Dave “The Pew Sitter” VanVickle and I answer more of your questions today. We talk about the rise in popularity of the Latin Mass, how to discern the charism of evangelization in a parish setting, and how to teach your little ones to behave at Mass.
Snippet from the Show
“The Mass is first and foremost the prayer of the Son of the Father, and we get to enter into it by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Shownotes
This episode was sponsored by Chews Life. Chews Life’s mission is to equip all Catholics with Rosaries for life.
Listener Questions
The Rise in Popularity of the Latin Mass
Great podcast. Thank you for presenting it for us. My wife & I have a conundrum.
How is it evangelizing when the Catholic Church recites prayers, sings songs and even full Mass in Latin here in the US? Both of us are kids of the 60’s & 70’s and went through the Vatican II changes. We truly believe that hearing Mass, saying our prayers & singing songs in English (or Spanish, Vietnamese, etc. – your native language) was one of the best changes made. It seems rude to us for those we are trying to bring in to the Church to also have to listen to a language that they don’t understand. And we are in our 60’s and had no Latin in our 12 years of Catholic school education, WE don’t understand Latin either. So those younger than us won’t understand it (with few exceptions).
How is that welcoming and evangelizing when no one understands except those even older than us! And a lot of them don’t know or remember what is truly being said. They just reminisce about their youth! We find this VERY unwelcoming to new recruits and younger members of our faith. And we truly don’t feel it is prayerful. I love to participate in the prayers and sing (to the dismay of many I’m sure). I can’t do that if I don’t understand what is being said! Even if I had an English translation, it is cumbersome. Help me to understand. Better yet, help me to argue it’s time to leave the unwelcoming past behind us!
–Kevin
Discerning the Charism of Evangelization in a Parish Setting
Hi! I recently entered seminary, I’m extremely grateful for your podcast as well as so many others that I’m sure have contributed in some way in awakening my hunger and spurred me into discernment.
As part of the seminary life we will be helping out in parishes we will be assigned to of course, and I’d like to ask you about discerning charisms. What are some tips to discern particularly the charism of evangelization, in a parish setting? I am very keen on evangelization, but it’s not like I’ve had super amazing “results” or anything, as far as I know. But it came up in my called and gifted test and I was thinking that my current setting would make it easier to discern.
-Ignacio
Teaching Your Kids to Behave at Mass
Hello!
My name is Grace, Catholic mom of a happy, busy 14 month old and wife of an also happy and busy methodist organist who appreciates Catholic doctrine more than the average Catholic. I LOVE listening to every knee shall bow and I have a problem I would love to hear your answer to. The other week Gomer was joking about being “that parent with Cheerios” and I’m that parent doing a walk of shame through the church with a toddler enjoying her echo too much, leaving a trail of Cheerios in our wake. We have serious pew problems and our baby has no idea how to sit still during church. What is your advice on teaching very young children how to behave in church? How can I start forming her NOW to be a good disciple of Christ?
Backstory- we have never been consistent in disciplining her in church as during COVID we lost our choir and my husband played all of the masses and I sang all of the masses for the whole pandemic. Our baby went to three masses every weekend for her entire first year of life, but we did only whatever was necessary to keep her quiet while we played and sang. My husband recently got another job as assistant director of music and I finally have a chance to sit with our baby in the pew. I feel we have done her a grave disservice and now for the first time we’re trying to make her behave and it feels nearly impossible!
Most of EKSB is about being an effective Evangelist and becoming a powerful witness, but my own domestic church needs repair too! Help would be greatly appreciated.
Resources
- Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com
- Text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and be added to Gomer and Dave’s email list
- Visit Dave’s website www.thecatholictruthaboutangelsanddemons.com and www.artofevangelization.com
- Visit Mike’s website at www.layevangelist.com
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.
Meet Your Hosts
Michael “Gomer” Gormley
Michael spent 17 years in full-time parish ministry and is now the Mission Evangelist for That Man Is You!, a men’s apostolate for Paradisus Dei. Michael is a frequent speaker at conferences, retreats, and parish missions all over the US and Canada.
He is the founder and creative director of LayEvangelist.com, and hosts two popular Catholic podcasts: Catching Foxes and Every Knee Shall Bow.
He is married to his college sweetheart, Shannon, and has four beautiful and hilarious children: Kateri, Cecilia, Noah, and Thomas.
Dave VanVickle
Dave VanVickle fell in love with the Lord at the age of fourteen and has since dedicated his life to bringing others into a radical relationship with Christ.
He is a speaker and retreat leader who focuses on proclaiming the universal call to holiness, authentic Catholic spirituality, spiritual warfare and deliverance. Additionally, Dave has over ten years of experience assisting Priests with their ministries of exorcism and deliverance.
Dave married his late wife Amber in 2010. He now resides in Pittsburgh with his five children: Sam, Max, Judah, Josie and Louisa.
