Raised Catholic

Hi friends, I haven't recorded all of these Lenten reflections, but this one was asking to be read. I hope it's a blessing to you. I continue to hold you in prayer this Lent. _____________________________________________ As you'll hear in the episode, I'm taking a break from the podcast for Lent, but you can catch up with all of my older episodes and writing at my website, kerrycampbell.org, ⁠please subscribe while you're there⁠ so we can stay in touch and you can receive my written short Lenten reflections and my new monthly newsletter in your inbox. If you'd like to connect with me, ⁠find me on Instagram⁠ or ⁠at my website⁠.  If you'd like to ⁠help support this podcast financially⁠, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me ⁠on my page at buymeacoffee.com⁠! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode. Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Moonrise scene from Joe Versus the Volcano

Hi friends, this week I'm bringing you an episode from last year, episode 65: Slow Lent, primarily because it includes one of my very favorite prayers on this St. Patrick's Day, the Breastplate of St. Patrick. :) I hope it's a blessing to you, and hope you're having a fruitful Lent.  Today we explore the importance of slowing down, especially in this year's Lent, of leaning on the scaffolding of faith we gained from previous generations, and of ancient prayers and practices.  I hope it's a blessing to you as you move through your Lent. May the road rise up to meet you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Relay - blog post of my process of finding my word for 2022 2. Podcast: The Examen with Fr. James Martin, SJ 3. Lectio Divina: A Beginner's Guide from Busted Halo 4. Video: The Deer's Cry, sung by Rita Connolly and Curtlestown Choir 5. Video: Irish Blessing 6. Breath Prayers for Anxious Times, from Sarah Bessey 7. Song for contemplation: Ave, verum Corpus, Mozart, performed by The Sixteen 8. Recorded rosaries with Fr. Frank McFarland from Boston Catholic Television 9. Journal questions: Who was a faithful person in my history and memory?  What prayers/practices did they use?  How can I make a spiritual discipline more a part of my everyday routine?  What time of day would be the best time for me to pray? 10. Song: I Shall Not Want, by Audrey Assad 11. On revisiting previous generation's faith foundations. Video: Clonmacnoise Monastery, 6th century Ireland

Hi friends, I know I said there'd be no new Lenten episodes, but this one has been bubbling up and just poured out today. I hope it's a blessing to you, and I continue to hold you in prayer this Lent.  If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or at my website.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode. Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Livestream mass from St. Cecilia Boston - 2nd Sunday in Lent 2. Song: New Wine, by Hillsong Worship 3. Song: Be Not Afraid, by Kitty Cleveland

Though the podcast is taking a break during Lent, I'll sometimes share a short Lenten reflection for you as a surprise here in the feed. Surprise! :)  During Lent, you can always catch up with older episodes of Raised Catholic and all of my writing over at kerrycampbell.org and please know I am praying for your peaceful, clarifying, illuminating, fruitful Lent. Thanks for your prayers for me! If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or at my website.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow!

This week I'm encouraging us to choose our Lenten practices and disciplines by first deciding where we want to be come Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Choosing our 'why' and 'where' will naturally lead us to the 'what' that will best support us to walking our this wilderness with Jesus who came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Let's trust and walk with Him this Lent toward a more abundant, more holy, more joyful and peaceful life. As you'll hear in the episode, I'm taking a break from the podcast for Lent, but you can catch up with all of my older episodes and writing at my website, kerrycampbell.org, please subscribe while you're there so we can stay in touch and you can receive my written short Lenten reflections and my new monthly newsletter in your inbox. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or at my website.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode. Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Children's book: You Are Special, by Max Lucado 2. Came across this article after my podcast episode was written - felt like confirmation for us! 'What should I give up for Lent is the wrong question to start with,' by Joe Laramie, S.J. with America Magazine 3. Lenten Bible reading plan from She Reads Truth 4. Helpful Instagram follows Kate Boyd: Weary Christians Welcome Tim Whitaker - The New Evangelicals Craig Cooney - Daily Prophetic Lauren Winter - Brick House in the City Alissa Molina - From Here Media 5. Album: House on a Hill, by Amanda Lindsey Cook 6. Podcast and Lenten Book Study from Abiding Together

This week we conclude our tiny Bible study of Luke, chapter 7. As I share my own takeaways from the chapter, I hope you'll be encouraged to let God speak to you through a Gospel passage so that you can better know and walk with the compassionate, merciful, healing, proactive Jesus we meet there. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or at my website.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode. Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Luke 7:18-50 NIV

This week we take a look at one chapter of one book of the Gospels, and I'll share my own takeaways while modeling an accessible form of study for yourself.  If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or at my website.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode. Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Animated Video: Luke 1-9 from Bible Project 2. Article: Beginner's Guide to Lectio Divina from Busted Halo 3. Podcast series: Beth Moore Bible studies from Living Proof Ministries 4. Bible reading plans/commentary from She Reads Truth 5. Podcast: The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz 6. Article: Enter the Story: Gospel Contemplation (Ignatian), from Prayer and Possibilities 7. Bible Gateway - a searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages

This week we explore the concept of Providence - what it is, what it is not, and how we learn to depend on the hand of Providence for ourselves by looking back over our own lives. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or at my website.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode. Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Alma Mater: Hail, Providence from Providence College 2. Meditation questions: where might we find God's providential hand in our own history? What was a time in your life where you thought, “I don’t know how I’ll get through this,” but then something shifted to help you to move you forward, maybe in a small way, whether in your thinking or physical circumstance? Could God have been at work for you at that time in some way? Who is a person who changed or expanded your thinking on a topic that made you more open, more kind or loving, or who enabled or directed an action you took that changed how you lived your life from that point on? How did you meet this person? Do you remember? What were the circumstances around how you connected, and might God have been present in that for you? As you look at your vocation or work or even your interests, what were the circumstances that led you there? What influenced your decisions or your direction then, and what or who is guiding you now toward your next steps? Is it possible that God is working in one of these vocational situations, even on a very winding road, which is kind of God’s favorite, but is it possible that God is working in that right now for your good? What’s a book, movie, podcast, or song that inspires you? How did you come to find it? Does it show up at various points in your life when you really need it? How did or does this piece of art change, comfort or guide you? Do you have a story about that? Do you believe that God works in this kind of stuff? Think about the hardest thing you've survived. Where can you see God working, even in that, for your good?  Finally, where are you today, friend? Physically, emotionally, spiritually: where and how do you find yourself today? Is there something in today’s circumstances that you suspect God might have had a hand in? Some small detail of God showing off and showing you a particular kindness? Let’s stop a moment and just say thanks in our spirits for how He works for the good in this day that He made for us. 3. Book: Take Heart: 100 Devotions to Seeing God When Life's Not Okay (I contributed devotion #100) 4. Lyric Video: The Voyage, by Amanda Lindsey Cook

This week we explore the journey of self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and self-care through a relatable metaphor. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode. Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Song: Who Am I, by Casting Crowns 2, Podcast: Good Inside: The Voices Inside Our Heads, with Dr. Becky and Dr. Dick Schwartz on the theory of Internal Family Systems - a good primer on this helpful topic! 3. Children's Book: Near: Psalm 139 by Sally Lloyd-Jones - this is a fresh and beautiful retelling for children of all ages 4. Lyric Video: You Are Enough, by Sleeping At Last 5. Podcast: The Humble Parent, on Kelly Corrigan Wonders with guest Julie Lithcott-Haims. What's the upside of knowing how little we know? 6. Instagram follow: Barb Schmidt, @peaceful_barb 7. Book: Let Your Life Speak, by Parker Palmer 8. Article: Self-Love: The Importance of Learning to Love Yourself, by Seattle Christian Counseling 9. Sacred Space, a daily prayer/meditation site run by the Irish Jesuits

This week we discuss the dangerous trend of celebrity Christian culture and explore practices that can help leaders and listeners maintain a healthy faith walk in the modern media age. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode. Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Article/podcast: Social media is producing 'celebrity priests' - and it's a problem for their vocations, by Gloria Purvis at America Magazine 2. Organization: Homeboy Industries 3. Interview/podcast: Kelly Corrigan Wonders with Fr. Greg Boyle, Founder Homeboy Industries 4. Song (this is the one I harmonized with on my walk): Clean, by Hillsong 5. Song: Give Me Jesus, by Fernando Ortega 6. Podcast series: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, detailing the story of a Seattle church that should be a cautionary tale for all ministers and churches 7. Song: Wonderful, Merciful Savior, by Selah 8. Article: A toxic celebrity culture has infiltrated the church. We must root it out, by Katelyn Beaty  9. Song: Who Am I (Casting Crowns), cover by Mildred Carriaga 10. Essay: Priests Never Say They're Sorry, by Mary Pezzulo 11. Book: Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits are Hurting the Church, by Katelyn Beaty

Today's episode comes on the heels of a week of illness for me. It's a short one, but I did want to offer a few thoughts on how to handle our faith lives when we're not at our best. I hope it's a blessing to you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence 2. Song: Goodness of God, by CeCe Winans 3. Album: Be Held: Lullabies for the Beloved, by Christie Nockels (instrumental version here)

This week I'll model my process for finding my word for 2023, and hope that you might find your own, too. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Leap of Faith - Path of God scene from Indiana Jones - The Last Crusade  2. Garden Path scene from You've Got Mail 3. Article: "A Fresh Coat," on the transformation of our neighborhood college botanical bear 4. Word of the Year Generator, by Jen Fulwiler

This week I'm taking a bit of a break to rest after a wonderful and busy family-filled long holiday weekend. Here's a repost of last week's episode for those who may have missed it. The truth is, Christmas really does change everything, and thank God for that.  Peace and joy to you and yours, see you next year!

