The Burrowshire Podcast

It’s hard to stay joyful today. We’ve all noticed a rise of anxiety, anger, and bitterness, whether in ourselves or among friends. Our cultural climate is toxic, to say the least. Yet, we are called to be missionaries of joy, who spread the evangelium gaudium (joy of the Gospel). How do we do this? How do we develop and protect our joy? In this episode, Fr. Blake and Brandon explain how to root our joy in Christ, how to recognize the enemies of joy, and Chesterton’s and Tolkien’s advice on maintaining “joy without a cause.” LINKS * “The Ballad of the White Horse” [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1719/1719-h/1719-h.htm] by G.K. Chesterton

Woohoo!! The big day is finally here! Today marks the release of Fr. Blake’s new book titled Reclaiming Vatican II: What It (Really) Said, What It Means, and How It Calls Us to Renew the Church [https://www.wordonfire.org/reclaim].  Brandon and Fr. Blake discuss the book and why so many people misunderstand the Second Vatican Council. They also explore the Council’s four major documents and how to reclaim and (properly) implement them today. Reclaiming Vatican II: https://www.wordonfire.org/reclaim [https://www.wordonfire.org/reclaim] Word on Fire Vatican II Collection: https://wordonfire.org/vatican2 [https://wordonfire.org/vatican2]

How do we preserve our state of grace in such a volatile and hostile environment as social media? Digital tools allow for a lot of good. We have seen that especially during this pandemic, when people are able to connect with one another across the globe. But, as we well know, there are also significant dangers. Fr. Blake and Brandon discuss how to navigate them and maintain our holiness. Links: https://burrowshirepodcast.com/holiness-digital-age

We all experience shame. But what should we do with it? According to John Damascene and Gregory of Nyssa, “Shame is fear of doing a disgraceful deed or of a disgraceful deed done.” In this episode, we explore shame in the spiritual life, dealing with both its positive and negative components. We also examine today's prevalent culture of shame, discussing how the internet fuels it and how to respond spiritually and practically. LINKS: https://burrowshirepodcast.com/dealing-with-shame

We are both from Orlando and grew up around Disney. It is part of our culture, as it is for many Millennials who grew up watching classic Disney films. Today we discuss the The Disney Renaissance (aka The Disney Decade), lasting from 1989-1999, and examine the religious themes of four Disney films: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. BOOKS AND RESOURCES * Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination [https://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Triumph-American-Imagination/dp/0679757473/?tag=ththve-20] by Neal Gabler