Catholic Café

In his address to the Eastern Churches, Pope Leo XIV spoke eloquently about the traditions of Eastern spirituality and their sense of mystery, and the Eastern Churches are needed by the Universal Church. He also said the East, ever ancient and ever new, is a medicine for the West. Perhaps revisiting Latin spirituality and worship can benefit from a look to the East.

As the words, habemus papem, are proclaimed from the central loggia of the Basilica of St. Peter, all eyes in the world turn to see our new pope take center stage. Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy in hope and prayer, becoming the 267th shepherd of the Universal Church.

Many folks think the Catholic belief that Peter was made the first pope of the Catholic Church by Jesus is merely a human tradition. A quick search of Sacred Scripture shows that the Petrine Primacy is of divine origin and intended as an office to be maintained as long as there is a Church on earth. 

The whole world watches with anticipation as the cardinals of Roman Catholic Church solemnly enter the Sistene Chapel at the Vatican after praying to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit promising to keep the whole process secret. We are taken with mystery, intrigue, and holy anticipation as we await the results.

With the death of Pope Francis, the Universal Church enters a time known as the Interregnum, a time between popes. The process of electing a new leader for the Catholic Church is one steeped in tradition, customs, mystery, and even intrigue, but we believe the Holy Spirit is present for all of it.

As we contemplate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord during Holy Week, it is good that we focus for a time on WHY Jesus chose to die for us. He gave Himself totally on the Cross as a free gift, so that we might be reconciled to the Father. That necessarily entails the forgiveness of our sins.

Deacon Jeff in the Corner booth to explain what "Santevangelaztion" is and how we should put it into practice.

The familiar parable of the Prodigal Son is always heard during Lent, and it teaches many truths of the Faith. Perhaps the greatest takeaway is the undying mercy of the Father. This mercy is only available to us if we but turn back to Him in a state of repentance.

The three traditional disciplines of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. While most of us are at least aware of how we can benefit through prayer and fasting, some need a deeper dive into almsgiving. George Nixon, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, shares how Almsgiving based in mercy can help you have a truly powerful lenten experience.

Continuing in the season of Lent, we have many opportunities for spiritual recollection and examination of self. Taking time to go on a retreat, a brief trip into the desert, can do wonders in making our Lenten journey a beneficial one.

As we enter into another season of Lent, it is always good to remember that what the World tells us gives us strength is not always applicable in the spiritual life. This was demonstrated clearly by Our Lord as he started his public ministry by fasting and spending 40 days and nights in the desert.

Many have understood the concept of walking in faith to mean to simply trust in God. While that is true, it also helps to learn how to surrender to God in all aspects of your life. Indeed, very soon we find it is not always easy to give over ourselves totally to the will of God.

There are those who say they can only believe in something they can observe and measure in nature, and therefore do not believe in a supernatural God. However, there are also those of us who are compelled to believe in a First Mover or Orderer of all things in our scientific cause to find out why and how all things exist and function.

Theologians and regular folks alike have oft times struggled with the problem of evil. We wonder why a good and benevolent God would allow bad things to happen. The Catholic understanding of the Permissive Will of God versus his Divine or Intended Will helps us cope with and even embrace this seeming conundrum.

Everyone knows that it is our Christian duty to evangelize, but not everyone recognizes that evangelization must always be done in connection with and in the context of the Church, the boat of Peter.

Most of us are very familiar with popular Catholic devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, but not as many realize there is a third devotion to the pure heart of St. Joseph that is growing in popularity.

These have been some very tumultuous and divisive days leading up to and even after the last presidential election cycle. In fact, you could argue that the last few decades have been difficult for our country. Perhaps as Catholics we can see a new way going forward, a way of unity. The love of God compels us to seek and live out this unity in His most holy Name.

The short period of liturgical Ordinary Time that falls between the seasons of Christmas and Lent may sometimes seem like a waiting time, or a season without a purpose. However, when you consider the 3 epiphanies that are revealed to us at Christmastime, then the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, or the Mysteries of Light, can be a wonderful bridge between seasons that will help enliven our Lent.

In our broken and fallen world, we know that the traditional structure of the family struggles for existence. All we have to do is turn to a family God gave us 2000 years ago, the Holy Family, to be our model and inspiration for today.