This week as we head toward Christmas, we explore the God of impossible things. If the impossible story of God becoming a human is true, then that changes everything, for everyone, forever. I am particularly mindful this week of those who feel unwelcome at church or those for whom Christmas might be a particular struggle - I pray you will feel the truth of Emmanuel - of God with us (all of us!), both inside and outside of church walls. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Beautiful advent IG post from author Laura Kelly Fanucci 2. Video: Christmas Chapel Music - advent and Christmas music we recorded for our community who couldn't attend church in December of 2020 3. Podcast: Unlocking Us with Brene Brown and Fr. Richard Rohr, on Breathing Under Water, Falling Upward, and Unlearning Certainty, part one of two 4. Children's Book: Jesus' Christmas Party, by Nicholas Allen 5. Song: One Day, by Christina Wells 6. Song: Wonder (Spontaneous), by Bethel Music, Amanda Cook 7. Song: Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, from Handel's Messiah, performed by Oregon Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra 8. Song: Night of Silence/Silent Night, by Marty Haugen 9. Video: Silent Night on harp, performed by my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail. Thank you, Peter, for the gift of your harp music in each and every episode of Raised Catholic. You and your music are a gift. 10. 4th Sunday of Advent mass at St. Cecilia's Boston - don't miss this homily by Fr. John Unni

This week, we take a look at how we view and describe Mary, both as individuals and as Church, and how these descriptors can help or hinder our relationship with her who is our Mother and who always points us to Jesus. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God, by Ginny Kubitz Moyer 2. Article: Mary's Magnificat is Revolutionary, from the Washington Post 3. Song: Mary, by Patty Griffin 4. Article: The Subversive Magnificat: What Mary Expected the Messiah To Be, by Jason Porterfield 5. Song: Ave Maria, Franz Biebl, performed by Chanticleer 6. Art: Modern Depictions of Mary in the Annunciation 7. Rosary: Recorded Rosaries from Fr. Frank McFarland at Boston Catholic Television 8. Video: A Primer on Mary from Fr. James Martin 9. Journal Prompts: What has been my experience with Mary so far? What words would I use to describe Mary today? If I could speak to Mary as a mother, what would I say? 10. My past writings on Mary, Statues, and the stitching of our lives together as a mother would 11. The story of Pope Francis' devotion to Mary under the title 'Undoer of Knots'

This week, we're exploring Jesus' upside down kingdom, and comparing His actual teachings to some of what we're hearing from some of the more public Catholic Christian voices in America. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1.  Jesus' Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5-7 2. Podcast: Upside Down Podcast, Conversations on Spirituality, Culture and God's Upside Down Kingdom 3. From Here Media, encouraging the love of God, Neighbor and Self through print, online and in-person offerings 4. Article: Ye's Trump Dinner is a High Point for Catholic Nationalists' Influence Campaign, by Religious News Service 5. Community: Smart Catholics - an online community for Catholic millennials, creators, and learners who want faithful conversations that are unafraid of doubts and questions. Find quality content, insight and connection here. 6. Music performance: Kingdom of God, by John Guerra 7. Song: Come, O Light, by Ginny Owens and the Geneva School of Manhattan 8. Audio series: Sermon on the Mount reflections by Fr. Richard Rohr Second Week of Advent, a reading from Matthew's Gospel John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

This week we celebrate our 100th episode with a look at vocation: how do we discover the work of our hands in our one precious life, and how do we do it well? If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. My Brother's Keeper, the charity I mention in today's episode. 2. St. Anthony's Free Market, the parish food pantry my Mom started and which continues today, ten years after her passing. 3. Video: What's My Vocation?, from Fr. Mike Schmitz 4. Book: Let Your Life Speak - Listening for the Voice of Vocation, by Parker Palmer 5. Meditation: Vocation, by Frederick Buchner 6. Film: The God Who Sees You with Rachel Held Evans - series by The Work of The People 7. Song: If You Want Me To, by Ginny Owens 8. Song: Establish the Work of Our Hands, by Porter's Gate, Aaron Keys, Urban Doxology 9. Journal Questions (be still with God and ask):  What suffering or problem that exists in the world does my particular past experience lead me to see? What are my gifts? Strengths? Challenges? Where are these pointing me? What is one small step I could take this week in the direction of my work? Am I ready to ask God to help me walk this out, one step at a time?

This week we're exploring Biblical references to light amid the darkness in an effort to enter into the holiday season with intention and joy. Let's meet Jesus who is light by naming the spaces that need light and inviting God in.  If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Raised Catholic episode 49 - Advent: Behold Your God (check out the show notes for ideas on specific Advent practices) 2. Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis 3. Song: You Are The Light, by Sarah Hart 4. Song: Lead, Kindly Light, by Audrey Assad 5. Video: Handel's Messiah Part 1, performed by the Handel and Haydn Society 6. Article: Become the Light, by Michael Simone at America Magazine 7. Daily Podcast: The Examen, with Fr. James Martin 8. Practice: light a candle and journal with these questions:  Where is the darkness in me? What is a small step I can take to address it? Where is the darkness in the places, spaces and groups I'm a part of? How can I bring more light to the places and people around me?

This week we discuss disturbing revelations coming out of the French Church, along with continued clericalism and politicization here in the US. When it comes to the future of the Church (and our own faith lives), maybe it's past time we wake up to some important realities. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Podcast: Inside the Vatican: What a Prominent Cardinal's Admission of Abuse Means for the Catholic Church in France, by America Magazine 2. Article: Diocese Confirms French Bishop Disciplined by Vatican for Sexual Abuse, by Catholic News Agency 3. Article: French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard Admits to Abusing 14-Year Old Girl 35 Years Ago, from The Guardian 4. Article: New Allegations Charge Franciscan University Cover-Up, by Pillar Catholic 5. Biblical references to 'born again': John 3: 1-21, more citations here 6. Song: Open My Eyes, by Jesse Manibusan 7. Song: Open The Eyes of My Heart, by Audrey Assad 8. Song: Common Ground, by Matt Maher, featuring Dee Wilson 9. Journal prompts (write a question, then listen prayerfully and write as you're led): God, bring light to what is dark within me. In what way am I complicit in the suffering of a brother or sister? What am I blind to today that you in mercy could help me see?  10. Series: Developing Compassion for the Sexually Abused, by Beth Moore (Part One)

Today's episode is a short reflection on a particularly holy three days I'm observing this week. I hope it's a blessing to you.  If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Last Day - an imagined conversation between God and my Mom about how she would want to spend her Last Day from me at kerrycampbell.org 2. Basics on the Paschal Triduum, by Busted Halo 3. Quote: "This too shall pass." - my Mom (and probably yours, too) 4. Song: Make Me An Instrument, by Craig Courtney, Beckenhorst Singers

This week we will look at religious icons - what they are, how to pray with them, and how to avoid making an icon into an idol.  If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Article: An Introduction to Iconography and iconographic analysis, by Dr. Lauren Kilroy Ewbank at smarthistory.org 2. Visual prayers by artist Scott Erickson 3. Modern icons by artist Gracie Morbitzer 4. Article: How to Pray with Icons - A Brief Guide, by Philip Kosloski at Aleteia 5. Activity: Make an ofrenda with images of loved ones who have passed and pray for them during the month of November. 6. Search: St. Joan of Arc icons (check these out!) 7. Article: The Importance of Religious Icons in Christian Faith, from the Art of the Icon blog 8. Collection: Icons by artist Cecilia Lawrence

This week, we're taking stock of where we are on our faith journey today. As we walk with God in the wilderness of deconstruction, prayerfully discerning where we actually are will enable us to know what step to take next, and to have clarity around where we want to be.  If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: Song: Who Am I?, by Casting Crowns Song: Sing Over Your Children, by Matt Maher Song: Drawn to You, by Audrey Assad Song: The Way God Sees, by Ginny Owens feat. Mike Weaver Journal prompts: How am I engaging with my faith today?  What am I learning?  How is my prayer or study life going?  Have I considered trying a faith community of some kind, either online or in person?  What does the living out of my faith look like these days?  What do I believe?  Where am I?

