Below you will find all of Ascension’s new free content for this week. In the past seven days, we’ve explored the true meaning of humility, advice on discerning the priesthood, some ways philosophy can provide evidence of God, and more. Discover it all in this week’s Ascension Media Roundup.
Ascension Presents
Fr. Mike Schmitz
We Are Not Cosmic Accidents
Without our dignity that comes from God, we are just cosmic accidents. This is a humbling realization, but one that can also be empowering. Fr. Mike says we often misunderstand humility because we think it involves thinking less of ourselves. What it really involves is greater focus on God’s power and goodness, because he is the source of whatever power and goodness we have.
As C.S. Lewis wrote, “A really humble man will not be thinking about humility. He will not be thinking about himself at all.” For more on C.S. Lewis, check out this article, C. S. Lewis on Humility, by Dr. Andrew Swafford.
Encountering the Word
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In this Encountering the Word video for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jeff Cavins discusses the marks of a healthy marriage and a healthy relationship with the Lord. You may have to become a member to view this exclusive content.
Matt Fradd
From Agnosticism to Catholicism: My Conversion Story (Part Two)
A life-changing experience at World Youth Day in Rome embarked Matt Fradd on the faith-journey that has brought him to where he is today. He tells us how his life as a Catholic began in this second part of his conversion story. You can find the first part here. While his life before becoming Catholic depended on fleeting happiness, upon becoming Catholic he said he experienced a deep abiding joy—and has been experiencing it ever since.
CFRs
Catholic Pilgrimage Disaster Averted Through Marian Intercession
Father Mark-Mary has been talking about how we are pilgrims journeying to God. In this video, Brother Sean Conrad joins him to share a story about when he and another brother were pilgrims in the more literal sense, walking from Dover to Canterbury as they retraced the steps of the first Franciscans to journey to England—or at least they tried to retrace those steps. They wound up getting very lost along their way, but through Marian intercession, God’s providence pulled them through. After walking for hours into the night with no provisions, they knocked on the door of a house wherein they met a couple named Joseph and Mary who took care of the friars.
Ascension Podcasts
Ministry Minutes: Embarrassment is Healthy – Yours Anyways
Allen has suffered through a lot of embarrassment in his life. So, he stopped trying to avoid it, and started trying to embrace it. Shortly after making this decision, he ended up saying his own name wrong during an audition—a situation that could have been a complete disaster, but was actually a great opportunity.
This week, think of an embarrassing story about yourself, and, when the opportunity arises, embrace it by telling a friend. For inspiration, check out this article, Music Ministers Share Their Most Embarrassing Moments.
What Are You Keeping from God?
Are you all in for Jesus? Or is there something you are keeping from God? It has been my experience that we like to think we’re doing God’s will, but when it comes down to it, we struggle to turn over our lives to God and accept his will over our own.
I share some of my recent struggles with this, along with some thoughts about various areas of life where you might be tempted to hold something back from God and keep control for yourself.
I am so excited to share my newest book with you, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth. Click here to sign up to be notified when the book becomes available for pre-order! When you pre-order through Ascension, you can get a free copy of the companion journal for You Are Enough! I cannot wait to share this book with you!
Money, Chronic Pain, Discerning the Priesthood
Fr. Josh answers questions about money, full time jobs and benefits, how to unite chronic pain with Jesus’ pain, and tips for discerning the priesthood. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!
God is Good, Not Just Fine
The difference between “good” and “fine” can have a big impact on how we view God.
When someone says, “it’s fine” they often mean, “I will grit my teeth and accept this, but below the surface I’m harboring a lot of resentment.”
God is good, but we often think of him as fine. We gloss over the cliche “God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good,” but it wasn’t always so widely accepted. In Story of a Soul, St. Therese always refers to God as the Good God. She did this in response to Jansenism, the idea that we have to earn God’s approval through our own merit.
The Principles of Abiding
In this episode we talk about the Scripture from John 15 where Jesus invites us to abide in Him and remain in his love. We discuss the importance of being rooted in Christ and the stumbling blocks that get in the way of that. We particularly explore the concept of littleness vs striving and self reliance.
Why Remain Catholic? Divine Revelation
Last week, Jeff talked about “setting your face like flint” and not leaving the Church and the sacraments because of the sins of men. This week, Jeff continues his discussion on why we should remain Catholic and delves into divine revelation using paragraphs 27-100 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).
Ascension Blog
Can Philosophy Provide Evidence for God’s Existence? Part 1
by Joseph Miller
This is the first of two articles demonstrating that philosophical reasoning can not only establish the existence of God but that it can also illuminate some of God’s attributes (e.g., oneness, simplicity). In this initial article we begin by looking at criteria for establishing the reasonableness of an argument. Read More …
How Do We Fix This?
by Bill Donaghy
“Through some mysterious crack… the smoke of Satan has entered the Church of God. There is doubt, uncertainty, problems, unrest, dissatisfaction, confrontation. The Church is no longer trusted.” —Blessed Paul VI, June 1972
I’m sure many of you reading this article have had wonderful experiences with the Church and her good sons, just as I have. Read More …
Wake-Up Call: September Has Ended and Advent is Near
by Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio
Have you ever had one of those days when you just wish God would show up, snap his figures and work miracles? The people of Israel had about five hundred years’ worth of days like that, groaning under the oppression of one tyrant after another. Read More …
Going Against the Tide of Religious Indifferentism
by Nicholas LaBanca
There are many different causes that can be linked to the decline of religiosity— particularly in the Catholic Church—in the Western world, but perhaps one of the leading (and not much talked about) causes would be indifferentism. Read More …
New from Ascension
An Invitation from God for Belonging and Love
Every one of us is made in the image of God. We are unique, we are worthy of love, and we are called to greatness.
In this world, though, it can be easy to be distracted from that truth and begin to doubt God’s love is real. We live in a world that tells us we are not smart enough, not pretty enough, not sexy enough, not rich enough, not thin enough, and don’t have enough friends.
In a world where everything feels fleeting and temporary, we are made for everlasting life; we are meant to experience God’s abiding love. You Are Enough uses the timeless tales of the Bible to clarify that truth for modern women.
You May Also Like:
Catch the Latest from Jeff Cavins, Fr. Mike and More
All of Ascension’s New Free Content Is Here in the Roundup
The Roundup of Ascension’s Weekly Content
0 Comments