Francis of Assisi is often remembered as a gentle lover of animals or a simple garden statue with birds perched on his shoulders. But the real Francis was far more radical. He was a mystic whose entire life mirrored Jesus Christ. His spirituality was not just about prayer or visions but about recognizing God in creation, in poverty, in the Eucharist, and in people.In this video, I explore the radical mysticism of St. Francis of Assisi: his union with Christ crucified, his vision of creation as cosmic praise, his embrace of Lady Poverty, his burning devotion to the Eucharist, and his recognition of Christ in the poor and the leper. This is not the birdbath Francis of popular imagination — this is Francis the mystic, Francis the mirror of Christ.To go deeper, I have created a nine-day novena and prayer guide leading up to the Feast of St. Francis on October 4th. You can purchase the PDF guide on its own, or join me on Patreon to receive the guide along with daily video reflections as we pray the novena together, plus additional Franciscan content leading into his feast day.PDF Guide: https://www.stanthonystongue.com/products/p/pdf-st-francis-of-assisi-novena-prayer-guidePatreon: http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue
When tragedy strikes, the devil’s greatest victory isn’t the bullet or the blood—it’s when Christians start to look more like demons than disciples.In the aftermath of the Catholic school shooting and the murder of Charlie Kirk, the world has been flooded with rage, venom, and dehumanization. Some celebrated death. Others called for vengeance. Both responses mirror the serpent, not the Savior.This video offers a Catholic response to tragedy, rage, and division. How do we resist the Enemy’s oldest trick—dehumanization? How do we avoid becoming demonized ourselves, even in righteous anger? And how can we choose the way of the Cross, the way of the Bridegroom, when everything in us wants to hate?
Fear-based talk about demons and spiritual warfare often leads to scrupulosity, anxiety, or even despair. But the mystics of the Catholiv Church saw warfare differently. In the Song of Songs, the Bridegroom warns: “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”In this video, I explore how the foxes reveal the reality of spiritual warfare — not as Hollywood spectacle, but as the subtle work of sin, distraction, and even demons that creep into the vineyard of the soul. And how, through Christ the Gardener, we learn to guard intimacy rather than fight in fear.
Some Catholic exorcists online are fueling fear and scrupulosity. Their words paint a trickster God — a God who sets traps, honors demonic “contracts,” or sends demons against you for something as simple as laying hands in prayer. This is not Catholicism. This is pop demonology — and at times, undercover paganism.In this video, I walk through popular exorcist claims (from “bloodline curses” to the so-called “blast radius” of the St. Michael prayer) and show how they conflict with the Catechism, the Fathers, and the saints. I’ll contrast pop theology of fear with the traditional Catholic vision of God as Bridegroom — the God who runs to us, restores His image in us, and whose mercy always outweighs the power of demons.If your spirituality makes you fear demons more than you trust God… it’s not Catholicism. It’s not the Gospel.
Why does God hide Himself? Why does Scripture show Him veiled in clouds, curtains, flesh, and bread? In this episode we explore one of the most overlooked themes in Catholic spirituality: the veil.From Eden to the Eucharist, from Moses’ shining face to the veil of the Temple torn at the Cross, veiling runs through the entire story of salvation. The Catholic mystics teach us that veils are not barriers but acts of mercy — God concealing Himself so that we may gradually be unveiled and transformed into His likeness.We’ll explore:The Biblical meaning of veils (Genesis, Exodus, Song of Songs, Revelation)Why God veils Himself in mercy, mystery, and preparationHow we veil ourselves through sin and fearThe Eucharist as God’s veil under bread and wineTheosis: unveiling as transformation into God’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18)Purgatory as the final veil before union with GodVoices of the mystics: Catherine of Siena, Bernard of Clairvaux, John of the Cross, Gertrude the Great
Catholicism was never meant to be a brand. It was meant to burn.This video digs into Catholic consumerism and influencer culture. How it often trades the Cross for comfort, mysticism for marketing, and fire for aesthetics.The mystics didn’t curate vibes; they ached, bled, and burned for God. What happens when Catholicism gets packaged as a lifestyle brand instead of a living fire? That’s what we’re talking about.If your faith never costs, never wounds, never bleeds — it’s not the Cross. It’s a hobby.
