We all should be familiar with what’s known as the Sabbath. In the Old Testament, the People of God were exhorted to do no work, but to rest, on the seventh day of the week. Many Jews still observe that practice. God even mandated that the land be given a Sabbath every seven years. In fact, we see the perfect example of “rest” in the story of creation, when God “rested” on the seventh day. It’s been part of God’s plan since the beginning of time that all of his creation – especially humans – take time to rest, get refreshed, and honor Him by doing so. How good are you at taking a little “down time?” Does that “to do” list haunt you to the point that you aren’t able to grab a quick nap on Sunday, or even steal a few quiet moments during the week? Share your takes with Jerry and Debbie and the world on Tuesday’s show, which airs twice a day – Noon and Midnight ET – on EWTN Radio.

Prayer is a person’s lifeline to God. It’s how we speak to Him, and how we listen to hear His voice. We discover so many things by talking to God in prayer: His will for our lives, how much He loves us, and much, much more. This accentuates how important it is that we learn to pray as early in life as possible. If you have kids, you want to train them in the ways of God by teaching them how to pray. This may take the form of basic repeated prayers when they’re very young, and develop into a more conversational style of communicating with God a bit later. On Monday, Jerry and Debbie welcome your takes on how you’ve taught – or plan to teach – your kids to pray. Join us!

A listener named Elizabeth called but didn’t get on the show today. She e-mailed to let us know about a Children’s Rosary movement. Here’s the information – http://childrensrosary.blogspot.com/. Thanks, Elizabeth

AUDIO ARCHIVES:

SHORT TAKE: Mary Jo

Well, here we are. Another Friday in Lent. Gotta’ leave the meat alone and grab some fish (or another non-meat choice) again. What’s up with that? What’s the deeper meaning behind the Church’s guidelines on fasting and abstaining during Lent? There are a lot of ways to look at these issues, and we’ll do just that – of course, with your great takes – as we end the week’s broadcasts. Join Jerry and Debbie at Noon and Midnight ET on EWTN Radio!

It’s about the halfway point of Lent for this year. How’s it going for you? Do you feel stronger in your faith? Have you remained faithful to your Lenten resolutions or sacrifices? Going to Mass or praying more frequently? Exercising greater charity toward others? Or, on the flip side, have you felt increased spiritual attack due to your efforts to make it a great Lent? Lots of things to discuss on Thursday with Jerry and Debbie at Noon and Midnight ET!

In spite of a culture that’s awash in relativism, a few things remain almost universally recognized as being wrong. One of them is lying. Just about everyone will admit that it’s morally wrong to tell a falsehood, at least under “normal” circumstances. (This doesn’t get into the ethical situations when it’s not only morally acceptable to lie, but perhaps even morally obligatory; a favorite example being a German citizen lying to the Nazis when asked if he has Jews in his house, in order to save the lives of the Jewish people under his roof). But what about those seemingly “harmless” lies, such as one told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings? Should we be concerned about telling small, or “white,” lies? That’s our topic Wednesday. Call early to be sure you get on the program to share your take with Jerry and Debbie and the world!

We talk about forgiveness and the need to forgive quite a bit in our Church.  In this Year of Mercy that Pope Francis has called forth, maybe it is the perfect time to re-visit this topic and look deeper into the effects that unforgiveness has on the soul.  In this world, holding onto past hurts and resentments seems gratifying on the surface.  But we know from research that over time this attitude reeks havoc on the body and more importantly on the soul.  Join us as we take a fresh look at unforgiveness.  Jerry and Debbie will share from their hearts and we ask you to do the same.  So call in at 1-800-585-9396.

RESOURCES: Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach

It’s Leap Year!   An extra day at your disposal.  Great question to ask…If time was on your side, what would you do with it?  Would you use it for your spiritual formation?  Would you work harder and accumulate more money for your retirement?  Would you spend time with family and friends?  Or maybe you might just want to rest and enjoy the simple things of life.  Jerry and Debbie want YOU to join them in this discussion by calling 1-800-585-9396.  Share your view on this subject.  Remember, something you share may be just the wisdom others need.  See you Monday!

As Bob Dylan once sang, “It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you gotta’ serve somebody.” As Christians, we obviously believe that the devil is real, and that he has designs on our souls. St. Peter wrote (1 Peter 5:8) that our opponent, the devil, is prowling like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Should we be fearful of what the devil can do to us? Just how much influence does he have over us? What can we do to make sure we’re not within his immediate reach? Jerry and Debbie will be joined on Friday by religious demonologist Adam Blai, who works for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He assists his bishop and others around the country on cases of demonic origin. He also trains priests to perform solemn exorcisms. But he’s very skilled in sharing basic insights with people like us, who simply want to live for Jesus and avoid the lures of the devil. Tune in and call with your questions and takes.

As we prepare to wrap up Black History Month, Jerry and Debbie will be joined on Thursday by Gloria Purvis, a well-known host on EWTN Television and Radio (daily on “Morning Glory” with Brian Patrick and Father Aquinas Guilbeau). Together, they’ll discuss the importance of the Catholic faith to the black community. According to the National Black Catholic Congress – http://nbccongress.org – 25% of the world’s Catholic population is black. But in the United States, that number is only 4%. What is your experience with our black Catholic brothers and sisters? Share your take at Noon ET, with a replay of the show at Midnight ET.

You pull over to the side of the road to let an ambulance go by. You read or hear about the death of a famous actor or athlete. You pass what appears to be a horrific accident on the freeway. While most people slow down and strain to get a glimpse off the wreckage, how many are praying for the people who were injured or killed? If you’ve ever been inspired to pray for someone you didn’t personally know – but you knew that individual was in dire need of prayer – share your take with Jerry and Debbie on Wednesday at Noon Eastern Time, with an encore broadcast at Midnight Eastern Time.