MFP 257: How to Change Your Heart - Lessons from the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Release Date: 10/03/2023
MFP 284: Is Your Child Addicted to Screens?
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
The destructive effects of video games are not on boys' cognitive abilities or their reaction times, but on their motivation and their connectedness with the real world. ~Dr. Leonard Sax Technology can be a blessing or a curse. It can be used for great good and yet it can expose people to grave evil. Helping our children learn how to responsibly navigate the use of technology, especially social media, is one of the immense parenting challenges of our age. In this podcast, we look at the unique challenges that technology presents to parents and why parents must meet this challenge...
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MPF 283: Marriage, Divorce, and Hope
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
“We can only see our spouse clearly when we look at Jesus first.” - Dan Lawson Summary In this podcast, we tackle some hard issues in marriage. What makes couples believe that they need to get divorced? Why is it essential for couples to have a vision for their individual lives and for their marriage? What is the pattern in successful marriages that we can emulate? We even talk about what to say to a person who tells you they are getting a divorce - a very difficult and sensitive topic, but one that we have to discuss. Dan Lawson is a Catholic therapist...
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MFP 282: These People are Driving Me Crazy! Growing in Patience
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
It’s easier to be patient after we come to realize how patient our Heavenly Father is with us. Why is it so hard for parents to be patient with their children? People who thought they were good and normal adults find themselves tearing their hair out over the things done by a child half their size and a fraction of their age! One thing we tell parents over and over is that parenting is supposed to change you. It is supposed to form you. It is supposed to be challenging, so if you are struggling, that is OK! But we do have some tips for you and some...
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MPF 281: Your Intimacy Questions Answered
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
“I now am taking this kinswoman of mine, not because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together.” Tobit 8:7 Summary Physical intimacy between spouses is a topic that is difficult to talk about, but one that is absolutely essential in Catholic circles. You see, Satan’s plan is for people to have as much sex as possible BEFORE they are married and as little sex as possible AFTER they are married! These lies and confusion need to be addressed in a way that is respectful but also practical for married...
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MFP 280: 12 Parenting Tips
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Parenting is not an inborn skill. It is something that we learn over time from trial and error and with help from others. Summary Over the past 28 years raising our 10 kids we have made a lot of mistakes, but also learned from them! In this podcast, we go over 12 tips that we have found make a big difference in the life of a family. They are principles that we live by and how we have gotten where we are today. None of them are rocket science - but they are things you may not have thought of before or realized how essential they are. We have released this...
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MPF 279: What do Families Need? Interview with Archbishop Naumann
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Summary Most of us rarely have an opportunity to sit down and talk to a priest, let alone a bishop! We were so blessed to have a conversation with not just a bishop, but an archbishop and one who loves the Lord, loves families, and who leads with the heart of a shepherd. Join us as we talk to Archbishop Naumann of Kansas City who shares his story of growing up without a father and how his mother and family gave him the stability and security he needed to flourish and become the man God called him to be. He provides insights to families in our conversation along with a good...
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MPF 278: Conversations with Kids
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Summary In this episode, Mike and Alicia Hernon explore the transformative impact of conversations with children. They emphasize the importance of fostering a family culture centered around meaningful dialogue. From toddlers to teens, discover practical strategies for nurturing curiosity, understanding, and mutual respect within the parent-child relationship. Don't miss out on this engaging discussion that highlights the profound influence of conversations in shaping both children and parents alike. For more information on this and other topics visit: Key Takeaways Conversations...
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MPF 277: Girl Power! An interview with the Given Institute
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
“Thank you, every woman, for the simple fact of being a woman! Through the insight which is so much a part of your womanhood you enrich the world's understanding and help to make human relations more honest and authentic.” ~ John Paul II, Letter to Women Summary Women have particular gifts to bring to the world which were identified by John Paul II as the “genius of women”. The Given Institute was created by religious superiors of the major orders in the United States and works with young women in all states of life to help them realize that they are gift, work to discover...
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MPF 276: Why are Boys so Aggressive?
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
“It's our experience that parents who don’t allow their children to play with weapons have little boys who will chew their toast into the shape of a gun” Summary Hello, I wanted to ask a question in regard to violent play for a toddler. My 4 year old boy is obsessed with all types of toy swords, lasers, etc. Any suggestions on how to manage it in a way that lets him explore but also places limits on it? This question came from a listener who is a mom of a normal boy! But often this type of behavior catches parents unaware. Our culture gives so many...
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MFP 275: Where do Bishops Come From? An interview with Bishop Joseph Coffey
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Join Mike and Alicia Hernon on this enlightening episode of the Messy Family Podcast as they sit down for an insightful interview with Bishop Joseph Coffey of the Archdiocese of the Military (United States). Together, they explore the intriguing question, "Where do Bishops Come From?" and delve into Bishop Coffey's personal journey of faith, discernment, and leadership within the Catholic Church. With candor and wisdom, Bishop Coffey shares his unique perspective on the role of bishops in today's world and offers valuable insights into the formation and responsibilities of these spiritual...
info_outline"Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming Itself, in order to testify Its love” - Jesus to St. Margaret Mary
How can we love like Jesus? What is His love like? Answering these questions is the role of devotions in the Catholic world. They help us learn more about God and how He relates to us. The Sacred Heart of Jesus teaches us to love as God loves and this is a lesson that all families need to embrace fully. In this podcast, we interview Emily Jaminet of the Sacred Heart Enthronement network and author of the new book Holy Habits of the Sacred Heart. Our conversation explains how both of our families have been impacted by this devotion and how it has given us a way to proclaim Christ as King, and also to have a place to go as a safe refuge in times of trial. As we pray to the Heart of Jesus, He can change our hearts to make us more like Himself! When we learn about how He loves, we can imitate that love which is a path of holiness itself. Learn more about this devotion, what the Nine First Fridays are, how Jesus blesses families with the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart and why the Enthronement is a means of evangelization and transformation.
Key Takeaways:
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This devotion gives “spiritual stability”, focus, and a way to understand the love of Jesus in a concrete, defined way. It prevents us from making Jesus into our own image, but instead reveals to us how He truly loves.
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Jesus wants a relationship of love with each one of us and He wants to transform our hearts to be like His. A great way to reconcile with children or those with whom we have conflict is to say, “I am allowing Jesus to change my heart”.
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Forgiveness means that we are coming up against “cancel culture” which says that once someone does something wrong they are cut out of one’s life. By following the Heart of Jesus we learn practice forgiveness in our home and communities.
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The devotion of Nine First Fridays and the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the home give families concrete ways to understand and come closer to the Heart of Jesus.
Couple Discussion:
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How can we increase our devotion to the Sacred Heart?
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Emily mentioned that giving up control and trusting in Jesus is a first step to being docile to Jesus. What does that mean to us?
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How can we practice forgiveness in our home? Is there anyone in our lives that we need to forgive?
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