The Tangent on Veritas Catholic Network

Liberation Theology, Advice from Celibate Priests, and other Tiny Tangents

This week on the Tangent Fr. Sam and Matt sit down to discuss a myriad of topics:  What is liberation theology? Why should married couples take advice from celibate priests? Where should someone start if they want to begin reading Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI)? What are their favorite movies?  plus many others!  Notes Email List  [https://www.veritascatholic.com/] Support Veritas [https://www.veritascatholic.com/donate] Other Veritas Shows The Tangent (Podbean) [https://thetangent.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tangent-on-veritas-catholic-network/id1596970790] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/2qqGcxs65TdT5QhJIkis29?si=047314b20c8647c2]  Let Me Be Frank with Bishop Frank Caggiano (Podbean) [https://bridgeportdiocese.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-be-frank-bishop-frank-caggianos-podcast-diocese/id1500335723] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/3VWUUsewojG7EHDsAO2Kxa?si=d1f06b3167f14974] The Frontline With Joe & Joe (Podbean) [https://thefrontlinewithjoeandjoe.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-front-line-with-joe-joe/id1597112191] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/1uciPp45273yDKQZMwvgVn?si=227b101e110444ff] White Collars (Podbean) [https://whitecollars.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-collars/id1869423520] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/4d28Qe6Ph1M9r2PYrVuk5F]  Restless Catholic Young Adults: (Podbean) [https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/3YQvotZdgtOU4FlQADEHfx?si=eb8fa83e20c94233]   Daily Gospel Reflections (Podbean) [https://dailycatholicreflection.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-gospel-reflection-on-veritas-catholic-network/id1728739605] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/6h9MTrjWcub9dCQlBqUOuL]

How To Pray with Your Spouse, feat. Deacon Jim Keating, PhD

When you pray with another you open yourself before them and before God. The real intimacy & vulnerability that requires makes it one of the most worthwhile acts spouses can do together. It can also make it really difficult. That’s why Fr. Sam and I sat down with Deacon James Keating PhD to discuss his new book Spousal Prayer: A Way to Marital Happiness [https://stpaulcenter.com/store/spousal-prayer-a-way-to-marital-happiness].  Deacon James answered plenty of our questions,  How should spouses pray together?  What if one spouse doesn’t want to pray with the other?  How does personal healing affect spousal prayer?  How can Spouses practically mimic Christ’s spousal love for the Church?  All this plus a story about my son wanting to bring balloons to Mass (don’t worry, we didn’t).  Thanks for listening to this week’s episode of the Tangent!  In Christ,  Matt Sperrazza  Co-Host of the Tangent

Humility vs Vainglory: the Sacred Heart & The Wisdom of St. Claude La Colombière

Most Catholics know the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Far fewer know the quiet 17th-century Jesuit Saint who helped who helped to popularize it. In this episode, translator Brandon Otto walks us through the life of St. Claude La Colombière, the French Jesuit and confessor to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque who helped spread devotion to the Sacred Heart.  Brandon shares the saint's own words so we might grow in humility, mercy, and perseverance. We get into St. Claude's interior struggle with vainglory, a true practical lesson for anyone trying to stay engaged with the world without being owned by it. In an age that runs on fame, image, and more stuff, his case for detachment and quiet, hands-on charity is powerful. We also discuss two miracle stories. First a story about Blessed Solanus Casey and second a healing miracle Matt's mother received through the intercession of St. Joseph.   St. Claude's advice can help you live in the world without losing your soul!  Brandon Otto is the translator of Not of the World by St. Claude LaColombière    Notes Email List  [https://www.veritascatholic.com/] Support Veritas [https://www.veritascatholic.com/donate] Other Veritas Shows The Tangent (Podbean) [https://thetangent.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tangent-on-veritas-catholic-network/id1596970790] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/2qqGcxs65TdT5QhJIkis29?si=047314b20c8647c2]  Let Me Be Frank with Bishop Frank Caggiano (Podbean) [https://bridgeportdiocese.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-be-frank-bishop-frank-caggianos-podcast-diocese/id1500335723] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/3VWUUsewojG7EHDsAO2Kxa?si=d1f06b3167f14974] The Frontline With Joe & Joe (Podbean) [https://thefrontlinewithjoeandjoe.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-front-line-with-joe-joe/id1597112191] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/1uciPp45273yDKQZMwvgVn?si=227b101e110444ff] White Collars (Podbean) [https://whitecollars.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-collars/id1869423520] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/4d28Qe6Ph1M9r2PYrVuk5F]  Restless Catholic Young Adults: (Podbean) [https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/3YQvotZdgtOU4FlQADEHfx?si=eb8fa83e20c94233]   Daily Gospel Reflections (Podbean) [https://dailycatholicreflection.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-gospel-reflection-on-veritas-catholic-network/id1728739605] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/6h9MTrjWcub9dCQlBqUOuL]

