Smarter Catholic Sun, 08 Mar 2026 06:26:16 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2394053 en-us © 2026 Smarter Catholic yes 2b49c1d8-816b-5944-b1bc-90e7470eb4ce Evan Lutz episodic false A show for anyone who wants to learn more about the Catholic faith. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Evan Lutz https://storage.buzzsprout.com/925ft64tbfw81bjuemaecw9ipyem?.jpg Smarter Catholic 06: The Four Key Reasons for Fasting w/ Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B. 06: The Four Key Reasons for Fasting w/ Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B. Why should we fast? Today, I sit down with Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B. to discuss the four key reasons we fast. 

1. Our Lord himself fasted, as did Old Testament patriarchs. 

2. Fasting is an expression of penance and sorrow for sin. 

3. Fasting clears the mind, allowing us to focus on prayer. 

4. Fasting trains the will, helping it be subordinate to the good. 

]]> Why should we fast? Today, I sit down with Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B. to discuss the four key reasons we fast. 

1. Our Lord himself fasted, as did Old Testament patriarchs. 

2. Fasting is an expression of penance and sorrow for sin. 

3. Fasting clears the mind, allowing us to focus on prayer. 

4. Fasting trains the will, helping it be subordinate to the good. 

]]> Evan Lutz Buzzsprout-16586649 Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:00:00 -0600 1237 full false *Note - Episode Contains Sensitive Content* Want Peace and Joy? Surrender to God! w/ Carlos Briceño *Note - Episode Contains Sensitive Content* Want Peace and Joy? Surrender to God! w/ Carlos Briceño Carlos Briceño, most fundamentally, is a beloved son of God. He is the director of communications and evangelization at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Today, I talk to Carlos about his incredible spiritual journey, and ask him for advice on how to trust God and surrender to His will. 

]]> Carlos Briceño, most fundamentally, is a beloved son of God. He is the director of communications and evangelization at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Today, I talk to Carlos about his incredible spiritual journey, and ask him for advice on how to trust God and surrender to His will. 

]]> Evan Lutz Buzzsprout-15997343 Sun, 27 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0500 6264 full false 04: Why Latin? w/ Dr. Nancy Llewellyn 04: Why Latin? w/ Dr. Nancy Llewellyn Dr. Nancy Llewellyn is a professor of Latin at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina. She helped found the Veterum Sapientia Institute, whose mission is "to form Catholics in their cultural and spiritual birthright by teaching living Latin and Greek languages." Today, she and I discuss the Latin language and its role in the Church.  

https://veterumsapientia.org/

]]> Dr. Nancy Llewellyn is a professor of Latin at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina. She helped found the Veterum Sapientia Institute, whose mission is "to form Catholics in their cultural and spiritual birthright by teaching living Latin and Greek languages." Today, she and I discuss the Latin language and its role in the Church.  

https://veterumsapientia.org/

]]> Evan Lutz Buzzsprout-15873985 Sat, 05 Oct 2024 14:00:00 -0500 2337 full false 03: How Pregnancy and Motherhood Brought Me to the Church w/ Colleen Lutz 03: How Pregnancy and Motherhood Brought Me to the Church w/ Colleen Lutz In this episode, I interview my mother, Colleen Lutz, on her interesting journey to the Catholic Church. We discuss her experience growing up as a Protestant, her attraction to the Church's unwavering pro-life stance, the questions she had about the faith, and her continual growth as a Catholic. We also discuss Marian devotion and other Catholic devotions, and whether or not you need to practice them in order to be a faithful Catholic. 

]]> In this episode, I interview my mother, Colleen Lutz, on her interesting journey to the Catholic Church. We discuss her experience growing up as a Protestant, her attraction to the Church's unwavering pro-life stance, the questions she had about the faith, and her continual growth as a Catholic. We also discuss Marian devotion and other Catholic devotions, and whether or not you need to practice them in order to be a faithful Catholic. 

]]> Evan Lutz Buzzsprout-15832770 Sat, 28 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0500 2607 full false 02: Who am I? 7th Grade, The Flying Spaghetti Monster, and Nihilism. 02: Who am I? 7th Grade, The Flying Spaghetti Monster, and Nihilism. In this epsiode, I share some things about myself and some of my thoughts on nihilism. 

]]> In this epsiode, I share some things about myself and some of my thoughts on nihilism. 

]]> Evan Lutz Buzzsprout-15792185 Sat, 21 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0500 2108 full false 01: Why Pray if God Already Knows What I Need? w/ Fr. Elias Correa-Torres, O.S.B. 01: Why Pray if God Already Knows What I Need? w/ Fr. Elias Correa-Torres, O.S.B. Why pray? And how should I do it? I and Fr. Elias Correa-Torres, O.S.B. have a beautiful and fruitful discussion on all things prayer. 

]]> Why pray? And how should I do it? I and Fr. Elias Correa-Torres, O.S.B. have a beautiful and fruitful discussion on all things prayer. 

]]> Evan Lutz Buzzsprout-15635458 Sat, 24 Aug 2024 16:00:00 -0500 4065 1 full false