Encounter Mercy Podcast: Recent Episodes
Encounter Mercy Podcast
Holy Week is the pinnacle of the entire church calendar. During this week, we travel with Christ to Jerusalem, to the upper room where He turned the bread and wine into His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. We travel with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane, to His trial, conviction, and finally His death […]
What exactly is almsgiving, and how do we participate in this act of the Church? Join the guys as they discuss this important task in our Lenten journey.
Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving: the three main tenants of the Lenten journey; but how does one remain faithful to fasting, and understand its purpose? Join the guys as they discuss fasting and ways to remain faithful to your Lenten plan.
The church calls us to three important tasks during the season of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. Our prayer is so important, and needs to be focused on Christ, yet that can be extremely difficult, especially when we feel this pressure to pray. Join the gang as they discuss ways to pray this lent.
As we begin another Lenten Journey, there are many things, activities, undertakings available to us. So how exactly do we make sure this is a “good” Lent? Join us on our first video of our Lenten series where we talk about how to have this “good’ Lent. The Encounter Mercy team talks about prayer, fasting, […]
Welcome back to the Encounter Mercy Podcast! After a long hiatus and a bit of a change studio-wise, the boys are back for a new season of the Encounter Mercy Podcast.
After a hiatus, the guys are back discussing All Souls and All Saints Days. Join Father Andy, Br. Barnabas, and Vince as they discuss these important feast days in our church calendar.
Everyone needs support from time to time. Sometimes that support is from the IT department, sometimes that support is from family, and still other times, that support is from friends. Most importantly, we find support from our brothers and sisters in Christ, or at least we should be able to. Having these kinds of support […]
In the preparation for mass, there are some specific prayers that the priest and deacon should pray as they are vesting. These prayers have a spiritual meaning as well as reminds the priest of his purpose in the celebration of the liturgy. Join Father Andy, Deacon AJ, and Deacon Barnabas as they discuss the preparation […]
A few weeks ago, Vince and Father Andy discussed Baptism in general, but often Catholics are asked why we baptize children, when a child cannot make a decision for themselves really. We recognize in our faith and the scripture and the tradition that the importance of baptism for the protection of all peoples as well […]
If you went to Mass on June 29 and had expected to only hear about Martha, it might have been a surprise to you to hear that we were celebrating Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Just this past January, Pope Francis decreed that the feast day of Martha would include her siblings with her. This gives […]
After a month hiatus, the gang is back! Between Father Andy moving and starting in a new parish assignment, Deacon AJ starting his summer assignment, Brother Deacon Barnabas settling in for summer at the Monastery, and the changes of life for Mr. Vince Dragone as a father and spouse, we come back together to discuss […]
A few weeks back, we had an episode on Fatherhood and raising Catholic Children. This week, we have a close friend of the Encounter Mercy Podcast, as well as a high school friend of Father Andy, Jillian Zaczyk, to speak on the topic of Catholic Motherhood and how she sees herself as a Catholic Mother, […]
Deacon AJ and Br. Barnabas talk about a favorite book of theirs, He Leadeth Me by Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J., who was an American missionary to Russia during the onset of the 2nd World War. Ministering in Eastern Poland during the rise of the Soviet Union, Ciszek is captured and is accused of being a Vatican […]
There are many issues and obstacles in the world that undermine Catholic morality and spirituality within our culture. Join Vince and Jesse as they discuss how to raise children in a secular world. Resources: Religious Parenting by Christian Smith
Building bridges between bodies of believers and non-believers is an important task in our role as ministers of the faith. But what does that mean exactly for us in the pews? Join Vince, Jesse, and Father Andy as they discuss this important role in our church today. Here’s the candle Father Andy was speaking about […]
Finding the peace we discussed last week can be difficult, especially when we find ourselves in a state of sin. Other times peace can seem elusive when we focus totally on ourselves and our own abilities. Peace is something that we need to seek out each and every day of our lives, yet can be […]
Have you ever encountered someone or something that irritates you, and you’ve wanted to scream? Or maybe a situation that causes you fear or pain? It seems to be a part of our lives, yet there are healthy ways to deal with these situations. Join Father Andy, Vince, and Br. Barnabas as they discuss how […]
Recently, two bits of information hit the public that has caused some members of the church a great deal of worry and fear. These two documents show that there is a great decline in church membership in the United States as well as the state of religion with young people. These two combined show a […]
At the end of our Lenten Sacrifice, the Church calls us into the three most holy days of our liturgical year. On Holy Thursday morning, traditionally Diocese throughout the world will celebrate the Chrism Mass. In this special mass, all priests of the diocese renew their promises made at ordination, and the holy oils for […]
In life, we often hear about the need to sacrifice, and its importance in the Christian life. Join us as we discuss sacrifices in the Christian’s journey.
