Hold Fast

This week Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia reflect on another prayer by the lake. They talk about the wisdom in the poem and how our enemies cause us to turn back to Christ.References:Prayers by the LakePoem 75Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

This week Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia reflect on the first prayer from the Prayers by the Lake by St. Nikolai of Ochrid.References:Prayers by the LakePrayer 1 - the one reflected on in today's episodeFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

This week Mother Natalia reflects on a talk she gave and a talk she heard at that same conference. She reflects on a passage from the Gospel of John, where Jesus talks about peace and forgiveness in seemingly rapid fire fashion. She then shares how interior peace and forgiveness help us rest in the Father.References:Left to Tell by Immaculee IlibagizaFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

This week we're joined by special guest, Mother Gabriella. Mother Natalia and Mother Gabriella reflect on the recent tonsure of Sister Marta and Sister Thekla. References:The Journey of Monastic LifeEpisodes on Mother Natalia's Life ProfessionFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

This week Mother Natalia takes inspiration from spiritual direction she's given and talks about the importance of silence and looking for God throughout the day. She gives practical examples of incorporating silence into the day, whether it's 5 minutes in the car or while you're working. She talks about looking for God in the things that bring you joy, like hikes, fall leaves, or bonfires.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

This week Fr. Michael talks about examples of barrenness in scripture and how the Lord fulfilled people's requests. He talks about wanting to get to the cross without suffering, but how it is through the suffering that we grow with Christ.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

This week we're joined by special guest, Fr. Nathanael. Fr. Nathanael and Mother Natalia share how they received their names, their love of scripture, and then talk briefly about the scripture passage in John where Jesus asks Peter "Do you love me?" Unfortunately Fr. Nathanael's audio and video cut out during this section, so we don't get to hear his thoughts on this passage. But, we've linked to his article in the show notes so you can learn more.References:Fr. Nathanael's ArticleFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

This week Fr. Michael talks about how he thinks about putting together a homily. He uses a recent Sunday Gospel and Epistle to show how he thinks about homilies and how we can link passages to our daily lives. Fr. Michael talks about the importance of reading the readings ahead of Divine Liturgy, especially if you are cantoring them.References:The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass: A Guide for Encountering Christ in the LiturgyFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

This week Fr. Michael walks through the Thanksgiving Prayers the congregation is invited to pray after Divine Liturgy.References:The Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great - Responses and Hymns - the prayers start on Page 95Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

This week Fr. Michael picks up where he left off on last week's episode and continues walking through some of the prayers that the congregation are invited to say before Divine Liturgy begins. This week we start on Prayer 3 which begins on Page 9 of the book.References:Preparing for the Diving Liturgy Part IThe Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great - Responses and Hymns - the prayers start on Page 4. This week we pick up on Page 9Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show