What is a vocation?

How did Father discern a vocation to the pries

Break 1

Rolando

Break 2

What is the importance of Courage in discernin

Fr. Tom McCarthy joins Patrick to discuss Vocations
(3:02) What is a vocation?
Why doesn’t God make our vocation clear to us all of the time?
(10:44) How did Father discern a vocation to the priesthood.
What are the fears that young men and women are afraid of when discerning the priesthood.

(21:29) Break 1
What is the importance of encouragement when discerning a vocation?
(32:40) Rolando - I have a 9-yo son. He is really drawn to be a priest. How can I help him keep this fire going?
Patrick - I have a 3-year-old son. How as a father can I encourage my son to consider religious life?
(37:23) Flo - Parents should encourage their children. My granddaughter became a Dominican nun. Other parents I have known were not supportive of girls entering the convent.

(39:49) Break 2
(44:36) What is the importance of Courage in discerning your vocation?

Resources:
Discern your vocation

https://www.beafriar.org/
Serra Club

www.serraus.org

Fr. Tom McCarthy joins Patrick to discuss Vocations
<ul>
<li>(3:02) What is a vocation?</li>
<li>Why doesn&rsquo;t God make our vocation clear to us all of the time?</li>
<li>(10:44) How did Father discern a vocation to the priesthood.</li>
<li>What are the fears that young men and women are afraid of when discerning the priesthood.</li>
</ul>
(21:29) Break 1
<ul>
<li>What is the importance of encouragement when discerning a vocation?</li>
<li>(32:40) Rolando - I have a 9-yo son. He is really drawn to be a priest. How can I help him keep this fire going?</li>
<li>Patrick - I have a 3-year-old son. How as a father can I encourage my son to consider religious life?</li>
<li>(37:23) Flo - Parents should encourage their children. My granddaughter became a Dominican nun. Other parents I have known were not supportive of girls entering the convent.</li>
</ul>
(39:49) Break 2
<ul>
<li>(44:36) What is the importance of Courage in discerning your vocation?</li>
</ul>
Resources:
<ul>
<li>Discern your vocation
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.beafriar.org/">https://www.beafriar.org/</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Serra Club
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.serraus.org">www.serraus.org</a><a href="http://www.serraus.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

Vocations - The Inner Life - November 24, 2025

why do we need to be aware of Church teaching?

Maria

Carl

Joey

Fr. Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss St. Nicholas: The Spirit of giving
Who was Saint Nicholas?
(5:24) why do we need to be aware of Church teaching?
(15:37) Maria - Story about generosity. I was in a class with a bunch of different instruments, and the nuns said we needed to each bring a dollar to school to help pay for a broken drum.

(17:44) Break 1
Geri - Tradition: We would use our dads athletic socks. We would fill them with fruit and nuts (in the socks) to teach stories from the bible. Pretty cool tradition
(22:20) Carl - Tradition: slippers at the foot of the door and we would put cookies or something that we could give to someone outside of our home who was in need
Lorraine - I have a fractured spine and there are people at my church that are helping me. I made a donation to RR in honor those people helping me.

(33:17) Break 2
Father Rocky Shares a special book he wrote about Mary.
(46:07) Joey - Before my mom died, we were talking about charity. She reminded me of something I did that made her proud of me. On a field trip, I bought another little kid a lunch when I saw she didn't have one.

Fr. Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss St. Nicholas: The Spirit of giving
<ul>
<li>Who was Saint Nicholas?</li>
<li>(5:24) why do we need to be aware of Church teaching?</li>
<li>(15:37) Maria - Story about generosity. I was in a class with a bunch of different instruments, and the nuns said we needed to each bring a dollar to school to help pay for a broken drum.</li>
</ul>
(17:44) Break 1
<ul>
<li>Geri - Tradition: We would use our dads athletic socks. We would fill them with fruit and nuts (in the socks) to teach stories from the bible. Pretty cool tradition</li>
<li>(22:20) Carl - Tradition: slippers at the foot of the door and we would put cookies or something that we could give to someone outside of our home who was in need</li>
<li>Lorraine - I have a fractured spine and there are people at my church that are helping me. I made a donation to RR in honor those people helping me.</li>
</ul>
(33:17) Break 2
<ul>
<li>Father Rocky Shares a special book he wrote about Mary.</li>
<li>(46:07) Joey - Before my mom died, we were talking about charity. She reminded me of something I did that made her proud of me. On a field trip, I bought another little kid a lunch when I saw she didn't have one.</li>
</ul>

St. Nicholas: The Spirit of Giving - The Inner Life - December 5, 2025

Jan 

silence as an invitation to prayer

Judy

 Why do sins seem to become really profound wh

Nicole

David

Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris joins Patrick in studio to discuss Silent Prayer
What is he language of God?
(8:42) Jan - Silence. There is a silence that exists after the guests go home. There is joy when guests come and the silence after they leave is saddening. Can you help me appreciate this more?
(13:14) silence as an invitation to prayer
(15:39) Judy - I thought I was going to go mad during silent Adoration. I thought I could find comfort but could not. Can you help?

