning: the ascent to wisdom and knowledge of God
• Why any scholar, when divorcing an academic field from its teleological end in God, loses expertise of the field itself
• Resources for grassroots implementation of Catholic principles of formation
• Technology in education: how we must control the tools lest they control us

Listeners can learn more at adeodatus.com. The first of three annual conferences is taking place later this month.

Catholic Exchange contributor Mary Beth Bracy  resolved on Divine Mercy Sunday to be "married to Jesus Christ immortal." She joins the podcast to share about her vocation as a Consecrated Virgin in the world. 

Mary Beth sheds light on:

• Saints who were consecrated virgins and the role of this vocation in the early Church
• Her resolutions, daily responsibilities, and prayer routine
• The community aspect of consecrated virginity, and role in parish life
• Maintaining her perpetual Eucharistic adoration chapel
• The importance of spiritual direction
• How writing helped her to discern
• Tips for discerning any vocation

Mary Beth's writing can be found at Catholic Exchange and on her blog, The Little Way.

If you enjoyed this discussion, please consider supporting the show.

Author Marlene Watkins joins the podcast to discuss her recent book Everyday Miracles of Lourdes:  Twenty Extraordinary Experiences Along the Way to the Grotto.

Marlene covers:

• The ministry and mission of the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers
• How Marlene's life was forever changed by her first trip to Lourdes
• The 70 approved, documented miracles of Lourdes, plus the 7800+ testimonies of healings
• How Our Lady of Lourdes continues to provide medical healings to this day, as well as spiritual healings and miraculous conversions
• How the peace and joy at Lourdes alleviates doubts and revitalizes the faith of pilgrims
• How Mary won over the heart of one Protestant convert
• How you can access the special graces of Lourdes--on pilgrimage or at home

If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider supporting the show.

Catholic historian and writer Elena Maria Vidal sets the record straight on the oft-maligned Catholic Queen of France and martyr of the Revolution. While candidly acknowledging the queen's faults, Elena's work paints a portrait of Marie Antoinette in all her complexity.

Drawing from her years of research, Elena discusses:

• Popular misconceptions about the queen, then and now
• The origin of the "let them eat cake" rumor
• What modern TV series and movies get wrong
• Marie Antoinette's strong Catholic faith and moral character, and many recorded charitable works
• The deeply Catholic milieu of the French court and its role in Christendom
• The truly demonic nature of the French Revolution and its pagan "Cult of Reason"
• How the queen was able to secretly receive the sacraments before her death
• Marie Antoinette's piety and equanimity at the guillotine

Elena has written several books about Marie Antoinette and her family, including two novels and a biography. They are available at the links below:

Marie-Antoinette, Daughter of the Caesars: Her Life, Her Times, Her Legacy

Trianon:  A Novel of Royal France

Madame Royale

Her latest research focuses on the Stuart dynasty. She blogs at https://teaattrianon.blogspot.com/.

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If you enjoyed this discussion, please consider supporting the show.

Fr. Michael Rennier joins the podcast to discuss his new book The Forgotten Language: How Recovering the Poetics of the Mass Will Change Our Lives.

Father Michael discusses:

• His conversion story: from Pentecostal student, to Episcopal priest, to Catholic priest
• How the transcendence and wonder of the Mass played a role in his conversion
• Combatting pride and surrendering to God's will
• Why beauty challenges us, as opposed to sentimental gratification
• How beauty, as an "encounter with eternity," communicates theological truths
• How to alleviate boredom at Mass
• Simple ways for parish priests to instill beauty in their liturgy and church buildings

If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider supporting the show.

Catholic therapist and author Bob Schuchts joins the podcast to discuss the latest edition of his classic book Be Healed: A Guide to Encountering the Powerful Love of Jesus in Your Life.

Bob addresses:

• Emotional pain and the Seven Deadly Sins 
• Lessons from decades as a therapist and the work of the John Paul II Healing Center
• Forgiveness and healing within the family
• Jesus as the Physician of Souls and the saints as our guides

Longtime culture-warrior and conservative author Bill Donohue joins the podcast to discuss his new book War on Virtue: How the Ruling Class Is Killing the American Dream.

Bill shares his opinions on:

• The "vital virtues" that are prerequisites to success
• Why Hollywood's depravity is a coordinated effort to corrupt hearts and minds
• Wokeism as a replacement religion
• How average American Catholics can protect themselves and their children in the culture war

In this episode, Kristen speaks with Archduke Eduard Habsburg, Hungarian Ambassador to the Holy See, about his forthcoming book The Habsburg Way.

Eduard outlines seven rules for a holy and happy life, including:

• Get Married (and have lots of children)
• Be Catholic (and practice your faith)
• Believe in the Empire (and subsidiarity)
• Die Well (and have a memorable funeral!)

We discuss several noteworthy figures from his ancestry, and how each of these principles guided both their public and private lives.

Learn about:

• The tensions between the Faith and diplomacy
• The recipe for a successful Catholic marriage
• The differing Habsburg reactions to the Reformation and the Enlightenment, and how these affected the Church
• The principle of subsidiarity as the bedrock of governance 
• How the United States and the Habsburg Empire are more alike than you think!