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Hey! You went to Mass this weekend – good for you! It is no easy feat making Mass a priority these days. I think we often times judge and complain about those who don’t go, we don’t affirm and commend those who do go (I’m guilty of this as in a recent post I challenged you to do more). You’re awesome for taking time to show your gratefulness to God in the way Jesus has called us to. Whether you sacrifice going to a party, sleeping in, coming home early from a trip, you are doing good. God sees your faithfulness. And if you’re pushing kids out the door only to try to keep them in their seats during Mass and not be too distracting (Annalin, face forward!), I believe God gives you extra points. Even if it means focusing on a homily you don’t like, or singing to music you don’t like, God sees that.
Going to Mass weekly teaches you to be a saint. To put God first. To sit and listen. To focus on God speaking in your heart. To listen for when God is speaking through others (even if it’s not the way you’d want it to be said, even if you don’t like the person, God can still speak Truth through them to you). To be still. To be present.
If you’re ready for more and haven’t taken the step yet, here are some artists and authors I’ve gotten a lot out of over the years (I receive no compensation from recommending these people, although I would not turn it away if any of them wanted to compensate me for promoting them to the 25 awesome people who read this):
Music:
Lauren Daigle: How Can it Be (album) – sounds kinda like Adele
Matt Maher: Echoes (album) – so many good things about this album – and he’s Catholic
Group 1 Crew: Fearless – this is one of the few hip hop Christian albums I’ve actually liked
Audrey Assad: she has several albums good for peace and meditation. And she’s Catholic
Books (I have a copy of some of these books – and many more – if you’d like to borrow any):
Lino Rulli: Sinner – I read this a few years ago and really enjoyed it
Marc Cardaronella: Keep Your Kids Catholic – really good tips for parents
Scott & Kimberly Hahn: Rome Sweet Home – book on a prominent Protestant couple’s conversion to the Catholic faith
C.S. Lewis: The Great Divorce – entertaining story on the afterlife
Jon Leonetti: Your God is Too Boring – helps to take a good look at your relationship with God
Mark Hart: A Second Look – lots of good insights here
