Latest update: catch me on Morning Air tomorrow

Happy feast of the Baptism of Jesus! And just like that, Christmas is officially over. I pray for you it was not just warm and fuzzy, but also meaningful.

And if you’re looking to add a little meaning to your life, join me at 7:10 am eastern tomorrow morning, Tuesday, 1/10, where I will be discussing 3 reasons for hope as we start out this new year. It will of course be adapted from my most recent article, Reasons for Hope at the End of the Year. They are: the overturn of Roe, the return to in-person life, and the increase in enrollments at Catholic Schools. Can you think of any good news worth celebrating? Let me know!

See you on the air.

Last thoughts in 2022

Dear friends, I share my last article of 2022, up today at Catholic Stand, Reasons for Hope at the End of the Year. It is a quick touch on three things that went right this year (spoiler alert: Roe v. Wade) and the suggestion to make an examen as the year comes to a close. You can hear me discuss reasons for hope on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:10 am on Morning Air.

Don’t forget: January 1 we get to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. What better way could there be to start the new year? Get your hiney to church and dedicate your new year to the Lord, and his mother.

One more thing: Pope Emeritus Benedict passed away today. May he rest in peace, and may Pope Francis continue to be guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

Wishing you a safe, healthy, joy-filled and grateful new year’s!

You do not need a store-bought "prayer journal"

I am going to make a hot take here, as 2023 is around the corner and I keep getting emails from Catholic companies selling 2023 prayer journals or other similarly-themed 2023 spiritual notebooks.

I suppose I am a bit of a curmudgeon on this, but I think: you don’t need it. Yes, there are many beautifully illustrated and devout-looking journals out there, and I am sure they help some people. But is it really necessary? No.

Why am I a curmudgeon on this? Because I see the having, or the not having, of a professional prayer journal as a roadblock to an actual prayer life. It is like one who buys weights, exercise outfits, and a subscription for an exercise program, but never actually works out. You’ve got the stuff, but are you actually showing up?

I have never used anything other than spiral-bound notebooks, either for regular journaling and note-taking, or keeping a prayer journal. Sometimes I even just use my phone. But every article, and any other thing, I have ever written, more often than not has had its start in a simple spiral-bound notebook.

My larger point is: don’t overcomplicate it. You do not need a rose-covered book with loopy calligraphy of inspiring Scripture to commune with God. Rather, the harder part is the showing up. Can you do that, first? Can you show your commitment with nothing - no crutches, no journals - other than dependence on God for the grace of prayer time with Him?

That’s my curmudgeonly hot take. If you are someone who has been deeply helped by a pre-populated prayer journal or the like - God bless you, truly. If you’re someone who thinks your prayer life can’t happen without it, and an exact plan about how each day is going to go in your prayer - you can, and you will.

My last Catholic Stand article of the year comes out the last day of the year: December 31. It is a short meditation on what went right this year: reasons for hope at the end of the year. Then I’ll be back with the Morning Air Show on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:10 am eastern to discuss.

May you have a blessed Christmas season, and a blessed new year!