Mary is not just the Mother of Christ. She is the Bride who bled at the Cross.In this episode, we journey into the heart of Our Lady of Sorrows, exploring why she bears so many titles, the deep meaning of her Seven Sorrows, and why this devotion matters for Catholics today. From Scripture to the saints, we see how her pierced heart teaches us to love Christ in suffering and to remain at the foot of the Cross, even when the world turns away.You’ll learn:The history and meaning of the title “Our Lady of Sorrows”The Seven Sorrows of Mary and their biblical rootsHow this devotion shapes our spiritual life todayWhy Mary’s suffering is not weakness, but nuptial courageWhether you are discovering this devotion for the first time or deepening your love for Mary, this reflection will draw you closer to her Son through her tears, her wounds, and her unwavering “yes.”
In this episode, we uncover the dark side of St. Francis: the prisoner of war with possible PTSD, the mystic who bled with Christ, the man whose body rotted from illness and sacrifice while his brothers betrayed him. This isn’t the birdbath saint. This is the saint of wounds, blindness, rot, and song.
Catholic mysticism isn’t just for monks or cloistered nuns—it’s the everyday spiritual life lived deeply. In this video, we explore how to live Catholic mysticism through a daily rhythm of receiving and offering. Drawing from the wisdom of the saints and the rich contemplative tradition of the Church, this episode offers a practical and accessible guide to mystical Catholic prayer, the cosmic priesthood, redemptive suffering, and how to turn your daily life into a living liturgy. Whether you’re new to contemplative prayer or simply longing for deeper intimacy with God, this is your invitation into the mystical heart of Catholicism.Additional Resources: An Introduction to Lectio Divina: https://youtu.be/ibLtCzBlXZs?si=6SdzNMmQ49vZAmBtModern vs. Mystic Catholicism: https://youtu.be/DJ2baL_H_Ac?si=_WTnAInpJ1GF6V0q Bridal Theology Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R8gQjhc-lQ&list=PL-LgJgO0-ntyhsOv6-TPPTCsxCWdHf2VK
Most people in Scripture tremble when they see angels. But not Mary Magdalene.In this episode, we explore why Magdalene wept past angels at the tomb, mistook God for a gardener, and recognized the Risen Christ not by sight—but by the sound of her name. Drawing from the Song of Songs and the writings of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, we reflect on bridal longing, holy ache, and the bold love that doesn’t settle for anything less than Jesus.This isn’t just a story about the Resurrection. It’s a meditation on how to seek Christ when He feels absent—and how He calls to each of us in the garden of our soul.Because it was the ache that made her holy.
Mass Prep for the Mystic Heart: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeMary, Martha, and When the Guest Is GodGospel: Luke 10:38–42This week’s Gospel is short, but it holds a holy tension — a quiet drama between activity and intimacy. In this reflection, we pause with Mary at the feet of Jesus, and gently examine what it means to choose the “better part.”Martha is busy, anxious, and overwhelmed — preparing for the Lord, yet missing that He is already present. Mary, on the other hand, does nothing but sit and listen. And Jesus calls her stillness sacred.Together, we reflect on what it means to receive Christ not with hustle, but with stillness. We also look to the Song of Songs for deeper insight into what the Lord desires: not performance, but presence. Not perfection, but proximity.May this help you carry the Gospel with you into Mass — and hear it not just with your ears, but with your heart.
What if the Catholic sacraments weren’t just rituals… but part of a divine love story?In this episode, we explore the sacraments through the lens of bridal mysticism—a tradition as ancient as the Church itself. From Baptism to the Eucharist, we walk step-by-step through the weekly rhythm of the Mass as a vow renewal between Christ and the soul. Each sacrament becomes a mystical act of love: a kiss, a feast, a return, a union.This isn’t sentimental theology. It’s the mystical heartbeat of the Catholic faith.Whether you’re craving a deeper relationship with Christ or want to reignite your understanding of the sacraments, this reflection will awaken you to the beauty hidden in the liturgy—and remind you that the Mass is not just obligation… it’s intimacy.Watch now and fall in love again—with God, with the sacraments, with the Bridegroom who never stops saying, “Still yes.”
Many Catholics worry about praying the rosary “correctly.” But what if that’s never what it was about? In this episode, we explore the two pillars the rosary was built on—loving repetition and meditation on Christ’s life—and trace its roots back to the monastic Divine Office and Lectio Divina.The rosary is not a checklist. It’s a spiritual love story, a rhythm of grace, and a doorway to contemplation.Learn how to pray it more deeply, debunk common myths, and discover how saints like Teresa of Avila can guide us toward a rosary that speaks back.
