Deep in Christ

Delve into the significance of prudence in decision-making and avoid living on autopilot. Discover how regular examinations of conscience can enhance your relationship with God. Learn from saints like Josemaria Escriva and Ignatius of Loyola on navigating spiritual life. Explore the connections between prayer, moral development, and vocation. Understand the critical role of virtues like courage in fostering personal growth. This journey invites intentional living and deeper faith.

Nick De La Torre was raised in a Catholic family, but through his teenage years into young adulthood, he wandered through something of a spiritual desert, sampling Protestant and Unitarian congregations along the way. He shares how his interest in music and talent for it shaped his sense of himself during that time, and how meeting his future wife gave him a new perspective on faith and his identity in God. Nick talks to JonMarc Grodi about some of the ways his experience of marriage, fatherhood, and working in Catholic evangelization have formed him in his relationship with the Lord since returning to the Catholic Faith. Learn about Nick's work: https://www.awakencatholic.org More of Nick's story: https://chnetwork.org/journey-home/nick-de-la-torre-former-unitarian-catholic-revert/ More stories and resources: https://www.chnetwork.org Our Online Community: https://www.chnetwork.org/community Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

There were many aspects of Rakhi McCormick's upbringing as a Hindu that uniquely prepared her to be open to the ideas she would encounter in Christianity, from the value of feasting and fasting, to the idea of the Communion of Saints. Rakhi shares how her encounters with Christians throughout her life helped prepare her for a Eucharistic encounter with Jesus, and how she leans on the friendship of the saints today as she seeks to grow in her relationship with God. More of Rakhi's story: https://chnetwork.org/journey-home/rakhi-mccormick-former-hindu/ Our Online Community: https://www.chnetwork.org/community Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

JonMarc Grodi talks to former Methodist pastor Keith Nester about how his relationship with Christ has continued to grow since entering the Catholic Church. They discuss many topics, from the process that led Keith to become Catholic, to the prayers and devotions that Keith has come to love since entering the Church. Keith talks specifically about how receiving Jesus in the Eucharist has transformed his Christian life, and what he has learned about what it means to have a relationship with Jesus through the sacraments that He established. More of Keith's work: https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithNester More stories and resources: https://www.cominghomenetwork.org Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

Kerstin Pakka thought that by getting an abortion, she had committed a sin that God couldn't forgive. She shares how she was able to bring all of her experiences -- including the ones she was most ashamed of -- to the healing mercy of Jesus, and how she is able now to use her experience of abortion to help others like herself who are seeking love and mercy. Find out more about Kerstin's work: https://www.hopeafterabortion.com More stories and resources: https://www.chnetwork.org Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

Evangelical Christians often talk about the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus. But is that something that Catholics can experience as well? JonMarc Grodi talks with Richard Lane, a Catholic convert who grew up the son of an NFL Hall of Famer and a Coca Cola model, about how he strayed from the faith his parents tried to instill in him, and how important it was for him to share his Christian faith with others once he rediscovered it. Richard also shares some thoughts on evangelization, prayer, and the necessity of treating our faith as much more than something we participate in for an hour on Sunday mornings. Richard's site: https://www.richardlaneministries.com More stories and resources: https://www.chnetwork.org Our Online Community: https://chnetwork.org/community Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

JonMarc Grodi is joined by former Lutheran pastor Billy Kangas to talk about Billy's journey to the Catholic Faith, and how entering the Church was just the beginning of a much larger story. Billy shares how his desire to grow deeper in his relationship with Christ led him to the doorstep of the Catholic Church, and shares some of the spiritual riches he's discovered since becoming Catholic that have helped him to grow stronger as a Christian. More stories and resources: https://www.chnetwork.org Our Online Community: https:///www.chnetwork.org/community Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

How can praying the words of the Psalms help deepen our relationship with God? JonMarc Grodi is joined by Mike Aquilina, author of "Praying the Psalms with the Early Christians," to discuss the breadth of human experience expressed in the Psalter, and why these ancient prayers were so valued by the first Christians and remain an integral part of the Church's prayer life today. More from Mike Aquilina: https://www.fathersofthechurch.com More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://www.chnetwork.org/community Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

What did the personal prayer lives of the earliest Christians look like? JonMarc Grodi is joined by Dr. Jim Papandrea, author of "Praying Like the Early Church," to look at what some of the earliest Christian sources have to say about prayer, and the central role that the Lord's Prayer played in the lives of the first generations of followers of Jesus. Dr. Papandrea's books: https://www.drjimsbooks.com More stories and resources: https://www.chnetwork.org Our Online Community: https://www.chnetwork.org/commmunity Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

When we pray, what are we seeking? In some cases, it's clear, such as when we're bringing a specific petition or request to God. But in giving Him praise, or engaging in meditation or contemplative prayer, what are we hoping that does to our relationship with the Lord? What is our motivation? JonMarc Grodi is joined by Lucas Koach, a former Anglican priest, to look at what some of the great spiritual masters have said about what should motivate our prayers, and what to do when we don't feel that motivation or desire to pray. More stories and resources: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass