Escaping Busyness (Guest: Fr. Christopher Seith)

Why do we flee silence for constant busyness? And how can beauty draw us back to God?

In this episode of Power & Witness, Fr. Mark speaks with Fr. Christopher Seith, priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC and Coordinator of Spiritual Formation at St. John Paul II Seminary. Together they explore the timeless insights of Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper on acedia (spiritual sloth), wonder, leisure, and beauty—and how these themes open us to reality as a gift and draw us deeper into God’s presence.

If you’ve ever felt restless, distracted, or caught in endless activity, this conversation offers a path back to peace, joy, and authentic Christian living.

0:00 – Introduction
1:12 – Who Was Josef Pieper?
4:08 – Acedia Explained
8:15 – Busyness & Distraction
12:27 – Leisure as the Basis of Culture
17:49 – The Role of Beauty
23:35 – The Present Moment
28:52 – Formation & Priesthood
34:10 – Living Pieper’s Wisdom Today
38:45 – Closing Reflections

Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word · Escaping Busyness (Guest: Fr. Christopher Seith)

Priesthood in the Old and New Testaments (Guest: Fr. Anthony Giambrone, OP)

What does the Old Testament priesthood reveal about Christ, and how is it fulfilled in the New Testament? In this episode of the Catholic podcast Power & Witness, Fr. Mark sits down with Fr. Anthony Giambrone, OP to explore the continuity and transformation of the priesthood from Scripture into the life of the Church today. From Melchizedek in Genesis to the Letter to the Hebrews, they examine how Christ embodies the High Priesthood and how the Catholic priesthood participates in His one eternal sacrifice.

Fr. Anthony Giambrone, OP is a Dominican friar of the Province of St. Joseph (New York). He is Ordinary Professor of New Testament and Vice-Director at the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem (ÉBAF). Fluent in multiple ancient and modern languages, his scholarship focuses on the New Testament, Luke-Acts, and the Synoptic Gospels, while also engaging in biblical archaeology, numismatics, and epigraphy. He is the author of The Bible and the Priesthood: Priestly Participation in the One Sacrifice for Sins and contributes regularly to Catholic scholarship and publications.

This episode offers both theological depth and pastoral insight, helping listeners understand how Christ fulfills the priesthood of Israel and how Catholic priests today share in His one sacrifice. If you’re interested in Catholic theology, Scripture, priesthood, and the Eucharist, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

0:00 – Introduction
0:43 – Protestant Reactions to Catholic Priesthood
1:40 – Continuity and Transformation in Scripture
5:25 – The Golden Calf and the Levitical Priesthood
10:01 – Melchizedek and the New Priesthood
16:17 – Jesus as the High Priest
20:10 – Sacrificial Nature of the Priesthood
23:35 – Pastoral Shepherding and Holy Orders
28:46 – Sacramental Security
32:31 – Historical Context of the High Priesthood
35:01 – Eucharistic Continuity
37:25 – Conclusion

Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word · Priesthood in the Old and New Testaments (Guest: Fr. Anthony Giambrone, OP)