The Tightrope: Reflections for Busy Catholics

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Stigmata, Messy Kitchens, and St. Padre Pio Sep 23, 2019

Show notes

St. Padre Pio suffered from the stigmata for years, but he’s also the saint who said, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” How can a person who suffered from open, bleeding wounds for fifty years just say, “don’t worry”?

In uniting his suffering to the cross of Christ, St. Padre Pio was able to find peace. Suffering is inescapable, but this great saint showed us how Christians are called, not to try and avoid suffering, but to use it as a way to grow closer to Christ.

So bring all your sufferings, from the inconvenience of a messy kitchen, or bigger problems, like illness and injury, to the altar, and offer them up like Padre Pio.

St. Padre Pio, pray for us—and happy feast day!

Snippet from the Show - “The experience of Christianity is not to find a way out of suffering, but to find a way through suffering.”

St. Ignatius Prayer for Generosity Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

The St. Ignatius prayer for generosity asks God to take away worldly comforts so we can fully rely on him … and it’s quite impactful.

You may be thinking, “Why should I ask God to make me uncomfortable?”

Catholic prayers and practices that limit our desire for earthly comfort (like fasting, or the Litany of Humility) help us discover that true comfort and peace are in Christ alone.

Snippet from the Show
“A prayer for generosity is a prayer to lose yourself, and find yourself again in Christ.”

St. Ignatius Prayer for Generosity

Dear Lord teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.
Amen.

3 Steps to Be Less Franxious (Frantic and Anxious) Sep 09, 2019

Show notes

That feeling when you have a tight deadline, or an unexpected task, or you forgot to do something and are frantically scrambling to get it done ... I call that feeling “franxious”. It’s what Martha experienced when Jesus came to visit (I could see that being stressful) and it happens when you have so much anxiety over something that you’re running around like crazy trying to pick up the slack and it feels TERRIBLE.*

Organizational skills aside, getting in the habit of prayer can help alleviate that feeling when you find yourself getting anxious.

Make your rest rooted in prayer. When you take a break, do it intentionally with the aim of giving true rest to the body and soul, which can only be found in God.
Practice the presence of God. Keep in mind that God is always with you throughout your day. It helps keep things in perspective.
Begin and end with God. Start a routine of morning prayer and prayer before bed so your day begins and ends with a conversation with God.

*Disclaimer: This episode refers to anxiety that is experienced periodically by everyone. If you experience frequent intense, excessive, and persistent worry or panic attacks, talk to your doctor.

Imitate Mary's Fiat with This Short Prayer Sep 02, 2019

Show notes

Mary’s Fiat, her “yes” to God to become the mother of the Word incarnate, is the ultimate example of surrender to the will of God. One way we can try to imitate her “yes” is by saying a three-minute prayer three times a day, called the Angelus.

The Angelus is said at 6am, 12pm, and 6pm and is structured around three things: the invitation of God to Our Lady, her “yes”, and the incarnation of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

By reflecting on these three things throughout the day, we hold them at the forefront of our minds all day long, and are able to continuously tie everything back to Christ.

Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts;
that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, thy son,
was made known by the message of an angel,
may by his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection,
through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

There is No Conflict between Faith and Science Aug 26, 2019

Show notes

Are science and religion opposed? A 2016 Georgetown study revealed that a top reason young people are leaving the Catholic Faith is because of a perceived conflict between faith and science.

But the Church has been a patron of science throughout the ages, and, many of the greatest scientists (including Galileo) were men and women of strong Catholic faith. In fact, the two go hand-in-hand.

St. John Paul said, “Science can purify religion from error and superstition; religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes. Each can draw the other into a wider world, a world in which both can flourish.”

_Snippet from the Show
“It has been the case for a very long time that the development of science (especially in western civilization) has come largely through the Church. It is a myth that there is some long standing grudge match between faith and science.” _

Celebrating the Catholic Calendar Aug 19, 2019

Show notes

There may not be many holidays this month, but the Catholic calendar gives us plenty to celebrate and lots to ponder. Last week we celebrated the solemnity of the Assumption and this week we will celebrate the feast days of St. Bernard, St. Pius X, and the Queenship of Mary. September and October will continue a parade of great observances.

There are lots of ways to bring the calendar to life in your family. Prayers, reading the lives of the saints, sure ... but also fun traditions, special dinners, and decorations can help us to focus on saints and celebrations and bring the monotony out of daily life. (How about blue cupcakes for Marian feast days?)

What are your favorite Catholic feasts and how do you celebrate? Let us know.

Snippet from the Show
“It’s left to our creativity to come up with cultural expressions of the great feasts and focuses of our faith.”

Go to Adoration … Even If You Don’t Feel Like It Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

After the recent episode about the Mass, I asked my son Leo if he had any other thoughts for the podcast. His response, "Go to Adoration … even when you don't feel like it." Sounds like great advice to me!

In light of the recent revelation that many Catholics in the US do not believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, time spent before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is just what the doctor ordered. The more time we spend before Jesus in the Eucharist, the more our hearts will grow in Eucharistic amazement, and the more our Catholic culture will grow and spread.

Adore Jesus and make frequent stops to him in the monstrance, if possible, or the tabernacle in your parish church.

What should you do when you get there? St. John Vianney once asked a daily Mass goer, who spent hours in church after each Mass, what he did each day. His simple response, "I look at him and he looks at me."

So today, if possible, look into the eyes of the one who sees, knows, and love you the most, Jesus Christ, our Eucharistic Lord.

Snippet from the Show
“Even short visits to the Blessed Sacrament can be powerful.”

You Aren’t in Control of Your Life Aug 05, 2019

Show notes

Having no control is a fact of life, and it leaves us feeling anxious and stressed. But it’s important to remember that no matter what happens, God is ultimately in power.

We’re reminded of that in this prayer from St. Teresa of Avila: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”

Snippet from the Show
“Ultimately, we will be OK, because the one who loves us and made us is in control.”

3 Books You Will Want to Read Over and Over Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

Summer is a great time for reading! Here are three books that I find myself returning to over and over again (not including scripture).

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
St. Thomas Aquinas by G.K. Chesterton
Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy

What’s on your summer reading list?

Snippet from the Show
“The Great Divorce is a book the catalogues our own brokenness and the pitfalls we need to watch out for if we desire to enter the kingdom of God.”

Music and Movement in Prayer Jul 22, 2019

Show notes

Prayer often involves looking for a quiet place to sit still and listen for God’s voice, but it can also happen in loud, active spaces. Like while you’re at the gym, or in the car, or even mowing the lawn.

If it’s difficult to find time to pray, using these active times can be a good place to start.

Snippet from the Show
“Our works, joys, and sufferings are all connected to his. Our wounds can be joined to his wounds. Our brokenness attracts his mercy.”

Questions or comments for Colin? Email us at thetightropepodcast@ascensionpress.com