This week we are pondering our experience of time through a spiritual lens. We will look to Jesus as a great example of someone who marked and discerned His time, and who used it with intention and purpose. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Article: Time's Passage is Probably an Illusion, from Scientific American 2. Video: Carpe Diem scene from Good Will Hunting 3. Article: St. Augustine's Relativistic Theory of Time, from Church Life Journal 4. Song: Who Lives, Who Does, Who Tells Your Story, from Hamilton Original Broadway Soundtrack 5. Song: Seasons of Love, from Rent Original Broadway Soundtrack 6. Quote: "Our life comes to us moment by moment. One moment disappears before the next comes along: and there is room for very little in each. That is what Time is like. And of course you and I tend to take it for granted that this Time series--this arrangement of past, present, and future--is not simply the way life comes to us but the way all things really exist. We tend to assume that the whole universe and God himself are always moving on from past to future just as we do. But many learned men do not agree with that. Almost certainly God is not in Time. HIs life does not consist of moments following one another... If you picture Time as a straight line along which we have to travel, then you must picture God as the whole page on which the line is drawn. We come to the parts of the line one by one: we have to leave A behind before we get to B, and cannot reach C until we leave B behind. God, from above or outside or all around, contains the whole line, and sees it all."   - C.S. Lewis, from “Mere Christianity” 7. Journal prompt: What time is it? -within myself -in my family -in my community -in our church -in the world  

This week we explore what faith looks like in the midst of a big personal shift. Stepping over a threshold from 'what was' to 'what will be' can be exciting and scary and it's good to know that we are not stepping alone. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Instagram follow: Pamela Henkelman, Midlife Mindset Coach 2. Life allegory: Muppet Movie: Closing Scene 3. Bible verse: Jeremiah 1:5  Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. 4. Bible verse Isaiah 43:19  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 5. Raised Catholic ep. 14: What's Your Story? 6. A Blessing for When Love Makes Us Afraid, by Kate Bowler 7. Podcast: Parenting from an Empty Nest, with Kelly Corrigan and Susan Orlean 8. Song: My Beloved, by Crowder 9. A piece of my writing from 2017 - Trust - an allegory of life as a house, the trust needed to walk through doors when you don't know what's on the other side

This week, I'm bringing you a repost of an earlier episode which aired originally in May of this year. I pray it's a relief to you to remember that when it comes to plans, God's ways really are higher and better than ours. We can trust him. _______________________________ This week, we're looking at planning with a spiritual lens, and about how to begin to accept or embrace a pivot or shift when life doesn't go as we planned. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Edinburgh actor Sean Kane reads Burns' To A Mouse in Edinburgh Central Library. 2. Podcast: The Next Right Thing, with Emily P. Freeman 3. Book: The Next Right Thing: A Simple Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions 4. Lyric Video: The Voyage, by Amanda Lindsey Cook 5. Lyric Video: Unanswered Prayers, by Garth Brooks :) 6. Practice: Sit at a beach, watch waves come in and go out, breathe, reflect on how this is how life comes to us, in moments 7. Practice: Break apart of a bunch of flowers and put them in small clusters in different parts of your home, enjoy them naturally as you meet them through your day, reflect on the reality of the beauty of life in small bits 8. Video: Ten Minute Breathing Meditation to help ground you in the day/moment you're given 9. Song: The Detour, by FAITHFUL 10. Song: Brighter Day, by Kirk Franklin 11. IG Post: Beautiful words and images from Morgan Harper Nichols

This week finishes up a series which explores the rebuilding of faith practices following or during a season of deconstruction. I hope the resources below will help you enter into this topic well. f you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! 1. Article: Why did Jesus Teach in Parables, by Got Questions 2. Walk it Out: Raised Catholic podcast episode 8 + transcript

This week continues a series which explores the rebuilding of faith practices following or during a season of deconstruction. I hope the resources below will give you a good foundation to enter into this topic well. f you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! 1. As promised, some trusted public voices for me in my deconstruction/reconstruction process: Fr. Richard Rohr Rachel Held Evans Sarah Bessey  Kate Bowler Kate Boyd Barbara Brown Taylor Alissa Molina and From Here Media Suzanne Eller Emily P. Freeman Gathering Places Church of the 21st Century at Boston College Where Peter Is Smart Catholics St. Cecilia Boston is a trusted spiritual home for me and this week's homily by Fr. Ron Coyne gives a good frame on how to grow in faith with continued study and discernment. (Also, stick around for the amazing communion meditation song that starts around the one hour mark.)  Recorded rosaries with Fr. Frank McFarland at Boston Catholic Television

This week starts a series which explores the rebuilding of faith practices following or during a season of deconstruction. I hope the resources below will give you a good foundation to enter into this topic well. f you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! 1. Evolving Faith: community, conference and podcast 2. Instagram follow: Kate Boyd, author and Bible teacher 3. Memoir: Searching For Sunday: Loving, Leaving and Finding the Church, by Rachel Held Evans 4. Deconstructing Catholic - episode 22 of Raised Catholic 5. Book: Faith After Doubt, by Brian MacLaren 6. Community and resources: Compassionate Christianity 7. Song: Be Thou My Vision, by Audrey Assad 8. Song: Common Ground, by Matt Maher featuring Dee Wilson 9. Album: Common Ground, by Matt Maher - I could not conceive of a better reconstruction soundtrack. It's inspiring and raises my heart and eyes up. Thankful. 10. IG post - the poem I wrote the day of the Notre Dame fire

This week, we'll glean some wisdom from our summer of contemplation. As I share some of the fruit of my summer and the future of the Raised Catholic podcast, I pray that you've had a fruitful summer and a variety of experiences that will help in further contemplation of God who loves you just as you are. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Quote from author Barbara Brown Taylor: "There is a sense in which if I will trust that what comes to me is for me (now that’s the hugest faith statement I can make to you), if I will trust that what comes to me in my life is for me and not against me… what I find is that it breaks my idols, that it breaks my isolation, that it challenges my sense of independence, it does all kinds of things for me that I would not willingly do, that are for me, that are for my health.”

Contemplative Summer comes to a close this week with an episode on contemplating in church. As you choose a holy space in which contemplate this week, I pray that you will have a fruitful encounter with God who is crazy about you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Article: Heavenly Illumination: The Science and Magic of Stained Glass, from The Guardian 2. Article: Rose Windows of Notre Dame 3. History of Stations of the Cross, from Catholic Straight Answers 4. Journal prompts (while sitting in a church): God, where are you directing my gaze in this church? What does this element have to say to me today? What is my history within this space and in other churches? Can I gather in the goodness and light memories but also the pain? How does my history here impact how I see God and my life of faith in this moment? God, I am here. What would you say to me today? 5. Song: In This Place, Trevor Thomson, Victoria Thomson

As we explore a variety of methods of contemplative prayer this summer, week eight is all about art. As you choose a piece of art to contemplate this week, I pray that you will have a fruitful encounter with God who is crazy about you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Documentary Series: Abstract: The Art of Design, on the role art plays in our everyday lives 2. Article: Top 10 Oldest Pieces of Art Every Discovered, by Ancient History Lists 3. Instagram Account: visual prayers by artist Scott Erickson 4. Wikipedia submission on The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, by John Singer Sargent 5. Find a transcript of this week's episode along with photos of the art I described on my blog, My Little Epiphanies

As we explore a variety of methods of contemplative prayer this summer, week seven is all about the body. As you choose a system or movement of the body to contemplate this week, I pray that you will have a fruitful encounter with God who is crazy about you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Article: What Does it Mean to Crucify the Flesh, by gotquestions.org 2. Book: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel A. van der Kolk 3. Article: Body and Spirit As One, by Fr. Richard Rohr for Center for Action and Contemplation 4. Cover: I Hope You Dance, by Chris Stapleton 5. Video: 7 Minute Body Scan from The Mindful Christian Romans 12:3-8 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

As we explore a variety of methods of contemplative prayer this summer, week six is all about tactile prayer. As you choose way to move with God in contemplation, I pray that you will have a fruitful encounter with God who is crazy about you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Tactile prayer basics, from building faith: a ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary 2. Recorded rosaries with Fr. Frank McFarland from Boston Catholic Television 3. Song: If I Had a Hammer, by Sam Cooke 4. Song: On My Way, by Louis Armstrong

As we explore a variety of methods of contemplative prayer this summer, week five is all about centering prayer. As you choose a sacred word or phrase and sit with God in contemplation, I pray that you will have a fruitful encounter with God who is crazy about you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Centering prayer basics from Contemplative Outreach 2. Breath Prayer ideas from Soul Shepherding 3. Lyric video: Abide with Me, by Audrey Assad

As we explore a variety of methods of contemplative prayer this summer, week four is all about contemplating scripture. As you choose a passage of scripture to contemplate as you draw near to God this week, I pray that you will have a fruitful encounter with God who is crazy about you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. The Undragoning of Eustace, by Jennifer Neyhart 2. Lectio Divina: A Beginner's Guide, by Busted Halo 3. App: Laudate, an easy way to find the readings of the day (or a quick search will do the trick as well) 4. Book: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis (I highly recommend all of the Narnia series for reading by all ages - a beautiful parable of how God operates in our lives.)

