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The Prodigal Catholic

The Prodigal Catholic

By Fr. Richard Conlin

Homilies, Prayers, & Catholic Book Summaries
Currently playing episode

HOMILY: My Biggest Mistake Ever | 3rd Sunday of Easter (Year C)

The Prodigal CatholicMay 01, 2022

00:00
14:60
Behold Thy Mother | EXPLAINED | 3rd Word from the Cross

Behold Thy Mother | EXPLAINED | 3rd Word from the Cross

For the blog post, go here: https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/03/11/behold-thy-mother-john-1927-explained-3rd-word-from-the-cross/

Mar 11, 202404:38
Today, you will be with Me in Paradise | EXPLAINED | 2nd Word from the Cross

Today, you will be with Me in Paradise | EXPLAINED | 2nd Word from the Cross

Full blog post: https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/03/07/today-you-will-be-with-me-in-paradise-luke-2343-explained-2nd-word-from-the-cross/

Mar 08, 202403:25
Father, Forgive Them | EXPLAINED | Passion of the Christ clip

Father, Forgive Them | EXPLAINED | Passion of the Christ clip

For the YouTube video, go here: https://youtu.be/jwskFlaXZnY


For the blog post, go here: https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/03/06/father-forgive-them-explained-passion-of-the-christ-movie/



Mar 07, 202406:24
Who is the Prodigal Son?

Who is the Prodigal Son?

Who is the prodigal son?

  1. You?
  2. Me?
  3. Someone else?
Mar 02, 202409:43
A Word to the THINKERS | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 7 with Fulton J. Sheen (My Summary)

A Word to the THINKERS | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 7 with Fulton J. Sheen (My Summary)

https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/02/29/a-word-to-the-thinkers-the-7-last-words-of-jesus-part-7-with-fulton-j-sheen/

Feb 29, 202405:03
A Word to the SENSATIONALISTS | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 6 with Fulton J. Sheen

A Word to the SENSATIONALISTS | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 6 with Fulton J. Sheen

For the blog post, go here: https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/02/26/a-word-to-the-sensationalists-the-7-last-words-of-jesus-part-6-with-fulton-j-sheen/

Feb 27, 202417:55
There is a Man on the Cross | Poem for Lent by Fulton Sheen

There is a Man on the Cross | Poem for Lent by Fulton Sheen

"Whenever there is silence around me By day or by night— I am startled by a cry. It came down from the cross— The first time I heard it. I went out and searched— And found a man in the throes of crucifixion, And I said, “I will take you down,” And I tried to take the nails out of his feet. But he said, “Let them be, For I cannot be taken down Until every man, every woman, and every child Come together to take me down.” And I said, “But I cannot bear your cry. What can I do?” And he said, “Go about the world— Tell every one that you meet— There is a man on the cross.” - Original Poem by Elizabeth Cheney https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/02/26/there-is-a-man-on-the-cross-by-fulton-j-sheen-poem-for-lent/

Feb 27, 202401:23
A Word to the MODERNS | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 5 with Fulton J. Sheen

A Word to the MODERNS | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 5 with Fulton J. Sheen

For the text and blog post, go here: https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/02/26/a-word-to-the-moderns-the-7-last-words-of-jesus-part-5-with-fulton-j-sheen/

Feb 26, 202417:48
A Word to the INTELLIGENTSIA | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 4 with Fulton J. Sheen

A Word to the INTELLIGENTSIA | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 4 with Fulton J. Sheen

For the blog post with text and video:

https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/02/20/a-word-to-the-intelligentsia-the-7-last-words-of-jesus-part-4-with-fulton-j-sheen/

Feb 21, 202418:25
A Word to the SELFISH | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 3 with Fulton J. Sheen

A Word to the SELFISH | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 3 with Fulton J. Sheen

For the blog post, go here: https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/02/19/a-word-to-the-selfish-the-7-last-words-of-jesus-part-3-with-fulton-j-sheen/

Feb 19, 202418:40
A Word to SINNERS | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 2 with Fulton J. Sheen

