In this episode Trent sits down with Fr. Gregory Pine to talk about his new book on the one virtue that can help us balance our religious life and help us be less weird. To support this channel: / counseloftrent
POPE BENEDICT XVI: “If in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be ‘devout’ and to perform my ‘religious duties’, then my relationship with God will also grow arid. It becomes merely ‘proper’, but loveless. Only my readiness to encounter my neighbor and to show him love makes me sensitive to God as well. Only if I serve my neighbor can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much he loves me.”
I'm so glad someone mentioned this. As a convert I was disappointed at how socially inept many Catholics are. If the only conversation you can reliably hold is about the faith, something is wrong.
I think it comes down to being taught to be culture warriors by our church leaders and catholic media. Particularly anti abortion, anti gay marriage etc. I think we need to learn how to be well rounded good human beings, particularly practicing virtue. Dr Ted sri is an excellent resource on this.
I'm not a great chirstian but I replaced heavy metal and half hearted protestantism with Catholicism and even my remaining family thinks I'm nuts but I got ridiculously good at my hobbies which put off even more people and I somehow almost doubled my income in one or two years. I'm still a depressed jerk about many things but I'm addicted to discovering Catholicism and trying to petition God thru it. Thank You God for mercy. Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy is both very beautiful and I think I'm going Catholic. God bless all
I'm doing a similar thing but I'm sure not replacing heavy metal lol. I cut some stuff that has lost its appeal. If anything metal meeds more catholics in it.
This video is remarkably relevant to my life right now. I'm a convert, and my life and relationships are messy. Because of the way certain people have treated me, this past year I've fallen into a pattern of thinking God wants to control my every action, and he has one plan for me, and if I mess it up I'll be miserable. One particular choice I've recently made has been causing me a lot of anxiety because I'm scared it's the wrong one and God is going to somehow abandon me or punish me. It's good to know that things aren't so rigid as that.
Yeah, its certainly, definitely not as rigid as the way you described. The way i look at it, is to remember God is your perfect father so he won't abandon you or punishing you for mistakes. He will only lead you back to the right path. It's like walking to church and taking a detour because you took the wrong route and so you have to back to the right path. You might want to go try understanding pre destination and free will more clearly. God doesn't control your every action, you are free to do the right thing and wrong. God gives you grace, but you have to accept his grace and use it. A small example would be like, Im doing an exam and God has given me the grace to work hard for the exam. I still need to work hard, and choose to study for it. God isn't a manipulator. You have to freely choose to accept his grace. Hope that helps. That's my take.
one other thing is that God's plan is perfect. So he knows all the possible mishaps that can occur on your part. So his perfect plan will adapt to your mistakes. This of course means that even if you make a mistake, it's irrelevant. Go to confession, repent (Try not to repeat/ change your ways) and accept God's grace again in the eucharist. Most importantly, Trust God.
It took me many years in spiritual darkness due to regret for leaving the Capuchin Franciscans for marriage. It almost killed me, to realize all the things they spoke about. I am now in full realization that while I am still sure I was called to be a Franciscan Priest, God has made the most out of my choice to marry my wife. She has become Franciscan at heart has started a ministry to the poor with me and we instill Franciscan spirituality in our kids all while being a foundation and support while on the road to the Permanent Diaconate. God has made my choices fruitful by giving me what He knew I'd need if I chose this route!
@@chrisobrien6254 In truth I could share many stories. Religious life is beautiful, but not for the faint of heart. Vocation Directors do tend to be over zealous in their efforts to draw people in.
@@chrisobrien6254 I think it comes down to my prayer life, how it affects my day to day and my involvement in the Church today. I have always felt drawn to it. I remember as early as 4th grade having the desire despite growing up in a non practicing family. I would "say Mass" to my action figures alot. I never had the desire to have a family, oddly enough considering I have one now lol. I still feel the pull, not as intensely as I once did but I crave contemplative prayer as much as possible. That being said. I have been graced with a woman who understands who I am, where I came from and does everything she can to support it. I have children who also understand who I am and how important contemplative prayer is. I work in a job that is almost exactly like Bl. Solanus Casey did (a porter/concierge) and it is a ministry to me. Despite all of it, the call is so deep it won't go away. I have however come to realize that I can still be a bridge between the laity and Christ as a Deacon and perhaps that is where the call is leading me to. I start the Diaconate program in January.
"Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice." I believe God does wish us to use our own abilities and skills, for sure, but that does not in any way diminish His assistance throughout our lives. We expend all the gifts we were given, the rest is up to God.
I’m definitely struggling right now trying to figure out what God wants of me. When I was growing up I woke up one day and just knew I had to be a nurse, people around me thought I was making a risky out of character choice as the career I wanted before that was completely opposite. I went into my nursing and I truly thrived, realised that nursing is what I was meant for, I also witnessed miracles (as a student nurse I had a patient who was meant to die, no hope at all to save them from the poison killing then driving home crying something was telling me so strongly I had to get a Priest now before it’s too late as none of the nurses/doctors bothered to get the Catholic patient a Priest so once I was home I called the Cathedral near the hospital asking them to go up to the patient. I returned the next day to find out that the patient survived and doctors couldn’t believed it and they became the first in the world to survive that poison). But several years ago I had to stop my career due to my disability and I have no idea what I am meant to be doing now
Please pray for my spiritual director (Fr. A.) & me (Mark). I believe I'm supposed to be a priest, but there are many obstacles. I had a similar experience to yours when I was a Eucharistic minister & accidentally (Providentially) entered the wrong floor - the mental ward where patients desired the Eucharist but the nurses had been ignoring their requests & others asked for Him (aincluding a Jewish woman). Thank you in advance for any prayers you offer. +
It's amazing to me just how much of this discussion is relevant to me right now, God is so good. Also loving Fr. Pine's advertising campaign for his book, I'm sold!
We all could use more prudence in our lives, in our evangelization, and in how we choose to engage with those we don't know! We need to strive to look not to the right and not to the left.
When I'm confronted between 2 decisions, 2 paths & 1 leans more toward the common understanding of prudence and the other toward charity & courage I chose the latter. I'm less concerned of what others think of me and more concerned about the lack of courage from leadership in the Church. I drive thru a lot of snowstorms.
Great discussion. Was helpful to me. I don't get to listen to many podcasts but perhaps imprudent of me to elaborate on that. I think you're a great apologist, Trent. The name of the podcast is brilliant and you've got cool little graphics. Frankly, you warrant more subscribers and I'm sure they will find you. One thought I had, that seems quite superficial, but I think may help is if you maybe jazzed up the background of the room you're recording in. I'm struggling to properly articulate what I'm trying to say but I think if you made it niftier somehow it would add gravitas to your podcast and perhaps give things a more polished look. However, I may be like Custer's appraisal of the muleskinner in Little Big Man, a perfect reverse barometer 🙂
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:45 🤔 Prudence is a virtue that empowers us to live well, choose well, and pursue happiness in line with our relationships and faith. 03:46 🤷♂️ Prudence allows us to make choices with freedom and confidence, not predestined by God but guided by Him towards goodness and virtue. 08:01 🌟 Prudence involves bringing together all virtues and using them appropriately to make good decisions, fostering a happy and healthy society. 09:09 🔄 Avoid freeze frame decision-making, focus on character growth, and exercise virtues in harmony to become the person God calls you to be. 17:37 🤝 Prudence helps us navigate when and how to share truths, considering the impact on ourselves and others, recognizing the right timing and context. 19:16 🛡️ Prudence is the virtue of seeing the landscape like a battlefield general, taking into account various factors in decision-making. 20:12 💡 Jesus emphasizes the importance of gentleness and meekness but also being wise and smart in dealing with others, demonstrating the value of prudence. 22:06 🚀 Prudence may entail risk-taking and planning for the future while trusting in God's providence, exercising free agency and making informed decisions. 24:10 🗣️ Prudence benefits from interactions with others, seeking counsel, and being open to honest feedback from friends and advisors. 28:24 📖 Prudence is grounded in reality and bears fruit when applied to real-life situations, guiding individuals towards confident and bold living. Made with HARPA AI
Jen Fulwiler's podcast episode "It's Okay to Want an Audience" is a VERY good supplement to this video. Especially about the practical pieces in making things happen; Just because something is good in itself does not mean that it will succeed by just existing.
