In this episode of Real Living, Lavinia Spirito and Mary Lou Nemecek discuss an article from Bishop Joseph Strickland and Deacon Keith Fournier titled 'Life on the Rock.' They explore how to maintain faith and stay anchored in Christian principles amidst challenging circumstances. Referencing scripture, particularly Matthew 7 and the writings of the early Church fathers, the duo emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation on Jesus Christ. They discuss the necessity of engaging in the church community, standing firm in the faith, and using tools like daily prayer, scripture study, and frequenting the sacraments. Practical action steps are provided for deepening one’s faith, including embracing the teachings found in scripture, participating in the sacramental life, and fostering a sense of communal worship and support.

Time. Topic

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:24 Facing Discouragement in Today's World

01:13 Building on a Solid Foundation

02:57 The Church's Role in Turbulent Times

07:34 The Concept of the Church Militant

11:34 Living Out Our Faith Daily

16:22 The Importance of Community and Relationship

28:16 Practical Steps for Spiritual Growth

35:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Real Living, Lavinia Spirito and Mary Lou Nemecek discuss an insightful article titled 'Life on the Rock.' They delve into the importance of building a strong spiritual foundation based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly in times of cultural and societal turbulence. Through an exploration of biblical passages and the writings of Bishop Joseph Strickland and Pope Benedict XVI, they emphasize the need for Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, prepare for spiritual battles, and offer a place of refuge and hope for others. The episode provides practical steps and reflections on maintaining and professing one's faith amidst contemporary challenges.

Time Topic

00:00 Welcome to Real Living

00:24 Facing Discouragement in Today's World

01:13 Building on a Solid Foundation

02:47 The Church in Turbulent Times

07:34 The Concept of the Church Militant

11:34 Living Out Our Faith Daily

15:29 Hope for the Future of the Church

19:33 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this episode of Real Living, the hosts reflect on their enriching pilgrimage to France, recounting profound experiences shared by fellow pilgrims. They highlight heartwarming and spiritually transformative moments from visits to Lourdes, Normandy, Toulouse, and more. Testimonials from participants detail their personal journeys of healing, spiritual growth, and unique connections made during the trip. The episode also previews upcoming pilgrimages and the host's hopes for future faith-filled adventures.

Time Topic

00:00 Welcome to Real Living

00:03 Reflecting on the Pilgrimage

01:20 Shelly's Experience

02:17 Megan's Healing Journey

04:57 June's First Pilgrimage

05:32 Michelle's Powerful Prayer

07:21 Rita's Profound Moments

10:18 Leanne's Special Blessings

11:20 Pat's First Pilgrimage

12:03 The Spiritual Significance of Pilgrimages

19:41 Upcoming Pilgrimages

21:16 Conclusion and Resources

In Part Two of the course on Miracles led by Lavinia Spirito, we explore miraculous stories including the life of St. Joseph of Cupertino known for levitation, St. Padre Pio’s stigmata and bi-location, and modern-day healings in places like Lourdes. The episode covers Eucharistic miracles, incorruptible saints, and various divine interventions, emphasizing a call to cultivate an expectant faith and understand the power of God's mercy and providence in our lives.

