In this episode, Paul J. Kim highlights the profound impact of Mary has had on his life and shows the transformative power of Marian devotion and her intercessions. We dive into Mary's pivotal role in Christian theology, demonstrating her relevance in salvation history and responding to common Mary objections. You'll be sure to learn something new in this episode!

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Paul J. Kim's Links

Book Paul - pjkmusic.com

Catholic Adulting Course - catholicadulting.com

Instagram @heypjk

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Welcome back friends today.

2

I think today's going to be one of

my favorite episodes probably because

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we're going to be talking about Mary.

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And if you've followed me for

a while now, you know that I

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have a great devotion to her.

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She's played a huge role in

my life and in my prayer life.

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Uh, and today joining me is

a very special guest, Paul J.

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Kim.

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He is an incredible Catholic speaker.

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And if you have heard him speak,

you know that he is equally

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inspirational as he is hilarious.

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He always brings the comedy and the beat

boxing, and he's so entertaining to watch.

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Uh, and he's also the author and host of

the bestselling online course, a Catholic

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guide to adulting, which sounds like we

all could use a little bit of that wisdom.

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So Paul, welcome to ever

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

Thank you very much.

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That's not my accent.

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Good to be here with you, man.

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Track 1: Paul, for those who maybe

don't know much about you, can you

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share a little bit about your background

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: Well,

I was conceived in 19 No, I'm kidding.

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Um, so, a little bit about me.

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Yeah.

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Track 1: Not that far back.

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

not a good TMI.

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Um, so I would say, uh, long story short,

I was your typical average Catholic

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kid who is on the one way track of

being confirmed and never coming back

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that rhyme, that should be a song.

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Um, and God in his great mercy, especially

during my college years, essentially sent

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his mother to rattle me in the sweetest

and gentlest way possible through the

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prayer of the Rosary out of my lifestyle.

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And.

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That basically catapulted me into a

rediscovery of my Catholic faith, um,

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into my initial conversion, because

conversion is a lifetime thing.

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And I then discerned

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religious life with the CFRs for a

few years, thinking that might be it.

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So I hung around some pretty

holy and hairy dudes for a

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couple of years in New York city.

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And,

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Track 1: That's true.

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: um,

and it was, it was very formative.

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I know for yourself, you

were a focus missionary.

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I know many people go through net

focus, um, different faith based

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opportunities that really strengthen

and form them in so many ways.

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I didn't do the missionary route there,

but, um, being in formation with the

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CFRs was kind of that chapter for me.

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And so I discerned out naturally.

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Um, and I had to figure out what

my next best steps would be.

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And I thought maybe I'd be

like a Catholic therapist.

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So I went to school, got my master's

in marriage and family therapy.

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And it turns out no one calls you master.

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If you get a doctor, they call you doctor.

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So it was a bad deal.

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Um, no, I'm kidding.

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Yeah.

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Bad

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Track 1: Bad decision.

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: No,

uh, it was, it was great formation.

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Also.

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It helped me really understand

relationships that helped me

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understand a lot about myself.

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And while I didn't.

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ultimately do counseling.

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Um, around that time, God was

opening up doors for me to, to

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speak at local churches and youth

events and things like this.

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And honestly, that door kept opening

and I was like, all right, I'm just

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going to keep running through this door.

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Cause one, I enjoy it.

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And two, I can, you know, this is

becoming my career, if you will.

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But, but more than that, I

understood it to be a call.

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And so God was using all of those

interesting journeys in life,

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all those different chapters to

prepare me for what I'm doing now.

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Um, now happily married, uh,

uh, 11th year this August, got

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our, our sixth baby on the way.

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Life is crazy, but it's good.

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And it is such an adventure.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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So, so yeah, been doing ministry

as a full time Catholic speaker

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for the past 13 years or so.

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And, uh, just went to my

50th state, Pesky, Maine.

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And yeah,

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Track 1: Congrats.

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Congrats.

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That's

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: cool.

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It's cool to be able to say that.

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It's not like I reached every

soul in every state, but, um.

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You know, just to do my part and

that's ultimately what it is.

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You know, we can only

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do so much.

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We only have a limited amount

of time in life and reach, but

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it's, it's all a team effort.

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You know, mother Teresa, St.

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Mother Teresa, she once said, you

do what I can't do and I can do

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what you can't do and together We'll

do something beautiful for God.

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And that's ultimately it, you know, and

when I put it into that perspective, it's

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not about, it's not about competition.

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It's not about me being more notable or

notorious than this person or the next.

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Cause I mean, ironically, even in

ministry that can creep in, it's

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just what God, what do you want me to

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do?

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And I just want to be faithful to that.

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And at the end of the day,

that's all that matters, right?

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Living our vocation.

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Well, so a little bit about me.

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Thanks for listening.

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Track 1: Yep.

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That was great.

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That was perfect.

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Thank you for sharing that.

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you mentioned in a little bit of

that story that like Mary played

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a big role in your conversion.

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She, you know, you said that

she, she rattled you or she shook

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you, you know, she jumped in.

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So can you share more about that?

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Like what sparked your relationship with

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: I

was shooketh by her intercession.

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Um, yeah, speaking Gen Z terms

with, like, a British accent

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is quite interesting, actually.

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The Catholic Riz, chapter one.

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Uh,

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Track 1: Hey, you gotta meet

people where they're at.

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You know,

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

to all Zoomers.

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Um, uh, okay.

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So back to your question, sorry.

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Side track myself.

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Um, yeah, yeah.

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Yeah.

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So I went to UCLA for a few years and,

uh, it was during that time, you know,

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just typical party life, just, uh,

majoring in hedonism pursuit of pleasure.

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Um, and during, during that time, uh,

my conscience was bothering me and.

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I, I believe God was using that to

kind of lead me back to himself.

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And so, yeah, I just, I was like,

okay, how do I connect with God?

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I guess I'll pull out a rosary.

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That seems like an awfully

Catholic thing to do.

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And so I pray, I started praying the

rosary and oddly enough, um, I felt

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more peace and joy and purpose in

that 25 minutes of prayer than from

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the whole week of screwing around.

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And so it fascinated me because I

was like, that felt really good.

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You know, and it's, it's kind of funny

because when you like you browse through

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social media, you see all these people

and all these influencers and God only

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knows where they're coming from or what

their, you know, their values or life,

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life, uh, view worldview is,

but you know, there, I think.

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I think I know the easy answer and

it's because we're all hardwired to

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have a relationship with the infinite

and and God alone is infinite, right?

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We all have this hunger and desire

to search for more and so naturally

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like all these people are like

talking about meditation and like

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manifesting and all these like Kind

of spiritual things that might go and

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miss the mark, but still there's

that hunger and desire, right?

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And so for me, praying the rosary

was kind of that lifeline where I

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was like, Oh, oh yeah, I have a soul.

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I should probably like think about

what my soul looks like and what

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my relationship with God is like.

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And so as I was praying the

rosary, I just came back to it

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the day after and the next day.

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And I'm kind of, you know, like playing

hopscotch where I'm like one foot into

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like whatever the heck I want to do

and one foot into like, all right,

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I want to try to be a good Catholic

or whatever, because this is new.

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But eventually it came to a head where,

um, you know, Mary was really, um, she

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was trying extra hard to get my attention.

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Um, and the Catholic understanding of

things is called like a signal grace

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where, Not necessarily like a miracle.

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I guess a mini miracle,

if you will, where yeah,

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like I'm sitting by myself on a bench

outside my dorm room and I'm praying and

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I start smelling roses out of nowhere,

you know, for no particular reason.

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Right.

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And so for me, that was kind of a no

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brainer.

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I'm like, uh, it was

probably, probably Mary.

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Yeah.

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She's probably trying to

get my attention here.

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And I'm being led slowly but

surely back to the sacraments like

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reconciliation and I make a good

confession for like the first time

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ever in college where I'm actually

transparent and Repentance and wanting

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to get all the things off my chest.

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And then that leads me towards the

Eucharist where I'm like, all right, let's

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go to, I don't know, mass on a weekday.

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Let's just keep going down this route.

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Let's try to figure out like what

this Catholic thing is all about.

