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by Chris Stefanick | Real Life Catholic
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- 2 days ago6 min
Part of You Is Already in Heaven (The Ascension Changes Everything)
Ascension Sunday — What does it mean that Jesus ascended into heaven in a human body? More than you might think. In this week's Sunday Gospel reflection, Chris shares a deeply personal story about a miscarriage 17 years ago — and the surprising consolation that came with it: the realization that a part of his flesh was already on the other side, already with the Lord. That's not just his story. Because of the Ascension of our Lord, it's your story too. Jesus didn't just ascend as God. He ascended as fully God and fully man — which means our humanity, our full humanity, is now inserted into the very life of the Trinity. Not absorbed. Not dissolved. But there — a human being in the midst of heavenly glory. And here's what that means for you: wherever you are today — in grief, in longing, in a midlife crisis wondering why nothing ever fully satisfies — part of you has already made it. The head of the Body of Christ is already in glory, and where the head is, the body will follow. Watch this reflection and let the Ascension do what it was meant to do: change how you see absolutely everything. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Chris says the Ascension means "a part of our humanity is already in glory." How does understanding that Jesus ascended as fully human — not just divine — change the way you think about your own destiny? 2. Chris shares that the miscarriage, as painful as it was, gave him a consolation that made death "less scary." Have you ever experienced a moment of grief or loss that unexpectedly deepened your hope in heaven? What did that feel like? 3. Chris talks about the deep longing that no amount of success, adventure, or achievement can satisfy — and how this longing often leads to a "midlife crisis." Where do you feel that longing most in your own life? How does the Ascension speak to it? 4. The Church is the Body of Christ — and where the head goes, the body follows. What difference would it make in your daily life if you woke up each morning truly believing you are being pulled toward glory right now? 5. At the end of the video, Chris meets a woman who simply started a young adult group (now 30 people) and another who launched a women's Bible study with 110 attendees — just by doing it. Is there something in your parish or community that needs to be done, where maybe God is calling you to be the one to do it? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Help support us as we seek to bring our transformative CORE Confirmation program to this next generation: https://reallifecatholic.com/confirmation/ Chapters - The Ascension of Our Lord Into Heaven
- 6 days ago42 min
Leading With the Heart in an Age of Selfishness | Tommy Spaulding
In this powerful new episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author Tommy Spaulding to talk about his book The Heart-Led Leader—and why the path to real success runs through your heart, not your ego. Tommy's story floored me. He was a severely dyslexic kid who was openly mocked by his classmates. He graduated at the bottom of his class. His own guidance counselor told him college wasn't for him. Today, he's one of the most sought-after leadership voices in the country, training CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the world. How did he get here? One word: love. Tommy shares jaw-dropping stories in this episode—like the bank CEO who walked out into 100-degree Georgia heat and personally delivered a truckload of seafood so a stranger wouldn't lose his job. That same CEO grew his bank from $220 million to $2.6 billion…by leading with love. We also talk about the daily practice Tommy calls his "influence audit"—a habit so powerful that I'm going to try it immediately. And if you're a parent, don't miss the part where he explains why his kids actually want to hang out with him as adults. (Hint: it's not an accident.) This one's packed with wisdom you can start applying tomorrow morning—whether you're running a company, raising kids, or just trying to be a better human. ....... Read Tommy's book The Heart-Led Leader: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Led-Lead... ....... Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ Chapters - Tommy Spalding - On Being a Heart Led Leader - In Touch With Up With People's Ken Blanchard - Mission at Joy - A message from the Oscars - The Love of the Workplace - The Secret to Success: Jackson McConnell's Story - Chris Rock: I Run Towards Pain - Tom France on Heart-Led Leadership - The Life of Leadership - Marriage Is More Important Than Family - It's not about you - Tom Cruise on The Gift of Influence - Chris Farley in Prayer
- 1 weeks ago14 min
You’ve Never Seen the Holy Spirit This Way (and It Can Change Your Life)