The gentle approach of St. Peter Canisius in the 16th century in Protestant Geneva is a different situation than the much more explicitly demonic attachments to sexual deviations and self-identities that strip one of his or her dignity. To love the sinner is to hate the sin. The problem of Protestantism in Geneva and elsewhere was in part a reaction to an unhealthy clericalism that led up to it. However, the sexual abuse of authority figures - including clergy - should be countered with unambiguous condemnation of such activity & all sexually immoral activity. I think that things get weird, as you say, when people who know what is true avoid proclaiming that truth or soften it so as to please the person they're trying to help.
When you don't proclaim the full gospel you can give an incomplete understanding of who Jesus is, and thats leads to something missing from the spiritual life.
To me gratitude seems extremely important, as the basis of our lives (gratitude to God). In the liturgy it is said it is our duty and our salvation to always and everywhere give thanks to the Lord our God. Our freedom is one more reason to be thankful to He who has given us all things.
Hi Trent and hello Fr Gregory. I have a question please? My question about prudence is from Acts 21:7-14... When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” Now, and please correct me if I am wrong, Agabus was a prophet, and the Holy Spirit showed everyone present what would Happen to Saint Paul if he should go to Jerusalem... Now many and rightly so took that as a warning and tried to persuade Saint Paul to be prudent and not to go... Now my question is this: How could we tell the difference between being prudent and do something even if it`s going to cause us troubles ( Saint Paul ), or being prudent and not to go to avoid getting into trouble? I truly hope that you do understand my question? Thank you and God bless you...
Jesus knew what the end result of His mission was also, the ultimate bearing of our own personal crosses for the glory of God is prudent for our souls. As prudence grows hopefully we can discern when to be courageous and make a stand
This is interesting and good to hear that I'm not completely abnormal for falling in this imprudent category. I always wondered if other people perceived life and themselves as I do. As if God has one path for me and I better make the right choice otherwise I'm doomed to a life of disorder and pain. Lol. Its kind of funny. Thank you
Great video! I almost wonder if the church and the world would be in far better shape today if good Catholics would just bravely make good Christian choices and spend more time praying for the conversion of sinners and less time praying for what job to get, what girl to date, or what car to buy😑😩
28:11 Agreed but it also takes discernment to do that as well in terms of advice/counsel. A person who appears as a friend may be a foe and give bad advice masked as good advice. That’s where ultimately going to Jesus and seeking His counsel is paramount. It’s better to trust in God than it is to trust in man.
I agree that most of our decisions are a matter of prudence. The thing I've struggled with is there are certain vocational leadings from God that I've gotten that feel like if I disregard, I'd be disobeying God. And it does seem that in scripture, there are several things which God tells individuals to do that would be disobedience if they disregarded it. It seems to be that to some people, maybe even most, he gives them the freedom to choose between various good things. But it would seem that to some people, God gives them a directive, lets say about marrying a specific person or becoming a priest, that is more than just a suggestion.
The opening sentence nails it perfectly. As a convert coming over, I love the content of these videos. But then I read the comments and I feel the need to just back away slowly.... I don't get that feeling in person from most of them, maybe catholics are just really weird on the internet.
Good Video, though where does this leave room for discernment? You make excellent points that if you choose one thing over another that it does not make one good and the other bad. I think that being prudent also entails a bit of reflection and discernment on our part, and praying to God so that He may guide you so that you may live a life pleasing to Him, always striving to becoming the best version of yourself. Are we not more free when we live a life that is in accordance with His will? Every action in our life does not need discernment, and hopefully we have properly been formed using right reason as Saint Thomas Aquinas would say. There are a many decisions such as where we're going to work, who we're going to marry, what career direction we should take, etc, that require discernment and prayer.
13:29 is pure selfishness, not lack of prudence or temperance or anything else. It is SELFISH & lacks honoring others, God & yoyr own word. AKA: selfish. In the ridiculous guise of righteousness. Lord give us MERCY!!!
God created everyone with a unique vocation n we must ask for it n God will reveal it to us. Like I thought I was meant for marriage until God called me to religious life. So we must always choose Gods will not our own will
Charity as in helping or listening to someone overrules going to adoration or prayer and dare I say even Mass. There are many spiritual books by the great writers/saints/doctors of the church who will attest to this. St Catherine of Siena I’d one of them.
