Become Who You Are

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Ever feel like you're giving your all to work, relationships, and personal goals, but treating your spiritual life like an afterthought? Michael Pacer joins Jack to explore the disconnect that's leaving so many men unfulfilled and searching for something more.Michael, president of 5 Stones and author of "Prayers for Catholic Men," brings his unique gift of making complex spiritual realities accessible to everyone. As a former trial attorney who specialized in breaking down complicated concepts for juries, he now applies that same clarity to the spiritual journey – particularly focusing on confession and the Mass as the "one-two punch" of authentic faith.The conversation tackles a profound question: Why do we accept that every other area of life requires consistent effort – from weightlifting to career advancement – yet expect our souls to flourish without similar investment? Purchase "Prayers" For Catholic Men by Mike Pacer Contact Jack: info@jp2renew.orgJacks Latest Blog Young Men United in the Eucharist: Heroically Rebuilding the Three Necessary SocietiesFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Sign up for our Newsletter: https://jp2renew.org/Support the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Something extraordinary is happening in Catholic churches across America and Europe—pews that once sat half-empty are filling with young faces. This isn't a momentary blip but a genuine spiritual awakening among a generation raised in moral relativism who are now seeking objective truth.When these seekers arrive, they bring questions. One of the most common: "Didn't the Bible say that Jesus had brothers and sisters? Deacon Frank joins Jack. Click Here to read his articles in the Catholic ExchangeDownload the Claymore Battle Plan at jp2renew.org and go to the resources link. Join a movement of young men reclaiming territory for Christ by fostering a culture of authentic love. Your journey begins not with a label, but with the profound truth that you are made for more than this world can offer.Read Jack's Article: Am I Gay? Discovering Your True Identity in Christ Follow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Support the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”What happens when a young Catholic man wonders if he might be gay after developing a deep friendship with another guy? This question opens the door to a profound exploration of identity, desire, and our ultimate purpose as human beings.The cultural narrative tells us we are defined by our attractions and feelings—that they represent our immutable identity. But what if there's something deeper? What if our attractions, even when they feel confusing or overwhelming, are actually pointing us toward something greater?Download the Claymore Battle Plan at jp2renewed.org and go to the resources link. Join a movement of young men reclaiming territory for Christ by fostering a culture of authentic love. Your journey begins not with a label, but with the profound truth that you are made for more than this world can offer.Read the Article: Am I Gay? Discovering Your True Identity in Christ Take Action: This week, spend 15 minutes in Adoration or pray with Matthew 6:33, asking, “Jesus, who am I to You?” Journal your thoughts. Then, connect with a Claymore Disciple, friend, or priest, to share your journey—you’re stronger together.Reflection Questions:· How does being a beloved child of God shape your view of yourself?· How can the Eucharist help you align your desires with God’s plan?· Who can you lean on to live the Church’s teaching with courage and joy?Scripture Referenced: Matt 22:23-33, Rev 19:7, Rev 21:5, Eph 5:25-32, Gal 3:28 and the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2357 and 2358Follow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Support the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Something extraordinary is happening in Catholic communities worldwide. Young people are flocking to churches, filling pews, and rediscovering ancient truths in surprising numbers. What's drawing this digital generation back to tradition? The answer may lie in the example of Carlo Acutis, the "saint in sneakers" who died at just 15 but left an indelible mark on modern Catholicism. Mary Beth Bracy joins us to explore  "God's Influencer," revealing how this computer-programming teenager combined deep Eucharistic devotion with thoroughly modern sensibilities.Carlo stands as a compelling counter-witness to our culture's emptiness. Join us as we explore how God continues raising up saints perfectly suited for our age—and what Carlo's remarkable life means for all seeking deeper connection in our distracted world. His example reminds us that no matter your age or circumstances, the path to transformation begins with a simple decision to let God's love transform your ordinary life into something extraordinary.Get you copy of God's Influencer Here! Information on Consecrated VirginityThe Little Way of Healing Love Through the Passion of Jesus: The Stations of the Cross With St. Théresè of LisieuxDownload the Claymore battle plan and begin your own journey into Scripture. Whether you're a young person seeking truth or someone who loves and guides them, these