Brand New Experimental Catholic Podcast

I launched another thing. This thing is an audio experiment where I'll have conversations with people I find interesting, or make weird little audio projects like 003: 🎉 New Years, Limit, and Its Overcoming 🎉, or answer voicemails you can call in and leave me (just call 817-527-1423) 

Here's a few of the episodes we've released so far, with new episodes coming out once a week. (Right now you can listen in iTunes or Overcast, and probably a few other podcast players.)

005: 🎸 Sam Rocha on Roots, Education, and his dislike of Jordan Peterson
Doctor of philosophy, musician, and critic Sam Rocha talks about growing up sort-of like an amish person and his critique of Jordan Peterson.

004: 📢 Tony Vasinda from The Threshold Podcast
Tony has a podcast where he interviews people with all sorts of beliefs. We talk about the new world of being religious online and we argue about how to tweet.

001: 🧠 Hunter Maats on How We Think, Culture, and Reconciling Science and Religion
Hunter Maats has a monster of a podcast with comedian Bryan Callen where they think hard about thinking and break down political correctness, fundamentalist bias, and do a little reconciling of science and religion. We talk about how saying "I feel" is totally okay.

 003: 🎉 New Years, Limit, and Its Overcoming 🎉
This is a solo episode where I read a selection from the Swiss physician and mystic Adrienne Von Speyr. It's a chapter on resolutions that I read every year around New Year's time.

This is an experiment and a labor of love. There is no big company or board of directors telling me what I can or can't make. But I'm doing this all with my limited resources of time and money. If you would like to support independent Catholic/weird content like this, consider checking out the Patreon community for The Show where you can support the show, and get rewards and exclusive content.

As always, thanks for being here!

+JMJ
Edmund

Ministry Planning Worksheet for a Clear Path of Discipleship

We've set out at our parish to communicate and implement a parish vision and strategy from womb to tomb.

Our mission: To build a Church of missionary disciples in Grapevine, Texas.

Our strategy: To use a clear path of discipleship to walk people through the stages of Encounter, Grow, and Serve.

(This is a simple articulation of the catechumenal model, or the evangelization process). 

One challenge is making sure all of our ministries are balanced - meaning they are intentional at each stage of this clear path of discipleship. First, all of our ministry coordinators, volunteers, and parents should be aware of a clear path of discipleship. Then all of our leaders and coordinators of ministries (think youth ministry, adult ministry, young adult, mom's ministry, etc) should be planning their efforts around the clear path of discipleship. They can also evaluate where they are weak or strong and what areas to be working and praying on. Finally, the clear path of discipleship should be communicated regularly. This helps people walk others along the path in a customized way, and also helps people know what well best help them where they are at.

I've used something like this before; you can see early versions of this two years ago when I was trying to think of a way to aritculate an evangelistic model for youth ministry. I was also inspired by a version created by Eric Gallager of Discipleship Focused Youth Ministry to create one for our own specific needs, context, and language.  Feel free to download the pdf below and create your own version based on your situation.

If you use something like this to train volunteers or your ministry team, let me know what you learn!

Downloadable Worksheet
Clear Path of Discipleship Ministry Planning Worksheet.pdf

Covecrest 2017

Truth and Bacon

The dream of every artist is to accomplish both truth and bacon. But what happens when truth doesn't bring home bacon?

David Ramirez's new album Fables starts off like an extension on his hit sob "Stick around," and that's just fine by me. The song on this album that sticks out most is New Way of Living, in which David laments briefly about the old artist's dilemma: Why make art?

Sell everything that you love to do
If it doesn't sell then
learn how to love something new
Blue collar artist, white collar entitlement
I'm standing somewhere in the middle
I get the feeling I'm about to slip

Maybe it's time to move on
Maybe it's time for a change
A new way of living
A new way to bring home the bacon

Art speaks to us about reality in a way that still, in a world dominated by science, speaks as powerfully as facts.

The painter sets up an easel and paints with a child-like joy in communicating something true. But that's a challenging endeavor.

