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Rebel Saints: Catholic Faith & Spiritual Growth Podcast for Christians

Don’t Blame Mercury: Why Catholics Don’t Need the Universe to Explain Our Lives

Rebel Saints: Catholic Faith & Spiritual Growth Podcast for Christians

Mercury is in retrograde. Suddenly your awful week has a plot. But what does Mercury retrograde actually mean — and why are astrology, horoscopes, manifestation and “signs from the universe” so appealing when life feels uncertain? In this episode of Rebel Saints, Nicole explores what the Catholic Church actually teaches about astrology and divination, the surprisingly messy history of Catholicism and astrology, Providence, discernment, manifestation, prudence, confession and the difference between asking St. Anthony for intercession and treating Catholic devotion like magic. Along the way, we fall into one particularly strange Catholic-history rabbit hole: Renaissance popes, astrologers and the foundation horoscope associated with St. Peter's Basilica. We also ask: Was that really a sign from God — or did your algorithm just notice you've watched 600 breakup videos? Because Mercury doesn't know your name. God does. In this episode: Mercury retrograde • astrology and horoscopes • Catholic teaching on divination • Providence • Lectio Divina • discernment • signs from God • manifestation • prudence • confession • St. Anthony • Catholic superstition Listen next: Lessons from Saint Anthony on Catholic Faith, Failure, and Finding Your Voice Rebel Saints is a Catholic podcast for restless hearts called to be saints. There is nothing more punk than Catholicism.

About Podcast

There is nothing more punk than Catholicism. Rebel Saints is a Catholic podcast exploring Christian discipleship, spiritual growth, and Catholic theology for restless hearts trying to follow Jesus Christ in a modern world.

In an age of algorithms, anxiety, artificial intelligence, and endless scrolling, how do we live out our Christian faith? St. Augustine wrote, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in You." Sixteen hundred years later, we're still restless — we just have smartphones now.

Hosted by Catholic journalist, youth minister, and mother Nicole Olea, this show offers a fresh laywoman’s perspective on the ancient Church. Whether you are a cradle Catholic, a recent convert, a scripture seeker, or a skeptic, this podcast tackles the hard questions about faith and culture.

Through thoughtful interviews, compelling storytelling, Catholic Church history, Scripture reflections, and the inspiring lives of the saints, Nicole dives into what it actually means to build a daily prayer life today. The Church has outlived empires, revolutions, and pandemics. She isn't afraid of modernity, and you don't need a perfect life hack or another political hot take to find peace.

Maybe the most rebellious thing you can do isn't reinvent yourself. Maybe it's discovering Catholic spirituality and becoming the saint you were created to be. Restless hearts: You are welcome here.

Join the Rebellion: Connect with the Restless Heart Society!

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Rebel Saint - this podcast is for you!