Publication Review date Sep. 25, 2020 In times of great difficulty God raises up saints to meet the challenge and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. In the 1500s the city of Rome and the Church were facing a time of great difficulty. The Protestant Reformation was challenging the Church and Rome had recently been sacked by Charles V. Who did God send?  Among others, St. Phillip Neri came to Rome and sought to do the will of God in sharing with young homeless and unemployed people the gospel. St. Phillip Neri’s story is an example of a saint using unconventional methods to teach the ageless gospel message. Read my review of this video below. 

I remember when my oldest child was 2 1/2-year-old. Her favorite word is “Why?” If it wasn’t so cute how she says it, it might be annoying (okay, sometimes it is annoying). But in reality, she is asking the right question. Sometimes at Church we do a good job explaining the what or the who and don’t do as good job explaining the why. The talk I reviewed on Formed today answers the simple question, “Why Jesus?” You will get a load of material as to why you, and everyone in your life, can and should believe in Jesus Christ.

In a time of great uncertainty, it can be easy to lose hope. However, this is just the time to focus on each next step to move forward with a boldness that accomplishes the mission we’ve always been on - to make Jesus known and loved in the world. In that spirit, Dr. Tim Gray has interviewed George Weigel about his new book The Next Pope. As Mr. Weigel explains, this book isn’t about personalities or a list of top candidates, but is a vision for what the next pope needs to be. Consequently, this is a vision for how the Church must be in the world and how we must embrace our call as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. This interview is fascinating for those of us who love the Church and want the world to know the joy of being Catholic. This interview might just be fascinating for you too. Check out my review.

I don’t know about you, but pressing pause on what had been my normal life has led to more introspection and questioning than I would have ever done in a normal month. Sometimes that thinking as been difficult. By no coincidence, formed.org has released the first episode of a new series called The Search. This series is all about our search for meaning and happiness. It seems to me to be a good time to consider the big questions of life.

In the midst of being socially isolated and with the absence of public Masses being said in our Archdiocese, we can feel pretty separated not only from each other, but from the Eucharist as well. This might just be the time to learn a little more about the Eucharist and Mass.

At the core of Mass isn’t singing or the homily. At the heart of Mass is Jesus in the Word and the Eucharist. This week I am reviewing at talk given by Fr. Mike Schmitz called “True Worship.” Check out my first review, just click here.