The Art of Catholic with Matthew Leonard

Matthew Leonard
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Join internationally-known Catholic evangelist & founder of ScienceOfSainthood.com, Matthew Leonard, for joyful, passionate (and often humorous) explanations of the deep truths of the faith and interesting interviews with Catholic luminaries. This is the art of living. This is the Art of Catholic. ScienceOfSainthood.com.

  1. OCT 23

    149 When God Becomes Real: Deeper Prayer & Divine Intimacy with Fr. Wayne Sattler

    🔵 Join Matthew on a MARIAN Shrines PILGRIMAGE to Fatima, Lourdes, and more in 2026: https://www.206tours.com/cms/sos/marianshrines/ 🟡 Watch Course 1 of the Science of Sainthood: INTRODUCTION TO REAL PRAYER for FREE: https://www.scienceofsainthood.com 🟠 SUPPORT this podcast and Matthew's work to spread the Catholic faith: https://www.scienceofsainthood.com/donate It's a simple, yet profound question. Is God a person or an idea to you? Seriously, take a moment and think about it.  Do you really see him as a person or is he some kind of ethereal idea floating up in the heavens? For a lot of us - if we're being honest with ourselves - tend to think of him in non-personal terms.  He's this force or idea up above.  Yes, we talk to him on occasion. We ask him for things. We even praise him and receive him in the Eucharist. But do we know him as a person? And if not, how can we do that? How can we develop a truly personal, transformative relationship with the Lord? Well, who better than to ask than a former hermit about how to truly commune with God? Fr. Wayne Sattler - a former hermit and spiritual director for his entire diocese - is going to help us deepen our relationship with Christ on this powerful episode of the Art of Catholic podcast. You do NOT want to miss it. Taking a deep dive into the subject of his new book, Remain in Me and I in You, my wide-ranging conversation with Father Sattler includes:   How to know God as a person, not just an idea What really happens in contemplative prayer  The crucial difference between agape love and eros Why some people never attain higher prayer What Christ really meant when he said, "Follow me" The fundamental requirement for truly serving God And much more!

    1h 38m

  2. SEP 10

    148 Divine Vulnerability & the Hidden God with Fr. Donald Haggerty

    Have you ever thought about the fact that God is wounded? Yes, the Church teaches that God is impassable in his nature and cannot suffer. But as the God-man, Jesus Christ suffered and died out of his great love for us and mysteriously carries these wounds into eternity. And there's a sense that this divine vulnerability to wounds and suffering is still present by the loss of souls that Christ loves so fiercely. It's a deeply fascinating and powerful topic that has a lot of implications for how we are to approach both God and the spiritual life in general. And it's the topic of a scintillating conversation I had with with renowned spiritual theologian and author Father Donald Haggerty on this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast.  Touching on a variety of topics from his new book, The Hour of Testing, my conversation with Father Haggerty uncovers his deep insights into:   The breathtaking beauty of divine vulnerability The mystical wounds of Christ Developing pure receptivity in prayer Why God conceals himself as we seek him A powerful way to bring back family members to the Faith Developing a thirst for souls And much more!  God bless! Matthew

    1h 7m

  3. JUN 12

    147 Coached by the Curé: Spiritual Life Secrets From St. John Vianney

    What lessons does a parish priest who battled the Devil (and won) have to share with us? Matthew Leonard is joined by author Kevin Wells who has published a great, very unique little book that shares the practical secrets of a holy life from St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars. 🔵 Join Matthew on a Marian Shrines PILGRIMAGE to Fatima, Lourdes, and more in 2026: https://www.206tours.com/cms/sos/marianshrines/ 🟡 Start your spiritual transformation right now! Watch Course 1 of the Science of Sainthood: Catholic Mysticism & the Beautiful Life of Grace for FREE: - No credit card required - No cancellation - Just sign up and watch: https://bit.ly/3Rtps1r 🟠 SUPPORT this podcast and Matthew's work to spread the Catholic faith: https://bit.ly/3VmgZOO ▶️ Please like and SHARE this video by clicking the SHARE button!

