Gadgets have become so much a part of our lives. We take them with us and use them throughout our entire day. For some, this includes when they’re at Mass, in Confession or in other worship environments. It’s a great blessing to have apps on our phones that allow us to follow the daily Mass readings, prepare to make a good confession and improve our spiritual lives in countless other ways. Are you someone who utilizes technology in worship settings? Maybe you follow along at Mass on your phone instead of in the Missalette? Have you taken some sort of electronic device with you into the Confessional as a reminder of what you want to confess, how to prepare for Confession, say the appropriate prayers (like the Act of Contrition), etc.? It seems that every Church now announces at the beginning of Mass that we should turn off or silence our cell phones, so that they don’t become a distraction to others who are worshipping. What are your thoughts on making use of these amazing technological advances in the aforementioned ways? Call with your take on Tuesday.

The Take 2 Family is a praying family! We all should know that by now. Every day, we all are praying for listeners and members of the family who are in need. And, once a month we dedicate an entire show to letting you voice your personal intentions. On Monday, that’s what we’ll do. You can call them in, text them in, post on social media, e-mail us or post on the show’s website. At the end of the show, we save a few minutes to gather up all the important intentions and offer them collectively to the Lord.

We read a praise report about these two adorable twin girls who were born very prematurely, and spent months in the hospital. They just celebrated their first birthday and their baptism, thanks in part to the prayers of the Take 2 Family!

As Catholics, we are vehemently opposed to anything having to do with attempting to communicate with the dead. But that’s different from times when so many of us have experienced things that for the most part can only be explained by the intercession of a loved one who is with God. For example, on the day Jerry and his brother-in-law made funeral and burial arrangements for Jerry’s sister, Mary, on the way back to their home there was a perfect rainbow arching right over their house. Jerry had said to his brother-in-law earlier in the day, “Maybe we’ll see a rainbow today as a sign from Mush (her nickname).” Have you had experiences that caused you to believe that maybe, just maybe, someone in heaven was watching over you? Let’s talk about it on Friday.

Being given the gift of faith is an amazing blessing. Of course, we have to put in some effort to make sure we don’t forfeit our faith. Things like praying, receiving the sacraments, fulfilling our duties toward the Church and our brothers and sisters, etc. It’s not all that uncommon for any one of us to get a little lax in our devotion. It’s been said that, “God loves us just the way we are, and He loves us too much to let us stay that way.” The Christian life is a journey toward holiness. Have you ever felt that God allowed something(s) to happen in your life to get your attention, and to bring you back into a right focus on Him? It could be an illness, the death of a loved one, an accident, a natural disaster, a failed relationship, losing your job, and so forth. God wants nothing more than for each of us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. Therefore, as the Bible tells us, he will admonish and chastise us as necessary, as a form of discipline to make us stronger and to help us persevere in faith. Join us Monday and share your take on this topic.

In what seems like a never-ending saga, the Church continues to be pummeled by allegations of sexual abuse and cover ups by clergy. Of course, this has been talked about at great length on many EWTN Radio and Television shows. On Friday’s Take 2 With Jerry and Debbie, we invite you to call and share with the world your thoughts on the whole mess. Has it caused you to lose confidence in our priests and bishops? To pull back from your practice of the faith? To hold back your financial donations? To be less inclined to display your Catholicism publicly? This sad chapter in the Church’s history impacts all of us. Thus, it should be a very busy and heartfelt conversation.

Each one of us is a beautiful creation of God. We have inherent worth and dignity that doesn’t depend on anything other than our existence. And we’re all different in many ways. Sometimes we wish we were different in some ways. Maybe you’ve said to yourself, “I wish I weren’t so short,” or, “I wish I weren’t so impatient,” or, “I wish I weren’t overweight.” You get the idea. The examples could be endless. On Thursday, that will be our topic for conversation. The goal is not to look at ourselves and point out flaws. It’s just that sometimes we don’t appreciate everything about who we are. Perhaps we can all come away with a better perspective and gratitude to God for being exactly the persons he made us be.

A few weeks ago, we did parts one and two on the topic of the opioid crisis, and how it has impacted you and your family. We have continued to hear from many of you that you believe it’s worthy of revisiting. So, on Wednesday, that’s what we’ll do. Plan to call early to make sure you get on the show and impact the world for good. Jerry and Debbie will also continue the conversation with you on The After Show. Listen for all the details!

Article on St. Mark Ji Tianxiang. Read this!

Every day, priests around the world hear the confessions of people who have been away from the sacraments and a practice of their faith for quite some time. In some instances, it has been as long as seventy years or more. While many factors could keep someone from returning to their faith through the portal of the confessional, it often boils down to shame, embarrassment or fear of what Father might say to them. They get up the nerve, anyway, and, lo and behold, it turns out to be a peaceful, joyous, healing, and even tearful encounter. Have you been down this road? If so, Tuesday is when we ask that you call the show and share your journey with the world. Who knows how many people you could inspire to return to the Sacrament of Confession and an active participation in the life of the Church!

Every person who ever lives will experience it. You want something. You desire something. You believe God is calling you to do something. You’re absolutely certain that you’re supposed to pursue it. Yet, all around you are obstacles. People who disagree or disapprove. Lack of human or financial resources. Physical limitations. You name it. The phrase that’s often used is, “God has to move mountains for me.” One of Debbie’s favorite Bible verses is Matthew 19:26, which rightly points out the limitations of mankind, but notes “with God all things are possible.” Jesus even noted that we can move mountains if we have faith the size of a mustard seed. Has there been a time in your life when God has indeed moved mountains to allow you to achieve something? This will be a lively and vibrant discussion as we celebrate the fourth anniversary of the show on Friday!

A beautiful song about God moving mountains.

Human history is filled with the discoveries and inventions of man. We have always sought to do things better, faster, more efficiently, more cost-effective, etc. If you were to give it a little thought, what do you think has been the single most influential advancement made by man throughout history? The wheel? Fire? Running water? The Internet? Scientific or medical progress? Do you believe the advantages of all of these have outweighed the potential negatives, especially in recent decades? Call with your take on Thursday.