St. Anthony's Tongue
Rediscovering the beauty of Catholicism through its mysticism, saints and folklore.
Episodes
Our Lady of Sorrows: The Bride with Blood on her Hands
🕊️Resources 🕊️My Catholic Zine, The Margins: www.stanthonystongue.com/margins My Book, A Catechism of the Strange: https://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Strange-Stigmata-Relics-Miracles/dp/0829460683 My Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue Absolutely — keep it simple, searchable, and not stuffed:Description:On the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, we sit with Mary as the wounded Bride: the
Moved in the Guts: Why Christianity Should Make Us More Tender
In this episode, we look at Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant, the Greek phrase splagchnistheis—to be moved in the guts—and the way Scripture repeatedly connects holiness with a heart that can still be affected by suffering.Compassion is not the enemy of truth. The question is whether the mercy we receive from Christ actually makes us more merciful.
Why Did Some Saints Glow?
Some saints were said to literally glow.In this episode, we look at the strange stories of luminous saints, the Transfiguration, theosis, and what it might mean for a human life to become radiant with Christ.---🕊️Resources 🕊️Mysticism, Word By Word -- Theosis: https://youtu.be/TRbknjxcA5U?si=BzlYg2gZhzG9V8xz My Catholic Zine, The Margins: www.stanthonystongue.com/margins My Book, A Catechism of th
Mass Prep | The Christ Between Us
What if heaven is closer than we think?In this Mass Prep, we explore Matthew 18:15–20, communal prayer, the Bride of Christ, and Jesus’ strange promise to be in the midst of us.
Against Silicon Valley Catholicism
What happens when Silicon Valley’s values start shaping the Catholic imagination?In this episode, I’m talking about optimization, branding, algorithms, prayer streaks, Catholic AI, “frictionless faith,” and the danger of treating holiness like something that can be measured on a dashboard.This isn’t an anti-tech rant. It’s a plea for a messier, more embodied, more human Church — one where people s
Mass Prep | The Jesus We Try to Edit (Matthew 16:21–27)
Join my PatreonCheck Out my ZineOrder my BookIn this week’s Mass Prep, we look at Matthew 16:21–27: Peter trying to correct Jesus, what it means to actually follow Christ, and the strange call to lose your life in order to find it.
God Hunts You Like a Dog
What if the spiritual life is less about finding God, and more about realizing that God has been chasing you the whole time?In this episode, we look at Francis Thompson’s The Hound of Heaven, the conversion of Jacques Fesch, Jonah, the lost sheep, and the strange, relentless mercy of a God who refuses to stop coming after us.God Chases You Like a Dog (Essay)The Margins: A Catholic Zine Buy My Book
[Early/Ad-Free] Mass Prep | WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? (Matthew 16:13–20)
Order my book here.Buy a zine here. In Matthew 16:13–20, Jesus asks Peter one of the most important questions in the Gospel: “Who do you say that I am?”This week, we’re reflecting on faith becoming personal, learning to recognize Christ, and the beautiful moment when Peter names Jesus—and Jesus names Peter.
Mysticism, Word by Word: THEOSIS — Becoming Like God
Order my book, A Catechism of the Strange here: https://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Strange-Stigmata-Relics-Miracles/dp/0829460683 In this episode of Mysticism, Word by Word, we explore the Christian idea of becoming more like God through grace, where it appears in Scripture, how the mystics understood it, and what it looks like in everyday spiritual life.
Beware of Catholic Robots: The Catholic Tech Industry Has a Problem
In this episode of From the Margins, I’m talking about why I wrote Beware of Catholic Robots — my new manifesto on Catholic AI, prayer apps, digital spirituality, human dignity, work, and what happens when faith becomes optimized, monetized, and frictionless.We’ll get into Catholic AI companies, spiritual formation, AI and pastoral care, the gamification of prayer, ethical labor, and why the Churc
Stigmata: Why Do Saints Bear the Wounds of Christ?
