Raised Catholic

In today's episode we're exploring some practices which may seem a bit 'out of the box' or even a little scary for some cradle Catholics: yoga, meditation, and the enneagram.  I'll talk about my own experience, how these practices have enriched my Catholic Christian faith, and about how we can approach and discern new ideas or practices in our life of faith.  Here are some resources I hope will help! Find me on Instagram or on my blog to connect on this topic.

1. Book: The Road Back to You, by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile, a good introduction on the enneagram

2. Podcast: That Sounds Fun - for the last three summers, Annie F. Downs has hosted her 'Enneasummer' series, deep dives into each number on individual episodes. I highly recommend checking those out!

3. Podcast: Typology with Ian Cron (enneagram)

4. Highly recommend a wide range of free online yoga classes from Yoga with Adrienne

5. Calm - an app/website for meditation

6. Instagram follow: Cory Muscara, former monk and mindfulness speaker/podcaster/author

7. Four helpful questions while discerning a practice (or anything), a video from Fr. Mike Schmitz and Ascension Presents

8. Book: God's Voice Within: The Ignatian Way to Discover God's Will, by Mark Thibodeaux, SJ and James Martin, SJ

9. Journal Prompts:

Is there an area of my life, mind, or body that needs restoration or support right now? 

Who are trusted friends that might have experience with a new practice I'm considering?  What questions could I ask them?

10. Instagram follow: Allyson Huval: Interfaith yoga from a Catholic perspective

Today we're talking all about saints, who they are, some of my favorites, how we can be saints, and about some of the process of the canonization of saints.  I hope this episode helps you to identify and to get to know your Heavenly friends and how they help and inspire us, until the day when we meet them face to face. Here are some resources I hope will help you explore this topic in a deeper way:

1. The Message translation of Hebrews 12, encouragement from the saints with a different spin

2. Book: 365 Saints: Your Daily Guide to the Wisdom and Wonder of their Lives

3. Journal Prompts:

What has been my experience of saints in my life from childhood to adulthood?

How did I choose my Confirmation saint's name?  What can I learn about their lives now that might help me in my own journey?

Is there a saint who I feel close to me?  How did I *meet* them and how do they help?

4. Podcast: Everyday Saints - short episodes describing the life and inspiration of individual saints

5. Video: What is Stopping You From Becoming a Saint?, by Fr. Mike Schmitz and Ascension Presents

6. Video: All Saints Day Pep Talk, by Fr. Mike Schmitz and Ascension Presents

7. Song: When the Saints Go Marchin In, by Louis Armstrong

8. Song: Saints out of Sailors, by Flannel Graph

9. Song: When the Saints, by Sara Groves

Today we're leaning a bit toward the philosophical with the question of what faith really is.  Is it a list of teachings or practices?  A way to be a better person or a better-than-other-people person?  We'll get into some metaphors of what faith is and is not, and I hope these resources are helpful as you figure out faith for yourself.

1. My Brother's Keeper: the faithful organization I mention in today's episode

2. Song: King of My Heart, by Amanda Lindsey Cook

3. Walking with Jesus: A Way Forward for the Church, by Pope Francis

4. Lyric Video, great for meditation: The Voyage, by Amanda Lindsey Cook

5. Journal prompts: 

Where in my life has my faith served as anchor, sail, home, road, or lens? 

What does it mean to me to be in relationship with God?

6. Song: The Detour, by FAITHFUL

7. Song: Bridge, by Ellie Holcomb

8. A Biblical discussion of what faith is from the Book of Hebrews

On today's episode we're remembering in gratitude the people who have been light bearers in our lives, the ones who showed us Jesus by their presence, care, words and actions.  As we consider them, may we be inspired to be salt and light in our world as well!  Here are some resources that I hope will help you explore this topic in more depth:

1. Journal Prompt: As I look back on my life, who has shown me Jesus by their presence, care, words and actions? How can I thank them today and how does their example impact that the way I live my life?