(19:50) Break 1
(21:05) Email from MT – Why do sins seem to become really profound when I am in silence and especially before receiving the Eucharist?
Maureen - I wonder if the devil is trying to disquiet people in adoration who have trouble with silence?
(26:57)  Ben - I am a seminarian. I want to share that silence has helped with my vocation and discernment. I would not be here without it.
(31:17) Nicole - I wanted to go on a Silent Retreat but now have to cancel. I find it hard to put myself in silence. How can I make a spiritual retreat for myself.

(36:51) Break 2
Mark - Talking about silence. My grandfather starting going on silent retreats during the 1950s. We used to go on a yearly silent retreat. Some years I couldn’t wait to talk but other years I couldn't wait.
(43:16) David - Going to Adoration really trained me to be in the Presence of the Lord.
What is the correlation of creating space in our hearts for silence and making room for our Lord?

Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris joins Patrick in studio to discuss Silent Prayer
<ul>
<li>What is he language of God?</li>
<li>(8:42) Jan - Silence. There is a silence that exists after the guests go home. There is joy when guests come and the silence after they leave is saddening. Can you help me appreciate this more?</li>
<li>(13:14) silence as an invitation to prayer</li>
<li>(15:39) Judy - I thought I was going to go mad during silent Adoration. I thought I could find comfort but could not. Can you help?</li>
</ul>
(19:50) Break 1
<ul>
<li>(21:05) Email from MT &ndash; Why do sins seem to become really profound when I am in silence and especially before receiving the Eucharist?</li>
<li>Maureen - I wonder if the devil is trying to disquiet people in adoration who have trouble with silence?</li>
<li>(26:57) &nbsp;Ben - I am a seminarian. I want to share that silence has helped with my vocation and discernment. I would not be here without it.</li>
<li>(31:17) Nicole - I wanted to go on a Silent Retreat but now have to cancel. I find it hard to put myself in silence. How can I make a spiritual retreat for myself.</li>
</ul>
(36:51) Break 2
<ul>
<li>Mark - Talking about silence. My grandfather starting going on silent retreats during the 1950s. We used to go on a yearly silent retreat. Some years I couldn&rsquo;t wait to talk but other years I couldn't wait.</li>
<li>(43:16) David - Going to Adoration really trained me to be in the Presence of the Lord.</li>
<li>What is the correlation of creating space in our hearts for silence and making room for our Lord?</li>
</ul>

Silent Prayer - The Inner Life - December 4, 2025

What is the incarnation?

Maureen

Steve

What is the best Christmas Gift we can receive

Fr. Marc Lenneman joins Patrick to discuss The Incarnation
(4:19) What is the incarnation?
God wedding humanity through the incarnation.
(11:44) Maureen - I am a catechist for 4th graders. I'm trying everything to explain the incarnation. Want your opinion. Do you have another way of explaining the incarnation?

(18:42) Break 1
How does the mystery of the word make flesh make clear the mystery of humanity?
(33:50) Steve – How did Christ suffer if He is God?
Jesus is the bridge that brings us to God alone.

(39:45) Break 2
(42:25) What is the best Christmas Gift we can receive from Christ?

Fr. Marc Lenneman joins Patrick to discuss The Incarnation
<ul>
<li>(4:19) What is the incarnation?</li>
<li>God wedding humanity through the incarnation.</li>
<li>(11:44) Maureen - I am a catechist for 4th graders. I'm trying everything to explain the incarnation. Want your opinion. Do you have another way of explaining the incarnation?</li>
</ul>
(18:42) Break 1
<ul>
<li>How does the mystery of the word make flesh make clear the mystery of humanity?</li>
<li>(33:50) Steve &ndash; How did Christ suffer if He is God?</li>
<li>Jesus is the bridge that brings us to God alone.</li>
</ul>
(39:45) Break 2
<ul>
<li>(42:25) What is the best Christmas Gift we can receive from Christ?</li>
</ul>

Vocations - The Inner Life - November 24, 2025

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