Catholic writer

A 1045 Word Interview with the Carmelite Homemaker

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Cecelia Allen via phone call on March 26th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

You spent nearly a year in a Carmelite monastery before discerning a different path. Can you share more about that spiritual journey and how you recognized God’s call shifting in your life?

I started discerning religious life when I was little. I first wrote to the monastery when I was 14. Because they were cloistered I couldn’t visit, but when I was 16 I was able to stay in their guest room. I entered the monastery when I was 19 and felt a tug towards throughout High school. Eight months after I entered, I started feeling a tug towards some type of ministry, a more active service or retreat ministry. At first I thought this was another phase in the adjustment of contemplative life. I continued to feel this draw towards more active ministry. I really struggled to leave because I loved all aspects of that. I was given this advice by a priest, “to discern where you find peace.” When I left the monastery I felt peace but I still miss it. 

When I left that cloistered community I was thinking of joining another religious community. I realized that such women’s communities were either cloistered or very active in teaching 8 hours a day. 

I learned through the call to marriage that I could make my home a cloister, a type of miniature contemplative community. 

What was the most profound lesson you learned during your time in the monastery that continues to shape your life today?

Living the liturgical year. Being at the monastery when you are praying to the Divine Office your whole existence is centered on the liturgy. While I have been Catholic my whole life and received great catechesis, when I was at the monastery, it felt like it was my first Christmas as a Catholic. This was because Advent was such a profound time to prepare for Christ’s birth. It felt like Heavenly time where earthly time stopped and we entered more deeply into the life of Christ. 

You describe carrying “the little cloister” in your heart. How do you practically integrate Carmelite spirituality into your daily life as a homemaker? Are there specific practices, prayers, or rhythms you’ve adopted from monastic life?

I prioritize the Divine Office in my prayer life. I love the whole thing, but one hour I prioritize as a family is Night Prayer. Personally, I do enjoy Morning Prayer. 

St. Therese of Lisieux, a Carmelite saint, is known for her “little way” of finding holiness in ordinary moments. How do you see this spirituality manifesting in your role as a wife and homemaker? Could you share an example of how you’ve found extraordinary grace in seemingly mundane tasks?

Actually, it has been so amazing to study Carmelites from the perspective of a wife and mother. The more I study this spirituality, the more I realize it is applicable to our life in the world. Living in the presence of God undergirds all the Carmelite spirituality. I have been so encouraged by reading Teresa of Avila’s writings, The Way of Perfection, for everyone! This contemplative living is accessible for everyone. 

Carmelite spirituality emphasizes contemplation and interior life. In the midst of the busy responsibilities of home and marriage, how do you maintain a deep prayer life and sense of interior stillness?

That’s a good question, it’s definitely a work in progress. I have learned that in terms of maintaining a strong payer life it is not going to look like the days before. The other day I prayed the Divine Office but I was pacing up and down the hallway with my baby on my shoulder. Having that communication with your spouse to have them watch the kids while you pray is something I am working on. The big thing is accepting that prayer life isn’t the same as before marriage. 

For interior silence, I have Gregorian chant in the background playing. I used to think that silence, no background noise, was the way to draw into that interior silence. But I found that my mind wandered. When I have the chant playing in the background I am more drawn to focus on the silence. 

Your husband encouraged you to bring your Carmelite experience into your marriage. How has this unique spiritual background influenced your relationship?

I think it’s allowed me to see how a lot of people see religious life as the ultimate sacrifice. But having come from that religious life perspective I have become more aware of how marriage is also a vocation and a gift of yourself. The gift of totality in my marriage is something I learned, or became more aware of, due to my experience in the monastery. It’s that awareness our vocation (no matter which one you’re called to) is meant to stretch you to make you holy. 

Many young Catholics struggle with understanding their vocation. Having experienced both religious and married life, what wisdom can you share about discernment and listening to God’s call?

The biggest thing is to what the priest told me, “follow your peace.” If you are feeling a consistent tug towards religious life don’t be afraid to take action to pursue it. The postulant period (about the first year) is that time of discernment. Don’t be afraid to take the next step in discernment and don’t be afraid to discern out.

I realize that there’s two different tugs to marriage: the natural and the draw that’s indicative towards a vocation. And to ask God to help me discern the difference between the two. 

