Catholicism Unwrapped

058 - Consolation & Desolation | Pt. 2: Discernment, Dryness, and the Voice of God

In Part II of our Ignatian discernment series, we go deeper into the realities of consolation and desolation, drawing from the Catechism, the Ignatian spiritual exercises, and the lived experience of the spiritual life.
In this episode, we explore why God sometimes permits spiritual dryness, how silence can actually deepen faith, and why feelings, good or bad, are not reliable measures of God’s presence or love.
We also talk about the danger of chasing “signs” instead of the Sign Himself, why Christian prayer is not about seeking a void or nothingness, and how to empty our minds of distractions without emptying ourselves of God.
Finally, we address a crucial but often overlooked truth: faith is not meant to be walked alone. If you’re experiencing confusion, chaos, or spiritual heaviness, seeking a trained spiritual director can be an essential step toward clarity and freedom.
If you’ve ever wondered whether God was still near during seasons of silence; this episode is for you.

057 - Consolation & Desolation | Pt. 1

God speaks.But not always the way we expect.
In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped, Fr. Andy & Fr. Andy dive into the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises; unpacking consolation, desolation, and discernment in a world that never stops talking.
They explore:• Why silence is often where God speaks most clearly• How to tell the difference between God’s voice and the enemy’s• What to do when prayer feels dry, distracted, or empty• Why God never causes desolation — but allows it• And how faithfulness matters more than “successful” prayer
If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t hear anything when I pray,”this conversation is for you.
🎧 Episode 57 — Part 1 of a 2-part Ignatian series

056 - 15 Ways Contraception Broke the Modern World (Humanae Vitae, pt 4)

In this episode, we examine the cultural consequences Pope Paul VI warned about in Humanae Vitae. From divorce, pornography, and IVF to euthanasia, declining vocations, and loss of faith, we'll unpack how separating sex from procreation reshaped how we view love, marriage, and human life itself.

055 - Is Birth Control Actually Pro-Woman? (Humanae Vitae, pt 3)

What’s the real difference between Natural Family Planning and contraception; and why does the Church insist the distinction matters?
In Part 3 of our Humanae Vitae series, the Fathers Andy dig into questions most people have never been invited to ask: how the body actually works, what modern contraceptives really do, and whether the cultural promises of “control” and “freedom” have come at a hidden cost.
They explore the medical and moral tensions surrounding hormonal birth control, IUDs, Plan B, and the pill, touch briefly on IVF and the future of reproduction, and examine how these technologies shape the way we think about children, relationships, and responsibility.
This episode isn’t about slogans or easy answers, it’s an invitation to think more deeply about sex, marriage, and what it means to treat human life as a gift rather than a problem to solve.

054 - What If the Church Was Right About Contraception? (Humanae Vitae, pt 2)

Modern culture tells us that children are a right, not a gift; and that technology can fix whatever nature cannot. But what if that story is incomplete?
In this episode, the Fathers Andy continue their discussion on contraception by unpacking IVF, Humanae Vitae, and Pope Paul VI’s vision for the future of marriage, sexuality, and family life. They explore why the Church sees the human person as a unity of body and soul, and how that understanding changes the way we view sex, fertility, and the meaning of love itself.
This episode invites listeners to reconsider some of the most deeply held assumptions of modern life, and to ask whether the Church’s teaching might offer not control, but freedom.

053 - Can You Be Wealthy and Still Go to Heaven? (Interview with Author Dan Hamlet)

What does Jesus actually mean when He says it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?In this episode, the Fathers Andy sit down with author Dan Hamlet, whose new book Through the Eye of the Needle tackles one of the most misunderstood teachings of Jesus head-on.
Together, they break open:
Whether wealth itself is sinful
How Christians should approach money, stewardship, and generosity
What the early Church believed about riches
The tension between comfort, sacrifice, and discipleship
Why modern culture gets this teaching so wrong
This is a deep, challenging, and surprisingly freeing conversation about the place of wealth in the Christian life, and what Jesus is truly inviting us into.
If you’ve ever wondered whether having money puts your salvation at risk… this episode is for you.
 
Keep the Conversation Going
Follow Dan• Instagram: @eyeoftheneedlebook• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eyeoftheneedlebook• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyeoftheNeedleBook-Hamlet
Read His Writing• Blog: https://eyeoftheneedlebook.com/blog/
Visit His Website• Official website: https://eyeoftheneedlebook.com
Purchase Through the Eye of the Needle• Amazon: https://a.co/d/2PyYGLc
Book Dan for Speaking Engagements• Speaking inquiries: info@eyeoftheneedlebook.com

052 - Before the Pill: What Christians Really Believed About Contraception (Humanae Vitae, pt 1)

Every cultural revolution has a beginning.
In Part One of our series on contraception, the Fathers Andy uncover the events, people, and pressure points that set the stage for one of the most defining moral debates of the last century.
From the Anglican Lambeth Conference to the invention of the pill, from Casti Connubii to Humanae Vitae, and from Fr. Charles Curran to the modern dissent movement, this episode unpacks how the Christian world split; and why Catholics held their ground.
This historical deep dive prepares the way for the next episodes, where we’ll examine what contraception is, why it matters, and how the Church calls us to understand the human person.

051 - Who Is Israel? The Bible’s Answer to a Modern Question

From Pharaoh’s dream to modern-day Israel, the story of God’s chosen people is one of promise, exile, and fulfillment.
In this episode of Catholicism Unwrapped, the Fathers Andy explore the full sweep of Israel’s history; political, biblical, and spiritual. They unpack Daniel’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, the succession of empires that occupied Israel, and the longing for a true King who would reign forever.
Along the way, they confront misunderstandings about the Jewish people; from the tragedy of anti-Semitism to the false idea that the Jews alone bear responsibility for Christ’s death. The truth, as the Church teaches, is that Jesus was put to death by sinners... all of us.
This episode reveals how Israel’s covenant and calling were always leading to the coming of Christ. The New Covenant and the universal King. His kingdom is not bound to one nation, but extends to the whole world.

050 - Signs of the End Times? A Catholic Look at Israel and the Rapture

The “rapture” has gone viral again, but it’s not what the Catholic Church teaches. In this episode, the Fathers explain why, diving into what Scripture actually says about the end times, the thousand-year reign, Israel, and God’s promises to His people. Plus: a look at Nostra Aetate and the Church’s response to today’s events in Israel and Gaza.

049 - Where Is God When Tragedy Strikes?

When tragedy strikes, many are left asking: “Where is God in all of this?” In this episode, the Fathers Andy address the hard question of evil and suffering in the wake of the recent Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis. Drawing on C.S. Lewis’ The Problem of Pain and Bishop Barron’s insights, they unpack God’s active and permissive will, and how even in deep sorrow, our faith can endure and make sense of the senseless.