A Word to SINNERS | The 7 Last Words of Jesus | Part 2 with Fulton J. Sheen

For the blog post: https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/02/17/a-word-to-sinners-the-7-last-words-of-jesus-part-2-with-fulton-j-sheen/

Feb 17, 202417:07
I SLIPPED HIS FINGERS | Poem for Lent by Fulton Sheen

I SLIPPED HIS FINGERS | Poem for Lent by Fulton Sheen

“I slipped His fingers, I escaped His feet, I ran and hid, for Him I feared to meet. One day I passed Him, fettered on a Tree, He turned His Head, and looked, and beckoned me. “Neither by speed, nor strength could He prevail. Each hand and foot was pinioned by a nail. He could not run or clasp me if He tried, But with His eye, He bade me reach His side. “For pity’s sake, thought I, I’ll set you free. ‘Nay — hold this cross,’ He said, ‘and follow me. This yoke is easy, this burden light, Not hard or grievous if you wear it tight.’ “So did I follow Him Who could not move, An uncaught captive in the hands of Love.”

Feb 16, 202401:44
FATHER, FORGIVE THEM | The 7 Last Sayings of Jesus on the Cross | Part 1 with Fulton J. Sheen

FATHER, FORGIVE THEM | The 7 Last Sayings of Jesus on the Cross | Part 1 with Fulton J. Sheen

Fulton Sheen's 1944 lecture on the 7 Last Words.


The first of seven possible attitudes toward the Cross is that of humanism, for the first group to challenge the Cross was the humanists. The term humanist is here understood in the modern philosophical sense and embraces all those who want a religion without a Cross. They believe that man is naturally good, that progress is inevitable through science, and that human reason, by its own effort, is able to restore peace to the world and to consciences.


The prototypes of the humanists on Good Friday were the "passerbys." They think themselves wise because they had a passing acquaintance with Christ.


Their words? “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Mt 27:40).


Christ's response? "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Feb 15, 202417:18
How I Learned Italian in 1 Month | Week 3: Magnanimity!

How I Learned Italian in 1 Month | Week 3: Magnanimity!

Magnanimity: "magna + animus" = greatness of soul


Discover this important virtue for learning a language.


Q. What is your magnanimous end in mind?

Sep 17, 202306:39
How I Learned Italian in 1 Month | Week 2 Lesson: MORE Humility

How I Learned Italian in 1 Month | Week 2 Lesson: MORE Humility

Humility is all about being well grounded, living in reality, and laying one brick at a time...

Sep 10, 202305:60
How I Learned Italian in 1 Month | Week 1: Humility

How I Learned Italian in 1 Month | Week 1: Humility

The lesson from my first week of learning is humility!


"In verità vi dico: se non vi convertirete e non diventerete come i bambini, non entrerete nel regno dei cieli." (Matthew 18:3)



Sep 03, 202307:27
Surrender Your Life to Jesus (Part 2)

Surrender Your Life to Jesus (Part 2)

Surrender your past, present, and future to Jesus!

Jul 17, 202314:20
Surrender Everything to God | Homily for 14th Sunday

Surrender Everything to God | Homily for 14th Sunday

Surrender all your past to God's mercy & all your future to His providence!

Jul 10, 202312:48
Leave Here a Better Man! | Vancouver College Graduation Mass

Leave Here a Better Man! | Vancouver College Graduation Mass

Final Mass for Grade 12 class at Vancouver College High School

Jun 28, 202310:21
Why Do We Go to Mass? | Homily for Corpus Christi Sunday 2023

Why Do We Go to Mass? | Homily for Corpus Christi Sunday 2023

Why Do We Go to Mass? It's a marriage proposal... and even more!

Jun 12, 202312:49
St. Philip Neri's Secret Weapon | Pentecost Sunday Year A

St. Philip Neri's Secret Weapon | Pentecost Sunday Year A

Find out St. Philip Neri's secret weapon to be able to:

1. The apostle of joy

2. The apostle of Rome

3. Raise people from the dead

4. Levitate @ Mass

5. Fall madly in love with Jesus


May 29, 202314:27
Roses for Mother's Day | Homily for Mother's Day Mass 2023

Roses for Mother's Day | Homily for Mother's Day Mass 2023

Part 2 of our stewardship homily series on the parish.