Who is your favorite Carmelite saint and why?

My favorite is Elizabeth of the Trinity because of her writings on living in the presence of God. Her main focus is the indwelling of the Trinity in our souls due to our Baptism and living in that presence always. I found this so accessible as a wife and mother. 

I also enjoy the work of John of the Cross and Terese of the Andes. Teresa of Avila and Therese of Lisieux would round out the top five (please don’t be mad at me!)

Where can my followers learn more about your ministry? 

I have a YouTube channel, Instagram profile and I have a blog. Links to these can be found at: Carmelite Homemaker.

About Cecelia: 

After discerning religious life in my high school years, I entered a Carmelite monastery when I was 19 years old. A year later, I discerned out, feeling called from the solitude of Carmel to some form of ministry. 

I am now a wife and mother, but my love for the monastery remains a deep part of who I am. I have made it my mission to bring the beauty of monastic life into my life in the world, and help others do the same.

Thank you for sharing!

A 1296 Word Interview with Jose Pulido

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Jose Pulido via phone call on March 7th and 14th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Your personal journey from being a “staunch, articulate atheist” to Catholic evangelist is fascinating. Could you share more about that mystical encounter with the Holy Family that changed your life?

Absolutely, it was December 24, 2011. Christmas Eve The Gothic Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. In my Colombian tradition, it was tough to celebrate together with my family. My sister and mother were back home. My brother and father were with me in Spain but decided not to come to Mass. I was wandering the city and was talking to the poor and offered them prayers since I didn’t have money on me. I heard the Mass bells ringing and I entered the church and started making my way to the front. Looking back on this experience, it was an exercise of spiritual poverty and grace. I thought I was going to be with my family during Christmas Eve Mass. The Spanish used at Mass was a different dialect (Cataline) that I wasn’t used to speaking so I only understood every tenth word. This wasn’t what I wanted at that moment because I felt down and like I failed. 

Very clearly I heard the voice of Satan. He was gloating about how he separated my family and that I lost and that I would never have a whole family. 

I oriented my heart toward the Lord during this time to help from not having a breakdown. During this time, the Blessed Virgin Mary spoke to me telling me that I have always been part of the Holy Family and that I alway had the perfect family. This experience happened to me while I was still in Mass. During the collection, I had two coins and Satan came back telling me that I didn’t have the right offering and was a sinner. How could I be a member of the perfect family if I was imperfect? I felt this weight again and went back to the Lord. I felt consolation from Mary and Joseph. 

They again encouraged me that I have an inheritance and have the right to ask for the graces. 

This was a pretty emotional experience, I had tears and snot, I was not attractive at the moment. Again, Satan tempted me telling me that while the Holy Family might accept me that the Church wouldn’t. I felt crushed again. 

I again felt Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in my heart encourage me to give this Church a chance. During the sign of Peace, there was a lady who still gave me the sign of peace despite my appearance. So Satan went away.

The next message I was sent was that Jesus was present in the Eucharist. On the way back to the hotel, I received the fifth message, I was coming down with traveler’s sickness. The person who was taking care of me was my dad. I came to this realization that in order for me to experience the love of Saint Joseph and Mary that you need to go to your parents. Some people think the Holy Family is a replacement for your family and parents. And maybe that is in extraordinary circumstances like Saint John Paul II, but in most ordinary cases you need to love your parents to find the love of the Holy Family. 

Holy Family

In your book, you mention combining Sacred Tradition with modern behavioral science. How do these two seemingly different approaches work together to create effective evangelization methods?

Many Catholics feel intimidated or unprepared when it comes to sharing their faith.

What’s one common misconception about evangelization that you’d like to dispel?

That evangelization has to be awful or a fight. Evangelization can be joyful and loving! There’s no contradiction between joyfulness and truth. 

You’ve taught thousands of people through workshops across North America. What’s the most surprising transformation you’ve witnessed in someone applying your evangelization techniques?

The most surprising thing is the upside up transformation. Adult children go from not wanting to go to Mass to now volunteering with their mom with local religious orders. 

I was coaching this mom and she and her daughter were yelling at each other about the faith. After one coaching session and three weeks later, they were going to Mass and hugging each other. 