Selfish ends like money, fame, or self-satisfaction creep in and seem to put the artist in a conflict of interest. The painter devotes his life to developing the skill of creating truth out of beauty.

But the painter also needs to eat.

The painter's brush hesitates. Should he paint the world compellingly as he sees it, even if it fails to accomplish any other end? If not, he's forced to acknowledge and paint for a paying observer. But that starting point seems too limiting. And if he paints the world as true as he can, some people just won't get it. They'll reject him.

So again he wonders – should he make art for art's sake, or should he make art for food?

I don't consider myself an artist, at least not yet. But I have poured hours into making things in the past secretly hoping that people would validate it by buying it. So David's line that hits hardest is this one:

There's a plumber down in Arkansas
The best writer I ever met
When I ask where to find his CD
He just laughed and lit a cigarette

The lonely artist is a common depiction in movies and music. And it makes sense if we start with the premise that the best art is art liberated from any economy of a future observer. That a lonely artist, detached from the expectations of another person, makes the best art.

But this raises bigger questions, if not a challenge: Is it possible to make art in complete isolation, without assuming a future viewer of the thing made? Why make art in the first place? Can something be made for its own sake?

If the answer is yes, it seems that something made for its own sake would have the greatest potential for truth and beauty. The only "other" involved in this dynamic is the artist who, loving beauty and truth, creates the thing, the art, for its own sake. For the sake of this thing being beautiful. In a way, the artist loves the art he creates into existence. And now it seems there always exists an other in art. At the very least the other becomes the artist, who observes his art after he creates it.

And this is where things really come full circle.

The Catechism wisely notes in paragraph 356:

“Of all visible creatures only man is 'able to know and love his creator'. He is 'the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake', and he alone is called to share, by knowledge and love, in God's own life."

This paragraph quotes Gaudium et Spes, which explains man's likeness with God:

“This likeness reveals that man, who is the only creature on earth which God willed for itself, cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.”

Also interesting to note is David Ramirez's history of loneliness and his journey out of it. From the bio page of his website:

“I've learned a lot from being alone and isolated,” says Ramirez, who until recently toured completely by himself, without a band, manager or anyone else for company. “Yes, it's romantic in a way. But it has also been kind of rough on my head and my heart. After a while it made it difficult to connect with people on a personal level when I got home. In hindsight, I can see that it's been kind of detrimental. You know, when you travel around alone for months at a time, the world revolves around you. There's no one else in the equation. Everything was just about me. It's a selfish way of living. And I'm ready to move on from that.”

In a way, all hope is lost. We cannot make art in isolation.

The artist cannot run from relationship, even in the isolation of his own art studio. Even God Himself, in making us for our own sake, revels in us. We are the art created to be in relationship to the artist. And this mark, the mark of self-gift and relationship, is so firmly pressed on us that we cannot escape it by living alone or creating alone. It hurts.

Because, at the end of the day, who are we really making art for?

How We're Hacking the Steubenville Conference High to Launch Discipleship Groups

I've been taking high schoolers to Steubenville conferences for the last 6 years I've been in ministry. It's an amazing experience and really a huge surge of evangelistic momentum for any group of high school students. The problem a lot of us youth ministers have is following up intentionally on this event and using the momentum to bring youth into a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Jesus as His disciple.

So my co-captain Tim and I came up with a plan to hack this evangelistic momentum. The intention is two-fold: to capitalize on teens committing/recommitting to a decision to follow Jesus and make changes in their life, and to continue to foster the Christian community created in our Steubenville conference small groups.

Our plan is to use commitment cards  and a Discipleship 101 series as followup. Feel free to download and use the resources we created! If you try something like this, let me know your thoughts.

#1. Commitment Cards

I first heard about commitment cards being used at chastity talks, and I wasn't that keen on them. Then recently I heard about them again, this time through Rick Warren at Saddleback Church. The idea of a written commitment that gives teens practical next steps started to sound like the answer to the nagging feeling that comes one week after an event like Steubenville or a Lifeteen summer camp. "How did everything go? Did teens encounter Jesus? Have I done enough to follow up? Did I do a good job?"

