This week Bobby and Katie continue their discussion on Catholicism in modern culture.  They go back and forth between TV, movies, music, and books and discuss ways to find Catholic teaching within them.  The best question to ask:  is this cultivating more vice or virtue within me?

The Catholic Couple Email: [email protected]

Show notes from discussion:

• Down To Earth with Zac Efron https://www.netflix.com/title/80230601
• The Splendid and the Vile https://www.amazon.com/Splendid-Vile-Churchill-Family-Defiance-ebook/dp/B07TRVW6VX
• Blog mentioned: https://catholicallyear.com/blog/good-omens-and-lucifer-are-both-wrong-about-angels-and-devils-but-one-of-them-is-is-also-wrong-about-god-and-human-beings/
• humanprogress.org

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We're back!  After a few months of travel and family time, Bobby and Katie recap their time together and attempt to touch on some things going on in pop culture.  Katie thought she was going to play a game....but Bobby had something different in mind!

Show notes:

• https://www.citymuseum.org/
• Good News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dale-schroeder-iowa-man-used-secret-fortune-to-send-strangers-to-college-2019-07-24/
• We the Kingdom "Don't Tread on Me" https://youtu.be/9dowS2k2TS4 and "Holy Water" https://youtu.be/l0xhhG1Hyos
• https://www.dreamsresorts.com/en_us/resorts/mexico/riviera-cancun.html

The Catholic Couple Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of The Catholic Couple, Bobby and Katie discuss their first attempt at holding a "marriage meeting" inspired by the book Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love: 30 Minutes a Week to the Relationship You've Always Wanted by Marcia Naomi Berger (link to the book below).

The Catholic Couple Email: [email protected]

The meeting agenda from the book:
1.  Showing Appreciation (within the last week)
2.  Discuss domestic economy/household chores/daily life issues
3.  Planning for good times
4.  Resolving big issues

aaaand then we put some Jesus into it:

1.  Pray over the meeting
2.  Showing Appreciation (within the last week)
3.  Discuss domestic economy/household chores/daily life issues
4.  Planning for good times
5.  Resolving big issues
6.  Spouses spontaneously pray over one another individually

Show notes:
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Meetings-Lasting-Love-Relationship/dp/1608682234
Podcast interview with the author: https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/podcast-611-how-a-weekly-marriage-meeting-can-strengthen-your-relationship/

Other books and websites mentioned:
Jesus Shock: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Shock-Peter-Kreeft/dp/1937509176/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jesus+shock&qid=1590726210&s=books&sr=1-1

Fortitude: https://www.amazon.com/Fortitude-American-Resilience-Era-Outrage/dp/1538733307/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=krenshaw&qid=1590726336&s=books&sr=1-1

Thrift Books: https://www.thriftbooks.com/

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This week Bobby and Katie tackle the broad topic of prayer.  Jesus says when you pray...assuming we will...but sometimes it isn't easy and sometimes can be dry.  Prayer is a relationship and is as simple as "talking to God"--which is actually how their 7 year old, Avery describes it when she crashes the podcast!

Show notes:

• 3 S’s - Silence, Solitude, and Slowing down
• Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner,"
• ACTS: Adoration- sets the tone for the entire prayer, it reminds us who we are addressing and whose presence we’ve entered into.  Slow down and focus our attention on God. As we list his attributes and lift up his character we reinforce our understanding of who He is. Psalms are full of praise--those are good ways to do that.  Psalm 8, 19, 23, 100, and the Magnificat is also great adoration prayers.
  Confession/Contrition-God came for the sinners and not the righteous.  First we have to except and declare that we are sinners and that we fail to do what is right a lot of the time.
  Thanksgiving- Give thanks in all things...victim-hood and no sense of gratitude makes for bitterness. Luke 17:11.
  Supplication- Requests. Philippians 4:6 In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 
• Matthew Kelly/Dynamic Catholic Prayer Process
  The seven steps of The Prayer Process are as follows:
  1. Gratitude: Begin by thanking God in a personal dialogue for whatever you are most grateful for today.
  2.  Awareness: Revisit the times of the past twenty-four hours when you were and were not the-best-version-of-yourself. Talk to God about these situations and what you learned from them.
  3. Significant Moments: Identify something you experienced today and explore what God might be trying to say to you through that event (or person).
  4.  Peace: Ask God to forgive you for any wrong you have committed (against yourself, another person, or Him) and to fill you with a deep and abiding peace.
  5.  Freedom: Speak with God about how he is inviting you to change your life, so that you can experience the freedom to be the-best-version-of-yourself.
  6.  Others: Lift up to God anyone you feel called to pray for today, asking God to bless and guide them.
  7.  Finish by praying the Our Father.
• Pope Francis' Five Finger Prayer
  Using the fingers on your hand, start with the thumb and pray these intentions in this order:
  1.) The thumb is closest finger to you. So start praying for those who are closest to you. They are the persons easiest to remember. To pray for our dear ones is a "Sweet Obligation."
  2.) The next finger is the index. Pray for those who teach you, instruct you and heal you. They need the support and wisdom to show direction to others. Always keep them in your prayers. 
  3.) The following finger is the tallest. It reminds us of our leaders, the governors and those who have authority. They need God's guidance. 
  4.) The fourth finger is the ring finger. Even though it may surprise you, it is our weakest finger. It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick or those plagued by problems. They need your prayers. 
  5.) And finally we have our smallest finger, the smallest of all. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four groups, you will be able to see your own needs but in the proper perspective, and also you will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way
• Authors discussed were Dr. Peter Kreeft and Dr. Scott Hahn
  