Prayer for the week: "How can I help?"

May 15, 202309:54
Padre Pio's Secret | Homily for 3rd Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Padre Pio's Secret | Homily for 3rd Sunday of Easter (Year A)

What was Padre Pio's secret?

Apr 24, 202313:03
$100 Easter Challenge | Easter Sunday Homily 2023

$100 Easter Challenge | Easter Sunday Homily 2023

Want to win $100 from me? Take on the Easter challenge :)

Apr 09, 202311:25
Jesus' Secret | Holy Thursday Homily 2023

Jesus' Secret | Holy Thursday Homily 2023

What was Jesus' secret to be able to make such extreme acts of self-sacrificial love?

Apr 07, 202318:01
The World's Greatest Treasure | Homily for 5th Sunday of Lent (Year A)

The World's Greatest Treasure | Homily for 5th Sunday of Lent (Year A)

What is the world's greatest treasure?

Are you willing to burn the 4 ships that lurk in the bay to great that treasure?

Mar 26, 202315:09
3 Signs You Are Going to Heaven | Homily for 3rd Sunday of Lent

3 Signs You Are Going to Heaven | Homily for 3rd Sunday of Lent

God gave St. Catherine of Siena 3 signs to know whether we are going to heaven. Do you know what they are?

Mar 12, 202314:58
Healing from Shame in Confession | 1st Sunday of Lent (Year A)

Healing from Shame in Confession | 1st Sunday of Lent (Year A)

Find out how Jesus wants to heal our wounds of shame through Confession. 

Feb 26, 202317:11
Unicorns and Lent | Homily for Ash Wednesday

Unicorns and Lent | Homily for Ash Wednesday

If the Catholic Church was a sport's team & had a mascot, would this mascot be the unicorn?

Find out why not...

Feb 23, 202312:07
HOMILY | Your Cross by St. Francis de Sales

HOMILY | Your Cross by St. Francis de Sales

Don't try to run away from the crosses that come... embrace them. 


St. Francis de Sales invites us to a different approach

The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart.

This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you.

He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.

Feb 18, 202305:36
The Wound of Fear | Homily for 6th Sunday (Year A)

The Wound of Fear | Homily for 6th Sunday (Year A)

Don't fight or flight from the deadly wound of fear... invite Jesus in...

Feb 13, 202312:48
WHY did Jesus WEEP over Lazarus? with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

WHY did Jesus WEEP over Lazarus? with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Knowing that He would raise Him from the dead, WHY did Jesus still WEEP over Lazarus? 

Meg Hunter-Kilmer answers the question. 

Feb 09, 202320:09
The AMAZING story of Simeon and the Septuagint || with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

The AMAZING story of Simeon and the Septuagint || with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Learn about the amazing story of how Simeon waited for Jesus. 

Feb 06, 202310:21
How the Eucharist Heals the Wound of Abandonment | Homily for 3rd Sunday (Year C)

How the Eucharist Heals the Wound of Abandonment | Homily for 3rd Sunday (Year C)

If God gave you a magic wand & granted you 1 wish, what would you wish for? What would be the 1 thing for ask from the Lord?

Jan 22, 202318:39
Jesus Wants to Marry You | All Girls Homily @ LFA, Vancouver

Jesus Wants to Marry You | All Girls Homily @ LFA, Vancouver

Jesus doesn't just have a crush on you and want to date you... He wants to marry you!

Jan 18, 202316:10
Give God Your Worst | Epiphany Homily

Give God Your Worst | Epiphany Homily

Incense is a beautiful symbol of what it looks like to give God our worst and why it is so precious to do so. 

Jan 11, 202318:22
How to Love Baby Jesus | 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A)

How to Love Baby Jesus | 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A)

How do you fall in love with baby Jesus?

Learn about straws of love for Jesus' manger. 