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Cause you know, once again, a

professional Catholic on paper, but

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sorely lacking in one fundamental piece.

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And that is a relationship with Christ.

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You know, it really is that simple.

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And I get it like, especially in

our cultural climate, if you spend

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any time online, there's like this.

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perpetual beef between like

Catholics and Protestants and the

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Protestants will say, well, it's

all about relationship with Jesus.

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And then they're like,

it's not about religion.

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It's about relationship.

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And like to that, I say, eh, well

with an asterisk, yes, it's about

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relationship with Jesus, which I

needed in my life at that time.

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And that was actually really important

because naturally in scripture, you

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know, the disciples have an encounter.

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a relationship with the Lord.

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And then, but at the same time,

he does establish a religion.

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And I mean, even Protestant churches

are technically a religion because

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they have ways of understanding

God, ways of practicing their faith.

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They have traditions and rituals, even

in their very non Catholic services.

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And so it's neither here nor there.

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It's just, it is what it is.

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I needed to connect in a way that was,

you With that personal relationship

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element of knowing God, of being known

by him and, and our lady, Mary, you

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know, the, the, the common complaint

or concern or just argument, if you

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will, is that she is a distraction,

she is an idol, she is, you shouldn't

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focus on her, she will lead you astray.

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That's not what God wanted.

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You should just go straight to God.

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And to all of that, I say, well,

actually, if you look in scripture, Mary's

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desire isn't to like flex on herself.

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Like she's trying to do

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one thing and one thing alone.

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And that is one to glorify God, who

happens to be her father, but also

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happens to be her son, which is a pretty

wild relationship to have with God.

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Um, but also like John chapter two,

verse five, do whatever he tells you.

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Right.

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First miracle of Cana, like that

could easily summarize her mo or

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her mission statement, which is

like, just do whatever he tells you.

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I just

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want you to follow my son.

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And so in real time, I was experiencing

that where, as I'm spending time with her,

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praying the rosary, you know, Getting to

know the gospels through her eyes and St.

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Jean Paul, the second and his letter on,

um, uh, gosh, I forgot the actual title.

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It may have just been a letter on

the Holy Rosary, but it's essentially

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back in 2002, where he announced

the, um, the luminous mysteries.

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So the first time in

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hundreds of years, like a Pope

had basically established a new

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set of mysteries, the luminous

mysteries, to emphasize the

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divinity of Christ, his ministry.

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And I remember in that letter so

beautifully written, he says that The

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rosary is a School of Mary where we're

spending time meditating on the life of

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Christ through the eyes of the mother.

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And who knew Christ's best?

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I mean, the

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whole joyful mysteries, if you think

about it, the gospel writer Luke St.

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Luke.

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I mean, he had to have sat down

with Our Lady and asked her

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these intimate questions about

what was your experience like.

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Tell me, like, first hand, what happened?

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Uh, the angel Gabriel appeared to you?

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What?

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You, you went to your cousin Elizabeth?

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That's what she said?

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Like, the only way he could have

actually received this information

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is if he sat down and spoke to her.

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So, if you think about it, the Gospel, I

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mean, the Gospels, especially the

Gospel of Luke, I mean, that's

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like first hand eyewitness stuff

through the eyes of Our Lady.

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Right.

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Right?

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And so,

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Track 1: I love that.

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I never thought about it like that.

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That's so

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: so, as

I'm sitting there, you know, in prayer

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with Our Lady, Unbeknownst to me, she's,

yeah, she's giving me also a first hand

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view into the life of Christ, and, and

of course, like, on the other side of

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eternity now, she's able to intercede

in a much more profound way, and that's

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what she's doing for me, and I'm like,

whoa, okay, I, I'm kind of understanding

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the gospel more, I'm intrigued, I, I

want a relationship with God, I, I want

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to be in right relationship with him.

263

I want to be in his grace.

264

I, I, should probably

go back to confession.

265

I, I should probably like figure

out this mass thing because I've

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done it all my life, but there

just wasn't much of a connection.

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But as I opened my heart in faith and

as I pursued the Lord, um, you know,

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and I share this all the time, but

in Jeremiah, God says, if you seek me

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with all your heart, you'll find me.

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And that's essentially what was happening.

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And Mary was there every step of

the way, every step of the way.

272

And so, um, I showed the story a lot

too, but for some reason, our lady under

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the title of our lady of Guadalupe was

like present throughout the string.

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It was always our lady of Guadalupe.

275

And I joke around.

276

It's because I'm so Mexican

that she just really.

277

You know, just reaches

out to me, but it's funny.

278

Like that image, she was always there.

279

And so that I went to

this church called St.

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Paul's down the street from UCLA.

281

And I remember like praying before her

image of our lady Guadalupe asking her

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to make, help me make a good confession.

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And then I'm, I'm waiting in

line and I opened the door and

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then the roses again, the smell.

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And I'm like, okay, they must be in here.

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And

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I'm looking around, there's no roses.

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And then after my confession, I asked

the father, I'm like, do you smell roses?

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He's like, I smell my sandwich.

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I don't know what you're talking about.

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And.

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You know, it's like Mary is

there at all the key moments

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in the life of Christ, right?

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And she was there at the foot of the

cross when his side was opened up, right?

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He was pierced with a lance and

his blood and water poured out

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and became the fountain of mercy

for the whole world, right?

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And so naturally it makes sense

that in a way she would be

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there with me at confession.

299

We're mystically speaking sacramentally

like that blood and water is

300

being poured out on my soul again.

301

And so she's there She's present

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and then you know, I transfer from UCLA

to Franciscan University of Steubenville

303

right Catholic Disneyland in the

armpit of America Steubenville, Ohio

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Track 1: Yeah.

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: And so

There she is, like our lady Guadalupe,

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in the chapels of the dorms that I'm in.

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Okay.

308

Um, and then I joined the Friars,

as I mentioned before, and she's

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the patronist of that community.

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I lived in a friary in Har in, in

the Bronx for a few years where

311

literally there's a 30 foot mural

on the side of the, the Friary.

312

She is present, she is

just journeying with.

313

And then I left the,

314

yeah, and then I left the

community, I discerned out,

315

and I'm like, what now, right?

316

And, you know, if you talk to anyone

who's kind of spent time in discernment

317

or seminary or religious life, and they

discern out, you will find that I think

318

there is a common struggle amongst

those who have this experience, and

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it's that, Should I have tried harder?

320

Could I have done more?

321

Like, did I make the right move?

322

You know, like, cause everyone goes into

these situations with an ideal of like,

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I want to do something great for God.

324

And so when it doesn't pan out,

they're kind of left with this,

325

like, uh, are we still good?

326

Like, you know, like, uh, I just, I, you

know, and it was a wrestle even for me.

327

And, and so as

328

I'm kind of like figuring out next

best steps and I'm trying to keep my

329

faith life up, um, I eventually met

my, my now wife, who at the time,

330

obviously it was my girlfriend.

331

And, um, what's funny was at the

time she wasn't even Catholic and.

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Yeah,

333

and so I met her at my

friend's wedding reception.

334

He asked me to emcee.

335

And so I was telling corny jokes.

336

I was actually, uh, had the

vantage point that night, right?

337

Of all the cute girls.

338

And I'm like, no, she's too drunk.

339

I'm not going to hang out.

340

Track 1: Oh, yeah.

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

But then I saw, I

342

saw that my now wife at a table

and I'm like, Oh, she's count.

343

She's laughing at my jokes.

344

And I, Talked to her that night.

345

I got her not,

346

yeah, I got

347

Track 1: all you need.

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paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

you know, walked her to her car.

349

And I remember like asking

her, where do you go to church?

350

And she's like, Oh, I go to some like.

351

Very Protestant sounding church like it's

called Mosaic and I'm like in my mind.

352

I'm like, uh oh.

353

I Hope this works cuz I'm

not becoming Protestant and

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um, and so, uh, yeah long story short

We started dating She tried to break up

355

with me multiple times because I wasn't

gonna become Protestant She wasn't gonna

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become Catholic at least she thought

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Track 1: Oh, yeah.

