Mystery of Parenthood

The Mystery of Parenthood's Farewell episode! In one of their best shows ever, Trey and Stephanie Cashion distill more than a decade's worth of parenting advice and philosophy in one final episode. Discover a profound journey into the heart of Catholic family life with The Mystery of Parenthood — the final chapter. In this touching farewell episode, our hosts, guided by faith and love, condense a decade of wisdom into a reflective narrative. From the tender practice of family prayer to the sacramental view of marriage and parenting, this video encapsulates their transformative approach to raising children with God's grace. Tune in to witness a poignant reflection on the challenges and triumphs of Catholic parenting. As the hosts share their insights on the "tent poles" of their philosophy — sacramentality, reaching the heart, and the "funnel" approach to freedom and responsibility — viewers are invited to explore the profound impact of integrating faith deeply into family life. The episode offers a treasure trove of practical advice, heartwarming stories, and spiritual encouragement, emphasizing the joys of nurturing children to love God, value family, and lead a purpose-driven life. Whether you're a parent seeking guidance or simply interested in the Catholic perspective on family, this video promises an enriching experience filled with faith, hope, and love. As the hosts bid farewell, they leave behind a legacy of wisdom, a call to prayerful parenting, and an open invitation to partake in the mystery of parenthood — where every challenge is an opportunity to witness God's miraculous work in the family. This episode features a special surprise for Trey and Stephanie that can be best viewed on our YouTube page! Listen to 10 years of archived radio episodes of The Mystery of Parenthood at RED-C's website.   Visit redcradio.org or download our RED-C Radio App to access our live radio, listen to all of our podcasts, and find additional information and resources related to our Catholic faith. And if you want to support The RED-C Apostolate and all that we do, please consider making a recurring or one-time donation (https://redcradio.org/donate). You can also subscribe to our email list at https://redcradio.org/subscribe. May God bless you and all your loved ones!

"'I woke up one night in the middle of the night to a burning cross in our front yard'... (my Grandfather) was telling his story as a little kid.  He said 'I can remember them banging on the door saying Mr. King, we're not after you, we just want your wife and kids' and he remembers (his father) saying get behind me, he put a chair down, loaded a gun, and he said 'you can't come in here and get 'em but if you do try to come in here the first six of y'all are going to get killed'" Trey Cashion, host, and Caleb Brawner, guest co-host, discuss the importance of storytelling in parenting as a means of generating teachable moments, examples of virtue, and showing how God actually works in our lives. Visit redcradio.org or download our RED-C Radio App to access our live radio, listen to all of our podcasts, and find additional information and resources related to our Catholic faith. And if you want to support The RED-C Apostolate and all that we do, please consider making a recurring or one-time donation (https://redcradio.org/donate). May God bless you and all your loved ones!

"We have to make sure that our marriage, which is the source (obviously with God's help) . . . of this family as a whole is foundational—it is the center of this family—and if that's not strong, everything else falls apart."   Trey and Stephanie Cashion continue their discussion about parenting in the "funnel" from last week. They discuss the necessity of making your marriage the foundational principle of your family, using sports and extracurriculars as teachable moments (including time management and prioritization), and the importance remembering that each of your children is unique and unrepeatable (and should be parented as such).   Visit redcradio.org or download our RED-C Radio App to access our live radio, listen to all of our podcasts, and find additional information and resources related to our Catholic faith. And if you want to support The RED-C Apostolate and all that we do, please consider making a recurring or one-time donation (https://redcradio.org/donate). May God bless you and all your loved ones!

"There's plenty of times we've said something and there's definitely a Holy Spirit moment that was like, 'Would you listen to what you're saying? The advice you're giving to your children is the advice you're not taking from Me.' That is part of the mystery of parenthood because we are parented through our parenting—we're parented by God through our parenting."   Trey and Stephanie Cashion use the image of funnel to discuss prudently expanding the freedoms of your children, and they examine how a parent's relationship with their children should reflect God's relationship with man.   Visit redcradio.org or download our RED-C Radio App to access our live radio, listen to all of our podcasts, and find additional information and resources related to our Catholic faith. And if you want to support The RED-C Apostolate and all that we do, please consider making a recurring or one-time donation (https://redcradio.org/donate). May God bless you and all your loved ones!  

