The Frank Friar

In the episode today I offer some thoughts I shared in my homily from this past Sunday (17th Sunday in ordinary time year C). My homily focused on the life of Jesus at prayer. What does His witness to prayer teach and show us about being a discipleship? The reading from Colossians 2 plays a big role in my thoughts today. Remember, we are all called to embrace the gift that is the baptism we received. Take care and know I am praying from you. If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com  and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar

This episode is going out on the feast day of St. Martha, sister to Mary and Lazarus. She is the sister ho symbolizes the active life. She was also the sister that was corrected by Jesus for her fretting about her sister. Today, I talk about an insight from the beginning of her encounter with Jesus. I hope my reflection aids you in your life of discipleship that is given through the Spirit of Love. If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com  and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar

Today’s episode is quite big. Why? The episode is a conference talk I gave at the Lay Carmelite Convocation in Chicago, Illinois on July 19th. I spoke about the inner fire of the human heart. What is this fire? How do we care for it? What is the purpose of it? These are just a few of the question I address in this conference. The spring board into this talk is the Prophet Elijah in 1st & 2nd Kings. I hope you find this talk nourishing for your spiritual life. If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com  and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar

Today, I speak about the first part of a conference speech I gave to the Lay Carmelites of the USA. Recollection is a key aspect to the life of the Carmelite. It is how we remain close to the Lord. Recollection is a means of cultivating and growing in one’s relationship with the Lord by remain in proximity to Him. I hope this talk helps you in your spiritual life today. If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com  and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar

Today I talk about an article I read on architecture and the language of buildings speak to people. What do our individual and communal places of prayer communicate to us? How does these places aid the heart in prayer? Places, hearts, and prayer are linked. I also speak what insights the Carmelite Rule has on this topic. If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com  and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar

Today’s episode is being released a day before the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I’m currently residing at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to say are busy with the setup is an understatement. Also, the weekend before the feast the Shrine hosted its 3rd annual celebration of Our Lady of La Vang, a Vietnamese devotion to Mary. In the episode today, I speak about Marian devotion. What does it mean that Mary is with us during our pilgrimage of Life? What is Mary doing to help us during that journey? These questions and more are addressed in the episode today. If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com  and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar

Recently, I read a book by Cardinal Jospeh Zen about the current situation of the Catholic Church in China. The book is called For Love of my People I will Not Remain Silent. The book is quite hard hitting and shows the behind the scene work f the Vatican and its diplomatic work with the People’s Republic of China. I grab onto a line he spoke about in relationship to the Church and truth. That lines deals with the temptation to please people. If you want to look into the book here is a link to it:  https://www.ignatius.com/For- Love-of-My-People-I-Will-Not- Remain-Silent-P3179.aspx If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar

Today, I speak about a book a received recently called Holy Thirst. It is a book about main themes in Carmelite Spirituality. It speaks about the themes through offering a litany of Carmelite quotes in and around that topic. The book came out through Paraclete Press. This publisher has ecumenism as purpose for their existence. In the episode I speak a little bit about ecumenism and the role/place of Carmel in that work. Here is a link if you wish to look up this book:  https://paracletepress.com/ collections/new-releases/ products/holy-thirst If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com  and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar

The area of NY I am in has a lot of Greek diners. I love these diners, but their menus are huge. In the episode today, I talk about an experience my dad had at one of these diners. His experience offers us a way to reflect on freedom and the Christian life. With July 4th being upon us I think it is important to ponder over the freedom given to us from the Lord. May we never become slaves to the flesh but remain free in the Spirit. If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar

In this episode I reflect on a reading from the 1st book of Kings when the Prophet Elijah visits Elisha. The names of these two men challenge us to reflect about our relationship to our idols and God. The prophets unsettle the heart, so the heart can reflect on the foundation it rests upon. Is our heart resting on the cold stone of idols or on the Sacred Heart of Jesus? I hope this episode helps to see your heart with evermore clarity. If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me. You can find more of my content at my website  www.thefrankfriar.com  and my YouTube at  www.youtube.com/c/ thefrankfriar