You might wonder why God chose to come to us as a little, innocent baby when he could have just as easily come to us fully grown. We can perceive some significance to the fact that Jesus was revealed to us first as a baby as we continue to ponder the great mysteries of Christmas and the Incarnation.

Although the Catholic teaching on the Transcendentals, Truth, Beauty, Goodness, and Unity, does not officially include Simplicity, finding God in this ever increasingly secular world can be aided if we simplify our lives and humble ourselves.

In a world that has become more and more atheistic, agnostic, and secular, the awareness of God should be at the forefront of all evangelistic and missionary efforts. In this fourth episode of a 4 part series on the Catholic teaching of the Transcendentals, we discuss finding God through unity.

In a world that has become more and more atheistic, agnostic, and secular, the awareness of God should be at the forefront of all evangelistic and missionary efforts. In this third episode of a 4 part series on the Catholic teaching of the Transcendentals, we discuss finding God through truth.

In a world that has become more and more atheistic, agnostic, and secular, the awareness of God should be at the forefront of all evangelistic and missionary efforts. In this second episode of a 4 part series on the Catholic teaching of the Transcendentals, we discuss finding God through goodness.

In a world that has become more and more atheistic, agnostic, and secular, the awareness of God should be at the forefront of all evangelistic and missionary efforts. In this first episode of a 4 part series on the Catholic teaching of the Transcendentals, we discuss finding God through beauty.

As the Liturgical Year of the Church comes to a close on the Solemnity of Christ the King, we must prepare ourselves for the Coming of our Lord at Christmas by celebrating the preparatory season of Advent. We do this best if see in Christ the King as the reason for the season of Advent. In other words, we need to celebrate the advent of Advent.

After a contentious election cycle and along with the ongoing division found in our country, and considering the holidays are right around the corner, let us not run away from our families, but seek shelter and healing within them...even when we do not agree politically, morally, and spiritually.

Too many Catholics avoid utilizing the spiritual benefits of indulgences because they do not fully understand them, think they are no longer a teaching of the Church, or that they overcomplicate our faith lives. Let us endeavor to change this and gain access to a veritable well of grace.

When we go to Mass, we naturally should seek benefits from that experience. But, perhaps we should ask ourselves if we are seeking entertainment and emotional gratification, or if we are seeking spiritual benefits and graces. This same question could be applied to our broader view of our Catholic faith.

So many folks see the role of the deacon as sort of a glorified altar server, or just the guy that runs the parish food pantry. Deacon Jeff and his wife, Bess, talk about all of the blessings unique to the permanent deacon that highlight his proper and important place in the salvific plan of God.

We do not always know what God has planned for us. Meet Char Claxton who grew up in a small rural town in Georgia and went on to become a Magistrate Judge for the US District Court in Tennessee. She always loved Jesus, but never dreamed that God might be calling her to become Catholic.

Deacon Jeff is in the corner booth today talking American Solidarity.

Deacon Jeff is in the corner booth talking about Catholic In The Public Square and what that means for us in our faith.

Deacon Jeff is in the corner booth talking passions in marriage and how to keep the fires burning.

Deacon Jeff is in the corner booth talking marriage and money that can bring us together vs the source of all arguments.

Deacon Jeff is in the corner booth talking the importance of Kids in Mass and the wisdoms parents need to influence their kids in their faith.

Today in the corner booth, Deacon Jeff talks about the Natural Fruit Of Marriage.

This is the twelfth in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we discuss the ways in which to manage conflict in the married relationship.

This is the eleventh in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we discuss the essential characteristics of authentic communication.

This is the tenth in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we answer questions about cohabitation and sex before marriage.

This is the 9th in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we discuss the spousal meaning of our bodies and the truth that we were made by God for Marriage.

This is the eighth in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we discuss the spousal meaning of our bodies and the truth that we were made by God for Marriage.

This is the seventh in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we discuss the fruitful, creative love of God that is the model for married love.

This is the sixth in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we discuss how God loved us faithfully and how this must be reflected in Marriage.

This is the fifth in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we discuss how God loved us freely and totally and how this must be reflected in Marriage.

Deacon Jeff and friends continue through their Summer of Holy Matrimony series.

