Visitation Sessions (A Podcast)

Habemus Papem! All four of us (but especially the resident redhead) have caught Pope Fever, and our new Holy Father is all we can talk about. So, today, we thought we would talk about it with you. In this episode, we’re chatting about our reactions to Pope Leo XIV—first, second, and third reactions that is—as well as our hopes for this new Leonine papacy. We also want to thank one of our favorite Catholic businesses, The Little Rose Shop [https://thelittleroseshop.com/discount/VISITATION15], for sponsoring this episode of Visitation Sessions. Emily and Chris have acquired so many beautiful items from the Little Rose shop over the years, that you’d think they were running a Little Rose Shop outlet store. Family favorites include their fantastic saint dolls, quiet Mass books, and cross back aprons [https://thelittleroseshop.com/discount/VISITATION15]. But whatever you choose to purchase, make sure to use the code Visitation15 [https://thelittleroseshop.com/discount/VISITATION15] at checkout to save 15 percent. Last but not least, while we have your attention, if you too have Pope Fever and want to travel to Rome with the Chapmans [https://selectinternationaltours.com/product/a-jubilee-christmastime-pilgrimage-in-rome-with-emily-and-chris-chapman/] to line up for the chance to see Pope Leo XIV on New Year’s Eve, a few spaces remain for the December pilgrimage, which will run from December 26 until January 4. To register or learn more, visit Select International Pilgrimages. [https://selectinternationaltours.com/product/a-jubilee-christmastime-pilgrimage-in-rome-with-emily-and-chris-chapman/] Show Notes: The Pillar [https://www.pillarcatholic.com/] Conclave Season [https://emilystimpsonchapman.substack.com/p/conclave-season]: by Emily Chapman The Both/And Pope: On the Burden of Poping in the Age of Social Media [https://open.substack.com/pub/emilystimpsonchapman/p/the-bothand-pope?r=9s3up&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false] by Emily Chapman The Full Stature of Christ: The Ecclesiology of Dom Virgil Michael [https://a.co/d/eWYTsHs] by Sister Jeremy Hall (out of print) Dom Virgil Micheal [https://americancatholichistory.org/dom-virgil-michel-osb/] (American Catholic History Podcast) If you love the show and want to support sane(ish) Catholic conversation, consider becoming a full subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe [https://visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Between Kate’s film festival showings and Emily’s speaking engagements (Buffalo last week, Ottawa this week), the past couple of weeks have been a little insane for the Stapletons and Chapmans. We did manage to squeeze in a short Q&A, though, where we answer some of your questions about NFP and Artificial Intelligence. On Thursday, May 8, though, we have a special thank you gift coming for our full subscribers. On that day, Kate will celebrate the birthday of her first daughter Brigid, whom she placed for adoption 24 years ago. We thought Brigid’s birthday, which is followed so closely by Mother’s Day, would make this a great time to share Kate’s beautiful story about their journey, The Inner Seas, with you. The Inner Seas is a documentary about motherhood, music, adoption, and the long stories God writes. It is a testimony to the goodness of the unexpected and has already been selected by four prestigious film festivals, garnering it the much desired “Four Laurels.” As long as it is still on the festival circuit, Kate can’t make it publicly available. But we can share it behind a paywall, so that is what we will do Thursday. Keep an eye on your inbox for a link to view the film. And if you’re not a full subscriber, but would like to become one, just click the link below! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe [https://visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Today, we’re talking to our good friend Rob Corzine, vice president of Academic Programs at the St. Paul Center, about conclaves past and present, and how despite humanity’s best efforts, the Holy Spirit proves again and again that he is in charge. And our apologies that this episode is dropping later than promised. We decided we wanted to wait until after Pope Francis funeral to drop an episode that was so heavy on conclave talk! Show Notes: Good Pope, Bad Pope: Their Lives, Our Lessons [https://a.co/d/5yntJUW] by Mike Aquilina Discovering the Doctors and Hildegard of Bingen [https://endowgroups.org/products/dicovering-the-doctors-hildegard-of-bingen-the-doctors-of-the-church/] by Emily Stimpson Chapman “I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope. . . . I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined. . . . There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked!” Pope Benedict XVI [https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/does-god-pick-the-pope] A Jubilee Christmas The Chapman family us heading to Rome [https://selectinternationaltours.com/product/a-jubilee-christmastime-pilgrimage-in-rome-with-emily-and-chris-chapman/] on December 26 to spend 10 days soaking in the beauty of Rome at Christmas, celebrating the end of the Jubilee Year, and ringing in the New Year with our new Holy Father (!). We would love to have you join us. The pilgrimage is filling up fast, but we still have room for a couple more families (or quite a few singles or several couples). There are so many graces to be had on pilgrimage—graces of friendship, of learning, of beauty, and worshipping at the very heart of the Church. These pilgrimages are never easy to embark on. Sacrifice is always involved. But if God is calling you to go, this is one journey you won’t regret. You can learn more here. [https://selectinternationaltours.com/product/a-jubilee-christmastime-pilgrimage-in-rome-with-emily-and-chris-chapman/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe [https://visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Before Easter, we recorded a podcast for this week. And then some things happened. We’re still sharing this episode, as recorded, but we’ll be back later in the week with a new episode about the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, plus the upcoming conclave, the nine days of mourning, and more. We’re bringing on a special guest who is way more up on his Church history and conclave procedures than we are, so if you have questions, drop them in the comments or send them along in the dms, and we’ll put them to our expert when we record tomorrow (Thursday, 4/24/25). This episode was made possible by the support of The Catholic Balm Company [https://catholicbalm.co/products/mothers-day-bundle?utm_source=emilychapman&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mothersday], makers of clean, non-toxic personal care products for men, with scents inspired by our Catholic Faith. We love, use, and have been spending our own money on these products for years, and think you will will love them, too. So, if you’re looking for beard balms, face lotions, lip balms, soaps, and colognes that work as great as they smell and aren’t loaded up with ingredients you can’t pronounce, check them out at catholicbalm.co [https://catholicbalm.co/products/mothers-day-bundle?utm_source=emilychapman&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mothersday]. Show Notes John Henry Newman on Difficulties versus Doubts [https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/blessed-john-henry-newman-explains-faith-doubts-and-difficulties] The Catholic Table [https://a.co/d/4PoWFCX] by Emily Stimpson Chapman Farrow and Ball Paints [https://www.farrow-ball.com/us/] The Inner Seas [https://vimeo.com/1053822412], a documentary by Kate Stapleton Homeschool Connections Classes with Christopher Chapman [https://caravel.homeschoolconnections.com/catalog/live?tableSearch=chapman] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe [https://visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

With Good Friday soon upon us, we’re talking through fasting and abstinence, the good of penance, and the penance of Palm Sunday with small children. Mentioned on today’s episode: St. Michael’s Abbey [https://www.stmichaelsabbey.com/] The Rule of St. Augustine [https://faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/augustine/ruleaug.html] (as it pertains to fasting) “Fasting: A Source of Trial,” [https://www.newmanreader.org/works/parochial/volume6/sermon1.html] Sermons of Saint John Henry Newman “All About Lent: The Fast,” [https://open.substack.com/pub/emilystimpsonchapman/p/all-about-lent-part-ii-the-fast?r=9s3up&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false]Emily Stimpson Chapman This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe [https://visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]