Lots of laughs and joy to be had in this week's episode of The Mystery of Parenthood, with hosts Trey and Stephanie Cashion. The Cashions share wisdom and practical advice on how to joyfully parent your children.   Visit redcradio.org or download our RED-C Radio App to access our live radio, listen to all of our podcasts, and find additional information and resources related to our Catholic faith. And if you want to support The RED-C Apostolate and all that we do, please consider making a recurring or one-time donation (https://redcradio.org/donate). May God bless you and all your loved ones!

In this episode of Mystery of Parenthood, hosts, Trey and Stephanie Cashion, discuss how to create a plan for Holy Week based on your family's needs and your children's capabilities. They talk about tying the Gospels to Holy Thursday, especially John 13-17, and discuss the tradition of visiting different churches for Adoration. The Cashions move through Triduum, discussing different traditions, customs, and activities you can do with your children, including a family-favorite recipe for Resurrection buns: Resurrection Buns Biscuit Dough (homemade or popped out of the can) Large Marshmallows Melted Butter Cinnamon Sugar Roll out lumps of dough into 4 inch circles. Wrap each dough circle around marshmallow and close tightly. Roll the dough in melted butter and then in a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place in well-greased pans. Let rise overnight. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. The marshmallows will melt and leave a sticky (& yummy) syrup in the buns.  

In this episode of Mystery of Parenthood, host, Trey, discusses tools for your children's discernment, drawing from Romans 12:2, "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." Trey outlines and expands on Abby Sasscer's article for Seton Magazine, "7 Tools Our Children Need to Discern God's Will".

In this episode, hosts Trey and Stephanie Cashion discussed developing a relationship with St. Joseph and how to integrate his and the Blessed Virgin Mary's examples into our families.  Some resources utilized in this show are from the Abiding Together podcast on St. Joseph, which can be located at this webpage. Some great additional resources on St. Joseph were also given at this same webpage: 1) Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father Paperback – Fr Donald Calloway, 2) Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph: An Integrated Look At the Holy Family Paperback – Dr. Gregory Bottaro, 3) The Seven Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph, 4) Patris Corde - With a Father's Heart - Pope Francis, and 5) Redemptoris Custos - Saint Pope John Paul II.

On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, host Trey Cashion concludes in a multi-part series, a document from the USCCB entitled Rights and Duties of Parents.  In this document, it shares that parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule.  Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you... and He will!

On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, hosts Trey and Stephanie Cashion discuss in a multi-part series, a document from the USCCB entitled Rights and Duties of Parents.  In this document, it shares that parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule.  Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you... and He will!

On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, hosts Trey and Stephanie Cashion discuss in a multi-part series, a document from the USCCB entitled Rights and Duties of Parents.  In this document, it shares that parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule.  Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you... and He will!

On Tuesday, January 31, 2023, host Trey Cashion discusses how the family is a great place to live out The Beatitudes.  In this discussion, Trey references an online article from teachingcatholickids.com entitled The Beatitudes for Families, which takes the 8 Beatitudes and relates them to everyday family life.  Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you... and He will!

On Tuesday, January 24, 2023, host Trey Cashion discusses the article, A Biblical Model for Discipling Children.  The article and host discuss how Deuteronomy 6:4-9 provides five simple qualities of transformational teaching.  These qualities are 1) Relationship, 2) Experience, 3) Truth, 4) Discussion, and 5) Response.  Each of these qualities were broken down in the discussion of this episode.  Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you... and He will!

