How They Love Mary

Weekly encouragement to begin or deepen your Marian devotion

About the show

For centuries, believers have honored the Blessed Virgin Mary. They have written books about her, painted images, and built churches in her honor. Shrines are dedicated to her. People seek her intercession. Join host, Fr. Edward Looney and his weekly guest, as they discuss the Catholic faith and the role of Mary in their life. Gain new insights and begin or deepen your Marian devotion.

How They Love Mary on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 230: Bear Woznick Believes Men Need To Be Men Again

    September 26th, 2023  |  35 mins 35 secs
    book interview

    In this interview, Fr. Edward Looney speaks with Bear Woznick, a surfer, martial artist, author, and radio personality who has a quest to help men be men and deepen a masculine spirituality. He shares about the themes and takeaways from his new book with Sophia Institute Press, "12 Rules for Manliness Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"

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    Episode 229: How Our Lady (of La Vang and Lourdes) Helped Peter "Graceman" Le to Find Hope and Purpose in Suffering

    September 11th, 2023  |  47 mins 35 secs
    book interview

    Peter "Graceman" Le has underwent suffering throughout his life, most recently with cancer. Yet while suffering he has relied on God for hope, purpose, and grace in the midst of it. He has a strong devotion to Our Lady of LaVang and has been a pilgrim to Lourdes. Ave Maria Press editor Heidi Hess Saxton met Peter Le and knew his story needed to be shared. In this episode meet Peter Le and hear his inspiring story.

  • Episode 228: Why Silence is Important in the Spiritual Life and How to Foster It with Fr. Basil Nortz, O.R.C. 

    September 5th, 2023  |  30 mins 26 secs
    book interview

    Fr. Basil Nortz has authored a book "On Holy Silence" wherein he offers a practical guide for recollection in part inspired by Sr. Marie-Aimee de Jesus. In this episode, Fr. Basil reflects on how silence was a part of the life of Our Lady, who is depicted on the cover, the benefits of silence, and the different types of silence that exist, including the silence of imagination.

  • Episode 227: Let St. Augustine Teach You the Language of Prayer with Sarah McLaughlin

    August 28th, 2023  |  35 mins 4 secs
    book interview

    St. Augustine is a doctor of the Church and his conversion to Catholicism was after years of prayers by his mother St. Monica. St. Augustine went on to write many works of magnificent theology including "The Confessions" and "City of God." Sarah McLaughlin has combed the writings of St. Augustine and collected his various prayers, teaching us the language of prayer. Learn from Sarah McLaughlin in this episode about the significance of St. Augustine, why she became fascinated by his writings, and what he can teach us about prayer.

  • Episode 226: The Next Iconic Faith and Sports Film on the Big Screen--The Hill with Rickey Hill and Jeff Celentano

    August 25th, 2023  |  18 mins 36 secs
    movies

    Rickey Hill was born with a degenerative spinal issue. He dreamed of playing baseball, despite all the odds stacked against him, including his Pastor father being adamantly opposed. The new movie "The Hill" is a biopic on Rickey Hill's life and how he never stopped dreaming and accomplished his goals. Meet Rickey Hill and Director Jeff Celentano in this interview with Fr. Edward Looney about Rickey's backstory, why it took almost 20 years to make the film, and Rickey and Jeff's hopes for audience takeaways.

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    Episode 225: Kate Sydnor Helps Parents and Kids say Goodnight to Jesus

    August 21st, 2023  |  24 mins 45 secs
    book interview

    Kate Sydnor has authored a new Catholic board book, ideal for bedtime routines, teaching the language of prayer to children and conveying the importance of saying Good Night to Jesus while thanking God for family and blessings. Learn why Kate wrote the board book and how you can incorporate it into your family's bedtime ritual.

  • Episode 224: Why We Need to Wake Up and Fight Woke Culture with Teresa Mull

    August 14th, 2023  |  37 mins 38 secs
    book interview

    Teresa Mull wants to help us woke-proof our life with her new book from Sophia Institute Press. In this conversation, Teresa explains what the woke movement is all about, how we can live surrounded by it, and the role our faith has in combatting and correcting it.

  • Episode 223: Why a Catholic Can't Be a Free Mason and Other Questions about Freemasonry with David L. Gray

    August 7th, 2023  |  56 mins 51 secs
    conversation

    David L. Gray used to be a free mason. After an experience of Jesus through the Catholic Church he left that life to be a Catholic. In this episode, David Gray helps us understand the history of freemasonry, what they believe, and what they do. He explains what the Shriners are and how a family member can cope with someone in freemasonry. Finally, we talk about what the Church has taught and said about freemasonry and the possibility of free masons in the Church.