Time. Topic

00:00 Introduction to Miracles

00:21 Saint Joseph of Cupertino: The Flying Saint

01:50 Padre Pio: The Modern Saint with Extraordinary Gifts

04:20 George Muller: Miracles of Provision

05:47 Modern Miracles: Virgin of Akita and Zeytun

07:30 Eucharistic Miracles: Lanciano and Beyond

10:59 Healing Miracles: Lourdes and Beyond

18:17 Miraculous Healing in the Grotto

19:34 The Astonishing Recovery of Mr. Traynor

20:29 Unexpected Reactions and Revelations

21:48 Permanent Healing Confirmed

22:26 Other Miraculous Healings from Lourdes

23:11 The Phenomenon of Incorruptibles

24:22 Miracles in Other Faith Traditions

25:17 Defining Miracles and Their Purpose

28:06 The Role of Relics in Miracles

30:47 Sister Breach McKenna's Healing Ministry

34:14 The Call to Expectant Faith

37:08 Closing Prayer and Reflection

Join Lavinia Spirito over the next two weeks as she explores the nature of miracles, as defined by scripture and church tradition, on Real Living. This episode delves into what miracles mean, their purposes, and the different categories as depicted in the Old and New Testaments, showcasing examples such as the miracle of the sun at Fatima and the compelling story behind Our Lady of Guadalupe. Emphasis is placed on the significance of expectant faith, the role of miracles in the mission of salvation, and the discerning of genuine divine acts from counterfeit ones. The episode also highlights how sacraments serve as channels of God’s grace and power in our lives.

Time Topic

00:00 Welcome to Real Living

00:31 Understanding Miracles

09:46 Miracles in the Old Testament

15:06 Miracles in the New Testament

22:05 Miracles in the Early Church

27:58 Modern Miracles and Stories

In this episode of Real Living, we conclude Lavinia Spirito's presentation on the importance of studying scripture. Lavinia discusses the reliability of the scriptures, emphasizing manuscript integrity and internal harmony. She highlights the divine inspiration behind the texts and explores the historical transmission of biblical manuscripts. Lavinia also outlines the significance of both Old and New Testament writings, explaining how they reveal God's plan for humanity. She delves into various themes and types found in the scriptures and underscores the importance of community study to grow in holiness and missionary discipleship.

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction to Real Living

00:35 Addressing Common Questions About Scripture

01:10 Reliability of the Scriptures

02:24 Manuscript Integrity and Internal Harmony

05:36 Interpreting the Scriptures

07:01 Structure of the Scriptures

11:46 Themes and Divisions of the Old Testament

18:55 Formation of the New Testament Canon

23:44 Early Church Fathers and the New Testament

31:47 Conclusion and Call to Action

This episode from Real Living features Lavinia Spiritos' presentation on the importance of studying scripture. The discussion is the first half of a two-part series and covers key concepts such as the historical significance of scripture, the need for continuous learning and application of biblical teachings, and the relationship between scripture, sacred tradition, and magisterial teaching within the Catholic Church. Lavinia includes humorous examples of misunderstandings from grade school tests to emphasize the common lack of scriptural knowledge and stresses the importance of both head and heart knowledge when engaging with the Bible.

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction to the Series

00:57 Humorous Misinterpretations of Scripture

04:02 The Importance of Studying Scripture

04:35 Foundational Texts and Church Teachings

07:33 The Role of Scripture in Theology

08:41 The Formation of the New Testament Canon

10:20 The Hunger for Scripture

13:52 Connecting Head and Heart Knowledge

15:09 Approaching Scripture with Faith

16:49 Scripture and the Deposit of Faith

24:51 Reading Scripture in Context

26:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Reliving, hosts Lavinia Spirito and Mary Lou Nemecek continue to recount their recent pilgrimage to France. Still jet-lagged, they delve into their spiritual and moving experiences in Lourdes, including the rosary processions, basilica visits, and the healing baths. They share their impressions of the individual faith witnessed at the site and the emotional Eucharistic processions. The journey then takes them to Normandy, where they reflect on the historic and somber moments at the D-Day beaches, museums, and cemeteries. The hosts also visit St. Therese of Lisieux's childhood home and her family relics. The episode concludes with glimpses of their brief stop in Paris before heading off to Normandy. The show highlights the deep faith and historical significance of their pilgrimage journey.



00:00 Introduction to Our Pilgrimage

00:30 First Impressions of Lourdes

02:09 Exploring Lourdes: Activities and Reflections

04:28 The Baths at Lourdes

09:37 Journey to Normandy

11:45 Experiencing the Normandy Beaches

17:22 Visiting Lisieux and St. Therese

20:36 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview