Catholic Café

Doubt is a natural human trait. It is not always a weakness. It can actually be a healthy and natural thing to do. Especially when it comes to contemplating the very existence of God. Our doubting naturally leads to questions, which can ultimately lead us to answers that bring us closer to God.

It seems a little strange to say that we should embrace our own human brokenness, or that we should welcome the fact that we are sinners. But, in fact, if we realize that we are broken and that we are sinners, then it should follow that we must recognize also that we need a Savior to heal us. That is exactly what is meant by the Good News.

When Jesus chose Saint Peter to be the first of many Popes of the Catholic Church, He knew that he was choosing a faithful, but fallible, human being to work in harmony with the Holy Spirit in leading the divinely instituted Universal Church. Nearly 2000 years later, the gates of Hell have still not prevailed against it.

The Pope is not only the Pope for all Catholics, but he is also the Pope for the Universal Church. That means he is Pope for all peoples. There is an inherent unity to be found in the Papacy. When Jesus proclaimed that he would build His Church on the rock of St. Peter, He was setting in motion a model for unity rather than division.

We sometimes see the the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as something that really is just about celebrating Mary, something that she deserved because of her sinless life and her fiat, or yes, to God. While ultimately that is true, there is also a beneficial takeaway for each one of us as well. The Assumption gives us hope.

Recently, Dr. Peter Kreeft made a spoke about falling in love with his all over again after she had died and compared her broken, emaciated body to the beauty of the Crucifix. This remark went viral and caused a wonderful and renewed focus on relationships, marriage, and the Catholic view and understanding of love and beauty.

Not many folks these days can say about a meal that they were truly and fully satisfied. We often say that a meal was good or filling or tasty, but rarely do we say that we experienced total satisfaction. That is why when the Gospel of Matthew tells us about the miracle of the loaves and fishes, we should pay special attention to the fact that it is reported that the many who were present ate and wewre satisfied.

When God asked Solomon what he wanted to ask for, Solomon replied that he desired wisdom. In our world today, it seems hardly unlikely that if we were offered the same opportunity by God that we would ask for such a gift instead of worldly acclaim and riches. That is why we, too, should pray for wisdom in order that we might seek and find the pearl of great price in our lives.

The parable of the weeds and the wheat is familiar to most. We have all heard it before. But some may wonder, since we typically do not live an agrarian life in the modern world, if the teaching of this parable is still relevant. As we look closer at the core truth Jesus conveys with this parable, we discover it is extremely relevant.

Some folks, including some Catholics, wonder why lay persons who are gifted and prepared speakers are still not allowed to give the homily in the context of Holy Mass. In fact, even the Bishops of Germany recently asked for special permission from the Vatican to do this. However, the Vatican said it was not possible. In this episode, we discuss why.

As the United States of America celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it is a suitable and good idea to spend time reflecting on the many blessings bestowed upon our country. But, we must also ask if, in this day and age, we are BEHAVING like one nation under God.

As much as we love and respect our separated brothers and sisters in Christ, the Protestants, we must realize as Catholics that their understanding of the relationship between faith, works, judgment, and salvation is ultimately unbiblical. The Bible tells us we will be judged by our works, and Jesus reminds us that if we receive a prophet in His name, we will receive the reward of a prophet.

Our Father Who art in heaven is actually a wonderful model for all earthly fathers to follow. If we look at the attributes revealed by our Heavenly Father about Himself, we can see a great pattern that, if followed, will lead to better success in parenting and will ultimately lead to heaven for our children.

Pope Leo just recently released the first encyclical of his pontificate, having signed it on the anniversary of the release of the the encyclical Rerum Novarum, which was focused on the dignity of human labor. This new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, focuses on maintaining human dignity in the age of Artificial Intelligence.

Whenever we receive the Eucharist, properly disposed, we receive the Real Presence of Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. This is the best way, indeed the intended way, that we can best live as an image of Christ. This is true because we become what we eat and take on Eucharistic virtues.