Jesus says something extraordinary in John 14: "If you love me, keep my commands. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete to be with you forever." Most of us have heard that word — Paraclete — without ever really sitting with what it means. I guarantee that if you've been Catholic for 20, 40, even 90 years, you may have never heard it talked about quite this way. The word doesn't translate neatly into English. It can mean Advocate, Counselor, Comforter — but none of those words alone capture it. It's the one who comes alongside you. The one who coaches you, defends you, encourages you, and stirs you forward. Jesus isn't just sending a force or a feeling. He's sending a Person — the Holy Spirit — to be with you and in you. And then Jesus says this: "I will not leave you orphans." That's the promise. You are not navigating this life alone. The same Spirit that hovered over the waters at creation, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead — that Spirit is available to you, right now, in the middle of your ordinary life. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Jesus says, "I will not leave you orphans." Where in your life right now do you most need to hear that promise — and believe it? 2. The word "Paraclete" means advocate, counselor, and one who comes alongside. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in one of these roles, even if you didn't recognize it at the time? 3. Chris points out that most Catholics have never really heard the Holy Spirit talked about this way. Why do you think the Holy Spirit is so often the "forgotten" Person of the Trinity — and what would it look like to change that in your own life? 4. Jesus says the world "neither sees nor knows" the Spirit, but his followers do. What does it mean to you to be someone who knows the Holy Spirit? How does that change how you approach daily life? 5. The Holy Spirit advocates for us, encourages us, and stirs us forward — even when life is hard and exhausting. Can you think of a moment in your life when, looking back, you can see the Holy Spirit was doing exactly that? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 -----Bring REBOOT to your parish. Learn more here: https://reallifecatholic.com/reboot/ Chapters - The Renewal of the Holy Spirit - John 14: Paraclete - Advocates in the Gospel - What is the Paraclete? - How to Encourage Your Wife and Father - The Holy Spirit
- 1 weeks ago33 min
I Shared the Gospel with a Muslim in a Bathroom Stall and He Wept | Dave VanVickle
Buckle up — this episode is packed with jaw-dropping stories of conversion that will restore your faith in God's power and remind you that He is actively moving in the world right now. Dave VanVickle is a Catholic lay evangelist who has spent decades sharing the Gospel in every setting imaginable — from airport bathroom stalls to living rooms, from airplane seats to underground mission fields. In this conversation with Chris, Dave shares some of the most remarkable stories of grace you've ever heard, including: ✅ A devout Muslim man in the Chicago O'Hare airport who had been having dreams of a bloody man on a cross for a month — and followed Dave into a bathroom to ask him about Jesus ✅ A missionary in Africa who drove a truck full of Bibles into the middle of nowhere at God's direction, and watched hundreds of people emerge from the darkness one by one to receive them ✅ A Muslim woman on a plane who, while meditating on her own god, witnessed a vision of that god bowing before the Christ child ✅ A 16-year-old Muslim girl in Iraq who, after witnessing a Christian boy's martyrdom at the hands of ISIS, gave her life to Jesus on the spot — and refused to deny Him even to save her own life ✅ A trafficking survivor named Jane whose humanity was restored by the simple, unconditional love of Dave's family — especially his daughter Louisa. But this episode isn't just about extraordinary miracles. It's a challenge and a call: You can be used by God. All it takes is a willingness to pray, "Lord, if you open a door, I'll walk through it" — and the courage to say something, even imperfectly. Dave and Chris also unpack how to share the core Gospel message simply and confidently, how to invite someone to personally encounter Jesus (not just know about Him), and why Catholics need to stop skipping the first step of evangelization. The episode closes with a powerful prayer of surrender that you — and anyone you know — can pray right now. HIGHLIGHTS 0:00 — Intro 3:11 — The airport bathroom encounter: a Muslim man's month of dreams about Jesus 8:10 — A missionary in Africa and the truck full of Bibles 10:52 — A Muslim woman on a plane has a vision of the Nativity 13:00 — Getting back to basics: the core Gospel message anyone can share 15:49 — Jane: a trafficking survivor, Louisa's insistence, and the power of love 22:28 — ISIS, martyrdom, and a 16-year-old Muslim girl who wouldn't deny Jesus 29:33 — Why Catholics keep getting the order wrong — and what to do instead 30:00— How Dave's wife Amber was transformed simply by reading the Gospels daily 31:30— A prayer of surrender: receive Jesus right now ....... Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ Chapters - Christian Conversion Stories - Mission of Joy - Steve Milgrad - One Muslim man prayed in the bathroom - Missionary Stories of Jesus Appearing in Dreams - How to Convince a Lost Soul of the Gospel - How to Convince a Muslim to Die - Give Your Life to the Lord - Why Does Liturgy Matter? C.S. lewis - How Do I Bring My Child Back to the Faith? - Prayer for the Unconfused
- 2 weeks ago13 min
Practicing Heaven and a Prayer from Theo Von
