Msgr. Thomas J. Richter

Humility

God's Blessings

Holy Desire

The Little Way

Purification

Dark Night and Spiritual Desolation

Rich Young Man

Giving the Lord Permission

On today’s show, we finish our 6 Foundations of Prayer series with Humility and Purification with Msgr. Thomas Richter.
Humility (2:04)
God's Blessings (3:52)
Holy Desire (8:20)
The Little Way (15:40)
Break 1
Purification (25:08)
Dark Night and Spiritual Desolation (29:20)
Break 2
Rich Young Man (42:29)
And Giving the Lord Permission (46:59)

On today&rsquo;s show, we finish our 6 Foundations of Prayer series with Humility and Purification with Msgr. Thomas Richter.
<ul>
<li>Humility (2:04)</li>
<li>God's Blessings (3:52)</li>
<li>Holy Desire (8:20)</li>
<li>The Little Way (15:40)</li>
<li>Break 1</li>
<li>Purification (25:08)</li>
<li>Dark Night and Spiritual Desolation (29:20)</li>
<li>Break 2</li>
<li>Rich Young Man (42:29)</li>
<li>And Giving the Lord Permission (46:59)</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

The 6 Foundations Of Prayer: Humility & Purification - August 6, 2026

IL – Father John Paul Erickson joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Why We Laugh
(5:43) How is laughter a uniquely human trait?
(20:09) Nick - Appropriate laughter and why we laugh. Altar server trying to light a candle. All of a sudden, people were laughing after he tried so many times. It has to be tempered with the appropriateness of the situation.

(24:38) Break 1
Did Jesus have a sense of Humor?
(30:58) Rose - Humor. I'm 87. Humor has helped me in my last stages to continue without having to complain so much.

(38:04) Break 2
Pauline - Joke: Pastor and bus driver. Both die at the same time. Bus driver gets ticketed first. Pastor waits and finally to gates. I thought I'd be the first in line. St. Peter said why was I first? When you preached everyone slept, when he preached, everyone prayed.
(43:47) Joe - Joke: Jesus and Moses on a golf course. At this dog leg of a hole. Jesus says, 'I'm going to get above par on this. Jesus hits the ball, goes into water. He walks on water to get the ball. Asked Moses if it's Jesus, and said no, it's Jack Nicholas.
(47:04) Carol - When I think about laughter, I think why it's important to have a merry heart. It does good like medicine. Laughter is the best medicine you can have.
Juanita - Years ago, God showed me his sense of humor when I was upset over my grandson's mom keeping us from seeing him. I unexpectedly received a gift of a small meat cleaver. It just made me laugh. It keeps us grounded in our sense of humor.

IL &ndash; Father John Paul Erickson joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Why We Laugh
<ul>
<li>(5:43) How is laughter a uniquely human trait?</li>
<li>(20:09) Nick - Appropriate laughter and why we laugh. Altar server trying to light a candle. All of a sudden, people were laughing after he tried so many times. It has to be tempered with the appropriateness of the situation.</li>
</ul>
(24:38) Break 1
<ul>
<li>Did Jesus have a sense of Humor?</li>
<li>(30:58) Rose - Humor. I'm 87. Humor has helped me in my last stages to continue without having to complain so much.</li>
</ul>
(38:04) Break 2
<ul>
<li>Pauline - Joke: Pastor and bus driver. Both die at the same time. Bus driver gets ticketed first. Pastor waits and finally to gates. I thought I'd be the first in line. St. Peter said why was I first? When you preached everyone slept, when he preached, everyone prayed.</li>
<li>(43:47) Joe - Joke: Jesus and Moses on a golf course. At this dog leg of a hole. Jesus says, 'I'm going to get above par on this. Jesus hits the ball, goes into water. He walks on water to get the ball. Asked Moses if it's Jesus, and said no, it's Jack Nicholas.</li>
<li>(47:04) Carol - When I think about laughter, I think why it's important to have a merry heart. It does good like medicine. Laughter is the best medicine you can have.</li>
<li>Juanita - Years ago, God showed me his sense of humor when I was upset over my grandson's mom keeping us from seeing him. I unexpectedly received a gift of a small meat cleaver. It just made me laugh. It keeps us grounded in our sense of humor.</li>
</ul>

Why We Laugh - The Inner Life (Encore) - September 4, 2026

Father Robert Ryan joins Deacon Patrick 

The mystical body of Christ?