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There

359

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: praying

inviting her to events with me You know

360

different ministry things because I was

starting my ministry at that time You

361

And I remember taking her out on a date

on December 12th, which is the Feast of

362

Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I certainly

wasn't intentionally planning this, but

363

went to a cupcake shop in Los Angeles,

and we're at the register, and this lady,

364

um, She, she has like this fat tattoo

of Our Lady Guadalupe on her forearm.

365

And I'm like, dude, that's a cool tattoo.

366

You know, I'm like, you know, it's

the feast of Our Lady Guadalupe.

367

Right.

368

And she's like, yeah, I'm like,

where do you go to church?

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And she's like, I don't go.

370

I'm like, conversation over.

371

Thank you.

372

Give me my cupcakes.

373

So, so.

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So

375

Track 1: What?

376

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

we, um, we get back in the car and

377

I started nerding out and I'm like,

babe, did you, like, I was telling

378

her just like the serendipity of like

running into a girl with a fat tattoo

379

of our lady Guadalupe on her feast day.

380

And then I'm, I'm start

381

like just giving witness to

like how Mary has prayed for me.

382

And this is how I experienced

her in my life, her prayers.

383

And she's always led me closer to Jesus.

384

And once again, we don't worship her.

385

And, uh, here's in, here's in scripture

386

where.

387

You know, these are the key

points that are really helpful

388

in understanding her role.

389

I'm talking about apologetics.

390

I'm telling her all the things.

391

And at the end of the car ride,

I'm like, is that helpful?

392

And she's like, kind of, thank you.

393

then in that moment, I'm, I just asked,

um, I just asked her a simple question.

394

I feel like this was God, like helping me.

395

And I said, um, have

you ever spoken to Mary?

396

And she said, no, I don't.

397

We've never taught that.

398

So what would I even say to her?

399

And I said, what would you

say to like the best mom ever?

400

Like, what would you say?

401

How would you speak to her?

402

And, and I said, do you want

to lead a prayer to her?

403

Like I'll, I'll pray with you and we can.

404

Pray to her together and she said sure

and she said this very like honest

405

prayer, very simple, very humble prayer to

our lady and um, she finished the prayer

406

and she was very emotional, like in tears

and so I was like, yeah, it's working.

407

Track 1: Yeah.

408

That's when you know it hits.

409

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

different that time, right?

410

And so, so I asked her, what, what

do you, what are you crying about?

411

Like, what are the tears about?

412

And she said, well, um, yeah, I've had

a tough relationship with my mom lately.

413

And the thought of having a heavenly

mother who's loved me and prayed for me

414

this whole time is really comforting.

415

And so I said, praise God.

416

And so basically what happened

after that very long, there's many

417

more chapters to this story, but.

418

Very long story short, as I continue

to pray for her, as I continue to like,

419

show her the beauty of our Catholic

faith by taking her to events with

420

me and mass and all these things.

421

And God was ultimately

doing the heavy lifting.

422

Um, you know, basically we, um, we were

at mass one day and afterwards I said,

423

you know, they're offering our CIA.

424

And I said, you know, honey,

would you be interested in that?

425

And she said, yes.

426

I'm like, Oh, praise God.

427

So she went through the RCA program.

428

And I think that at this

point we were engaged as well.

429

And, um, she, um, yeah,

finished the RCA program.

430

And shortly before we got married,

she received baptism, confession,

431

communion, confirmation, and then.

432

A few months later, we got married.

433

So it was like six sacraments in one year.

434

Pretty big deal or five, five,

five, five, five sacraments.

435

Yeah.

436

Five,

437

Track 1: A lot of grace.

438

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

lot of grace.

439

And so that was pretty cool.

440

And so anyways, going back to our lady,

like I saw how she was present in my

441

life and as our marriage continued.

442

Um, we, we got married and, you

know, basically we got pregnant our

443

first year of marriage and we went

to the doctor and we're like, Hey,

444

um, the doctor's like, yeah, that the

baby's gonna arrive on December 12th.

445

And I'm like, yeah, she, yeah,

446

she

447

Track 1: way.

448

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

I just claimed it right there.

449

Track 1: You're like,

450

I

451

knew that.

452

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: that

even though this is all a big surprise.

453

Track 1: I could have

told you that myself.

454

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

And so, um, you know, the, I mean,

455

that's purely an estimate, you know,

doctors don't know the exact date,

456

but they can give you a general idea.

457

And so doctors said

458

December 12th, I'm like,

yep, December 12th it is.

459

And so we, you know, fast forward,

it was December 3rd and I was

460

like, honey, let's pray Novena.

461

Let's pray a nine days of prayer

for this intention that our daughter

462

would be born on the feast day.

463

And we just dedicate her to

our lady of Guadalupe and.

464

God will do the rest.

465

And so, um, we're praying the Novena and

at this point it's like December 11th.

466

And she's like, honey, I don't

know, like contractions don't feel

467

like any different or more intense.

468

So I'm like, baby, it's going to happen.

469

And so I took her to Costco

and I made this girl walk.

470

And then, uh, and then we went to the,

471

I'm not joking.

472

We had to get groceries, whatever.

473

I'm not, I wasn't trying to torture.

474

And then we went to, then we

went to the movie theater and.

475

You know, we're just chilling

out watching a nice film.

476

And then we go back home and she

falls asleep and I'm just like up

477

and I'm just kind of like, I don't

know if it was like just this angst

478

that I just got this feeling like,

no, it's going to happen real soon.

479

But I stayed up till like

three in the morning.

480

And I remember like three,

three or four in the

481

morning, my, my wife wakes up and she's

like, Oh my, I think my water broke.

482

And I'm like, eat this time.

483

And so I was like, game on.

484

And we had some like

waffles and we went to the.

485

You know, local hospitals called St.

486

Joseph's there in Orange, California, and

long story short, our first girl, our baby

487

daughter, Audrey, was born on December

12th at three something in the afternoon.

488

So very fitting.

489

Um, and so once again, It was like

our lady saying to me, just like

490

in some sense, she said to Juan

Diego, you know, why are you afraid?

491

Are you not in the hollow

492

of my mantle?

493

Are you not underneath

the crossing of my arms?

494

You know?

495

And so she's really

496

been a mother to me.

497

She's been very, very loving

and merciful and sweet to me.

498

And she has prayed for me and my family.

499

And And even today, you know, as

I, as I turned to her often and I

500

asked for her prayers, like I do.

501

I don't always feel her presence,

of course, but I know that she is

502

always present and interceding for me.

503

And as I continue to entrust, not only

myself, but my marriage, my children,

504

my family, my ministry, everything

that's dear to me, um, as I offer it

505

to God through her intercession, by,

by consecrating myself to her, um, it

506

comes as a huge consolation knowing that.

507

You know, as Hebrews 12 says, we

are surrounded by a great cloud of

508

witnesses and one of those witnesses

happens to be our spiritual mom who

509

Christ gave us on the cross when he

said to the beloved disciple, behold

510

your mother.

511

And so as the saying

goes, I think it was St.

512

Maximilian Kolbe, if you do not

call Mary your mother, you cannot

513

call Christ your brother, you know?

514

And also another quote,

another banger from St.

515

Maximilian Kolbe is.

516

You cannot love Mary more than he or

you cannot honor Mary more than he

517

honored her Every grace that she yeah

518

Track 1: Yeah, I think, I think it's,

you can't love Mary more than Jesus

519

loves Mary or something like that.

520

Like, you can't beat the love

Christ has for his mom, so

521

don't worry about overloving

522

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: It's

impossible because every grace that she

523

received from her immaculate conception

to The motherhood, being the mother of

524

God, to being, uh, perpetually sinless, to

being a perpetual virgin, even though she

525

gave birth, wrap your head around that,

to being, the, assumed in the heaven,

526

to being the queen of heaven and earth,

like that's all, these are all singular

527

graces and, These graces stem from

what Christ accomplished on the cross.

528

So indeed she was saved, but she

was saved in a more excellent way.

529

And so like when our Protestant friends

or even our Catholic friends who are like,

530

just confused about what's the big fuss.

531

Well, it's kind of that Christ

made a big fuss about her.

532

It's kind of the fact that he like,

he really overdid himself in not only

533

redeeming her, but redeeming her in such

a way that it would give us all hope.