Who exactly was Saint Patrick? Was he even Irish? And why does the world seem to worship this man? Join Vince and Jesse as they discuss this saint and his importance.
Have you ever felt that something is taking up too much space in your life? Maybe something that isn’t inherently bad, but needs to be pruned, or changed in a way? In our lives, we often get stuck in ruts and need to work on our habits to better ourselves. Join Vince and Jesse as […]
Leprosy is a very serious public health concern and shows up regularly in scripture. Leprosy is extremely contagious, causing great concern for the public health. Although we do not encounter leprosy in our world today, we do encounter a spiritual leprosy. Leprosy is a disease that came about because of rancorous dissent against God’s authority. […]
In this week’s episode, AJ and Br. Barnabas look at the words of the Rite of Ordination for a Deacon in light of their upcoming ordinations. They discuss the both the Old and Testament references found in the Rite, as well as their own reflections on what it means to minister as a deacon.
Last year’s Lenten season was definitely a first and a once in a lifetime experience. No one expected our lent to last as long as it did, nor did we expect the public worship to be cut short so quickly. With Lent 2021 upon us, we have an opportunity to make right what we might […]
Pope Francis calls us to what he calls spiritual accompaniment in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of The Gospel). Below is an excerpt (paragraphs 169-173) where Pope Francis writes about the need for everyone to be initiated into the “art of accompaniment.” Personal accompaniment in processes of growth …In our world, ordained ministers […]
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20a NABRE In the Great Commission as listed above from the Gospel of Matthew, we hear Jesus give us […]
We may have heard the Gospel parable of the Sower and the Seed before, but have we actually taken time to contemplate this story? Join Father Andy and AJ Gedney as they discuss this familiar story and its importance in our daily prayer lives A Reading from the Gospel of Mark On another occasion, Jesus […]
Not much is known about the life of Saint Joseph, and no words were ever written being attributed to him in scripture, yet our Holy Father Pope Francis has attributed this Jubilee year to this very important, yet obscure, saint. Join Father Andy, Vince, and Father Dan Hoffman as they discuss this saint and this […]
Saint Thomas Aquinas speaks on virtue and its place in the Christian Life. Join Vince and Father Andy as they discuss virtue with AJ Gedney.
As the Jewish people waited for their Messiah, they were expecting a great military leader to descend from the heavens and lead them into war against the occupying forces: the Romans and their empire. What they didn’t expect was a child king to appear to them, yet that is exactly what the prophets had proclaimed […]
What a strange year we have had! Who would have guessed all that we would have to face one year ago? Join the gang as they discuss this past year and look forward to the next!
Join Vince on our last day of our Advent journey as we read the twenty-fourth chapter of the Gospel of Luke. VIII. The Resurrection Narrative Chapter 24 The Resurrection of Jesus. 1 But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found […]
“Look Daddy! Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!” In the classic Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” there are many Christian themes hidden, and sometimes blatantly staring at the viewer. For instance, one very obvious theme is that life is sacred and worthy of protection. Join Father Andy and […]
Join Jesse as we journey closer to Christmas in the reading of chapter 22 of the Gospel of Luke. VII. The Passion Narrative Chapter 22 The Conspiracy Against Jesus. 1 Now the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was drawing near, 2 and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to put him […]
Join AJ for day 21 of our Advent journey. Chapter 21 The Poor Widow’s Contribution. 1 When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury 2 and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. 3 He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all […]
Join Brother Barnabas for day 20 of our advent journey. Chapter 20 The Authority of Jesus Questioned. 1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple area and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, approached him 2 and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are […]
Vince leads today’s reading of the nineteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke Chapter 19 Zacchaeus the Tax Collector. 1 He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. 2 Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, 3 was seeking to see who Jesus was; but […]
Join Brother Barnabas as he proclaims Chapter 18 of the Gospel of Luke. Chapter 18 The Parable of the Persistent Widow. 1 Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, 2 “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any […]
We often hear questions like “if the Catholic Church is the one true church, then how is there corruption in it?” or hear statements like “I love the Church and Her liturgies, but I cannot support a church that permits horrible things from happening.” Both of these statements/questions are feelings that people have, but how […]
Father Andy leads us today in the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Chapter 16 The Parable of the Dishonest Steward. 1 Then he also said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. 2 He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about […]
Listen today as AJ leads us through the fifteenth chapter of Luke. Chapter 15 The Parable of the Lost Sheep. 1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So to them he addressed […]
Jesse is leading us in today’s reading of chapter 14 of Luke. Chapter 14 Healing of the Man with Dropsy on the Sabbath. 1 On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. 2 In front of him there was a man […]
Join Vince for the thirteenth chapter of Luke in our prayer today. Chapter 13 A Call to Repentance. 1 At that time some people who were present there told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 2 He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these […]
Join AJ in our reading and contemplation of chapter 12 of the Gospel of Luke. Chapter 12 The Leaven of the Pharisees. 1 Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees. Courage Under […]
Fr. Andy leads today’s reading of the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Chapter 11 The Lord’s Prayer. 1 He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” 2He said to them, “When you pray, say: […]
What are those liturgical seasons, and why does the Church have them? Join Father Andy and AJ Gedney as they discuss the Liturgical Seasons of the Church and their purpose.
