What does it really mean to be “ready” for Jesus—at Mass, at death, and at His coming? Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks start from the Communion prayer (“Lord, I am not worthy…”) and move into a practical vision of readiness: honest need, real repentance, and daily love. They unpack why salvation, healing, and holiness belong on one spectrum; how the Eucharist prepares us for a lifelong relationship, not a quick visit; and why Christ’s command “love one another as I have loved you” sets the measure. Throughout, we hold the three lenses: integrity with ourselves, charity toward others, under a living relationship with God.

Key Ideas

Readiness begins with need: “Only say the word and my soul shall be healed”—we cannot self-prepare; we ask for grace and mean the words we pray.

Mass as formation for life and death: hearing the Word, offering ourselves, receiving Jesus—practice for meeting Him at the end and every day.

From guest to covenant: not a tidy “company’s coming” moment but a shared life with God—ongoing cleaning, cooking, and reconciling.

Salvation = healing = holiness: one continuum—love poured into our wounds makes us whole and able to love like Christ.

Command of love: not just the “golden rule,” but Christ’s measure—love others as He loves (costly, steadfast, in the mess).

Links & References

Scripture mentioned (no links):

“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof…” (cf. Matthew 8:8).

Parable of the Ten Virgins/Bridesmaids—watchfulness and readiness (Matthew 25:1–13).

“Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

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Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, readiness, Advent, watchfulness, “Lord I am not worthy”, under my roof, Eucharist, Holy Mass, Communion prayer, preparation for death, Second Coming, parable of the ten virgins, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 25:1–13, John 13:34, love one another, salvation, healing, holiness, sanctification, repentance, confession, grace, practical atheism, interior freedom, covenant, daily discipleship, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, Benedictine spirituality, Catholic podcast, prayer, virtue, mercy, hope

“If the computer gets smarter than me… is that a problem?” Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks tackle the fear narrative around AI by comparing it to other powerful tools (cars, planes) that required strong safeguards—not panic. They explore why AI lacks moral intuition, how optimization without ethics can harm, and why deepfakes and spoofing demand new habits of verification. The conversation lands in the three lenses: honesty about our fears (self), charity through wiser trust and presence (others), under a living relationship with God that anchors what’s real.

Key Ideas

• Power needs guardrails: like aviation checklists and redundancies, AI calls for safety, oversight, and clear human control.
• Limits of machines: AI optimizes; it doesn’t intuit, repent, or take responsibility—persons do.
• Edge cases matter: “no-win” moments (e.g., deer vs. car) reveal why human moral criteria must shape algorithms.
• Deception risk: voice/video/text imitation raises the bar for validation; adopt healthy skepticism and confirm identity more often.
• Back to reality: prioritize embodied relationships and parish life; let the Church help form attention, virtue, and trust.

Links & References
(none explicitly cited in this episode)

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AI is powerful—but it’s not a person. In this episode, Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks cut through hype and fear to frame AI as a tool in service of human creativity and relationship, not a replacement for them. We explore how parents and educators can guide kids wisely, why presence beats perfection, and how prudent governance and virtuous use turn technology into a channel for love. Throughout, we hold the three lenses: honesty with self, charity with others, under a living relationship with God.

Key Ideas

Personhood vs. tools: AI can assist; it cannot love, intend, or take responsibility—only persons do.

Formation first: families, schools, and parishes can coach attention, boundaries, and creative habits so tech serves growth.

Create, then edit: let AI help with drafts or analysis, but keep the human voice, judgment, and accountability.

Presence > polish: prefer relational availability over endless “optimization”; use tech to free time for people.

Prudence and trust: welcome governance and guardrails; cultivate virtue so our choices—online and offline—reflect the Gospel.

Links & References

Holy See, Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith & Dicastery for Culture and Education, Antiqua et nova. Note on the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence (Jan 28, 2025) — official Vatican text: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20250128_antiqua-et-nova_en.html

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Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, artificial intelligence, Antiqua et nova, Vatican AI note, human dignity, personhood, creativity, editing workflows, parenting, education, formation, attention, boundaries, prudence, governance, virtue, moral responsibility, presence over perfection, relationships, technology as tool, discernment, accountability, spiritual growth, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, Benedictine spirituality, practical spirituality, Catholic podcast, work and family life, ethics, builders of AI, trust and safety

Is humility making yourself small… or living in the truth? Joe and Father Boniface unpack humility as honesty—seeing ourselves as we are before God—and why that frees us to use our real gifts in service (yes, even taking the seat that has your name on it). We explore self-forgetfulness, how affirmation heals the reflex to self-protect, and practical ways to grow from self-concern into self-gift. Throughout, we keep all three lenses in view: integrity with ourselves, charity toward others, under a living relationship with God.

