Franciscan Fridays

Real-Life Spiritual Warfare at Monticello Jesus Is Stronger Than the Devil | Ep. 28

This week on Franciscan Fridays at the Shrine, Father Luke Mary Fletcher and Brother Pius Gagne share a chilling but powerful true story of spiritual warfare in Monticello, New York.
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As Halloween approaches, they reflect on the reality of demonic harassment, exorcism, and the power of Jesus in the Eucharist to overcome darkness. Hear about the day a former Satanist turned Vatican exorcism consultant visited their hermitage, a mysterious tree shook in the woods, and how an abandoned house burst into flames right after blessing the property.
But more importantly—discover how Jesus Christ and Our Lady always triumph over evil. The friars discuss:🙏 The true meaning of spiritual warfare🕊️ The conversion of Saint Bartolo Longo, a former Satanic priest turned Apostle of the Rosary💀 What the Fatima children teach us about the reality of hell and hope🛡️ Practical ways to protect yourself spiritually—through the Rosary, Confession, Holy Water, and more
Fr. Luke’s “ Daily Homilies” Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jhj0ryoBG5vRl0ySGcRLk?si=c244d430b23a4057
 
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Stay to the end as they pray the St. Michael the Archangel Prayer for protection.
✨ Remember: The devil may rage, but Jesus has already won the victory.
00:00 – A chilling story from Monticello, NY01:03 – Spiritual warfare and exorcism02:04 – A house bursts into flames03:00 – Halloween and the reality of the demonic04:30 – The power of Jesus over evil06:00 – Fatima, fear, and faith08:00 – Halloween and our culture’s fascination with darkness10:00 – Opening doors to evil unknowingly11:30 – Saint Bartolo Longo’s conversion from Satanic priest to saint14:00 – Mary’s role in defeating Satan15:56 – The meaning of All Hallows’ Eve17:00 – Prayer, reparation, and the mystery of grace18:00 – The “Checkmate” painting: hope even in darkness20:00 – Spiritual weapons for protection22:00 – Prayer to Saint Michael
#FranciscanFridays #CatholicPodcast #SpiritualWarfare #Exorcism #JesusIsStronger #RosaryPower #OurLadyOfFatima #SaintBartoloLongo #CatholicFaith #SaintMichael #HalloweenReflection

Why God Allows Suffering: Fatima, Blessed Alexandrina & Finding Meaning in Pain | Ep. 27

In this deeply moving episode of Franciscan Fridays, Brother Pius Gani and Father Luke Mary explore the mystery of suffering through the lens of Catholic spirituality — from the children of Fatima to Blessed Alexandrina da Costa.
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Can pain and suffering have redemptive meaning? What does it really mean to “offer it up”? And how do we balance faith, mental health, and the pursuit of healing?
Brother Pius shares his personal journey through traumatic injury and despair — and how Jesus and Our Lady transformed his suffering into grace.
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00:00 – Funny elevator story: “Are we going to Hell?”00:52 – Welcome to Franciscan Fridays with Brother Pius & Fr. Luke01:17 – How to support and donate to the Franciscan podcast02:24 – Today’s topic: Suffering, Hell, and Fatima’s Message03:16 – The children of Fatima and their vision of hell04:33 – What it means to “offer it up”08:34 – Introducing Blessed Alexandrina da Costa09:27 – Her heroic story: purity, paralysis, and mystical suffering10:55 – Alexandrina’s mystical participation in Christ’s Passion12:55 – Miraculous fasting and her Eucharistic life14:18 – Her message for the world and connection to Fatima15:36 – Balancing health, medicine, and the spirituality of suffering17:55 – Mental health, despair, and finding meaning in pain20:06 – Brother Pius’ powerful testimony of brain injury and healing24:45 – Finding peace in Mary’s arms during suffering27:00 – The difference between “victim mentality” and redemptive suffering29:10 – Finding meaning like Viktor Frankl and Catholic spirituality33:10 – Mental health crisis and Catholic hope today35:20 – Jesus is with you in every suffering36:50 – Interior sufferings of Jesus and His solidarity with us37:12 – Closing prayer and blessing
Fr. Luke’s “ Daily Homilies” Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jhj0ryoBG5vRl0ySGcRLk?si=c244d430b23a4057
 