Order My Book, A Catechism of the StrangeWhat is the stigmata — and more importantly, what does it mean?In this episode, we explore the strange Catholic phenomenon of the stigmata, the wounds of Christ appearing on the bodies of saints and mystics. We’ll talk about St. Francis of Assisi, redemptive suffering, victim souls, “offering it up,” and why these mysterious wounds reveal something deeper a
Mass Prep | Two Banquets, Two Kingdoms: Herod’s Feast vs. Jesus on the Grass
Matthew 14 gives us two banquets, and two very different kinds of kings.Herod feasts inside a palace, surrounded by wealth, spectacle, and powerful guests. By the end of the night, John the Baptist’s head is carried into the room on a platter.Then Jesus gathers the hungry in the wilderness.No palace. No guest list. No VIP section. Just grass, hunger, compassion, and bread placed into the hands of
I Wrote a Book on Strange Catholicism
Pre-order A Catechism of the Strange here: https://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Strange-Stigmata-Relics-Miracles/dp/0829460683 Catholicism is full of wounds, bones, dreams, incorrupt bodies, visions, relics, and saints who seemed to glow with the presence of God.But these strange things are not merely spooky trivia. They reveal something essential about the Christian life: grace does not simply forgiv
Mass Prep | Stop Shopping for God: The Pearl Cannot Be Mass-Produced
We live in a world that constantly tells us we need one more thing. One more book. One more devotion. One more answer. So on and so on. But in Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells a different story. The merchant finds one pearl—and stops searching.In this week's mass prep, let's talk about what it means to stop shopping for God, why the Kingdom can't be mass-produced, and how Christ is the
The Dangerous Mysticism of Dorothy Day
This episode connects with Issue IV of The Margins, God in the Gutters, available now.Dorothy Day was a journalist, anarchist, Catholic convert, founder of the Catholic Worker—and perhaps the only saint to ever land on an FBI watchlist.In this episode, we look at Dorothy through the lens of mysticism: a transformative awareness of God’s presence that increases our love of God and neighbor. For Dor
The "Mystical" Body of Christ? | Mysticism, Word by Word
Buy a Zine: www.stanthonystongue.com/margins What does the Church mean when it calls itself the Mystical Body of Christ?In this episode of Mysticism Word by Word, we explore how Christ joins us to Himself—and to one another—so deeply that His life begins to move between us. The Mystical Body is not merely a metaphor. It means grace transforms us, love binds us together, and Christ remains present
Mass Prep | The Mysticism of Weeds (Matthew 13)
Keeping this brief this week as I am recording the audio version of my book! But let's talk Matthew 13!Last week, Jesus spoke about the seed. This week, He shows us what happens when it begins growing in a messy field.The weeds do not mean the wheat has failed. The field is unfinished—but God is still at work.Buy a Zine: www.stanthonystongue.com/margins
From The Margins | God in the Gutter
Buy a Zine: http://www.stanthonystongue.com/marginsJoin the Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue What does Matthew 25 reveal about mercy, judgment, and the way we see people on the margins?In this episode, we talk about the saints we have sanitized, the difficult human beings they chose to love, and the Christ who identifies himself with the hungry, the sick, the imprisoned, the wounded,
[Mass Prep] The Reckless Sower
Mass Prep for Matthew 13:1–23, the Parable of the Sower.God is not waiting for the perfect soul before He speaks. He throws the Word into distracted hearts, wounded hearts, hard hearts, and overgrown hearts.The soul is not a machine. It is dirt. And grace is a seed with dirt under its fingernails.
The Devil Hates Soup: Works of Mercy as Spiritual Warfare
The devil hates soup.Not because soup is magic, but because mercy makes the love of Christ tangible.In this video, I talk about the works of mercy as mysticism, spiritual warfare, and a way of making our faith become flesh.This idea comes from Issue IV of The Margins: God in the Gutters.Learn more / subscribe: www.stanthonystongue.com/margins
Meditation & Contemplation | Mysticism, Word by Word
What’s the difference between meditation and contemplation—and why do Catholics so often confuse them?In this episode of Mysticism, Word by Word, we unpack what the Church means by both, how meditation can open into contemplation, and why dry prayer is still fruitful.
Mass Prep: The Mysticism of Being Little
In this week’s Mass Prep, we sit with Matthew 11:25–30 and explore the mysticism of being little, the meek and humble heart of Jesus, and what it really means when Christ says, “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
The Gospel of Being Misunderstood
What do we do when we are misunderstood?In this video, I talk about the ache of being misread, the temptation to become false, and the strange mercy of learning to be seen by God instead of constantly seeking the approval of every room.The Gospel does not promise that everyone will understand your heart.It promises that God already does.Support My Patreon!Buy a Zine!
