Fatherhood is one of the most important jobs on the planet. Many in our Church and society recognize that fathers are struggling to be the dads their children need them to be. What can Catholic men do today to reverse this trend and be great dads in the 21st century?

On the podcast today hosts Kevin and Lisa discuss 7 tips for fathers. Along the way, they’ll talk about Kevin’s own dadhood, our favorite commercial of all time, and give you a feast day hack that will ensure that you never again forget what to do on an important feast day.

SHOWNOTES

The government’s initiative on fatherhood: https://www.fatherhood.gov/

Successful Fathers by James B. Stenson

Connect with us!

Kevin: Twitter | Instagram

Lisa: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Email: hello[at]madetomagnify[dot]com

The post S4 Ep11: How-to Dad appeared first on Lisa Cotter.

Welcome to the Liturgical Lowdown for the month of October! In this episode host, Lisa Cotter will be giving you insights, histories, and ideas on how to celebrate and integrate the liturgical life of the Catholic Church into your life this month.

SHOWNOTES

October’s Devotion: Holy Rosary

It’s also Respect Life Month! Checkout the USCCB’s resources for ideas.

The Pope’s Monthly Intention:  The Mission of Religious: That consecrated religious men and women may bestir themselves, and be present among the poor, the marginalized, and those who have no voice.

Feasts of Note:

October 1st – St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Lisieux) (memorial)

October 2nd – Guardian Angels (memorial)

October 4th – St. Francis of Assisi (memorial)

October 5th – St. Faustina Kowalski (optional memorial)

October 11th – Pope St. John XXIII (optional memorial)

October 15th – Teresa of Jesus (Avila) (memorial)

October 16th – St. Margaret Mary Alacogue (optional memorial)

October 18th – St. Luke (feast)

October 19th – St. Issac Jogues, John de Brebeuf and Companions (memorial)

October 22nd – Pope Saint John Paul II (optional memorial)

October 28th – Sts. Simon and Jude (feast)

October 31th – All Hallows Eve (Halloween)

Connect with us!

Kevin: Twitter | Instagram

Lisa: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Email: hello[at]madetomagnify[dot]com

The post Liturgical Lowdown: October appeared first on Lisa Cotter.

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. We’re mid-way through season 4, so on today’s podcast, we’ll open up the listener mailbag and answer your burning questions.

On the episode today we’ll talk about getting nervous before giving a big talk, building community as a young family, discussing your faith with non-Catholics, living balance, kids and cell phones, and much more.

SHOWNOTES

Our Love Story: Via the FOCUS Blog

Communicating for a Change

Secrets of Dynamic Communication (SCORRE Method for speaking)

Essentialism

How-to Schedule: Part 1 and Part 2

Evangelicals and Catholics Together

FOCUS Social Media (for SEEK): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with us!

Kevin: Twitter | Instagram

Lisa: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Email: hello[at]madetomagnify[dot]com

The post S4 Ep10: Q and A with Kevin and Lisa appeared first on Lisa Cotter.

Do you ever wish you could deepen your relationship with your significant other? Do you struggle to invest in your relationship like you know you should? Date night is a universally recognized way to strengthen romantic relationships, but what does it look like and what are some ways to make sure it happens?

On today’s podcast, hosts Kevin and Lisa Cotter discuss 3 date night killers and 3 date night don’ts. Along the way, they’ll share their own date night successes and failures, announce a giveaway that you’ll want to enter, and ask for your help on their next episode.

SHOWNOTES

Husbands and wives who engaged in couple time (spending time alone with each other, talking, or sharing an activity) with their mates at least once a week were approximately 3.5 times more likely to report being “very happy” in their marriages, compared to those who enjoyed less quality time with their spouse.

– 2012 National Marriage Project (U of Virginia) study called “The Date Night Opportunity”

Date Night In Box

Date Night Ideas: ABCs of Dating and Focus on the Family list

DON’T FORGET TO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS FOR OUR Q AND A EPISODE NEXT WEEK!

Connect with us!

Kevin: Twitter | Instagram

Lisa: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Email: hello[at]madetomagnify[dot]com

The post S4 Ep9: How-to Date Night appeared first on Lisa Cotter.

Have you ever felt like God was distant? Have you been in a place where you felt spiritually dead? Feeling dry is a common occurrence in the spiritual life, even saints struggled with it, but we don’t often talk about it. What can we do in these moments when we feel apart from God?

On today’s podcast, we talk about 6 steps to rehydrate your spiritual life. Along the way, Kevin talks about why we’ve had so much drama in our lives even though we aren’t dramatic people and Lisa shares a hack to help you in an emergency.

SHOWNOTES

Another difficulty, especially for those who sincerely want to pray, is dryness. Dryness belongs to contemplative prayer when the heart is separated from God, with no taste for thoughts, memories, and feelings, even spiritual ones. … If dryness is due to the lack of roots, because the word has fallen on rocky soil, the battle requires conversion. – CCC 2731

Far from experiencing any consolation, complete aridity — desolation, almost — was my lot. Jesus was asleep in my little boat as usual. – St. Therese of Lisieux

I have felt like Saint Peter with the Apostles in the boat on the Sea of Galilee: the Lord has given us so many days of sun and of light winds, days when the catch was abundant; there were also moments when the waters were rough and the winds against us, as throughout the Church’s history, and the Lord seemed to be sleeping. But I have always known that the Lord is in that boat, and I have always known that the barque of the Church is not mine but his. Nor does the Lord let it sink; it is he who guides it, surely also through those whom he has chosen, because he so wished. This has been, and is, a certainty which nothing can shake. – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

If I ever become a Saint – I will surely be one of “darkness.” I will continually be absent from Heaven – to light the light of those in darkness on earth. – St. Mother Teresa

Books from this Episode

The Discernment of Spirits by Timothy M Gallagher, O.M.V.