As we explore a variety of methods of contemplative prayer this summer, week three is all about contemplating nature. As you choose an element of nature to contemplate as you draw near to God this week, I pray that you will have a fruitful encounter with God who is crazy about you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, by Fr. Richard Rohr 2. The Peach Truck - delivering joy since 2012 - perfect peaches and more 3. The Deep Contemplation of Nature, by Catholic Strength Blog 4. Song: Garden Song, by John Denver

As we explore a variety of methods of contemplative prayer this summer, week two is all about contemplating story. As you choose your story and draw near to God this week, I pray that you will have a fruitful encounter with God who is crazy about you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor, MI by Jonathan B. Wright 2. Top Ten Mitch Albom books, by Ed A. Murray  3. Finding Chika, by Mitch Albom on Amazon 4. Podcast: Everything Happens with Kate Bowler, lovely interview with Mitch Albom on Chika and other topics 5. Video: Animated explanation of the Hero's Journey, by Matthew Winkler and Kirill Jeretsky

As we explore a variety of methods of contemplative prayer this summer, week one is all about contemplating music. As you choose your music and draw near to God this week, I pray that you will have a fruitful encounter with God who is crazy about you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Ave Verum Corpus, written by William Byrd and performed by Voices of Ascension Chorus 2. Ave Verum Corpus, written by Mozart and performed by Choir of King's College, Cambridge 3. Ave Verum Corpus by William Byrd: text, history and translation by Choral Public Domain Library Primer on contemplation with lots more helpful resources: Raised Catholic episode 78: Contemplative Summer

This week we're looking at contemplative prayer and how to incorporate it into our faith lives.  In addition, there's an important update on the podcast, so please give this one a careful listen. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. "The Inner Journey: Thomas Merton's Contemplative Spirituality," by MattandJojang's Blog 2. "Jesus Was a Contemplative," by St. Joseph's College Online Theology 3. "How to Practice Contemplative Meditation," by U.S. Catholic 4. Book: Seeds of Contemplation, by Thomas Merton 5. Book: Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life, by Tish Harrison Warren  6. Book: Here and Now, by Henri Nouwen 7. Contemplative prayer resources and history from contemplativeoutreach.org 8. Song: Be Thou My Vision, by Audrey Assad 9. Song: The Embrace, by Ashana 10. Video: What is Contemplative Prayer?, with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Called to More

This week we're considering some of my favorite takeaways from Pentecost 2022, which this year came right on time. Come, Holy Spirit. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Pentecost 2022 homily transcript from Pope Francis 2. Pentecost at the Pantheon: a Rainfall of Rose Petals - article and video from Italy Magazine 3. Info on Pando (I Spread) in Utah from the U.S. Forest Service 4. Pentecost mass readings 2022 5. Song: Send Us Your Spirit, by Dan Schutte 6. Song: Come Holy Ghost, by Louis Lambilotte, Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles 7. Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz episode 323: Pentecost 8. Pentecost, from the Bible Project 9. Journal Prompts:  How can I open myself to receive a new outpouring of God's Spirit? Is it a time for me to consider trying gathering in a faith community?  What might that look like for me? How does God's Holy Spirit change people? 10. Song: Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit), by Taize Session Singers

This week we're looking at the philosophy of a Consistent Life Ethic: what it means, what it includes, and what an application of this ethic might look like in practice. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. On 'the least of these', by gotquestions.org 2. Consistent Life Ethic basics and history from Wikipedia 3. Journals exploring the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching, from From Here Media 4. "A Consistent Ethic of Life as a Moral Vision," by Awakening Project 5. Song: By Our Love, by KING & COUNTRY 6. Song: Magnified (Acoustic), by Ginny Owens 7. Journal prompt: If I believe that each life, including my life and the lives of people who think and live differently from me, is a sacred creation of God, then how would that change the way I speak, work, think, donate, operate on social media, volunteer, interact, and live? 8. Quote: “It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all of our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.” C.S. Lewis

Today's episode is a repost from an originally aired podcast from June 2021. This primer on the Eucharist is timely because once again we have debate on barring the Sacrament from public officials who support access to abortion, this time Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. It is an important time to learn for ourselves about the history and meaning of the Eucharist, to listen to the words of Pope Francis and to apply what we know at this critical juncture in our Church. Show Notes from the Original Episode 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 would love 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?

This week, we're looking at planning with a spiritual lens, and about how to begin to accept or embrace a pivot or shift when life doesn't go as we planned. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Edinburgh actor Sean Kane reads Burns' To A Mouse in Edinburgh Central Library. 2. Podcast: The Next Right Thing, with Emily P. Freeman 3. Book: The Next Right Thing: A Simple Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions 4. Lyric Video: The Voyage, by Amanda Lindsey Cook 5. Lyric Video: Unanswered Prayers, by Garth Brooks :) 6. Practice: Sit at a beach, watch waves come in and go out, breathe, reflect on how this is how life comes to us, in moments 7. Practice: Break apart of a bunch of flowers and put them in small clusters in different parts of your home, enjoy them naturally as you meet them through your day, reflect on the reality of the beauty of life in small bits 8. Video: Ten Minute Breathing Meditation to help ground you in the day/moment you're given 9. Song: The Detour, by FAITHFUL 10. Song: Brighter Day, by Kirk Franklin 11. IG Post: Beautiful words and images from Morgan Harper Nichols

Note from this week's intro: thanks for your prayers and feedback as I discern the future of the Raised Catholic Podcast. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog. This week we're exploring the spiritual practice of mothering, a practice that is accessible to all humans as we undergo to care for others and help them grow. We'll examine references in the Bible to God as mother, and look to God's example to lead us forward in the necessary and holy work of mothering and being mothered, too. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Song: A Mother Never Rests, by Lori McKenna 2. Scriptural references to God as mother, from womensordination.org 3. Song: Mary, by Patty Griffin 4. Writer Laura Fanucci, writing @thismessygrace and on her blog, Mothering Spirit: Everyday Parenting as Spiritual Practice 5. Raised Catholic episode: Mother Mary 6. Podcast: Abiding Together, part 1 of a 4-part series on spiritual motherhood 7. Song: Ave Maria by Franz Biebl, performed by Chanticleer 8. Memoir: Looking for Mary (The Blessed Mother and Me), by Beverly Donofrio 9. Memoir: Glitter and Glue, by Kelly Corrigan 10. Children's Book: What is God Like?, by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner 11. Podcast: Kelly Corrigan Wonders with guest Dr. Ariel Trost on Intentional, Self Aware Parenting

This week we're exploring the spiritual practice of mothering, a practice that is accessible to all humans as we undergo to care for others and help them grow. We'll examine references in the Bible to God as mother, and look to God's example to lead us forward in the necessary and holy work of mothering and being mothered, too. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Song: A Mother Never Rests, by Lori McKenna 2. Scriptural references to God as mother, from womensordination.org 3. Song: Mary, by Patty Griffin 4. Writer Laura Fanucci, writing @thismessygrace and on her blog, Mothering Spirit: Everyday Parenting as Spiritual Practice 5. Raised Catholic episode: Mother Mary 6. Podcast: Abiding Together, part 1 of a 4-part series on spiritual motherhood 7. Song: Ave Maria by Franz Biebl, performed by Chanticleer 8. Memoir: Looking for Mary (The Blessed Mother and Me), by Beverly Donofrio 9. Memoir: Glitter and Glue, by Kelly Corrigan 10. Children's Book: What is God Like?, by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner

This week we're exploring the cultural prevalence of amplifying our beliefs on signs, flags, and banners, not to mention hats and t-shirts :) - and looking at what this practice means for living our lives of faith. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Song: His Banner Over Me, by Christy Nockels 2. Falling Upward - A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, by Richard Rohr 3. Podcast: Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey with guest Joel Smallbone on why our differences matter in the Kingdom of God 4. Journal prompts: What groups do I belong to that color how I identify myself? Do the messages I extend with my spoken or written words invite or exclude others? How do I represent myself as a Christian with the words I choose? Would Jesus use the same signs, placards or bumper stickers I use? Would He use any? What would they be? 5. Song: Who Am I, by Casting Crowns 6. Podcast: Kelly Corrigan Wonders with guest Fr. Greg Boyle (This one is a must-listen. We are not as different as we think.) 7. Podcast: Everything Happens with Kate Bowler, guest Ann Patchett on what it means to be human in community 8. Song: I Am Nothing, by Ginny Owens 9. Song: Show Me Your Peace Sign, by Michael Franti & Spearhead 10. Practice: If you were to put a sign on your home or words on a t-shirt that would be strictly loving and not exclusionary, what would it say? 