On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, host Trey Cashion discussed the Aleteia article by Tom Hoopes, "3 Things your teen is right about, and 3 things you know better." Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, host Trey Cashion continued to discuss the deep meaning of Pope John Paul II's 1981 encyclical Familiaris Consortio. Importantly, in this episode, Trey completes his study of the encyclical by explaining the family's priestly, prophetic, and royal character as a basis for its role in God's plan of salvation. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, December 20, 2022, host Trey Cashion continued to discuss the deep meaning of Pope John Paul II's 1981 encyclical Familiaris Consortio. In this episode, Trey began to survey the section "Participating in the Development of Society." Here John Paul II focused on the important role of the family as the essential cell of society and he unveiled a "Charter of the Rights of the Family." Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, host Trey Cashion continued to discuss the deep meaning of Pope John Paul II's 1981 encyclical Familiaris Consortio. Trey continued the section "Serving Life" from the encyclical, especially focusing on the paragraphs dealing with the responsibility and task of parents to educate their children. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

Merry Christmas! To help you celebrate the season while Trey and Stephanie are taking a well-earned break from the show, we wanted to bring you an encore episode from December 3, 2019. Monica Ashour of TOBET was back on the show to talk with the Cashions about the movie It's a Wonderful Life and the similarities it has with the Christian life. The film has a powerful message containing a lot of goodness, beauty, and truth inside of it. It will leave you thinking about your faith in God and the way in which you live your life. If you haven't seen this holiday classic before, we suggest you do so before you listen to this episode, because Trey and Monica give away the plot! Only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you and He will!

On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, host Trey Cashion continued to discuss the deep meaning of Pope John Paul II's 1981 encyclical Familiaris Consortio. Importantly, in this episode, Trey articulated the theological backdrop to the pope's defense of the Church's teaching on marriage and sexuality. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

In this episode, host Trey Cashion continued to break down the great encyclical of Pope St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio. In the second section of the letter, wherein the Holy Father explicates the four fundamental tasks of the family, JPII calls us to greatness by reminding us that, "the fundamental task of the family is to serve life, to actualize in history the original blessing of the Creator—that of transmitting by procreation the divine image from person to person." This divine image must be fed in the material, "moral, spiritual and supernatural" dimensions by the parents. Let us recognize that we are involved in illuminating for our children that they have embarked on a particular, special mission for God by being granted the gift of life. This is, in fact, the reality of each Christian's calling to holiness as explained so well in Lumen Gentium, no. 39: each one of the faithful must willingly hear the Word of God and accept His Will, and must complete what God has begun by their own actions with the help of God's grace. These actions consist in the use of the sacraments and in a special way the Eucharist, frequent participation in the sacred action of the Liturgy, application of oneself to prayer, self-abnegation, lively fraternal service, and the constant exercise of all the virtues. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, November 1, 2022, host Trey Cashion began a discussion arc of episodes based on Part Three of Pope St. John Paul II's 1981 encyclical on the "Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World," Familiaris Consortio. In this third part of the letter, the pope sets out "four general tasks for the family in the modern world:" 1) forming a community of persons; 2) serving life; 3) participating in the development of society; 4) sharing in the life and mission of the Church. This episode focused on the introduction to part three and the first task. Trey spoke particularly on the Trinitarian relationship and how it is reflected in the conjugal love of the spouses. Remember, only God can take the mystery of parenthood. Pray, parent with  a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, October 25, host Trey Cashion completed his review of the article, "Domestic Church? Hold On, It's Just a Family!" by Word on Fire Institute Fellow Robert Mixa. You can listen to the first episode here. Trey used this second installment as a jumping off point from Mixa's explanation that Vatican II recovered the patristic understanding of the family as a domestic church. Trey worked through sections 34–36 of Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, to explain how the family as domestic church carries out the Church's three offices of priest, prophet, and king. The discussion will spur you to think anew about your own family's role in advancing the kingdom of God. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, October 18, host Trey Cashion reviewed the article, "Domestic Church? Hold On, It's Just a Family!" by Word on Fire Institute Fellow Robert Mixa. Especially in light of the recent sixtieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, Trey wanted to revisit the concept of the domestic church, an idea central to the Church Fathers that was resuscitated by the council. Listen in to learn about the origin of the term, its connection to the Jewish understanding of the family in Scripture, and how realizing we are domestic churches should lead us to a more evangelical posture as families. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On this encore presentation of The Mystery of Parenthood, hosts Trey and Stephanie Cashion talked about what makes the Church who She is, and what makes families “The Domestic Church.” They talked about how Catholic families are meant to be apostolic in nature, a sign of holiness, and a sign of what it means to be Catholic. We are the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Being Apostolic means to be a follower of Christ, and then to go out and share that good news with the world we live in. Families should represent these qualities in their purest form. This week's memory verse was Matthew 16:18-19 which says, “And I tell you, you are Peter. And on this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.” Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, host Trey Cashion explained the seven attributes of a Catholic disciple. According to a series on discipleship authored by Catholic theologian Bob Rice, a Catholic disciple: 1. has their IDENTITY rooted in being a son/daughter of the Father, 2. is consistent in daily PRAYER, 3. actively participates in the grace of the SACRAMENTS, 4. lives in OBEDIENCE to the teachings of the Catholic Church, 5. participates in a COMMUNITY to grow in faith and support the growth of others, 6. frequently does acts of SERVICE out of love for God and neighbor and, 7. is enthusiastic about SHARING the Gospel and making disciples. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenting. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On this episode of the Mystery of Parenthood, Trey and Stephanie Cashion visited in studio with their guests, Andrew and Sarah Swafford, about cell phone usage in the family and by our children.  Multiple ways to set guidelines and limits for both children and adults were discussed, and challenges around this subject were addressed and tackled in a straightforward and practical manner.

