Pints & Pews Podcast : Catholic Faith & Craft Beer

Episode #10 : IPAs, Prayer & Receiving the Eucharist

While Dennis enjoys a Polish lager, Robert savours a craft IPA that has his name on it. Acknowledging their 10th Episode Anniversary, the guys talk about persevering in prayer during spiritual dryness and receiving the Eucharist with reverence.

Episode #9 - Wheat Beers & Cream Ales - Mass Tickets & Friday Meat

Enjoying a German wheat beer and a Canadian cream ale, Dennis & Robert chat a little bit of sport before delving into what it's like to finally return to Sunday Mass, as well as whether or not we should abstain from meat on Fridays outside of Lent.

Episode #8 : Faith Films & Craft Ales

Each enjoying a craft brewed ale, one armoured and the other pale, Dennis & Robert chat about some of their favourite favourite faith films from "Sandal Epics" to the "Saintly Silver Screen" to finding the Catholic faith in unexpected places.

Episode #7 : Dunkel Days & Fave Churches

On a "dunkel kind of day" Dennis & Robert discuss the merits of craft and monastic beers compared to mass produced brews, and why they prefer a rich, complex, and more flavourful beverage. The guys then chat about their favourite churches that they have visited. From their home cathedral in Toronto, to European basilicas and churches Down-Under, Dennis & Robert come to realize that they like their church architecture like they like their beer - rich, complex and full of flavour.

Episode #6 - Priest Pets, Vocations & Patron Saints

A cold pint is always welcome after a hard day's work, which reminds Dennis and Robert of the Benedictine motto of "Ora et Labora" - "Prayer and Work", along with the need to balance our lives between the two. The guys then go on to chat about priest pets, vocations, patron saints and taking the faith for granted, before heading back to the jobs that need to get done.

Episode #5 : Catholic Books & Craft Beers

After a brief digression about house blessings, Dennis & Robert delve into why it's important for our souls to "read Catholic" while discussing some of their favourite authors. From what we've read to what we want to read, the eclectic lists show the true universality of the Catholic faith.

Episode #4 : Grace Before Beer

Recognizing that beer is a gift from God's great Creation, Robert and Dennis are happy to discover that there is a Catholic blessing for beer. After prayers, they guys discuss how over the centuries Catholicism, Beer and Culture have been interwoven to create a way of life in many parts of the world. Still in pandemic lockdown, they also share a couple of stories of priests going seemingly above and beyond the call of their vocations. Finally, in this month of May, how can we forget our mothers, both earthly and heavenly, and the gifts we can give them.

 

"The First Lady and Her Successors" by Dr. Josephine Lombardi : https://josephinelombardi.com/

 

Episode #3 : Taking the Faith Seriously, Not Necessarily Ourselves

After Robert is finally able to pour his pint properly, the guys discuss a listener comment about drinking in church - something we would never condone; as well as the importance of being able to laugh while still taking the faith seriously. Dennis comments on how it's a great sign of humility from St. Joseph to always being over-shadowed by St. Patrick, who Robert feels needs to be liberated from the trappings of his feast day. Finally, a reflection on the challenges and blessings of one year of church lockdowns is followed by a quick thought on Cardinal Sarah's retirement, and maybe one day our own.

Episode #2 : Saint Quotes for Lent

After another bad pour from Robert, the guys begin by discussing when the Lenten fast ends so they can have an idea when their sacrifices will be over. From there both Dennis and Robert talk about some saintly quotes to help get us through the penitential season. What they discover is that the most poignant quote that Robert came up with isn't from a saint at all.

Episode #1 : Beer was Made for Lent

Dennis and Robert talk about the monastic tradition of making a beer fast for Lent. As the conversation swings to physically returning to church for Ash Wednesday, they chat about how our lenten sacrifices need to become Easter habits. With all of this in mind, they're ready to take up the challenge to make this the "Best Lent Ever".