Is the Gospel just about sin and salvation… or is it also a wedding story?In this episode, we explore Jesus as the Divine Bridegroom — a theme woven from Genesis to Revelation, from the Jewish wedding customs of the ancient world to the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Mass. Bridal theology isn’t just poetic; it’s profoundly biblical and deeply healing.We’ll look at:– How ancient Jewish wedding rituals mirror Christ’s Passion– The meaning of Jesus saying “It is consummated” on the Cross– Why the Mass is the marriage supper of the Lamb– How bridal theology offers an antidote to scrupulosity and toxic religious fear– The moment-by-moment nuptial symbolism hidden in the liturgyWhether you’re new to bridal mysticism or looking to deepen your love for Christ in the Eucharist, this episode will help you see the Gospel through the lens of love — not performance.Let yourself be loved. The Bridegroom is waiting.
Is receiving Communion in the hand irreverent? Or could it be… bridal?In this video, we explore the mystical and biblical beauty of receiving the Eucharist in the hand—through the lens of saints, Scripture, and the Song of Songs. Drawing from the writings of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catherine of Siena, and the tradition of Eucharistic mysticism, we look at how the hand can become an altar, a place of trembling love, a site of encounter with Christ.This is not a debate—but a love story between the soul and the Savior. Whether you receive on the tongue or in the hand, this reflection is for those who desire deeper Eucharistic reverence, rooted in intimacy.We’ll talk about:Ancient Church tradition on Communion in the handMisconceptions about consecrated handsBiblical verses on the hand as a place of divine encounterBridal imagery in the Song of SongsMystical theology and Catholic Eucharistic devotion
Why does the most intimate book in the Bible begin with a kiss?In this episode, we explore the Song of Songs through the lens of Catholic bridal mysticism—a love story not just between a Bride and her Beloved, but between your soul and God.We’ll walk through the spiritual arc of the Song: longing, absence, union, and the deep healing that comes when we finally stop performing and let ourselves be seen. Expect mystic commentary, reflections on scrupulosity and spiritual dryness, and a reminder that yes—God actually desires you.
We’re told to seek God.But what if He’s already seeking us?This episode introduces Bridal Mysticism — a deeply Catholic tradition that sees the soul as the beloved of Christ.We explore:The parable of the Bride Who RanHow Scripture tells a love story from Genesis to RevelationWhy burnout and scrupulosity miss the heart of the GospelYou're not climbing a mountain.You're being found.✨ Support on Patreon for extras: patreon.com/anthonystongue📥 Companion Devotional:https://www.stanthonystongue.com/products/p/pdf-let-yourself-be-loved-devotional-guide
Are you overwhelmed by Catholic devotions, content, and the pressure to “get holier faster”? You’re not alone.In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we explore the growing experience of Catholic spiritual burnout. From overloading your life with novenas, consecrations, and scapulars, to the anxiety of trying to keep up with Catholic content and rituals—you may be doing everything “right,” but still feel far from God.This episode is a spiritual detox: a call to slow down, let go, and rediscover the peace that comes from simply being with God.Drawing on the wisdom of Brother Lawrence, we discuss the Practice of the Presence of God—a path of simplicity, attention, and abiding love. You’ll also hear reflections on:Why doing more doesn’t always bring more graceWhat Catholic mysticism teaches about rest and stillnessHow to stop confusing devotion with performanceWhat the Prodigal Son and Gethsemane reveal about God's heartThe role of consecration, novenas, and sacramentals when done in love—not anxietyIf you’re an exhausted Catholic, this episode is for you.🕊️ Subscribe for more mystical Catholic reflections, spiritual theology, and saintly wisdom to deepen your interior life.
Spiritual Attack or Dark Night of the Soul? A Guide to DiscernmentNot every battle is with the devil—sometimes, the silence is from God.In this episode, we explore the difference between spiritual attack and the Dark Night of the Soul. Many today blame hardship on demonic interference, but what if God is the one withdrawing, inviting us to love Him more purely? This episode offers a thoughtful reflection on suffering, purification, and discernment, drawing from the lives of the saints and the deep tradition of Catholic mysticism.Topics include:What defines a true spiritual attackCommon errors in modern demonologyWhy God may allow darkness or silenceSaints who encountered demons—and whySigns you may be entering a Dark NightThis is a conversation for those seeking clarity in confusion, maturity in faith, and peace amid spiritual struggle.
Praying a novena shouldn’t feel like a chore—or a transaction. The mystics teach us that novena prayer is a path into the heart of God, not a formula for getting what we want.In this episode of St. Anthony’s Tongue, we explore how to pray novenas in a contemplative, mystical way. Learn how to transform this nine-day devotion from legalistic repetition into a meaningful journey of union with Christ and communion with the saints.If you're drawn to Catholic spirituality, contemplative prayer, or mystical theology, this episode will help you pray novenas not out of obligation—but out of love.
Laurence Doliente
absolutely amazing podcast who is W