Say Yes to Holiness

We are now into the second week of Lent, and hopefully, we have found our footing and are engaged in our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. But how do we go deeper? How might we be able to truly set aside whatever it is that is preventing us from growing in our capacity to know, love and serve God in all things each day of our lives? In this week's episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina shares Food for the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet to help you follow the way of Lent into a deeper relationship with Christ during this holy season. In this episode, Christina speaks about: Why the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the keys to increasing our devotion to God What we can do to grow in virtue in the midst of our personal interactions How we can enlist the heavenly aid of angels and saints in our temptations May this podcast help inspire, encourage and accompany you in doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to grow in holiness this Lenten season, so we can tell the Master of Death, “Not Today!” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message

This week’s Say Yes to Holiness podcast 1:1 Conversation is with Mario Costabile, founding member and the executive director of Array of Hope. Mario has been a successful music and film producer for over 40 years and received numerous awards for his work, but our conversation today focused upon his most recent endeavor--Array of Hope. Array of Hope is a streaming platform that shares the Catholic faith through high quality media and music events. Think of it as a Catholic MTV with family wholesome programming, but it is truly designed to help people experience the person of Christ through music and media. Mario has produced content for film, television, and the recording business. Among the notable organizations he has done work for are MTV, VH1, FuseH, Discovery Channel, the SYFY Channel, Off-Broadway productions, Yamaha Music, Sony Music, Def Jam Records, and Universal Music. Mario has also created and produced many programs that regularly air on Catholic radio and television networks such as EWTN, The Catholic Television Network, The Catholic Faith Network, Salt and Light Media, Shalom World TV, and the NET. In the past few years, Mario produced a television series called “Fatima Gems” which is part of the online streaming service FORMED. In 2009 Mario musically produced two hit singles on Christian Radio, “I Need An Angel” and “Alone Time” for the band Sacred Road. Currently, Mario is working on new music in 2022 to be released through Array Of Hope. Mario is committed to utilizing his talents to do God’s will, and he launched Array of Hope in union with the vision to unite families and help them grow closer to God. In 2020 Mario was awarded the Legatus “Bowie Kuhn Special Award” for evangelization. An award which recognizes an individual who has exhibited significant efforts to spread the good news of Jesus Christ among his peers, so very appropriate that our conversation revolved around the idea that "people need to experience Christ." I pray that this conversation with Mario excites and encourages you as much as it did me to see how the Holy Spirit is inspiring people to use their gifts and talents in service of building the Kingdom, and also that it helps you continue to do WHATEVER IT TAKES so that people experience Christ through you as well. To learn more about Array of Hope, go to: https://arrayofhope.org/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message

It is now officially Lent! We celebrated Ash Wednesday, and now we are at the beginning of what should be a grace-filled and holy journey. But what if we might not be "all in" for making this Lenten journey right now? Or maybe we are tried of Lenten seasons that end up being filled with a bunch of disappointment and discouragement? In this week's episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina shares Food for the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet that can help you set aside your reluctance and fear and say yes to the invitation being offered to you during this holy season. In this episode, Christina speaks about: How taking charge of our passions sets the stage for a life of freedom Why it is important to let go of hate and animosity What binds us more closely to God May this podcast help inspire, encourage and accompany you in doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to grow in holiness, so we can tell the Master of Death, “Not Today!” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message

This week’s Say Yes to Holiness podcast 1:1 Conversation is with Sophia Lebano, a 21 year old podcaster, entrepreneur, and business student. The conversation between Sophia and I was a completely delightful and enjoyable one as Sophia shared about her journey and how God has inspired and encouraged her on the journey. If you are in need of some hope and encouragement in the midst of a depressing world, then this episode is for you. Sophia had progressive hearing loss from 8 years old until 17, when she went completely deaf after bilateral cochlear implant surgeries. In August 2019, she began her podcast to document her journey of hearing loss and college as a young Catholic woman, and has had the honor of interviewing some amazing people, including Mary Lenaburg, Hannah Ashton, Nina Poersch, Megan Wells, Alison Centofante, Damon Owens, Bill Donaghy, Fr. Dan Molochko, and so many more! The Hear and Now Podcast strives to bring you the advice and humor needed for this earthly journey we are on. Listen in each week to hear conversations with nuns, priests, professors, authors, friends, musicians, speakers, business owners, and ordinary people. And, last but not least, she is  the CEO of Sophia Lebano Creative, LLC, a branding and website design agency. I pray that this conversation with Sophia brightens your day as much as it did mine when I spoke with her, but especially that it encourages you to continue to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to help you take whatever God gives you and run with it, too. To learn more about Sophia and her activities, go to: https://sophialebano.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message