As we leave the very busy and spiritually powerful Easter Season and enter into Ordinary Time, it is vital that we remember that the Easter Mysteries are supposed to empower us for the days ahead, not tire us and convince us we need a rest. We must avoid the temptation to hibernate in our faith and wait until the next big season of the Church.

Catholic author and speaker John Edwards speaks about his new book, Power Made Perfect, a powerful, revealing look into his amazing conversion of faith. As only he can do, John tells us how to find true strength in Christ by describing in detail, and vulnerability, his fall from grace and how the Lord used the powerful love of his wife Angela to bring him home to right relationship with God.

When Jesus gives us the Great Commission to go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, he dramatically ascends into heaven. The disciples hardly know what to do. They are stunned. Two angels give them very practical advice. Stop looking up in the sky and get busy doing what Jesus just commanded.

It seems that the world is so stressed out. So many people suffer from anxiety and worry. Perhaps a reminder, subtle though it is, can help. God is in charge. When we try to do everything ourselves, we quickly discover that we cannot. That is why we need to just let go and let God do the heavy lifting in our lives.

In chapter 6 of the Acts of the Apostles, we hear of Saint Stephen and six of his companions being called to a special vocation of service to the Church. These seven men would be the first Deacons of the Catholic Church, called to service to the Word, Altar, and Charity. 2000 years later, God still calls men to the vocation of the Diaconate.

Good Shepherd Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is when the Universal Church celebrates our shepherds, the priests, bishops, and pope who all act in the person of the One Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. God the Father knew we would need Shepherds like Jesus and His priests in order to help us get to heaven.

In the well known biblical account that takes place on the Road to Emmaus, sometimes people overlook the detail when Jesus shares the meal with Cleopus and his traveling companion. The story tells us that Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. Perhaps there is more to the story.

When we are attached to certain kinds of sins, it is hard for us to love like God loves. He loves us unconditionally and wants us to be free to love Him in that way as well.

It is certainly not uncommon that kids tend to go astray at some point in their young lives. And it is also not uncommon for parents to pray that they return. This Easter, as our families gather, perhaps we should think about what exactly we are asking for in our prayers.

The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. And if we are all sinners, then we are are doomed to die a spiritual death. That is why the Church wants us to take note of the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. His real life resurrection teaches us of us that even if we are four days dead and things seem hopeless, we can still be saved.

Having a home that is a Domestic Church essentially means making your home into a Church, a mirror of the Church proper. Here are ten very easy and practical ways in which any family can make their home into a Domestic Church and live more like the Holy Family.

Many Catholics see the Church primarily in a real, physical, and hierarchical sense. They see it as a place they go on Sundays to worship. If you ask about the Domestic Church, they look a little confused and ask what that is. The Domestic Church is an important teaching of our Catholic Faith that points us to the family as the first place for faith formation.

Every year, the Holy Father offers a message to his flock to assist them in enhancing the spiritual benefits they receive during the Lenten season. In 2026, Pope Leo offered his message for Lent and focused on the concepts of listening and fasting.

When it comes to practicing our Catholic faith, none of us should be aiming for the bottom. And yet, so many of us are most concerned with what the bare minimum the Church asks us to do. Perhaps the season of Lent is a good time to go all in on our faith, and to aim to be an all in Catholic.

There are only a few days until the season of Lent begins. Maybe this year, we should start sooner and actually think a bit more about what we will do for Lent this year - what we will give up, sacrifice, act upon - to help us grow closer to Christ and get more out of our Easter experience.

For some it may be confusing when Jesus tells us that he is the light of the world, but then also says that we are the light of the world. It makes us wonder how both can be true. Both theologically, and practically, it is actually quite easy to explain when you look at it through a Catholic lens.

Thanks to Saint Justin Martyr and a document nearly 1900 years old, we can clearly see that Christian worship of God in Rome is exactly what we as Catholics are still doing today in Holy Mass.

Whenever we read the Gospel account of the gathering of the Apostles, we should be challenged. When Jesus asks these men to follow him, he does not tell them to carefully consider his request. Jesus just asks. And the future Apostles just drop everything and immediately follow him. We should ask ourselves if we would be so willing and trusting.

BEHOLD is a word we do not use a lot in our modern use of the English language. However, if we look closely at that word, we realize it has a specific and profound meaning for us. Every Mass we attend we hear it in reference to the Eucharist just confected by the priest. Maybe we should examine how we respond to that word, and ultimately, that reality.

Many may wonder to themselves whether they would prefer to die suddenly and unexpectedly, or die over a longer period of time. There may be perceived positives and negatives for each reality, but maybe that is not the proper question. Perhaps we should ask ourselves if, at this moment in our lives, we are prepared to meet our Maker.

We all routinely make New Years resolutions each year, some are inspired, some not so inspired. Perhaps this year we should make a resolution that goes directly to the heart of our faith life, and all resolve to love…and read…the Scriptures more.

Deacon Jeff and friends discuss the Feast of the Holy Family.

While the Fourth Sunday of Advent is still Advent, we at The Catholic Cafe think it is certainly time to start thinking of, and watching, Christmas movies. Here we discuss our favorites.

Once we understand the true character of Advent...anticipation, judgment, and penitence...it opens up for us the opportunity to receive the great blessing of Joy that God intends for each of His faithful children.

When we view Advent as merely a time of waiting until Christmas, we can easily miss the spiritual benefits that the season has to offer us. We can best prepare to receive the Christ when we contemplate deeply the characteristics of anticipation, judgment, and penitence during Advent.

As we enter the Advent Season, it is common to wonder just how Christmas preparation is appropriate so that we do not ignore the spiritually valuable character of Advent. There must be a good balance between the secular and spiritual aspects of holiday seasons.

If you have ever wondered why the Church keeps an annual liturgical calendar of feasts and celebrations, you are not alone...Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Triduum, Easter, Ordinary Time. This cycle that seems to be on permanent repeat each and every year is actually a great gift that the Church bestows upon us.

It seems to be a common occurrence in families that one of the kids, or maybe even one of the spouses or other family members, has wandered away from Holy Communion with the Church. People seem desperate for answers about what do do and how to convince them to return. The answers are usually not that simple. But, there are some simple places to start, like prayer and personal witness.

Most of us are quite familiar with the biblical story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. No business allowed. Only worship. This is certainly true, but there is also another interesting perspective that relates to the prophesy of the Church found in the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel. The free flowing of grace from the Church is vital to the transmission and transformation of life.

We are very familiar with All Saints Day, and of course, its precursor All Hallows Eve, but many are less familiar with the history, meaning, and purpose of the following feast day, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, better known as All Souls Day.Let us remember all those faithful family and friends who have gone before us and are in need of our prayers.

Triumph of the Heart, a moving and hopeful movie, set in a prison cell in Auschwitz, tells the story of the final days of Saint Maximillian Kolbe and his companions. Though the subject matter may seem dark and disturbing, it is actually a story of the triumph of hope over darkness.

If you have ever wondered why the hands of the priest are consecrated, and why they are subsequently empowered to do the work that God has planned for them, you need only to look to the Book of Exodus for a clue. But, it also has a direct connection to Jesus asking us to pray without growing weary.

Join us for another Top Ten list from the Luxurious Corner Booth. This time, we talk about our top ten suggestions to kick it up a notch and enhance your praying of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, continues to be in the news as it continues to grow more potent and more prominent. Both secular and religious corners of society are rightly focusing attention on the ethical, moral, and practical concerns for AI. Answering whether it is good, or bad, or a little of both, is something everyone should be considering.

While all suffering is painful, some suffering seems worse than others. We particularly struggle with suffering that lasts a long time, and can even extend to years. This type of long suffering can sometimes cause discouragement, depression, and may even lead us into the sin of despair.

