Where is Jesus?

[robtax]

I am a big consumer of Catholic media. I purchase a lot of books, routinely follow various Catholic websites, listen to numerous posdcast and subscribe to many Catholic periodicals. Lately I’ve begun to draw the conclusion that the majority of the media appears to focus on the social evils of our time and not a lot of time on our faith in Christ. And when faith in Christ is dicussed, it seems these days it’s mostly done through apologetics or protestant conversions. I don’t have a problem with any of this. However, what I find to be really lacking is media that helps me grow in my faith. I find that I can find very little that provides me guidance on how to deepen my relationship with Christ or really live my faith beyond protesting abortion or being an great apologist. Again, I have nothing against that, but it seems to me that if we focused more on who Christ is and how he should be the center of our life, we’ll live differently and by our lives show the world where we stand on the social evils of our day. Without that focus it just seems like we are going through the motions and nothing really changes.

 

[DexUK]

I’ve often felt similarly… that -]all/-] too much of what we see and hear is what the Church is against rather than singing from the rooftops about what we are for. I feel that sometimes it seems that the ‘powers that be’ forget that we need spiritual nourishment as well as to know what the ‘rules’ are.

 

[Della]

Most popular Catholic writing these days is geared towards social concerns and apologetics. I too think it’s overemphasizing these things to the detriment of other, equally important things, such as encouraging people to be faithful to the sacraments and developing their spiritual lives. Catholic writers can’t get their writing on such topics published, especially if they are couched in fiction. Writers like Tolkien or Chesterton or Lewis wouldn’t be published by any Catholic publisher these days if any of them were unknowns.

Anyway, the best thing to do is to read the great saints, such as Therese of Lisieux, Francis de Sales, Alphonsus de Liguori, etc. It seems the best spiritual writers are all dead. Read them, anyway, and pray, pray, pray.

 

[nickybr38]

I might be misunderstanding your post but this is my opinion on this.

We are each responsible for our own nourishment. You have been led to the waters, now YOU have to drink from them. No one can spoon feed you.

If you feel you are not being properly directed, go out and buy some theological material, find sources of information that will help you grow spiritually. Don’t just sit back and wait for the ‘powers that be’ to spoon feed you whatever it is you need right now to grow in Christ.

Right now the Church is under attack, which is why it seems Catholic media is focused on just one area… And if that area was ignored there would be people complaining about that too! Haha. That’s just how we are…

Anyway, sorry if that sounded a bit harsh, it’s just my opinion on the matter.

 

[po18guy]

A world-wide media best addresses matters of catechesis, apologetics and problems of general and widespread concern. What you are searching for is contained in retreats, seminars and classes at your parish or Diocesan level. Just one example: “Life in the Spirit” seminars are an absolutely wonderful means of drawing nearer to our Lord, releasing the gifts of the Holy Spirit and deepening your faith. There are prayer classes, prayer groups and a wide variety of teaching that can assist you. Bear in mind that there are as many paths to a deeper relationship with God as there are souls drawn to Him. Thus, it would be quite difficult to offer programs of wide appeal on radio or TV.

Do you spend time in Adoration? This is where to start - with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Do you pray the Gospel (Rosary)? There two are the left and right hands of deepening your faith and your relationship with out Lord. Since your heart of open to a deeper faith, it will be found (revealed to you) in prayer.

Christ’s peace be with you.

 

[Shin]

Yes, studying and discussing the lives of the saints and reading their writings is the key to improving the spiritual life, I heartily agree.

You might find something like what you want in the forum below. It’s not an apologetics and conflict oriented forum, instead it’s based on mutual support and spiritual improvement through learning from the saints.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Read Ralph Martin’s book, “Fulfillment of All Desire.” You can find it on amazon.com. It’s extremely good and discusses the spiritual life from the perspectives of the masters, seven renowned Doctors of the Church.