  
• Catholic Couple email: [email protected]

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In this episode, Bobby and Katie discuss how the quarantine is affecting our kids.

Topics include:

• The new Chosen series
• The Alpha Program (for more information go to https://alphausa.org)
• Child-like with Christ
• How our kids are processing what is happening
• How it is affecting high school students, especially seniors
• Lifting soon?? What then?
• Good News stories!

Show notes:
New show email: [email protected] 
Email us with feedback or topics you would like to discuss!!

Peace Prayer: Your peace is in my heart, O Lord, Your peace is on my mind.  Please help me spread this peace around by being loving, true, and kind.  I try my best in all I do, in who I'm called to be, and remember that I'm to treat others the way I want them to treat me.  

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Before you skip this one....Bobby and Katie go over the benefits of fasting both spiritually as well as physically, not just with fasting from food, but also fasting from the things in our lives that might want to pull us away from becoming our best selves.

Some points addressed:

• Spiritual Fasting
• Discipline=Freedom (yeah, seriously...just listen to the show and see)
• Who's the Boss?  Me? or My Body?
• Fasting fosters humility, solidarity with those in need, and reveals our need for God
• Intermittent Fasting: Katie has been practicing it for 2 years and actually fails to mention she has lost over 30 pounds!!
• Reminder: (since we even forgot to mention) Jesus said that one kind of demon does not go out except through prayer and fasting!  (Matthew 17: 21)
• Don't forget to subscribe and give us that 5 star!!

Fasting app:  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zero-fasting-tracker/id1168348542
Fasting Book: https://www.amazon.com/Delay-Dont-Deny-Intermittent-Lifestyle/dp/1541325842
Fasting Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intermittent-fasting-podcast/id1228755008

Beyond The Beacon
Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out our faith!

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This episode we discuss strategies to "cope" and flourish in this weird time.  

Topics:

• ACTS
• Discipline
• Importance of Silence/Solitude
• Home Fitness
• Less News=More Sanity!
• Staying in touch--without touching (ZOOM/House Party)
• Small Businesses
• How bout these crazy Netlfix shows?
• Telling people why you love and appreciate them
• How about we just talk to each other?
• That Baby Boom, though (y'all know it's happening)
• Creating and Building with the kids
• This too will pass!
• ...Aaaand the good news is....

Businesses mentioned:
Don Pedro's, Calumet City, Illinois
Sugar and Sparkle by Brittany Marie  **called Sparkle and Shine mistakenly**
18th Street Brewery, Hammond Indiana

Websites referenced:
Some Good News with John Krasinski  https://youtu.be/F5pgG1M_h_U

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-brewery-hand-sanitizer-st-0326-20200327-4z7bxrxv4rabrblbibznwm7exq-story.html

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2020/3/30/21200708/abc-espn-moving-up-bulls-documentary-release-last-dance-michael-jordan-april-19

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/portage-teachers-bring-parade-to-students-stuck-at-home-amid-covid-19-crisis/article_eb46606d-b17d-5d25-9118-94672354deea.html

Beyond The Beacon
Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out our faith!

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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Purposelycatholic.com

General introductions about who we are and why we started this podcast!

Topics covered:

• Our goal to have fun with faith, family, and friends!
• Bob's conversion story
• How we are handling the quaratine and the Corona virus outbreak
• Good news stories
• Understanding suffering and the greater good

Beyond The Beacon
Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out our faith!

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

https://linktr.ee/bobbyfred85

Purposelycatholic.com