Godsplaining

Mitali Perkins on Why Adults Need Children’s Books

What if some of the most important books you'll ever read were written for children?
In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Bonaventure Chapman sits down with acclaimed author Mitali Perkins to discuss the enduring power of children's literature. From The Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit to Anne of Green Gables and A Little Princess, they explore how stories shape the moral imagination, cultivate virtue, and help both children and adults encounter truth, goodness, and beauty.
Whether you're a parent, teacher, reader, or simply someone looking to rediscover wonder, this conversation offers a compelling case for returning to the stories that shape the soul.
 
Learn more about Mitali Perkins and find her books here: https://www.mitaliperkins.com/
 
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Shop Books Written by the Friars
Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT
O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU
Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
 
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Can a Good Person Tell a Lie?

Most people instinctively say that lying is wrong—until they're presented with an extreme case. What if a murderer came to your door? What if hiding the truth could protect an innocent person?
In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure explore traditional Christian teaching on lying, drawing from St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and even Immanuel Kant. They discuss why truthfulness is so central to the moral life, whether every lie is sinful, and how Catholics should think about difficult situations where telling the truth seems costly. The conversation goes beyond rules and exceptions to ask a deeper question: Do you want to be the kind of person who tells the truth?
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Shop Books Written by the Friars
Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT
O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU
Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
 
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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 

Bad Experience in Confession? Here's What to Know

Have you ever left confession feeling disappointed, confused, or unsure whether your sins were really forgiven?
In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Patrick and Fr. Joseph-Anthony tackle a common concern among Catholics: What happens when confession doesn't go the way you expected? Whether you've received unhelpful advice, experienced an awkward encounter, or wondered if a priest's mistake affected the sacrament, this conversation offers clarity and peace of mind.
 
Join Exodus 90 and their Return of the King challenge: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining 
 
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Support the Podcast
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Shop Books Written by the Friars
Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT
O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU
Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
 
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BONUS: Predestination, Hell, & Vocation Discernment | Live Q&A

Can we hope that everyone will be saved? How does predestination work? What if discernment causes anxiety? Why are so many young people becoming Catholic today?
In this special episode, the friars answer questions live during the Godsplaining Boston Day of Recollection, tackling some of the most challenging questions facing Catholics today.
From universalism and free will to suffering, confession, vocation discernment, and the surprising rise in conversions among Gen Z, this conversation offers thoughtful Catholic answers rooted in Scripture, tradition, and lived experience.
 
Deadline extended! Sign up for the 2026 All Comers' Retreat by June 11th! Register here: https://godsplaining.org/all-comers-retreat-june-2026/ Limited spots!
Sign up for the 2026 Men's Retreat in August: https://godsplaining.org/events-2/mens-retreat-brevard-nc-august-2026/
 
Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org
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Shop Books Written by the Friars
Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1?srsltid=AfmBOoo3b2MbHxat33i-cwrd1AcSW_hPBfcHcm4-8XxJoCDn4OUgTBe_
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
 
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To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org
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Atonement Explained: Where Catholics and Protestants Differ

"Jesus died for our sins." As Christians we know this to be true, but do we understand what this really means? There are many explanations that focus on punishment, debt, or substitution. But how does the Catholic Church understand Christ's sacrifice on the Cross?
Join Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure on this episode of Godsplaining as they explore the Catholic understanding of atonement, the mystery of salvation, and why Catholics speak of participation in the divine life. Along the way, they'll also discuss the famous Protestant theory of penal substitution, St. Thomas Aquinas' approach to redemption, and how Christ's suffering reveals the deepest truth about God's love.
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Deadline extended! Join us at the 2026 All Comers' Retreat in June: https://godsplaining.org/all-comers-retreat-june-2026/
Limited spots! Sign up for the 2026 Men's Retreat in August: https://godsplaining.org/events-2/mens-retreat-brevard-nc-august-2026/
 
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Support the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining
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Shop Books Written by the Friars
Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT
O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU
Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
 
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To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org
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BONUS: A Catholic Response to Suffering

Recorded live during a Day of Recollection at St. Margaret Mary Church during a full weekend of events in the greater Boston area, the friars unpack one of the most difficult questions in the Christian life.
Fr. Patrick, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony unpack surrender, friendship, and divine providence as it relates to suffering. Sharing personal anecdotes along with wisdom from scripture and the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, they provide clarity and concrete steps forward when life's circumstances feel impossibly difficult.
 