534

And here's why, like the, the, if we're

going to get kind of nerdy here, the

535

dogma of the immaculate conception,

meaning the belief that is a, pivotal

536

belief of the Catholic faith that

Mary from the moment of conception was

537

delivered from the stain of original sin.

538

You know, people will often say,

well, if that was one, how, and, and

539

secondly, if that's the case, then why

540

does she need a savior?

541

Um, to that Mary says, I've pro my soul

proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

542

My spirit rejoices in God, my savior.

543

So she herself.

544

Proclaims that she is saved, but

how, considering this dogma, right?

545

That was declared in, I believe the 1800s.

546

Well, um, the, the theologian in

the Catholic church whose work

547

was actually quite influential

in helping to develop this.

548

This understanding, this doctrine that led

to the dogma ultimately was an individual

549

by the name of Blessed John Duns Scotus.

550

And so, Blessed John Duns Scotus, uh,

fun fact, you know like back in the

551

day when kids would get into trouble in

school, they would get sent to the corner

552

and they'd have to wear a dunce cap.

553

You remember that?

554

The little cone

555

hat and that was the way to shame them

and get them to behave or whatever.

556

Obviously, that didn't

happen in my generation, but.

557

So the dunce cap actually is, is coined

by the insults that the enemies of

558

blessed John Duns Scotus coined for him.

559

They called people, Oh, you're

such a dunce as a, as an insult.

560

Yeah.

561

Against the great theologian and

saint, his enemies didn't like him.

562

So like, don't be scared.

563

Track 1: I don't know if that's a bummer

564

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

I know, right?

565

So now, if you're being punished in the

corner, you can take it with great honor.

566

Wow.

567

Um, so blessed John Dunscotus, in simple

terms, um, And this is an analogy that

568

I think is helpful for a lot of people,

but the understanding that Blessed John

569

has had was like, okay, Mary has been

saved, but in a more excellent way.

570

And to give you an analogy, like, let's

say, for example, you're, you're about to

571

like, you're walking down a path, right?

572

And this path is like the same

path that all humanity goes on.

573

And ever since Adam and Eve, and through

this sin of original, Um, we are all

574

tainted because like in the middle of this

road, if you will, there is a quicksand.

575

Okay.

576

And everyone, just by virtue of the fact

that they are born into humanity will

577

fall into this quicksand and have the

stain, if you will, of original sin.

578

Well, Mary's on the same path,

but what if an individual, right?

579

But, um, but before I get there,

um, we fall into this, um, There's

580

quicksand, but Christ pulls us

out of the quicksand and saves us.

581

Well, what if Christ were to say

582

to Mary, You're on this path and you are

about to fall in, but here, walk around.

583

I will show you a path around it.

584

Is Christ still not saving her?

585

Of course he is, but he's saving

her in a more excellent way.

586

Because here, he's not saving her

once she's fallen, but he's preventing

587

her from falling to begin with.

588

And so, this is still salvation, but it

just looks a lot better, and it's better.

589

And so Mary was given this singular grace.

590

Um, and it was just that God, who

can do anything by the way, He can

591

choose what year he's born, the

circumstances, the geographical location,

592

and it also happens that he can also

create his own mom and prepare her.

593

And it was fitting that Christ would

594

enter this world conceived in the

womb of the Ark of the New Covenant.

595

What is the Ark of the Old Covenant?

596

In the Old Covenant, the people of

Israel wandered through the desert,

597

and the command given to Moses was

to basically create an Ark, which

598

was made out of incorruptible wood.

599

That was plated with solid

gold, and it was so holy that

600

you had to carry it on poles.

601

And the reason you did is because it held

three artifacts that were representative

602

of God's presence, His holy presence.

603

They were the two stone tablets that

came down to Moses on Mount Sinai, right?

604

They were

605

the, uh, it was a piece of manna or

the, the bread that came down from

606

heaven that God just so conveniently

allowed the Israelites to eat

607

and survive in the desert with.

608

And it also held the staff

of Aaron, the high priest.

609

And these symbols of God were so anointed

and sacred that once again, they had

610

to be held in this very holy container.

611

And it was so holy that in

fact, God warned that if anyone

612

would touch it, they would die.

613

And it happens that there's

this guy in the Old Testament

614

named Uzziah who didn't listen.

615

And instead of carrying it on poles,

which God was very specific about, he

616

thought he'd be like, You know, kind of

novel and put it on a cart with wheels.

617

And as this cart was like rocking back

and forth and the ark was about to

618

fall over, Uzziah stretched his hand

out to like prevent it from falling.

619

He touched it and lo and behold, he died.

620

Okay.

621

So, um, yeah, wild stories

in scripture for sure.

622

But anyways, like literally the, the,

623

the ark of the covenant,

like this was literally.

624

The hope of the people of Israel, it was

literally God's holy presence among them.

625

Like if they had the arc, they

won victory over their enemies.

626

If they had the arc, they were blessed.

627

If they had the art, they were safe.

628

And eventually, you know, um,

if, if, if, In scripture, you

629

have this concept of typology.

630

Typology is basically a nerdy term

for something that happened in the

631

Old Testament, but there is a parallel

that happens in the New Testament.

632

And this reality in the Old

Testament sheds light on

633

the reality in the New

Testament and vice versa.

634

So I think the most common one, uh, St.

635

Paul uses a typology about the old Adam.

636

Versus the new Adam, the old Adam,

we all know he contributed to the

637

original sin, the fall of humanity,

but the new Adam is Christ, right?

638

The old Adam was disobedient to God.

639

The new Adam was obedient to God.

640

The old Adam helped incur, you

know, sin, suffering, and death.

641

And the new Adam took on sin, suffering,

and death and redeemed it on the cross.

642

So you see, there's these parallels.

643

Well, there's an old Eve, right?

644

The old Eve was greeted by a serpent.

645

Well, the new Eve, Mary

was greeted by an angel.

646

The old Eve basically fell into

647

temptation by saying,

I will not serve God.

648

And Mary says in the new Testament, the

new Eve, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

649

Let it be done unto me

according to thy word.

650

So you see, there are parallels.

651

They're very striking.

652

And so the arc of the old covenant, as I

was talking about a second ago, pure made

653

out of pure gold, incorruptible wood.

654

Items of God that represent God.

655

Okay, so who or what is the

Ark of the New Covenant?

656

Well, let's go all the way to Revelation.

657

Saint John is like, just straight

up having these wild visions.

658

And right before he sees,

659

right, and then right before the, The

chapter I'm about to share, he says he

660

sees the arc, a vision of the arc in the

heavens and immediately thereafter, the

661

next verse, the next chapter is about him

seeing an image of a woman in the heavens,

662

clothed with the sun, with the moon

under her feet and a crown of 12 stars.

663

It's crazy.

664

And so, and so people are like,

Oh no, well, John's just talking

665

about, um, a symbol of Israel.

666

Yeah, well, actually let's go a

little bit further because it's very

667

specific about how this woman gives

birth to a child that will rule

668

all the nations with an iron rod.

669

Um, figuratively, yes, there is

symbolism with Israel, but, uh,

670

you can't figuratively give birth.

671

There was someone who literally gave

birth to this child and her name is Mary.

672

And so the Ark of the New Covenant,

673

if you work on that typology, the

question is like, this old Ark of

674

the Covenant was massively holy.

675

It was God's present.

676

So if Mary is the Ark of the New

Covenant, how holy would she have to be?

677

Because here's the deal.

678

Old cut, old Ark held, um,

the two stone tablets, right?

679

Well, Mary held the fulfillment

680

of the law and the prophets, which

the commandments symbolized, Right?

681

Okay.

682

Uh, the old, the old ark held the

manna that fell from heaven, right?

683

Well, her womb is holding the living

bread that came down from heaven.

684

Jesus Christ.

685

Uh, the old ark holds the

staff of Aaron, the symbol of

686

the high priesthood.

687

Well, Jesus Christ is the

universal high priest who redeems

688

all mankind back to his father.

689

So question, how holy

would Mary have to be?

690

Pretty holy,

691

like a

692

Track 1: Like, a lot.

693

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

And so naturally these.

694

These favors, these singular graces that

God gave to Mary are hers and hers alone.