Key Ideas

• Humility is truth: neither self-inflation nor false modesty, but an honest acceptance of who we are before God—and using our gifts accordingly.
• Concrete example: sometimes the humble act is to take the role or “reserved spot” that’s yours, because it serves the community best.
• Know your tilt: some of us oversell; others undersell—humility learns our tendency and seeks honest mirrors (trusted people who can praise and correct).
• Self-forgetfulness grows from being loved and affirmed; emotional safety reduces self-protective focus and opens us to others.
• A simple path: notice insecurity triggers, share them with someone who loves you, receive affirmation there—and then go build that same affirmation in others this week.

Links & References

• Conrad Baars, affirmation and emotional development — Conrad Baars Institute (official): https://www.conradbaars.com
  
  
• Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate (On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World) — official Vatican text: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20180319_gaudete-et-exsultate.html
  
  

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Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, humility, honesty, meekness, truth, sainthood, virtue, self-forgetfulness, affirmation, Conrad Baars, emotional safety, trauma and healing, self-knowledge, self-possession, self-gift, narcissism, ego, vanity, false modesty, discernment, service, vocation, speaking gifts, leadership, community, parenting, children, interior freedom, relationships, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, Benedictine spirituality, Catholic podcast, practical spirituality, growth, healing, gratitude

What if the story of your life isn’t “nothing much happened”… but a mission God is speaking through you? Joe and Father Boniface unpack how tiny, daily choices—patience with family, taking out the trash with care—shape a saint’s storyline, and why zooming in on micro-moments actually clarifies the bigger horizon. We explore St. Thérèse’s wisdom about doing the next small thing with great love alongside Pope Francis’ call to see your life as a unique message entrusted to you. Through it all, we stay grounded in the three lenses: honesty with self, charity with others, under a living relationship with God.

Key Ideas

Take a “micro audit” of the last season: note small relational wins (held your patience, chose forgiveness) and misses (withdrew attention, snapped online) to see real growth.

Your life is a mission and a message: lift your eyes to the horizon periodically to name milestones, then return to the next faithful step.

St. Thérèse’s path: do the next ordinary task with great love—God meets us in the present moment.

Hold macro and micro together: alternate big-picture review with daily presence so grace can re-pattern habits over time.

Practical examen: Where did my attention go today (phone, work, family, prayer)? What one small act of love can I choose tomorrow?

Links & References

Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate (On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World) — official Vatican text: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20180319_gaudete-et-exsultate.html

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Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, mission, holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate, story of your life, vocation, daily examen, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, little way, little things great love, patience, attention, presence, relationships, family life, spiritual growth, sanctification, humility, gratitude, confession, prayer, discernment, habit change, virtue, everyday holiness, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, Benedictine spirituality, reflection, practical spirituality, Catholic podcast

A three-year-old, a muddy car wash, and a sudden flash of Scripture—Joe’s everyday moment becomes a doorway into Holy Thursday. Together, Joe and Father Boniface explore why Jesus, the Master, takes the servant’s role and washes the apostles’ feet—and how that single act reframes leadership, confession, and the Paschal Mystery. We look at what it means for our week: letting Christ love us first, cooperating with grace, and serving others in concrete, sometimes costly ways. Through the whole conversation we keep the three lenses clear: honesty with ourselves, charity with others, under a living relationship with God.

Key Ideas

• Foot-washing flips power on its head: Christian leadership is service, not control—parents, bosses, and pastors alike are called to the “lowest place.”
• The Last Supper contains the Paschal Mystery: Jesus’ total self-gift in the Eucharist points to the Cross and Resurrection and becomes the measure of love.
• A lived analogy for confession: baptized once, we still pick up “road dust”; regular cleansing is part of walking with Jesus.
• Love requires our consent: Jesus heals with our permission—faith isn’t passive; it’s cooperation with grace.
• Practical takeaway: serve someone tangibly this week (especially in a humble task) and let Jesus’ loving gaze cleanse discouragement, pride, and resentment.

Links & References
(none explicitly cited in this episode)

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Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Holy Thursday, washing of feet, servant leadership, humility, Last Supper, Eucharist, Paschal Mystery, confession, sacrament of reconciliation, baptism, mercy, forgiveness, love, cooperation with grace, faith, discipleship, St. Peter, Gospel reflection, Christian leadership, service, family life, parenting, workplace culture, spiritual growth, interior healing, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, practical spirituality, weekly reflection, prayer, obedience, freedom, Benedictine spirituality

When a simple litany lands, you feel it. In this conversation, Joe and Father Boniface reflect on praying the “Litany of Healing and Repentance” before the Blessed Sacrament—four short responses that draw Jesus close, open our wounds to His love, and re-center daily life. We talk about using these invocations before Mass (or anytime), and why letting God into real emotions—abandonment, anger, discouragement—becomes the doorway to healing. Through it all we keep the three lenses in view: growing in honesty with ourselves, charity with others, under a living relationship with God.

