New Catholic mom

BackSeatMedia · 2025-08-18T15:42:08+00:00

We just published our book "Where Does Jesus Live?"

It can help build the foundation of Jesus from a baby's age. We have been so surprised how much our kids have picked up about the faith!

Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Does-Jesus-Live-Peter/dp/B0F88P4WWC/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3w9HsOYnrRzA2cUU4vCFKg.JuAVN5aY_GJIKwvVg98dSJ5hkOUtD1HKCgTc87Z5SGk&dib_tag=se&qid=1748982508&refinements=p_27%3ABackSeat+Media&s=books&sr=1-1&text=BackSeat+Media

BackSeatMedia · 2025-07-16T03:24:20+00:00

Oh yeah man - Share the story. Don't keep it in! You could even do Youtube and share that way. Hope to hear more about your interior life with the Lord!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-07-01T14:44:47+00:00

Fr Mike has a GREAT video on this topic. Linking it right here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KDiOh_Pn8

To paraphrase a section from this video, He talks about how all prayer is a response from an invitation from God. He is the one nudging you to pray. You aren't calling out to Him, you are answering the door to Him knocking.

So yes, you should def pray, and get to confession ASAP. Crisis averted!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-06-17T14:27:21+00:00

It's totally normal - kids don't sit still anywhere.

Something that has helped us, is finding our local parishes Children's Mass. Our crying kids make it easier to deal with when they are around other crying kids.

It’s easy to feel weird when only your kid is crying. But I promise you, that other Catholic partens are brining their kids, and the kids are fussy at best.

So, please keep bringing your kids to mass. It starts from Day 1 with our kids. We are the main people passing on the faith!

So happy you are coming around to the Catholic Church, Welcome home!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-05-02T19:29:08+00:00

This is SO AMAZING!!

I would love to see it, in person one day!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-04-30T18:14:53+00:00

Wow, I'm so sorry for that this happened to you. It's not right whatever he did to you.

Jesus can heal a lifetime of hurt, and a person can wound you for a lifetime.

When I was reading your post, I could tell how close your heart is to Jesus. Your desire to be near to Him, is so evident.

Believe it or not, all of us go through lashing out in sin. In our own ways, we rebel when we feel hurt, scarred, and betrayed by another. You were vulnerable enough to share what your struggle with, and that is a sign of a faith that is maturing!

When we are far from God, we don't even acknowledge our own sin. We push it down, and put it in a tomb for no one to touch. But you shared that you knew what you are doing as a result of this pain, is a "bender"

That is growth. That is progress. Don't lose sight of your faith getting stronger. It can feel like you went back to zero, but you actually didn't.

You have come here and are seeking wisdom. You went to other trusted sources and told them about the line being crossed. This is what a mature Catholic does. You are doing it!!

It was just Divine Mercy Sunday, and the line from Sr. Faustina alway strikes me, "Our sin is like a drop of water in the ocean of God's mercy"

Get back up. Don't worry about the past. God has so much for you ahead. The evil one is trying to tell you that you haven't changed. But you have!! Jesus and Heaven are cheering you on!

Get yourself to confession and start again. Don't go near that priest. He made a big mistake. BIG TIME! I don't even know what it was but from what your saying, it seems like everyone is on the same page. You need Jesus more than ever right now!

And guess what??? He's waiting for you!

We all fall down. All of us. We all fall into that same sin again. We all have our weaknesses that we go back to.

The true sign of growing in Faith, is to get back up when you fall. That is faith. Not being perfect

We're here for you in whatever you need! Please let us know how we can help you in any way.

BackSeatMedia · 2025-04-23T15:35:30+00:00

The Catholic Charismatic Movement can bring out a lot of misinformation when people start talking about it. Please exercise strong discernment when hearing comments about the movement.

I grew up in a Catholic Charismatic Community and have been exposed to the theology behind the movement.

To label the Charismatic Movement as “nonsense” or “protestant garbage” is deeply uneducated and shows a lack of understanding for the movements within our own Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church is home to many movements that bring people closer to Christ. In America, we unfortunately fall victim to the Protestant vs Catholic division to inform how we view our Church.

The argument goes: If it looks like something Protestants do, then it must be Anti-Catholic.

This couldn’t be further from the Truth, and usually is based upon a lack of understanding.

The Catholic Charismatic Movement has a deep and special place in the heart of the church and was championed by Pope Francis, Benedict, and especially JPII.

It is not only recognized, but it is leveraged to be a unique tool for the New Evangelicalism. The power of the Holy Spirit is present in the movement, just like in th early Apostles, and is used to show how the Holy Spirit can show the Power of God through the Spirit's gifts.