When you approach it with a craftsmanship of love. For example, grandma’s cookies aren’t great because she is perfect, it is because she has developed her craft of baking over decades. And that is how my work has been effective, not because I’m perfect but because I took the time to learn this craft with love. 

And we have this language used by the Holy Family, found in Scripture. It feels good to evangelize, it’s kind of controversial to say, but it should feel good to evangelize our faith. It is the work of the Holy Spirit! 

We always talk about the evangelizee, but never the evangelizer. This book is about how parties thrive. We have to love ourselves (not just the person we are evangelizing or just ourselves). It is both/and.

Your background includes Ivy League education and corporate experience. How has your secular professional background influenced your approach to Catholic evangelization?

Mass is not boring
Mass is unboring…bring your coworker to daily Mass this month!

Immensely! In two ways. The first way it really opened my eyes to ways of what was possible with evangelization. Routinely, I would bring my colleagues to daily Mass. 

The second ways was uncovering the means to accomplish this good. I had various companies talking about religion during the lunch hour. It wasn’t because I was unique, it was because I really wanted to evangelize and I developed this craft. Anybody can learn this. The craft is to dream like Joseph, talk like Mary, and to make all things new like Jesus. We all have an inheritance to claim those things. We must be our shoulder to the wheel. The doctor must read the Scripture to found how faith and reason interact. The accountant must read Scripture and attend Mass to see how faith and reason interact. Like one of the core principles for the Marines which is “Every Marine,  a rifleman”, in the Catholic space it should be similar: “Every Catholic, an evangelist.” Just like how the Marines are successful with great training, so too Catholics in order to be successful need great training.

In developing the craft in my classes it is always about how to apply this to sharing the faith. 

You mention teaching people to “dream like Saint Joseph” and “speak like Our Lady.” Could you explain what these spiritual practices look like in everyday conversations with non-believers?

To dream like Joseph you have to see everything and everyone (including yourself) as God sees. 

To speak like Mary you have to be willing to express yourself regarding the faith. You have to be willing to talk about your personal connection to the faith. 

For Catholics who feel they’ve tried everything to reach loved ones who have left the faith, what hope or fresh perspective does your approach offer them?

Pray hope don't worry Padre Pio

Great evangelization should be life giving for the evangelist, at least a lot of the time. The Lord says the summary of faith is to love God with all your heart and love others as yourself. 

It is necessary to love others as yourself. The gift of love must go both ways. In order to love others as yourself we must first love ourselves. When the Lord looks at the Rich Young Man in the Gospel of Mark, it says that the Lord looked at him and loved him. If the Lord looks at us and loves us, then when we look in the mirror at ourselves should we not also love ourselves? 

Where is the best place for my audience to learn more about you? 

On Instagram at @share.faith.now

About Jose:

Jose M. Pulido draws from 15+ years of experience evangelizing in various secular settings to inspire and equip others to share Christ.

His experience includes evangelizing at universities, Fortune 500 companies, and various non-profits (in the US, Latin America, and Asia).

He’s also advised numerous organizations and parishes on evangelization and catechesis through staff trainings, public workshops, & retreats. He started evangelizing for the Lord at George Washington University’s Newman Center, where he was the first disciple of FOCUS when they joined the campus. He’s worked with Georgetown University on Young Adult Latino Ministry, having founded Catholic Latino Leadership Initiative, while working as a young adult in Washington, DC. He is a spokesman for The Mary Foundation – A non-profit dedicated to the distribution of sacramentals and evangelization materials (www.catholicity.com). He has appeared on ESNE TV, doing a three-part series on Evangelization for the segment Mujeres De Encuentro. He is also a Senior Advisor at Omnia Catholic, a social media ministry aimed at supporting young adult ministries. Jose Pulido is a member of the Catholic Speakers Organization. This is the leading resource for faith-based speakers. He is a frequent presenter on the University Series in Ventura County, a series aimed at supporting faith formation for adult Catholics. He is also a member of Fruitful Futures Project, a non-profit dedicated to helping others find fruitfulness in their callings. He is part of the leadership team for That Man Is You (TMIY) at his parish.  

​He has a Masters from Yale University and a Bachelors from George Washington University. He speaks English, Spanish, Japanese, and is hilarious in Korean & Tagalog.