What if the Resurrection did not happen?  How would that change our thoughts and the way we live, culture, or the world?  Let's use this as a frame for gratitude for the gifts that Easter does bring us. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Easter Sunday Musings, from author Diana Butler Bass 2. Kids' video: An Easter Carol (VeggieTales) 3. "Hope's Song", from An Easter Carol 4. Song: Ubi Caritas, by Durufle, performed by Kings College Choir 5. Song: Hallelujah Is Our Song, by Sarah Hart 6. Song: Christ is Risen, by Matt Maher 7. Journal Prompts:  What do I believe about the death and resurrection of Jesus? How has that belief changed over time? How do those events change how I live today, or how the history of the world has progressed over time? 8. Take a Walk: notice the blooming flowers in the ground and on trees, take pictures, examine them.  How is Creation speaking to you about how God works? 9. Children's Book: The Three Trees, by Angela Elwell Hunt 10. The Resurrection of Jesus, by the Bible Project

This week I had a whole plan to help you enter into Holy Week in a new way and to find yourself and God there, but this was the week I experienced my first illness in years and it sidelined me, so in this shortened episode, we talk about our good God who makes Himself very real when we've come to the end of ourselves.  No, we are not enough but the Good News is that we were never meant to be. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! As you find ways to practice your faith in this sacred time, friends, know of my prayers for you and yours.

This week, we're talking all about reconciliation, yes the sacrament, but also what it is to be reconciled with others, with a reality or truth, and within ourselves.   I hope this episode is a blessing to you as we turn the corner toward Holy Week. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Update on the Truth and Reconciliation process in Canada surrounding the Church's role in the abuse of indigenous children 2. Old graphic concept of how Jesus acts as the bridge between humanity and God the Father 3. Video: Prodigal Son story from the Bible Project 4. Podcast: The Examen with Father James Martin 5. Video: Come As You Are (Cover), by Sarah Reeves 6. Video: Lady Bird (film ending) 7. Song: Softly and Tenderly, by Audrey Assad 8. Confession basics from Catholics Come Home 9. Song: Speechless, by Steven Curtis Chapman 10. Video: How He Loves Us (Cover), by Sarah Reeves

In the wake of Pope Francis's Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary this week, we discuss what a consecration is, why we do it, and how we can incorporate consecration into our own everyday faith lives. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Video/summary of Pope Francis's Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, from the Vatican 2. Song: Child of God (Live), by Capital City Music 3. A story of a life consecrated to God: Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, founder and mother servant of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth 4. Scripture: Story of Hannah and Samuel 5. Journal prompts: Have I ever felt called to offer God something of myself? How might I be set apart to serve God and His people? Have I ever met a person who was consecrated to God?  6. Song: Set Apart, by Citylight Worship 7. Song: Totus Tuus, by Henryk Gorecki, Voces8, written in celebration of Pope John Paul II's third pilgrimage to Poland. Pope John Paul II consecrated his life to Jesus through Mary 8. Google art: Hannah and Samuel, Annunciation, Consecration 9. Podcast: Inside the Vatican 10. Text of the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on 3/25/22 from the Vatican

This week, we're reflecting on gratitude as a part of a grown-up faith.  If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself:  1. Video: The Absolute Necessity of Saying Thank You, with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Ascension Presents 2. Book: One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, by Ann Voskamp 3. Book: With Open Hands, by Henri Nouwen 4. Book: Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel, by Kate Bowler 5. Song: Even When it Hurts (Praise Song), by Hillsong 6. Song: Open My Hands, by Sara Groves 7. Song: The Blessing, by Elevation Worship 8. Song: Thank U, by Alanis Morissette 9. Song: Simple Gifts, by Yo Yo Ma and Alison Krauss  10. Gratitude Meditation: God's Loving-Kindness 11. Novel: Stranger in the Lifeboat, by Mitch Albom 12. Mass: Third Sunday in Lent - St Cecilia's Boston 3/20/22

Today we explore the importance of slowing down, especially in this year's Lent, of leaning on the scaffolding of faith we gained from previous generations, and of ancient prayers and practices.  I hope it's a blessing to you as you move through your Lent. May the road rise up to meet you. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Relay - blog post of my process of finding my word for 2022 2. Podcast: The Examen with Fr. James Martin, SJ 3. Lectio Divina: A Beginner's Guide from Busted Halo 4. Video: The Deer's Cry, sung by Rita Connolly and Curtlestown Choir 5. Video: Irish Blessing 6. Breath Prayers for Anxious Times, from Sarah Bessey 7. Song for contemplation: Ave, verum Corpus, Mozart, performed by The Sixteen 8. Recorded rosaries with Fr. Frank McFarland from Boston Catholic Television 9. Journal questions: Who was a faithful person in my history and memory?  What prayers/practices did they use?  How can I make a spiritual discipline more a part of my everyday routine?  What time of day would be the best time for me to pray?   10. Song: I Shall Not Want, by Audrey Assad 11. On revisiting previous generation's faith foundations. Video: Clonmacnoise Monastery, 6th century Ireland

This week we're remembering the reading from the Prophet Joel we heard on Ash Wednesday, and reflecting on the idea of communal repentance, communal sin, communal suffering, communal life, and communal faith.  Maybe the idea of communal Lent has come to us in this complicated, hyper self-oriented, and challenging time for a reason. Maybe it's time we remember we belong to each other. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow! Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself: 1. Book of Joel overview from Bible Project 2. Where Peter Is: A collaborative effort of writers increasingly concerned about divisive attacks on Pope Francis and effects on the Church 3. Podcast: Field Hospital with Mike Lewis and Jeannie Gaffigan 4. Song: One Voice, by The Wailin' Jennys 5. Song: Clean - Live, by Hillsong 6. Song: People of God, by Gungor 7. Lenten resources/study from author Kate Bowler 8. Book: Bitter & Sweet, by Tsh Oxenreider 9. On Dr. Paul Farmer of Partners In Health, a modern and timely example of someone who gave his life away in the name of God on behalf of his sisters and brothers 10. Podcast: Jesuitical - Remembering Dr. Paul Farmer - a Catholic Who Wanted to Cure the World

This week we're talking about impediments to our relationship with God, how they can draw too much of our focus, and the beautiful reality that the bigness of God means there's always another way. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing! 1. Podcast: Another Name for Everything with Fr. Richard Rohr 2. Evolving Faith - Podcast, Conferences, Writing, and more with Sarah Bessey and Jeff Chu 3. Beautiful art/caption on transforming faith by Scott Erickson on Instagram 4. Book: The Eternal Current, by Aaron Niequist 5. Book: Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice, by Dallas Willard and Jan Johnson 6. Song: The Voyage, by Amanda Cook 7. Lyric Video: Drawn to You, by Audrey Assad 8. Song: Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season), by The Byrds