It seems Prudence is the only virtue in non-religious people because they are very smart in the world when very spiritual people are often socially reprehensible.
I've noticed there are more of these type of people in traditional communities. Kinda weird, hyper pious and coming off like religion is their only passion. Makes them hard to relate to.
the way i see it, if someones hyper-religious activities doesn't hurt others or themselves, and its moved by peace and love then it's okay. but if they enter my apartment and see a 12" passion of Christ crucifix and they are not in disgust of it, they are my friend.
@@tony1685 Good to see you up early on yet another anti-Catholic crusade. I noticed that you stopped responding to our conversation about how Colossians 2 completely destroys the Seventh Day Adventist cult's lies. I wonder if you are unwilling to respond, or just unable?
YOU SAID: "We Are never to be religious. We are to be Christians. In other words followers of him" RESPONSE: 1. Where does it say that in the bible that we are never to be religious? 2. A definition of religion is this: -Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. -A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship. QUESTION: Do Christians fall under this definition? 3. Christianity is a religion whose followers are expected to live a certain way. Thus, to know God truly is to be a religious Christian: Religion and "relationship" are not separate entities.
@@nowski1 Jesus did not set up any church. That would have been a religion. He wants us to have a relationship with Him. Religion wants you to follow it. . A definition of religion is this: -Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. That is a man-made definition. It is close but it has not the Church of Jesus when it was made. The majority of the world thinks Christianity is about religion but it is a relationship with Christ. A person cannot be in a relationship with Jesus if he is always having to deal with man-made doctrines. We have that relationship when we confess Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. No baptism or Eucharist can give you that. We have a relationship when we pray to Him and read the Bible and look to Him for guidance. No Christianity hasn't anything to do with living a certain way. It is about a relationship. We do not know Jesus by a church or doctrine but by seeking Him.
@@bcalvert321 YOU SAID: "Jesus did not set up any church. That would have been a religion" RESPONSE: Jesus said "... I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." (Matthew 16:18), Jesus also said "If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church..." ( Matthew 18:17). Paul said "...the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15). and etc Jesus did set up a church which was carried out by the apostles as leaders YOU SAID: " He wants us to have a relationship with Him. Religion wants you to follow it." RESPONSE: Yes He wants us to have a relationship with Him and yes Jesus wants you to follow it. YOU SAID: "A person cannot be in a relationship with Jesus if he is always having to deal with man-made doctrines." RESPONSE: Agreed if it is false man-made doctrines but you can be in a relationship if it deals with the doctrines that Jesus established which were brought throughout the world by the apostles and those they entrusted YOU SAID: "We have that relationship when we confess Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. " RESPONSE: is that all you have to do? Just have a mere intellectual declaration of faith and nothing else. YOU SAID: " No baptism or Eucharist can give you that." RESPONSE: Did Jesus establish baptism and communion yes or no? YOU SAID: "We have a relationship when we pray to Him and read the Bible and look to Him for guidance." RESPONSE: Yup but it is also more than that YOU SAID: "No Christianity hasn't anything to do with living a certain way. It is about a relationship." RESPONSE: yes it does and its all throughout the NT on how we should live and conduct ourselves for God and others. Examples: (John 14:15), (Ephesians 4:29-32) (1 Timothy 2:9-10), (1 Timothy 5:4), (1 John 4:8), (John 15:10, 12-15), (Colossians 3:12-17), (Romans 12:2), (1 Corinthians 11:27), (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) and many more on how we should live, act, believe, follow, and conduct ourselves. There are many do's and don't in the NT that we must adhere to. YOU SAID: "It is about a relationship. We do not know Jesus by a church or doctrine but by seeking Him." RESPONSE: Yes you do. Christianity is a religion whose followers are expected to live moral lives that include works. And Scripture reveals the very same thing about truly knowing, or being in a relationship with, God. Thus, to know God truly is to be a religious Christian: Once again religion and relationship are not separate entities. But we did not need to go through this whole exercise to know that Jesus expects his “friends” those in relationship with him to live religious lives of moral behavior (“keep my commandments”) and good works (“love one another”), for Jesus proclaimed as much himself: "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love . . . This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:10, 12-15). So, do you know Jesus?
