Breadbox Media

All 3 of the readings for this weekend speak to us about the importance of faith.

To read this week's readings, go to: usccb.org

Have you ever heard a piece of “wisdom” that has been passed on for generations? For example, “You can do anything you put your mind to” or “Do what makes you happy”. While these words can feel encouraging in a moment of stress, they may not be the most sound and virtuous ways to go about discerning life decisions.

Laura Hudgens, a writer, junior high teacher, momma, and my friend, sits down with me as we talk through several of these little sayings. As referenced in one of her Grown and Flown articles, these phrases have become ingrained into our culture of encouragement.

Of course, I always enjoy my friendly conversations with Laura, this interview is no different. So, I hope you sit back and enjoy – or fold your laundry – or drive to work — but nonetheless, ENJOY! This one will have you smiling, shaking your head and even singing, Amen!

Questions Covered:

01:59 - I’d like to know about the so-called “Satanic Panic” around Dungeons and Dragons, but also the related panic about D&D and murder/suicide. 

16:00 - Does CCC 2290 have anything to say about people’s addiction to coffee? We all seem to give coffee a pass even though people spend lots of money on it and develop significant physiological and psychological dependence on it. Find any humorous coffee meme and substitute the word “heroin,” and suddenly it isn’t so funny. 

22:21 - Where would we be today if the Library of Alexandria never burned down? 

29:27 – I have questions about bodily mortification. I am reading about the lives of saints who did actual damage to their physical bodies. To me, that seems very wrong, as our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and God created the body as “good,” so much so that burial of the dead is an act of Christian charity. Yet, we still are being advised in some quarters to “subdue” our bodies” with either extreme and unhealthy neglect, or actual harm. 

34:06 - Was Jesus dead all day on Holy Saturday and just waiting to come out on Sunday? 

36:23 - What would the implications be in terms of philosophy, theology, and morality if animals other than humans were discovered to be sapient? 

45:00 - In dire circumstances, can one baptize using tea? It’s mostly water. What if it’s sweetened? 

47:58 - In Confirmation class a kid once asked me this: “If there were an insane man who thought his cat was a priest, and he went to Confession to his cat and heard the cat give him absolution, would his sins be forgiven?” 

49:50 - I read that Augustine believed that concupiscence is specifically passed down through the act of intercourse of the parents. Would concupiscence still be part of a child if there was artificial Insemination without any sexual act involved?

Elizabeth Lev, art historian and author of “How Catholic Art Saved the Faith: The Triumph of Beauty and Truth in Counter-Reformation Art,” joins Cy to discuss the life-changing impact that Catholic restoration art had on the faithful during the tumult and aftermath of the Protestant Reformation. While Protestantism threatened to destroy sacramental life, Catholic art affirmed the truth found in the sacraments, calling the faithful to deeper relationship with the Church that Christ founded.

Questions Covered:

20:36 - How did Artemisia Genteleschi contribute as a woman to art in this period?

We humans have a negativity bias, meaning the bad things that we see, hear, and experience far outweigh the positive and pleasurable experiences. My angry reaction to a perceived slight will stick with me longer than my meditation on being the delight of the Lord. The negative and nasty things we remember make it just about impossible to see beyond to what is most true about ourselves and others, the goodness that is most truly who we are. If we know that this is true about the human mind and heart, it is only an intentional focusing of our thoughts and leaps of the heart on what is most true that will yield happiness and holiness in our lives.

 

ENJOYED THIS PODCAST? HERE ARE 4 WAYS TO GO DEEPER…God has amazing ways of knocking on people's hearts, awakening desires, arousing questions, provoking an unexpected spiritual fire. If you have enjoyed this article, and are ready to embark on a sustained spiritual journey, here are 4 ways you can join me on the journey. You can learn more about them at touchingthesunrise.com.Join my private Facebook Group and walk the road of healing with a great group of people. I offer a half-hour live spiritual conference here Tuesday evenings at 7pm EST.Sign-up for my letter Touching the Sunrise. I write a letter a couple times a month from my heart to yours to support you along the way.Explore my books: Surviving Depression: A Catholic Approach; Reclaim Regret: How God Heals Life's Disappointments; Just a Minute Meditations Deeper Trust and Inner Peace.Become a part of the HeartWork Community, a place where you can ask the hard questions and find a path to a life that is free, fulfilling and fruitful.

I’m Back all Y’all! For the episode today I share with you the first impactful I had during my return.  I pray it helps you in your life of community at your local parish.

If you like my podcast, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast it really does help me.  You can find more of my content at my website www.thefrankfriar.com and my YouTube at www.youtube.com/c/thefrankfriar

On this episode of Young Catholics Respond, Bill Snyder talks with Ray Haywood, author of Tools to Ready the Journey: A Father's Guide to a Faith-Filled Family. For more information about Ray visit trjfathersguide.com

Help Support Young Catholics Respond and Patchwork Heart Ministry by becoming our patron on Patreon.

Bill Snyder talks about God's love in his life from Childhood to Young Adulthood

Recorded as part of a Life in the Spirit Seminar at St. Matthias Catholic Church in Milwaukee, WI.

Has your mind every turned to contemplating what heaven will be like? Have you considered the value of our suffering here on earth? How much do you really know about our eternal reward? Join Sister Mary Ann Fatulas as we discuss what scripture and the saints have to tell us. Check out her book Heaven's Splendor: And the Riches That Await You There.