MFP 370: The Path to Healing our Broken Hearts
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Release Date: 02/23/2026
MFP 380: The Hidden Power of Family Culture and How to Shape It
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Family culture is more than a mission statement, it's a way of life that communicates powerfully. Summary What are you really cultivating in your home? In this episode, we explore the deeper meaning of family culture through the lens of cultus—to till, tend, and worship. Your home is a garden, and the way you live together is already forming a culture, whether intentional or not! We unpack how culture is shaped by what you value—and how those values must be visible in both what you do and how you act. It’s not big talks but consistent, daily habits that form your family....
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MFP 379: Lord, Save Me from the Complaining Child!
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Your child is not a problem to be solved, but a person to be known. Summary If you’ve ever thought, “How can one small human make this much noise… about EVERYTHING?”—this episode is for you. We’re diving into the all-too-familiar world of complaining kids—the sighs, the groans, the “Do I have to?”—and how it can slowly drain the joy right out of your home. But instead of just surviving it (or losing your sanity), in this episode we will look at understanding WHY kids complain and give you some practical tools to respond in charity. With humor, honesty,...
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MFP 378: Training Children to Master Themselves
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
There is a need for a crusade of manliness and purity to counteract and nullify the savage work of those who think man is a beast. And that crusade is your work. ~St. Josemaría Escrivá Summary How do you talk to your kids about purity without turning it into a list of rules and constant “no’s”? Join us for this conversation with Fr. Carter Griffin about the importance of purity and self-mastery. This episode invites parents to shift the focus to what purity says yes to: love, freedom, and a future built on integrity. We discuss why teens demand authenticity and how...
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MFP 377: When Kids Take Control: What To Do and How to Stop It
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
When I stopped trying to fix or change my child, and explored my own role in fostering bullying behaviors, I found the answers I needed. These behaviors were a direct consequence of my own insecurities. - Sean Grover, Ph.D. Summary Parents often make excuses for their children’s outrageous behavior, whether it's a preschooler’s tantrum or a teen’s sullen refusal to do what he or she has been asked. Children who become unmanageable or verbally abusive to their parents are, in fact, bullies, although most parents don’t think of these behaviors in that way. Maybe they should. Key...
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MFP 376: Raising Kids Without Raising Your Voice
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
The most effective parents aren’t the loudest—they’re the most consistent. Summary Why do we yell at our kids, even when we know it doesn't work? In this episode, we unpack the hard truth behind yelling in parenting: it's often not a discipline strategy, but a reaction to stress, frustration, and lack of follow-through. While it may get quick results, it slowly weakens our authority and damages connection with our kids. We talk about why yelling becomes a habit, what it's actually teaching our children, and how to replace it with calmer, more effective discipline. You'll walk away...
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MFP 375: The Family and the Sexual Revolution
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
“The sexual revolution was not about freedom. It was about transferring power from families to the state.” - Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse Summary What really makes a family essential, and why does it matter so much right now? In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse makes a compelling, research-based case for why children need both their mother and their father. We explore the irreplaceable role of mothers in forming trust and attachment, the unique responsibility of fathers to provide protection, limits, and direction, and how these roles evolve as children grow. You’ll hear why...
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MFP 374: Raising Kids Who Know Who They Are
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Summary How do we help our children discover the gift that they are? In this episode, we explore the powerful cycle of identity, belonging, and mission—and how it unfolds across the key stages of childhood. From the early years of wonder and dependence, to the exploratory middle years, to the identity-shaping teen years, we unpack what children need most at each phase—and how parents can respond with confidence. We dive into how children develop their gifts, navigate friendships, and grow into their sexual identity, as we highlight the unique role parents play—not as controllers,...
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MFP 373: Parenting is Your Mission
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Summary There is so much noise in the world of parenting today, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by pressure, comparison, and fear. In this episode, Mike and Alicia remind parents that there is not just one way to raise a family well. God has given you the grace for your mission, and your job is not to control your children or guarantee outcomes. Your call is to build a strong marriage, create a healthy home, communicate your values, and allow God to use family life to make you holy. Parenting is not about perfection — it is about faithfulness. Key Takeaways There is not just one right...
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MFP 372: Prayer for Beginners - Interview with the Science of Sainthood
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
"Without a life of prayer, you are really not living as a Catholic" - Matt Leonard Summary What does it really mean to “go deeper” in prayer? And what if you pray every day but don’t feel anything? This week we’re joined by Matthew Leonard, founder of The Science of Sainthood, to talk about what real spiritual growth looks like. We break down the three modes of prayer, vocal, meditation, and contemplation, and how they form a path to holiness. Matthew shares practical steps for building a daily habit of mental prayer, handling distractions, and creating space for silence....
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MFP 371: How Vulnerability Is Built in Small Moments
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Love is not a feeling. It's a daily choice, a habit practiced proactively. Summary What if intimacy isn’t built in the big moments, but in the small ones you almost miss? In this episode, we explore the idea of bids for connection, the everyday ways we reach for each other through a question, a touch, a story, or even a glance across the room. We talk about what happens when those bids are noticed and met with kindness, and what slowly unfolds when they are ignored. You’ll hear how responsiveness, presence, and emotional generosity shape trust, passion, and long-term happiness...
info_outlineThere is nothing that the power of the resurrection cannot redeem in your life. - Fr. Shawn Monahan
Summary
What do we do with the wounds we carry, especially in marriage? In this powerful episode, Fr. Shawn Monahan shares a trauma-informed vision of spirituality that meets us in our real stories. We’re all wounded, some more deeply than others, and healing begins with honest self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and inviting Christ into our pain. Fr. Shawn explains how our desires are shaped for good, how sin is seeking that good in the wrong ways, and why shame keeps us stuck. Christianity isn’t behavior management. It’s transformation through relationship. You’ll also hear practical wisdom for forgiveness, vulnerability, and praying with your spouse. If you’re longing for renewal and lasting peace, this conversation offers real hope. Check out his free workshop, “The Path to Healing Our Broken Hearts.” Link below!
Key Takeaways
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We need a trauma-informed spirituality.
Everyone carries wounds. Some are deeper than others. The Church must recognize this reality and respond with compassion, emotional awareness, and an understanding of how early experiences shape us.
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Healing begins with self-knowledge and self-acceptance.
By becoming aware of our reactions and emotions, we grow in self-understanding. This allows us to accept ourselves and become a true gift to others.
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Desire is good, but it can be distorted.
God gives good spiritual desires, and our human desires are also good. Sin happens when we pursue those good desires in the wrong ways.
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Shame blocks healing, but Christ redeems wounds.
Christianity is about transformation through relationship, not behavior management. Nothing is beyond the power of the Resurrection.
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Forgiveness and vulnerability are essential in relationships.
Forgiveness is a grace-filled choice, not a feeling. Real healing in marriage requires empathy, honest listening, asking “Will you forgive me?”, and the courage to be vulnerable.
Couple Discussion Questions
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When you think about your own wounds, how do they show up in our marriage?
Share one area where past hurts or early experiences may affect your reactions, fears, or desires. What helps you feel safe enough to open up about those places?
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What would forgiveness or vulnerability look like for us right now?
Is there anything unspoken between us that needs to be brought into the light? How can we listen with empathy, ask “Will you forgive me?”, and invite Jesus into that space together?
Resources:
FREE virtual workshop with Fr. Shawn: https://www.omvusa.org/our-work/virtual-workshops/path-healing-broken-hearts/