How Saint Michael Defends Us From the Devil

Why would Satan — one of the most brilliant creatures God ever made — choose hell? Matt sits down with Norbertine priest Fr. Frederick Schmit, O.Praem., author of St. Michael the Archangel Through the Ages (TAN BOOKS) [https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saint-michael-the-archangel-through-the-ages/?gc_id=17487855346&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17496032570&gbraid=0AAAAADyykAyhNd7IzuOwxeRu2T2jrB5Wy&gclid=CjwKCAjwxb7RBhA5EiwAQ-AAdNjuBdU65GWhnjeqGkbq0EEXokuuRhcd8s5puGarGUVRc43yjeLhVxoC51YQAvD_BwE], to unpack the fall of the angels, St. Michael's mission from Genesis to Revelation, and the surprising story of St. Norbert. Along the way: Tolkien's Silmarillion, why you can't save yourself, sacred art and vestments, Zwingli's whitewashed walls, and the abbey's first abbot election in 30 years. Notes Email List  [https://www.veritascatholic.com/] Support Veritas [https://www.veritascatholic.com/donate] Other Veritas Shows The Tangent (Podbean) [https://thetangent.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tangent-on-veritas-catholic-network/id1596970790] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/2qqGcxs65TdT5QhJIkis29?si=047314b20c8647c2]  Let Me Be Frank with Bishop Frank Caggiano (Podbean) [https://bridgeportdiocese.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-be-frank-bishop-frank-caggianos-podcast-diocese/id1500335723] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/3VWUUsewojG7EHDsAO2Kxa?si=d1f06b3167f14974] The Frontline With Joe & Joe (Podbean) [https://thefrontlinewithjoeandjoe.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-front-line-with-joe-joe/id1597112191] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/1uciPp45273yDKQZMwvgVn?si=227b101e110444ff] White Collars (Podbean) [https://whitecollars.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-collars/id1869423520] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/4d28Qe6Ph1M9r2PYrVuk5F]  Restless Catholic Young Adults: (Podbean) [https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/3YQvotZdgtOU4FlQADEHfx?si=eb8fa83e20c94233]   Daily Gospel Reflections (Podbean) [https://dailycatholicreflection.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-gospel-reflection-on-veritas-catholic-network/id1728739605] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/6h9MTrjWcub9dCQlBqUOuL]  . . . (disclaimer: AI used for SEO purposes)

The Pope’s First Encyclical on AI, Explained — Magnifica Humanitas

Pope Leo XIV just released his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on artificial intelligence and human dignity — and in this episode of The Tangent, Matt Sperrazza and Fr. Sam explain what it actually says and why it matters. Released in May 2026 and presented by the Pope himself alongside Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah, Magnifica Humanitas is the most significant Catholic teaching document on AI to date. But what does the Church really teach about technology, and why would an atheist AI leader ask the Vatican for ethical guidance? We walk through the whole thing in plain language. In this episode you’ll learn: • What a papal encyclical is — and what it is not (it doesn’t change Church law) • Why the tech industry is turning to the Catholic Church for an ethical framework • How “the medium is the message” applies to AI — and the danger of treating people like data • Why Pope Leo told parents to think twice about giving kids smartphones • What Catholic social teaching (Rerum Novarum, the common good, subsidiarity, solidarity) has to do with AI • Whether technology is morally neutral • The Pope’s warning about transhumanism, suffering, and what makes us human • Why AI can’t replace real art, real creativity, or real human connection • The “hermeneutic of continuity” — and how Leo is teaching us to read Pope Francis Whether you’re Catholic, curious, a parent, or someone working in tech, this is a clear, faithful, and surprisingly funny guide to the questions AI is forcing all of us to ask. Notes The Pillar  Mythologist Tells Matt Fradd a Story [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UReMdoJfTYM&vl=en-] Email List  [https://www.veritascatholic.com/] Support Veritas [https://www.veritascatholic.com/donate] Church Docs Magnifica Humanitas (Pope Leo XIV) [https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html] Rerum Novarum (Pope Leo XIII) [https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html] Gravissimum Educationis (Vatican II, on Christian education): Second Vatican Council [https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_gravissimum-educationis_en.html] Laudato Si’ (Pope Francis) [https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html] Pascendi Dominici Gregis: (Pope St. Pius X) [https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-x/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-x_enc_19070908_pascendi-dominici-gregis.html] Other Veritas Shows  The Tangent (Podbean) [https://thetangent.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tangent-on-veritas-catholic-network/id1596970790] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/2qqGcxs65TdT5QhJIkis29?si=047314b20c8647c2]  Let Me Be Frank with Bishop Frank Caggiano (Podbean) [https://bridgeportdiocese.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-be-frank-bishop-frank-caggianos-podcast-diocese/id1500335723] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/3VWUUsewojG7EHDsAO2Kxa?si=d1f06b3167f14974] The Frontline With Joe & Joe (Podbean) [https://thefrontlinewithjoeandjoe.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-front-line-with-joe-joe/id1597112191] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/1uciPp45273yDKQZMwvgVn?si=227b101e110444ff] White Collars (Podbean) [https://whitecollars.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-collars/id1869423520] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/4d28Qe6Ph1M9r2PYrVuk5F]  Restless Catholic Young Adults: (Podbean) [https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://restlesscatholicmedia.podbean.com/] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/3YQvotZdgtOU4FlQADEHfx?si=eb8fa83e20c94233]   Daily Gospel Reflections (Podbean) [https://dailycatholicreflection.podbean.com/] (Apple) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-gospel-reflection-on-veritas-catholic-network/id1728739605] (Spotify) [https://open.spotify.com/show/6h9MTrjWcub9dCQlBqUOuL]  . . . (disclaimer: AI used to help compile notes & write description)