So our commitment card serves a few purposes. First, it gives teens a physical sign of an interior movement that may have occured at the Steubenville conference. There is a brief explanation of how to pray to Jesus and make a decision of faith to follow him. Then they can sign the card and keep it in their Bible or place it somewhere in their room. 

There is also place for teens to put their contact info. We printed these cards on perforated raffle tickets we picked up at Office Max. (You can download the word file we used below.) This way we can track who made a commitment and follow up with them individually after the conference.

We asked ourselves, "What are the first basic and practical habits that someone who has just given their life to Jesus can start committing to that very day?" 

Reading Matthew 23:27 Jesus gives a great commandment "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your soul." So we decided that, at the very least, if a teen comes away from this conference committed to following one command of Jesus, this would be the best (greatest) one to follow.

So the three basic habits we will encourage teens to commit to are:

• Loving God with my heart through daily quiet time with Jesus.
• Loving God with my soul through weekly worship of God.
• Loving God with my mind through setting aside time monthly to grow as a disciple.

Daily quiet, weekly worship, and monthly growth. If a non-Christian teen comes on this conference, has a life-changing encounter with Jesus, commits their life to following Him and practicing these three habits, and then we never see that teen again, I would feel confident that teen has been prepared for a life-long relationship with Jesus. Everything else will come from those three habits. They will be seeking God in prayer every day, they will be coming to Church every week, and they will eventually seek out RCIA as a way to grow if he hasn't been baptized, or at least strive to grow in his understanding of what it now means to be a disciple of Jesus.

#2. Discipleship 101 Series

At a Steubenville conference, the Gospel message (kerygma) is proclaimed with the intention of bringing about a conversion of heart, repentance of sin, and a decision of faith. The first three means of insertion into the mystery of Christ are used, with an emphasis on Scripture, evangelistic talks, and Liturgy and Sacraments. 

There are four ways of insertion into the mystery of Christ:

1. Sacred Scripture
2. Systematic Catechesis
3. Liturgy and Sacraments
4. Authentic Christian Community

Another aspect of the Steubenville conference is the power of Christian community. Our youth ministry at our parish, as a lot of youth ministries around the country, is trying to adopt small discipleship group ministry as a way to help teens grow deeper into mature disciples after having a meaningful encounter with Jesus.

So our plan is to have three "reunions" immediately following the Steubenville conference. This will be our Discipleship 101 series where each night we will do a mini-Young Church night (following the Lifeteen gather/proclaim/break/send format) with all the teens and chaperones and adults of the steubenville conference.

Each night we will meet in our youth center to unpack one of the three basic habits of a disciple: daily quiet, weekly worship, and monthly growth. We'll have a quick fun activity, a short teaching, and then break back into their small groups from the Steubenville conference. We'll end with something practical to do that week.

Here's the real power play: after those three sessions, we will challenge and encourage those still coming to meet for *three more* sessions with their small group outside of the Church.

We're hoping that these adults and teens who make it to this phase will have enough momentum to continue meeting as a discipleship group. That's the prayer at least.

So this is our plan. We'll let you know how it goes! Please say a quick prayer for us right now. Who knows what will happen, but its worth a shot! And if you'll be at Steubenville Lonestar in Dallas and you see me, say hi! I'd love to meet you.

Resources and Assets

Below are a bunch of the resources we created. Feel free to use them and edit them as you need. If you do something similar, let me know how it goes! 

Basic Commitment Card Word Doc 
(We printed on Office Depot Tickets 8 per sheet. Item 922-761)
Discipleship 101 Ad PSD
Discipleship 101 Ad PNG

Session Talks:

Promo Video:

I also recorded a video explaining this all to the parents and encouraging them to follow up with their child after the conference. Check it out below.

Three Pillars for Making Stuff that Matters

We're living through the biggest revolution of making stuff since the industrial age thanks to one new "technological" advancement: the internet. And with the internet comes a whole new possibility for a way of life and work, especially for people who like to make stuff. That's the big opportunity. We can make stuff. And we can let lots of people see our stuff. 