Vince leads us through the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 9 today. Chapter 9 The Mission of the Twelve. 1 He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal [the sick]. 3 He said to them, “Take nothing for the […]
Jesse is back with us today for chapter 8 of the Gospel of Luke. Chapter 8 Galilean Women Follow Jesus. 1 Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve 2 and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, […]
Listen along as AJ Gedney leads us through the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Chapter 7 The Healing of a Centurion’s Slave. 1 When he had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. 3 When he heard […]
Join Fr. Andy for the sixth day in our journey to Christmas. Chapter 6 Debates About the Sabbath. 1 While he was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 2 Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on […]
Join Jesse Spanogle for Day 5 of our Advent Journey Chapter 5 The Call of Simon the Fisherman. 1 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their […]
Join Br. Barnabas for chapter 4 of the Gospel of Luke. Chapter 4 The Temptation of Jesus. 1 Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3 The […]
Entering into Advent can be difficult. Add on the pandemic, and this can just be crazy! In a way, it would be easy just to slip into the secular Christmas season, but there’s so much more that we can do to Encounter Christ this Advent Season. Join Vince, Father Andy, AJ Gedney, Br. Barnabas, and […]
Join Br. Barnabas for Day 2 of our journey. Chapter 2 The Birth of Jesus. 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. 4 And […]
Join Father Andy for Day 1 of our journey I. The Prologue Chapter 1 1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, 3 I too have decided, […]
Starting December 1 2020, join Vince, Fr. Andy, Br. Barnabas, AJ Gedney, and a few special guests as we journey through the 24 chapters of the Gospel of Luke. As we enter this season of preparation, let us prepare our hearts and our minds upon the miracle of the Birth of Jesus and His Second […]
Can you believe it? It’s been a year since we started this journey. We could have never guessed where we would be one year later, but we thank God for the opportunity to share our faith with you! Join Vince, Fr. Andy, Br. Barnabas, and A.J. as they look back on this past year and […]
Entering into contemplative prayer can be difficult, but is an important part of our spiritual journey. This difficult journey can lead to a greater peace in our daily lives, and therefore is something we all should try to tackle. Join Vince and Father Andy as they discuss this journey.
Recently, a survey was taken of all Christian believers on key points to the Christian Faith. This survey is very misleading for a Catholic, and requires some deep thinking. These 35 questions are basically true or false questions, but they can be very misleading. Join Father Andy and Vince as they go through the 35 […]
No, not the awful movie, but rather the reality of angels and their fallen counterparts, demons. What might seem like a scary topic really is an important discussion of our faith. Join Vince, Father Andy, and Father Joe on their discussions of angels, demons, and how it affects our day to day life of faith.
We chat often about prayer on this podcast, and there’s good reason for that. Prayer is the most important aspect of our daily life. We need to make sure that we are spending time in prayer each and every day. But how do we do this? Join AJ and Brother Barnabas this week as they […]
How does someone become a Saint, and who can become saints? What is their role and why ask their intercession? Join Fr. Andy and Vince as they discuss the Saints today!