695

And they're all by virtue of what

Christ would do, even in the future.

696

This is wild.

697

It's kind of like back to the future, you

know, even preemptively God was bestowing

698

upon Mary, these graces that flowed from

what he was going to do from the cross.

699

And so

700

Track 1: wow.

701

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

She's pretty impressive to say the

702

least, but not just impressive.

703

She is a work of mercy

from God Almighty to us.

704

And to think also that, you

705

know, St.

706

Paul talks about the body of Christ

and how every body has a head

707

and that head is obviously Jesus.

708

Well, Jesus had a mother.

709

And so naturally in the body of Christ,

which we are all members of, we have

710

a head, we have our, our Lord and

savior, but we also have his mother.

711

And the mother is not by any

means a substitute for the savior.

712

And, but, um, once again, at the

foot of the cross, Jesus entrusts

713

all of his children to the mother.

714

And so she is there, even after Jesus

resurrects, after he ascends into heaven,

715

she is there quietly, mysteriously, humbly

praying with the disciples at Pentecost.

716

She is present, she is praying,

and it would be foolish, it would

717

be terribly foolish to think.

718

That she no longer cares that, and I hear

this quite often, it is so bewildering to

719

me, like it's because the theology isn't

developed or it's because what people

720

have been told at their pulpits for, for

many years, it's misinformation and lies.

721

And it's like in the words of Archbishop

Fulton Sheen, who said, you can't

722

find a hundred people who actually

hate what the Catholic church teaches.

723

They hate what they think

the Catholic church teaches.

724

And.

725

You know, it's these arguments of,

726

you know, why, why are you, why

are you praying to dead people?

727

That's necromancy.

728

That's, that's specifically

warned against in the Bible.

729

It's like, actually the scripture

says that he is the God of

730

the living, not the dead.

731

You are gravely mistaken.

732

It's literally the verse.

733

So one, she's not dead.

734

Number two, well, why are you, why

are you asking her for prayers?

735

Well, James 5, 16, the prayer of a

righteous person prevaileth much.

736

It's, it's the reminder that

if you are tight with God, he's

737

going to listen to your prayers.

738

Well, why are her prayers

739

matter?

740

Well, just go to John chapter two,

where through the behest of our lady

741

who sees that the bride and the groom

are out of wine at their, their party.

742

Like she says to him,

son, they're out of wine.

743

That's intercession.

744

And what does Jesus say next?

745

He says, how does this concern me?

746

I am not a wine distributor.

747

No, he says it's not my time, right?

748

And so Mary just says to the

servants, do whatever he tells you.

749

And like a good Jewish

boy, he listens to his mom.

750

And so he's honored.

751

He's honored to hear the prayers of

his mother and it was at her behest.

752

And if you want to get even deeper, wow.

753

Like we could just like open up the rabbit

hole here, but like Notice he calls, he

754

says, woman, how does this concern me?

755

And people are like, the Protestants,

Protestant friends are like, oh, he

756

doesn't even respect his mom, see

757

that?

758

Well, if that was the case, how could

759

he be a hypocrite?

760

Because he literally says, honor your

mother and father in the commandment.

761

If God doesn't do it, you

think he's being, you know,

762

that wouldn't make any sense.

763

Why is he saying woman?

764

I'll tell you why.

765

Very fascinating.

766

Because all the way back in Genesis

767

chapter 3, verse 15, When Adam and

Eve have sinned and God is doling out

768

punishment to both Adam and Eve and the

serpent What does he put in there like an

769

easter egg?

770

The easter egg is called the proto

evangelion which in Latin means the pre

771

good news And what is the pre good news

even in the midst of the punishment

772

where it seems like everything's lost?

773

God says to the serpent Because you

have done this, you will crawl on

774

your belly, you will eat dirt all the

days of your life, blah blah blah.

775

And I will put enmity, hatred

between you and the woman, woman,

776

between your offspring and hers.

777

He, you will strike at his

heel, he will crush your head.

778

Okay, now.

779

What is happening here?

780

Because he's not talking

about Eve, the woman, anymore.

781

Because Eve has fallen into original sin,

so she has a lot to do with the devil now.

782

But remember, God said, I will put enmity,

which is hatred, complete darkness.

783

I mean, you are completely at

odds between you and the woman.

784

So he's not talking about Eve

anymore, he's talking about Christ.

785

He's talking about Mary.

786

Because if you want to,

787

oh, I was gonna blow your mind like that.

788

Symbolism.

789

Track 1: I'm, I'm, this is

already blowing my mind.

790

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324:

of Mary, the woman.

791

Right.

792

Because once again, let's fast

forward all the way to John.

793

Jesus public ministry hasn't

started yet, but at the miracle

794

of Canaan, it's about to happen.

795

And through the behest of Mary, right,

remember it was at the behest of Eve,

796

my husband, try some of this fruit.

797

Remember that?

798

That was literally

799

the, the invitation towards Jesus.

800

Disobedience and death.

801

Mary was saying to her son, Jesus, who

is the new Adam, she's the new Eve.

802

And of course they're not married.

803

So the, the, the analogy

doesn't go completely.

804

However, Mary says to Jesus,

my son, they're out of wine.

805

Right.

806

And what does Jesus say?

807

Woman, how does this concern me?

808

It is not yet my time.

809

Meaning, Jesus is like, if you want me

to do what you're asking me to do, you

810

understand that my ministry begins now.

811

And we are going to fast track all the way

812

through towards Calvary.

813

And this salvation

814

is about to go down, like, and

the suffering that's going to

815

have to result prior to that.

816

And Mary says to the servants,

do whatever he tells you.

817

How does this concern me?

818

Woman, right?

819

And then let's keep moving

forward towards Calvary.

820

What happens as he's dying on the cross?

821

What does he say to her?

822

Woman, behold your son.

823

Okay.

824

Woman, right?

825

It's, it's absolutely wild

how it's all here, but let's,

826

let's take it a step further.

827

Remember that, that proto Evangelion,

Genesis 3 15, you will strike at his heel.

828

He's talking to the devil,

and he will crush your head.

829

Do you know that Golgotha actually

means the place of the skull?

830

So consider the imagery of Christ's cross

831

literally piercing the skull of that

mountain and the skull of the enemy.

832

He is literally fulfilling prophetically

what was uttered thousands and thousands

833

of years ago, and that had to do with

Mary, and that had to do with Christ.

834

And so Mary is wrapped up cosmically,

uh, in scripture from Genesis all

835

the way to Revelation to when John

is seeing that vision and it said

836

the ancient serpent, um, was there

trying to devour her child, right?

837

This woman who is clothed with

the sun with the moon under her

838

feet, crowned with twelve stars.

839

And it says, um, there was another

interesting verse in there where it says

840

that, um, the enemy, the serpent waged

fury against her children or her father,

841

like I'd have to pull up the exact verse,

but it speaks to the fact that this

842

cosmic battle has been waging on for

thousands of years and it's precisely,

843

it's ultimately against God versus

844

Satan, but Mary has such

a pivotal role in all.

845

And so here's the thing

without sacred tradition.

846

Without the authority of the church to

interpret, to bind them to loose and to

847

help give us insight, naturally, it's

really hard for non Catholics to just

848

read scripture at face value and come

up with these conclusions by themselves.

849

And this is why there's so much

misunderstanding about her.

850

Because she doesn't say a

whole lot in scripture, right?

851

She has like a pretty pivotal like place

in the early chapters of Luke, but then

852

she's just kind of MIA for a while.

853

She just kind of has these

little guest appearances.

854

And so people are like,

they misunderstand her.

855

They don't like her.

856

But beyond just not misunderstanding

her and being confused about her,

857

I feel like it just gets wrapped up

once again in that cosmic battle.

858

Satan hates her.

859

In a very particular way, in

a very particular way, St.

860

Louis de Montfort, who wrote

True Devotion to Mary, whose

861

book has widely influenced St.

862

John Paul II, so much so that

his papal motto, totus tuus,

863

comes from a prayer that St.

864

Louis de Montfort wrote, totus tuus

ego sum et omnia mea tuus sunt,

865

which basically means, Mary, I am

yours and everything I have is yours.