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The Hidden Years of Jesus | A Hidden Rosary Mystery | ep. 26

In this episode of Franciscan Fridays at the Shrine, Brother Pius Gagney and Father Luke Mary explore a powerful and often overlooked part of the life of Jesus — the hidden years in Nazareth.
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Known as a "Bonus Mystery" of the Rosary, this reflection reveals how Jesus’ ordinary, quiet years spent with Mary and Joseph were anything but insignificant. Discover how these humble years offer a roadmap for sanctifying our own daily lives — from cooking and cleaning to working and resting.
You’ll hear about:
The meaning behind the "hidden years" of Christ
Why these years matter for modern believers
How to bring holiness into everyday moments
The spirituality of Nazareth, based on reflections by Pope Paul VI
The power of living a life that’s simple, faithful, and unseen
Whether you’re a busy parent, a working professional, or someone seeking deeper peace in the mundane, this episode is for you.
 
Fr. Luke’s “ Daily Homilies” Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jhj0ryoBG5vRl0ySGcRLk?si=c244d430b23a4057
 
Join Our Lady of Fatima's Blue Army:
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Fatima Today Podcast:
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Miracle of the Sun at Fatima: What Really Happened on October 13, 1917? | Ep. 25

On October 13, 1917, over 100,000 people in Fatima, Portugal, witnessed what would later be called The Miracle of the Sun. The sun appeared to spin, dance, and descend from the sky—defying natural law, witnessed by believers, skeptics, and journalists alike. But even in the face of a miracle, not all hearts were moved.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
The events of the Fatima apparitions and the Miracle of the Sun
Eyewitness accounts from 1917 — including atheists and reporters
Why some people reject miracles, even when they see them
How Pope Pius XII claimed to witness a similar miracle himself
The spiritual message behind Fatima and its relevance today
🔥 Whether you're Catholic, curious, or skeptical, this episode explores what happens when heaven sends a sign… and earth refuses to listen.
📖 Featured themes: Fatima, Catholic prophecy, miracles, Marian apparitions, faith vs. unbelief, spiritual blindness, Pope Pius XII, Eucharistic miracles, and more.
✝️ Subscribe for more stories that explore faith, doubt, and the mysteries that challenge our modern world.
 
Support the podcast:  https://tinyurl.com/franciscanfridays
 
Fr. Luke’s “ Daily Homilies” Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jhj0ryoBG5vRl0ySGcRLk?si=c244d430b23a4057
 
Join Our Lady of Fatima's Blue Army:
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Why the Rosary Is Hard (But Worth It) | Spiritual Struggles & Graces | Ep. 24

In this episode of Franciscan Fridays, Brother Pius and Father Luke dive deep into the beauty and challenge of praying the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From personal struggles with ADHD and distractions to the miraculous power of the Rosary for personal peace and global transformation, this heartfelt conversation is a powerful encouragement for anyone trying to stay faithful to this devotion.
Learn about the feast days of October, insights from Fatima, the spirituality of the Blue Army, and how saints like St. Thérèse of Lisieux and Padre Pio approached the Rosary—even when it wasn’t easy.
🕊️ Topics covered:
Struggling to pray the Rosary? You're not alone.
How the Rosary brings personal peace and transformation
Why Our Lady of Fatima emphasized this devotion
Spiritual benefits of repetition and habit in prayer
The Rosary as a tool for healing, focus, and grace
Feast days of September and October in Catholic tradition
✝️ Whether you're a lifelong devotee or a beginner wondering “Is the Rosary even working?”, this episode will inspire you to keep going—bead by bead.
🙏 Subscribe to Franciscan Fridays for more spiritual encouragement and Catholic teaching!
📍 Location: National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Warren County, NJ🎙️ Hosted by Brother Pius Gagné and Father Luke Fletcher
 
Support the podcast:  https://tinyurl.com/franciscanfridays
 
Fr. Luke’s “ Daily Homilies” Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jhj0ryoBG5vRl0ySGcRLk?si=c244d430b23a4057
 