Our nation has followed a disturbing trend of late. It seems we have lost the ability to practice civil discourse and respect for free expression and exchange of ideas in the public square. This has, at the same time, resulted in an increasing trend of tragic violence to plague our nation. We need Jesus.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a Catholic Feast day that brings due attention to the Holy Cross on which our Lord and Savior achieved our reconciliation with the Father. In this Feast, we gaze upon the Cross less as an instrument of suffering and torture (while this is still certainly true), but more on the healing and reconciliation it brings.

Pope Leo XIV addressed a group of French Catholic politicians recently on pilgrimage to the Vatican. He had many good words of advice for them, while he also offered some challenges for them relating to a tendency he sees in many Catholic politicians to separate their faith life from their public life.

A lot of folks, even some Catholics, have an erroneous idea about what the Church actually teaches about the Communion of the Saints. We do not go to the Saints INSTEAD of Jesus, but we call upon them in ADDITION to Jesus and THROUGH the Body of Christ.

When the Bible uses the word KNOW, it speaks of a level of intimacy reserved for our absolute closest relationships. To know Jesus is to living in a relationship of divine intimacy with him. It is not enough to know about Jesus, we must know him intimately. And he in return knows us intimately.

A lot of Catholics know at least a little about the process for those who wish to be baptized Catholic or come into Full Communion with the Catholic Church. It is a process formerly known as RCIA, but is now OCIA. However, we can all do a little better job of evangelization by inviting people into the process, people we are in relationship with, our friends and family.

There is an interesting Catholic Tradition that speaks of degrees of glory in heaven. But, many folks might be confused by this concept, especially when we view it through an earthly lens.

Pope Leo, in a recent Angelus address to the faithful, spoke about the prayer that Jesus Himself taught us, what has become known as the Our Father. The Pope beautifully reflected on the importance of the prayer, how the Father loves us and gives us everything we need, but also the responsibility we have to serve and forgive others.

On the 100th anniversary of the famous Scopes Trial in Tennessee that gained national attention dealing with teaching the Theory of Evolution in schools, many folks may still wonder exactly what the Catholic Church teaches about Evolution and Creation.

The Holy Father, Pope Leo, recently addressed attendees of the 5th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. His brief address was filled with messages of Jubilee, wisdom, worth, and most of all, hope...hope for the elderly and wisdom for the young.

The devotion of the wearing of the Brown Scapular, while popular among Catholics, is shrouded in mystery for many. Under the patronage of Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, it is actually an ancient devotion with Old Testament roots leading to its founding in the middle ages.

We are a missionary Church and it is not good enough to sit idly in our pew and relish in the grace we receive at Mass. We are, each of us, called to go and make disciples. And, our mission field may be as close as our work, our grocery store, our community, and even our own home.

When Pope Leo was elected, in his very first public address, he mentioned briefly his concerns regarding Artificial Intelligence, or AI. Soon after, he addressed participants at the Second Annual Conference on Artificial Intelligence, where spelled out in more detail the great potential for good...and for evil...that AI has.

When we say Amen when presented the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass, we are saying much more than I believe that this host is Jesus or that this cup contains Jesus. We are saying that we desire to be in Holy Communion with Jesus, His Church, His Mystical Body, and that we believe and profess to be true ALL that the Church teaches.

To spend too much time trying to define the Most Holy Trinity is to risk falling into heresy. Humans, with their finite capacity for understanding, have oft times tried to fully unravel the Trinitarian Mystery. However, even though we cannot know EVERYTHING about the Trinity, we can still live faithfully in this divine Mystery, and know God and live in relationship with Him.

unobtainable ideal, but it is instead a measure of true love between a man and a woman, and he future reminded us that families are the cradle of the future of himanity.

In the address of Pope Leo XIV to the Diplomatic Corps on May 16, he spoke of the responsibility of governments to build harmonious and peaceful societies. This can only be done, the Holy Father said, by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman.

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.