What Is Catholic Mysticism? The Church’s Hidden Fire
Support the Patreon!Buy a Zine!A new series exploring Catholic mysticism through the words and phrases that show up again and again in the mystical tradition: union with God, the dark night, meditation, contemplation, the wound of love, and more.But before we can talk about any of those, we have to start with the most obvious and maybe most misunderstood word of all:Mysticism.In this episode, we t
Mass Prep | Lose Your Life Like You Mean It (Matthew 10:37–42)
In this Mass Prep for Matthew 10:37–42, we reflect on what it means to put Christ first, take up the cross, and trust that even the smallest hidden act of love is seen by God.Jesus is not calling us to love less, but to love in the right order. He is not asking for empty suffering, but for the cross that leads to freedom. And He reminds us that even a cup of cold water given in love will not be fo
The Heart Against the Machine: From The Margins Issue III
Grab a copy here: stanthonystongue.com/margins In this episode, I walk through Issue III of The Margins, my Catholic zine on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.This issue is about the Heart against the machine: Christ’s burning love against cold religion, mechanical faith, spiritual numbness, and bloodless Catholicism.We also talk about Emmaus, Christ’s wounds, adoration, Scripture, saints, mystical hearta
God or My Mind? How to Discern Spiritual Experiences
Support my Patreon!Buy a Zine!How do you know if something is from God, your own mind, or even the devil? In this episode, we talk about spiritual discernment through the wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola, especially when it comes to dreams, consolations, inner words, coincidences, and strange little moments in prayer.Catholic discernment is not about overthinking every grace or becoming spirituall
Mass Prep | FEAR NO ONE | Matthew 10:26-33
In this Mass Prep, we sit with Jesus’ words: “Fear no one.”Matthew 10 reminds us that Christian courage does not come from pretending life is easy, but from remembering that the Father sees us, knows us, and holds us. Not even a sparrow falls without His care — and we are worth more than many sparrows.A simple reflection on fear, courage, trust, and acknowledging Christ before the world.
The Mysticism of Ordinary Time
Ordinary Time is not filler.In this episode, we explore the mysticism of Ordinary Time and why this long green season of the Church year teaches us how to live the mysteries of Christ in everyday life. After Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, Ordinary Time asks: now what does it mean to follow Jesus?We’ll look at Matthew 9:36, the moved Heart of Christ, discipleship, the hidden Kingdo
Mysticism of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/anthonystongueGet The Margins Catholic zine: stanthonystongue.com/marginsWhy did Catholics become so obsessed with the Heart of Jesus?In this episode, we explore the forgotten mysticism of the Sacred Heart—from St. Augustine and the restless heart, to medieval devotion to Christ's wounds, to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the Sacred Heart revelations
Mass Prep | Eating God: The Eucharist Is Union
In this Mass Prep for the Mystic Heart, we reflect on John 6:51-58, where Jesus tells us that His flesh is true food and His blood is true drink.Catholics often talk about the Eucharist in terms of truth, doctrine, and the Real Presence — and we should. But in this Gospel, Jesus also reveals the Eucharist as union. He does not merely want to be admired from a distance. He wants to be received.So t
[Mass Prep] The Trinity is Not a Math Problem
Trinity Sunday can feel intimidating, but the Gospel begins somewhere simple:“God so loved the world.”
The Problem with Catholic AI
Catholic AI is here. But Catholic AI companies need to answer some serious questions.In this episode, I respond to Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on artificial intelligence and ask what Catholic AI companies owe the faithful in terms of transparency, accountability, data privacy, theological review, environmental impact, and moral responsibility.What model powers your Catholic AI? Is it using OpenAI, C
Pentecost is Weird: And Why That Rocks, Actually.