Key Ideas

The four responses: “Jesus, heal my heart with your love.” • “Jesus, come close to me.” • “Please forgive me, Jesus.” • “Jesus, help me to believe.”

Why short, heartfelt prayers bridge “distance” to the Eucharistic Lord, especially in large settings.

Naming real wounds and emotions (rejection, loneliness, anger) so grace can reach them—without denying or suppressing them.

Repentance as a path of healing: acknowledging my sins alongside harms done by others.

A practical rhythm: pray one line slowly before Mass (or during the day), and let it shape your interior posture toward God and neighbor.

Links & References

Litany of Healing and Repentance (text, download, and video) — Institute for Ministry Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary: https://imf.saintvincentseminary.edu/litany/

Litany of Healing and Repentance (printed booklet): https://www.stvincentstore.com/product/litany-of-healing-and-repentance/

National Eucharistic Congress (2024, Indianapolis): https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (Pittsburgh) – St. Sebastian Church: https://mountcarmelpgh.org/

“Eucharistic Miracles of the World” exhibition (original Carlo Acutis project): https://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/liste/list.html

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Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Eucharist, Adoration, National Eucharistic Congress, Litany of Healing and Repentance, prayer, repentance, healing, interior healing, contemplation, Lucas Oil Stadium, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, St. Sebastian Church, Pittsburgh, Eucharistic miracles, Carlo Acutis, short prayers, spiritual growth, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, anger and justice, forgiveness, faith, trust, novena, litany, parish life, confession, devotion, woundedness, divine mercy, interior life, contemplation before Mass, catechesis, spiritual direction, Benedictine, Institute for Ministry Formation

In this thought-provoking episode of the "Father and Joe" podcast, hosts Father Boniface Hicks and Joe Rockey delve deep into the potential impacts of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), on human relationships and spiritual life. The conversation builds on the last week's discussion about the encroachment of AI in personal interactions, highlighting the dangers of relying too heavily on technology to connect with others and ourselves.

Joe and Father Boniface discuss how AI can create a sense of emptiness in relationships, akin to trying to fill an infinite void with finite substances, which is often how sin manifests. They raise a critical question: When does the artificial relationship, facilitated by AI, feel fulfilling, and when does it leave us longing for more? This episode provides a "litmus test" to help listeners evaluate their interactions with AI—does it enrich their lives, or does it deplete their relational and emotional capacities?

Father Boniface introduces insights from a Vatican document, "Antiqua et Nova," emphasizing that AI lacks the intrinsic qualities necessary for genuine human interaction—it has no interiority, intentions, or the capacity to truly care. Despite AI's sophisticated simulation capabilities, it cannot replace the profound depth of embodied human experiences that shape our intellect, morals, and soul.

Through the lens of spirituality, the hosts explore the notion that AI, devoid of a soul, cannot nurture our spirituality or contribute to the development of virtues. Joe and Father Boniface urge listeners to critically assess their engagement with technology, ensuring it serves humanity rather than detracts from it.

Towards the episode's end, the importance of traditional, interpersonal connection is revisited. In an age where technology often mediates relationships, the hosts stress the enduring necessity of face-to-face interaction for spiritual growth and relationship building.

This episode is a call to mindfulness about the roles technology plays in our lives, encouraging continued philosophical inquiry into its ramifications. Joe and Father Boniface affirm the value of questioning and discerning technology’s place in supporting human essence—a distinctly relational nature imbued with the divine spark.

Tags:

AI, Artificial Intelligence, Human Relationships, Technology, Spirituality, Church, Faith, Soul, Relational Growth, Podcast, Father and Joe, Religion, Emptiness, Sin, Vatican, Bible, Antiqua et Nova, Emotional Intelligence, Interpersonal Connection, Moral Discernment, Genuine Care, Spiritual Direction, Relationship Skills, Holiness, Embodied Experience, Humanity, Personal Development, Emotional Fulfillment, Relationship Evaluation, AI Therapists, Technology and Faith, Conversational AI, AI Limitations, Relational Intelligence, AI Impact, Emotional Health, Authentic Connection, Technology Dependence, Friendship, Connection, Spiritual Growth, Meaningful Interactions

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