Navigating the Cross
Claim This Podcastby Spencer Wallut
Podcast Overview
<p>Welcome to Navigating the Cross, a Catholic podcast for college men, by college men. We are all called to take up our cross and follow Christ, but in today's world, living out the faith seems almost impossible, and it's so easy to fall away. As men, we need direction, truth, clarity, community, and accountability in our faith journeys. In Navigating the Cross, we help instill these essential aspects of living out true, authentic Catholicism in college by providing stories and insights from other college men who are striving toward sainthood for you to apply to your own spiritual life.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/9/2025
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Recent Episodes
December 6, 2025
An Introduction to Prayer
<p>The episode of <strong>Navigating the Cross</strong>, "An Introduction to Prayer," features host Spencer discussing the crucial and comprehensive topic of <strong>prayer</strong>. The episode begins by acknowledging that while prayer is vast and complex, most Christians have <strong>room to grow</strong> in their prayer lives.</p><p>The host explores various definitions of prayer, noting that the act of religion—a virtue in the Catholic Church—is the <strong>bond uniting man to God</strong>, making prayer essentially the act of uniting oneself to God. Definitions provided include:</p><ul><li><strong>A simple look turned toward heaven</strong> (St. Terz Lu).</li><li><strong>True prayer is nothing but love</strong> (St. Augustine).</li><li><strong>The raising of one's mind and heart to God</strong> (St. John of Damascus).</li><li><strong>The vital and personal relationship with the living and true God</strong> (the Catechism).</li></ul><p>The host details the purpose of prayer, which is to acknowledge God's power and our own <strong>neediness and dependence</strong> on Him, helping to <strong>order our desires</strong> and grow our relationship. Prayer presupposes <strong>faith</strong> (believing in God even when you do not see) and <strong>hope</strong> (the recognition that God wants good for you and can save you).</p><p>The discussion also covers how Catholics pray, emphasizing that prayer is always directed to a <strong>person</strong> (the Holy Trinity or the saints in heaven) and not objects or idols. <strong>The Mass (Liturgy)</strong> is identified as the <strong>highest and most important form of prayer</strong>. Finally, the host discusses the need for private <strong>mental prayer</strong> (recommended at least 15 minutes a day) and notes that devotions like the <strong>Rosary</strong> are tools for mental prayer meant to avoid <strong>vain repetition</strong> by focusing on meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life. The episode concludes by stressing that Catholics should always be working to improve their prayer life to achieve <strong>union with God</strong>.</p>
December 6, 2025
Why Detachment is Necessary for Catholics
<p>The episode of <strong>Navigating the Cross</strong>, "Why Detachment is Necessary as Catholics," features host Spencer discussing the crucial concept of <strong>detachment</strong> in the modern world. Detachment is defined as the opposite of an attachment, which is an emotional dependence on earthly things, people, or objects. The host uses the quote from 1 Timothy 6:7–8—"For we brought nothing into the world... If we have food, clothing, we shall be content with that"—to frame the discussion, asserting that life's goal is to acquire <strong>spiritual goods</strong> and deepen one's relationship with God, not physical goods.</p><p>Achieving <strong>sanctity</strong> begins with mastery over attachments, which means avoiding using earthly goods (like food, wealth, or marriage) in excess of one's needs or for purposes other than their intended primary end. Attachments discussed include:</p><ul><li><strong>Earthly Pleasures</strong> such as money, success, gluttony, women (or hookup culture), friendship, food, and comfort.</li><li><strong>Modern Attachments</strong> like being ambitious for oneself rather than submitting to God's will.</li><li><strong>Even Spiritual Goods</strong> such as the comfort or consolation of God in prayer, security, knowledge (prioritizing apologetics over relationship with God), or seeking joy as a constant state.</li></ul><p>The episode stresses that the goal of detachment is not to stop loving the world, but to <strong>love things and people more truly in God</strong>. Ultimately, Catholics must detach from <strong>everything except God</strong>, who is the only thing we should desire. The host advises pursuing virtues like <strong>righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness</strong> (citing 1 Timothy 6:11–12) to desire God. The episode concludes with the importance of becoming an instrument for God by imitating Christ and striving for the goal that <strong>Christ lives within us</strong>.</p>
December 2, 2025
Prayer, Conversion, and Apologetics (feat. Luis)
<p>This episode of <strong>Navigating the Cross</strong>, "Prayer, Conversion, and Apologetics," features host Spencer and guest <strong>Luis</strong>, a St. Leo University student. The discussion begins with Luis describing himself as a cradle Catholic submitted to Rome whose faith matured after his confirmation in eighth grade.</p><p>The hosts explore periods of spiritual lukewarmness, particularly during Luis's first year of college, where he describes being "Catholic only by name". Luis shares his journey of deepening his prayer life, starting with quiet time in the chapel and attending daily Mass in high school, sometimes even lying to friends to do so. A major point of the conversation is the hosts' mutual discovery—and subsequent shock—that many Catholics, including themselves, were <strong>never taught the practical necessity of avoiding Communion while in a state of mortal sin</strong>. They emphasize the need for greater <strong>reverence for the Eucharist</strong>.</p><p>The podcast also delves into <strong>Catholic apologetics</strong>, using the writings of the <strong>Church Fathers</strong> (such as St. Ignatius of Antioch) to prove the historical consistency of Catholic teachings, including the Eucharist and the <strong>papacy</strong>.</p><p>Luis also outlines the <strong>nine levels of prayer</strong> according to St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross, detailing the progression from <strong>vocal prayer</strong> to <strong>transforming union</strong> (spiritual marriage with God). He notes that he decided to "lock in" and take his faith seriously after being inspired by the conversion story of <strong>St. Augustine</strong>, realizing that "every sinner has a future and every saint has a past".</p>
8 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Navigating the Cross?
<p>Welcome to Navigating the Cross, a Catholic podcast for college men, by college men. We are all called to take up our cross and follow Christ, but in today's world, living out the faith seems almost impossible, and it's so easy to fall away. As men, we need direction, truth, clarity, community, and accountability in our faith journeys. In Navigating the Cross, we help instill these essential aspects of living out true, authentic Catholicism in college by providing stories and insights from other college men who are striving toward sainthood for you to apply to your own spiritual life.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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