866

It's a total entrustment to Mary

867

because his understanding, it

was, he had no qualms about this.

868

It wasn't idol worship.

869

There wasn't Mary replacing Jesus.

870

It was the understanding that if God

could entrust his only begotten son to

871

the woman married for nine months and

beyond, as he raised, as she raised him.

872

Then who am I to say that I can't entrust

myself spiritually to Mary, right?

873

I mean, yeah, it's pretty clear, you

know, our faith, it's just so important

874

to, it's just so helpful, and it's so

important that we don't singularly rely

875

on ourselves to interpret Scripture.

876

Because there is, one, such a

877

wealth of knowledge, but And I get into

conversations about this all the time,

878

um, you know, debates, if you want to

call it that, online, where I'll post

879

anything remotely Catholic on my social

media, and then, you know, a whole,

880

like, tribe of disgruntled Protestants

will be telling me why I'm wrong, and

881

why I'm going to hell, why Catholics

aren't Christians, and why Mary is

882

idolatry, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

883

And, you know, there's just these

fundamental gaps in their understanding

884

of why I believe what I believe.

885

And it's because Christ, He

didn't leave us with the Bible.

886

He left us with the church.

887

I mean, he did leave us with the

Bible in the sense that he inspired

888

the word of God and there were

all these scrolls in circulation.

889

But the fact of the matter is

it wasn't until the year 397 A.

890

D.

891

and the Council of Rome or Carthage,

whatever you want to call it, that the

892

canon of Scripture was all put together.

893

And so, The question becomes like, what

did the early Christians do for the first

894

400 years then before the Bible dropped?

895

Right.

896

And even when it dropped, it's not

like we had the printing press.

897

So they couldn't read

898

it for themselves.

899

What was being taught?

900

Well, St.

901

Paul in second

902

Thessalonians says that, hold

on, hold fast the traditions that

903

I've helped, I've passed on to you

through writing and word of mouth.

904

So the word of God came to the early

905

Christians in two ways, through

scripture and through preaching, meaning.

906

That it's not about sola scriptura,

which is a heretical understanding

907

that the Word of God alone suffices

and that is our only source of

908

information about what God wants.

909

But according to St.

910

Paul in this verse, he's saying, uh,

the Word of God came to you in two

911

ways through writing and preaching.

912

So, just because it's not explicitly

said in the Bible doesn't mean

913

that it's not part of our faith.

914

And I'll give you a primary example.

915

The Trinity.

916

The scripture literally

doesn't even use that word.

917

Nor does it explicitly

express that God is one in

918

nature and three distinct persons.

919

You know that early

Christians for hundreds of

920

years, like, fought and

squabbled over this?

921

When you're trying to figure out

who is God, what is the belief here?

922

Are they all this?

923

Are they all equal?

924

Are they like kind of equal?

925

Did God create Jesus

or was Jesus begotten,

926

not made consubstantial with the father?

927

Like we had the luxury of sitting here and

like saying the creed, like it's no big

928

deal.

929

And yet the church like had to labor over

930

like figuring out what is

God saying to the church?

931

And so anyways, I'm going down a bit

of a rabbit hole, but when it, whether,

932

whether it's the Trinity, whether it's

scripture, whether it's Mary, it's like.

933

We're so blessed as Catholics to have

this relationship with her, to have this

934

understanding of who God made her to be.

935

And for me personally, like firsthand

experiencing how profound her role

936

is, like in our lives and how she does

intercede for us and how she is truly a

937

mother to us, um, has been a real comfort.

938

And so, um, yeah, that's, that's great.

939

that's a bit of the story.

940

Track 1: Paul, that was so amazing.

941

I feel like we just got, like, not

only, like, the heart, you know, like,

942

your testimony, but we also got the

head, like, we just got, like, a, like,

943

crash course, theology course that, uh,

I, I enjoyed so much and I feel like

944

everything you mentioned are like tidbits

of scripture and revelation that I feel

945

like I've heard in different talks or

different books, but put all together

946

in, in that way that you presented it,

it just makes it, like you said, like.

947

So abundantly clear how pivotal

of a role the Lord gave to Mary

948

and how it's not, you know, he's

not, she's not just his mother.

949

Like I've heard Protestants say that a

lot, like, yeah, like sure you can like,

950

you know, respect that she was the mother

of Jesus, but like, that's about it.

951

But you, you hear all this and you

say like, there's so much more than.

952

Just his mom, you know, which alone

is like a good and holy and honorable

953

task, but the way that she plays a

role in salvation history to bring

954

us the salvation of Christ, the way

that she played a role in your life

955

and in my family's life in mine.

956

And I know so many other people

who Mary has interceded for

957

and has just actively like.

958

Like you said, like, I think

you called it signal graces.

959

I feel like what I've heard

before is like stocks.

960

Like sometimes you get

like a saint, like stocks.

961

You like Mary sometimes just like

962

stalks you, tracks you down.

963

And she's like, no, seriously,

like, let me into your life.

964

I want to show you who my son is.

965

Um, so everything you said,

it was so, so beautiful.

966

Um, wow.

967

I just like, we, mic drop.

968

We could just end it right there.

969

That was great.

970

paul-j--kim_1_04-16-2024_130324: Yeah.

971

No, it's, it's, yeah,

she's, she's amazing.

972

And.

973

Yeah, just having experienced it and

also, you know, just furthered my

974

studies about Mariology and just kind

of diving into the beauty of our faith.

975

It really is so eye opening and it's so

important, I feel, for Catholics of any

976

age and any walk of life to also learn

apologetics, right, which is ultimately

977

the defense, defending our Catholic faith.

978

And not to defend it that, you know, we

have to somehow frantically try to defend

979

that it is the fullness of what Christ

left for us, but, but more just a witness

980

to like people who really don't know and

who have misinformation, who have been

981

told lies and whether it's about Mary,

whether it's about the sacraments, whether

982

it's about the community of saints or the

Eucharist or any other Catholic thing,

983

it's like, We have literally no need to

be ashamed, but we should be thankful.

984

And with that level of thankfulness

and gratitude to like, go out

985

and give witness to the world

of like the beauty of our faith.

986

And, um, as I think first Peter says in

scripture that, you know, be ready to give

987

an account for the reason of your hope.

988

Right.

989

And that ultimately is Christ, but also

like, yeah, just to like, be ready,

990

be ready, um, by learning about our

faith, like filling your mind with

991

what is good, true, and beautiful

learning the why behind the what, and

992

you don't have to know everything.

993

I certainly don't know everything.

994

Um, I'm very far from it, but.

995

But there's certain things that I'm

versed in where, yeah, I can, I can

996

share when someone has a question.

997

And so, yeah, I just encourage people

to learn about their faith, to dive in.

998

There's a lot of great resources

out there on apologetics.

999

I think one of the most OG

ones is like Catholic answers.

00:50:32,668 --> 00:50:36,328

They have pretty cool

podcast and YouTube videos.

00:50:36,348 --> 00:50:40,758

And, um, and if you don't know

something that somebody is asking you

00:50:40,758 --> 00:50:43,658

or challenging you about, there's no

shame in saying, that's a great question.

00:50:43,658 --> 00:50:46,618

I don't know how to answer that, but I'm

going to look into it and get back to you.

00:50:47,588 --> 00:50:49,568

And fair enough, go look into it and come

00:50:49,568 --> 00:50:50,158

back and have the

00:50:50,443 --> 00:50:50,883

Track 1: totally.

00:50:51,403 --> 00:50:52,383

But don't make stuff up.

00:50:53,763 --> 00:50:54,473

Track 1: True, true.

00:50:54,473 --> 00:50:55,123

Definitely not.

00:50:55,613 --> 00:50:56,343

That's beautiful.

00:50:56,393 --> 00:50:59,393

So we talked a lot about Mary and

obviously the amazing role that

00:50:59,393 --> 00:51:02,043

she has played in your life and

that she plays in all of our lives.

00:51:02,083 --> 00:51:03,503

Um, what about the rosary?

00:51:03,523 --> 00:51:07,553

That's something that Mary says a lot

in her apparitions that many saints

00:51:07,553 --> 00:51:12,223

have spoken about that clearly is a,

also a pivotal, um, you know, thing

00:51:12,223 --> 00:51:13,693

that we should be paying attention to.