So now, as always, there are two groups of people. People who make stuff and people who don't make stuff. Some people don't like making stuff, and that's okay. Some people just like watching stuff, and reading stuff, and consuming stuff. But me, I like making stuff. And I can't imagine a future where it won't be beneficial to have been making stuff.

As I look back on my glorious life on the internet I've realized three big things that I keep wishing old me would have doubled-down on more often. I've tried all sorts of things: podcasting, blogging, vlogging, writing a book, starting a movement, starting a business, etc. etc. 

And now, I'm recommitting to making stuff. There's no make-money-online master plan here. I just realize that this whole internet thing is one of the best retirement plans I can contribute to each month - even if its just because I know I will enjoy looking back on all the stuff I've made, the journey we've had, and the people who liked my stuff.

1. Teach what you know.
2. Document the journey.
3. Stay relevant forever.

So here are my three new rules, pillars, phrases, and guidelines for what I'm doing as I make stuff, and how I plan to keep making stuff that matters.

1. Teach What You Know

I used to think the only way to make stuff was to teach stuff, especially really really complicated stuff that makes me sound smart and knowledgable. "I'm an expert! It says so in my bio!" 

So this new phrase, teach what you know, reminds me to only teach what I know from experience, and not to worry about knowing everything or teaching only things that I have a expert-level knowledge in. I don't teach things I don't know. Even if I would like to know them, or look like I know them.

Teach what you know also reminds me to be quicker to put things I'm learning out in the open. Don't hog it all to yourself and wait for that day you'll write that one book teaching all of these things.  Just, as you learn things, teach what you know. That day. Put it out there. People need it. It will help people.

Teaching what you know has a few benefits. First, it helps you remember what you know. There have been many times that I've scrolled through a list of notes or things I've written and been so glad past-me wrote this note for future-me. This website is my virtual desk where I organize the thoughts and ideas.

Teaching what you know also helps you know what you know, but better. Teaching it helps get it out of your head and into real life application. Teaching what you know also helps you commit. You've said it out loud, you've taught someone else to do it, so you better do it.

There is always someone who doesn't know what you know and could learn from it. Don't wait until you become an expert and forget what it felt like to know less.

Take a few seconds to make a list of things that you could teach someone. Then turn on a camera, write a post, whatever...put it out there. Someone needs to hear it.

2. Document the Journey.

The stuff we're making is going to be around a long, long time. We're some of the first people to go "online" with our thoughts, videos, pictures, and stuff we make. We're the great great grandfathers of the internet. And as I look back at the videos, articles, and things I've done online, I appreciate the ability to see where I've come from and what I've accomplished. 

It can be tempting to wait until you feel like you've "arrived" to start making stuff. But instead of waiting until its all perfect, just document your journey to get there. Going back to "teach what you know", sometimes there's a lot more value in watching someone try to figure it out, rather than taking a masterclass from an expert you can't relate to. 

Documenting your journey helps you learn from your past and appreciate where you're at. It also pushes you to get better and allows other people to join you and encourage you along the way.

This is also a great way to come up with stuff to make if you can't think of anything to teach. Just document your journey towards the goal you've set and you'll make great stuff.

I've recommitted to my personal youtube channel as a place where I document a lot of the journey, and also a place where I teach what I know. You can find my channel and subscribe here. Some of the journeys I'm on include: being a father of lots of kids, working as Director of Evangelization and Catechesis at a Church, and building a Catholic subscription box company with my wife.

3. Stay Relevant Forever.

One of the most rewarding aspects of making things is when the things you make help people. The third pillar is helping people. I don't know how to create stuff in a vacuum. Ultimately we're all making stuff for people. And to forget that we are making stuff for people is to suddenly become irrelevant. This phrase reminds me to keep close connections with the people who see the stuff I make. It can be tempting to come up with an idea for some stuff in the privacy of your own home and rush to make that stuff, not stopping to ask if anyone even wants that stuff. 