  • Episode 222: How Claire Aalerud Developed a Devotion to Sor Maria and the Mystical City of God

    July 31st, 2023  |  37 mins 31 secs
    saints

    Claire Aalerud was introduced to Sor Maria and the Mystical City of God and was so moved that she wanted to film a video about her. This led her to travel to San Angelo, Texas and Agreda, Spain. Claire shares why Sor Maria is important today and how we can become more aware about her life.

  • Episode 221: One Pilgrim's Experience of Mary's Good Help at the Champion Shrine with Anthony Bonna

    July 24th, 2023  |  47 mins 6 secs
    apparitions, pilgrimage, shrines

    Anthony Bonna flies to Wisconsin once or twice a year with the sole purpose of visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, formerly known under a different appellation of Our Lady of Good Help. Mary appeared in 1859 to Adele Brise and spoke a message encouraging prayer and catechesis. Today, pilgrims visit the shrine daily to participate in the sacraments of the Church and implore Mary's help. In this episode, Anthony Bonna shares his experience of pilgrimage and what he does for hours while visiting.

  • Episode 220: The Exiled Bishop Who Pumped Gas in America with James K. Hanna

    July 17th, 2023  |  48 mins 26 secs
    american catholic history, biography, book interview

    Bishop Bonaventure Broderick was a bishop without a job. Assigned to promote the Peter's Pence collection, the American bishops rejected his role. Consequently, he received a $100 stipend a month and had no public assignment. What does an American bishop do without a flock? Author and Historian Jamkes K. Hanna shares the fascinating life of an exiled bishop, his gas station, and return to grace in this episode.

  • Episode 219: How to Understand Suffering and Death as a Catholic with Dr. Paul Chaloux

    July 5th, 2023  |  29 mins 33 secs
    book interview

    Dr. Paul Chaloux has suffered from a debilitating disease for years. This makes his reflections on suffering, death, and dying even more powerful. In this conversation, Dr. Paul Chaloux will explain why we shouldn't be afraid to die and how we can give greater meaning to suffering. This is an excellent episode for a person is suffering or for their caregiver.

  • Episode 218: A Catholic Self-Help Book to a New Life with Anthony DeStefano

    June 20th, 2023  |  29 mins 22 secs
    book interview

    Anthony DeStefano has bridged the gap between spirituality and self-help from a Catholic perspective with his new book 30 Days to Your New Life: A Guide to Transforming Yourself from Head to Soul. In this interview, Anthony DeStefano discusses how a Catholic can approach the topic of self-help from the faith tradition and truly become the person God wants them to be.

  • Episode 217: How a Cloistered Nun Traveled Around the World and Into Your Home with Mary Beth Bracy

    June 7th, 2023  |  26 mins 18 secs
    book interview, saints

    St. Therese, known by many as the Little Flower, wanted to travel the world. In a new republished book by Bishop Guy Gaucher about the life and mission of St. Therese communicates this to the reader with it's catchy title, "I Would Like to Travel the World." In this episode you will learn how St. Therese has traveled the world and the importance of her message for the world today.

  • Episode 216: Do Astronauts Receive Holy Communion in Space? with Cecilia Cicone

    May 31st, 2023  |  28 mins 1 sec
    book interview

    Cecilia Cicone recently authored her first book with Pauline Books. It's a children's book titled "Jesus in Space." As the subtitle says, it's "A True Story that is Out of this World!" It's a recounting of an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion astronaut distributing communion aboard the space shuttle Endeavor to fellow Catholic astronauts. In this episode with Fr. Looney, Cecilia helps us understand why this is so significant.

  • Episode 215: The Benedictine Sisters of Mary are Brides of Christ

    May 22nd, 2023  |  24 mins 35 secs
    book interview, religious life

    In this episode of How They Love Mary, Fr. Edward Looney speaks with two sisters from the Ava, MO Foundation of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles, whose motherhouse is in Gower, MO. The traditional Benedictine sisters are growing exponentially and are forming new convents and breaking ground on new monasteries. Their new children's book, Brides of Christ, published by Sophia Institute Press will introduce people to their vowed cloistered and contemplative life.