Knowing yourself and who you are is important; it allows for each of us to come to a greater understanding of our motives, and what makes us tick. An old phrase often spoken about this topic is self-knowledge leads to self-acceptance, which leads to self-gift. Join Brother Barnabas and AJ this week as they journey […]
Our world is currently in turmoil, and the world seems to be falling apart. With that, there have been attacks on our church, both physically and spiritually. What does this mean for us, and what should we do about it? Join Vince, Father Andy and AJ as they discuss these troubling times in our world.
The Encounter Mercy Podcast with your host… AJ? Brother Barnabas? Wait… What happened? No, no, don’t adjust your device. Join Brother Barnabas and AJ, now new co-hosts, as they take over the podcast this week! Let us know what you think! AJ and Brother Barnabas will be co-hosting from time to time, providing some great […]
Marriage is such an important union, and so taking care of a relationship is number one in our list. But what does that mean? Join Vince and Father Andy as they discuss this very important sacrament.
Death: a topic we are careful to avoid. Have you ever thought about all the ways we allude to death in our speech without ever saying the word “death?” Passed on, fell asleep, went home, went to their reward, departed this earth, passed away, departed, gone, slipped away, lost the battle, succumbed to life, kicked […]
Often we are asked why we are Catholic, or why the Catholic Church. Why not just join a more “hip,” or “up-to-date,” or more “with-the-times” church. Well, lots of good reasons! Join Father Andy, Vince, Brother Barnabas, and AJ Gedney as they discuss the reasons for the Church as they discuss often heard reasons against […]
In this past Sunday’s Gospel reading, we hear Christ proclaim that Peter is the rock, and not only the rock, but the specific rock that HE, Jesus, will build His Church upon. With this deceleration, we find the beginnings of The Catholic Church, and how it impacts us an our faith today. Join Vince and […]
What exactly is service, and what does it mean to offer service? And what exactly does service look in the Christian’s life? Join Father Andy and Vince as they discuss Christian service and service of ones time, talent, and treasure.
Our world is filled with noise, noise, noise, noise, NOISE! Through all this noise, how do we hear God and His Will for our lives? Join Father Andy and Vince as they sift through all this noise.
As members of the human population, and residents of the Earth, as well as creations of God, we have a responsibility to care for our common home of Earth. We have a God-given obligation to care for His Creation, and that includes the world around us. So how exactly does the Church call out to […]
In the document Sacrosanctum Concilium, promulgated by Pope Paul VI, we are instructed that the faithful are to have full and active participation in the liturgy: Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of […]
Join us as we discuss some topics around our proverbial campfire. Join Father Andy, Vince, Father Joe Petrone, and AJ Gedney. If you have a topic you would like to suggest, let us know over at info (at) encountermercy.com
Join Father Andy and Vince as they talk with the Newly-Ordained Father Joseph Petrone about his call to priesthood and his current life in pro temporae assignment.
When speaking of Saint Bartholomew, Christ said “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him (Jn 1:47).” What exactly does it mean to not be duplicitous? Why should we strive for such an attribute? Join Vince and Father Andy as they discuss this very important topic and discuss ways to […]
In all that we do, we are to follow the command of Christ to “go into all the world and proclaim the Good News.” (Mk 16:15) We have set a goal for ourselves to continue this proclamation, and as we move forward, we want your input: we want to know how you plan to continue […]
As we begin returning to our churches and public worship, we may find it difficult, or confusing on what to do. We may want to move faster than our parish or our diocese, but we must be patient. We may also fear returning to our churches or believe that we are moving too fast. In […]
If you’ve had the fortune (or maybe misfortune) of watching any television lately, you may have come across this phrase in commercials calling the situation we are in as the “new normal.” This reality we are in is not the new normal, but it does have some things to teach us. For instance, it is […]
No, it’s not the beginning of a bad joke, it’s Mr. AJ Gedney’s vocation story. Join Vince and Father Andy as they discuss the vocation story and discernment of AJ Gedney, who is a seminarian from the Diocese of Covington, KY. AJ Gedney is a seminarian at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA. Father Andy […]
Have you ever read a really good book, or heard a really good story? Have you ever been able to put yourself into that story? When we can use our imagination, the story usually means something more to us. Now, how can we use that in ministry? Where do we find that stories work well […]
We all have plenty of time on our hands, so how exactly are we using it? Join Vince, Father Andy, and Brother Barnabas as they discuss leisure time and ways to spend it.
How often have you heard someone say that they are “spiritual” and not religious? Or that religion is bad? And what about people looking for ways to deal with the current affairs? Join Vince and Father Andy as they talk about this “new” spirituality that seems to fascinate the world.
