CATHOLIC ANSWERS - LIVE: Help Me Prepare!

Hey my friends, on Monday, June 9th, I will be visiting with the Catholic Answers - LIVE radio program about my new book, Through, With, and In Him. 

I've listened to the program for years and am a huge fan of their work. That said, I know that a LOT of people both listen and CALL IN WITH QUESTIONS.  I was hoping that you good folks might lend me a hand by: (1) Praying that the Lord gives me wisdom and allows the words to flow easily that afternoon; and (2) Putting yourself in a "Patrick Coffin state of mind" and posting some questions you think he or callers may ask regarding the book, their prayer lives, Jesus' prayer life, and/or Catholic devotions.

If you post a question in the comment section, it would be a real help; and I will do my best to have an answer up within 36 hours. My thanks in advance! 

                                                                        -Shane

"Redemptive Suffering" in Christianity's Earliest Writings

Being sick this past week has given me additional time to re-read Ignatius of Antioch's seven epistles (c.110 A.D.).  They are easy to locate online (free of charge). I have really profited from Dr. Kenneth Howell's new translation and commentary, Ignatius of Antioch & Polycarp of Smyrna.  One of the elements I have found most intriguing in his analysis of Ignatius's epistles is the presence of what later theology terms redemptive suffering.  

By "redemptive suffering," I mean the belief that the sufferings God allows into our lives, when accepted and lived with trust in His love for us, participate in the sufferings of the Crucified; and the grace we receive to participate in Jesus' sufferings are of benefit not just to us, but the entire Body of Christ.  In the past I shared my conviction that this belief is found in the writings of St. Paul and witnessed to both in our Eucharistic belief and our Blessed Mother's earthly life.  

Dr. Howell helps us follow this thread from Paul through the Church's earliest days.  Chapter two of his book is devoted to Ignatius's theology of martyrdom.  I have read two other translations of Ignatius's epistles, but no one before Dr. Howell pointed out the literal translation of Ignatius's Greek term, antipsuchon - "substitute soul."  To put it in context, here is Ignatius's usage in his epistles to the Smyrneans and Polycarp, respectively:  "My spirit and my bonds are your substitute soul"; "I and my bonds that you love are your substitute soul in every way."  Listen to Dr. Howell's commentary here, "[Ignaitus's] sharing in the passion of Christ serves to advance the spiritual welfare of those to whom he writes since he is their 'substitute soul' (antipuschon).  Since in his mind Ignatius's martyrdom began while still in chains, he is conscious that it is for more than his own salvation" (p.13-14).

I should also note how Ignatius witnessed to a "give-and-take" within the Communion of Saints, with all grace flowing from Christ Jesus, "Now pray for me as I need the love [emanating] from you in the mercy of God to make me worthy of the lot which I am set to obtain.  Pray that I may not be found unapproved."  And this truth extends beyond earth into the life of heaven, "My spirit makes you pure not only now but also when I attain to God" (Epistle to Polycarp).  

St. Ignatius of Antioch, participant in the sufferings of Christ on behalf of the Church (Col.1:24), pray for us!

Next (Radio) Book Club Selection - Read the ORIGINAL St. Ignatius

No disrespect to the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius of Loyola, but martyred in 110 A.D., Ignatius of Antioch is the original Saint Ignatius. 

The second bishop of Antioch after Peter's departure from that city, Ignatius provides us with tremendous insight into the life of the early Church.  The man heard the Apostle John preach the Gospel!  While being transported from Antioch to Rome, where he was to be fed to the lions, Ignatius penned seven epistles.  Dr. Kevin Vost and I invite you to read Ignatius' epistles as we pass through the holiest time in the Church's year, and then call in to share your thoughts with other listeners on Saturday, April 6th, on EWTN Radio's "St. Joseph Radio Presents ..."  Ignatius' epistles are available online free of charge (click here for text, or here to download audio files).