Join Our Lady of Fatima's Blue Army:
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Support Our Mission:
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Visit Our Shop:
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Blue Army Jubilee Prayer Card:
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Invite the Pilgrim Virgin to your parish:
https://fatimatourforpeace.com/
 
Fatima Today Podcast:
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When God's Will Doesn't Make Sense: Faith Amidst Hardship | Franciscan Fridays ep. 23

In this vulnerable and heartfelt episode of Franciscan Fridays, Brother Pius and Fr. Luke dive into the hard question: What do we do when God's will doesn’t match our expectations?
From personal stories of suffering and illness to insights into the Fatima apparitions, they explore our desire for control, certainty, and spiritual security — and how God invites us instead to radical trust.
They reflect on common spiritual traps (like treating prophecy or apparitions as fortune-telling), the temptation of conspiracy theories, and how true faith means living the Gospel through the ordinary.
Whether you're wrestling with unanswered prayers, frustrated by church controversies, or simply longing for deeper faith — this episode will encourage you to surrender, trust, and walk the little way of love.
Support the podcast:  https://tinyurl.com/franciscanfridays
Fr. Luke’s “ Daily Homilies” Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jhj0ryoBG5vRl0ySGcRLk?si=c244d430b23a4057
Join Our Lady of Fatima's Blue Army:
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Visit Our Shop:
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Blue Army Jubilee Prayer Card:
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Invite the Pilgrim Virgin to your parish:
https://fatimatourforpeace.com/
Fatima Today Podcast:
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Feeling Spiritually Lost | Finding Jesus in the Temple (5th Joyful Mystery Explained)

In this episode of Franciscan Fridays, Brother Pius Gagné and Father Luke Mary Fletcher reflect on the 5th Joyful Mystery of the Rosary — the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple — and how it speaks deeply to the experience of spiritual desolation, dryness in prayer, and the feeling that Jesus is missing.
Support the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/franciscanfridays
Have you ever felt like your prayers were going nowhere, or that God was distant? You're not alone. Drawing on Ignatian spirituality, Carmelite mystics, and personal stories, our friars explore:
Why God sometimes feels far away
The value of perseverance in prayer during difficult times
How to offer even your spiritual "nothing" to God
The wisdom of the saints on detachment and faith in darkness
What the Holy Family teaches us about trust, searching, and surrender
📍 Filmed at the National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Warren County, NJ — a little piece of Portugal in America.
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The World Apostolate of Fatima is the Vatican’s official voice in proclaiming the authentic message of Our Lady of Fatima.The Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima is the National Headquarters of Our Lady's Blue Army.
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Fr. Luke’s “ Daily Homilies” Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jhj0ryoBG5vRl0ySGcRLk?si=c244d430b23a4057
Join Our Lady of Fatima's Blue Army:https://www.bluearmy.com/join/
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Blue Army Jubilee Prayer Card:https://www.shopfatima.com/blue-army-press/
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Fatima Today Podcast:https://listen.bluearmy.com/
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Saint Carlo Acutis' Hidden Fatima Vision Revealed - The Power of the First Saturday Devotion

Join Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher and John Paul Gutschke for a powerful episode of Franciscan Fridays at the Shrine as they reveal a little-known mystical vision experienced by Saint Carlo Acutis during his visit to Fatima. Discover how Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati and Saint Carlo are deeply connected to Our Lady and the First Saturday Devotion — and why this devotion may hold the key to the future of the world. Plus, exciting updates on the new young adult movement and a virtual Fatima pilgrimage launching this December!
Support the Blue Army!
The World Apostolate of Fatima is the Vatican’s official voice in proclaiming the authentic message of Our Lady of Fatima. The Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima is the National Headquarters of Our Lady's Blue Army.
Fr. Luke’s “ Daily Homilies” Podcast on Spotify 
Join Our Lady of Fatima's Blue Army
Support Our Mission
Visit Our Shop
Blue Army Jubilee Prayer Card
Invite the Pilgrim Virgin to your parish
Fatima Today Podcast