Catholicism was never meant to be a brand. It was meant to burn.This video digs into Catholic consumerism and influencer culture. How it often trades the Cross for comfort, mysticism for marketing, and fire for aesthetics.The mystics didn’t curate vibes; they ached, bled, and burned for God. What happens when Catholicism gets packaged as a lifestyl…

Mary is not just the Mother of Christ. She is the Bride who bled at the Cross. In this episode, we journey into the heart of Our Lady of Sorrows, exploring why she bears so many titles, the deep meaning of her Seven Sorrows, and why this devotion matters for Catholics today. From Scripture to the saints, we see how her pierced heart teaches us to l…

In this episode, we uncover the dark side of St. Francis: the prisoner of war with possible PTSD, the mystic who bled with Christ, the man whose body rotted from illness and sacrifice while his brothers betrayed him. This isn’t the birdbath saint. This is the saint of wounds, blindness, rot, and song.…

Catholic mysticism isn’t just for monks or cloistered nuns—it’s the everyday spiritual life lived deeply. In this video, we explore how to live Catholic mysticism through a daily rhythm of receiving and offering. Drawing from the wisdom of the saints and the rich contemplative tradition of the Church, this episode offers a practical and accessible …

Most people in Scripture tremble when they see angels. But not Mary Magdalene.In this episode, we explore why Magdalene wept past angels at the tomb, mistook God for a gardener, and recognized the Risen Christ not by sight—but by the sound of her name. Drawing from the Song of Songs and the writings of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, we reflect on bridal…

Mass Prep for the Mystic Heart: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeMary, Martha, and When the Guest Is GodGospel: Luke 10:38–42This week’s Gospel is short, but it holds a holy tension — a quiet drama between activity and intimacy. In this reflection, we pause with Mary at the feet of Jesus, and gently examine what it means to choose the “better part.…

What if the Catholic sacraments weren’t just rituals… but part of a divine love story?In this episode, we explore the sacraments through the lens of bridal mysticism—a tradition as ancient as the Church itself. From Baptism to the Eucharist, we walk step-by-step through the weekly rhythm of the Mass as a vow renewal between Christ and the soul. Eac…

Many Catholics worry about praying the rosary “correctly.” But what if that’s never what it was about? In this episode, we explore the two pillars the rosary was built on—loving repetition and meditation on Christ’s life—and trace its roots back to the monastic Divine Office and Lectio Divina. The rosary is not a checklist. It’s a spiritual love st…

Is the Gospel just about sin and salvation… or is it also a wedding story? In this episode, we explore Jesus as the Divine Bridegroom — a theme woven from Genesis to Revelation, from the Jewish wedding customs of the ancient world to the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Mass. Bridal theology isn’t just poetic; it’s profoundly biblical and deep…

Is receiving Communion in the hand irreverent? Or could it be… bridal? In this video, we explore the mystical and biblical beauty of receiving the Eucharist in the hand—through the lens of saints, Scripture, and the Song of Songs. Drawing from the writings of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catherine of Siena, and the tradition of Eucharistic mysticism, we…

Why does the most intimate book in the Bible begin with a kiss? In this episode, we explore the Song of Songs through the lens of Catholic bridal mysticism—a love story not just between a Bride and her Beloved, but between your soul and God. We’ll walk through the spiritual arc of the Song: longing, absence, union, and the deep healing that comes w…

We’re told to seek God. But what if He’s already seeking us? This episode introduces Bridal Mysticism — a deeply Catholic tradition that sees the soul as the beloved of Christ. We explore: The parable of the Bride Who Ran How Scripture tells a love story from Genesis to Revelation Why burnout and scrupulosity miss the heart of the Gospel You're not…

Are you overwhelmed by Catholic devotions, content, and the pressure to “get holier faster”? You’re not alone. In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we explore the growing experience of Catholic spiritual burnout. From overloading your life with novenas, consecrations, and scapulars, to the anxiety of trying to keep up with Catholic content and …

Spiritual Attack or Dark Night of the Soul? A Guide to Discernment Not every battle is with the devil—sometimes, the silence is from God. In this episode, we explore the difference between spiritual attack and the Dark Night of the Soul. Many today blame hardship on demonic interference, but what if God is the one withdrawing, inviting us to love H…

Praying a novena shouldn’t feel like a chore—or a transaction. The mystics teach us that novena prayer is a path into the heart of God, not a formula for getting what we want. In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we explore how to pray novenas in a contemplative, mystical way. Learn how to transform this nine-day devotion from legalistic repeti…