    59 min

  4. MAY 14

    146 Understanding the Mysterious Power of Beauty

    Matthew Leonard is joined by author and professor John Mark Miravalle to discuss what beauty is - and why it matters. 🔵 Join Matthew on a Marian Shrines PILGRIMAGE to Fatima, Lourdes, and more in 2026: https://bit.ly/3KOesb3 🟡 Start your spiritual transformation right now for FREE with the Science of Sainthood: https://bit.ly/3Rtps1r 🟠 SUPPORT this podcast and Matthew's work to spread the Catholic faith: https://bit.ly/3VmgZOO Given the joyful peal of St. Peter's bells still echoing around the world marking the election of our new Holy Father, it's the perfect time to talk about beauty. After all, beauty is at the heart of everything Catholic. God is beautiful. Our Lady is beautiful.  Our Church is beautiful. I could go on... But what is beauty? How can we define it? Do you know it when you see it? Is it even necessary for something to be beautiful if it is Catholic? Where does beauty fit into the everyday? These are important questions deserving great answers...and we've got them in this episode of the Art of Catholic podcast. Join Matthew and John Mark Miravalle, Professor at Mount St. Mary's Seminary and author of Beauty: What It Is and Why It Matters, as they discuss: Why beauty is essential to truth The crucial role of surprise in beauty The difference between beauty and manipulation Why beauty must be “felt” The moral DUTY of beauty for Christians Why “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is wrong And much more!

    55 min

  5. MAR 26

    145 Practical Spiritual Advice from a Former Hermit

    Matthew Leonard is joined by Father Wayne Sattler, who lived the contemplative life as a hermit for years and has great wisdom to share on the spiritual life. 🟠 See the Group Starter Pack for Introduction to Real Prayer! https://bit.ly/3QRe9zs 🔵 Sign Up for the FREE Lent Streaming! https://bit.ly/3QhC5LX 🟢 Purchase an Introduction to Real Prayer Workbook from Science of Sainthood - https://bit.ly/3CP9Ot8 🔵 Purchase an Introduction to Real Prayer Workbook from Amazon - https://amzn.to/4i7y2h9 If I say "hermit", what's the first thing that comes to mind? An ancient Desert Father wearing a burlap sack, nappy beard, living a life of self-denial in a remote cave? Or maybe a medieval nun, enclosed in a cell attached to a church wall, only receiving food through a small window? What would one look like in the 21st century? They're kind of hard to picture because that's pretty much all we have of hermits these days - pictures. Not anymore. I've got one for you on the Art of Catholic podcast...and he's got some spiritual pearls to share with you. After all, there's a deep knowledge and inexpressible sweetness in a life lived solely for God - and a deep wisdom that comes from being immersed in the Divine, all day every day. But instead of having to go into the desert or monastery to hear their wisdom, you just have listen to this episode. My guest on the Art of Catholic, Father Wayne Sattler, lived as a diocesan hermit for several years in a secluded one-room cabin in North Dakota. While there, his relationship with God deepened dramatically - and his insights into God's profound love for all of us are breathtakingly beautiful. Tune in to our conversation as we discuss: - How to distinguish the beginnings of contemplation from other forms of prayer What is the "suspension of the senses" in prayer (and how to distinguish it from sleep:) The role of silence and self-denial in developing a deeper relationship with God Why we shouldn't fear what St. John of the Cross calls the Dark Night How understanding the body-soul connection can enhance our spiritual life And much more! Now, if you're thinking to yourself, Wait a minute! If he's a hermit, how is he being interviewed on a podcast... ...that's a great question - and as you'll discover from our conversation, after calling him to spend years as a hermit, God has a new mission for Father Sattler now - and it's one that you'll definitely want to hear about. God bless! Matthew