What does Jesus mean when He says, "In my Father's house, there are many dwellings"? This week's Gospel (John 14) contains one of the most comforting — and surprisingly practical — promises Jesus ever made. And it has everything to do with how you live right now. In this Sunday Gospel reflection, Chris Stefanick unpacks the rich meaning behind Jesus' words — including the ancient Jewish wedding imagery that would have blown the minds of His first listeners — and shares three concrete ways you can start practicing heaven today. Plus: a viral prayer from comedian and podcaster Theo Von that captures something profound about radical honesty with God — and why it just might be the key to letting Him truly dwell with you. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Jesus describes heaven as a "dwelling with" rather than just a place. How does that image change the way you think about eternal life — and does it make it feel more or less intimidating? 2. Chris uses the image of a thimble versus an ocean to describe different capacities for God in heaven. Does that idea motivate you, challenge you, or concern you? Why? 3. Chris says our culture "celebrates busyness." Do you recognize that in your own life? What's one practical step you could take to practice simply being — with God, with yourself, or with the people you love? 4. Theo Von's prayer is marked by radical honesty — even admitting to God the ways he knows he's lying to Him. Is there a part of your heart or your life you tend to hide from God in prayer? What would it look like to invite Him into that part? 5. The Sabbath is described as a weekly rehearsal for heaven. How seriously do you take Sabbath rest? What would it mean for your family or your community to treat one day a week as a genuine practice of "just being"? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Help support us as we seek to bring our transformative CORE Confirmation program to this next generation: https://reallifecatholic.com/confirma... ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ Chapters - Theoretically Preparing For Heaven With This Prayer - Jesus said, In My Father's House There Are Many Dwellings - Be With Your Lovely Ones - He Invited God Into His Broken Heart - Prayer for the Week
- 2 weeks ago49 min
Never Lose Hope for Your Kids | Gordy Demarais
What if the hardest moments of your life are exactly what God wants to use? In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, Chris sits down with Gordy Demarais—co-founder of St. Paul's Outreach and one of the founding figures behind NET Ministries—for a conversation packed with extraordinary stories of conversion, raw honesty about family struggle, and one of the most hope-filled messages you'll hear for parents of kids who have walked away from the faith. Gordy's story begins in tragedy: losing his father at 15, drifting from the faith, and spending a summer desperately searching for meaning. Then a chance encounter—and a youth center that was on fire for the gospel—changed everything. That same renewal sparked two of the most influential Catholic youth ministries in North America. But this conversation isn't just about ministry. Gordy opens up about the season when his own family hit a breaking point, what it looks like to love a child who is pulling away, and why the only thing that ultimately sustained him was trusting in a Father who loves our kids even more than we do. In this episode, we cover: -How Gordy lost his faith after his father's death—and how God found him anyway -The youth center in Minneapolis that sparked NET Ministries and St. Paul's Outreach -Why the Gospel is Good News, not good advice—and how that distinction changes everything -Wild, real-life stories of conversion happening today -What to do when your family is in crisis and you can't see a way out -How to stay connected to your kids when they seem unreachable -A message of unshakeable hope for every parent with a prodigal child "No matter how much we love our kids, they have a Father in heaven who loves them infinitely more than we do. He is persistent—always pursuing, always pressing in." — Gordy Demarais ....... Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Learn more about St. Paul's Outreach www.spo.org ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: www.EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ Chapters - Chris Stefanick - St. Paul's Outreach: The Story of the Ministry - Catholic doctrine and the love of God - Jesus on the Heavy Burden - St. Paul's Outreach: The 3 Ingredients - The Struggles of Being a Parent - What Went Wrong in My Life? - How God revealed His Love for Me - How to Love Your Wife - Never Lose Hope for Parents in the Struggle
- 3 weeks ago45 min
Having No Arms Helped Me Embrace the Cross | John Foppe