Pentecost is weirder than we usually let it be.In this episode, we’re keeping it simple and talking through three mystical and slightly strange things about Pentecost: the Holy Spirit as holy possession, the Holy Spirit as contagious joy, and Pentecost as the reversal of the Tower of Babel.This is not a giant theology lecture. Just a coffee-sipping reflection on fire, joy, language, and the strang
Joy Against the Machine: From the Margins Issue II
Grab Issue II of The Margins: Joy Against the Machine here:https://www.stanthonystongue.com/marginsSupport St. Anthony’s Tongue on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/AnthonysTongueJoy is not denial. Joy is not pretending everything is fine. Joy is not ignoring suffering, grief, anger, doubt, or the very real darkness of the world.But joy is resistance.In this episode of From the Margins, I’m talkin
Punk Rock Saints! St. Philip Neri | The Apostle of Joy
Catholic Zines: www.stanthonystongue.com/marginsPatreon: www.patreon.com/anthonystongue St. Philip Neri may be one of the most punk rock saints in Catholic history.Known as the Apostle of Rome and the Apostle of Joy, St. Philip Neri rebelled against religious gloom, spiritual ego, cold preaching, and closed-room Catholicism — not by rejecting the Church, but by making Catholic life joyful, human,
Mass Prep | Why Did Jesus Leave? A Casual Reflection on the Ascension
In this casual Ascension Sunday reflection, we sit with one of the strangest and most beautiful moments in the Christian story: Jesus rises from the dead, appears to His disciples, speaks with them, promises the Holy Spirit… and then ascends into heaven.But the Ascension is not abandonment.The disciples still have questions when Christ ascends. Mary receives Gabriel before she understands the whol
The Secret Names God Gives the Soul
What does God actually call you?Not the names your shame gives you. Not the names your anxiety gives you. Not the names your failures, wounds, scruples, or self-hatred have taught you to answer to.In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we linger with some of the strange and tender names God gives the soul throughout Scripture, especially in the Song of Songs: my dove, my darling, my sister, my p
EO vs. RC Mysticism: Two Paths Into Union
Is Eastern Orthodoxy more mystical than Roman Catholicism? Or have Catholics simply forgotten the mystical heart of their own tradition?In this episode, we explore Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic mysticism without turning it into a competition. Both East and West seek union with God. Both have deep theology, contemplative prayer, asceticism, sacramental life, and saints who burned with divine
Mass Prep: “I Will Come to You” | John 14:15–21
This week’s Mass Prep reflects on John 14:15–21, where Jesus tells His disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments,” “I will not leave you orphans,” and “You are in me and I in you.”As we move closer to Ascension and Pentecost, this Gospel invites us to slow down and receive the promise of Christ’s nearness. Jesus prepares His disciples for His visible departure, but He does not aban
Punk Rock Saints: Francis de Sales
Check out The Margins: stanthonystongue.com/marginsSt. Francis de Sales might not look like the obvious choice for a “punk rock saint,” but his life was a quiet rebellion against fear, cruelty, spiritual elitism, and religious rage.In this episode of Punk Rock Saints, we look at why St. Francis de Sales was so radical: his mission to Geneva and the Chablais, his use of written pamphlets to reach
God Dwells Within You. Why Don’t We Live Like It?
In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we ask a simple but deeply important question: Does God dwell within us?Many Catholics have heard Saint Paul’s words that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, but we often reduce that teaching to a warning label about sin rather than a mystical truth about God’s nearness. From Scripture, Catholic theology, and the lives of the mystics, we explore the
Everyday Mysticism: Finding God in the Ordinary
Most people think mysticism is rare, strange, or reserved for a few saints.But what if it’s actually the normal Christian life?In this episode, we break down what mysticism really is—not visions or extraordinary experiences, but a growing awareness of God’s presence that transforms how you live, love, and move through your day.This is about finding God in the ordinary.In your work.In your distract
Mass Prep: The Voice, The Name, The Life (John 10:1–10)
In this episode of Mass Prep for the Mystic Heart, we reflect on John 10:1–10 and the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. What does it mean to recognize His voice? How do we know we are truly being led by Christ and not by noise, fear, or confusion?Jesus tells us that His sheep hear His voice, that He calls them by name, and that He came so that we might have life in abundance. This Gospel invite
Catholicism Needs a Punk Rock Movement
In this episode, I explore why Catholicism might need something unexpected—a punk rock movement.Not rebellion. Not anarchy. But a return to something real.We’re living in a time where the faith can feel overly polished, commercialized, and repetitive. Catholic content is everywhere, podcasts, reels, conferences, products, but somewhere along the way, something deeper can get lost. The fire. The en
Mass Prep: Why You Don’t Recognize Jesus | Luke 24:13–35
In this Mass Prep for Luke 24:13–35, we walk the Road to Emmaus and ask a powerful question: why didn’t the disciples recognize Jesus?From Mary Magdalene hearing her name to the breaking of the bread, this Gospel reveals where we actually encounter Christ today—in personal prayer, in the Eucharist, and even in the quiet moments where our hearts begin to burn.If God feels distant or hidden, this re
The Side Wound: God’s Open Heart
Support My Work via Patreon at www.patreon.com/anthonystongue In this episode, we explore the side wound of Jesus Christ—one of the most overlooked but deeply meaningful wounds in Scripture and Catholic tradition. From John 19 to the mystics, the side wound reveals the open heart of God, the birth of the Church, and the place where we encounter Christ in our own wounds.What does it mean to “enter
Mass Prep: Doubting Thomas (John 20:19–31)
In this Mass Prep for the Second Sunday of Easter, we reflect on John 20:19-31 and the story of Doubting Thomas. Jesus meets His disciples in their fear, shows them His wounds, and invites Thomas to come close and believe. This Gospel reminds us that God is not afraid of our doubt. He meets us in it. The wounds of Christ are not erased in the Resurrection but revealed as places of encounter, mercy
The 7 Last Words of Jesus (For the Mystic Heart)
What did Jesus say at the end?In this reflection, we walk slowly through the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross—not as distant sayings, but as words spoken in love.These are not just final statements.They are words of forgiveness, closeness, longing, surrender.For the tired.For the searching.For the mystic heart.