On Tuesday, September 27, host Trey Cashion discussed his reaction to a new video, "This Wonderful Sacrament," released by the Diocese of Austin in support of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' call for a Eucharistic Revival. Trey unpacked the different modes of unity that are on display in the Eucharistic sacrifice and, even more so, the unity it effects in us and in the Church. Listen to this important explanation of a key aspect of the Eucharist and use it to help your children develop a better love and appreciation of the Blessed Sacrament. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!    

On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, host Trey Cashion discussed four of the most fundamental challenges parents face: inadequate time; the failure to pass on moral values to their children; work-life imbalances; and a lack of emotional bonding between parent and child. While in no way unveiling to parents challenges about which they are not aware, Trey's goal was to talk about why these four items are fundamental challenges. They are at the root of much that is difficult or draining about parenting. If we can get these challenges under better control (or mitigate them as much as possible), then family life will be more rewarding and satisfying for everyone. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

We hope you're enjoying the last part of summer vacation before the school year begins again. Trey and Stephanie are too, so we bring you an encore episode from Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Trey gave an extended reflection on the significance of Catholic families living like they are friends of God. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, host Trey Cashion offered an extended reflection on the significance of parents and children alike being friends of God if we are baptized, believe in Christ's salvific action, and are striving to follow the example of Jesus Christ. How does that change our relationship to God when we remain aware that He desires friendship with us? How does that reorient our parenting when we recall that He offers friendship to us? Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

Enjoy this encore presentation of Mystery of Parenthood from Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Trey and Stephanie Cashion were pleased to welcome back Monica Ashour, from the Theology of the Body Evangelization Team. Monica spoke with them about how to create families that prioritize bodily presence ("the body demands a response") and embodied relationships over virtual connections and social networks in order to preserve the family as a true community of persons ordered to God's love for the human being. Enjoy the episode, take a moment to like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. And remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you!

On Wednesday, July 19, host Trey Cashion encouraged families, especially parents, to invest time in Eucharistic Adoration as a way of making grace more available to themselves and their children. Remember only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, hosts Trey and Stephanie Cashion discussed an article in Catholic Exchange by Dave McClow: "The Good Samaritan: Not Just a Good Neighbor." This show was a rollicking good time despite the weighty subject. Lots of laughter was shared along the way, but the central point shone through: We are broken, wounded sinners left for dead due to our transgressions (whether original or personal) and our only chance for life is rescue by Our Lord through His Cross. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!   Dave McClow, "The Good Samaritan: Not Just a Good Neighbor," Catholic Exchange, December 1, 2016 [https://catholicexchange.com/good-samaritan-not-just-good-neighbor/?utm_source=pocket_mylist]

In observance of the Fourth of July, host Trey Cashion offered a Catholic interpretation of freedom: what it is; what it isn't; and what it's for. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will! 