This is the third in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we reread the fifth chapter of the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.

This is the second in a series of episodes delving into Holy Matrimony in an effort to rekindle an appreciation of this sacred sacrament of the Church that has fallen out of favor in our modern and worldly culture. In this episode, we discuss the theology of Marriage.

Mary And Elizabeth is an apostolate for the interior renewal of women that daily answers the spiritual needs of women while helping them come to know themselves, Jesus, and their role in the Church and in the world.

Some folks may think that the various Feasts of the Church are somewhat randomly arranged throughout the liturgical year. But, they would be wrong. There is a beautiful thematic connectivity running through every feast the Church celebrates that affords even more meaning to them once you are aware.

As the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and unfolds for us this great mystery, we see that the love of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the source and model for all love, and especially the love of man and wife in Holy Matrimony.

As the Church rounds out the season of Easter with the celebration of Pentecost, it is important to realize that the coming of the promised Holy Spirit is not just for the Universal Church, there is also a personal aspect of Pentecost when we recall our own reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The Easter Season is still upon us and the Church calls us to celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Many may have lost sight of what this feast can mean for us if we know how to look at it in the proper context. Our Lord not only rose from the grave, he rose from the earth as well!

My kids have left the Church. Or my friends, or my family. This seems to be a constant refrain from concerned Catholics today. As a continuation of our show last week, we delve a little further into what to do and what not to do when the ones we care about stop caring about God.

When you look at all the events that are occurring around us, you realize that our modern world has slipped into a pagan existence not unlike the times of early Christianity. But, we are not left without hope, The Church is truly a light in the darkness for our families.

The Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, usually represented by the Shroud of Turin image of the face of Jesus, was started by a lesser-known Carmelite nun from the middle of the nineteenth century. It is Church-approved and based on her private revelations. With a focus on the evils of Communism and atheism, it is especially relevant even in our world today.

When all the Easter candy and decorations are cleared out of stores, many think Easter is over. But, that is not true for the Church. In much the same way we prepare for Easter through the season of Lent, it is appropriate that we realize and take the time to celebrate the entire season of Easter afforded us by the Church.

By recounting the scriptural accounts of the morning of the Resurrection, the state of mind of those involved, and the evidence of the events that occurred, we can rest assured that the Christian faith in a Risen Christ is not only feasible and reasonable, but most assuredly true.

For some folks, this Holy Week is just one of many, many Holy Weeks in a lifetime of Church life. The week may have lost its luster. Perhaps there is a way to reinvest and reinvigorate this, our last week of Lent 2024.

With the recent release of the movie Cabrini by Angel Studios, there has been a very divisive reaction from various sectors and especially among Catholics. Perhaps a review of this film about the life of the first American saint, Frances Xavier Cabrini, will help bridge the divide.

The Fourth Sunday in Lent carries with it a special character even within the desert of the lenten journey. It is a time to start to realize that we are loved by Jesus, and though we move through this season in a spirit of profound repentance, we must have hope.

When we read about Jesus cleansing the Temple of moneychangers we can see how the Lord desires the Church to be first a house of worship. But we also read in Scripture that our bodies are temples as well, temples of the Holy Spirit. So we need to periodically cleanse our own temples to properly prepare ourselves for worship of the Lord.

Some wonder what role temptation plays in the story of salvation and why the First Sunday of Lent focuses us on the Temptation of Jesus in the Desert. We must understand why God allows us to be tempted, and how temptation and spiritual warfare are related so that we can grow closer to God through Jesus during Lent.

Some have declared that how we worship is not so very important, and that apparent extravagance is a misplaced distraction from the truth of the Gospel message. Perhaps, though, there is value in the manner in which our Church gathers to worship and that the Sacred Scriptures can help us see this.

Time flies and it is already time to be thinking about the season of Lent and how we can best prepare ourselves for the Easter Mysteries. Making our Lent matter more will enhance our Easter experience. So, prepping for Lent is the key to a Happy Easter.

For some, there is an apparent contradiction between the Catholic concepts of dying to self and self esteem. Many think it impossible that both can be true goals at once. When you consider the self to be a soul, however, and pursue soul esteem, then dying to self becomes more apparent as a beneficial path of the spiritual life.