Rosary Meditation with the Mystics | The Glorious Mysteries Explained
In this episode we walk through the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary as a path of the spiritual life.From resurrection and new life, to being set free, filled with the Holy Spirit, transformed by grace, and sharing in God’s life — these mysteries show what it means to become fully alive in God.With reflections inspired by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and St. Seraphim of Sarov.
[Mass Prep] The Mysticism of Palm Sunday | Matthew 21
In this Palm Sunday Mass Prep, we reflect on the mysticism of Matthew 21 and the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem.Why do we welcome Jesus… and still struggle to recognize Him?Why does God come gently when we expect power?And what does it mean to lay something down before we understand where He is leading us?This reflection is an invitation to enter Holy Week not with performance, but with
Rosary Meditation with the Mystics | The Luminous Mysteries
I’ve always struggled a bit with the Luminous Mysteries, so this episode is more me working through them with you than teaching at you.We walk through how these mysteries form the soul — from being claimed by God, to learning trust, to living it out, to glimpses of glory, and finally union in the Eucharist.With insights from St. Francis de Sales and St. Faustina Kowalska.
Rosary Meditation with the Mystics | The Sorrowful Mysteries Explained
In this episode we enter the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary through a mystical and psychological lens. The Passion of Christ is not only something that happened to Jesus — it also mirrors the transformation journey of the soul. We reflect on stages like dryness in prayer, purification, humiliation, perseverance, and total self-gift, with wisdom from St. Teresa of Ávila and St. Catherine of Sien
Rosary Meditation with the Mystics | The Joyful Mysteries Explained
In this episode we explore how to truly meditate on the Rosary through the lens of the Catholic mystics. Particularly, St. John of the Cross and St. Therese of Lisieux. The Joyful Mysteries are not just peaceful scenes — they reveal trust, perseverance, and small acts of faith that lead from darkness into joy.Please join my Patreon and Substack to get notified when the written portion of these are
[Mass Prep] Lord, There Will Be a Stench: A Reflection on John 11
In John 11, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead — but Lazarus comes out of the tomb still wrapped in burial cloths. Still alive… but not yet free.In this Mass Prep reflection, we explore the mysticism of Lazarus, divine delay, spiritual resurrection, and the slow process of being “unbound” after grace touches our lives.
Keep Watch: Learning to Stay Awake with God
What does it mean to “keep watch” with Christ?In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asks His closest friends a question that still reaches into our lives today: “Could you not watch with me one hour?”Many Christians today are not losing faith, rather, they are losing rest. Exhausted by performance, overwhelmed by noise, and unsure how to simply remain present with God.In this episode, we explore watc
Mass Prep for the Mystic Heart: The Mysticism of Mud (John 9 Explained)
In this Mass Prep for the Mystic Heart reflection, we explore the powerful symbolism of John 9, where Jesus heals the man born blind using mud from the earth. What does this strange moment reveal about creation, healing, and spiritual sight?This short mystical reflection looks at how Christ remakes us from the dust, how true vision grows in faith, and why the greatest blindness may be thinking we
The Three Angels of Lent: The Desert, The Garden & The Tomb
Angels appear throughout Christ’s journey in Lent: ministering in the desert, strengthening Him in the garden, and announcing the resurrection at the tomb. What do these mysterious encounters teach us about our own spiritual life during Lent?Let's discuss!
The Three Faces of Our Lady: Mother. Mystic. Bride.