On Tuesday, June 14, hosts Trey and Stephanie Cashion discussed an article from Greg and Lisa Popcak listing four ways the family can mirror the Trinity in order to show God to the world. Trey and Stephanie especially emphasized the way that the family brings a unique person into existence from the love between the husband and wife. This is analogous to how the Holy Spirit, one of the divine persons, is the love between God the Father and God the Son. You can read the article here. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, June 7, host Trey Cashion explained an article in the liturgical journal Adoremus, "Even Children Know the Nature of Mystagogy: How Early Education in Liturgy and Scriptures Can Reveal a Lifetime of Faith." Trey used the article to talk about how the Mass, in particular, highlights events in salvation history through its signs; necessitates catechesis in the meaning of its signs; and should lead us to see how its signs and rites show forth the multi-dimensionality of Christian life. Remember, only God can take the mystery out of parenthood. Pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, May 17, host Trey Cashion took listeners on a theological and liturgical tour of the Catholic Mass. This episode looked at the Introductory Rite and the Liturgy of the Word. Trey refreshes your memory and gives you some tips for helping children across various ages to understand why we do what we do. He also looped in two documents of the Second Vatican Council—Sacrosanctum Concillum and Dei Verbum—to help make the connection between the external form of worship and our inner disposition. Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, May 9, host Trey Cashion discussed the article by Dr. Gwen Dewar, "How to Help Kids Make Friends: 12 Evidence-Based Tips." There is much in the article that is worth incorporating into your parenting toolkit. Trey also critiques some of Dewar's recommendations, particularly her seeming reluctance to admit that punishment and discipline do have a proper part to play alongside positive parenting techniques. Listen and decide for yourself. Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, May 2, hosts Trey and Stephanie Cashion discussed the blog post by Becky Roach, "Seven Parenting Tips I Learned When Mary and Joseph Lost Jesus." This is a beautiful, instructive Gospel story to reflect on as parent, especially for remembering that Mary and Joseph know on a human level our anxiety about making mistakes in raising our children. There's also lots of laughs on this one. So, listen in. Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

In this episode of the Mystery of Parenthood, Trey Cashion covers a variety of topics of interest to parents.  The four topics discussed were 1.) When kids ask tough questions, 2.) The child in the pew, 3.) Teaching your children about generosity, and 4.) Talking with your children about God.  The discussion with show producer, Dennis Macha, was lively and through the lens of both their experiences as veteran parents.  

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, host Trey Cashion considered a Wednesday audience by Pope Francis from 2021 in which the Holy Father explains the meaning and importance of the liturgies for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Easter Vigil. Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you! He will!

On Tuesday, April 5, 2022, host Trey Cashion used the constitution on the sacred liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC), and how it pertains to living the liturgy within the domestic church. Especially, SC helps us to teach our children how our Faith directs us to hold in tension the human and the divine, the visible and the invisible, and the contemplative and the active. All of those binaries are meant to inform how we live our everyday lives. Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze. He will!

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, host Trey Cashion delved deeply into what the Second Vatican Council taught about the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chapter Eight of its Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium. Listen for  advice on how to inculcate this teaching within the domestic church. And remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, host Trey Cashion urged listeners to not bail out if they have reached the middle of Lent, but are holding to all their practices and penances perfectly. He discussed 6 tips for rebooting your Lent that you can share with your children so that you and your family can arrive at the Easter Vigil unencumbered by sin and open to the grace of the resurrected Lord! Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, host Trey Cashion invited RED-C's Coordinator of Youth Sports, Robyn Romansky, to discuss the article from Our Sunday Visitor, "As Parents Are We Appropriately Integrating Sports into Family Life?" Romansky, a former Olympic and Division I women's volleyball coach, spoke at length about the challenges and rewards of orienting sports on the virtues and with a view towards truth, goodness, and beauty.  

