Polycarp's Paradigm

Do Catholics need to evangelize Protestants? If Protestants already follow Jesus, why would we need to share Jesus with them? Shouldn't we focus on reaching out to non-Christians? In this episode I cover these questions and give 8 reasons why evangelizing Protestants is a joy, duty, and privilege for Catholics.

Pat and Eric grill each other with spontaneous questions yet again. In this episode we talk about weird Catholic traditions, Confession, Indulgences, the Papacy, the relationship of Philosophy and Theology, and minimum spiritual practices we recommend on a daily basis. Enjoy!

Some are vulnerable to the coronavirus and cannot yet come back to Mass, others have grown complacent and content themselves with private prayer or live-streaming Mass when they could come back to Mass. Why ought Catholics come back to Mass? Fr. Zach Burns helps us explore the power, glory, and necessity of receiving the Eucharist!

Fr. Zach's homily: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=343701180009566&extid=m403tlcRAoTOr50W

Saints inspire us to follow Christ more closely, to know Christ more intimately, and to encounter Christ more profoundly. In this episode Pat and I share the stories of these six saints:

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), St. Ambrose (340-397), St. Augustine (354-430), St. Gemma Galgani (1878-1903), St. Padre Pio (1887-1968), St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231).

Book Recommendations: "When the Church was Young: Voices of the Early Fathers" by Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio "Saints who Battled Satan" by Dr. Paul Thigpen

Mick Murray is the author of "The Father's Heart: Knowing the God of the Bible as Father." He is a protestant pastor from Antioch Community Church in Waco. I met him 9 years ago when I was still protestant and did their discipleship training school. In this episode, we talk about the character of God based on Mick's new book. Mick does a great job of sharing personal stories that correspond with how the Bible speaks of God as a Father. Though we disagree on some theological points, the overall theme of the book is something Protestants and Catholics have in common: God the Father loves you!

Link to Mick's book: https://www.amazon.com/Fathers-Heart-Knowing-Bible-Father/dp/B0841Z1LGF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+father%27s+heart&qid=1598394855&sr=8-1

St. Joseph is the Terror of Demons, the Pillar of Families, the Most Chaste Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Patron of the Universal Church, and the Virginal Earthly Father of Jesus Christ. Fr. Don Calloway has written an extraordinary book that presents the Silent Witness of St. Joseph in a whole new light and beckons us to make a consecration to St. Joseph. Now is the time of St. Joseph! Here are the links to Fr. Calloway's work:

Fr. Don Calloway was such a rebellious teenager that he got kicked out of Japan for stealing and drug trafficking with the Japanese mafia. Now he's a Catholic priest on fire for the faith. Hear his journey in this episode. In part 2 (next episode), we will go over his new book, "Consecration to Saint Joseph." Here are the links to his work:

Pat and Eric "grill" each other with questions, both personal and political, philosophical and theological. We talk about evolution, the Assumption of Mary, Trump vs. Biden, other political issues, abortion, epistemology, and the hardest thing about being Christian.

Can people from other religions be saved? If faith in Christ and Baptism are necessary for salvation, then what about those who have never heard the Gospel or been baptized? We are only saved by Jesus and through his life, death, and Resurrection, but can God work outside of the normal means of the sacraments to allow others to enter into the mystery of Christ without an explicit faith in Christ? If others can be saved, then why evangelize?

Church documents referenced:

Lumen Gentium : https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

Dominus Iesus : http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html

Nostra Aetate : https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html

Lots of thoughts floating around in Pat and Eric's minds these days. Together we explore current reflections on the concept of Tradition, Predestination, Morality, the Atonement, and a bit more.