2. Song: May You Find a Light by The Brilliance

3. Song: This Little Light of Mine, by Ladysmith Black Mambazo

4. Song: Wonder (Spontaneous), by Bethel Music and Amanda Lindsey Cook

5. Salt and Light: words from Jesus from the Book of Matthew

6. Song: Salt & Light, by Lauren Daigle

7. Devotional: The One Year Salt and Light Devotional: 365 Inspirations to Equip and Encourage You to Live Out Your Calling in the World

8. Book: Chasing Vines, by Beth Moore

9. Prayer Practice: take the time to be still and to light a candle when you pray - ask the Holy Spirit to be present with you and to help you discover His presence within so that you can experience His grace and carry it out to a waiting world

10. Lyric Video: My Lighthouse, by Rend Collective

11. Podcast: The Joycast with Margaret Feinberg.  This episode explores the spiritual significance of salt.

12: Book: Taste and See, by Margaret Feinberg

13. Video: Beautiful images of sunrise and sunsets.  Use this in devotional time as you consider the spiritual reality of light.

In the wake of this week's overwhelming decision by the USCCB to pursue a document on the Eucharist which may include guidelines for reception by Catholic public officials, our conversation this week is a primer on the Eucharist: what it is, its value and history, and precisely what Jesus had to say about both it and the priesthood as He instituted both on Holy Thursday. I hope these resources are helpful to you!  If you need me, you can find me on Instagram or on my blog - I hope to connect with you on this important topic! 

What Jesus had to say:

1. Last Supper narrative from the Book of Matthew

2. Last Supper narrative from the Book of Mark

3. Last Supper narrative from the Book of Luke

4. Last Supper narrative from the Book of John

Coverage of the Bishops' decision:

5. from The Week

6. from America Magazine

7. from National Catholic Reporter

Words from clergy:

8. from Fr. John Unni in his homily this past week at St. Cecilia's Boston

9. from Pope Francis from his homily this year celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

10. from Pope Francis on this topic from St. Peter's Square

11. 'I Am The Bread of Life' discourse from Jesus on the Road to Emmaus

12. On Holy See envoy Archbishop Pierre's words to the conference of bishops by Gabe Lewis from Where Peter Is: loving challenges about the Christian way of encounter and dialogue, and whether the church is meeting the true needs of the people at this time

13. Eat This Bread: A Radical Conversion, by Sara Miles

14. Rachel Held Evans on communion - whose table is it? 

Today we're talking about the sign of peace, its origins, and how it's a movement of real grace from God to and through each other, person to person, light to light as though we're human candles.  It's not an empty gesture of greeting, and understanding its importance may be a key for our church to move forward in this challenging time. 

1. Consider the Lilies, the great message from Paul Bergin I referenced that we heard at the Belonging Co. Church in Nashville

2. Mother Teresa reads the Prayer of St. Francis in her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech 

3. Signs of Peace: The Interfaith Letters of Thomas Merton, by William Apel

4. The Importance of the Sign of Peace, a short video from Catholic News Service featuring Fr. William T. Cocco

5. Song: Prayer of St. Francis, by Simon de Voil

6. Song: Peace, Be Still, by Lauren Daigle and The Belonging Co.

7. Song: Kind, by Amanda Lindsey Cook

8. Song: Love One Another, by Luacine Clark Fox & The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

9. Song: Love One Another/Child of God, by Brigham Welch and Michael Hardey

10. Song: Let There Be Peace on Earth, by The Boys Choir of Harlem

Today we're exploring the challenging topic of Christian nationalism; learning about what it is, the danger of it in the future of our church, and how to discern when this political philosophy is taking the place of our theology.

1. Christians Against Christian Nationalism

2. Where Peter Is, a group of Catholic writers working to re-center our faith back to our authentic teachings

3. From Here Media, a Catholic faith endeavor which seeks to honor our human stories grounded in authentic faith teaching

4. Common Horizon, a print publication dedicated to the exploration of the seven Catholic Social Teachings

5. The Dangers of Christian Nationalism in the United States: A Policy Statement from the National Council of Churches

6. Upside Down Podcast: Unscripted Conversations on Spirituality, Culture and God's Upside Down Kingdom

7. The Way of Jesus, a talk by Rachel Held Evans

8. Podcast: That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs and Francis Chan

Today we're talking about Christian ecumenism, the work of unity within and between denominations in our one dysfunctional Christian family.  I don't know where I'd be today without the insight, leading, wisdom and friendship of my Protestant sisters and brothers and hope you find these resources helpful as well.