practices can transform your relationship with God's Word from obligation to life-giving encounter.Contact Jack: info@jp2renew.orgFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!On Rumble: JohnPaulIIRCRead Jack's Latest Blog Here!Support the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Young men are rising up and searching for the truth in a world that has consistently lied to them. Despite growing up in a toxic culture and relentlessly bombarded with digital distraction, they're discovering something profound: Scripture offers the authentic guidance, healing, and path they crave.In this Episode Deacon Greg Ferrell joins Jack to explore how daily Scripture reading, using an ancient technique called Lectio Divina, can transform lives and rewire minds damaged by cultural toxicity. The Claymore battle plan—a systematic approach to spiritual formation—places significant emphasis on spending 15-30 minutes daily with God's Word, particularly through Mass readings that connect Old and New Testaments into a cohesive narrative of salvation.Their discussion reveals practical wisdom for approaching Scripture: finding quiet space away from distractions, calming your mind, and approaching texts with an open heart asking "What does God want to show me?"Discussion Questions:How can understanding scripture transform lives?How does writing your thoughts down help solidify insights from scripture?Why are Personal Relationships vital for sharing faith?What is Lectio Divina? https://jp2renew.org/2025/02/05/lectio-divina/Listening is key to understanding God's message?Download the Claymore battle plan and begin your own journey into Scripture. Whether you're a young person seeking truth or someone who loves and guides them, these practices can transform your relationship with God's Word from obligation to life-giving encounter.Contact Jack: info@jp2renew.orgFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!On Rumble: JohnPaulIIRCRead Jack's Latest Blog Here!Support the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Something unexpected is happening in France. In a nation known as one of the world's most atheistic countries, Catholic churches are suddenly filling up with young faces. This Easter alone, over 10,000 adults were baptized into the Catholic Church—a staggering 160% increase from just eight years ago. Most remarkably, 42% of these new Catholics are young adults between 18-25 years old.Dr. Anne Hendershott, professor of sociology and director of the Veritas Center at Franciscan University, joins us to unpack this extraordinary Catholic renaissance and what it means for faith in America. Far from being a passing trend, this revival represents something profound: young hearts searching for meaning beyond what secular culture can provide.Get a Copy of "A Lamp in the Darkness"Get a Copy of "The Politics of Envy"Link to Article: A Catholic Renaissance in FranceHere are discussion topics:How does the Catholic Church’s sacramental nature and vision of human dignity offer a countercultural response to the moral relativism and secularism that Gen Z is rejecting?Dr. Hendershott highlights the role of authentic Catholic education in shaping young people’s faith. What steps can you take to seek out or support educational environments that prioritize a Culture of Life over a Culture of Death?The episode notes that social media, while problematic, is also drawing young people to faith. How can you use technology intentionally to grow closer to Christ and foster a holy community?Reflecting on the revival in France and America, what is one practical way you can contribute to or support Gen Z’s rediscovery of Catholic truth in your own parish or community?How Is the normalization of pornography a significant issue for today's youth?Download the Claymore battle plan and begin your own journey into Scripture. Whether you're a young person seeking truth or someone who loves and guides them, these practices can transform your relationship with God's Word from obligation to life-giving encounter.Contact Jack: info@jp2renew.orgFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Jack's Latest Blog: Marriage as a Sacrament: The Primordial Sign of Love!Support the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”What happens when we drop a 19th-century saint into our smartphone-saturated world? Kevin Wells, author of Coached by the Cure, Lessons in Shepherding with St. John Vianney joins Jack to explore this provocative question—and the answers might shake your perception of modern spirituality.Wells begins with a startling comparison: the smartphones we casually place in our children's hands are functioning as "miniature Ouija boards," disconnecting them from authentic spiritual experience. "I don't care about the Ouija board, that's 1970s," Wells argues. "I care about the Ouija board—that millions upon millions of kids' carry in their pockets." The conversation draws fascinating parallels between our current spiritual climate and post-Revolutionary France, where St. John Vianney arrived to find a spiritually dead farming community...and practical lessons for today!! This episode offers both the challenge and the pathway forward. Share your thoughts and experiences with us, and consider how you might implement these timeless