One of the best tips I'd ever heard was to include a simple question in one of your first welcome emails when someone signs up for your email list. The question is: "What's the biggest thing you're struggling with right now?"

I've never regretted asking this question. I've even started using it right before or after a presentation. I just hand out index cards and tell people to write the biggest thing they're struggling with. Reading these cards gives you a solid grasp on the people you're making stuff for or talking to. If you're only worried about what you want to make or say, you'll miss a huge opportunity to align what you know with how to best help people.

I'm going to be recommitting to listening hard. But this also requires constantly trying new things. New apps, new gear, projects, new ways to do things. So I give myself permission to create without worrying about creation-ADD. Every time I've created something that didn't stand the test of time, when I look back I'm still glad I tried it. This keeps you growing and helps you stay relevant forever.

JOIN ME

So get out there and make stuff. Everyone has something to teach, so teach what you know. And when in doubt, just document the journey. But don't ever, ever forget to stay relevant. If you make stuff, let me know! I want to follow you and the stuff you make too! Comment below, I'd love to meet you.

If you're interested in following along as I continue to make stuff, join the super secret group. I'm committed to publishing a new article every Monday. I'm also going to be collecting Stuff Worth Sharing and publishing that every Friday. If you join the super secret group you'll get those things delivered to your inbox by the email fairy.

Thanks for enjoying my stuff.

+JMJ

Edmund

Don't Let America's Mind-Power Gospel Ruin Your New Year

We're purgatively plodding through the no-man's land between Christmas Day and New Year's. A yearly secular tradition of bemoaning the ragged old year and looking forward to a fresh new one. All the "new-year-new-you" articles, videos, and memes are upon us. We look back and see failures of willpower. We look forward and see opportunity. And the whole internet induldges our need to get pumped for next year, helping us decide to finally lose that gut, or start a small business, or go paleo, or get a raise, or be less anxious, or to just vaguely do better as we march into January.

It's a tradition of shooting up on a concentrated dose of what James Parker calls America's real national religion: the mind-power gospel.

James Parker describes the anthem of the mind-power gospel seen played out on tv shows like America Ninja Warrior or Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge. Together America chants with the contestants, "Say yes, think positive, boldly visualize, and reality will bend to your will."

We're addicted to the mind-power gospel. Like an opiate for the masses, we take an infatuated hit off the future improved version of ourselves. We're tantalized by the idea that to become fabulous we need only decide to become fabulous. It numbs us to the failures of the past because this time, and I really mean it this time, we are going to do it.

And who can blame us? The idea that enough grit, sweat, and good old fashioned American hard work makes anything possible is a natural part of American exceptionalism. In America, the only thing that should seperate you from your goal is determination.

This is the great nation of opportunity! This is the land of mind-power! Get to work willing yourself to success! It's just mind over matter!

But the worship of mind-power is older than America. You can trace the roots of the good news of mind-power back to the Enlightment. After all, you can hear the philosophers and scientists argue, our ability to think rationally and then act is the only power seperating us from the animals. To be emotional is to be like the beasts. To be rational is to be like the gods. It's our special power.

But in that moment when we look forward to the future, as Adrienne Von Speyr notices, we can't help but look to our past. We see what we've planned and achieved so far and realize our willpower constantly fails us. We find last year's resolutions in the trash, or under the guest bed, or rusting in the garage.

Speyr in "Man before God" describes the futility man feels trying to honestly take stock of the past and hunker down for the future. "He knows himself well enough to realize that he will always be an obstacle to himself because he does not remain faithful even to his best resolutions..."

"He looks around in search of heroes who made up their mind to do some great work and did not let anything keep them from it. He would gladly be such a person, with the corresponding strength, ability, and perserverence. There is no end to his wishes and yearning, but resignation debilitates him. He knows that, when all is said and done, he is no hero. Everything about him is futile."

What should we make of the mind-power gospel then? It isn't a path to salvation, otherwise we would all be successful, good, healthy, and happy.

