Category: Ascension

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 281 – Keep Holy the Lord’s Day

We begin exploring the Third Commandment and learn about rest and worship concerning the Lord’s Day. The Catechism points out that God models what he wants for us as he also rested on the seventh day. Fr. Mike explains the importance of prioritizing rest for ourselves because we are free and no longer enslaved people. The Catechism describes how we are to keep the Lord’s Day holy with “outward, visible, public, and regular worship ‘as a sign of his universal beneficence to all.’” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2168-2176.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/7UqszpI7_WM?si=EfwNSLNjqUmP42Ti

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 280 – The Christian Name

What does it mean to bear the Christian name? The Catechism reminds us that in Baptism, we are given our Christian name, which is sacred. Our name represents the dignity of each of us and depicts how God loves us each uniquely. Fr. Mike explains that each time we make the Sign of the Cross, we call upon the Lord to bear witness to what we are about to do. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2156-2167.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/MqoZDijCD0o?si=3pnrvZ9fauTooQ99

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 279 – False Oaths


Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the second commandment. Fr. Mike emphasizes that an oath engages the Lord’s name, and the Lord is the Lord of truth. We, therefore, have a duty as Christians to respect God’s name in matters of truth. He also emphasizes that everything we say is either in conformity to truth or in opposition to truth. Today’s readings are paragraphs 2150-2155.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/Xt1HEvpoDyM?si=FWuJF8FPiid1dodq

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Distracted? Use It.

When you’re first growing in prayer and developing your relationship with Jesus, it is worth the effort to fight distractions in prayer. The more you can focus on our Lord, the more fruit you can see from prayer, and the deeper a bond you can experience with Jesus.

But, let’s be real—distraction is inevitable. It’s human. And our brains are hardwired, in some ways, to move on to “the next thing”.

The Saints knew this, and there is an “advanced solution” to distraction in prayer—use it in prayer. Today, Fr. Mike tells us how.

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 278 – The Second Commandment

We begin our examination of the second commandment, to not take the Lord’s name in vain. Fr. Mike emphasizes that God has revealed his sacred name to us, and it is our duty to treat that name with reverence. He also emphasizes just how easy it is for us to take the Lord’s name in vain in our day and age, and how vitally important it is for us to treat his holy name with respect. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2142-2149.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/V-0SXT0mGZA?si=BiC6bprB2NdIWXMH

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 276 – Irreligion and Atheism

We continue our examination of the First Commandment, unpacking irreligion and atheism. Fr. Mike highlights the different elements of irreligion, namely tempting God in words or deeds, sacrilege, and simony. He emphasizes that the sin of tempting God is easy to fall into when we are deeply troubled or afraid. Fr. Mike also spends time unpacking the many different aspects of atheism, and its impact on our world today. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2118-2126.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/E8YwsR6eBJU?si=JeAxhn0i8V2NzBCd

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 275 – Superstition, Idolatry, and Magic

Superstition, idolatry, divination, and magic are all things we can encounter in our daily lives, and, with Fr. Mike, we unpack how they break the First Commandment. Fr. Mike reiterates that superstition represents an “excess of religion” and can affect the worship we offer to God. He points out that we can be superstitious even in our Catholic practices. He also explains that idolatry consists of divinizing anything that is not God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2110-2117.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/bMORyqUA0kQ?si=VxERonnzh-jXT1-Z

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 274 – Social Duty of Religion

The social duty of religion and the right to religious freedom are presented to us in the Catechism. We examine what it means to have respect for other religions and the freedom, within limits, to exercise our convictions. Fr. Mike makes it clear that it is our calling as Christians to evangelize and bring our Catholic Christianity to the public square. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2104-2109.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/aVzWaC9X5oM?si=FyGxta7S9FrcG4dC