Deep in Christ

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

Beginning the day in prayer is one of the most important ways to incorporate a concrete spiritual discipline into one's life; but it can also be among the most difficult! JonMarc Grodi talks to CHNetwork colleague Matt Swaim about how the concept of the "Heroic Minute," as well as the spirituality behind the Morning Offering, have helped him to give over the first moment of every day to prayer, and how that practice has developed for him over his nearly two decades in morning radio.

How should we measure our spiritual growth? Because the Christian life involves daily commitment to growing in our relationship with Jesus, we should be able to look at whether our actions, prayers and beliefs are positive or negative indicators as to our progress in the spiritual life. JonMarc Grodi looks at some of the right and wrong criteria to consider when evaluating the ongoing nature of our relationship with the Lord. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

Why do Catholics make sacrifices on Fridays? Is it merely an arbitrary discipline passed down from the hierarchy, or is it meant to cultivate something deeper in us, as individual believers, and as members of the body of Christ? JonMarc Grodi reflects on the Catholic practice of Friday prayer and penance, and the benefits of incorporating it into one's spiritual disciplines. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

Do you truly believe that God loves you? JonMarc Grodi is joined by Dr. Ian Murphy to discuss the importance of learning to see ourselves as God sees us. It can sometimes be easy to believe in God, but difficult to believe that He truly loves us. Dr. Murphy shares how important it is to recognize God's love for us, and let that animate the way we pray, think, and act in response to that love. Dr. Ian Murphy's website: https://www.drianmurphy.com More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

Whether it's an actor, an athlete, an author, or an academic, when someone with a high public profile announces their interest in becoming Catholic, there can often be a wide variety of reactions from both the religious tradition they come from, and the new Church family they're joining. And often they're rushed into the spotlight and encouraged to begin sharing their story immediately. JonMarc Grodi and Matt Swaim share how The Coming Home Network, which was founded by a pastor who left public ministry to become Catholic, thinks about the care of these souls, and how they encourage fellow Catholics to treat them as their new brothers and sisters in the Church. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

Because faith involves engaging with unseen realities, it can be easy to forget that if it the supernatural world is real, then its truths have implications for the natural world as well. JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard look at what it means to have a Christian worldview that takes seriously the goodness of the physical world, and how God uses it to show us who He truly is, from creation to the incarnation, as well as through the sacraments. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

In this final installment of our series on prayer, we look further at what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about overcoming distractions in prayer. The proper response to the inevitable reality of distractions is summed up well in Paragraph 2729: "To set about hunting down distractions would be to fall into their trap, when all that is necessary is to turn back to our heart: for a distraction reveals to us what we are attached to, and this humble awareness before the Lord should awaken our preferential love for him and lead us resolutely to offer him our heart to be purified." More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org

Part of the journey of prayer will inevitably involve experiences of apparent failure. The Catechism of the Catholic Church identifies some of these: discouragement, dryness, hesitancy about what God may be calling us to do, and even the darkness within our own hearts. However, it is by exposing these things to the light that we can seek healing and forgiveness. The Church reminds us that it is crucial to anticipate and meet these apparent “failures” in the journey of prayer with a right mind and heart, ready to turn these obstacles into greater victories of humility and faith. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org

On this episode, we continue our discussion on the journey of prayer. When you begin to make a more conscious and intentional commitment to the journey of prayer, you will become more aware of the spiritual battle that is always raging outside of you as well as inside. The sections of the Catechism that we cover in this episode address some of the common “objections” that will spring up from time to time as temptations to give up in the battle of prayer; but it is a battle that we cannot afford to stop fighting. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

On this episode, we continue our journey of prayer with an examination of the sections of the Catechism dedicated to contemplative prayer — the prayer of presence and friendship with God. Contemplative prayer is in one sense the goal toward which we move on the journey of prayer. Through more active forms of prayer such as vocal or meditative we dispose our hearts to receive the gift of contemplative prayer and to bring this “prayer of presence” into all aspects of our lives. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

JonMarc Grodi continues his series on Christian prayer by looking at what the Church has to say about Meditative Prayer, which the Catechism refers to as a "quest."  What does the Church mean by referring to meditation in this way? What are we called to discover in this process? And how should it spur us to live differently as Christians in our day to day walk with the Lord? More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

JonMarc Grodi continues his series on Christian prayer by looking at what the Church has to say about Vocal Prayer. In it, we engage our minds and often our mouths, but often, we are called to engage even our posture in order to help our whole body become disposed to speak with God. JonMarc reflects on how we can cultivate a life of prayer that goes beyond mere words into a fuller disposition toward the God to whom we pray. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