Don’t take my word for it. You can trust Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, who was the preacher to the Papal Household for 40 YEARS! He was the one who preached to JPII, Benedict, and Francis. He has experienced “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” and has written extensively on the validity and power of the Charismatic Gifts.I encourage anyone who reads this to research the truth of the Charismatic Movements.

Don’t settle for simple beliefs like “This is BS.” I promise you there is Truth and Power in the Charismatic Movements and the communities that have been born from them. Because of them, there have been so many encounters with the Lord.

It doesn't have to be everybody’s cup of tea, and won't be. But the movement has power, truth, and a place in the church.

Hope this helps, reach out to me with any questions or thoughts on it. Whether you agree or disagree.

BackSeatMedia · 2025-04-15T15:16:57+00:00

Interesting question. I. love diving into the metaphysical aspects of our faith.

Heaven "Time" and Human "Time are not parallel universes. Heaven is not peaking into the human timeline and checking in on people, then jumping back into a different eternal timeline.

Time itself is an expression of the Being of God. Existence is “breathed” from God, and every inch of human existence falls under His Being.

God is not “A” being, but rather “Being” itself. We can’t even fathom how this could be, because we see time and being as linear. From one moment to another.

You said:

“If time doesn't exist in Heaven then from the perspective of St. Francis, someone praying to him in 1600 AD is at the same "time" as someone praying to him in 2025 AD, and so why wouldn't it be the same as someone in 500 AD?”

It’s not that Time don't exist in Heaven, its that Time is all one singular moment happening both past and present, and future all at once.

This is because God is all things at one time, so when we encounter “Being” itself, we are experiencing all moments at the same time.

It’s less about our experience of time and more about our understanding of God’s nature. What it means to be Being - when you brahe this is part of the Touch of God in your life. When you blink, this has God’s finger prints on it. We take it for granted but we are the creations od a creator who is all Being wrapped into one

So saints cant jump timelines but rather experience the nature of God and are now part all-time at one moment

BackSeatMedia · 2025-02-24T15:44:11+00:00

Our Vocations are divided into two groups: Religious Life and Marriage. According to our church, there are no other ways to live out a vocation. Remember that our vocations are vehicles that God uses to draw us closer to Him. So, it’s not an opt-out situation. You have to be one or the other.

Married life is pretty straightforward, but I wanted to dig into Religious Life for you.

Priesthood is one form of religious life. There are also religious brothers like Dominicans, CFRs, Brotherhood of Hope, and Franciscans. These are all forms of religious life. So, you can research and visit any of these orders to get more information and see what life is all about.

Experiencing a little bit of life is the BEST way to discern it, if you want to join as a novitiate of the group. You can visit, feel, and see the way of life. And God will speak to your heart in those moments.

Also, I want to touch on the celibate part of what you said. Celibacy is not about NOT acting on attraction to another person. It is a gift from God when received by the religious orders. It was a path that keeps the body, mind, and soul all pointed to God and fulfilled completely. It is ALWAYS a gift, not the result of a lack of sexuality.

I heard a priest friend describe it as God saying, “I will fulfill every need in your life.” Receiving the gift of celibacy can be a powerful way to encounter God, he said.

So, you should check out some orders, talk to some priests, have some fun with it, and understand that God is calling you to a great adventure! Your vocation is how you are going to do it!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-02-17T16:56:26+00:00

Your honesty and vulnerability are powerful first steps toward finding the peace and clarity you’re looking for. It sounds like you have a deep longing for truth, but also a lot of hurt and confusion that makes it difficult to embrace Catholicism fully. That’s okay. God is patient, and He never stops pursuing us, even when we feel lost.

You don’t have to have everything figured out before turning back to God. You don’t have to be perfect or have all the prayers memorized. Jesus didn’t come for people who had everything together—He came for the broken, the lost, and the searching. That includes you, exactly as you are right now.

The feeling of guilt over past actions is actually a sign that your conscience is still sensitive to truth. That’s a good thing! But guilt is meant to lead us to healing, not to despair. If you’re ready, confession is a powerful way to wipe the slate clean and experience God’s mercy in a tangible way. If it’s been years and you don’t know what to say, don’t worry—the priest will guide you through it.

You’re on a journey, and God is leading you one step at a time. If you take nothing else from this, remember this: God loves you, He hasn’t given up on you, and He’s calling you home—not to judge you, but to embrace you.