This week's episode is a repost of last year's episode on Lent.  I hope it's a blessing to you as you prepare for this important and life-giving season.  Live Panel Discussion Via Zoom - JOIN US!  I'll be part of a roundtable discussion on 2/22/22 on How to Claim Your Faith in the Midst of a Broken Church, sponsored by the Cenacle Sisters of Chicago with a great group of Catholic thinkers.  I hope you'll join us, more information and registration here. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, rating, and reviewing! Here are some resources I hope will make your Lent more encouraging and fruitful: 1. Helpful, grounded (and often funny!) daily Lenten video reflections from author Kate Bowler - you can also find them on Kate's Instagram 2. Be Kind - a helpful Lenten practice video from Fr. James Martin 3. Best Lent Ever - daily videos from Dynamic Catholic 4. Song: Better Days by Ant Clemons, Justin Timberlake and Kirk Franklin 5. Song: Someday Soon, by Wilder Woods 6. Song: O My Soul, by Audrey Assad 7. Podcast: Abiding Together 8. Lenten Practice: Watch this tulip video, then: buy flowers for yourself (yes, for you!), put them in your kitchen, and let them be your teacher: spring is on the way, friend! 9: Instagram Account: Follow my friend The Bluebird of Happiness on Instagram for more hope and light in your feed! 10. My current favorite cover of Here Comes the Sun - search for more, they will make your heart happy! 11. Lenten Practice: Conversations with God journal, start a new page and at the top write one or more of the following prompts, then just write until your hand is sore or you feel the loving voice of God creeping in and making Himself known to you: What habits or practices do I have today that are not serving me? How can I let them go? What do I want my life (or my family or community) to look and feel like on Easter weekend? How can I move in that direction now? How can I serve other people using my unique gifts? What would be a good first step today? 12. Book: Learning to Walk in the Dark, by Barbara Brown Taylor

This week we'll look at balance, contrast, and variety as reflected in a few perfect sandwiches and apply these truths to our faith lives, communities, and practices. Live Panel Discussion Via Zoom - JOIN US!  I'll be part of a roundtable discussion on 2/22/22 on How to Claim Your Faith in the Midst of a Broken Church, sponsored by the Cenacle Sisters of Chicago with a great group of Catholic thinkers.  I hope you'll join us, more information and registration here. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! Thanks as always for sharing, rating, and reviewing! 1. Find the Green Goddess and other perfect sandwiches at Briggs in North Attleboro, Massachusetts 2. Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat - series, book and more 3. Be the Bridge - book, podcast and more 4. Song: How Beautiful, by Twila Paris 5. Children's book: Hello World, by Kelly Corrigan 6. Song: We Are Many Parts, by Marty Haugen 7. Song: Hold Us Together, by Matt Maher 8. Song: Garden, by Matt Maher 9. Book: Taste and See: Discovering God Among Butchers, Bakers and Fresh Food Makers, by Margaret Feinberg 10. Activity: build a charcuterie board with balance and variety in mind: cheeses, meats, veggies, fruits, nuts, jams, dips and more - share 

In the last episode of a short series on mysticism, here are some practical ideas for you to develop your own mystical lens for yourself.  I hope it's a blessing to you! Live Panel Discussion Via Zoom - JOIN US!  I'll be part of a roundtable discussion on 2/22/22 on How to Claim Your Faith in the Midst of a Broken Church, sponsored by the Cenacle Sisters of Chicago with a great group of Catholic thinkers.  I hope you'll join us, more information and registration here. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! 1. Hope Booth interactive experience 2. Everyday mysticism reflections from Fr. James Martin: Have You Ever Had a Mystical Experience? A multi-part series on accessible mysticism by Fr. James Martin published by HuffPost, adapted from an essay from his book, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Incompletion Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Common Longings and Connections Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Uncommon Longings Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Exaltation and Clarity Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Vulnerability 3. Podcast: The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz 4. The Worldwide Synod on Synodality effort from Pope Francis 5. Corny but somehow really moving footage of sheep listening for and following their shepherds 6. Song: God Speaking, by Mandisa 7. The story of Samuel, who practiced tuning his ear to God 8. Song: Look Up, Child, by Lauren Daigle 9. Song: The Loudest Voice, by Ginny Owens

In the third of a four-episode series on mysticism, we're looking at the story of the Woman at the Well as a picture of what encountering God can mean for us and for those around us.  Live Panel Discussion Via Zoom - JOIN US!  I'll be part of a roundtable discussion on 2/22/22 on How to Claim Your Faith in the Midst of a Broken Church, sponsored by the Cenacle Sisters of Chicago with a great group of Catholic thinkers.  I hope you'll join us, more information and registration here. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! 1. Video The Chosen: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well 2. Song: Jesus Met the Woman at the Well, by Mahalia Jackson 3. Journal prompts: What is holding me back from experiencing God for myself? Do I really believe that there's nothing I can do to separate me from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:35) If I've had an encounter with God, who did I tell?  Who can I tell about it now? 4. Podcast: The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey: guests Beth Moore and Dr. Russell Moore 5. Instagram follow: Scott Erickson, artist and maker of visual prayers 6. Music Video: Awakening, by Amanda Lindsey Cook 7. Music Video: Light, by Sleeping At Last 8. Drawing God Project, by Karen Kiefer and Church in the 21st Century at Boston College - links to the book and related activities Thank you to Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode.

This week, our series on mysticism continues with the encounter stories of a few Heavenly friends, and encouragement to own our mystical experiences for ourselves as holy and good.  Live Panel Discussion Via Zoom - JOIN US!  I'll be part of a roundtable discussion on 2/22/22 on How to Claim Your Faith in the Midst of a Broken Church, sponsored by the Cenacle Sisters of Chicago with a great group of Catholic thinkers.  I hope you'll join us, more information and registration here. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! 1. The Seven Storey Mountain, by Thomas Merton - I highly recommend all of his writings, but this is his most popular. 2. History and music from St. Hildegard of Bingen from Open Culture 3. St. Paul, the Forgotten Mystic, by Catholic Exchange 4. Thomas Merton's Mystical Vision in Louisville by Spiritual Travels 5. Revelations of Divine Love, by Julian of Norwich 6. Journal questions: When in my life have I experienced clarity, wisdom, or peace that might be considered a gift of union with God?  How did that experience change me? How can I become more open to hearing from God? How can telling my own mystical stories benefit other people? 7. Music from St. Hildegard of Bingen on Spotify  8. Video: What You Don't Know About Christian Mysticism, by Ascension Presents 9. What the Mystics Know, by Fr. Richard Rohr 10. Video: Met By Love (Wonder), by Capital City Music

In the first of a series, today's episode is an introduction to mysticism and an invitation to explore everyday mysticism as a path that will benefit not only our individual faith lives, but also our Church.  I hope the following resources will help you to explore this topic in a deeper way for yourself.   If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you - visit me on my page at buymeacoffee.com! 1. A multi-part series on accessible mysticism by Fr. James Martin published by HuffPost, adapted from an essay from his book, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Incompletion Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Common Longings and Connections Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Uncommon Longings Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Exaltation and Clarity Want to Experience God? You Already Have: Vulnerability 2. Book: The Little Book of Christian Mysticism: Essential Wisdom of Saints, Seers, and Sages, by Carl McColman 3. Book: The Interior Castle, by Teresa of Avila 4. Book: What the Mystics Know: Seven Pathways to Your Deeper Self, by Fr. Richard Rohr 5. Video: What is a Mystic, by Fr. Richard Rohr 6. Podcast series: Abiding Together, 4-part series on the four women doctors of the Catholic Church. Each of these women, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Liseux, St. Hildegard of Bingen, and St. Catherine of Siena - all mystics. 7. Song: Into the Mystic, by Van Morrison 8. Song: Wonder (Spontaneous), by Bethel Music and Amanda Lindsey Cook 9. Song: Spem in Alium (The Forty-Part Motet), by Thomas Tallis 10. Journal prompts: When have I experienced God (or what I perceived as supernatural) in nature, in church, through another person, or through some other way?  Describe the experience as best you can, your reaction to it, and write about how that experience colored your thinking from that time on.  Do I believe that every person has the potential for mysticism? Why or why not? How can I put myself in the path of receiving a mystical experience in the future?

As we begin a new year, it's a great time to think about the lenses through which we take in what's around us.  Beauty, truth and goodness are three pillars that can help us start this year off well. Thanks so much for listening and for sharing this episode! If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  And here's that update: If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, there's now a way to do just that, and thank you!  You can do that on my page at buymeacoffee.com! 1. Video: O My Soul, by Audrey Assad 2. Podcast: Things Above with James Bryan Smith 3. Podcast: Drink With a Friend, with Tsh Oxenreider and Seth Haines 4. Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table, by Shauna Niequist 5. Chef's Table: visually beautiful storytelling about beautiful food and the chefs who make it. This series will slow you down and help you learn to see and experience beauty for sure. 6. Journal prompts: Where did I find beauty today? How can I be more impeccable with my words? Who has been an example for goodness for me lately? 7. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom 8. How Beautiful, by Twila Paris 9. Goodness of God, by Israel & New Breed, Cristabel Clack 10. What a Wonderful World, by Eva Cassidy

This week, I'll let you in on my discernment process around choosing a word for 2022 and I hope it will serve as a road map of sorts to find your own!  Here are some resources I hope will help you enter this new year with intention. If you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram or on my blog.  If you'd like to help support this podcast financially, thank you!  You can do that on my page at buymeacoffee.com!  1. "The Subversive Magnificat," by EnemyLove 2. "Mary's 'Magnificat' is Revolutionary", from D.L. Mayfield at the Washington Post 3. Read about contributors' words of the year and add your own at oneword365.com 4. Journal prompts: What is one area of my life in which I could make an intentional change this year for the better? What's one thing I learned in 2021? Is there a word or phrase that might guide my progress in 2022, even through unpredictable times? 5. These are some of the songs that popped up on my New Year's run - letting the songs play randomly on a run or walk can be a deeply meaningful spiritual practice for me as I love finding meaning in threads, melodies, words and phrases. I love these songs and hope you will, too.  Happy, healthy, blessed 2022 to you! Ave Maria (Franz Biebl), by Chanticleer Rule - Live, by Hillsong UNITED Bonaparte's Retreat/Hoedown, by W.M. Stepp/Aaron Copland It Is Well With My Soul, by Audrey Assad When I Get Home, by Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell No Hard Feelings, by the Avett Brothers 6. If you're thinking of trying running from the literal couch, I could not recommend this program more.   