Saint of the Liminal. Saint of the Desert. Saint of the Moon. John the Baptist isn’t just the wild prophet of the Jordan — he is the mystic of the in-between. In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we explore how John embodies the liminal, the purgative power of the desert, and the quiet radiance of reflected light. We’ll dive into: John as the T…

Long before devotion to the Sacred Heart was formalized, a few mystics were already listening—already burning. In this episode, we explore the mystical beginnings of Sacred Heart devotion through the lives and visions of three extraordinary women: — St. Lutgardis, the first to exchange hearts with Christ. — St. Gertrude the Great, who heard the hea…

In this contemplative episode, I offer a poetic spiritual letter inspired by the Feast of the Ascension. Drawing on the language of Scripture, bridal mysticism, and the insights of saints like Bernard of Clairvaux, this reflection explores the longing of the soul for the risen and ascended Christ. The Ascension is not Christ’s departure, but His dr…

As I explain in the video, I don't like talking about my personal experiences in prayer. Though, given that this was the experience that led me back to Catholicism, and something that shows the merits of contemplative prayer within the Catholic tradition, this is one "experience" that I am okay with sharing. While experiences are not the point, the…

Catholics are often told to meditate. "Meditate" on the mysteries of the rosary, "meditate" on scripture - and yet, we are rarely told "how" to do it. Though many of the mystics and saints of our faith, names like St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. John Paul II, St. Catherine of Siena, and many more practiced what is called Lectio Divi…

Scrupulosity is an issue for many Catholics. In this video, I will address scrupulosity as an imbalance between the three transcendentals of the faith. Scrupulous thinking is often a sign of too much of a focus on the intellect, and neglecting charity and devotion. We will also be discussing the true nature of God, and how sometimes we treat Yahweh…

Catholic Mysticism is a dynamic part of the Catholic faith. I'd even argue ALL of Catholicism is "mystical". However, over the years we have disenchanted the faith and traded our mysticism for an over intellectualism and even a modernism. #Catholic #Catholicism #Spirituality #Christianity #Mysticism #prayer…

What do we know about our latest pope, Leo XIV? Well, not much! But we can predict a few things from Robert Prevost's choice of name as well as his background. Similarly, let's discuss the issues in politicizing papal figures - and how it leads to losing the supernatural. Join me as we pray for the new pope!…

Pope Sylvester II was alleged to be a wizard, necromancer and even allegedly built a brass head that could tell the future. Was this true? Probably not - but let's explore how these myths came into being. This is also part of a Patreon exclusive series. Join my Patreon for the remainder of this series! http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue…

Join me as we reflect on this life and spirituality of Pope Francis. Here we discuss a few key themes in his work, that I feel, showcase a call to union, mysticism and an increased awareness of God in our lives.

We wrap up our series of the Sorrowful Mysteries and the Saints by diving into the story of St. Therese of Lisieux and seeing what her life teaches us about the Crucifixion, and Redemptive Suffering. If you've enjoyed this, please consider checking out the Patreon here: http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue…

We continue our series on the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary with St. Titus Brandsma. Titus was a Carmelite mystic who was killed in the Dachau concentration camp during WWII. However, alongside his amazing story are rich spiritual fruits especially when it comes to suffering and the Way of the Cross.…

Continuing our series on the mystics and the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. Here we discuss St. Catherine of Siena and the Crowning with Thorns. We discuss Catholic Mysticism, the way of purgation in the Catholic Church and much more!

Over the last few years I have noticed an extreme drop in discussing the internal life, only to be replaced on external fads, masquerading as spirituality. We must be better as Catholic influencers, and return to discussions on prayer, sanctity and the well-being of our soul. Rather than focusing on lifestyle preferences, and outward displays of de…

Let us continue our series on the sorrowful mysteries and the Catholic saints, as we discuss the scourging at the pillar and unite it with the writings of the incredible St. John of the Cross. If you'd like to support my work please consider joining my patreon at www.patreon.com/anthonystongue

In this episode we began a small series where we discussing the sorrowful mysteries and align them with stories from the lives of the saints. We begin this series with St. Gemma Galgani, her guardian angel, and how their stories intertwine with Christ's agony in the garden. For my previous episode on St. Gemma: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cHV…

To meditate on the entire Gospel of John with me, please join my patreon here: Patreon.com/AnthonysTongue I hope you enjoy this style of meditation, but more so, I hope that this introduces you to a way to grow closer to Christ this lent and beyond.

