What is sin? 

Difference between guilt and shame

Guilt and Relativism

What if I don't feel contrition?

Caller: Getting over guilt

Getting rid of shame

Caller: Helping young person get over shame

Caller: I overcame my addiction

Integrity Restored

Father Allen Hoffa joined Patrick for the first time to discuss sin, guilt and overcoming shame in our spiritual life. Topics included: what is sin (5:48), difference between guilt and shame (8:46), guilt and relativism (13:05), what if I don't feel contrition? (18:26), caller: how can I get over guilt? (24:03), getting rid of shame (28:50), caller: how do I help a young person in my life get over shame? (33:55), caller: I was able to overcome my addiction (40:29), Integrity Restored: (47:19)

Learn more about Integrity Restored: https://integrityrestored.com/

Father Allen Hoffa joined Patrick for the first time to discuss sin, guilt and overcoming shame in our spiritual life. Topics included: what is sin (5:48), difference between guilt and shame (8:46), guilt and relativism (13:05), what if I don't feel contrition? (18:26), caller: how can I get over guilt? (24:03), getting rid of shame (28:50), caller: how do I help a young person in my life get over shame? (33:55), caller: I was able to overcome my addiction (40:29), Integrity Restored: (47:19)
Learn more about Integrity Restored: https://integrityrestored.com/

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

Freedom from Shame - September 6, 2023

What prevents us from listening to God during 

what does it mean that Pope Leo says Docility 

Carol

Break 1

How does Fasting help us listen to God?

Break 2

Fasting from Gossip?

Beth

IL – Father Tom McCarthy joins Patrick to discuss Listening During Lent 
As an Augustinian what was Pope Leo trying to say with his letter?
(5:10) What prevents us from listening to God during Lent?
How can we combat temptations to distractions when trying to listen to God?
(13:41) what does it mean that Pope Leo says Docility is at the core of conversion?
 (17:02) Carol - I didn't have a way of listening, but I have one now...with Fr. McCarthy. I'm listening to him and he is phenomenal. He's humble, sort of quiet, and he's just phenomenal. So blessed in my spirit right now. Just want to say thanks for being there.

(20:08) Break 1
Judy - I'm 83. Got married a long time ago. We got back from our honeymoon, and I said, 'Let's go to church.' He said we weren't going to do that. Felt cut off for the longest time. Needed a spiritual meeting and went to a Quaker meeting which is silent. Had liturgical dreams...would be in the church and dreamed in procession. Couldn't make the dream go away. Went back to episcopal church for a while and husband said we should go to Catholic church. It's been wonderful.
(27:55) Leo - Listening now and my whole life. 81 and don't know what to do with the rest of my life. Talked to priests and they tell me to pray, and don't seem to get anything from it.
(31:12) How does Fasting help us listen to God?

(35:48) Break 2
(40:09) Fasting from Gossip?
(42:32) Beth - Discerning God's will. Something I've always struggled with and felt I never got an answer. Sometimes no answer is THE answer and we expect something specific. Maybe God doesn't have that planned for us.
Why doesn’t God always speak to us more clearly?

Resources
Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/13/260213d.html

IL &ndash; Father&nbsp;Tom McCarthy joins Patrick to discuss Listening During Lent&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>As an Augustinian what was Pope Leo trying to say with his letter?</li>
<li>(5:10) What prevents us from listening to God during Lent?</li>
<li>How can we combat temptations to distractions when trying to listen to God?</li>
<li>(13:41) what does it mean that Pope Leo says Docility is at the core of conversion?</li>
<li>&nbsp;(17:02) Carol - I didn't have a way of listening, but I have one now...with Fr. McCarthy. I'm listening to him and he is phenomenal. He's humble, sort of quiet, and he's just phenomenal. So blessed in my spirit right now. Just want to say thanks for being there.</li>
</ul>
(20:08) Break 1
<ul>
<li>Judy - I'm 83. Got married a long time ago. We got back from our honeymoon, and I said, 'Let's go to church.' He said we weren't going to do that. Felt cut off for the longest time. Needed a spiritual meeting and went to a Quaker meeting which is silent. Had liturgical dreams...would be in the church and dreamed in procession. Couldn't make the dream go away. Went back to episcopal church for a while and husband said we should go to Catholic church. It's been wonderful.</li>
<li>(27:55) Leo - Listening now and my whole life. 81 and don't know what to do with the rest of my life. Talked to priests and they tell me to pray, and don't seem to get anything from it.</li>
<li>(31:12) How does Fasting help us listen to God?</li>
</ul>
(35:48) Break 2
<ul>
<li>(40:09) Fasting from Gossip?</li>
<li>(42:32) Beth - Discerning God's will. Something I've always struggled with and felt I never got an answer. Sometimes no answer is THE answer and we expect something specific. Maybe God doesn't have that planned for us.</li>
<li>Why doesn&rsquo;t God always speak to us more clearly?</li>
</ul>
Resources
<ul>
<li>Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion
<ul>
<li><a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/13/260213d.html">https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/13/260213d.html</a><a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/13/260213d.html"></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Listening During Lent - The Inner Life - February 25, 2026

what does mortification include?