A short episode in this liminal week to wish you and yours a blessed Christmas season and a healthy, peaceful, joyful 2022. Thanks so much for listening, sharing, rating, and reviewing the podcast this year - all of that is so appreciated as we grow this Raised Catholic community as a space for people to find welcome, compassion, guidance and direction in their walk with God both inside and outside of church walls.  For those who were kind enough to ask for a way to financially support this podcast this year, thank you! That is so appreciated and humbling and I have finally figured out a way for you to do just that if you'd like!  So now, if you like a particular episode and want to throw a few bucks my way, would like to donate as part of your year-end giving, or want to set up a schedule of giving, you can do that at my page at buymeacoffee. Thanks for your support! Thanks as always to my very talented friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail for the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every Raised Catholic episode. Blessed 2022 to you, friends! 1. Song: Auld Lang Syne, by Betsy Phillips, Robby Hecht 2. Consider your word for 2022 at OneWord365 3. Search some of my past words of the year over at my blog, My Little Epiphanies (put oneword365 in the search bar) 4. Let's be friends on Instagram @kerrycampbellwrites 5. Song: The Lord Bless You and Keep You, by Peter Christian Lutkin, Messiah College Concert Choir 6. Donate for the production of Raised Catholic on buymeacoffee.com/kcampbellwrites (thanks!)

After last week's Say Yes episode, here's a bit of balance, some of the ways in which saying no can aid in our spiritual lives, help us avoid burnout, and lead to the peaceful Christmas and faith lives our souls are longing for.  Here are some resources I hope will help you to explore this topic in a deeper way for yourself. I hope you and yours have a beautiful, simple, blessed and Merry Christmas! NEW: Lots of time goes into making these episodes for you each week and I'm grateful for offers to monetarily support this work. Here's how you can do that: Support the Raised Catholic Podcast at Buy Me a Coffee!  1. In modeling saying no to perfectionism, I've left in the tap tap tap percussive sounds of my dog, Bailey, in this week's episode.  I'm hoping it is a happy addition to Peter Vaughan-Vail's beautiful harp music, and I thank Peter (and Bailey) as always for their help. 2. 6 Things You Can Say No To This Holiday Season, by Shannon Martin 3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original 1966 tv special) 4. Journal prompts:  What is a life-giving practice for me in this holiday season? What traditional practices feel more like work and less like joy? How can I cultivate quiet and peace in order to hear from God in this season? 5. Song: Stille Nacht, by The King's Singers 6. Song: Silent Night (Holding Us Now), by Christy Nockels 7. 4 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress Caused by Perfectionism, by Elizabeth Scott for verywellmind.com

On this first anniversary of the Raised Catholic podcast here in the midst of Advent, we're considering the weight and value of Mary's 'yes' at the Annunciation, and we're exploring the divine 'yesses' in our own lives, including many of my own personal 'yes' stories. I hope these resources will help you explore this topic on your own in a deeper way.  1. "What Mary's Yes Means For Us," by Andrew Willard Jones at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology 2. Video: Say Yes to God: The Immaculate Conception Explained, by Fr. Mike Schmitz with Ascension Presents 3. Podcast: Abiding Together - look at their beautiful Advent series from this year and years past. 4. Journal questions: When has God presented me with an opportunity or open door or invitation in my life?  What did I do with it?  If I said yes, how did it work out?  If I said no, is there some way to change that 'no' to a' 'yes' today?  5. Song: Thy Will Be Done, by Hillary Scott 6. Song: Trust in You, by Lauren Daigle 7. Podcast: That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs and Jeremy Cowart - hear the beautiful story of Jeremy's hard and ongoing 'yes' to creating The Purpose Hotel along with a few other hard 'yesses' in his life 8. Say Yes to God, A Call to Courageous Surrender, by Kay Warren 9. I'm Possible: Jumping into Fear and Discovering a Life of Purpose, by Jeremy Cowart 10. Song: Anyway, by Crazy Whirled “People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God. It was never between you and them anyway.” Mother Teresa

In this week's episode, we're exploring what it means to be hospitable as people of faith.  In this traditional season of gathering, let's consider creative ways that we can welcome, care, and make space for others, even those who are different from us.  Here are some resources which I hope will help you explore this topic in a deeper way on your own. 1. Book: Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition, by Christine D. Pohl 2. Book: Extraordinary Hospitality (for Ordinary People) - Seven Ways to Welcome Like Jesus, by Carolyn Lacey 3. Podcast: Biologos with Shauna Niequist - Let's Sit Here a Little Longer 4. Book: Taste and See: Discovering God Among Butchers, Bakers and Fresh Food Makers, by Margaret Feinberg 5. Podcast: The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman and Shauna Niequist - Make Soup and Eat It, Too 6. Song: All Are Welcome (All Belong), by Jesse Manibusan and Ken Canedo - cover by Chris Brunelle 7. Song: The King Is Coming, by Christy Nockels 8. Song: We Gather Together, arr. S. Paulus 9. Song: Make Room, by Casting Crowns featuring Matt Maher 10. From the Vatican - Synod on Synodality - I pray there's more to come from this beautiful opportunity in every area of the world for the Church to be hospitable in prayerfully listening to God's people.

In this season, our minds turn toward giving, and in this episode we'll talk about the what, where, when, how, and why we give as people of faith. Let's be intentional to give well this year in a way that benefits the recipients of our giving as well as ourselves. 1. As promised, "Christmas Morning" from Saturday Night Live, 2020 2. Song: Simple Gifts, Traditional - Yo-Yo Ma 3. Song: Simple Gifts from Appalachian Spring - Aaron Copland, John Williams, Boston Pops Orchestra 4. Look at (and research using a service such as Charity Navigator) charities that resonate with your talent, interest, and resources and give to them directly, as gifts, or in honor of loved ones. If you're local to me - My Brother's Keeper is a good place to give at this time of year and year-round. 5. A short piece I wrote in 2015 about listening to our inner voice to direct our giving, divine reciprocity, and about finding God in a grocery store (which I do all the time): Pineapples, Orange Soda, Chicken Salad 6. All about St. Nicholas, Gift Giver, from St. Nicholas Center 7. Song: Give a Little Bit, by Supertramp (How does knowing we're all "on our way back home" affect how you give?) 8. Journal prompts: As I look back on my life, how does my own lived experience inform how and to whom I give? If I've suffered hardship (as we all have), how can I turn that experience for the good by investing in and helping my community in a specific way? How can I care for myself well in this season so that my giving comes from a place of health and not depletion this year? What am I good at? What do I have? What do I know? How could I use these things to make the life of someone else better? 9. Video: The Joy of Giving: effects of giving on our brains, by Big Think 10: Song: In the Bleak Midwinter - Worcester Cathedral Choir, Christina Rossetti, Gustav Holst

This week it's all about Advent. Here are some ways we can look for and abide in light as the shepherds did, to make space for Jesus to grow and to share Him as Mary did, and to give out of what we have just like the wise men did!  Advent is a beautiful season of expectant joy, so let's enter in together! 1. The Advent and Christmas music video we made for our chapel community.  Hope it's a blessing to you! 2. Video: Handel's Messiah: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion (Behold Your God) 3. Mary's Magnificat with a reflection from the Kairos Center 4. She Reads Truth free daily Advent Bible study online or printed copies of the study available here 5. Album: Handel: Messiah, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Symphony Orchestra 6. Song: Advent Hymn, Christy Nockels 7. Song: The Wexford Carol, Alison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie MacMaster 8. Children's Book: Jesus' Christmas Party, by Nicholas Allan 9. Serve: In your community, with your gifts. Local to me, I'll be spending some time at My Brother's Keeper this Advent. 10. Have a look (via your computer's search engine) at how the Annunciation or the Visitation is depicted in art across cultures and generations. 11. Journal prompts (write in the company of a candle): What does it say about God that Jesus came to Earth as a human baby? Why would that make a difference in my own life? What comes to mind when I remember my most cherished Christmas memory?  What does that memory speak about me? My family? God? How can I allow Jesus to grow in me this Advent? Who is the person God is calling me uniquely to share my faith with at this time?  12. WONDERFUL free family Advent resources from the Church in the 21st Century at Boston College: Drawing God for Advent, Breakfast With God (30-minute faith formation program on zoom), Faith Feeds (faith discussions with friends). Subscribe to C21 for updates!