Lent is less than two weeks away, and as we turn our thoughts towards what our resolutions for prayer, fasting and almsgiving might be, it's important to assess what vices might be a problem for us so we can focus upon which virtues we need to cultivate. So, in this week's episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina shares Food for the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet to give you insight into your interior life and whether pride might be the issue. In this episode, Christina speaks about: What we can do to reduce the effects of vice How we might go about growing our interior life Why not avoiding the crosses in life can be the key to our sanctification May this podcast help inspire, encourage and accompany you in doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to grow in holiness, so we can tell the Master of Death, “Not Today!” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message

This week’s Say Yes to Holiness podcast 1:1 Conversation is with Jesse Weiler, Host of The Liturgy Guys podcast. The conversation between Jesse and I ran the length and breadth and height and depth of topics concerning the liturgy. Everything from what parts of the Mass we should be singing, to books and online courses we can use to grow in our appreciation and understanding of the Mass to how he ended up being a host of a podcast about the liturgy was all part of our fast paced and enjoyable conversation. The Liturgy Guys podcast is an initiative of the Liturgical Institute, Adoremus Bulletin, and Benedictine College. Christopher Carstens and Dr. Denis McNamara sit down with host Jesse Weiler every week to talk about Catholic Liturgy. At the end of each episode our Liturgy experts take time to answer listener submitted questions. The goal of this podcast is to share the treasures of Liturgy with English speaking Catholics all over the world. Jesse also serves as the Director of The Liturgical Institute, so we spent some time talking about the mission of the Institute that was established in the year 2000 by His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, in order to prepare Catholics for a “new era in liturgical renewal.” It serves a diverse international student population of laity, religious and clergy. Monsignor M. Francis Mannion served as its founding Director, and established the sacramental foundation for the program that it enjoys today. The Liturgical Institute prepares its students in a context of prayer and scholarship with the Church’s future priests, deacons, pastors and ministers to bring solid theological knowledge, critical reasoning and practical skills to bear on the challenges opened by the exciting phase of liturgical renewal emerging in recent years. I pray that this conversation with Jesse helps encourage you to continue to do WHATEVER IT TAKES so as to increase your active, full and conscious participation in the Mass and bring greater glory to God. To learn more about The Liturgy Guys podcast, go to: https://www.liturgyguys.com/ For more information about The Liturgical Institute, go to: https://www.liturgicalinstitute.org/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message

Lately, I have been struggling with impatience. Maybe it's the fact that I have made some new year's resolutions and they are NOT happening fast enough for me (I mean WHERE is that "Easy" button anyway?), but it's gotten me to thinking on the question, "Why Not Now?" in our spiritual life.  So, in this week's episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina shares Food for the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet to help you wrestle with this in your own life, and maybe get some insight that seems to elude all of us at different times in our life. In this episode, Christina speaks about: What steps we can take to grow in our knowledge of who God is How we might stop berating ourselves for common challenges (like distraction!) in our prayer life Why it might be the best thing in the world to stop trying to be productive May this podcast help inspire, encourage and accompany you in doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to persevere when life seems tiresome or painful, so we can tell the Master of Death, “Not Today!” Want 2022 to your best year ever? Use this link to schedule a FREE Connect call today --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message

