Homeward by BigAppleCatholic

Born to Never Die: What Chiara and Enrico Petrillo Offer a World Afraid of Suffering

If Homeward is ultimately about learning how to live with our eyes fixed on heaven, then few people have taught Katie and I more than Enrico and Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo. Their story reminds us that we were born for eternity, and that even in the deepest suffering, the road home remains open. Key Topics: * Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo's life story * Faith and resilience in suffering * The power of hope and love Trust in God's plan during suffering * The resurrection as the foundation of hope Resources: Enrico Petrillo - Sharing their story (short video we mentioned) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXXX [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXXX] Born to Never Die | Enrico Petrillo and Angelo Carfi | New York Encounter 2019 (long video of their full story that we also mentioned) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw_PEXQyhik [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw_PEXQyhik] A Witness to Joy (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Witness+to+Joy [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Witness+to+Joy] Letter from Chiara and Enrico to Francesco - https://www.chiaracorbellapetrillo.org/en/chiaras-writings/ [https://www.chiaracorbellapetrillo.org/en/chiaras-writings/] Let's Connect! As always, we would love to hear from you. You can follow along with us and stay in touch at @homeward.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/homeward.pod] and @bigapplecatholic. [https://www.instagram.com/bigapplecatholic] You can also visit bigapplecatholic.com [http://bigapplecatholic.com] for more!

Have We Lost Our Sense of Wonder? With Bill Donaghy

What is the importance of wonder in the human experience? And what may be the obstacles to wonder in our present age? For this episode Katie and I are joined by the wonder-full Bill Donaghy who helps us wrestle through these questions and more. “If you are wise, you will understand that life is more like a pool than a channel. A channel immediately releases what it receives. The pool is gradually filled until it naturally overflows without diminishing itself.  There are many Christians who behave like channels. Deep pools are the exception. We become eager to let the Spirit flow through us. We begin to pour it out before we are filled. We speak when we should be listening. We try to teach lessons we have not yet learned. We would direct others when we are not sure where we are going ourselves...  There needs to be a careful balance here. Outflow follows inflow. We must be filled to overflowing before what we pass on to others will have any substance. Otherwise, it is vacuous yawning. Take care that you do not embarrass yourself while assisting others. Be sure you are full.”  - Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Homily 18, Song of Songs. (b. 1090 AD- d. 1153 AD) Takeaways * Reenchantment as a Path to Wonder * The Neuroscience of Wonder Re-enchantment of life through wonder and beauty * The battle for re-enchantment is a matter of life and death Resources * The Evidential Power of Beauty by Father Thomas Dubay [https://www.amazon.com/Evidential-Power-Beauty-Thomas-Dubay/dp/0898707474] * Leisure, The Basis of Culture by Joseph Pieper [https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Basis-Culture-Joseph-Pieper/dp/0898707474] * Mark Twain's Joan of Arc [https://www.amazon.com/Joan-Arc-Mark-Twain/dp/0486262454] Connect with Bill Donaghy: * Theology of the Body Institute [https://tobinstitute.org/] * Word Made Fresh Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@WordMadeFresh] * The Way of Beauty Course July 12-17, 2026 [https://tobinstitute.org/] - Join Bill Donaghy at his course this summer! As always, we would love to hear from you. You can follow along with us and stay in touch at   / homeward.pod   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDVaZWcxZVphLVZvZHdWVkRlVHZUMVFFVDRxQXxBQ3Jtc0tuZWlUR3dPVzRQSjZZa2djYWRJYzE4QXZYSnpLOXg2dGFmWE1sd0cxeUdVNlVkTk5ZX2tRaEhicmE3cHRoLWpuOEtMSllXeDJ3aWMyZHc1c2JkWXZoUDdhU1lhVVRVd01NOGNCTjVMeGdteUh3eGZqMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fhomeward.pod&v=oC09FJ0JpO4] and   / bigapplecatholic   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnp3TEZkZjZDRlVCekNRTGZlUjJkeDlLS2hKd3xBQ3Jtc0tuMk1DajBFRWR6R2g3U2ZCWXRJSzMydTFIMWdUREFWQjdwOEdoUGFzYkxIWjczR0oxSkp2eUIzQUNjMWVMX0NxUXd0Y1phNUs3RUVDZmZQV1ZVMlA1cWJHcmZXbjB1M0lsaVY0UkV0QjlRU3dfaUlSNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fbigapplecatholic&v=oC09FJ0JpO4]