Many people feel that God has not spoken to them or called them in any way. They see God as silent in their lives. Perhaps it is possible they have not put themselves in the right place or the right frame of mind to hear God calling them to their vocation. Take the examples of Samuel and Saint Peter.

So many folks have fallen into the throws of addiction. The worldly doctors tell us sobriety is the answer, when in reality the true cure for addition to anything is total faith, submission and intimacy with God, who fulfills all desires.

Brother Dylan Perry, FSC, is a De La Salle Christian Brother who serves as school principal of the De La Salle Blackfeet School. This is the third episode of a three-part series and concludes with his experiences as principal of this small but vital school located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Northwest Montana.

Brother Dylan Perry, FSC, is a De La Salle Christian Brother who serves as a school principal on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Northwest Montana. This is the second episode of a three-part series about his experiences and continues with Brother Dylan and his vocational call and discusses the charism and history of the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

Welcome to the luxurious corner booth of The Catholic Cafe, comfortable conversation about Catholic beliefs. Hosted by Deacon Jeff Drzycimski, a traveling speaker, professional producer, and father of nine. Not a convert, but a re-vert.

The Catholic notion of making reparations to God for sin, especially blasphemy, is an ancient and constant teaching of our faith. As we prepare our spiritual houses for Christmas this Advent season, we need to start making amends for our poor and sinful choices.

Many of us have places or rooms within our hearts where no one, not even our Lord, is welcome. Perhaps as we enter the season of Advent, we should learn to forgive and forget so that we can best prepare for the Coming of the Lord at Christmas.

As we prepare for the season of Christmas, a season which for many in the modern culture has become very materialistic, perhaps we should take this time of Advent to look into what the Catholic Church teaches us about the universal destination of goods.

Thanksgiving is usually a grand feast and, for many, ushers in a month of feasting and celebrating until Christmas arrives. Perhaps we should take this opportunity to view the Thanksgiving holiday a bit more like Mardis Gras before Lent so that we may properly see Advent for the spiritual time of preparation that it should be.

Spending time in Adoration before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is a wonderful time to ponder His might, and to realize you are sitting before a person, the Second Divine Person of the Trinity. That is Who He is. So, this is also the perfect time to listen to the Lord and hear who He thinks that we are.

With the innovations which modern technology have afforded us, there is a superabundance of information available to everyone about virtually everything. While this transparency and opportunity can be very good for society, it is also can a create an unnecessary distraction which can actually challenge us in our faith life.

When speaking to the Jews in the synagogue about the Pharisees and the Scribes, Jesus says that they have taken their seat on the Chair of Moses, which is a curious phrase that speaks of the authority the Pharisees have been given by God. One should wonder since Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, then there must be a fulfillment of the Chair of Moses.

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he answered with not one but two commandments. The love of God and love of Neighbor are intrinsically related and dependent upon each other.

As so many of us are aware, it seems forever that there has been strife between Muslims and Jews. While God will never break His covenant with Israel, His Chosen People, we must continue to pray for peace in that region of the world.

The time for the Synod On Synodality is here and all the delegates have arrived in Rome. This is an interesting time for the Church as the faithful have exhibited a mix of feelings from confusion and worry to great joy and expectation for the outcome. Perhaps the best way forward for Christian disciples is faith and trust in the Holy Spirit.

As another presidential election season looms over the nation, there is a resurgence of calls for accountability of especially Catholic politicians who do not legislate according to moral principles in line with Church teaching. We tend to judge them and blame them and even hate them. Perhaps our fight is not with them at all, but with Evil.

Demographic studies as well as media coverage tell us that the number of Hispanics in the United States continues to grow. That means the Church must be diligent and purposeful in evangelizing these families. Radio Resurrecion founder Sergio Vasquez shares that Hispanic radio ministry has been very active as of late.

There has been a shift of late in the world of evangelization. The number of those who do not believe in God has been increasing every year to crisis levels. This means that how we evangelize needs to change. There may be need for a new New Evangelization.

The Church has beatified an entire Polish family, the Ulmas, who were martyred for helping the Jews during WWII. The family consisted of father and mother, and seven children, one of them unborn. We discuss the story, and its meaning in the lives of the faithful.