This week’s Say Yes to Holiness podcast 1:1 Conversation is with Camille Pauley, Co-Founder and President of Healing the Culture. On this eve of the National Day of Prayer for the Unborn (January 22), this conversation is timely, but is especially encouraging in light of the upcoming Supreme Court decision that might overturn, or at least dramatically reduce abortion on demand in our country. The conversation between Camille and I revolved around her own journey from "aspiring actress" to becoming the co-founder of Healing the Culture alongside Fr Robert Spitzer, SJ; how God continues to guide and direct their work; and a discussion about the possibilities that might come from the Supreme Court  Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. Camille Pauley is co-founder and President of Healing the Culture, a nonprofit organization that evangelizes and converts people to be deeply, authentically, and permanently pro-life. She is the creator of multiple internationally acclaimed educational pro-life programs, including RespectLife.University and Life Advocacy Student Training (L.A.S.T.) for college students, Principles and Choices© for high school students, and Philo and Sophie: Philosophy for Children!© for elementary school students. In 2003 Camille co-founded Healing the Culture with Fr. Robert Spitzer using his unique curriculum to change hearts and minds, and build a culture of life. Under Camille’s leadership, Healing the Culture has quickly grown into an internationally recognized organization with a powerful pro-life message, a wealth of successful products and resources, and tremendous influence in the cultural battle over abortion and euthanasia. Their online resources, K-12 curricula, leadership training programs, and media productions have helped countless individuals to reject abortion and euthanasia, and to become effective pro-life leaders and advocates. In over 25 years as a professional pro-life advocate, Camille has inspired politicians, judges, lawyers, medical professionals, and church leaders to defend the sanctity of human life. She has trained tens of thousands of students, teachers, religious educators, business leaders, and pro-life professionals in Healing the Culture’s “Philosophical Foundations” curriculum. She has co-produced over 100 pro-life videos, and authored dozens of articles. She has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people across North America and around the world. She has reached millions more through television, radio, and print media. I pray that this conversation with Camille helps inspires you to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to being deeply, authentically, and permanently pro-life in every aspect of your daily life. To learn more about Healing the Culture, go to: https://www.healingtheculture.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message

We are now well into January, and the excitement and possibilities of a new year many times are well behind us--including all of our best intentions for becoming or doing things differently. So, in this week's episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina shares Food for the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet which to help you persevere even when life seems to be tiresome and perhaps, even painful. In this episode, Christina speaks about: What we should look for when needing comfort How to gain God's perspective about the events and activities of daily life Why being willing to trust God's goodness makes the crosses of life lighter May this podcast help inspire, encourage and accompany you in doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to persevere when life seems tiresome or painful, so we can tell the Master of Death, “Not Today!” Want 2022 to your best year ever? Use this link to schedule a FREE Connect call today --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message

This week’s Say Yes to Holiness podcast 1:1 Conversation is with James Baxter, Co-founder, and CEO of Exodus 90. Exodus 90 is a ninety-day Catholic program for men based on Christ's roadmap to freedom: prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. Our conversation focused upon James' story of his journey to becoming the co-founder of Exodus 90, and how God has continued to move in his life in the midst of journeying with more than 50,000 men on the Exodus journey. James attended St. John Vianney Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota and St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana before discerning God was calling him to marriage and secular life. In 2015, James assumed responsibility for scaling Exodus 90 from a seminary formation program into a spiritual exercise to bring the freedom of Jesus Christ to His men. James now lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana with his wife Colleen, son Joseph and baby girl Genevieve. Exodus 90 allows men who desire to grow in the spiritual life and gain greater freedom to call together a fraternity of 5-7 men to join them in following a set structure of prayer, asceticism, and fraternity for 90 days. During this time they will be led by daily readings from the book of Exodus, paired with daily reflections, to keep them on the road to freedom. Research shows that habits can be dramatically transformed in a span of 90 days. And, when put in the context of Biblical stories, a routine prayer life, and a fraternity of brothers to support you, men experience freedom from unwanted habits and an ability to be who they were truly called to be: Men in Christ. Men of the Church. Men for Others. I pray that this conversation with James helps inspire you to keep doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to either take up the Exodus90 challenge yourself, or to encourage the and support the men you love in your life to SAY YES to this invitation to become more fully the man God created them to be. To learn more about Exodus90, go to: https://exodus90.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sayyestoholiness/message