We call the weakness of our will one of the unfortunate effects of sin. Sin infiltrated the human condition at the beginning, when man first freely chose to act out of line with reality. He chose to act in a way that was not who he was. And so our willpower is weakened by this mutilation. We can and must work hard to build our willpower back up.

But at the end of the year willpower isn't enough. We can't use mind-power to will us into angels. We can't trust ourselves to never falter. Something else must make up for the gaps in our mind and the failures in our will. Broken things only make more broken things.

What will save us from our weak resolution?

What is the Basic Gospel Message?

“So…what is the Gospel message?” As the Director of Youth Evangelization and Catechesis at our parish we’ve been focusing on the basic Gospel message, or the kerygma, in all of our volunteer training. There are lots of ways to articulate the Gospel message in its entirety and plenty of places to learn it.

What I wanted to share is the best way to summarize and teach the basic Gospel message that I’ve come up with so far. I’ve used this structure to train catechists, evangelists, core members, parents, youth ministers, etc. Its not my own and has morphed slightly over the years.

A Few Caveats

•  I’m going for brevity here. There is a lot of nuance and background knowledge not included in this article. Don’t fall into the trap of assuming this is all there is and that the Gospel message can be condensed and chopped down to something as simple as four points. This is just a way to teach others and a springboard. Think of these four points as training wheels.
   
•  I’m trying to come up with something that is simple, easy to teach, and easy to remember. These constraints have pros and cons. Keep them in mind when teaching this.
   
•  You would never just read these four points to someone. That would be bad. This is a mental structure for disicpleship, evaluating where someone needs more of the Gospel Message proclaimed to them, and for planning talks, retreats, curriculum, etc.
   
•  I’m open to revision, because I’m sure there are a hundred ways this could be better or more theologically accurate. But again, we are going for simple and teachable.
   
•  You could spend years compiling scripture citations for these four points of the Gospel. I just included some big ones that came to mind. Let me know if you can think of better ones!

Sources for the Four Point Gospel Message

I’m taking this from memory from a class with Prof. Bob Rice at Franciscan University called Parish and Personal Evangelization. I’m also borrowing some from Barbara Morgan’s Catechist Training Sessions where she covers Ephesians 1:3–14 as The Plan of Salvation.

And lastly, to ensure that we aren’t just coming up with our own stuff here, and to lean on the authority of the Church, I’m borrowing from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The first three paragraphs of the catechism beautifully summarize and articulate the entirity of the faith and the plan God had from the beginning, as well as how all the pieces fit together - God, man, sin, Jesus, the Apostles, the Church, the future, and the end (or beginning, however you look at it).

The 4 Point Gospel Message

---

1. God loves you and has a plan for you.

Catechism: God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength.

Scripture: Genesis 1, 2, Ephesians 2:7, 1 Peter 5:10, John 17:21, Ephesians 2:7, Isaiah 43:1

2. Sin seperates us from God, but not God’s love for us.

Catechism: He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church.

Scripture: Romans 7, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23

3. Jesus Christ’s life, passion, death, and resurrection redeemed us from sin and restores God’s plan, allowing us to become adopted Sons and Daughters of God.

Catechism: To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior.

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, 1 Timothy 2:6, 1 John 4:10

4. Turn away from sin, turn to Jesus Christ, and join God’s Church, in the Holy Spirit

Catechism: In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.

Scripture: Acts 2:38, John 3:5, 1 John 3:1, Galatians 4:6

---

Follow Up and Supplemental Resources

We use the four points to train people in the Basic Gospel Message. Another way to summarize these four points could be:

Creation  //  Fall  //  Redemption  //  Restoration

We also teach these four points as a framework for discipleship. Does the person you are discipling understand these four points? Do they believe these four points personally? If not, those are gaps that can be filled in over a couple intentional meetings.

Every fall middle school and high school retreat is also based around these four points, wrapped in a relevant and fresh new theme.

You could also plan your semester curriculum around these points, constantly referring to them, but teaching any number of themes and doctrines from the faith.