As the Church reminds us, prayer is not merely a means to get us *into* relationship with God; prayer *is* our relationship with God.  JonMarc Grodi discusses how to better understand prayer as a journey of going deeper in our relationship with the Lord, and how becoming disciplined in prayer can help to grow that relationship over time. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

Temptations surround us at every turn; being tempted is an unavoidable reality. But how do we resist those temptations so as not to fall into sin? JonMarc Grodi reflects on the nature of temptation and sin, and shares some thoughts from the wisdom of the Church on how to resist temptations when they arise. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

It's one of the most recognizable gestures in any religion; but why do Catholics make the Sign of the Cross, and what is the significance of it? JonMarc Grodi reflects on what it means to invoke God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and how we can be more intentional about the way we participate in this simple but powerful prayer. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

On this episode of Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi discusses the nature of prayer as our relationship with God and some of the potential pitfalls we face in the journey of prayer. What are we doing when we pray? Are we trying to control an outcome, or manipulate supernatural realities? Or is there something deeper that God is calling us to when He invites us to a life of prayer? More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

The stories of the saints are powerful. But some of them are also strange; because they are from different times and places and circumstances than us, it can be hard sometimes to know which parts of their stories to apply to our own lives. JonMarc Grodi reflects on how the real power in the stories of the saints comes from their love of Christ, and their desire to grow in virtue and in service of Him, which every Christian is called to imitate, even if we can't all be miracle workers or martyrs. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

In a world saturated with information and data, how do we know what we are supposed to know? In this episode of Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi explores the relationship between data and truth, and digs into the question of what it means to be a human being in a culture saturated with information. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://www.community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate  

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi reflects on the concept of Christian retreats and what place they have in our busy lives. We are commanded by God to set aside our work each week and to make the sabbath day holy, and it is this sabbath day that helps us to understand and continually put the rest of our active lives in proper perspective. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://www.community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their discussion on the connection between the life of virtue and Christian Unity. They dig into the virtue of Justice, which is the habit of soul by which we turn to and embrace the fundamental reality of personhood and relationship. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://www.community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their discussion on the virtues and Christian unity. They turn to the first of the four Cardinal Virtues — Prudence — and discuss the fundamental conversion towards truth that is the prerequisite for accepting the truth of the Gospel. By practicing Prudence and Humility, Christians make themselves open to grace and to the unity for which Christ prayed. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://www.community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their series on Christian unity by looking at some of the root causes of our divisions. When Jesus prayed for unity among his followers, he was clearly seeing the divisions that would arise among them. JonMarc and Kenny look at how the Catholic Church thinks about these divisions, and how sin, doctrinal conflicts, and generations of separation can make the healing of those divisions so difficult. Watch more episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

On this episode of Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard kick off a series on unity amongst Christians. They discuss Christ's prayer for the unity of his followers and how the Church has understood and characterized this unity. They look ahead to the trajectory of this discussion which will be individual conversion to Christ and growth in virtue as the building block of the unity for which Jesus prayed. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://ww.community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

If we're constantly overindulging ourselves, how can we understand what it means to feast? In this episode, JonMarc Grodi looks at the concepts of feasting and fasting in the life of faith, why the Church calls us to deny ourselves in a special way during the season of Lent, and how our fasting is not meant to merely be an exercise in self-denial, but rather be intimately connected with the larger picture of what it means to be a Christian. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

In this episode, JonMarc Grodi reflects on the Christian practice of the Examination of Conscience and how it is an opportunity both to recognize and repent of our sins, but also to better understand our patterns of thoughts, actions and reactions so that we can avoid sin in the future. He also reflects on how the act of the Examination should itself be a practice of virtues to combat our vices — attending to God's presence, choosing to see things in the light of faith, and making prudent plans for amending our lives. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate  

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi discusses the role of “memory” in our walk with Christ. He looks at how the practice of an examination of conscience, as well as reflection on the good things the Lord has done, helps us draw near to the Lord through our life experiences, both positive and negative. More episodes: http://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate

What is the purpose of Deep in Christ? At the Coming Home Network, we're often known as an apostolate that walks alongside people as they explore what it might mean for them to enter the Catholic Church. But it should never end there! JonMarc Grodi discusses how unpacking the Cardinal and Theological Virtues are part of a lifelong Christian journey, and how he hopes to explore those themes over the coming year. Watch more episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/donate  

