Take 2 with Jerry & Debbie

We all are asked by people to pray for them. It happens all the time on Take 2. Some choose to keep a written list and verbalize those names every day. Others make a mental intention at the time they’re asked to pray for someone, trusting that God will include those intentions in all of their prayers. Still others just lift up those who come to mind when they’re in prayer. How do you keep track of and pray for all those who ask you for your prayers? Share your take with Jerry and Debbie on Monday’s show.

Ask Jerry and Debbie anything today, within reason of course.  Suggest future topics for shows, or make comments that may be beneficial to everyone.  Unscripted is very popular with our Take 2 family because it gives a chance to get to know each other just a little bit better.  Call in at 1-800-585-9396.

There are types of shame that serve good purposes, especially those we experience when we have done something we know we shouldn’t have done. But there are also unhealthy forms of shame, like the kind that we carry around when we feel guilty for something that was done to us, and for which we should realistically feel no responsibility. Are you conscious of anything you’re carrying around that you’d like Jesus to lift from you? Call and share your take – and if you’ve already been released of unwarranted shame – on Thursday’s show.

If you’ve listened to Take 2 With Jerry and Debbie even occasionally, you know that prayer is a huge part of what we like to do. Debbie keeps a book with the names of family members – living or deceased – of so many of you who have called the show. We lift those people up to God every day. We also have the prayer wall on Jerry and Debbie’s website – http://www.jerryanddebbie.com/prayer-wall. On Wednesday, we’re going to invite you to call with any intention you’d like and we’ll save a few minutes at the end of the show to pray for all of them by name. We look forward to joining you in praying for what’s important in your life!

At some point, almost everyone’s faith is going to be shaken. The apostles experienced this. Many of the great saints have as well. Mother Teresa lived for decades in a spiritual dryness that only her will allowed her to endure. Many things can contribute to a weakening of one’s faith, including laxity in prayer, infrequent reception of the sacraments, habitual sins, the temptations and allurements of the world, family members or friends challenging your faith, etc. Even God testing our faith can cause this to happen. Share with Jerry and Debbie if you have had a crisis of faith sometime in your life, and how you dealt with it and overcame it.

Most of us take after our father or our mother. Perhaps not exclusively but in some predominant ways. Is it true that boys take after their fathers, and girls take after their mothers? Which of your parents do you most strive to emulate? Or do you tend to exhibit the traits of one of them more than the other? Share your take Monday with Jerry and Debbie.

While it’s not something we often think about, the influence of our great Catholic saints in everywhere we turn. Some of us live in a city or a county named after a saint. Others live on a street that bears the name of a saint. If you do, wouldn’t it be appropriate to ask for the intercession of that saint to bring you God’s graces or to keep your street or city safe? This may be a lot more common than you think. Call and share your take with Jerry and Debbie on Friday’s show.

The Beautiful Hands of a Priest

We need them in life’s early morning,
We need them again at its close;
We feel their warm clasp of true friendship,
We seek them when tasting life’s woes.

At the altar each day we behold them,
And the hands of a king on his throne
Are not equal to them in their greatness;
Their dignity stands all alone;

And when we are tempted and wander,
To pathways of shame and of sin,
It’s the hand of a priest that will absolve us–
Not once, but again and again.

And when we are taking life’s partner,
Other hands may prepare us a feast,
But the hand that will bless and unite us–
Is the beautiful hand of a priest.

God bless them and keep them all holy,
For the Host which their fingers caress;
When can a poor sinner do better,
Than to ask Him to guide thee and bless?

When the hour of death comes upon us,
May our courage and strength be increased,
By seeing raised over us in blessing–
The beautiful hands of a priest.

Author unknown
from an old prayer card

Some people pray that their parish priest will be better at homilies. Others that he will be more compassionate in the confessional. These are good reasons to pray for them. But the most important reason we should pray for them is because they are in the cross hairs of the devil and his demons. They are under major attack. They have special graces from God to endure in their vocation. But our prayers help them remain strong and faithful. Like in the Old Testament when the people held up Moses’ arms and the Israelites were winning the battle. When they grew weary and didn’t hold up his arms, they were losing the battle.  Share why you pray for priests and why others should as well.  1-800-585-9396

Hands of the priest prayer – https://www.ewtn.com/library/PRIESTS/POEMPRIE.TXT

Sometimes the social media feel like a battleground. Many use it for unhealthy purposes, including to lead people away from God and the faith. Others take advantage of its robust ability to reach the multitudes to spread a positive message that all can benefit from. What’s really cool is seeing our clergy and religious using social media to proclaim the gospel. One such priest is Fr. Joshua Wagner of the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio. His website – http://www.fatherwagner.com – is loaded with good stuff. And he makes full use of social media as well. On Wednesday, Jerry and Debbie will welcome Fr. Joshua to the show and will get his personal take on how he spreads the faith in a global manner. We look forward to hearing how you do likewise, and if your parish priest has a social media presence!