Catholic radio, podcasts a way to gain spiritual growth on the go

Published: May 18, 2019

By Paula Standridge
St. John the Baptist Church, Hot Springs

I can’t remember when I started listening to Catholic radio, but it has been several years now. Every weekday morning I tune into the “Son Rise Morning Show” via my iCatholicRadio app and listen to live broadcasting while I am getting ready for work. The show is produced by EWTN and broadcasts from Cincinnati on The Sacred Heart Radio Station, sacredheartradio.com, which provides 24-hour programming.

Each hour of the broadcast starts with a prayer that is specific to the liturgical season, the saint of the day or another pertinent timely topic. While I can only listen to one hour of the three-hour live broadcast, I have learned so much about our faith, our Church and its history, Scripture, the saints, the Fathers of the Church, Catholic art, devotions and so much more.

Some of the regular weekly segments are advice from a Catholic counselor, pro-life news from around the world, movie reviews by a Catholic deacon and a piece on Bible foods with recommended recipes. There are countless interviews with bishops, priests, religious and lay people, authors, theologians, apologists, historians, professors and liturgists. There are constant references to Catholic resources such as podcasts, blogs, websites, magazines, lectures, books, videos, pilgrimages and more.

Two books that I have purchased as a result of listening to Catholic radio are: “The Catholic Hipster Handbook” and “The Hidden Power of a Catholic Grandparent.” The Catholic Hipster is about being bold with our Catholic faith — putting it out there and owning it. After all, we possess the truth. If listening to live broadcasting is not possible, podcasts are an excellent way of listening to content on your own time while commuting, cleaning, exercising, etc., using this time as a way to grow in faith.

Podcasts that I have recently listened to are from Catholic Answers Live, The Catholic Current and our very own Arkansas Catholic Asks. On “Let’s Talk About Leaving the Church,” an episode of The Catholic Current, the guest was Tim Staples, a well-known author and apologist. Staples said it was an exciting time to be Catholic even though it is a time of crisis for the Church.

He said faithful Catholics are needed by the Church — we all need to get smart in a hurry, holy in a hurry. There is no time for mediocrity. Business as usual is dead. This is not the time to coast on our faith or for “good enough” discipleship. As far as leaving the Church, he said why would you leave Peter because of Judas? There is a lot to think about there. Besides the formation aspect of listening to Catholic content, it also helps us connect to our Catholic community. Community represents the beauty of Catholicism.

The online connection helps us maintain solidarity with others, encourages us that the Church is alive and there are other likeminded faithful out there. Listening inspires us, emboldens us, comforts us and sustains us. Listening to radio or other media on your own time and at your own pace is also a great alternative for those who want to grow in faith but aren’t able to attend classes, lectures, conferences or Bible studies.

There are podcasts and videos for every audience and demographic and can be found on a variety of online platforms and apps like Apple, Google Play and Spotify. The Arkansas Catholic Charismatic Renewal also has podcasts available. Catholic radio and other forms of Catholic media are social media at its best. The resources are endless and the benefits immeasurable.

Paula Standridge is a member of St. John the Baptist Church in Hot Springs. In 2012, she completed the diaconate formation training with her husband, Deacon Robert Standridge. This article was originally published in Arkansas Catholic May 18, 2019. Copyright Diocese of Little Rock. All rights reserved. This article may be copied or redistributed with acknowledgement and permission of the publisher.