what is the role of Literature in the life of 

what is the Catholic influence of Shakespeare.

Break 1

Richard

C.S. Lewis one of the evangelists?

Karen

Break 2

St John Henry Newmanâs authorship and teachi

Chestertonâs importance in the common people

Fr. Spencer Howe joins Patrick to discuss English Literature
(2:41) what is the role of Literature in the life of the Church?
What is the history of the Catholic Church in England?
(10:26) what is the Catholic influence of Shakespeare.

(18:55) Break 1
(19:50) Richard - I'm a reader of CS Lewis, George McDonald. I can tell you how I was put on to CS Lewis and then George McDonald.
 (23:54) C.S. Lewis one of the evangelists?
(28:43) Karen - Wanted to talk about reading Tolkien and then becoming Catholic. Heard about it on Fr. Simon's show.

(34:00) Break 2
WWI’s influence on English Writers in their literature.
(37:56) St John Henry Newman’s authorship and teaching.
Who was Ronald Knox and why is he so important?
(45:32) Chesterton’s importance in the common people’s mind.

Resources:
Newman Studies

https://www.newmanreader.org/

Fr. Spencer Howe joins Patrick to discuss English Literature
<ul>
<li>(2:41) what is the role of Literature in the life of the Church?</li>
<li>What is the history of the Catholic Church in England?</li>
<li>(10:26) what is the Catholic influence of Shakespeare.</li>
</ul>
(18:55) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(19:50) Richard - I'm a reader of CS Lewis, George McDonald. I can tell you how I was put on to CS Lewis and then George McDonald.</li>
<li>&nbsp;(23:54) C.S. Lewis one of the evangelists?</li>
<li>(28:43) Karen - Wanted to talk about reading Tolkien and then becoming Catholic. Heard about it on Fr. Simon's show.</li>
</ul>
(34:00) Break 2
<ul>
<li>WWI&rsquo;s influence on English Writers in their literature.</li>
<li>(37:56) St John Henry Newman&rsquo;s authorship and teaching.</li>
<li>Who was Ronald Knox and why is he so important?</li>
<li>(45:32) Chesterton&rsquo;s importance in the common people&rsquo;s mind.</li>
</ul>
Resources:
<ul>
<li>Newman Studies
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.newmanreader.org/">https://www.newmanreader.org/</a><a href="https://www.newmanreader.org/"></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

The Inner Life® with Patrick Conley is one-on-one Spiritual Direction on the radio. Every day, a Catholic priest or religious sister joins listeners to offer spiritual advice and guidance designed to assist you along your faith journey, speaking about a variety of topics to help you overcome sin, grow in virtue, and strengthen your faith.

The Inner Life® with Patrick Conley is one-on-one Spiritual Direction on the radio. Every day, a Catholic priest or religious sister joins listeners to offer spiritual advice and guidance designed to assist you along your faith journey, speaking about a variety of topics to help you overcome sin, grow in virtue, and strengthen your faith.

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The Inner Life

English Literature - The Inner Life - March 10, 2026

What is the biggest source of anxiety?

Email - How can we stop worrying we aren’t goi

Lisa

what can we do to keep anxiety down?

Check out this great show from March 24, 2025

Father Dave Heney joins Patrick to discuss Anxiety in the Spiritual Life
What is Anxiety?
(6:49) What is the biggest source of anxiety?
What is scrupulosity?
(12:58) Email - How can we stop worrying we aren’t going to go to heaven?
Barbara - I have suffered with OCD and scrupulosity. In the last couple years, I discovered Dr. Greg Bottaro's book and he has a chapter called Surrender to the Will of God. Admitting we are powerless over this. That is what I have to do every day. Just turn it over to God.

(22:09) Break 1
What is the difference between anxiety, fear and stress?
(27:41) Lisa - Are there are people who are predisposed to worry and anxiety genetically.? If they don't have faith, but tendency toward perfectionism. How advice would you offer to them?
Thomas - Comments on healing between psychiatric approach and spiritual approach. Action between mental health work and spirituality. Finding healing and that people have the power to trust God and not get anxious.

(40:51) Break 2
Leticia - Anxiety developed into a eating disorder. I battle with that. I do what you are suggesting...Jesus I trust in you. I take some medication. I teach catechism...takes my mind off it.
(46:38) what can we do to keep anxiety down?

Check out this great show from March 24, 2025
Father Dave Heney&nbsp;joins Patrick to discuss Anxiety in the Spiritual Life
<ul>
<li>What is Anxiety?</li>
<li>(6:49) What is the biggest source of anxiety?</li>
<li>What is scrupulosity?</li>
<li>(12:58) Email - How can we stop worrying we aren&rsquo;t going to go to heaven?</li>
<li>Barbara - I have suffered with OCD and scrupulosity. In the last couple years, I discovered Dr. Greg Bottaro's book and he has a chapter called Surrender to the Will of God. Admitting we are powerless over this. That is what I have to do every day. Just turn it over to God.</li>
</ul>
(22:09) Break 1
<ul>
<li>What is the difference between anxiety, fear and stress?</li>
<li>(27:41) Lisa - Are there are people who are predisposed to worry and anxiety genetically.? If they don't have faith, but tendency toward perfectionism. How advice would you offer to them?</li>
<li>Thomas - Comments on healing between psychiatric approach and spiritual approach. Action between mental health work and spirituality. Finding healing and that people have the power to trust God and not get anxious.</li>
</ul>
(40:51) Break 2
<ul>
<li>Leticia - Anxiety developed into a eating disorder. I battle with that. I do what you are suggesting...Jesus I trust in you. I take some medication. I teach catechism...takes my mind off it.</li>
<li>(46:38) what can we do to keep anxiety down?</li>
</ul>

Anxiety in the Spiritual Life - The Inner Life - March 9, 2026

Jesus and Psalm 22.

