Opening Story: Country Mart in Coweta, America
- Host shares a humorous experience at the Country Mart grocery store in Coweta, Oklahoma, a beloved local spot with no self-checkout and bag boys who carry groceries to cars.
- After Mass, dressed in a suit, the host is mistaken for a preacher by four different people (a passerby, a deli customer, the cashier, and a bag boy).
- Jokes about leveraging his "preacher hair" and suit to become the mayor and preacher of Coweta, introducing the concept of "nondenominational Catholic" (a playful term explained as Catholics not being a denomination, derived from Latin de nominae meaning "other name").
- Reflects on the Christian culture of the store, where such assumptions are a kind gesture.
Coweta Anecdote: Natural Family Planning (NFP) Story
- Host recounts a family story about his parents, the first NFP teachers in Oklahoma, teaching the Couple to Couple League’s symptothermal method.
- A humorous moment from a class where a participant mispronounced "coitus" as "Coedes," leading to an ongoing family joke about Coweta (pronounced similarly).
- Mentions his in-laws’ involvement in promoting NFP classes and their eventual move to Coweta, tying it to the town’s significance.
Listener Question: Plenary Indulgence During Sede Vacante
- Listener query: Can a plenary indulgence be received during a sede vacante (when there is no pope), given the condition of praying for the pope’s intentions?
- Hosts ponder without definitive answers, suggesting:
- Prayer is outside linear time, so praying for the next pope or the recently deceased pope’s soul might satisfy the condition.
- Pope Francis’ intentions for the month (published in advance) could still be prayed for.
- No prayer is wasted; God applies it appropriately, even if the target (e.g., a soul in hell or heaven) cannot benefit.
- Encourage canon lawyers or experts to clarify, acknowledging their limited knowledge on the topic.
- Brief mention of Polymarket, a prediction market where bets can be placed on the next pope, highlighting absurd betting trends.
Pilgrimage Promotion
- Promotion of Select International Tours, a long-time sponsor offering pilgrimages to holy sites worldwide for 34 years.
- Visit selectinternationaltours.com for details on their high-quality tours with excellent hotels and guides.
Clarification from Previous Episode
- Correction from a prior episode about papal eligibility: Any baptized Catholic man can theoretically be elected pope, not just clergy.
- Hypothetical first act as pope:
- One host would set a date for Blessed Carlo Acutis’ canonization, expected to be a priority for the next pope.
- Other host jokingly suggests suppressing the Jesuits, quickly clarifying it’s a jest, praising Jesuits like Father Mitch Pacwa and noting their potential as Dominicans.
Main Topic: Time Management for Catholic Dads
- Introduction and Context:
- Host shares a chaotic day (e.g., a cow in the wrong pasture) to humorously underscore the need for time management, the episode’s focus.
- Aimed at Catholic dads balancing work, family, and prayer life.
- Philosophical Understanding of Time:
- Time is a gift from God, not an enemy, akin to grace—available only in the present moment, not to be saved or earned.
- Avoid the mindset of “just getting past this weekend” to reach holiness; every moment is an opportunity for sanctity through fulfilling one’s vocation.
- Busyness does not equal holiness; faithfulness and resignation to divine providence do.
- References a conversation with Dr. Carlo Broussard defining time as “the measurement of change,” emphasizing human agency in shaping incremental changes toward...