Dark Night of the Soul By St. John of the Cross

Come be my Light By St. Mother Teresa

Connect with us!

Kevin: Twitter | Instagram

Lisa: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Email: hello[at]madetomagnify[dot]com

The post S4 Ep8: How-to Spiritual Dryness appeared first on Lisa Cotter.

Our Church needs leaders. We don’t just need bishops and priests to lead. Not just those who are smart or influential. Now, more than ever, our Church needs everyone to use their gifts and talents to lead. But, what does this look like? How do we learn to lead?

Today on the podcast, hosts Kevin and Lisa talk about 5 habits of great leaders. On this episode, they discuss how to think and act like a leader and give you tips on how to strengthen your leadership. Along the way Lisa shares a hack to help you with holy cards and Kevin talks about how he’s recently failed to lead.

SHOWNOTES

Living Rosary Information and Sign-up

Connect with us!

Kevin: Twitter | Instagram

Lisa: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Email: hello[at]madetomagnify[dot]com

The post S4 Ep7: How-to Leadership appeared first on Lisa Cotter.

Welcome to the Liturgical Lowdown for the month of September! In this episode host, Lisa Cotter will be giving you insights, histories, and ideas on how to celebrate and integrate the liturgical life of the Catholic Church into your life this month.

SHOWNOTES

September’s Devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows

The Pope’s Monthly Intention:  Young People in Africa: That young people in Africa may have access to education and work in their own countries.

Feasts of Note:

September 3rd – Pope Saint Gregory the Great (memorial)

September 5th – St. Mother Teresa

September 8th – Birth of Mary (feast)

September 13th – St. John Chrysostom (memorial)

September 14th – Exaltation of the Holy Cross (feast)

September 15th – Our Lady of Sorrows (memorial)

September 17th – St. Robert Bellarmine (optional memorial) and St. Hildegard of Bingen

September 21st – St. Matthew (feast)

September 23rd – St. Padre Pio

September 27th – St. Vincent de Paul (memorial)

September 29th – Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (feast)

September 30th – St. Jerome (memorial)

Connect with us!

Kevin: Twitter | Instagram

Lisa: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Email: hello[at]madetomagnify[dot]com

The post Liturgical Lowdown: September appeared first on Lisa Cotter.

Friends, let’s be honest: It’s been a summer of scandal and crisis. There are so many things to sort through, so many emotions, and so many questions that remain. But one question, in particular, continues to linger: What are we supposed to do?

On today’s episode, hosts Kevin and Lisa Cotter give you 5 actions that you can take during this current crisis. Along the way, they’ll share their own reactions to what is happening and an amazing sign of God’s providence from their gender reveal party this last weekend.

SHOWNOTES

Join a Living Rosary: Fill out the Form. Still not sure what it is? This post explains the details.

Testimony of Bishop Carlo Maria Viganò

Fr. Mike’s Response to the Scandal

Connect with us!

Kevin: Twitter | Instagram

Lisa: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Email: hello[at]madetomagnify[dot]com

The post S4 Ep6: How-to Crisis appeared first on Lisa Cotter.

It’s been 6 weeks since we last podcasted because life has been full of transitions. In this informal episode, we update you on what we’ve been up to and address the recent Church scandals*. God-willing, we will get back into the swing of regular episodes next Monday!

*Please note, the last half of this episode and the below show note links are not appropriate for children.

SHOW NOTES

Homily by Fr. Brian Larkin on the seminary scandal

On Cardinal McCarrick – Pope Accepts Resignation of Cardinal McCarrick from College of Cardinals

The post Life Update appeared first on Lisa Cotter.

Welcome to the Liturgical Lowdown for the month of August! In this episode host, Lisa Cotter will be giving you insights, histories, and ideas on how to celebrate and integrate the liturgical life of the Catholic Church into your life this month.

SHOWNOTES

August’s Devotion: Immaculate Heart of Mary

Pope Francis’ Monthly Intention:  The Treasure of Families: That any far-reaching decisions of economists and politicians may protect the family as one of the treasures of humanity.

Feasts of Note:

August 1st – St. Alphonsus Liquori (memorial)

August 4th – St. John Vianney (memorial)

August 6th – Transfiguration (feast)

August 8th – St. Dominic (memorial)

August 9th – St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (optional memorial)

August 10th – St. Lawrence (feast)

August 11th – St. Clare (memorial)

August 14th – St. Maximillian Kolbe (memorial)

August 15th – Assumption (solemnity)

August 20th – St. Bernard of Clairvaux (memorial)

August 21st – St. Pius X

August 22nd – Queenship of Mary (memorial)

August 23rd – St. Rose of Lima (optional memorial)

August 24th – St. Bartholomew (feast)

August 27th – St. Monica (memorial)/August 28th – St. Augustine (memorial)

August 29th – Passion of St. John the Baptist (memorial)

Connect with us!

Kevin: Twitter | Instagram

Lisa: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Email: hello[at]madetomagnify[dot]com

The post Liturgical Lowdown: August appeared first on Lisa Cotter.