@@nowski1 His church is a spiritual church. It is not a building or has a headquarters in Rome. The Apostles set up His church not the Catholic church, there is a huge difference. Jesus wants you to follow it. . No He wants us to follow Him. That is a huge difference. Most of the doctrines of the Catholic church are man-made. These are man-made, Mary was sin-free, Mary is our mother, Mary intercedes for us, Mary is the queen of heaven, that Mary is some kind of Ark of the Covenant. All man-made and are false doctrines. There is no purgatory, man-made and false. Yes, we only have to confess that he is our Lord and Savior. We confess our sins to Him and repent of those sins. No baptism, no Eucharist, no priest needed. Communion and Baptism are important but they have nothing to do with salvation or having a relationship with Him. They both come after our confession of faith. RESPONSE: Yup but it is also more than that. Like what. General statements are not answers. RESPONSE: yes it does and its all throughout the NT . What we learn about Jesus is by reading what He has taught. But a beginner will not know these things. He may not know anything in the Bible or Jesus. He must first learn what to do. Yes, that is in the Bible but Jesus always accepts us where we are in life. He knows it may be something that may take a while to learn and do.
@@nowski1 But we did not need to go through this whole exercise to know that Jesus expects his “friends” those in relationship with him to live religious lives of moral behavior (“keep my commandments”) and good works (“love one another”), for Jesus proclaimed as much himself: But that is for those that know something about Jesus. Not everyone does. John 15:10 First a person must read that them and learn what it means. This is why God's grace is huge and always with us.
Yes. I am seeing a lot of Catholics online referring to native americans as Cannibals. You would think Catholics would have learned to be better by now.
Ummm.. I guess it doesn't surprise me that some so called Catholics will say such ignorant things... I'm Native.. and I can assure you.. we are not cannibals!🙄
Good thing none of the Saints who earned the title of Fool-for-Christ listened to the worldly papists who have always been eager to conform to the spirit of the age.
"When I was in the pro-life movement. When you trying to fight for life. You are fighting a very macabre evil like abortion." It always interests me hearing christians describing abortion as something inherently evil, or more precisely killing a child, born or unborn, as inherently evil. Yet when someone points out the vast number of children, born and unborn, killed directly by god or killed by direct order of god, in the books they call holy scripture, the whacking of children is all of a sudden not the least bit evil. Then it is something good.
The Giver of life vs creatures. Are you vegan? Have you killed a creature? Do you think the difference between you and an ant is less of a difference between you and the Maker of Life? What foolishness. I'm grateful I'm alive but know my life is not from myself. Do you murder animals or insects? No. Neither did God murder anyone. Abortion however is murder. Murdering of the most innocent to be precise.
@Michael Anderson. so you do believe killing a human is inherently evil and you're therefore against abortion, as a non-Christian? Interesting. most Christians don't reason that something is immoral simply because they found a bible verse against it. unfortunately a great many people seem to hold the contradictory position that something is moral if it is legal (without acknowledging the formal foundation of whether a law ought to exist in the first place). an atheist still lays a foundation for his moral reasoning, and he must explain why he thinks the killing of one human is morally permissible while the killing of another is not, rather than merely stating that he doesn't approve of something in the bible.
@CJ P. "Vast number?" Yes vast number. You can't have missed it if you read the books. "You do realize if you consider abortions murder, it is the largest genocide in human history by far?" According to Oxford languages genocide has the following meaning: "the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group." Since unborn isn't a specific nation or ethnic group the term genocide isn't applicable. But yes, there has been a huge number of babies whacked throughout history. "You also seem like you don’t understand how justice works or much about theology." Ahh of course! How could I have missed the evil, evil, eeeevil stuff all those unborn and babies did for which god had them rightfully punished. "Maybe you should work on those foundations before you jump straight to abortion." Yes you are right. That such a woefully uneducated cretin like myself should have the audacity to question the followers of the anointed one. Ohh the hubris! I should be flogged. I should be stoned. I should be racked. I should be made to forever wander the desert. Please forgive this lowliest of worms for having overstepped the sharp line between right and wrong.