How Jesus abandoned Himself to God.

Entrusting to God all of those who will be aff

Msgr. Tom Richter joins Patrick for the fourth of a special Lenten Series on the 7 Last Words of Jesus – today’s topic, Spiritual Abandonment
The Allusions of Control.
(8:53) Jesus and Psalm 22.

(21:24) Break 1
(22:27) Tom - I've always wondered if Jesus felt because of his humanity we as human would feel abandoned by God. Was that an expression of his human feeling because he was fully human. How can Christ feel he was abandoned? if he were fully human, he would feel that way. Can you explain that?
(26:27) How Jesus abandoned Himself to God.
How can we trust that God still loves us through the challenging times in our life?

(38:54) Break 2
How can we cultivate Faith in our lives?
(45:18) Entrusting to God all of those who will be affected by my abandonment.

Msgr. Tom Richter joins Patrick for the fourth of a special Lenten Series on the 7 Last Words of Jesus &ndash; today&rsquo;s topic, Spiritual Abandonment
<ul>
<li>The Allusions of Control.</li>
<li>(8:53) Jesus and Psalm 22.</li>
</ul>
(21:24) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(22:27) Tom - I've always wondered if Jesus felt because of his humanity we as human would feel abandoned by God. Was that an expression of his human feeling because he was fully human. How can Christ feel he was abandoned? if he were fully human, he would feel that way. Can you explain that?</li>
<li>(26:27) How Jesus abandoned Himself to God.</li>
<li>How can we trust that God still loves us through the challenging times in our life?</li>
</ul>
(38:54) Break 2
<ul>
<li>How can we cultivate Faith in our lives?</li>
<li>(45:18) Entrusting to God all of those who will be affected by my abandonment.</li>
</ul>

Spiritual Abandonment: 7 Last Words of Jesus (part 4) – The Inner Life – March 6, 2026

What is the motivation to spiritual practices?

John

Marisa

Stan email

Elanore

Marge

Bishop Donald Hying joins Patrick to discuss Surrender to God
What makes surrender so important?
(7:27) What is the motivation to spiritual practices?
(12:34) John - I've got 2 sons struggling with drugs. Talk to them all the time about it. Not having control and putting it in God's hands.
Bonita - My brother is in a nursing home. They're going to put him on hospice. Wondering if he's in the right place. How to navigate making decisions. Can't always meet what we're hoping to have. Hospice and not knowing how to navigate.

(18:54) Break 1
What does Saint Therese of Lisieux teach us about surrender to God?
(22:55) Marisa - Last year, for Ash Wednesday and Lent, I vowed to give up alcohol. I used it as a crutch rather than surrounding to the Lord. I did the surrender novena, drank that night, but seven nights later, I gave it up and it's been a year of sobriety.
(31:01) Stan email – are there any short prayers to say to not despair over past sins?
Patrick - I've had some success surrendering to God. I have this sloth. It's tough. Lack of discipline. Need more help from God.

(35:19) Break 2
Email from a listener wanting husband getting her husband back to Mass.
(39:24) Elanore - I was given my sister's ashes. I'm driving around with them right now. I surrender, but have no direction. I'm looking for sacred ground. Nobody understands the relationship. She died in a nursing home. I need guidance. I believe she was a sacrificial lamb. I hold her in high regard while the rest of my family doesn't agree.
Email about surrender when others don’t listen as well
 (45:42) Marge - I've learned to surrender to Him. I finally realized what the Our Father really means. I've experienced different things. Been praying for granddaughter for years. I have a lot of priest friends I'm in regular contact with. Was told to completely talk to Jesus and lay all in front of the cross. Mentor and confession is important.

Bishop Donald Hying joins Patrick to discuss Surrender to God
<ul>
<li>What makes surrender so important?</li>
<li>(7:27) What is the motivation to spiritual practices?</li>
<li>(12:34) John - I've got 2 sons struggling with drugs. Talk to them all the time about it. Not having control and putting it in God's hands.</li>
<li>Bonita - My brother is in a nursing home. They're going to put him on hospice. Wondering if he's in the right place. How to navigate making decisions. Can't always meet what we're hoping to have. Hospice and not knowing how to navigate.</li>
</ul>
(18:54) Break 1
<ul>
<li>What does Saint Therese of Lisieux teach us about surrender to God?</li>
<li>(22:55) Marisa - Last year, for Ash Wednesday and Lent, I vowed to give up alcohol. I used it as a crutch rather than surrounding to the Lord. I did the surrender novena, drank that night, but seven nights later, I gave it up and it's been a year of sobriety.</li>
<li>(31:01) Stan email &ndash; are there any short prayers to say to not despair over past sins?</li>
<li>Patrick - I've had some success surrendering to God. I have this sloth. It's tough. Lack of discipline. Need more help from God.</li>
</ul>
(35:19) Break 2
<ul>
<li>Email from a listener wanting husband getting her husband back to Mass.</li>
<li>(39:24) Elanore - I was given my sister's ashes. I'm driving around with them right now. I surrender, but have no direction. I'm looking for sacred ground. Nobody understands the relationship. She died in a nursing home. I need guidance. I believe she was a sacrificial lamb. I hold her in high regard while the rest of my family doesn't agree.</li>
<li>Email about surrender when others don&rsquo;t listen as well</li>
<li>&nbsp;(45:42) Marge - I've learned to surrender to Him. I finally realized what the Our Father really means. I've experienced different things. Been praying for granddaughter for years. I have a lot of priest friends I'm in regular contact with. Was told to completely talk to Jesus and lay all in front of the cross. Mentor and confession is important.</li>
</ul>

English Literature - The Inner Life - March 10, 2026

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