Once again, Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug open up the mail bag in the Luxurious Corner Booth of The Catholic Cafe! Join them as they help a listener who wants to know what the Catholic Church can offer those who are only nominal Catholics, but have an intense desire to know more about what the Church teaches…and thereby grow in their faith.
Category «Living the Catholic Life»
Being Child-like
What did Jesus REALLY mean when he told us that unless we turn and become like children we could not enter the kingdom of heaven? Didn’t St. Paul tell us to “put away childish things?” Even the world would have our children grow up sooner and sooner. Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug as they ponder the words of Jesus and explore ways in which we can all re-capture our child-like qualities.
Advent
Sometimes, I wonder if the season of Advent is one of the best kept secrets of the Church’s liturgical year. Our commercial culture has taught us to skip right from Halloween (All Hallows Eve) to Christmas. And yet, the Church asks us to pause and spend a significant time (in fact, a season) to reflect on the coming – the advent – of the Lord. Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug as they ponder the meaning of this very important opportunity to “prepare the way.”
Lone Catholic
Meet Annemarie from the Netherlands. She is 24 years old and a “lone” Catholic in her family, amongst her friends and even in her parish. Annemarie is not the only one who feels this way. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they discuss her email from Holland and try and offer some advice, guidance and comfort in her situation.
Parental Example
How do I get my kids to love Church? How do I get them to follow her teachings? Why don’t they go to Mass anymore? More and more frequently, these are the questions many, many parents are asking themselves. Interestingly, the answer can be quite simple…but you really need to start when they’re young. Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug in the Luxurious Corner Booth to find out what you can do as a parent to strengthen and lengthen your childrens’ faith lives.
Coming Back Home
We all know someone who has left the Church. Maybe our child, or another family member. Maybe our close friend or a dear co-worker. Maybe even you have drifted away from the sacraments. Did you ever stop and think about why, or what caused the “drift” and what we can do about it? Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug as they explore the story of a recent family of “reverts” and try and shed a little light on the topic of coming back home to the Catholic Church.
Losing Grace
Did you ever wonder if we were able – once we had accepted it – to lose God’s grace? Or, to lose salvation? Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they discuss the ins and outs of grace, free will and the permanence of salvation.
Suffering With Christ
When St Paul tells the Colossians that in his flesh, he is “completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions,” we might wonder what he could have meant. Didn’t Christ do it all? What could possibly be lacking in Christ’s salvific act on the Cross? Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they discuss the important role Christ asks each of us to play in the Father’s plan of Salvation.
Spiritual To-Do Lists
Have you ever wondered if the spiritual goals you may have set for yourself can be problematic? Are you concerned with how many Rosaries you’ve prayed, or how many hours of Adoration you’ve accomplished, or how many Masses you attend weekly? Sometimes we can get caught up in the numbers game and lose sight of the real “big” picture…growing in holiness. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom as they welcome a new member of the team, Doug Grokulsky, to the Luxurious Corner Booth to discuss the potential problems of spiritual to-do lists.
Intercession
Why is the concept of “intercession” so important to the Catholic Church? What does it mean for us? How do we do it? Where did it come from? Who did it first? Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as we answer these and many other questions about the significance of praying for others and interceding on their behalf.