We tell our catechists that proclaiming the kerygma in this way should be done constantly throughout the year and referenced at least generally in each lesson. Always focusing on Jesus Christ and an invitation to a personal relationship with Him in the Holy Spirit through the Catholic Church.

The Plan in Ephesians 1:2–14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.

Catechism Paragraphs 1-3

God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.

So that this call should resound throughout the world, Christ sent forth the apostles he had chosen, commissioning them to proclaim the gospel: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." Strengthened by this mission, the apostles "went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it."

Those who with God's help have welcomed Christ's call and freely responded to it are urged on by love of Christ to proclaim the Good News everywhere in the world. This treasure, received from the apostles, has been faithfully guarded by their successors. All Christ's faithful are called to hand it on from generation to generation, by professing the faith, by living it in fraternal sharing, and by celebrating it in liturgy and prayer.

What do you think?

What would you add, subtract, or change, and why? How do you train people to proclaim the Gospel message? What experiences have you had in teaching or proclaiming the Gospel this way?

Leave me a comment below!

Catechist Spirituality

Recently at our parish we put on the first annual Cat Day (Catechist Day...hat tip to the monstrously respectable Michael Gormley for the idea) where we brought together all the catechists at our parish. Youth ministry core members, RCIA catechists, K-6 catechists, and all the like. It was a day of prayer, vision casting, and breakout sessions for training.

You can checkout our nifty handouts and schedule for the day here.

This is a recording of the breakout I ran on the Spirituality of a Catechist. I pulled the gems and suggestions out of the Guide for Catechists published in 1993 by the Vatican. It's a great document (with a lot of inside baseball, so you can skim it).

We started with 5 minutes of group Lectio Divina on 1 John 1:1-4, which is the passage I reference at the beginning.

You can read the Guide for Catechists here.

Free Download: 10 Day Prayer Guide

We've been putting in some work over at Reverb Culture. Weekly blog articles by fantastic writers. Lots of new designs.(I showed my wife this picture and she said "That's in the catechism?" Mission accomplished.)

If I haven't told you yet, Reverb Culture is an experiment in young adult community for Catholics. We're big on praying with Scripture and the Catechism. And we love cocktails. And weird t-shirts.

This website and community, Reverb Culture, would not exist if the Catechism of the Catholic Church hadn't changed my life. First my prayer life, then my life, then how I viewed discipleship and the future of the Church.

I've read twenty plus books from authors of the catechism and experts in the field. I've spent countless hours pouring through the catechism, studying it, and eventually began praying with it. I've also been using the catechism and this form of prayer with the catechism in discipleship, catechist training, youth minister training, small groups, young adult groups, and my own life for years.

So I'm finally putting it all down on paper. (Electronic e-book paper. E-paper.) We're calling it Dual Wielding: A Guide to Praying with Scripture and the Catechism.

It will be a full e-book that will show you how to pray with Scripture and the Catechism like a boss, and how to navigate the catechism and not be intimidated by it.

It's going to include printouts you can stick in your catechism, supplemental videos, cocktail recipes for making Reverb Culture official drinks, and a private community to pray for you and support you.

It will also include printable prayer guides like this:

This is a 10 day guided prayer through Scripture and the Catechism. At the end of these reflections, you'll have prayed with both Scripture and the Catechism's exposition of the names of Jesus: Jesus, Christ, Son of God, and Lord. Its an exposition on the part of the Creed where we say "I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord."

I really wanted to share this guide with you. I'd love for you to pray with it and give me any feedback you might have. You can download this prayer guide, which will be included as one of many in the larger study guide, for free by entering your email over at Reverb Culture.

Download the free 10 Day Prayer Guide.

If you're interested in the full guide package we're making, Dual Wielding: Praying with Scripture and the Catechism, you can learn more about it and even pre-order a copy here.

Let me know what you think! If you like it, could you do me a favor? Can you think of a friend or a few friends who would really dig this and share it with them?

Thanks! Talk to you soon.