In this week's episode, we're talking about what it means to have freedom in our faith. Spoiler: it might be different from what you think.  Here are some resources that will help you explore this topic in a deeper way on your own. 1. Song: O Freedom, by the Golden Gospel Singers 2. Song: Free, by Ginny Owens 3. Song: Known, Seen, Loved by MORIAH 4. Song: Give Me Jesus, by Fernando Ortega 5. Book: You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are, by Rebekah Lyons 6. Book: The Way of the Heart, by Henri Nouwen 7. Podcast: That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs: guest: Mike Donehey (I loved this conversation about the unlikely roads that bring us unexpected freedom to be who we are.) 8. Art: One of my favorites from Scott Erickson (read the caption!) 9. Song: Open My Hands, by Sara Groves 10. Podcast: Be The Bridge - a great starting point for perspective on using one's own freedom to advance the freedom of another 11. Video: On detachment as a source of freedom from Fr. Mike Schmitz and Ascension Presents

This week we're contemplating our deaths and by doing so, we're clarifying just how it is we want to live.  I hope these resources will help you explore this topic in a deeper way on your own. 1. Song: When I Get Home, by Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell 2. Song: House of Gold, by Patty Griffin 3. Song: Laudate Dominum, by Mozart 4. Song: Carry Me Home, by The Sweeplings 5. Song: We Shall All Be Reunited, by Patty Griffin 6. Song: Deep River, Traditional, Chanticleer 7. Book: Memento Mori: Prayers on the Last Things, by Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble (an atheist-turned-nun) 8. Video: Memento Mori, by Fr. Mike Schmitz with Ascension Presents 9. Instagram Follows: Penny the Nurse and hospicenursejulie: hospice nurses with an open, sometimes funny, and sometimes profound take on death and dying 10: Book: A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death, by Dr. BJ Miller (a hospice and palliative medicine physician) 11. Podcast: Everything Happens with Kate Bowler - Dr. BJ Miller, palliative medicine and hospice doctor on Loving What Is

In this week's episode we're comparing the life of faith to a race we want to run well and with intention.  I hope these resources will help you to do just that! 1. Song: We Will Rise Again, by David Haas, cover by Chris Brunelle 2. "Hero's Journey", at My Little Epiphanies, about my first half marathon 3. "Unlikely Holy Ground", at My Little Epiphanies, about my experience with God running around a track 4. Rescue, by Lauren Daigle 5. Video: A concise explanation of the Prodigal Son story from the Bible Project 6. Song: On My Way, by Louis Armstrong 7. Song Video: Softly and Tenderly, by Audrey Assad and Sandra McCracken 8. Song Video: Home, by Phillip Phillips 9. Beautiful art/caption from Scott Erickson on Instagram 10. Beautiful homily from Fr. Matt Williams in Quincy, MA on All Saints Day, 11/1/21: "Begin With the End in Mind" 11. Journal prompts:  What am I running toward today? What do I want to be able to say on my last day that will reflect a life well lived? If I look at how I spend my time, my thoughts and my resources, where are these steering me? What are my life goals or my after-life goals?   In terms of intention in life, am I walking, meandering, jogging, running, staying put, or some combination of these today? What was the best funeral I ever attended?  How did I know that that person lived a 'good life'?  What was the evidence? Angles are everything: what small decision could I make today to pivot a bit closer to where I want to be heading on my life's journey?                                    

This week's episode is about messengers of God, the human and angelic variety, and how prophets or messengers are still very much a part of how God works in the world today.  I hope these resources will help you explore this topic in a deeper way on your own. 1. Get yourself to a Tatte Bakery location and enjoy their beautiful food and environment.  2. Twenty Bible instances of angels as God's messengers 3. Song: Sun, by Sleeping At Last 4. Song: A Message, by Coldplay 5. Story of modern-day prophet Rachel Held Evans, Prophet With a Pen, by Jonathan Merritt 6. Journal prompts: when might I have encountered a messenger from God in my lifetime?  What happened?  How did it make me feel?  How did that encounter change my path or my thinking?  7. This video from BibleProject explaining part of the Book of Isaiah does a good job of explaining the work and role of a prophet in the Old Testament - Isaiah gives judgment, predicts trouble, and gives clarity, hope and a path. He speaks for God to religious leaders/community who have gone astray.

Today we're reaching way back to January of 2021 to episode 4: Is It Okay to Question? We center in on three areas in this episode: 1. Is it okay to question the Church's teachings? 2. Is it okay to question the Church's clergy? 3. Is it okay to question God? This is an important brick in the rebuilding of our faith foundation, so I hope you'll give it a listen! Here are some resources that will help you explore this topic for yourself. Blessings on you as you do the holy work of questioning. 1. Open up that “Conversations with God” notebook we’ve talked about and write out your questions or concerns about our faith’s teachings, practices, and public personalities. You don’t have to tackle them all in one sitting (or ever) but getting them out there in writing is a good start. 2. Searching for Sunday, by Rachel Held Evans 3. The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Henri Nouwen 4. Miracles and Other Reasonable Things, by Sarah Bessey 5. Podcast: More Than Small Talk with Holley Gerth, Suzanne Eller, and Jennifer Watson 6. Podcast: Evolving Faith with Sarah Bessey and Jeff Chu

Today, we're talking about the transcendentals of beauty, truth and goodness and how these can serve as guideposts toward the lives we want to be living in these chaotic times.  I hope these resources will help you explore this topic further on your own! 1. Video: O My Soul, by Audrey Assad 2. Podcast: Things Above with James Bryan Smith 3. Podcast: Drink With a Friend, with Tsh Oxenreider and Seth Haines 4. Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table, by Shauna Niequist 5. Chef's Table: visually beautiful storytelling about beautiful food and the chefs who make it. This series will slow you down and help you learn to see and experience beauty for sure. 6. Journal prompts:  Where did I find beauty today? How can I be more impeccable with my words? Who has been an example for goodness for me lately? 7. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom 8. How Beautiful, by Twila Paris 9. Goodness of God, by Israel & New Breed, Cristabel Clack 10. What a Wonderful World, by Eva Cassidy

Today we're talking about intercessory or petitionary prayer, some scriptural references to this form of prayer, and the open-handed posture we can take while praying, whether or not we 'get' what we ask for. Here are some resources which I hope will help you explore this topic in a deeper way for yourself. 1. Everything Happens for a Reason (And Other Lies I've Loved), by Kate Bowler 2. Podcast: Terrible, Thanks for Asking 3. Podcast: Everything Happens 4. Praying the Scriptures for Your Life, by Jodie Berndt and Ann Voskamp  5. Take Heart: 100 Devotions to Seeing God When Life's Not Okay (mine is essay #100!) 6. Video: What is Intercessory Prayer? by Rethink Church 7. Song: Even When It Hurts (I'll Praise You), by Hillsong 8. Song: God With Us, by All Sons & Daughters 9. From Handel's Messiah: Comfort Ye My People/Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted 10: Song: Open My Hands, by Sara Groves (video live version) 11. Help Thanks Wow, by Anne Lamott 12. Remember God, by Annie F. Downs

Today's episode is all about retreats; why we retreat, the many varieties of them, and why this time in history when we so badly want to move forward is actually the perfect time to retreat. Here are some resources I hope will help you explore this topic for yourself. 1. My retreat home: Holy Cross Retreat House in Easton, Massachusetts - information on cursillo programs may be found here. 2. To find a cursillo program through you - check in with local Catholic or Protestant parishes and churches, or search 'cursillo weekend near me' 3. Weston Priory, the monastery in Vermont where I went on retreat 4. Miramar - a retreat center in Duxbury, Massachusetts 5. Song: The Detour, by FAITHFUL 6. Song: Nothing to Fear, by The Porter's Gate 7. Video: Love is Moving, by Audrey Assad 8. A description and history of Cursillo, plus the cursillo weekend schedule at my retreat house