Godsplaining

What if the secret to a meaningful life isn't getting everything you want, but learning what you're willing to sacrifice?

In this episode of Guestsplaining, Fr. Gregory welcomes Jonathan Pageau, artist, symbolic thinker, and creator of The Symbolic World, for a conversation about sacrifice, modern storytelling, and the Christian understanding of happiness.

Why does modern culture struggle to understand sacrifice? What can Spider-Man, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and the multiverse teach us about vulnerability, freedom, and the longing for home? And why does Christianity insist that self-giving, rather than self-fulfillment, is the path to a meaningful life?

Tune in to hear them explore the symbolism of sacrifice in contemporary cinema, the limits of endless possibilities, and how accepting the particular circumstances of our lives can lead us toward God.

Keep up with Jonathan and The Symbolic World: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/

Watch his content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCtCTSf3UwRU14nYWr_xm-dQ

Explore his series of graphic novels and fairy tales: https://amzn.to/4dzDQAj

 

Join Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony in Pittsburgh, PA this November for a Day of Recollection!

Learn more and register here: https://godsplaining.org/thy-will-be-done-a-day-of-recollection-in-pittsburgh-pa/

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

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Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://amzn.to/4r1rc2l

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://amzn.to/4xJz1MF

Witness: https://amzn.to/4hgfmOC

Training the Tongue: https://amzn.to/4hilfLa

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101879094-17193693

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://amzn.to/4ijPWkm

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://amzn.to/4zZjH04

 

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To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

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What do Barbie, Lady Bird, and Little Women have in common? And what can Greta Gerwig's films tell us about her upcoming adaptation of C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia?

In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Patrick and Fr. Gregory explore the work of filmmaker Greta Gerwig through a Catholic lens, examining the surprising ways her films reveal truths about identity, love, relationships, and the human condition.

From the search for belonging in Lady Bird to the complexities of womanhood in Little Women and the encounter with reality in Barbie, the friars discuss Gerwig's ability to portray life with honesty, curiosity, and an appreciation for its beautiful messiness.

They also explore the role of faith and Catholic education in Lady Bird, the recurring theme of homecoming in Gerwig's storytelling, and what her approach to character development might bring to the world of Narnia.

 

Join the men of Exodus 90 and Fr. Gregory Pine for a Holy Speech Challenge starting Oct 1st: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining

For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic

Enjoy 15% off your purchase from the Catholic Woodworker this October and November with code: GODSPLAINING

 

Join Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony in Pittsburgh, PA this November for a Day of Recollection! Learn more and register here: https://godsplaining.org/thy-will-be-done-a-day-of-recollection-in-pittsburgh-pa/

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://amzn.to/4r1rc2l

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://amzn.to/4xJz1MF

Witness: https://amzn.to/4hgfmOC

Training the Tongue: https://amzn.to/4hilfLa

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101879094-17193693

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://amzn.to/4ijPWkm

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://amzn.to/4zZjH04

 

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To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Are we beginning to treat people more like things?

In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Bonaventure and Joseph-Anthony explore the thought of Jewish philosopher Martin Buber and his influential work I and Thou. Buber argues that we encounter the world through two fundamental relationships: “I–It,” in which we experience and use things, and “I–Thou,” in which we encounter another person in genuine relationship.

What happens when the world of “It” begins to take over? The friars discuss Buber’s concern about the growing tendency to reduce people to their usefulness, why love requires freedom and choice, and how our relationship with God reveals a radically different way of encountering reality.

If you're interested in more, secure your copy of I and Thou: https://amzn.to/4hAFIuY

 

Join the men of Exodus 90 and Fr. Gregory Pine for a Holy Speech Challenge starting Oct 1st: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining

 

For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic

Enjoy 15% off your purchase from the Catholic Woodworker this October and November with code: GODSPLAINING

 

Join Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony in Pittsburgh, PA this November for a Day of Recollection! Learn more and register here: https://godsplaining.org/thy-will-be-done-a-day-of-recollection-in-pittsburgh-pa/

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://amzn.to/4r1rc2l

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://amzn.to/4xJz1MF

Witness: https://amzn.to/4hgfmOC

Training the Tongue: https://amzn.to/4hilfLa

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101879094-17193693

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://amzn.to/4ijPWkm

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://amzn.to/4zZjH04

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

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To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

What does the Catholic Church actually teach about the final judgment and why do we hear so little about it?

Fr. Gregory welcomes theologian, author, and President of Renewal Ministries Dr. Ralph Martin back to Godsplaining for a conversation about his book The Coming Judgment. Together, they explore the Second Coming, the reality of hell, salvation, repentance, Scripture, discernment, and what it means to live with genuine Christian hope.

Dr. Martin explains why Christians should neither obsess over predicting the end times nor ignore Christ’s warnings about judgment. Instead, Catholics are called to remain close to Jesus, take His words seriously, and live in preparation for the day when each of us will stand before Him.

The conversation also examines why recovering confidence in Sacred Scripture matters, how daily prayer helps us recognize the voice of God, why judgment can actually be a source of hope, and the danger of creating a version of Jesus who simply confirms what we already want to believe.

 

Order your copy of The Coming Judgment: Are We Ready? here: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/the-coming-judgment-are-we-ready

 

Shop other works by Dr. Ralph Martin: https://amzn.to/4iTSrdu

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

Shop Books Written by the Friars Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://amzn.to/4r1rc2l

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://amzn.to/4xJz1MF

Witness: https://amzn.to/4hgfmOC

Training the Tongue: https://amzn.to/4hilfLa

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101879094-17193693

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://amzn.to/4ijPWkm

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://amzn.to/4zZjH04

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

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Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Martial arts can cultivate discipline, courage, strength, and preparedness—but what happens when fighting becomes entertainment?

In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony wrestle with the morality of combat sports, including MMA and boxing. Is there a legitimate place for violence and aggression in the Christian life? How are self-defense and martial arts different from fighting for spectacle? And should Christians be concerned about entertainment built around watching one person physically harm another?

The friars discuss virtue, courage, self-defense, the history of combat sports, the discipline found in martial arts, and the potential physical and spiritual dangers of turning violence into entertainment.

Is watching UFC or MMA morally different from watching other sports? When does athletic competition become blood sport? And what does our attraction to violent spectacle do to us as viewers? Listen to the episode to hear what the friars have to say, then let us know what you think in the comments.

 

Join the men of Exodus 90 and Fr. Gregory Pine for a Holy Speech Challenge starting Oct 1st: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining

 

For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic

 

TOMORROW: Join Fr. Gregory and Fr. Patrick for the annual Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage Young Adult Vigil on Friday, Sept. 25th from 6-9pm. This is a free event for young adults. Register: https://godsplaining.org/dominican-rosary-pilgrimage-young-adult-vigil-2026/

 

Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org

Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining

 

Support the Podcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining

Shop merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/

 

Shop Books Written by the Friars

Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://amzn.to/4r1rc2l

O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://amzn.to/4xJz1MF

Witness: https://amzn.to/4hgfmOC

Training the Tongue: https://amzn.to/4hilfLa

Your Eucharistic Identity: https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101879094-17193693

St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://amzn.to/4ijPWkm

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://amzn.to/4zZjH04

 

Connect on Social Media

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/

Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining

 

To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org

To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org