Let's get ready for Lent! This topic has been done today, so I hope to offer you four unique POVs for this lenten season. If you'd like to join our Lenten Gospel of John meditation please join us at Patreon.com/AnthonysTongue Books recommended this episode include: The Presence of God The Healing Power of the Rosary Station to Station Fire Within…

I've covered numerous stigmatists in my few years hosting this podcast: St. Francis, Padre Pio, Gemma Galgani... however, none are as unique as the Stigmata of Irving Houle. Irving was a grandfather and former plant manager out of Michigan. A totally normal guy, until ... he received the wounds of Christ in the stigmata. Unlike other stigmatists, I…

We continue our video series on Catholic Mysticism, as we discuss how did the mystics pray? If Christ was God, why did he pray? How does the church define prayer? And how does the church insist we pray? Learn this and more in our breakdown of Catholic Mysticism! If interested in supporting this podcast, please check out myPatreon here.…

For over two decades, a story has circulated claiming that a rosary prevented a murder from Ted Bundy. However, what is the historical evidence of this claim? Did it really happen? Also, what are the spiritual fruits of this story? Or are there more spiritual harm? Resources: Catholic Online Article https://www.catholic.org/news/national/story.php?…

This is the first episode in my video series called "Magnificat! An Exploration in Catholic Mysticism". We're going to cover a lot of the same themes I've covered over the years. Though, in a video format. Please also support me on YouTube where I'll also be sharing these! https://www.youtube.com/@StAnthonysTongue…

In this Q&A we discuss topics such as: How to remain focused in prayer. Should we tell our kids the truth about Santa? The identity of the Three Kings What to do when mystical visions contradict one another? & Much More! If you enjoy this episode, please consider joining my Patreon for even more bonus content like this.…

This is part of a larger series I am doing on Patreon, as I read the many visions of Bl. Anne Catherine and the birth of Christ. I hope you enjoy this bonus episode and check out my Patreon at: patreon.com/anthonystongue

Want more visions from the mystics? Check out my Patreon for more, and get access to over 700 pieces of bonus content, and more! Continuing our Advent with the Mystics Series, we look at three visions of the miraculous birth of Christ. Mystics include Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich, Maria of Agreda and Sr. Chiara Scarabelli.…

Did you know that St. Bernard of Clairvaux is one of the reasons we celebrate Christmas as a time of celebration, rather than penance? He also gives us a beautiful reflection on Advent called the Three Advents of Christ. I also hope you check out my two other episodes on St. Bernard from earlier in 2024. If you wish to support the podcast, please c…

Support my podcast at: patreon.com/anthonystongue While the popular thought of purgatory is a place of discomfort many saints, such as St. Catherine of Genoa, spoke of purgatory as a place of sorrow, yes - but also great joy. This episode discusses St. Catherine's mysticism and views of purgatory.

We will soon depart on a journey covering the "purgatory" mystics. But first, let's do a quick discussion on purgatory, and what it really is, it's mysticism, and how it's good news. For more bonus content, check out my Patreon!

St. Martha is famous for two very opposing things. Being a good hostess for the Lord and.. taming a dragon. In this episode we dive into this tale! Support the Podcast: Patreon.com/anthonystongue

Did you know that the first written instance of the Loch Ness monster comes from the biography of St. Columba? Let's talk about St. Columba battling this legendary beast! Support my work at Patreon.com/anthonystongue

Welcome to the first in our series on saints versus monsters! We kick off the series with a retelling of St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio. We then discuss the symbolism of the story and the topic of werewolves in Catholicism! Support my work through my patreon here!

Support My Work & Bonus Content: Patreon.com/AnthonysTongue Ghosts are integral to Catholic spirituality, however, we rarely emphasize it. Though, turning to things like the theology of Thomas Aquinas, but even more powerfully also communion of saints and spiritual warfare and the holy mass, we see the power and necessity of spirits in our faith. J…

Support the podcast through Patreon here! Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich is a mystic, seer, stigmatists and perhaps one of the most influential figures when it comes to Marian visions. Her visions were largely used for Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, and a lot of scenes from her visions are repeated often in art, homilies and general legends o…

Support through Patreon here! We're back with another listener Q&A - happy to bring this segment back. Here are a few of the topics we'll be discussing: Do we "have" to believe in the supernatural elements of Catholicism? Why would God give the stigmata? Why is the stigmata through the palms rather than the wrist? How do we know if the mystics and …

St. Titus Brandsma was a Carmelite priest, a mystic, and also a martyr. He was killed in a concentration camp due to protecting Catholic newspapers from Nazi propaganda and anti-semitism. This episode is quite special to me, so I hope you enjoy it! Please support my podcast through my patreon: Patreon.com/anthonystongue…