On Tuesday, March 1, 2022, host Trey Cashion went through the beauty and richness of the liturgy of the sacrament of reconciliation. He began by reviewing the nature of the sacraments, then explaining what matter and form are in understanding them. He moved on to highlight the scriptural basis for penance and how that pertains to the role of the priest in acting in persona Christi. Finally, he highlighted some little-known aspects of the Rite of Penance by way of reference to this enlightening article: "Just in Time for Lent: Seven Things You Probably Didn't Know about the Rite of Penance" by Michael Brummond. Remember to make a point of going to confession more frequently during the season of Lent and learning about why it is a penitential season during the Church year. And always pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On February 22, 2022 (2/22/22!), host Trey Cashion spoke about the foundational role of humility in nurturing and sustaining a fruitful prayer life. He invited onto the show Norbertine novice, Frater Giovanni, who was in Texas as part of a vocations visit for his community at St. Michael's Abbey in Orange, California. Please listen in for some sparkling insights that will supercharge your prayer life and that you can weave into your family catechesis on prayer, especially as Lent approaches. Remember, pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

Carpe Momentum! On Tuesday, February 15, 2022, host Trey Cashion urged us to follow the advice of St. Josemaria and seize the ordinary moments with our children in order to connect them with the life of faith. Trey used the essay, "Teaching the Faith in the Family: Guidelines from St. Josemaria Escrivá," by Dr. Michelle Dolz, to talk about how parents should be models of holiness as called for by the Second Vatican Council; who lead people to Christ—especially in the family—one by one; based on their baptismal call as priests, prophets, and kings to go and proclaim the Good News. The family is the essential cell of society and it is within the family that human persons are introduced to the Gospel and to relationship with Christ in an environment of caring, nurturing, sacrificial self-gift by the parents for their children. Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, hosts Trey and Stephanie Cashion recapped Trey's recent appearance on the Catholic Dad Show (https://ablaze.us/the-catholic-dad-show), where Trey was billed as a "Catholic Dad of Genius." We here at the Mystery of Parenthood heartily concur! Give this episode a listen and you'll get a great capsule version of Trey and Stephanie's philosophy of parenting. Also, please check out the Catholic Dad Show and let them know you heard about them on Mystery of Parenthood. Remember, pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

On Tuesday, January 4, 2022, host Trey Cashion used a portion of Archbishop Fulton Sheen's Life of Christ (1958) to move deeper into the Feast of the Epiphany. The visit of the Magi has captured the imagination of generations because it is shrouded in mystery and wonder: the gifts, the star, the anonymous wise men from the East. Yet, as Sheen so cogently shows in his account, the Magi are also types for our encounter with Christ, our own witness of that encounter to the world, and the world's often hateful and harmful response to our witness. Sheen also spends significant space explaining the meaning of the Slaughter of the Innocents and Trey discusses this element of the biblical story as well. Give this episode a listen and then pick up a copy of Sheen's book here: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0385132204/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_PJ363RSPBSE6ZVTYMPF6. Using that link will make an Amazon Smile donation to RED-C! Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you. He will!

Trey Cashion and Thaddeus Romansky finished up their discussion of a Catholic Education Resource Center article by Professor Thomas Lickona. (https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/marriage-and-family/parenting/raising-children-of-character-10-principles.html ) They covered his remaining 5 principles for raising children of character. In the 2004 article, Prof. Lickona intended his principles as guideposts for parents to prioritize character formation, which will then have by-products like academic and extracurricular engagement as well as religious conviction and practice. Here are the ten principles at a glance: Make Character Development a High Priority Be an Authoritative Parent Love Children/Love as communication/Love as sacrifice Teach by Example Manage the Moral Environment Use Direct Teaching to Form Habits and Conscience Discipline Wisely Solve Conflicts Fairly Provide Opportunities to Practice the Virtues, and Foster Spiritual Development. As always, Trey and Thaddeus interwove examples from their own families and lives throughout this energetic discussion.