#44: Memory and Desire

Sofia is joined by Fr. Mike Cairnes for a guest episode on living the memory of and desire for Christ. Fr. Mike starts by telling the story of how he fell in love twice, a first time that led him to nihilism and a second that definitively led him to the love of God. Then he and Sofia talk about the struggle against moralism, which is the suffocating reduction of morality into a set of rules. Fr. Mike shares what helps him follow the path of discovering that God’s mercy – and not our fight to live up to an ideal – is the center of life. // Our media recommendations are Terrence Malick’s film The Tree of Life, Joseph Roth’s novella “The Legend of the Holy Drinker”, and Walker Percy’s novel “Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Book”. And our monthly challenge is to think back through your life year by year and try to identify how God has romanced you. // We’d love to hear from you! Write to us at [email protected] or find us on Instagram at @pilgrimsoulpodcast. Our website is www.pilgrimsoulpodcast.com. // Other resources we mention: - Luigi Giussani’s book “Morality: Memory and Desire” - The autobiography of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, “Story of a Soul” - Shia LaBeouf’s conversation with Bishop Barron: www.tinyurl.com/ynpf5fb7 - Bruce Marshall’s novel “The World, the Flesh, and Father Smith” - Bishop Erik Varden’s talk at the 2023 New York Encounter: www.tinyurl.com/yc2jp9ac - Fr. Mike’s homilies in podcast form at Church Talk: www.tinyurl.com/4u93p9wa // Our theme music is Nich Lampson’s “Dolphin Kicks.” We are part of the Spoke Street media network: check it out at www.spokestreet.com.