In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue we explore three spiritual faces of the Virgin Mary: Mother, Mystic, and Bride.Mary is often spoken about with titles like Queen of Heaven or Mother of God, but the Gospel reveals something deeper. Mary shows us the entire path of the Christian life. First we receive Christ like a mother. Then we carry Him within us like a mystic. And finally we remain faith
Catholic Mysticism & Social Justice: Become Like Christ
In this episode I respond to a criticism I’ve received lately: that my reflections on Catholic mysticism are starting to sound like “social justice.”But this raises an important question. What if the two were never separate to begin with?In the Catholic tradition, mysticism is not just visions, ecstasies, or extraordinary experiences. The true mark of union with God is transformation. When the sai
The God Who Thirsts For You: Mass Prep for the Mystic Heart | John 4
In this episode of Mass Prep for the Mystic Heart, we reflect on the Gospel of John 4:5–42, the powerful encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.In Scripture, wells are often places where love stories begin. Isaac’s servant meets Rebekah at a well. Jacob meets Rachel at a well. Moses meets Zipporah at a well. When Jesus stops at Jacob’s well and asks a Samaritan woman for a dri
The Mystic Behind Barbed Wire: St. Titus Brandsma and Love in the Death Camp
The Creed says that Christ descended into hell. In 1942, hell had barbed wire.This episode tells the story of St. Titus Brandsma , Carmelite priest, journalist, mystic, and martyr, who was imprisoned in Dachau for refusing to cooperate with Nazi propaganda. In the middle of a death camp, he smuggled the Eucharist, heard confessions, consoled the dying, and showed radical kindness to the very guard
The Point Is Not Just Heaven: Matthew 17 & The True Goal of the Spiritual Life
This Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 17:1–9) gives us the Transfiguration, one of the most mysterious and beautiful moments in the life of Christ. But this passage is not only about proving that Jesus is God. It reveals what humanity looks like when it is fully united to God.In this episode, we explore theosis, sanctification, the imago Dei, and what it means to be transformed “from glory to glory” (2 Co
Lent with Mary Magdalene: The Holy Ache Embodied
In this first episode of our Lenten series, we look at Mary Magdalene through the lens of the Song of Songs.The Bride in the Song rises at night and searches for the one her soul loves. Mary Magdalene walks toward the tomb while it is still dark. The Church has long seen the connection. The poetry of longing becomes a body in a garden.This episode is about the holy ache, the kind of love that rema
When the Devil Quotes Scripture: A Lenten Mass Prep on Matthew 4
What happens when the devil quotes Scripture?On the First Sunday of Lent, we enter the wilderness with Christ in Matthew 4:1–11. This Gospel is not only about resisting temptation. It is about identity. It is about discernment. It is about how evil often disguises itself in holy language.The Spirit leads Jesus into the desert. Not for performance. Not for self improvement. For formation. In the wi
A Theology of Dirt: An Ash Wednesday Meditation
This one is different.On the eve of Ash Wednesday, I wanted to offer something slower. More embodied. More strange.We talk about ashes every year.We post the crosses.We quote “Remember you are dust.”But what if we’ve forgotten what dirt actually means?Tonight we descend.From the dirt of Genesisto the dirt of Bethlehemto the dirt beneath Christ’s fingernailsto the dirt of the tombto the ash pressed
You're Doing Lent Wrong: Scripture to Recenter Lent
Every year, Catholics prepare for Lent by adding more: more devotions, more fasting plans, more spiritual intensity. But Scripture suggests something deeper. In this episode, we explore five key biblical passages that reveal the true posture of the desert. Lent is not about religious performance or self-improvement. It is about interior conversion, surrender, and allowing God to strip away what ke
Lent for the Spiritually Exhausted: A Lenten Guide Inspired by the Mystics
Lent Devotional Guide: https://www.stanthonystongue.com/products/p/pdf-a-lenten-devotional-guide Lent is not a performance review. It is not a spiritual productivity challenge. It is the Church leading exhausted people back into the desert, not to crush them, but to strip away the false god of competence and return them to love.In this video, I offer a Lenten guide inspired by the Catholic mystics
Lingering with Lent: Holy Wounds, Devotional History & Mirroring Christ.
