Week 2 of a series on a 30-Day Personal Retreat with the Litany of Trust, by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V., available here stpaulcenter.com/trust10/
Grace is in the present; there is no grace in the past or in the future. The challenge, though, is that we’re all professional escape artists. We can get antsy and we don’t know how to be present, which means we don’t know how to receive God’s grace. We’ve got to give up the hope of a better past — it has happened and there’s nothing we can do about it. We also have to stop living in a fantasy future that doesn’t exist — there’s no grace there, either. Jesus is Lord of our lives; the past, the present, the future. Trust him, and allow yourself to embrace today and all the grace he is waiting to give you here.
As we grow, we want to keep focusing on quality and bringing you new features that have a cost. So, in our Franciscan way, we’re asking: Would you consider becoming a monthly donor if you’ve been loving the Poco a Poco podcast? No gift is too small! 100% of donations will go to the Poco a Poco podcast and are tax-deductible. Spirit Juice Entertainment Group (SJEG) is the non-profit arm of Spirit Juice Studios. It is a 501(c)3 organization that relies on your support to continue creating original, authentically Catholic content that reaches thousands of people each week through our website and social media channels.
Start a new monthly donation and receive an array of Poco a Poco and Spirit Juice swag in gratitude for your generosity. For more information, please visit our Poco a Poco Support page.
To qualify, you must donate a minimum of $10 per month. All gifts in between will be rounded down to the nearest package amount. Please allow 6-8 weeks for your package to be shipped. Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. Your donation is tax-deductible within the United States, and we will provide a tax receipt for your records.
-
Who Did It Better?
Does it sometimes feel like the people who mess up the most end up closer to God?
As the friars wrap up their reflections on the Prodigal Son, they wrestle with a real and honest question: did things actually turn out better for the one who left than for the one who stayed?
In this episode, they unpack the tension between comparison and truth. While the younger son experiences a powerful return, that doesn’t mean sin is the better path. God can redeem anything, but that doesn’t make it the plan. The deeper invitation isn’t about having a dramatic story, but about entering into real relationship with the Father, right where you are.
They also reflect on the subtle danger of doing all the “right” things without ever truly encountering God, and how both sons are invited out of an orphan mindset and into deeper intimacy.
Join us as we let go of comparison and rediscover that the goal isn’t a better story, but a deeper relationship with the Father.
-
Human Stuff
Why are the most ordinary parts of life often the hardest to navigate?
In this episode, the friars lean into the everyday realities we all deal with: conflict, communication, expectations, and the awkward moments we’d rather avoid. From navigating tough conversations to managing unspoken expectations and misunderstandings, they talk honestly about how “human stuff” can quietly shape our relationships for better or worse.
Rather than offering quick fixes, the conversation invites us to grow in maturity, courage, and clarity to stop avoiding discomfort and start choosing honesty, vulnerability, and charity in the messiness of real life.
Join us as we laugh, reflect, and learn how God meets us right in the middle of our very human stuff.
-
Peace, Mercy, and Vulnerability
What if real peace only grows where we’re willing to be vulnerable? In this episode, the friars reflect on “Blessed are the peacemakers” and “Blessed are the merciful”, showing how both Beatitudes invite us to step toward others with honesty and humility. Making peace means entering hard conversations without defenses. Mercy means letting go of the “high ground” we hold over those who’ve hurt us. Both require lowering ourselves, just as Jesus does. They explore how vulnerability isn’t weakness but the place where reconciliation becomes possible, where forgiveness takes root, and where the heart of Christ is revealed. Join us as we learn the courage to be vulnerable and the freedom that comes from choosing mercy and peace.