What Does it Mean To Be Human? With Dr. Sarah Maple

In this conversation, Katie and I sit down with Dr. Sarah Maple to explore one of the most foundational questions we can ask: what does it mean to be human? Together, we talk about the nature of being human, beauty, and the artistic vocation rooted in divine love. We delves into how beauty reveals our origin, purpose, and ultimate destiny, inviting all of us into a deeper wonder of life and creation. We also reflect on original solitude and unity, the gift of the human heart, the role of wonder, and the quiet ways Christ calls us back to Himself through beauty, suffering, and love. Dr. Maple’s work as a painter, theologian, and professor shines throughout this conversation, especially in the way she speaks about artists, beauty, and the human person with both intellectual depth and real tenderness. More than anything, we were struck by her attentiveness, wisdom, and the sense that these are questions she has truly lived with herself. You can learn more about Dr. Maple, her upcoming book The Resurrection of Beauty (Saint Augustine Press), as well as her work through her Instagram at @dr.sarahmaple [https://www.instagram.com/dr.sarahmaple] and her emerging project at lagiardina.org [http://lagiardina.org]. Takeaways * The meaning of being human in a disenchanted world * The role of beauty in revealing our divine origin and purpose * The artistic vocation as a response to divine love and creation Chapters * 00:00 Introduction to the Journey of Humanity * 05:10 Exploring the Essence of Being Human * 09:07 The Role of Beauty in Human Existence * 14:00 Understanding Desire and Its Implications * 18:58 The Transcendentals: Beauty, Truth, and Goodness * 23:05 The Importance of Community and Dependency * 27:22 The Garden of Eden: A Blueprint for Humanity * 33:33 The Call to Love and Response * 37:06 Awakening to Enchantment * 39:44 Re-enchantment and Vulnerability * 43:34 The Art of Hospitality * 47:38 Experiencing Life's Enchantment * 53:18 The Journey of Being Human As always, we would love to hear from you. You can follow along with us and stay in touch at @homeward.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/homeward.pod] and @bigapplecatholic. [https://www.instagram.com/bigapplecatholic] You can also visit bigapplecatholic.com [http://bigapplecatholic.com] for more!

We're All Just Trying to Get Home

The day has finally come! We are so eager to start this new chapter with you and embark on the Homeward journey together. In this episode we give a glimpse of our heart behind this project, why we felt like we needed it for ourselves, and our hopes for everyone that will join us. Thank you for being here. It is a privilege to walk this with you xo Mariana and Katie Episode Guiding Quote: "The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing — to reach the Mountain, to find the place where all the beauty came from — my country, the place where I ought to have been born. Do you think it all meant nothing, all the longing? The longing for home? For indeed it now feels not like going, but like going back." — C. S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces Major Points: * The significance of longing and wonder in faith * Building a community centered on beauty and truth * The journey of living with an open heart amidst pain * The role of art, story, and community in spiritual growth * Hope and vulnerability in the Christian life Links Mentioned: * Mariana and Katie's infamous Irish Farms Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldjBfJqS9Uo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldjBfJqS9Uo] * Go To The Limits of Your Longing Poem: https://onbeing.org/poetry/go-to-the-limits-of-your-longing/ [https://onbeing.org/poetry/go-to-the-limits-of-your-longing/] The best way to keep us with us right now is on Instagram! @homeward.pod [https://www.instagram.com/homeward.pod] Otherwise feel free to reach out via bigapplecatholic.com [http://bigapplecatholic.com] we'd love to hear from you! <3