My Friend the Friar

John Lee and Fr. Stephen Sanchez, O.C.D.
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast where we learn about our faith and share what it takes to live a Catholic Christian life through conversations and contemplations with my friend the friar, a Discalced Carmelite Priest.

  1. Jun 19

    Parish Life, Squirrels, And Ministry From Prayer Not The Algorithm (Season 4 Episode 9)

    Send us Fan Mail We catch up on real parish life with Father Stephen Sanchez, from the labor of so many First Communions and Confirmations to what it means to shepherd a loving, very poor community on a shoestring budget. Along the way we laugh about tomato-stealing squirrels and get serious about grief, memory, and why Catholic “content” only works when it flows from a deep spiritual life.  If you like My Friend the Friar and want to support us, please consider subscribing or following us if you haven't already done so. And if you found us on YouTube, then don't forget to click the notification bell when you subscribe so you'll be notified of new episodes when they release.  Support the show Click here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

    45 min

  2. May 1

    The Theology of Intimacy (Season 4 Episode 8)

    Send us Fan Mail Intimacy sounds soft until you realize it can be the difference between a living faith and a life that runs on spiritual autopilot. I sit down with my friend the Friar, Father Stephen Sanchez, a Discalced Carmelite priest, to ask a deceptively simple question: what is intimacy, really, and does it matter for salvation? We unpack intimacy as “the meeting of two interiorities” a shared exchange of the inner life that includes trust, transparency, and the courage to be seen. That leads to the crucial idea of mutuality: there are relationships where one person knows everything and the other knows almost nothing, and that is not the kind of communion God calls us to. We connect this to Catholic prayer and spiritual growth, where God’s grace is abundant, but we can still miss the mark by choosing a safe, neutral distance that avoids relationship. Along the way we draw from the Gospel of John, John of the Cross and the dark night, and Bonhoeffer’s warning about cheap grace. We talk vulnerability without romanticizing pain, why dismissing someone’s openness can wound a relationship for years, and how genuine intimacy can be sacramental in daily life as a real channel of grace. We also turn to the Trinity and the Incarnation as the deepest picture of communion: God does not stay distant, and He moves first. If this conversation challenges your prayer life or your closest relationships, share it with a friend, subscribe or follow for more, and leave a review that tells us what “intimacy with God” means to you. Support the show Click here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

    49 min

  3. Apr 18

    Saint John Of The Cross (Season 4 Episode 7)

    Send us Fan Mail We start half-awake on coffee and end up talking about why the “same weeds” keep coming back in our spiritual life. We use Saint John of the Cross to make sense of confession, suffering, purification, and what union with God actually asks of us. • a garden as an image for recurring sin and lingering roots  • temptation as the same weakness rather than the same act  • confession of devotion as real healing grace  • prudence and temperance against scrupulosity and spiritual gluttony  • why we’re drawn to Saint John of the Cross and how he hits you with truth  • Spain’s Catholic reform climate and Teresa’s role in reforming Carmel  • John’s poverty, family love, and the roots of resilience  • the Discalced reform and the conflict that leads to his kidnapping  • Toledo imprisonment, flogging, and the birth of his greatest poetry  • Dark Night of the Soul as purification of desires and identity beyond consumerism  • how to read John without drowning, starting with biography and poetry  Support the show Click here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

    52 min

  4. Apr 3

    How Christian Anthropology Shapes Catholic Worship (Season 4 Episode 6)

    Send us Fan Mail We connect what we believe about the human person made in God’s image to what we do at the altar, from the Bible’s earliest sacrifices to the Eucharist. We push past ritual fights and “do-it-my-way” spirituality to recover worship as a real encounter with Christ that demands love of God and neighbor.  • Christian anthropology as the foundation for worship and liturgy  • worship as awe before the Creator and reserved to God alone  • the human desire for transcendence and the temptation to worship created things  • sacrifice as the thread from Eden through Cain and Abel to Abraham  • God’s corrective guidance and progressive “plus one” teaching in salvation history  • ritualism as ideology and the prophets’ call back to mercy  • the law as a pedagogue leading to Christ and Christ as fulfillment  • the Eucharist as participation in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice  • joining our lives to the offering and living as a steward through baptismal grace  • communion as a communal reality that must spill into love of neighbor  • avoiding legalism on one side and guideline-free worship on the other  If you like My Friend the Friar and want to support us, please consider subscribing or following us if you haven't already done so. And if you found us on YouTube, then don't forget to click the notification bell when you subscribe so you'll be notified of new episodes when they release. Support the show Click here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

