On The Road To Perfection

After going over their Frustrations With The Church in an earlier episode, Beth and Kristofer now explain Solidarity With The Church.

What exactly does that mean?

How can we know if we are in solidarity with the Church?

Beth and Kristofer dive into the relationship we should have with the Church and by extension our relationship to and with Jesus.

Unity with the Magisterium is important and Job One at Holy Owned and Operated and in the Cowles Family.

So how do we reconcile those frustrations with solidarity?

It's all about Family...

As a bonus, you get to hear our new washing machine and dryer, and Kristofer sings a thirty year old commercial for a local appliance store.

Fun stuff!

With a great sigh of relief and near shouts of joy, we share a wonderful discovery:

What we have been practicing for decades, talking about in the last 130 episodes, and teaching for years actually works for others, too!

This discovery - and edification - comes after spending a recent weekend with two listeners (and HOO supporters), and their children.

Encountering and experiencing Betty and Archie's Catholic faith in action and infused in their parenting, daily living, and lifestyle,

The Boyz and we saw it in full effect in a family and situation very different from ours.

But the universality of the Catholic faith, honestly and purposefully practiced - still works!

It produces the same results that we have worked hard for in our family, applied to a vastly different situation.

Nonetheless...

Starting with the God-given right we have as outlined in Canon Law, in this delicate topic,

Beth and Kristofer discuss their frustrations with the Church, from the misuse of liturgy to the administration of the Church.

But this is not a gripe session on this rainy and windy day; they explain the canon law, historical, pastoral and liturgical context behind their beefs and want to help us be more aware of what might be going on at our own parish.

Kristofer breaks down what is the source of the failures of the Church Militant, while Beth goes into detail on who should be administrating the parish itself.

It was a windy day; we are solving the problems it creates in our audio quality.

In the day-to-day struggles of raising a family, let alone a holy family, and living in a sinful world, we have to Rely On The Holy Family for support and guidance.

But how often do we think of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary together as the basic unit of society - a family?

Beth and Kristofer share insights into how they relate with and rely on the Holy Family and what the importance of The Holy Family is in our lives raising children and taking care of a family.

Kristofer opens up and shares a lot about his relationship with Joseph, which will be useful for Husbands and Dads.

How do we take kids to Mass after they have achieved the Age of Reason; after they've received First Communion?

Beth and Kristofer talk about how to help our newly enlightened children better understand the Mass.

They talk about their own trials and errors and explain the need and importance of taking these children to Mass.

This episode fits with the episodes from early in our production that addressed younger children and teenagers at Mass, and how to approach those situations.

Sorry we left out the middle child for so long!

The season of giving is here.

And where there is giving, there is getting, so how do we Give Back?

Beth and Kristofer reflect on this topic in both a material and spiritual sense in this episode right before The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

They discuss the importance of humility and gratitude during this season and offer insights into how you can have a Happy Christmas!

What are spiritual readings? What is spiritual reading?

Beth and Kristofer discuss the purpose and reason why we should read spiritual books.

They talk about their experiences with spiritual reading, how it has affected them, and why it is important for all of us to read spiritual books.

And they offer some suggestions on what to read.

What is the Immaculate Conception?

Or, more specifically, who is the Immaculate Conception?

In this podcast Beth and Kristofer explain this dogma and correct any misunderstandings about this Holy Day of Obligation.

They detail the reasoning and understanding behind The Immaculate Conception, as well as why it really matters to understand it and how it points to God's great grace!

Also, enjoy some fun decision making that usually goes on before the podcast starts!

The sacred role of women in the Church goes back to the time before Jesus came to Earth - way before!

In this episode, we talk about that - after a short disclaimer from my lovely bride - and how there is an important significance to women being in the Church and the role they play in salvation history.

We claim that the first Catholic was Mary (a woman, BTW!), and share who "the first Apostle" was, as well as "the Apostle to the Apostles" - both women!

But it is way more than a title, and these women were not ordained by Jesus as were the Twelve - which is significant, and a true blessing for women and the Church!

And, yes, we answer THAT question, along with the question of why women are integral to the survival and thriving of the Church.

And I get a little snippy about men and how they handle their responsibilities in the Church.

But what's new?  -Kristofer

One man's vulgarity is another man's lyric.

So says the Supreme Court of the United States, and, coming from that secular view, I begin with the answer that, "Yes, some music is bad."

But there's a BIG but - and we're not talking Bobby Jimmy and the Crickets!

Though this topic is right up my alley, DJ Duck doesn't go too far down that road, but Beth and I use that as a springboard to talk about why some music is bad, while that same music is good.

Huh?

While some music may not be art in the ear of the beholder, where does music - and lyrics - lead us? -Kristofer