What is “mercy”? What separates mercy from grace? Where did “Divine Mercy Sunday” come from? There are a lot of questions surrounding this eighth day of the Easter Octave! Join Vince and Father Andy as they chat about their lives and the celebration of Mercy that we had this past Sunday.
Once again, a strange celebration has come upon us. We have celebrated most of Lent at home, all of Holy Week at home, and now Easter, the highest Holy Day in the Christian calendar. So how are we celebrating these holy days? And how do we make them special? Let’s chat about that!
The holiest week of them all, and of course this week we are stuck at home! Join Father Andy and Vince as they chat about this week and ways that we can make it holy for ourselves!
As is well known, the world around us seems to be falling apart, yet there is hope! Jesus Christ is alive and is calling out to us! Join Vince and Father Andy as they discuss the situation in our world and look for a silver lining.
How does one try to explain the mystery of the Trinity? In our Catholic Faith, we try to uncover this mystery, and yet we fail at its complete comprehension of this mystery, because it is just that: a mystery, Join Father Andy and Vince as they discuss the Trinity and try try try their hardest […]
Everyone has a God-given role in this world, and we sometimes call this role our vocation. When we often hear the word vocation, we immediately assume a religious vocation, such as a priest or a nun. Yet, this role can mean so much more. Join Vince and Father Andy as they discuss vocations and why […]
What must we do to live out our faith? How far must we go? Join Father Andy and Vince as they discuss martyrdom and living out the faith in our daily lives. Catechism of the Catholic Church II. To Bear Witness to the Truth 2471 Before Pilate, Christ proclaims that he “has come into the […]
How in the world could you boil The Mass down into only an hour?? Well, we couldn’t. Enjoy today’s longer episode on The Mass where Father Dan Hoffman joins Father Andy and Vince as they try to undertake the difficult task of explaining The Mass.
In today’s episode, Father Andy and Vince chat with Father Dan Hoffman about the different approved Marian Apparitions. While the apparition of Mary is not a necessity for salvation, there are a few good reasons to believe in and pray for these apparitions. Join us as we discuss these miraculous moments in our church’s history! […]
In a week, we begin our journey through Lent, a time of Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, Penance, and other deeds and prayers to prepare us for Easter. Yet Lent isn’t something that we should just wish away, nor is it a time to get into shape because you might give up sweets. So what exactly is […]
In this episode, Father Andy and Vince discuss mental health, the importance of paying attention to our mental health, and the importance of discussing this publicly. If you need help, you're not alone. Confidential help is available:National Suicide Prevention LifelineCall 1-800-273-8255Available 24 hours everyday
In our episode this week, Vince and Father Andy talk with Brother Barnabas O’Reilly, a Benedictine monk at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA. Learn about Brother Barnabas and his call to the monastery as well as his job at Saint Vincent College as a full-time campus minister and full-time seminary student.
What does it mean to be a brother? Why should men have a sens of brotherhood? How should this look in life? These are all questions men should be asking themselves. Not only should all men be looking for a brotherhood, we should be looking for authentic relationships, ones where we can be held accountable […]
Often times, we hear people ask why we need to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. So often, people avoid this sacrament out of fear, confusion, or disinterest. Today, Vince and Father Andy investigate the importance of this Sacrament and hope to inspire you to attend this Sacrament regularly.
After a Pew Research poll in 2019, it was found that only one-third of US Catholics believe in the Real Presence of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist. This staggering number has caused a mass response (no pun intended) by the Church, her Bishops and priests, and all who teach the faith. Join Father Andy and Vince as they discuss the Catholic Faith and Her understanding of the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of our Christian life.
Emmanuel, God IS with us! Today, we have so much to celebrate. The Savior, who came to feed the nations by sacrificing Himself for our sins was born. He had to become flesh to die for our sins, and so, as all the prophets foretold of Him, and the Virgin Mother longed for Him beyond all telling, He has come to His people to set them free! Our salvation is with us, and this is why we celebrate! Join Vince and Fr. Andy as they discuss the Manger scene as well as other personal traditions.
Who is Mary and why do Catholics have a devotion to her? The Bible has many correlations between the Old Testament and Mary. Mary is the New Eve. There are many references to Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant. Mary, the Mother of God, intercedes for us. In this episode, we give a brief introduction to Mary and explain why we hold her in such high regard. We wish we had more time to talk about her in this episode, but we promise to go into more detail in future episodes.