​He is most relaxed when reading Sacred Scripture, doing origami, going for a nice walk, or showing others how to engage in life-giving evangelization.  

Thank you for sharing!

A 740 Word Interview with Joe Coleman

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Joe Coleman via phone call on March 12th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What inspired you to specifically focus on helping Catholic business owners with their podcasts rather than pursuing a broader market?

We work with pretty much anyone who wants to create Catholic content but our primary focus is Catholic business owners. I have audio-produced a variety of Catholic projects over the years. I really didn’t see serving this specific niche. It seemed to be that Catholics who are running businesses according to the teachings of the Gospel were underserved. It fills a need that hasn’t gotten as much attention as non-profits and ministry. 

How did your experience at KNOM Radio in Alaska shape your approach to podcast production?

That’s a good question, I worked at KNOM as a producer, on-air host, and a writer. I am very grateful to KNOM for teaching me about the fundamentals of audio-production. A large part of what I did was in-studio interviews or longer form audio packages. I got experience in storytelling and what makes a good conversation. I learned how to help guests get their point across. 

You mention that podcasts are “the best medium to build audience trust” – can you share an example where you’ve seen this trust develop between a Catholic business owner and their audience?

We helped develop a  podcast called Making Every Class Catholic by Dr. Brett Falkeld where he talked to Catholic educators. He used the podcast to talk to interesting people like the Archbishop of Vancouver. He provided this content for professional and personal enrichment to show how teachers can make all their classes Catholic. He used the podcast to drive people to his subscription community for educational resources. The podcast was a marketing vehicle to help his business to be the first point of contact. 

One of the best things about broadcasting is that you can talk about a problem that speaks to the listeners and makes them feel like you are having this one-on-one conversation. You can scale this conversation while still keeping it intimate. 

Saint Maximilian Kolbe is your studio’s namesake – how does his legacy influence your work philosophy?

He has a newspaper/periodical that is still in existence: Knight of the Immaculata. Because of this, one of his patronages is that of communication. His biggest claim to fame is his sacrifice in Auschwitz. It is easy to lose sight of heroism in modernity. It is easy to forget that you still can do great things. Our studio is to help businesses tell great stories. We strive for excellence and holiness like the saints. While I will likely not reach the same level as Saint Maximilian, he is still a good model to look up to and inspire myself and my business. 

What’s the most significant transformation you’ve witnessed in a client’s business after launching their podcast?

I think of Dr. Falkeld’s podcast. Using it as a marketing vehicle is powerful. The podcast is still a source of traffic to his community. Podcasts as a medium are playing the long-game. You can play the short game with viral posts on social media. But podcasting in general is playing the long-game. 

I think the reality is that not everyone is going to be seeing immediate success. Think in terms of months and years versus days. It’s tough to say any business is going to be transformed right away when launching a podcast. 

We produce a show called Catching Foxes. It has been going on for ten years. The personal fulfillment the hosts continue to receive from this experience is invaluable to the amount of friends they developed through their podcast. 

Looking ahead, how do you see Catholic podcasting evolving over the next few years?

That’s a good question! I think that space probably expands. It will likely evolve similar to how the podcasting industry in general has expanded. The fact we had presidential candidates this past year going on podcasts. Four years ago this was inconceivable. 

The one objection I hear is that the market is so saturated. While there are a lot of podcasts, there is not a saturation of high quality Catholic podcasts. For every Pints with Aquinas, there are 100 “not- Pints with Aquinas”. 

The Catholic world moves slow in the tech space. There’s still time to hop on and start a podcast that’s high quality. 

Where’s the best way for my readers to learn more about your work? 

They can visit our website at saintkolbestudios.com or email me at joe@saintkolbestudios.com.

About Joe: 

Joe Coleman is the Founder and Director of Audio Production at Saint Kolbe Studios. He started his audio career in 2019 as an on-air host, producer, and writer at the oldest Catholic radio station in the US, KNOM Radio in Nome, Alaska. Now, he lives in Tyler, Texas with his wife and soon-to-be-born daughter. P.S. Want a free podcast studio? Seriously! Saint Kolbe Studios is giving away five full podcast setups to new retainer clients. We want to lower the barrier to entry and help you tell your story. Head to saintkolbestudios.com to learn more.

Thank you for sharing!