Deadline approaching! Join us at the 2026 All Comers' Retreat in June: https://godsplaining.org/all-comers-retreat-june-2026/
Limited spots! Sign up for the 2026 Men's Retreat in August: https://godsplaining.org/events-2/mens-retreat-brevard-nc-august-2026/ 
 
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Shop Books Written by the Friars
Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT 
O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/08a3nYIf 
Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
 
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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 

How Should Catholics Approach Pride Month?

As the month of June approaches, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Patrick reflect on how Catholics can respond to "pride month" with both truth and charity.
In this episode of Godsplaining, they discuss the Church’s teaching on human sexuality, the difference between political movements and pastoral care, the importance of identity in Christ, and why authentic Christian witness must always begin with love and prayer.
 
Join us at the 2026 All Comers' Retreat in June: https://godsplaining.org/all-comers-retreat-june-2026/
 
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 
Join Exodus 90 and their Return of the King challenge: https://exodus90.com/ 
 
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 our merch store: https://godsplaining.org/store/
 
Shop Books Written by the Friars
Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT
Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
 
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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 

The Catholic Church and AI: Pope Leo's First Encyclical Explained

The Catholic Church and AI: Pope Leo's First Encyclical Explained
 
In this installment of Godsplaining Reacts, Fr. Patrick unpacks Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, an in-depth reflection on artificial intelligence, technology, truth, work, power, and the dignity of the human person.
More than merely “the AI encyclical,” Fr. Patrick argues that Magnifica Humanitas is fundamentally about anthropology: who are we and what are we for?
Drawing from Scripture, Catholic social teaching, and the Christian understanding of transcendence, Fr. Patrick sheds light on the Church’s engagement with technology, from the Vatican’s Minerva Dialogues to recent teachings on AI ethics and digital life. As it turns out, the most serious challenge with AI is not technological, but spiritual.
What questions do you have regarding Magnifica Humanitas? Let us know in the comments for a chance to have your questions answered in the next installment of Godsplaining Reacts.
Join us at the 2026 All Comers' Retreat in June: https://godsplaining.org/all-comers-retreat-june-2026/
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Shop Books Written by the Friars
Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1?srsltid=AfmBOoo3b2MbHxat33i-cwrd1AcSW_hPBfcHcm4-8XxJoCDn4OUgTBe_
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
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How Christians Fail at “Speaking the Truth in Love”

How do you correct someone without becoming self-righteous?
In this episode of Guestsplaining, Fr. Gregory welcomes Jordan Burke of the Avila Foundation and SpiritualDirection.com to discuss the challenge of fraternal correction. Together, they explore how humility, friendship, and personal conversion shape the way we speak truth to others—especially in an age of online outrage.
Whether you struggle to speak up or find yourself too quick to correct, their conversation will provide practical insights to help you navigate difficult conversation with both truth and charity.
Learn more about the Avila Institute here: https://avila-institute.org/
Visit SpiritualDirection.com: https://spiritualdirection.com/
Discerning the Priesthood? Check out High Calling: https://myhighcalling.com/
Join us at the 2026 All Comers' Retreat in June: https://godsplaining.org/all-comers-retreat-june-2026/
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Support the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining
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Shop Books Written by the Friars Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1?srsltid=AfmBOoo3b2MbHxat33i-cwrd1AcSW_hPBfcHcm4-8XxJoCDn4OUgTBe_
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
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BONUS: Prayer, Perseverance, and the Shape of Holiness

What does it mean to "win" Lent, or the Christian life for that matter? Fr. Patrick, Fr. Gregory, and Fr. Joseph-Anthony explore the deeper meaning of Lent, spiritual growth, perseverance, and Christian courage during a live recording at St. Mary of the Assumption in Brookline, MA with local young adults.
Drawing on insights from Thomas Aquinas, Scripture, and pastoral experience, the friars reveal how prayer, fasting, and almsgiving shape the Christian life — not just during Lent, but throughout our entire earthly pilgrimage.
Join us at the 2026 All Comers' Retreat in June: https://godsplaining.org/all-comers-retreat-june-2026/
Send your questions for the friars to: godsplaining@opeast.org
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Support the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining
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Shop Books Written by the Friars Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1?srsltid=AfmBOoo3b2MbHxat33i-cwrd1AcSW_hPBfcHcm4-8XxJoCDn4OUgTBe_
Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/
St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/
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To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org
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