Raised Catholic

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 Pa...

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 Me...

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 Protesta...

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,...

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 la...

Today we're talking about blessings, the many varieties of them and the why, when, where, and who of blessings.  I hope these resources will help you to put language to the many ways you can bless people and the world in your every day.  God bless you! 1. The Blessings Archive from author and podcaster Kate Bowler - here you'll find blessings for lots of relatable circumstances 2. A Bles...

Today we're talking about blessings, the many varieties of them and the why, when, where, and who of blessings.  I hope these resources will help you to put language to the many ways you can bless people and the world in your every day.  God bless you! 1. The Blessings Archive from author and podcaster Kate Bowler - here you'll find blessings for lots of relatable circumstances 2. A Bles...

Today we're talking all about "church people" and the wide range of ways that church people are described and perceived today.  Here are some resources I hope will help you to no longer "go to church" but instead to "be church" both inside and outside of church walls. 1. the art I referenced from Scott Erickson (the chapel in an hourglass) on his Instagram account - follow Scott today! 2. Pod...

Today we're talking about the many ways and places to find God outside the walls of church. In upcoming episodes we'll explore how to encounter God within our own churches and churches of other denominations but for today, let's remember the BIGNESS of God and how we can find Him in nature, music, art, and people.  Here are some ways I'm finding God and some suggestions for you to find Him to...

Today we're talking about our Mother Mary.  Here are some resources I hope will help you to bring Mary down off of the statue and live in relationship with your Heavenly Mom who is crazy about you! Thanks so much to Peter Vaughan-Vail for the beautiful harp music you'll hear once again in this episode - I have finally figured out how to balance the audio and I'm so glad you can enjoy his musi...

Today we're exploring the reality of grace with a story about my pup, Bailey, and a perfect tuna sandwich. Here are some resources I hope will help you recognize how grace is moving in your one beautiful life. 1. Perfect Tuna Sandwich: half sandwich with chilled tuna, just a hint of mayo on good bread such as marble rye or sourdough.  Add crumbled feta, leafy lettuce or spinach, diced English...

In today's episode we're talking about something which has become so clear to me this past week: we have reached an inflection point for the Church in America. If you have complicated feelings about church right now, this episode is for you.  Here are some voices I trust that are naming the current time we're in as American Christians, and some voices that are calling out in the wilderness to...

As we enter into this Holy Week, we're contemplating the story of how a perfect Savior took on the penalty for our sin in order to reconcile us to God. Today we're talking about the reality of sin, and how looking at our sin honestly can be an unlikely door to personally experiencing the great mercy of God. Here are some resources I hope will help you draw close to Jesus this week: 1. If you'd lik...

Next week we'll return to some faith re-building topics such as sin, grace, and ecumenism but before we enter into the story of Jesus's death and resurrection this Triduum, let's take a look at our own stories, the below-the-surface things that we and God are writing together in the story of our souls. Here are some resources I hope will help you to know and understand your own story, and some tha...

Today we're taking a step back and considering just what we're building, as we consider our faith lives and our post-COVID lives. Here are some resources I hope will help as you consider this question for yourselves. Connect with me on Instagram or on my blog to engage with me on this topic.  1. Bob Vila explains what a plumb line is and what it's for (for those of you who, like me, did not p...

Today we're talking about what to do in our faith lives when our real lives get hard.  No answers or solutions here, but a few truths I've learned in my own deep water experiences. If you're in one right now, please know YOU ARE LOVED. I hope these are helpful, friend. 1. The Problem of Pain , by C.S. Lewis 2. Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I've Loved), by Kate Bowler 3. Podc...

Today we're considering blooming in the frame of our vocational life and how the search for holy ground often begins right under our feet. Here are some resources I hope will help you consider your own blooming life: 1. When it comes to our vocations, do we each have a destiny or are we all floating around accidental-like on a breeze? Spiritual teacher Forrest Gump reminds us: maybe it's both . (E...

Today we're looking at Lenten disciplines with an eye toward the growth of what we want to see in the end - in ourselves, our families, our church, community, country and world.  And we're giving ourselves space for light and hope in this liturgical season which literally means 'springtime'.  Here are some resources I hope will make your Lent more encouraging and fruitful: 1. Helpful, gr...

Today we're talking about what it means for Catholics to discover and cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus.  Here are some resources I hope will help you do just that! Thanks once again to my friend Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing the beautiful harp music you'll hear in today's episode. 1. The Jesus I Never Knew , by Philip Yancey 2. Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion , by Sara Mi...

Today I'll tell the story of my loveably anxious pup, Bailey, and the many lessons we can learn from a recent walk she and I took together.  Here are some resources I hope will help you to view your one beautiful life with the particular frame of a walk with your kind and faithful Companion: 1. Learning to Walk in the Dark , by Barbara Brown Taylor 2. Hinds Feet on High Places , by Hannah Hur...

In today's episode we're talking about the seemingly opposite practices of being versus doing as it relates to our faith lives.  If you always thought Martha got a raw deal, this might be a great episode for you!  Here are a few ideas to help you find and gain stillness, pondering, and receptivity in your experience of faith. Thanks again to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing th...

Today we're talking about the relationship Catholics may have traditionally had with the Bible, and the many ways we can engage with it today.  Here are some resources I hope will help!  If you'd like to chat further on this topic, you can find me on Instagram or at my blog . I'd love to hear from you, and thanks again to my talented friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing the beautiful...

In today's episode we talk about the need for quiet in developing our relationship with God.  Here are a few resources that might help you do just that. 1. Daily Devotionals, a great way to start the day in quiet:  Jesus Calling , by Sarah Young Let Your Life Speak , by Parker Palmer 2. Quiet music to help you connect with God.  Choose what speaks to you, but here are a few of my fa...

Today we’re continuing the process of rebuilding our faith foundation by tackling the question of whether or when or how to question elements of our faith’s teachings, clergy, what we hear or see in Catholic media, and even God Himself. Is it okay to question? Here are some resources and practices I hope will help as you dig deeper into this topic:  1. Open up that “Conversations with God” no...

Today we introduce the impossibly big question of Who God Is. I’m grateful to my friend Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing beautiful music for today and upcoming podcasts, and here are some resources I hope will help you explore today's topic. These are available everywhere including libraries and free streaming sources, but I've included a link from Amazon if that helps you find them.  The Chr...