Life can move quickly at times. Just about every one of us has felt like we woke up one morning and realized that years – maybe decades – had passed since some monumental thing happened in our lives. It could be your college graduation, when your first child was born, when you endured some illness or injury or anything else. Some life experiences are so vivid, so painful or joyful, so seared into our memories that when they come to mind it can seem like they just happened the day before. On Thursday, call and share an experience or event that fits this description in your life, and some of the ways it is tied to your faith journey.

He’s completely silent in Scripture. At least when it comes to words. But he is clearly one of the most important figures in salvation history, especially with regard to how he led the holy family and helped to raise Jesus in preparation for His ministry, passion and death. After the Virgin Mary, there is no saint more powerful when it comes to interceding for us and helping us. Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church, Terror of Demons and much more. So, how often do you turn to him for help? Do you have a devotion to St. Joseph? Are you named after him? Why do you think he has always been more or less “hidden” in many people’s spiritual lives? Let’s talk about this on Tuesday – the Feast of St. Joseph!

A lot of EWTN radio shows have been all over this story in their reporting, which is why we don’t revisit it very often. But let’s have another conversation about how you think the Church, the pope, the bishops and the victims’ groups have been handling all of this in recent months, especially following the summit at the Vatican a few weeks ago. Has your faith in our clergy taken a hit? Have you undertaken initiatives to show support for the huge majority of faithful priests? Do you think the Church is now taking all of this seriously enough? There are countless angles to this sad story. Share your take on Monday’s show.

There are times in life when we just aren’t sure what to do. We have to make decisions all the time, some more important, some less. Prayer and discernment are important components in decision making. And then there are those times when you just have a hunch, an intuition, or what some call a “gut instinct.” Has there been a time (or times) in your life when you followed such a nudge and it turned out to be the right decision? Or maybe the wrong decision? Let’s have a conversation about this on Friday’s show.

It’s great to be surrounded by people of like mind, especially those who share our Catholic Christian faith. Our walk with the Lord is strengthened by the faith of family members, friends, co-workers, fellow parishioners, etc. And it can make a big difference when the area where we live is overall more Catholic. Of course, a higher percentage of Catholics in an area doesn’t necessarily equate to a more fervent faith in that area. On Wednesday, let’s talk about where you live, how Catholic it is, how fervent it is, and how much difference that makes for you in your personal faith journey.

The prayer by Fr. Pedro Arrupe that many listeners have requested (it was mentioned by one of our callers today):

Have you ever participated in character assassination? If so, were you aware that the sin of detraction is a serious matter?  Intentionally exposing one’s real faults may seem like it is harmless because in fact it is true, but when that occurs a slow chipping away at one’s reputation transpires. The bible warns us against this scenario and yet the world treats this as a standard operating procedure.  This topic was suggested by one of our loyal listeners in light of the priest scandal. This is what she asked… When can we mention names when discussing priestly abuse?  What about credible accusations although not convicted?  These issues are getting close to home for many of us. The CCC 2477 when mentioning the sin of detraction includes,”without objectively valid reason”. What constitutes a valid objective reason? How does a person commit the sin of detraction and I’m speaking of a catholic that is faithfully trying to live out their faith and not one that frequently gossips? So, let’s address the sin of detraction and see if we can come away with a better understanding of what to avoid.  Call us, 1-833-288-3986

The Bible is very clear that discipline is required for each of us, including and especially when we are young and being trained in the ways of life. Without appropriate discipline, children become adults with a greatly diminished capacity for leading healthy lives. But discipline can cross a line and become abuse if it’s not administered in the right ways. And philosophies and methods of child discipline fluctuate greatly and are prone to change over time. What are some of the ways that you do and don’t like to discipline your kids? Do you ever use corporal discipline? Time outs? Making your children do extra chores? Do you ground them? Take away their privileges or tech gadgets? We always learn from you, so let’s have a vibrant discussion about this on Monday.

Debbie will be off on Friday, so call and talk with Jerry about something in your life you believe might be tough to let go of if you had to. This isn’t just a topic he came up with because it’s Lent. Rather, because life brings us to moments when we realize that something that’s been part of our routine has to go. Maybe it’s a friendship that is no longer healthy for you. Perhaps it’s a favorite activity that your body will no longer allow you to engage in. Or it could be a food or beverage item that your doctor tells you it’s time to let go of. This all gets at the heart of one of the most important aspects of the spiritual life – detachment. Let’s have a great conversation about this on Friday’s show!

It might just be human nature. Prior to entering into a season of penance and mortification, we like to “live it up” one last time. Of course, as Catholic Christians, we want to feast when the Church feasts, and fast when the Church fasts. Not that Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a day specifically set aside by the Church for “feasting” in any particular sense. On Tuesday, we want to talk about what you do – or don’t do – on the day before Ash Wednesday, perhaps to enjoy something you love one final time for at least forty days. Or, do you spend Fat Tuesday spiritually preparing to get your Lent started the next day? Should be in interesting and enlightening discussion.

On Friday, we’ll have our monthly show where you can call in and share with the world the important intentions you are praying for. We also lift up the intentions you share on social media, as well as via text and e-mail. We always save a couple minutes at the end of the show to gather up all the intentions and offer them to the Lord. Let’s pray for one another again on Friday.