A 972 Word Interview with Thomas Salerno about His Debut Children’s Book

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Thomas Salerno, via phone call on February 7th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What drew you to write about Blessed Nicolas Steno?

I’ve known about Nicolas Steno for a while. In college, I took a lot of geology classes and came across him in my textbooks. The textbooks rarely mentioned he was a priest. He is not well known even in Catholic circles. He’s not as familiar to people as Gregor Mendel. But Nicolas has been a hero of mine and I wanted to write about him. 

Because he is still “just” a blessed he doesn’t get as much “air-time” as a fully canonized saint. 

If you could sum up Nicholas Steno’s life in a couple sentences for my readers?

His life represents a relentless pursuit of truth. He came into the Catholic Church from a Lutheran family. No matter what subject he was studying, he was never afraid of where that journey towards truth would lead him. 

How did  you balance making complex geological concepts accessible to young readers while maintaining scientific accuracy?

That’s a great question. I tried to keep the book as jargon-free as possible without “dumbing” it down. I thought about it as if I was a 10 year old again. How would I process these concepts at that age?

Image courtesy of Word on Fire.

Your book connects scientific discovery with religious devotion. Could you share a particular moment in Steno’s life that you found most compelling in demonstrating this harmony between faith and reason?

I think it would probably be during his conversion story. Steno initially tried to reason his way to the faith by studying the Church Fathers. On All Souls Day, he had a very powerful experience when he perceived God personally telling him to join the Catholic Church. It was through an ordinary experience: he was about to make a wrong turn on the street and a passerby told him to go the other way. In his heart, Steno was wavering on “which way to go” (that is, whether to stay Lutheran or become Catholic) and he took those words as coming directly from God. 

As someone writing for children about both science and faith, how do you approach explaining the relationship between understanding God’s creation through scientific inquiry while maintaining a sense of wonder and reverence?

Another great question! I really try to communicate in my writing that scientific inquiry is a way for God to help us learn about His creation. It’s a way to give praise back to God and to give thanks for creating the beautiful, diverse, and complex world He has made. 

The title mentions “Tongue-stones” – could you tell us about the significance of these fossils in Steno’s work and how they became a gateway to his broader discoveries?

“Tongue-stones” is a name that people from centuries ago in Europe gave to fossils of sharks’ teeth. Steno was originally an animal anatomist. So when he dissected a shark, he noticed how their teeth were identical to tongue-stones; they were essentially petrified shark’s teeth. This allowed him to marshal evidence that fossils were actually what they were evident to be: remains of organisms from long ago. 

During your research, what surprised you most about Blessed Nicolas Steno’s journey from scientist to Catholic bishop?

Two things surprised me. Firstly, that he was still able to keep practicing science while performing his duties as a bishop. And the other thing that surprised me was how much trouble he got himself into in both the Protestant and Catholic areas. He was a reformer at heart so he didn’t have a whole lot of support from his congregations. At one point he was receiving death threats simply by opposing corruption in his diocese. 

Your book includes field-guide sketches and a glossary. How did you decide which visual elements would best help young readers connect with both the scientific and spiritual aspects of the story?

To be honest, I left that in the hands of my design team at Word on Fire. One thing I have learned in this experience is how much of a team effort it is putting together a children’s book. 

As a Catholic writer addressing scientific topics, what advice would you give to parents and educators who want to nurture both scientific curiosity and religious faith in children?

I think that the best advice I can give is to not be afraid to learn about these things with your children. If your child shows an interest in science or nature, nurture that interest, but also find out why they are interested and show celebrate that passion. Ask questions and be engaged with your children’s interests. 

I dedicated the book to my mom because she allowed me to be interested in my study of paleontology and fossils. She took me to museums and we collected various things from outside like rocks and minerals. She let me chart my own path of learning. 

Any last words of advice for my readers about how to grow in your Catholic faith? 

Two things recently have deepened my faith: Spiritual reading and a dedicated daily prayer routine. The Church provides a wealth of different types of prayer, but if you can establish that daily prayer time with God it will be a game-changer. 

Learn more about Thomas and his book by visiting: his Word on Fire interview.