principles in your own family and community.Get your Copy HERE! Contact Jack: info@jp2renew.orgFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!On Rumble: JohnPaulIIRCIf you’re interested in being a sponsor of the Become Who You Are Podcast, please email us at Info@JP2Renew.org Jack's Latest Blog: Marriage as a Sacrament: The Primordial Sign of Love!Support the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”The extraordinary story of a 13-year-old martyr provides a powerful lens through which we examine modern faith challenges. Writer and Catholic convert Avery Lane joins us to share the remarkable testimony of José Luis Sánchez del Río—"Joselito"—who was tortured and killed during Mexico's Cristero War for refusing to renounce his faith.Avery's own journey from secular humanism to Catholicism frames our exploration of Joselito's story. We trace how this child became a flag bearer for Catholic resistance fighters when the Mexican government implemented anti-Catholic laws in the 1920s. During battle, Joselito demonstrated incredible selflessness by offering his horse to his general, sacrificing his own escape and leading to his capture by government forces.What follows is an account of extraordinary courage. Joselito refused to deny Christ and his final words—"Viva Cristo Rey! Viva Santa Maria de Guadalupe!"—echo through history as a testament to unwavering faith.Read The Full Story Here!   And read Avery's other inspiring work at the "Catholic Exchange"Contact Jack: info@jp2renew.orgFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!On Rumble: JohnPaulIIRCIf you’re interested in being a sponsor of the Become Who You Are Podcast, please email us at Info@JP2Renew.org Jack Latest Blog: Living on the Surface, Never Going Deep: Jenny, Jesus, Carl Jung and Bill WSupport the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Something is stirring among young people today. They feel a growing unease—a sense they've been deceived but can't quite articulate what's wrong. This profound conversation with Mark Schmitt uncovers the root of our cultural malaise and offers a path toward authentic freedom.We explore what happens when desires created good become twisted and distorted. Mark shares his personal journey from repression... to indulgence... to eventual freedom. Highlighting the moment everything changed for him he said: "If God is love, and love is self-giving, then the opposite isn't hatred—it's selfishness." This realization transformed his understanding of happiness and purpose.Here are three thought-provoking questions to discuss:How can the distortion of our natural desires lead to cultural and personal confusion, and what does it mean to “untwist” those desires in pursuit of authentic freedom?Mark Schmidt suggests that the opposite of love is not hatred but selfishness—how does this insight reshape our understanding of sin, especially in the context of modern struggles like pornography and indulgence?What role does radical trust and community play in healing from cultural malaise and reclaiming a sense of purpose, according to the vision laid out by John Paul II and St. Thérèse?Contact Jack: info@jp2renew.orgFollow Tom Hampson on SubstackFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!On Rumble: JohnPaulIIRCIf you’re interested in being a sponsor of the Become Who You Are Podcast, please email us at Info@JP2Renew.org Jack Latest Blog: Living on the Surface, Never Going Deep: Jenny, Jesus, Carl Jung and Bill WSupport the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Something has gone terribly wrong with our culture, and young people know it. Across America, children are being subjected to dangerous transgender ideologies that defy biological reality and common sense.We're witnessing an unprecedented assault on truth itself. In schools across Illinois, administrators force girls to change in front of biological males in locker rooms, citing reinterpreted Title IX regulations. Meanwhile, the same education system utterly fails at its basic purpose - 80 schools in Illinois have zero students proficient in math, and 24 schools have no children reading at grade level. This isn't accidental failure but deliberate indoctrination.The medical establishment has become complicit in this harm. Dr. Eitan Haim risked his career and freedom as a whistleblower...Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, now director of the NIH, confirms what many already knew - there's "very weak evidence" supporting gender interventions, and claims these procedures prevent suicide are false.What makes this cultural madness so dangerous is its attack on reality itself. As Jordan Peterson observed, "If you swallow this camel—that a man can be a woman just by thinking it—there's nothing else you can't swallow." Yet there's hope. Young people, especially young men, sense something is deeply wrong. They're seeking answers and increasingly rejecting toxic ideologies. Contact Jack: info@jp2renew.orgFollow Tom Hampson on SubstackFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel! On Rumble: JohnPaulIIRCIf you’re interested in being a sponsor of the Become Who You Are Podcast, please email us at Info@JP2Renew.org Jack Latest Blog: Living on the Surface, Never Going Deep: Jenny, Jesus, Carl Jung and Bill WSupport the show