    1h 31m

  6. FEB 20

    144 Discovering Mary in the Book of Revelation

    🟡 Sign Up for the FREE Lent Streaming!  🟢 Purchase a Workbook from Science of Sainthood 🟠  Purchase Workbook from Amazon Episode Description When one of your closest friends dedicates 20 years of his life to a project, it's going to come up from time to time in conversation. And when that project relates to something that you're passionate about too, then you know those conversations are going to be powerful. AND when that good friend just happens to be Curtis Mitch, Co-Editor of the new Ignatius Press Study Bible, and that conversation takes place on the Art of Catholic podcast... ...it makes for an episode you're definitely not going to want to miss!  In today's podcast, Curtis and I dive into one of the most mysterious, misunderstood, and controversial books in the Bible - the Book of Revelation. With the same brilliance you'll find in his commentary for the new Ignatius Press Study Bible, Curtis explains how we as Catholics are to interpret the image of the Woman Clothed with the Sun - and you might just be surprised at his take on it. Our conversation also explores topics such as: The Vision of the Woman Clothed with the Sun The Multi-layered identity of the Woman in Revelation 12 The very first prophecy about Our Lady The significance of the 12 stars crowning Mary in Revelation  How Revelation describes the "rebirth" of Christ's humanity in heaven And much more!   After 20 years of eating, sleeping, and breathing God's Word, Curtis has a depth of insight on these topics that is unrivaled. Enjoy the episode and God bless, Matthew 🟡 Sign Up for the FREE Lent Streaming! https://bit.ly/3QhC5LX 🟢 Purchase a Workbook - https://bit.ly/3CP9Ot8

    1h 1m

  7. FEB 12

    143 Introduction to Real Prayer - Lesson One

    Lesson One of a beautiful, crash course on everything you need to know to move into a deeper, more fulfilling life of prayer according to the saints. This incredible series from Matthew Leonard will stream FREE this Lent.  🟡 Sign Up for the FREE Lent Streaming - CLICK HERE!  🟢 Purchase a Workbook  🔵 Watch Lesson One on YouTube If you’ve ever struggled to pray or find it difficult to take your relationship with God to the next level, you’ve got to see this new series from Matthew Leonard and the Science of Sainthood! “Outstanding!!! Thank you!” "I was so skeptical...just thought here's another program to do. I am amazed at the things I have experienced in this program!" Introduction to Real Prayer starts with the basics, covering topics like why pray to begin with, how it works, and what we’re supposed to pray for. But that’s just the beginning. You'll be guided through the ins and outs of Vocal, Meditative, and Contemplative prayer, learning not just what they are, but how to do them. We’re even providing Guided Audio Meditations with each lesson to help you practice what you’re learning! But that's not all. This series also covers topics like: Overcoming Distraction Spiritual Consolations & Dealing with Dryness The Beautiful Power of Silence The 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life and more!  In short, it’s a powerful, free, crash course on real prayer that teaches everything you need to know to move into a deeper union with God...and stay there. Listen to Lesson One, Sign Up, & join thousands of Catholics around the world learning to move into a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with the God of the universe who is waiting for you to join him…in prayer! 🟡 Sign Up for the FREE Lent Streaming - CLICK HERE!

    26 min

  8. JAN 28

    142 I Knew I Was Catholic When...A Conversation with Cameron Bertuzzi

    🟡 SIGN UP for the totally FREE Lenten Series on Prayer: https://bit.ly/40wDq6C 🟠 SUPPORT Matthew Leonard's work to spread the Catholic faith: https://bit.ly/3VqCONa Watch the full interview with Cameron Bertuzzi here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTglQJoqWtc It's hard to believe, but more than 26 years have passed since I became Catholic. Even so, I still get asked on a fairly regular basis about my conversion story. And I totally get it. Everyone loves a conversion story. After all, it's inspiring to hear about all the little winks and nudges from God - not to mention all the momentous, life-changing, divine thunderbolts that God uses to draw his beloved children home to the Church.  I had my fair share...and then some. That said, conversion is normally a process. It takes time. And for me, part of it was the pursuit of a deeper spiritual life. I unexpectedly found something in the Catholic faith that I never quite did as a Protestant. And I recently sat down with a young man named Cameron Bertuzzi on his very popular podcast Capturing Christianity to share that part of my story. Today's Art of Catholic podcast contains an excerpt from that interview. In this episode, Cameron and I discuss the massive role the spiritual life of the Church played in my conversion, as well as the ways in which my understanding and practice of the spiritual life exploded once I became Catholic. During our conversation, I also address some of the practicalities I learned were involved in the spiritual life, such as: The stages of spiritual growth The teachings of the saints on how to pray How it all works together ...And much more! This is a unique conversation that people have told me they've found truly helpful.  God bless, Matthew

    37 min
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Join internationally-known Catholic evangelist & founder of ScienceOfSainthood.com, Matthew Leonard, for joyful, passionate (and often humorous) explanations of the deep truths of the faith and interesting interviews with Catholic luminaries. This is the art of living. This is the Art of Catholic. ScienceOfSainthood.com.

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