About Thomas:

Thomas Salerno is a museum educator, author, freelance essayist, and podcaster from Long Island, New York. Thomas has a degree in anthropology from Stony Brook University and is the author of the debut children’s nonfiction book, The Riddle of the Tongue-Stones: How Blessed Nicolas Steno Uncovered the Hidden History of the Earth.

Thank you for sharing!

The Simple Catholic: A Journey of Faith, Humor, and Neurodiversity

/ chicoinematt

Life’s journey often resembles a winding pilgrimage, with steep climbs of joy and deep valleys of sorrow. My path as The Simple Catholic began in 2015, emerging from a crucible of intense suffering and anchored by an unwavering faith. Today, I invite you to join me in revisiting this pilgrimage, understanding the mission that drives The Simple Catholic, and exploring how faith, humor, and neurodiversity have shaped this unique ministry.

The Seed of Suffering

The year leading up to 2015 was marked by a series of profound challenges. My wife and I experienced the heart-wrenching loss of our unborn child to miscarriage. This loss was compounded by medical issues, the stress of new jobs, and the diagnosis of our son with autism spectrum disorder. In 2017, we faced yet another miscarriage, deepening our acquaintance with grief.

It was during this “Dark Night of the Soul” that my Catholic faith became more than just a set of beliefs—it transformed into a lifeline, an anchor keeping me tethered to God amidst the tempest of life. Like St. John of the Cross, I found that the darkness, rather than separating me from God, was paradoxically drawing me closer to Him.

The Healing Power of Words

As I grappled with the loss of our son Jeremiah, I turned to writing as a form of therapy. What began as a personal healing balm soon blossomed into something greater. Armed with a Master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a background in teaching, I found myself with a wealth of knowledge and a burning desire to share it, even as personal circumstances led me away from formal education.

Thus, The Simple Catholic was born—a mission to inform others about the Catholic faith and to demonstrate how joy can be found in daily life, even amidst suffering. Like St. Francis of Assisi, who found God’s presence in all of creation, I sought to reveal the divine in the ordinary moments of life.

Embracing Neurodiversity

My journey has been uniquely colored by my neurodiversity. Diagnosed with ADHD as a child, I’ve come to recognize this aspect of myself not as a weakness, but as a “superpower.” It allows me to make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, bringing a fresh perspective to age-old truths.

With the support of my wife (a special education teacher), our four children, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I’ve learned to harness my differences. My quirks and unique thought patterns, once seen as obstacles, have become valuable tools in communicating the richness of Catholicism.

This embrace of neurodiversity echoes the Franciscan spirituality that so deeply resonates with me. Just as St. Francis saw the divine reflected in all of creation, I’ve come to see the image of God reflected in the beautiful diversity of human minds and experiences.

Laughter as a Spiritual Practice

Humor has become a cornerstone of my spiritual life and my approach to The Simple Catholic. It serves as a stabilizing force during times when depression and anxiety threaten to overwhelm. This integration of joy and laughter into faith is reminiscent of St. Philip Neri, known as the “Laughing Saint,” who believed that humor and holiness went hand in hand.

From my love for “The Office” (Threat Level Midnight, anyone?) to my eclectic interests ranging from platypuses to board games, I’ve found that embracing life’s quirkiness can be a form of prayer and praise. After all, as G.K. Chesterton once said, “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.”

Saints and Traditions: My Spiritual Roots

The spiritual context of The Simple Catholic has been shaped by a diverse array of saints and traditions. The wisdom of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross has taught me to seek God in the interior castle of the soul and to find Him even in the darkest nights. The boldness of Catherine of Siena and Athanasius of Alexandria inspires me to speak truth with courage and clarity.

The Carmelite emphasis on interior life and detachment resonates deeply with me, teaching me to seek God beyond the senses and imagination. Simultaneously, the Franciscan joy in simplicity and God’s creation informs my approach to finding the divine in everyday life.

The Mission Continues

As The Simple Catholic moves forward, the mission remains clear: to be the #1 source for funny and inspiring Catholic content. But beyond the humor and inspiration lies a deeper purpose—to walk alongside others on their spiritual journeys, offering hope, understanding, and a reminder of God’s constant presence.

Whether you’re a fellow neurodivergent soul seeking to understand your place in the Church, a parent navigating the joys and challenges of family life, or simply someone in search of a faith that engages both heart and mind, The Simple Catholic is here for you.