1. If you were born and raised Catholic but have not read much from our Protestant sisters and brothers, please let me recommend:

Beth Moore, C.S. Lewis, Emily P. Freeman, Barbara Brown Taylor, Rachel Held Evans, Sarah Bessey, Anne Lamott, Peter Gomes

2. If you were born and raised Protestant but have not read much from our Catholic sisters and brothers, please let me recommend:

Henri Nouwen, Fr. James Martin, Helen Prejean, Fr. Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton, Flannery O'Connor

3. Journal Prompts:

What are some relationships and experiences in my past which may have colored how I view Christians from other denominations?

Who is a Christian of another denomination who I see working in my community for the greater good?

What aspects of God's personality can be found in my denomination?  What might I discover about Him from another church experience?

Do I have any fears around relationship with or participation in another denomination's faith practice?  From where did those fears come?

How big is God?

How could we better welcome others into our faith community or practice?

4. Song: God is Love, by Ginny Owens

5. Pilgrimage: Visit a church of a differing denomination, experience their tradition and worship God together.

6. Podcast: Abiding Together - The Power of Christian Unity featuring musician Matt Maher

7. Song: Hold Us Together, by Matt Maher

8. Song: The Voyage, by Amanda Lindsey Cook

9. Song: We Are Family, by Sister Sledge

Have you ever had a word, phrase or song come to you on multiple occasions over a short period of time?  When this happens to me, I know the Holy Spirit is working and I try to pay attention! This week, the word was 'season' and in this episode I'm modeling a prayer practice in which I focus and prayerfully research/discern spiritual meaning from that particular word.  Believe it or not, the word 'season' has much to teach us!  I hope these resources are helpful to you in your journey.

1. The amazing recipe I reference in the episode that I tried during ramp season - substitute ramps for the yellow onions, use fresh spinach if you can, and BE AMAZED.

2. The reading from Ecclesiastes I reference in the episode: a time and a season for everything under Heaven

3. Journal prompts: 

What season do I find myself in today, in life, work, relationship, parenting, etc.  What does this season have to teach me?

What season do I most look forward to? Tulip season? Football season? The start of school?  What does this season reveal about the way God is at work in my life?

What can I count on when it comes to the seasons?  Do I rely on or find comfort in the aspects or the rhythm of a season?

Knowing that a season can last much longer than a few months, what's the hardest season of life you've endured and what did you learn from it?

4. The 'Salt and Light' discourse from Jesus in the Book of Matthew

5. Song: Turn, Turn, Turn

6. One more ramp recipe: spaghetti & ramps - try this one if you love parmesan and lemon! 

7. Find lots more writing on the use of metaphor to experience God in daily life over at my blog, My Little Epiphanies.

8. Stop by to share your favorite or hardest season with me on Instagram

9. Wisdom from my Mom about literally any season you may find yourself in: This Too Shall Pass <3

As always, I am most grateful to my friend Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing the lovely harp music you hear in each episode.

Today we're talking about faith deconstruction, the basics and the particular applications for Catholics who are deconstructing both inside and outside of church walls.  I hope these resources are a help to you as you grow deeper in faith.  Be not afraid!

1. Whoa, this episode of That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs and Tim Timmonds blew my mind! Beautiful new thinking about prayer and language to describe and encourage our relationship with Jesus who is so very present to us right now, just as we are.  Please give this episode a listen!

2. This episode of Human Hope with Carlos Whittaker and Ruthie Lindsey is a great lens into the depth of relationship, trust and faith that can come from a season of deconstruction.  I bet you'll want to be friends with both Carlos and Ruthie after this conversation is done. 

3. Podcast: Evolving Faith

4. Searching for Sunday, by Rachel Held Evans Falling Upward, by Fr. Richard Rohr Faith After Doubt, by Brian McLaren Out of Sorts, by Sarah Bessey

5. Emily P. Freeman breaks down the process of finding a spiritual director in this great episode of The Next Right Thing - check out her show notes for lots of details and help, too! 

6. Searchable database with helpful filters to help you find the spiritual director that's right for you

7. Good advice from Kimberly Pelletier in Christianity Today on how best to support a loved one who is deconstructing faith. 

8. Catholic voices on Twitter I recommend: Reily Cosgrove, Fr. James Martin, Michael Bayer, Jeannie Gaffigan, Brian Fraga, Fr. Chris Smith, Fr. Casey, OFM, Mike Lewis, Melinda Ribnek - I'll recommend lots of IG follows next week!

9. Where Peter Is: an online space for Catholics

10. If I can be of help on this topic, find me on Instagram or on my blog, would be happy to try to direct you to good resources or offer a word of encouragement!