In Ignatius' seven epistles you will:

• Discover a saint who wanted to share the sufferings of Christ
• Find the first written reference to Christ's Church as "the Catholic Church."
• Find testimony to our belief in Jesus' full humanity and divinity
• Read of the absolute centrality of the Eucharist in Christian life
• See clear teaching on Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist
• Hear repeated testimony to the Church's ministerial structure of Bishop - Priest - Deacon
• Read historical testimony of Peter and Paul's leadership of the Roman Church
• Garner exciting testimony to the preeminent place held by the Church of Rome in the earliest days of Church

I recently ordered Dr. Kenneth Howell's Ignatius of Antioch & Polycarp of Smyrna, a brand new translation and commentary for the writings of these two early bishops and martyrs.  I can't wait to dig into it!

Jesus at Prayer, WITHIN St. Patrick

If you've been reading my blog this past year, you may have noticed my interest in the way Jesus' prayer intersects with our own.  (I have channeled most of my thoughts into a book manuscript, but haven't been able to keep myself from sharing at least a couple of tidbits.)  We Christians talk about the way Jesus speaks and acts through us, but hardly ever take the next step to talk about how He prays through us.  And yet, that is what we believe happens at Mass - Jesus' offering to the Father is made present through the action of His Church.  His petitions to the Father, on behalf of the Church, pass through the lips of His priests.  When we pray the Our Father, those are Jesus' intentions for the Church - made to the Father through you and me.  

Section IV of the Catechism of the Catholic Church does a wonderful job of opening up this reality to the faithful:

Christian prayer is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ.  It is the action of God and of man, springing forth from both the Holy Spirit and ourselves, wholly directed to the Father, in union with the human will of the Son of God made man.  (CCC 2564)

The prayer of Jesus makes Christian prayer an efficacious petition.  He is its model, he prays in us and with us.  (CCC 2740)

St. Paul wrote about this aspect of our prayer in Romans:

... the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Rom.8:26-27)

And to my great surprise, St. Patrick of Ireland wrote specifically on this topic!  In his Confession, he recounted two mystical experiences:

And another night - God knows, I do not, whether within me or beside me -in most learned words I heard those whom I could not understand, except that at the end of the prayer one spoke out thus, “He who gave his life for you, he it is who speaks within you.” And thus I awoke, joyful.

And on a second occasion I saw Him praying within me, and I was as it were, inside my own body , and I heard Him above me - that is, above my inner self. He was praying powerfully with sighs. And in the course of this I was astonished and wondering, and I pondered who it could be who was praying within me. But at the end of the prayer it was revealed to me that it was the Spirit. And so I awoke and remembered the Apostle's words, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we know not how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for utterance." And again: "The Lord our advocate intercedes for us.”

Jesus at prayer within Patrick, through the Holy Spirit!  Jesus at prayer within you and me, in the same way!  There's something to meditate on as we head into St. Patrick's Day weekend.

Please get to know the real St. Patrick this week.  Check out his Confession, his spiritual autobiography, and call into EWTN Radio this Saturday (March 16th) between Noon and 1 p.m. Central, to share your thoughts.  Dr. Kevin Vost and I are looking forward to hearing from you!

1-855-447-6000

Get Reading - the Book Club is COMING!

Only one week until my and Dr. Vost's first "radio book club"!  Read St. Patrick's Confession online for free (a mere 25 pages), and then call into EWTN's "St. Joseph Radio Presents" next Saturday, March 16th, to tell us your thoughts.  We want to hear from you! Show starts at Noon Central/ 1 p.m. Eastern.  
                      1-855-447-6000

This year: Full-Court Press for St. Patrick's Day!!

The parade in St. Louis' Dogtown is great and green beer is a hoot - but celebrating St. Patrick's Day by reading the saint for yourself tops them all!  That's right, St. Patrick left us a book - his Confession, or spiritual autobiography.  That's news to you?  Me too - up until three short years ago!

And here's a deal too good to pass up:  it's available online, absolutely free.  CLICK HERE   I found myself completely in awe of Patrick's faith, and I have no doubt that you will too.
 
To celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year, Dr. Kevin Vost and I want to invite you to read Patrick's Confession - a mere 25 pages - over the next two weeks, and then be ready to call into EWTN Radio's "St. Joseph Radio Presents ..." on Saturday, March 16th, to share your thoughts and/or ask questions.  I am a humble fan of St. Patrick, but Dr. Vost seriously knows his Celts!  (Check out his book, Three Irish Saints.)  Our toll-free number is 1-855-447-6000, and the show starts at 1 p.m., ET.

I sincerely hope we will hear from you!