Together, let’s embrace the simple yet profound truths of our faith. Let’s find joy in the ordinary, strength in our differences, and hope in the promise of God’s unfailing love. For in the end, it’s not about being perfect Catholics, but about being simple, authentic followers of Christ, journeying together towards the joy that surpasses all understanding.

Welcome to The Simple Catholic. May our pilgrimage be filled with laughter, learning, and an ever-deepening love for the One who calls us each by name.

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What God Taught Me in 2014 to Prepare for My Current Suffering

/ chicoinematt / 2 Comments

Life was a maelstrom for my family in 2014….

and it’s trending that way in 2024.

Ten years ago my family dealt with my son getting abused at daycare, a miscarriage, and the first of four ear surgeries for our daughter.

This year opened with my wife hurting her knee and ankle. 

Then my daughter had to go to the ER a couple times in addition to a hospital stay for GI issues.

And on top of it she has her fourth ear surgery in February.

Our vehicle had to be repaired while we had these medical issues going on.

But 2014 prepared me for a year like 2024.

It taught me that God is with you even if you don’t feel His Presence.

All things work for the good. Yes, even the horrific and confusing suffering you endure.

I started my freelance writing journey 10 years ago as a means to deal with the grief of losing my unborn child.

Mettle. Persistence. Call it what you will.

God gave me fortitude to continue when I wanted to give up all hope.

He has opened up so many doors with my writing work.

God is good all the time.

And that’s it’s okay to laugh and be joyful in the midst of struggle.

I wish I knew this fully in 2014.

I know this now in 2024 and if you are struggling with doubt, grief, suffering in your faith life please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Share your intentions in the comments section or email me at chicoine.matt@live.com how I may pray for you. 🙏

Thank you for sharing!

A Lenten Reflection from the Uncatechized Catholic

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By: Desirae Sifuentes

Living in the Arizona desert, Lent has always held familiarity for me. The death themes of brown, sand, dust, dry… it’s a part of the Lenten season that never leaves. Jesus walked the desert for forty days, and I have many a time had the briefest taste of His experience when the temperatures go north of 112 and I’ve walked to my mailbox without water. The hot summer sun oppressively bears down upon me, and in the distance, an oasis looms that begs to quench my thirst. I know, despite how my eyes deceive me, I can chase that beckoning pool, but it’ll never quench my thirst.

It’s easy to understand the folly of chasing the mirage, and the wisdom of simply going home, but not every temptation is as simple to navigate as a walk to the mailbox. Some sins still get us. They promise wonderful things that only lead us deeper into the desert bereft of any relief. We wouldn’t chase sin if it weren’t alluring like the “oasis.”

A Time to Desert Our Sins

Lent is the season to confront the sins that entice us as we walk in our desert (without our dessert). In a season typically rife with talks about Jesus’ wandering, I want to contemplate the effects of sin and God in our lives by looking further back to the prefigurement of Christ’s wandering, when the Israelites wandered the desert.

Recall: God plagues Pharaoh until he releases the Israelites to Moses and they flee to the desert. After singing the Song of the Sea where they express gratefulness to God, they realize their conditions in the desert were lackluster. They start to lament that He and Moses had saved them at all, desiring the good ol’ days back in Egypt. God hears their ungrateful cries and provides them with food and water.

God Calls His People to Obedience

After this, Moses leads them to Mt. Sinai where God offers to enter into a covenant with them. If they obey His commands, they will become a “kingdom of priests,” or those who represent God. The Israelites agree, and God tells Moses many commandments on the mountain. These weren’t oppressive rules, but instructions of how the people and God would relate to one another, similar to wedding vows.

As God is giving Moses the instructions to build the Ark of the Covenant, the Israelites get impatient. They ask Aaron to make them the golden calf, violating the first two commandments and threatening the covenant. God says to Moses “God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in covenant faithfulness. He forgives sin, but will not leave the wicked unpunished.” (Exodus 34:6-7)

In the end, the Ark of the Covenant is built and set up within a tent as God commanded. The book ends with Moses trying to enter… and being unable to. As the representative of the Israelites, their unfaithfulness to the covenant is fracturing their relationship with God, and not allowing them to be close to Him.

Rules to Guide

In Leviticus, God gives the Israelites many more commands and instructions. God promises He will be very good to them if they are good to Him, but he will bring wrath down if they are not. The people hear this and do good. When we look forward to Numbers, we see Moses speaking to God from within the tent containing the Ark. This means the people had stayed close enough to God and made reparation to bring themselves closer to Him again!

It doesn’t last. In Numbers, as they walk through the wilderness of Paran, the Israelites complain and eventually riot saying they don’t want to go to the promised land. God says the Israelites can have it their way. They will not enter the promised land, only the next generation will in forty years. Later, Moses receives the same fate as he, too, offends God.

There’s still more rebellion from the Israelites, so God brings a punishment of poisonous snakes upon them. To remedy this, God tells Moses to make a bronze snake and hang it on a stick, so that whoever looks upon it would be healed.

Then the king of Moab asks a pagan sorcerer to curse them. Three times this sorcerer tries, but he can only offer blessings. While the Israelites are down in their camp grumbling and turning against God, He is with this sorcerer protecting and blessing them.

God is a Patient Father

Do you see the pattern? Time and again, the Israelites offend God, but He remains just and good to them. This is why these stories are so important and repeated so often throughout the bible. These stories illustrate that God will keep His word on his covenant promises, but He will also allow His people to separate themselves from Him and bear the consequences. This is true thousands of years later, and the words of Moses to the next generation in Deuteronomy are too.

As the new generation goes to the promised land without Moses, he speaks words of wisdom to them. He tells them many things, particularly to be more faithful to the covenant than their parents were. “Listen Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all of your soul, and all of your might.” This prayer is called the Shemah, which means “Listen” in Hebrew. In Hebrew “listen” means more than to hear, you must respond to what you hear–or obey.

God Won’t Desert You

Today, it isn’t enough to read your bible, you must obey the will of the Lord. Similarly, Love means more than an emotion or feeling. It’s a wholehearted devotion to God, a decision to align your will, emotions, mind, and heart to Him. We’re called to this same alignment now. This quote became a very important prayer to the Jewish people because it concisely stated what we know to be true. We are a people set apart. Israel’s obedience to this would make them a unique people among the nations, as it makes Christians unique in the world now.

As the new generation will be intermingling with the idol-worshipping Caananites, Moses urges them to worship God alone. Idols degrade humans and destroy communities, but worshiping God alone leads to blessings and life. These idols are sin, like the mirage in the desert: enticing, and tempting, but they bring devastation.

Moses instructs on God’s laws, which sound pretty average today but were radical and revolutionary for ancient Egypt. They’re better compared to similar rules at the time, like the Code of Hammurabi, where you can see how different circumstances, beliefs, norms, and people generally were back then. This gives a better understanding of how incredible these laws were, and how God was holding the Israelites to the highest standard they would be capable of back then. It’s the same now: Christians are called to higher standards than the rest of the world deems necessary. They make us weird, but the fruits speak for themselves.

Continued Promises

Moses continues: if they stay close to God, blessings will abound, but if they stray then exile will come to them. He urges them to choose life but admits he knows they will not after he dies. While this is pessimistic, it is also realistic. He says this because he knows them. Moses promises them that one day, when they’re in exile, struggling with venomous sin, they can always turn back towards God. He will welcome them back with open arms. For even when God rightly brings down justice, He transforms those just acts into life for those who look for healing, as when the Israelites looked upon the serpent.

Eternal truths about the relationship between God and man abound in this set of books. We constantly offend God and reap the consequences. He also constantly forgives us when we come back to Him. We don’t earn that forgiveness, He just gives it, if we want it. When we take that forgiveness and choose to live lives that ignore the mirage of the oasis, and instead keep our eyes fixed upon God, the blessings overflow. Our Lenten walks in the desert keep us keenly aware of the sting of suffering. Looking forward to Easter, what we truly see on the other side is the greatest promise of all: Heaven.

About Our Guest Blogger:

Desirae Sifuentes is a military wife, mom of 5, and theology student at Franciscan University. Growing up largely ignorant to her faith, she ventured off and found her way back home. This led her to passionately pursue her own catechesis. Now she’s sharing that journey, and how to grow, learn, and defend your catholic faith online at @uncatechizedcatholic.

Thank you for sharing!