Lent is coming. It’s not too close. Not too far. I didn’t want to do a lent prep video. It’s too early. I also didn’t want to do a filler episode. Y’all don’t deserve that.So here is an episode where we linger. No script. No outline. Just seeing where lent takes us. We discuss medieval history, the real meaning of devotion, Christian mysticism and end with a guided meditation on a psalm.Thank you
Rotting Light: When Mercy Becomes Optional
Matthew 5 calls Christians to be salt and light, not in theory, but in visible mercy. This episode reflects on what happens when Catholics choose silence, excuse inaction, or hide behind “nuance” while suffering remains visible. It’s about sanctification, demonization, and the slow deformation that comes when mercy becomes optional.
Blessed Are…: Making Room for God
In this Gospel reflection for Sunday’s reading from Matthew 5, we linger with the opening line of the Beatitudes. Instead of rushing through the list, we slow down and sit with the atmosphere of the mountain and the first words Jesus speaks.What does it mean to be blessed. What does it mean to be poor in spirit. And what is the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus says already belongs to them.This reflect
Spiritual Gluttony: When Devotions Become Consumption
Many Catholics feel spiritually dry or burned out, even while praying often, attending Mass, and practicing multiple devotions.In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we explore what I call spiritual gluttony. This is the subtle habit of consuming prayers, devotions, and spiritual practices in a way that exhausts us instead of transforming us.This is not a rejection of Catholic devotion. It is an
The Mysticism of Being Interrupted: A Gospel Reflection on Matthew 4:12–23
This reflection began as Mass prep for Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 4:12–23), but it quickly became something more interior.In this episode, I linger with the moment Jesus interrupts ordinary lives by the Sea of Galilee—calling fishermen who move before they understand, leaving everything behind. We explore interruption and overwhelm not as problems to fix, but as signs of God’s nearness.Drawing from
The Saints Never Said That: 5 Quotes Catholics Get Wrong!
In this episode, we examine famous quotes commonly attributed to Catholic saints that they never actually said — and what we lose theologically when spiritual language is flattened, mistranslated, or weaponized.From Jacinta of Fatima and Our Lady, to the “Instrument of Peace” prayer attributed to St. Francis, to Catherine of Siena and the meaning of becoming who God meant you to be, we look at how
Behold: The Hidden Mysticism of Christ’s Baptism
What does it mean when John points to Jesus and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God”?In this episode, we enter the quiet mysticism of John 1 and the Baptism of Christ. “Behold” is not a command to analyze or define. It is an invitation to see, to receive, to stand before God rather than explain Him. At the Jordan, Christ is not made divine. He is revealed as the dwelling place of God. The Spirit does n
Not the Famous Mystics: 5 Catholic Poets Who Taught Me How to Pray
In this episode, I talk about the mystic poets who didn’t just shape my theology—they taught me how to pray. Not the greatest-hits version of Catholic mysticism, but the voices that formed my interior life through poetry, longing, and encounter. We explore why poetry has always been the native language of mysticism, how prayer is shaped more by desire than by technique, and why some of the most tr
[CORRECTED VERSION] Ask W. Anything: A New Year Catholic Q&A
OOPS! This originally only included the final 30 minutes. Here is the full 1hr 45 min version. Yikes. To submit Qs for future Q&As (and get early access and other perks) consider joining our patreon here: www.patreon.com/anthonystongue In this episode, I sit down and respond to a wide range of questions from you all, touching on prayer, confession, Christian mysticism, saints, suffering, hope,
The Masculine Mysticism of the Nativity: St. Joseph and the Strength of Tenderness
What does the Nativity reveal about masculinity?In this video, we reflect on St. Joseph and the quiet, contemplative masculinity revealed at the birth of Christ. Against modern ideas of power, dominance, and performance, the Nativity offers something radically different. Strength expressed through tenderness. Authority shown through obedience. Holiness revealed through proximity to a vulnerable Go
The God Who Offends: Mass Prep for the Mystic Heart (December 14, 2025)
In this week’s Gospel reflection we sit with John the Baptist in the darkness of uncertainty and listen to Jesus’ strange response: look again. Instead of offering clarity, Christ invites us to see Him in the quiet places where healing and mercy are already breaking in.And we explore the line that holds the whole passage together: Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.Advent asks whether we
3 Mystics Who Saw the Nativity: What Their Visions Reveal About the Incarnation
In this Advent reflection we explore three Christian mystics who claimed to witness the Nativity through visionary experience. Saints across the centuries have described seeing Christ born in light, poverty, and humility, not as historical reportage but as a spiritual unveiling of the Incarnation.This video looks at the Nativity visions of St. Bridget of Sweden, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, an
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