00:51:13,693 --> 00:51:14,043

So.

00:51:14,403 --> 00:51:17,563

What has the role of the rosary

been in your life, or what are some

00:51:17,563 --> 00:51:20,273

words of, you know, wisdom about

the rosary that you would like

00:51:20,343 --> 00:51:24,223

yeah, um, that prayer has been just

00:51:24,233 --> 00:51:29,223

profoundly helpful in, in ways that I

can both describe and I can't describe.

00:51:29,533 --> 00:51:32,123

Because, you know, when

we pray, it's hard to

00:51:32,123 --> 00:51:34,423

quantify, like, what exactly is happening.

00:51:35,103 --> 00:51:37,583

You know, when we go to the sacrament

confession, we make a good confession.

00:51:37,583 --> 00:51:39,513

We know that our sins have

been washed away that much.

00:51:39,513 --> 00:51:42,738

We understand, but like, When it

comes to prayer, reading of scripture,

00:51:42,738 --> 00:51:44,338

like, what is, what is happening?

00:51:45,028 --> 00:51:48,768

It's hard to figure out how to answer

that, but I will say that through

00:51:48,768 --> 00:51:53,638

the years as I've, as I've prayed the

rosary, as I've made that part of my

00:51:53,638 --> 00:51:58,628

devotional life as a Catholic, and um,

I've, I've seen the fruits of that.

00:51:58,728 --> 00:52:00,888

I've seen my life change.

00:52:00,958 --> 00:52:02,488

I've seen my faith grow.

00:52:02,768 --> 00:52:04,628

I've seen certain sins.

00:52:05,593 --> 00:52:09,693

Little literally be broken, like the

chains that, you know, enslaved me

00:52:09,723 --> 00:52:14,283

through different sins, um, literally

be broken away because of the grace.

00:52:14,313 --> 00:52:17,383

I believe that God gave me

through the intercession of

00:52:17,383 --> 00:52:19,113

our lady to be freed of them.

00:52:20,213 --> 00:52:24,553

Uh, Mary, as you had mentioned in

apparitions, as she's kind of like.

00:52:25,813 --> 00:52:28,943

Appeared in different countries at

different times throughout the history

00:52:28,943 --> 00:52:33,033

of the church for various reasons,

but oftentimes those messages are

00:52:33,033 --> 00:52:39,253

the same and it's that with earth

and the people of this world and

00:52:39,253 --> 00:52:43,833

the people of God need to return to

God, like it's a mother coming as a

00:52:43,863 --> 00:52:46,013

concerned mother to warn her children.

00:52:46,383 --> 00:52:49,493

And not out of like fear mongering,

but out of genuine concern,

00:52:49,493 --> 00:52:56,343

like, Hey, you need to change, or

there's going to be like suffering and

00:52:56,343 --> 00:52:59,113

punishment that are going to be incurred

00:52:59,123 --> 00:52:59,543

here.

00:53:00,373 --> 00:53:04,003

And it's not because God is out to

punish the world, but it's because

00:53:04,003 --> 00:53:09,943

like the sins of men and women are

like filling the cup so much that it's

00:53:09,963 --> 00:53:14,203

going to overflow and people reap, reap

00:53:14,253 --> 00:53:16,893

the fruit of the ugliness of sin.

00:53:17,708 --> 00:53:23,378

And so, like, she's appeared in

Portugal, in Fatima, in Akita, Japan,

00:53:23,918 --> 00:53:30,688

in Mexico City, in Kibeho, Africa, I

mean, literally every culture and race

00:53:30,688 --> 00:53:32,998

you can think of, like, she's appeared.

00:53:33,938 --> 00:53:34,608

And when she

00:53:34,608 --> 00:53:38,658

appears, she's usually

saying the same stuff.

00:53:39,038 --> 00:53:43,978

Pray the rosary, return

to my son Jesus, right?

00:53:44,038 --> 00:53:45,328

Receive the Eucharist.

00:53:46,078 --> 00:53:55,548

Um, stop doing sketch, read the

word, pray and fast, you know, pray

00:53:55,548 --> 00:54:00,258

for others, repent, I mean, just like

the key, key things in the gospel,

00:54:00,258 --> 00:54:00,698

right.

00:54:01,008 --> 00:54:03,168

Repent and believe in

the gospel ultimately.

00:54:03,958 --> 00:54:04,658

And so, yeah.

00:54:04,658 --> 00:54:09,988

Mary has, in some sense, with a

lowercase s, right, she has saved me

00:54:10,138 --> 00:54:16,368

by leading me to the Savior, who has

capital S saved me on the cross, right?

00:54:17,258 --> 00:54:21,468

And so, we all have a role to play

in, I mean, in some sense, it's

00:54:21,478 --> 00:54:23,548

not us who save anybody, really.

00:54:23,578 --> 00:54:26,178

It's the Holy, it's the work of

the Holy Spirit, and ultimately

00:54:26,178 --> 00:54:27,758

it's, it's God himself.

00:54:28,758 --> 00:54:31,218

But does he delight in using us?

00:54:31,568 --> 00:54:32,278

Absolutely.

00:54:32,568 --> 00:54:35,628

Does he delight in allowing us

to be instruments of his grace?

00:54:35,658 --> 00:54:36,498

100%.

00:54:36,548 --> 00:54:42,448

In fact, I'm forgetting where in scripture

right now, but it basically says that we

00:54:42,448 --> 00:54:45,288

are coworkers of Christ in his vineyard.

00:54:45,763 --> 00:54:46,903

We are co workers.

00:54:47,633 --> 00:54:48,613

And what does that mean?

00:54:48,673 --> 00:54:54,283

I mean, it means that God is delighted

to invite us into his work of salvation.

00:54:55,163 --> 00:55:00,583

And we see that as the last commandment

to the disciples is, you know, baptize

00:55:00,593 --> 00:55:04,173

all nations, you know, make disciples

of all nations, baptizing them in the

00:55:04,173 --> 00:55:05,563

name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

00:55:05,633 --> 00:55:11,023

He gave them a very particular role

in partnering, being co workers,

00:55:11,643 --> 00:55:16,003

to preach the word, to give witness

so that his word could go forth.

00:55:16,923 --> 00:55:20,873

And so when you look at Mary, I

mean, she does that par excellence.

00:55:20,873 --> 00:55:22,793

Like she is the premier missionary.

00:55:22,793 --> 00:55:26,353

I mean, just consider

00:55:26,383 --> 00:55:30,423

reformation is happening and an

estimated, you know, 10 million

00:55:30,423 --> 00:55:36,073

people leave the Catholic church as

they join the Protestant sect and.

00:55:36,383 --> 00:55:40,883

Obviously that's a huge heartbreak to, to

God because he didn't pray for division.

00:55:40,953 --> 00:55:41,893

He prayed that they would all

00:55:41,893 --> 00:55:42,383

be one.

00:55:42,453 --> 00:55:43,873

That's what he prayed at the last supper.

00:55:44,013 --> 00:55:47,913

And it was, I'm pretty sure it

wasn't his will for his people to be

00:55:47,913 --> 00:55:52,333

splintered off into several different

denominations, tens of thousands

00:55:52,333 --> 00:55:54,023

00:55:54,023 --> 00:55:55,013

This is not his will.

00:55:55,458 --> 00:55:57,408

And sure, there were problems

in the church at the time,

00:55:57,428 --> 00:55:58,938

and there always will be.

00:55:58,968 --> 00:56:01,858

Um, there's this funny quote, I forget who

00:56:01,858 --> 00:56:02,258

said it,

00:56:02,473 --> 00:56:02,593

Track 1: hmm.

00:56:03,328 --> 00:56:06,558

it was some bishop, and he had a real,

00:56:07,383 --> 00:56:07,473

Track 1: I

00:56:07,548 --> 00:56:08,568

he had some real sense of humor,

00:56:08,568 --> 00:56:12,308

but basically someone's like, the

Catholic church will destroy itself.

00:56:12,778 --> 00:56:16,568

And the bishop looks at this person

and says, sir, we have tried to destroy

00:56:16,588 --> 00:56:19,738

ourselves for hundreds of years,

and we have not been able to do it.

