E174: Blindness, Poverty, and Christmas w/ Fr Robert Spitzer

In today’s Christmas episode, I sit down with the brilliant Fr. Robert Spitzer—renowned theologian and philosopher—to reflect on the mystery of Christmas and the profound lessons we can draw from suffering and humility. Fr. Spitzer also shares how his blindness has deepened his faith, transforming a challenge into a blessing.The story of salvation begins with a baby—helpless, vulnerable, and entirely dependent. Jesus entered our messy, broken world not in grandeur but in a humble manger. His Incarnation calls us to embrace childlike trust and humility, showing us that strength is perfected in weakness.Join us as we explore why Christ might have chosen such a humble beginning, how suffering can deepen our spiritual lives, and how the Incarnation changes everything.Check out Fr Spitzer's work: https://www.magiscenter.com/A big thank to our partner, EWTN, the world’s leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors: -Hallow: https://www.hallow.com/lila Enter into prayer more deeply this season with the Hallow App, get 3 months free by using this link to sign up! -Good Ranchers: https://go.goodranchers.com/lila Purchase your American Meat Delivered subscription today and get a free add-on of beef, chicken, bacon, or salmon! Use code LILA for $25 off! -EveryLife: https://www.everylife.com Buy diapers from an amazing pro-life diaper company and use code LILA and get 10% off!-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee with code LILA and get up to 25% off!00:00:00 - Intro00:00:32 - Welcome, Fr Spitzer00:01:10 - What’s the tradition of celebrating Christmas?00:02:29 - Modest means is the main thing00:11:31 - Why such a specific birth narrative?00:12:34 - Hallow00:13:58 - Jesus is true man00:15:14 - Jesus doesn’t get special privileges00:16:01 - Free choice00:21:52 - Why the slaughter of the innocents?00:22:57 - Good Ranchers00:24:13 - God’s project is not limited to a single group in a single era00:27:55 - If you’ve got everything in this world...00:37:14 - EveryLife00:38:02 - Fr Spitzer’s Blindness00:45:41 - Seven Weeks00:46:39 - Fr Spitzer felt utterly humiliated00:58:57 - We must become like children01:06:17 - Mother Angelica’s quote01:11:04 - Scroll of Isaiah01:14:02 - Why did Jesus come as a baby?01:21:10 - Every child is the Christmas miracle