Dec 18, 202214:04
World Cup of Soccer Finals and Salvation History | Part 2

World Cup of Soccer Finals and Salvation History | Part 2

Do you know what are the 2 tactics the devil uses to keep us out of the world cup of salvation history?

Dec 17, 202207:19
World Cup of Soccer Finals and Salvation History | Homily

World Cup of Soccer Finals and Salvation History | Homily

Imagine if...

Dec 16, 202205:52
Holy Moments Can Change Your Life | Part 1 | Homily for 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Holy Moments Can Change Your Life | Part 1 | Homily for 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Do you believe you can become a saint?

Do you believe you can create just 1 holy moment? 

Dec 11, 202213:08
The Sacrament of Confession | Snowballs & Torches | EXPLAINED

The Sacrament of Confession | Snowballs & Torches | EXPLAINED

A new analogy to understand the fire of God's love to melt away all of our sins in Confession

Dec 01, 202204:50
The Advent Straw Challenge | Homily for 1st Sunday of Advent

The Advent Straw Challenge | Homily for 1st Sunday of Advent

This Advent: 

Will you be a consumer (and focus on yourself)?

or a consoler (and focus on Jesus)?

Join our parish-wide challenge!


Nov 27, 202212:48
Why Euthanasia is WRONG | Homily for 33rd Sunday Year C

Why Euthanasia is WRONG | Homily for 33rd Sunday Year C

3 reasons Euthanasia is wrong is that it's a failure to love yourself, others, and God. 

Nov 14, 202218:07
God Loves Backwards with Justin Bieber | HOMILY 31st Sunday Year C

God Loves Backwards with Justin Bieber | HOMILY 31st Sunday Year C

God loves backwards. 

The crazy love of God.

Jesus loves good behaviour into us. 

Nov 02, 202213:44
HOMILY | St. Mark Ji Tianxiang: Drug Addict Saint

HOMILY | St. Mark Ji Tianxiang: Drug Addict Saint

One of my new favourite saints - a Chinese martyr of the 19th century... St. Mark Ji Tianxiang.

Mark was an opium addict at the time of his death.

  • Not had been an opium addict... in some previous sinful life of his before he had some dramatic conversion story you read about in the lives of the saints...

No. Mark was an opium addict at the time of his death.

Oct 09, 202210:15
Grouse Grind with Blessed Pier-Giorgio Frassati | Homily for 25th Sunday (Year C)

Grouse Grind with Blessed Pier-Giorgio Frassati | Homily for 25th Sunday (Year C)

There are two options to get to the top of Grouse Mountain

  1. Hike up - the hard approach
  2. Gondola - the easy approach

This is the same in life.

Allow the story of Blessed Pier-Giorgio Frassati to inspire you for greatness

Sep 18, 202217:00
HOMILY | Hungry Hearts | 23rd Sunday Year C

HOMILY | Hungry Hearts | 23rd Sunday Year C

Our hearts are hungry until they are fed on God alone. 

What's your happy meal? 

Sep 11, 202215:14
Shia LaBeouf Conversion | EXPLAINED | 3 Lessons for Today with Fr. Richard Conlin

Shia LaBeouf Conversion | EXPLAINED | 3 Lessons for Today with Fr. Richard Conlin

3 lessons:

  1. suffering
  2. saints
  3. surrender
Aug 27, 202222:28
Be a DORY | How to be COUNTER-CULTURAL (Part 2) | Homily

Be a DORY | How to be COUNTER-CULTURAL (Part 2) | Homily

Who are you a Dory for?

Who's your Dory?

Aug 21, 202214:26
Be a Salmon | Homily by Fr. Richard (20th Sunday)

Be a Salmon | Homily by Fr. Richard (20th Sunday)

The salmon's journey is a great image of the life that Jesus lived.

In today's 2nd reading,

we heard that

Jesus, for the sake of the JOY that was set before Him

  • endured the hostility of sinners
  • & the shame of the Cross

Jesus swam upstream

to the goal of heaven

And when Jesus ended His amazing journey

  • to the place he came from.

just like the salmon

  • In his death, Jesus was able to bring forth an abundance of new life - eternal life.
Aug 15, 202215:08