Break 1

Jesus’ prayer for unity

Tom - Role Of The Family

Break 2

Missionary Work

Father Robert Ryan joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss the Mystical Body of Christ
(3:50) Why is the Church known as the mystical body of Christ?
(11:42) What is Paul talking about when he mentions the body of Christ?
 (20:01) Herb - when Jesus asked Paul, 'why are you persecuting me,' was he talking about him specifically or the Church?

(25:20) Break 1
(27:51) Jesus’ prayer for unity in the Church.
(38:14) Tom - How does the family have a role in the broader Church? How can clergy better form the family?

(43:27) Break 2
(46:10) Missionary work as a Body of Christ.

Father Robert Ryan&nbsp;joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss the Mystical Body of Christ
<ul>
<li>(3:50) Why is the Church known as the mystical body of Christ?</li>
<li>(11:42) What is Paul talking about when he mentions the body of Christ?</li>
<li>&nbsp;(20:01) Herb - when Jesus asked Paul, 'why are you persecuting me,' was he talking about him specifically or the Church?</li>
</ul>
(25:20) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(27:51) Jesus&rsquo; prayer for unity in the Church.</li>
<li>(38:14) Tom - How does the family have a role in the broader Church? How can clergy better form the family?</li>
</ul>
(43:27) Break 2
<ul>
<li>(46:10) Missionary work as a Body of Christ.</li>
</ul>

Mystical Body of Christ - The Inner Life (Encore) - September 3, 2026

Is Ordinary Mundane

 Eli - My artwork 

How does community help ?

Lynn - As a homeschooling family

Father Matthew Widder joins Patrick to discuss Holiness in the Ordinary
(3:15) Is ordinary mundane?
What is holiness?
How do you resist the temptation to see the daily life as boring?
(11:54) Jesus’ hidden life explained
(15:31) Jeff - Listening to Relevant Radio is what I do.
Nancy - St Therese of the Little Flower. Try to be holy that way. Listening to Christian music. Not listening to inappropriate music.

(20:09) Break 1
(21:54) Eli - My artwork and how it has transformed in a way. God's calling me to create works for him.
Email from Jenna – Sign of the cross whenever you hear a siren.
Email from Lori – Morning Coffee and morning offering are great!
(29:55) How do small things help us grow in what we are suppose to do in life?
How do you get in touch with God’s love for you?
Offering up EVERYTHING for the glory of God.

(36:59) Break 2
How does community help with us growing in holiness?
(41:29) Adrian - My Catholic faith. Convert of 12 years. I take part in Bible studies, Sunday Mass. I'm the only Catholic in my family. I don't push it. Give sound advice in helping raise my daughter with my ex.
(45:46) Lynn - As a homeschooling family and the way we try to live out our vocations and vacations. With children, we go places including daily Mass and put it as a priority even on vacation.

Father Matthew Widder joins Patrick to discuss Holiness in the Ordinary
<ul>
<li>(3:15) Is ordinary mundane?</li>
<li>What is holiness?</li>
<li>How do you resist the temptation to see the daily life as boring?</li>
<li>(11:54) Jesus&rsquo; hidden life explained</li>
<li>(15:31) Jeff - Listening to Relevant Radio is what I do.</li>
<li>Nancy - St Therese of the Little Flower. Try to be holy that way. Listening to Christian music. Not listening to inappropriate music.</li>
</ul>
(20:09) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(21:54) Eli - My artwork and how it has transformed in a way. God's calling me to create works for him.</li>
<li>Email from Jenna &ndash; Sign of the cross whenever you hear a siren.</li>
<li>Email from Lori &ndash; Morning Coffee and morning offering are great!</li>
<li>(29:55) How do small things help us grow in what we are suppose to do in life?</li>
<li>How do you get in touch with God&rsquo;s love for you?</li>
<li>Offering up EVERYTHING for the glory of God.</li>
</ul>
(36:59) Break 2
<ul>
<li>How does community help with us growing in holiness?</li>
<li>(41:29) Adrian - My Catholic faith. Convert of 12 years. I take part in Bible studies, Sunday Mass. I'm the only Catholic in my family. I don't push it. Give sound advice in helping raise my daughter with my ex.</li>
<li>(45:46) Lynn - As a homeschooling family and the way we try to live out our vocations and vacations. With children, we go places including daily Mass and put it as a priority even on vacation.</li>
</ul>

The 6 Foundations Of Prayer: Humility & Purification - August 6, 2026

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