Remember that the “Main Thing” . . . is to always keep the “Main Thing” . . . as the “Main Thing.”
The main thing is actually not a thing at all, but a person, and that person is Jesus Christ.
So, let us always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who inspires and perfects our faith.
When Christ is the Main One in our lives, we have arrived at the main thing.
Spiritual Reading: To help keep the main thing the main thing, here are some special resources for growing in our faith commitment to Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Bible, especially the RSV revised edition for Catholics
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Compendium, and YouCat
The Catholic Catechism for Adults by the American Bishops
Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis de Sales
The Three Ages of the Interior Life by Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange
The Soul of the Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard
The Path to Holiness by John Paul Thomas
The Way, The Furrow, and The Forge by Josemaria Escriva
In Conversation with God by Francisco Fernandez
Discover Christ, Follow Christ, and Share Christ by David Nodar
Making Missionary Disciples by Curtis Martin
The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin
Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell
Navigating the Interior Life by Daniel Burke
33 Days to Greater Glory by Michael Gaitley
The Better Part by John Bartunek
Holy is His Name by Scott Hahn
The Willpower Advantage by Tom Peterson and Ryan Hanning
Foundations for Discipleship by Curtis Martin and Edward Sri
The Catholic Christian lifestyle flourishes through fervent prayer, ongoing learning, and charitable service.
Online Resources: To help keep the main thing always the main thing in our spiritual lives, here are some special online resources to help us grow in our faith commitment to Jesus Christ as our Lord, our God, and our Savior.
ChristLife.org – David Nodar
RenewalMinistries.net – Ralph Martin
CatholicsComeHome.org – Thomas Peterson
MyCatholic.Life – John Paul Thomas
Catholic.com – Catholic Answers
WordOnFire.Institute – Bishop Robert Barron
AugustineInstitute.org – The FORMED Series
NCRegister.com – National Catholic Register
PillarCatholic.com – The Pillar News
CatholicCulture.org – News and Commentary
EternalRest.org – Pastoral Care unto Eternal Life
Catholic.chat and MagisAI.com – AI Resources
Prayer Requests. Do you have special prayer needs? Please click here with your prayer requests, and you will receive a return email assuring you that your special intentions are being remembered at Mass throughout the week.
Please remember that, in addition to the public intentions at Mass, your private personal intentions are also included in every celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as well. May God answer all of your prayers!
Here is something else to consider. Imagine placing your petitions on the paten with the host as the priest lifts it up. And imagine pouring your tears of joy and sorrow into the chalice as the priest pours the wine and water into it.
When the priest says that “my sacrifice and yours” is acceptable to God, join him in this sacrifice. Then keep your special intentions foremost in your mind and heart as you come forward to worthily receive Holy Communion.
Let us also not forget to pray for our country and the world, especially in times of crisis. May we come back to God and rediscover the difference that Christ makes in our personal, national, and worldwide community life.
Finally, remember the old adage that counsels us “to work really hard as if it all depended on you alone, but to pray even harder because you realize that it all really depends on God alone.” – attributed to Saint Augustine
Yes, the main thing is to always keep our relationship with Jesus Christ as the main thing in our lives within the community of his church. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus who inspires and perfects our faith!
Come to me, all you who labor and find life burdensome, and I will give rest to your souls. – Matthew 11:28-30
The Pastoral Care of Souls
Pastoral Care treats the human spirit in ways that promote both inner healing and holiness of life. The reparative therapy of Soul Care aims to provide a Sacramental Cure for the whole human person in Christ. In the process, people may also experience various degrees of symptom abatement as a respite from their redemptive sufferings offered up in union with Christ.
Repentance (de-programming) leads to Catechesis (re-education) and results in Conversion (re-new-al). Sacramental Pastoral Care is thus the therapeutic hallmark of traditional Catholic Christian spirituality. “Resistance is futile; you will be converted!” So, convert to Christ before the world converts you first!
As a pastoral care provider, your parish priest can help discern your spiritual condition and make wise referrals to spiritual directors and other faith-based counselors for your ongoing spiritual care. At the heart of all pastoral care ministry, the focus is on the sacraments of Confession, Communion, and the Anointing of the Sick, as gifts of Jesus that keep on giving forever.
Pope Saint Leo the Great taught us that, after his Ascension into heaven, Christ remains with us until the end of time in the sacraments of his Church. The signs and wonders of the early Church thus continue on in the devout celebration of the sacred liturgy and in the sacraments of his holy Church.
Please contact your parish priest for more information about pastoral care ministries and referrals in and around your parish. These resources include sacramental confession, spiritual direction, and pastoral counseling. We are forgiven sinners who are on the way to becoming saints. As works in process, let us be humble enough to reach out to others for prayer and assistance.
For inquiries and information about spiritual direction and pastoral counseling through CatholicChristian.org, please click here. Spiritual Direction focuses on holiness of life, and Pastoral Counseling focuses on inner healing. For more about inner peace, lasting happiness, and transformative purpose in life through Jesus Christ, please click here. And, for more about the Catholic Christian lifestyle as a whole, please click here. May God bless you with his healing love!
The Good News of Salvation. The world as we know it is not how God intended it to be, but Christ came to heal our brokenness and bring us back to God. When we follow Christ together in the community of his church, we experience inner peace, lasting happiness, and purpose in life. Let the ChristLife Course illumine your mind, warm your heart, and empower your will to embrace a Catholic Christian Lifestyle. Please click here for information about this lifestyle.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Fill me with your Spirit so that I may live a new life.
Help me to know you, to love you, and to serve you in this world,
so that I may be happy with you, both now and for all eternity.
Thank you, Lord! Amen.
The Next Steps. After you have recited this prayer, please check out the resources on this website for your next steps in faith. If you do not already have a parish to call your spiritual home, please go to MassTimes.org to find a Catholic Church near you. Attend your parish ChristLife course, attend your parish welcoming program, and actively participate in the life of your parish community, with weekly Sunday Mass at the center of your Catholic Christian lifestyle.
