A "Jimmy Aiken's Mysterious World" podcast appreciation post

This summer I have been listening to my hands-down newest favorite podcast, “Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World.” My podcast app recommended I listen to it, and boy did they get me right this time.

Those deep in the world of Catholic apologetic may already be familiar with Jimmy Akin, though I did not know him. And really, I have not followed any of his work outside the show since beginning listening. I bet it’s good, though, because he is an incredibly thorough researcher.

In “Mysterious World,” a show out of the Starquest Production Network, Jimmy and his co-host Dom Bettinelli examine every imaginable mystery in (and out) of our world, from the perspectives of faith and reason. Often, though, there is not much to say from the faith perspective, and for that reason the episodes are still enjoyable to anyone who just enjoys a good mystery. My favorite episodes have been on remote viewing, abduction stories, and the Nephilim, but every episode is worth listening to. How many podcasts do you know where that’s the case?

What’s beautiful about this is that, in addition to each topic being ridiculously researched, Jimmy never characterizes any theory or mystery, or its adherents, as wacky or worthy of ridicule. Instead, he simply looks at each case factually, with grace and humility. Listening to the show has helped me become more rationally skeptical, without compromising my ability to believe.

Thankfully, as they have said on the show, there is no end to the mysteries in this universe worth exploring, and apparently Jimmy and Dom have 8 years’ worth of material. I believe it! Go have a listen.

A little more on why we burn prayer candles

A moment of serendipity (cue someone saying there’s no such thing as coincidences): this morning I came across an article from Washington, DC’s own Msgr. Charles Pope, called “Why Are Votive Candles Used?” It’s a short and sweet explainer on why we light candles at church. Perfect timing, as I’ve been thinking about this.

Msgr. Pope says the candle stands in for a “burnt offering,” as in the Old Testament. The smoke in a burnt offering “was a symbol of the sacrifice of praise ascending to God,” and we can see the smoke of our candles meaning the same. Further, he says, when we light candles, we are making an offering of prayer and praise.

The consuming of the candle symbolizes the oblation (offering) of something of value to God: our time, our praise, our resources and so forth. The lingering quality of the candle symbolizes the fact that our prayers, praise and concerns continue in our heart even when we must leave the church. The flickering light also seems to say “Remember me, Lord, remember my prayer and those for whom I pray.”

Amen! I especially love the imagery of the lingering quality of the candle symbolizing the needs in our hearts lingering after we leave church. Good point.

So, light those candles, whether at home or at church. Send up your prayers, but don’t forget your thanks, too.

Lighting prayer candles at home

Do you know , one of my favorite things about being a Catholic is lighting candles in church. I really like that that is one of our things.

I love to see all the lights flickering in their glasses, and thinking about the people who came up before me to light and pray, and what their intentions are. There is a specialness, like a feeling of pilgrimage, to visit that part of the church and state your intentions through prayer.

It occurred to me this week that I don’t have to wait for being inside a church to do this. I could, I suppose, create such a space in my home. And then I realized, already do. I have a a tall, white pillar candle I light specifically during morning prayer. And when I work each day, I have a small votive candle lit in front of my St. Joseph the worker statue, so he can help me out while I labor (that’s a little bit of a joke because my in-front-of-the-computer work is not exactly toiling in a field. I’m glad he helps me, nonetheless.).

So anyway, this was a tiny revelation for me recently, that while I do love the specialness of being inside the church and lighting candles, I can just as easily do the same thing at home. I can light a candle and pray for an intention. Wild, I know. So, this is what I recommend. The next time something is eating away at you and causing anxiety, rather than having further anxiety that you can’t get yourself to a church in the immediate to “properly” pray about it with a little form of public devotion, just light a candle at home and send those same prayers up. Ask your guardian angel to be present and pray with you. I suppose this is all in keeping with a year where much of our spiritual lives have been occurring inside the home out of necessity and regulation, anyway. One more thing to sanctify your domestic church.

P.S. an update on my story about receiving a flower from a neighbor: afterwards, I wrote a thank-you card and dropped it at their front door. I noticed they had a doorbell camera and wondered if it was recording. A few days later I was walking past the same house when a woman with a dog happened to come out. “Laura?” she asked. Turns out she did go back and check the footage and so recognized me when I walked past, and there I was, and we spoke, and she showed me where they keep the scissors so that I may cut a flower whenever I like. Somehow this feels like something worth celebrating, in this year.