Laurie 

Chris

How to discern what to do for mortification?

Check out this great show from March 11, 2025

Father Rob Kroll joins Patrick to discuss Mortification
Where does the word mortification come from?
(5:21) what does mortification include?
How do we find the happy medium in mortification?
(19:03) Laurie - A long time ago, my kids were going away from the faith. Stopped putting sugar in coffee.  Would it be efficacious to cut out the cream too? Is it better to intensify it?

(23:12) Break 1
Deb - Question about if a person has struggles when trying to do mortification and trouble with self-denial. Any advice?
What are ways we can do mortification?
(32:55) Chris - To what extent does trying to define holiness differ from by what you deny yourself instead of what you do for others?  Is there a risk of denying yourself vs. becoming more active in our faith?

(39:15) Break 2
What are dangers of Mortification?
(45:15) How to discern what to do for mortification?

Check out this great show from March 11, 2025
Father Rob Kroll&nbsp;joins Patrick to discuss Mortification
<ul>
<li>Where does the word mortification come from?</li>
<li>(5:21) what does mortification include?</li>
<li>How do we find the happy medium in mortification?</li>
<li>(19:03) Laurie - A long time ago, my kids were going away from the faith. Stopped putting sugar in coffee.&nbsp; Would it be efficacious to cut out the cream too? Is it better to intensify it?</li>
</ul>
(23:12) Break 1
<ul>
<li>Deb - Question about if a person has struggles when trying to do mortification and trouble with self-denial. Any advice?</li>
<li>What are ways we can do mortification?</li>
<li>(32:55) Chris - To what extent does trying to define holiness differ from by what you deny yourself instead of what you do for others?&nbsp; Is there a risk of denying yourself vs. becoming more active in our faith?</li>
</ul>
(39:15) Break 2
<ul>
<li>What are dangers of Mortification?</li>
<li>(45:15) How to discern what to do for mortification?</li>
</ul>

Mortification - The Inner Life - February 24, 2026 

 What are traps that interfere with our relati

Jonathan

Walt

Check out this Encore show from March 10, 2025

Father Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss Simplicity in the Spiritual Life
What is simplicity?
(7:58) What are traps that interfere with our relationship with Jesus?
How do we know if we are needing to change something in our prayer life?
Albert - We go through life with battles and also the spirit world. Our Lord gives us gifts on his children.  That's the mystery. Our spiritual life is uniting each and every one of us to the Lord.

(20:06) Break 1
(21:48) Jonathan - When my conversion happened in 2016, had a spiritual director. Had a lot of zeal. My advisor suggested 1 or 2 devotions and try them for 6 months. if fruitful, continue, if not, try something else. Doing liturgy of the hours and the Jesus prayer. I have a lot of devotions if I need to make a change.
What is the difference between reciting prayers and praying?
What is contemplation and why does it matter?

(36:17) Break 2
Shelly - I have some devotions including divine mercy, Rosary. God's will...what devotion do I do to get closer to God's will?
(41:25) Walt - When I walk into church for Mass, I switch from seeing Him to listening. Then, I can live the words. This should be emphasized to all of us. You can't get a lot without listening.
George - Cradle Catholic. I wanted to become a priest when I was young. Retired now. Now, I have a set of prayers I do every morning. Go to daily Mass. They always speak to me, doesn't have to be the same prayer. I always get something from them and hear God speak to me. Study scripture throughout the day and journal.

Check out this Encore show from March 10, 2025
Father Bobby Blood&nbsp;joins Patrick to discuss Simplicity in the Spiritual Life
<ul>
<li>What is simplicity?</li>
<li>(7:58) What are traps that interfere with our relationship with Jesus?</li>
<li>How do we know if we are needing to change something in our prayer life?</li>
<li>Albert - We go through life with battles and also the spirit world. Our Lord gives us gifts on his children.&nbsp; That's the mystery. Our spiritual life is uniting each and every one of us to the Lord.</li>
</ul>
(20:06) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(21:48) Jonathan - When my conversion happened in 2016, had a spiritual director. Had a lot of zeal. My advisor suggested 1 or 2 devotions and try them for 6 months. if fruitful, continue, if not, try something else. Doing liturgy of the hours and the Jesus prayer. I have a lot of devotions if I need to make a change.</li>
<li>What is the difference between reciting prayers and praying?</li>
<li>What is contemplation and why does it matter?</li>
</ul>
(36:17) Break 2
<ul>
<li>Shelly - I have some devotions including divine mercy, Rosary. God's will...what devotion do I do to get closer to God's will?</li>
<li>(41:25) Walt - When I walk into church for Mass, I switch from seeing Him to listening. Then, I can live the words. This should be emphasized to all of us. You can't get a lot without listening.</li>
<li>George - Cradle Catholic. I wanted to become a priest when I was young. Retired now. Now, I have a set of prayers I do every morning. Go to daily Mass. They always speak to me, doesn't have to be the same prayer. I always get something from them and hear God speak to me. Study scripture throughout the day and journal.</li>
</ul>

Freedom from Shame - September 6, 2023

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