    49 min

  5. Feb 27

    Imago Dei (Season 4 Episode 5)

    Send us Fan Mail We trace a living map of Christian anthropology, from Imago Dei and dignity to mercy, worship, and stewardship in a tech-shaped world. Along the way we ask how baptismal grace can form our daily choices and make our communities more humane. • why naming Christian anthropology matters now • Imago Dei as the source of un-losable dignity • Augustine’s restless heart and the human longing for God • Jesus as model for seeing and treating others • baptismal grace as power for daily mercy • worship as the people’s response to revelation • oneness and belonging beyond bloodlines • stewardship vs ownership in tech and ethics • building guardrails for power and progress • practical examen for practicing dignity Please consider supporting the Discalced Carmelites of the Semi-Province of St. Thérèse. Links are in the show notes. Pray for us that the Holy Spirit gives us the time and grace to cover these topics well. Support the show Click here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

    53 min

  6. Feb 15

    Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (Season 4 Episode 4)

    Send us Fan Mail We trace Brother Lawrence’s path from wounded soldier to humble Carmelite cook and explore how he learned to make prayer and work one seamless act of love. We share his hard decade of scruples, his breakthrough into peace, and practical ways to cultivate tenderness for Christ in daily tasks. • Brother Lawrence’s early life, war wounds, and spiritual awakening • Entering Carmel as a lay brother and serving in a large kitchen • Ten years of interior struggle and the turn to peace • Practicing presence as affective love, not a technique • Service, community, and guarding against “me and Jesus” isolation • Love transforming chores, parenting, and professional work • A simple weekly practice: examine tenderness for Christ and return gently Please consider supporting the Discalced Carmelites of the Semi-Province of St. Thérèse. Links are in the show notes. Pray for us that the Holy Spirit gives us the time and grace to cover these topics well. Support the show Click here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

    58 min

  7. Feb 1

    2025 and Season 3 Recap (Season 4 Episode 3)

    Send us Fan Mail We open Season Four by catching up after a hard, grace-filled year and laying out a clear plan for what we will study next. We share travel, retreats, family loss, surprising audience growth, and the Carmelite themes we will explore with fresh focus. • season three stretch due to illness, loss, and surgery • retreats, parish missions, and formation work across several states • top episode on Jewish marriage customs and the Last Supper • audience in 80 countries and 700 plus cities • plans for Brother Lawrence, Teresa of Ávila, and John of the Cross • desire to teach desert roots of Christian spirituality • early Church Fathers as a map for modern discipleship • interest in stitched thematic episodes for easier learning • Council of Trent creator conference service and networking • explanation of the semi-province structure and needs Please consider supporting the Discalced Carmelites of the Semi-Province of St. Thérèse. Links are in the show notes. Pray for us that the Holy Spirit gives us the time and grace to cover these topics well. Support the show Click here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

    49 min

  8. Jan 17

    A Brief History of Carmelite Spirituality (Season 4 Episode 2)

    Send us Fan Mail We trace the Carmelite path from Elijah’s quiet breeze to Teresa and John’s reform, exploring how silence, scripture, and daily Eucharist shape a life of allegiance to Christ. Along the way, we look at Mary’s role, major historical shifts, and why laypeople might discern the Secular Order. • origins on Mount Carmel and Elijah’s witness • the Rule of St Albert and daily Eucharist • shift to mendicant life and urban presence • crises, mitigations and the call to reform • Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross’ renewal • Mary as model contemplative and patron • Spain’s Golden Age and Carmelite saints • differences with the Ancient Observance • why charisms matter for lay discernment • how the Secular Order forms prayer and life Share the podcast. Yep, like, subscribe, share all the good things, leave comments, leave reviews! Support the show Click here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

    53 min
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5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

A podcast where we learn about our faith and share what it takes to live a Catholic Christian life through conversations and contemplations with my friend the friar, a Discalced Carmelite Priest.

Information

  • Creator
    John Lee and Fr. Stephen Sanchez, O.C.D.
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 My Friend the Friar
  • Show Website
    My Friend the Friar