In this special Holy Week episode, JonMarc Grodi is joined by fellow CHNetwork staff members Ken Hensley and Matt Swaim to discuss their experiences of Lent, Palm Sunday, and the Triduum as converts to the Catholic Faith. Ken and Matt share how they each observed the time leading to Easter in their Protestant traditions, and what they've come to appreciate most about the way the Catholic Church invites us to enter into these mysteries through the liturgy. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

JonMarc Grodi continues to discuss the Catholic perspective on the mystery of suffering with CHNetwork team member Denise Bossert. Denise looks at how our woundedness and sinfulness impacts our suffering, and how God wants His best for us, even when we don't understand what that means, or how to receive it. Because Christ has taken on our sin and our suffering, we can enter into that mystery with Him, and offer that suffering, just as Jesus did, for His body, the Church. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

JonMarc Grodi continues to discuss the Catholic perspective on the mystery of suffering with CHNetwork team member Denise Bossert. Denise reflects on some of the ways she began to understand suffering, not just as an isolated experience within her own personal journey of faith, but as a way to better enter into what it means to be a member of the Body of Christ. This reflection helped to make sense of a passage from St. Paul that Denise had never really known what to do with before: "I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church." (Colossians 1:24) For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi introduces a special guest and new member of the CHNetwork team: Denise Bossert. A former pastor's kid and pastor's wife, Denise shares how difficult experiences of suffering, especially that of her father, caused her to question her theology and ultimately look to the Catholic Church for a deeper understanding of the mystery of redemptive suffering. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi shares some brief thoughts on Lent and the traditional penitential practice of fasting. Following Christ's exhortations in Mathew chapter 6, we must fast in the right spirit (unlike the “hypocrites”) in order to receive the treasure of greater intimacy with our Heavenly Father. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard conclude their discussion of the cruciform shape of discipleship, focusing finally on the mystery of suffering. All suffering is the result of original and actual sin, but we have two fundamental ways to respond to the suffering of life. Will we flee the cross or follow Christ? For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their discussion of cross-shaped discipleship with an exploration of the cross that is temptation. They reflect on the sources of temptation (the world, flesh, and the devil) and the shapes those temptations take — fears and desires — as a consequence of original sin, and how Christ Himself experienced temptation and conquered it. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue the discussion of cross-shaped discipleship, this time widening the scope to include the array of human relationships we live in. They discuss the call of the Christian to not only defer vengeance to God, but to go outside of themselves to forgive, reconcile, and do good to their “enemies” in imitation of Christ. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue to explore the concept of “Cruciform Discipleship,” this time digging further into family life and parenting. They look specifically at the role of the Holy Family — Mary, Joseph, and Jesus — in reversing the fall of our first parents. The Holy Family models for us what it means to follow Jesus as parents, and what it means to help our children to be prepared to carry their own crosses. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their discussion of the cruciform shape of discipleship, this time focusing on marriage and how husbands and wives are called to image the relationship between Christ and His Church. Like our savior, spouses are called to enter each others' suffering and brokenness with love, and help to bring healing and redemption. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard kick off a series of discussions on the significance of the crucifix as the primary image of Christian discipleship. What does it mean to take up our cross and follow Jesus? JonMarc and Kenny look at this challenge from Our Lord in terms of what it must have sounded like to his followers in 1st century Jerusalem, and what it means for Christians living in the 21st century today. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

In this episode, JonMarc Grodi shares a reflection on the Theological Virtues to round out the various themes discussed this year.  The Theological Virtues — Faith, Hope, and Charity — are the supernatural virtues given by God that make relationship with Him possible and make our active lives as Christians fruitful. For more episodes, visit chnetwork.org.

On this episode of Deep in Christ, we're reflecting on a favorite quote from G.K. Chesterton regarding the connections between our day-to-day active life and the time we spend “attending to the permanent things”. We'll discuss some of the virtues and vices that are involved with the management of our “information diet” and how we can make sure that that we are filling our mind only with that which draws us deeper into Christ and empowers us to serve Him more faithfully. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

JonMarc Grodi and Brother Rex Anthony Norris conclude their study of the spirituality of the 12 Steps of Recovery. They discuss how our conversion and healing in Christ impel us to share our testimony with others. This is part of our Christian vocation, and also a part of what keeps our ever deeper conversion to Christ something permanent. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.

JonMarc Grodi and Brother Rex Anthony Norris continue their discussion of the spirituality of 12 Step recovery programs with step #11: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” They discuss different types of prayer, the journey of growing in relationship with God through prayer, and making prayer a permanent and foundational priority of the rest of your life. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com.