00:56:22,360 --> 00:56:24,230

Track 1: That wasn't the

one that I was thinking of.

00:56:24,230 --> 00:56:27,670

The one quote that I've heard is

like, Oh gosh, it was like, if you're

00:56:27,670 --> 00:56:29,590

trying to find a perfect church,

00:56:29,890 --> 00:56:33,880

like, wait till you join it, and now

it's, now it's no longer a perfect church,

00:56:33,880 --> 00:56:37,890

you know, because like, every church is

run by humans, and we're all imperfect,

00:56:37,900 --> 00:56:40,750

so good luck finding a perfect church.

00:56:41,145 --> 00:56:44,165

on that note, yeah, our faith, our

00:56:44,195 --> 00:56:48,825

Catholic faith, our Catholic church is

perfect in so far as we're talking about

00:56:48,825 --> 00:56:50,295

Christ, who is the head of the church.

00:56:50,765 --> 00:56:52,355

It is very imperfect.

00:56:53,115 --> 00:56:53,335

If

00:56:53,335 --> 00:56:57,425

we are referencing all of its

members, all of us, but Mary,

00:56:58,225 --> 00:56:59,795

but going back to Mary, she's different.

00:57:00,795 --> 00:57:05,845

Because she received in a more excellent

way, this gift of salvation and through

00:57:05,845 --> 00:57:09,355

a singular grace given to her by God,

she not only was conceived without

00:57:09,355 --> 00:57:10,785

original sin, but she never sinned.

00:57:11,935 --> 00:57:18,065

And when she was assumed body and soul

into heaven, she is the premier disciple.

00:57:18,225 --> 00:57:21,605

She is showing all of us like

what we are truly called to be.

00:57:22,535 --> 00:57:26,985

And while we are not sinless and we

have all fallen short of the glory

00:57:26,985 --> 00:57:34,685

of God, she still gives us hope that,

um, that through the grace of God, she

00:57:34,685 --> 00:57:36,670

was able to win the race in her life.

00:57:37,110 --> 00:57:38,580

in such a beautiful way.

00:57:39,330 --> 00:57:44,580

And she was able to fulfill, um,

ultimately that pre good news that

00:57:44,580 --> 00:57:48,610

even God in His mercy was, was

saying back in Genesis chapter three.

00:57:49,740 --> 00:57:54,620

And so, you know, she doesn't flaunt

that she's very humble about it.

00:57:54,630 --> 00:57:58,630

She gives praise and glory back to the

Almighty who has done great things for

00:57:58,630 --> 00:58:00,490

her and wants to do great things in us.

00:58:01,360 --> 00:58:04,490

Um, but I believe going back to

the process of reformation and

00:58:04,960 --> 00:58:08,360

10 million, an estimated nine, 10

million people leaving the church.

00:58:09,110 --> 00:58:12,080

Well, not too long after that

moment, guess what happens?

00:58:12,090 --> 00:58:17,860

She appears to Juan Diego in

Mexico in a, in a, in Mexico at

00:58:17,860 --> 00:58:23,550

the time where there's, you know, the

Aztec culture, um, they were doing

00:58:23,550 --> 00:58:25,530

terrible things like human sacrifices.

00:58:25,530 --> 00:58:28,830

They, they were under the

impression that in order to keep the

00:58:28,940 --> 00:58:32,540

God, lower case G of the

sun and the moon happy.

00:58:33,030 --> 00:58:34,730

You had to sacrifice human blood.

00:58:35,590 --> 00:58:40,650

And so it was terrible, terrible human

rights violations to say the least, and

00:58:40,650 --> 00:58:42,130

just terrible things happening there.

00:58:43,110 --> 00:58:43,430

And

00:58:43,440 --> 00:58:49,690

simultaneously the Spaniards show

up to colonize, uh, that country.

00:58:49,890 --> 00:58:50,740

And typically when you're colonizing.

00:58:52,275 --> 00:58:55,795

And enforcing your religion,

it doesn't go well.

00:58:56,235 --> 00:58:59,145

And so there's not a lot

of converts to Catholicism,

00:58:59,210 --> 00:58:59,590

Track 1: No.

00:58:59,675 --> 00:59:02,515

among them, among those converts is a

00:59:02,515 --> 00:59:08,435

man named Juan Diego, very humble man who

loves God and loves the church and is, is

00:59:08,435 --> 00:59:10,865

just serving just very simply and humbly.

00:59:11,355 --> 00:59:15,195

And Mary appears to him and basically.

00:59:16,130 --> 00:59:18,470

Sends him to the local Bishop with a sign.

00:59:18,470 --> 00:59:21,980

And the sign is that image of

the Tilma, our Lady Guadalupe

00:59:22,030 --> 00:59:23,040

that I was talking about earlier.

00:59:24,030 --> 00:59:24,900

And it's fascinating.

00:59:24,930 --> 00:59:28,800

Um, as I, I led a pilgrimage there a

few years ago, and, um, it was just

00:59:28,800 --> 00:59:35,370

a beautiful, uh, beautiful sort of

fulfillment of having experienced

00:59:35,370 --> 00:59:37,680

her intercession throughout my days.

00:59:37,730 --> 00:59:39,030

And then now.

00:59:39,475 --> 00:59:45,095

In my, my adulthood as a husband, as

a dad, um, with all this reflection

00:59:45,105 --> 00:59:49,075

in my past, like to be able to go to

the Basilica and see the actual image

00:59:49,075 --> 00:59:52,485

was very touching because for me,

it was just a trip of Thanksgiving.

00:59:53,145 --> 00:59:57,185

And so anyways, um, Mary appears

to Juan Diego and says, take these

00:59:57,185 --> 01:00:01,685

roses, which, um, we're not supposed

to be growing in December in Mexico.

01:00:01,915 --> 01:00:03,035

01:00:03,175 --> 01:00:04,385

And they weren't supposed to be

01:00:04,385 --> 01:00:07,015

growing in Mexico at all because

they were Castilian roses.

01:00:07,065 --> 01:00:08,805

They were roses that were unique to Spain.

01:00:09,665 --> 01:00:12,585

So there's no explanation

as to why these were there.

01:00:12,595 --> 01:00:16,165

But she said, take these roses,

tie them up in your toma,

01:00:16,195 --> 01:00:17,795

which was a cactus fiber fiber.

01:00:18,125 --> 01:00:20,835

Pancho and he was wearing one.

01:00:20,895 --> 01:00:23,045

So he ties it and takes

it to the local bishop.

01:00:23,045 --> 01:00:28,765

So Bishop Zuma and says, you know,

uh, our lady has sent me with a sign.

01:00:29,075 --> 01:00:34,215

He unties his Tilma and then the

roses fall out miracle one, cause

01:00:34,215 --> 01:00:35,095

they shouldn't have been growing.

01:00:35,095 --> 01:00:36,765

And they were from his native country of

01:00:36,765 --> 01:00:37,325

Spain.

01:00:38,225 --> 01:00:39,475

And number two,

01:00:39,995 --> 01:00:44,405

the image of our lady, Guadalupe

is emblazoned on, on his Tilma.

01:00:44,865 --> 01:00:46,855

And that's the image that we have today.

01:00:46,970 --> 01:00:47,530

Track 1: it's hard not to.

01:00:47,655 --> 01:00:50,635

image, there's no explanation for it.

01:00:50,655 --> 01:00:52,275

It's miraculous in every way.

01:00:52,285 --> 01:00:57,445

Like as scientists have examined this

thing, the tilna has like cactus fiber.

01:00:57,455 --> 01:00:57,555

It

01:00:57,555 --> 01:00:59,695

has a shelf life of 30, 40 years tops.

01:00:59,695 --> 01:01:02,455

It's been around for almost 500 years, you

01:01:02,455 --> 01:01:02,705

know?

01:01:02,725 --> 01:01:11,725

And when this image dropped back in

01:01:11,725 --> 01:01:16,125

shock waves through that nation because

whenever people would look upon this The

01:01:16,125 --> 01:01:19,565

image itself was so compelling to them.

01:01:20,650 --> 01:01:21,610