In Podcasts, The Inner Life

St. Augustine and Conversion – The Inner Life – August 28, 2025

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Fr. Tom McCarthy joins Patrick to discuss St. Augustine and Conversion

  • (4:46) Father shares the story of Saint Augustine.
  • How is Augustine’s story similar to our story?
  • (16:29) Nick – Love St. Augustine. Reminds me of how merciful the Lord is. Very important to know how easy it is to be forgiven. Need to overcome bad habits. When we look at St. Monica and St. Augustine. Conversion not just a onetime thing…ongoing.

(20:25) Break 1

  • Email – How can I discern whether I am truly living my conversion?
  • (28:54) Joanna – Today is my birthday and he is my saint. I was raised Catholic and my grandmother raised me that way. I want to provide the same unconditional love she provided and showed me through St. Augustine.
  • Ann – I live on St. Augustine Drive! Never thought about it when we moved here, but I’ve lived here since 1958. My husband became a permanent deacon and served the Diocese of Orange. Enjoy Relevant Radio.
  • (34:35) Tom – I was a wandering Catholic and ended up in Paris. Friend had a record that had a Bob Dylan song that was about St. Augustine. I knew that I was kind of living like him (Augustine) and listened to it constantly. Went to a party and something happened where I ended up at a Cathedral and told God I was lost and needed him. Came back to the church.

(39:07) Break 2

  • What is the importance of looking at both the good and the bad when it comes to your life?
  • (44:22) Carol – Not being able to let go of a sin…come out of confession with a spiritual change, but hearts don’t let go because they don’t know a new normal.
  • Conversion brings peace.

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Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.