John Foppe was born without arms — and he wouldn't have it any other way. In this powerful episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, John shares how a childhood of trauma, tough love, and feeling different led to a life-changing mission trip to Haiti, a career in corporate motivation under Zig Ziglar, and the founding of Friends of the Forgotten — an organization connecting adults with disabilities to institutionalized children in the developing world. John opened a can of Coke with his feet right in front of me. He eats salads with a fork. He's been traveling internationally by himself for 35 years. As he says, "there are no unsolvable problems." We go deep on embracing your cross, the lies that hold us back, the theology of presence, contemplative prayer, and why suffering isn't just redemptive—it's worship. This is the truth I think every single one of us needs to hear: your pain is not an accident. It's a feature. It's your connection to the crucified Christ. I asked John: if I could snap my fingers and give you arms, would you take them? His answer floored me. If you've ever felt disqualified, not enough, or like your pain has no purpose—this conversation will change that. HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Intro3:06 "There are no unsolvable problems."9:46 A mission trip to Haiti triggers a painful flashback.11:44 A little boy in Mother Teresa's hospital changes everything.13:38 He wasn't asking to be picked up — he was hugging me.24:00 Suffering isn't just redemptive — it's worship.27:01 Don't follow your passion. Take up God's mission.40:43 "Would you take the arms?" John's answer is immediate. Check out Friends of the Forgotten: https://www.friendsforgotten.org/.......Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP........Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0........Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ Chapters - Daily Inspiration - A Paralyzed Man's Challenge to His Disability - When Did You First Realize That You're Different? - One of the Disabilities of the World - Missionaries of Joy - Deliver Me From the Cross - Inspiring speakers: Zig Ziglar - In the Elevator With a High School Student - John Fappe on His Suffering - Chris Gantz on Friends of the Forgotten - John on The Theology of Presence - Wonders of the World - Pilgrims Praying the Jesus Prayer - Pray for Those Who Are Lonely
- Apr 18, 20267 min
Stop Trying to Figure it Out
There's an old Greek storytelling trick called Deus ex machina—"God from the machine." When the playwright wrote his characters into a corner he couldn't get them out of, he'd just lower a god onto the stage on a crane, and boom—everything's fixed. Aristotle called it lazy writing. But here's the thing: the Bible is full of Deus ex machina moments. Not because God is a bad writer—but because we tend to write ourselves into corners we can't get out of. That's exactly what was happening on the road to Emmaus. A couple (a lot of theologians think it was a married couple—Cleopas and his wife Mary) is walking home, devastated. They'd given up time, income, maybe everything, to follow Jesus. And now He was dead. Game over. They're walking home feeling like fools, talking and talking, their problem-solving brains spinning in circles. And right in the middle of that mess, the solution drops down and starts walking with them! The first people Jesus appeared to in the Gospel of Luke after the Resurrection weren't the apostles or the official leadership. It was a husband and wife in their lowest moment, unsure what to do with their lives. He loves you in that moment. Look, your brain is a beautiful problem-solving supercomputer. God gave it to you, so use it. But sometimes the most practical thing you can do in a crisis is stop trying to figure it out, get on your knees, and pray: Lord, I want the mind of Christ. Give me Your eyes to see this. Come, Lord Jesus. David slew Goliath with a sling and five smooth stones. Sometimes the biggest problems get knocked out by the simplest of solutions. Whatever you're carrying—invite Him in. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1. When you face a problem or crisis, what's your default move—do you tend to think your way out of it, or do you bring it to the Lord first? Why? 2. The disciples on the road to Emmaus said, "We had hoped he was the one"—past tense. Have you ever experienced a moment when your hope in God felt like past tense? What did that feel like? 3. Chris suggests that Jesus often appears in our "low moments" rather than our high ones. Where in your life right now might Jesus be walking beside you that you haven't recognized yet? 4. The couple invited Jesus into their home. What would it look like, practically, to invite Jesus deeper into your home this week—your conversations, your routines, your relationships? 5. Is there a specific situation in your life where you need to stop trying to figure it out and pray instead? What's one concrete way you can "invite Him in" this week (e.g., a Rosary, a holy hour, prayer with your spouse)? -----Watch the episode on Divine Mercy with Fr. Chris Alar: https://youtu.be/81-skhKl0-w-----Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox:https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP-----Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0-----Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages Chapters - Deus Ex Machina - The Road to Emmaus - The Marriage of Cleopas and Martha
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About Chris Stefanick Catholic Show
The world says the Catholic Faith is boring. And too often, we act like we believe it. Ready to live your Faith like an adventure instead? Chris Stefanick wants to help you live the JOY God created you for, right here and now. Hit Play and get rolling!
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