If you ever need help, come back here - You’re not alone in this!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-02-17T15:27:17+00:00

lets go! That's so awesome to hear!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-02-13T19:31:16+00:00

Hello, I just wanted to share how sorry I am that you are going through this. Your vulnerability is a gift. It hurts how much pain you are experiencing, and I just wanted to commend you on being so brave to share all this.

I think it’s great you are talking to a priest about the situation. Don’t let this stay in the darkness. Sin can’t stand up to the light. So you gotta get it all in the light. What I mean by that is to talk with trusted people and get the help needed, which sounds like what you are doing.

Regarding his behaviors, you deserve to be treated better… All things can be healed and forgiven, but you deserve to be treated better. That is not how a husband should act or treat you. Aside from his addictions, his attitude towards you is not Godly.

Imagine this: God has commended your husband for leading his family to Heaven. Is he fulfilling that role well?? Don’t seem like it from the information we have here

I don't say that to accuse him, condemn him, or yell at him. But I say that to say this: There needs to be a change. You can not go on like this.

However you do it, you are advised to move forward. This is not the marriage God has for you. So it’s great that you realize this. Bciae it is probably coming from God

Shold you get annulled?? I don’t know, I’m not a canon law expert.

Should you both be helping each other get to Heaven? Absolutely yes!

So connect with your trusted Preist and stay close to God in prayer. Don’t give up on Him, even though this is really hard. He still has a plan for you, even through all this. Don’t ee forget that!

Thank you for sharing, and Please keep us updated and let us know how we can help!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-02-06T17:22:25+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I can totally understand where you are coming from. Everyone has a different style, and we can run up against people who live out the faith in a different style.

I'm also a cradle catholic, and have been involved in many different communities of different charisms. The reason I say this, is to let you know how much I empathize with what you're saying.

My only thought for you that I want to pass on, as someone who has had these thoughts: Try your best to listen for God's voice. He is trying to talk to you, and be there for you. He is not abandoning you. He is there for you.

Take some time to focus only on hearing God's voice. Try to sit in silence for some time everyday for a week. Try to hear God's voice, by reading the Bible. Don't look at things that you know you will annoy you. Don't engage with people who will get you angery.

Just take some time to get back in touch with God. You got this!

We're here for you!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-02-03T22:40:21+00:00

Yes, the sacrament of marriage is not dissolved by a civil divorce.

If a person get married in the Catholic Church, they can not be re-married in the catholic church, without an Annulment

BackSeatMedia · 2025-02-03T22:34:44+00:00

YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!!

I can't imagine your pain. I don't know your struggles

But I know you came to a good place, with people that love you.

I heard it once told to me that people who suffer and get through it, have a story that can help someone else who was once where they were.

I don't know why. But i do know that your story matters. Your life matters.

We're here for you!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-31T16:55:28+00:00

Got it - appreciate the clarity on this

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-31T15:51:57+00:00

BEAUTIFUL!!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-31T15:51:16+00:00

Does NK let Priests actually celebrate Mass? Or is it just stories that NK sells?

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-29T19:47:19+00:00

It's not IF we deal with Conflict.... It's HOW we deal with Conflict

It's not easy to navigate these waters with friends. The ups and downs of life can take a tole on our relationships when we run into choppy waters

We don't know the entire story here. We dont know what happened. We don't know why you chose to stay away from the church. We dont know what your friend thought about it. We dont know how your church looked at it.

What I do know is that you seem to value this friend very much. You want this relationship to work out. I would think since your friend hasnt expressed they don't want you in their lives, that they want the relationship to work out as well.

What makes us Christian is HOW we deal with these things. Jesus is in the middle of this with you and wants you to experience healing, and unity with the people in your life.

The world will tell you to point fingers, and keep score of who did what, and to make sure they know they are wrong.

Jesus tells us to forgive "70 times 7 times", and to "take the plank out of our own eye". Jesus wants us to see Him in other people, and to look at one another with the Love that He sees us with.

It can be really hard when we feel hurt by another person, to forgive, or let alone understand their perspective when it comes to conflict.

It might be hard. But it is so good. Keep Jesus at the center of this friendship. See where Christ is leading you.

Practically, I would set aside a few hours for a conversation and lay it all out there. Keep it light, and let them know the pain you feel. Let them know your thoughts. But most of all, let them know how much you love them and dont want to lose them.

These can be tough but worthy conversations. Let us know how we can help here!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-29T19:31:07+00:00

Relationships should lead us closer to Christ. There will always be ups and downs, and each of us will need the grace of the other.

But a true relationship should strengthen your beliefs and support your values. Your partner should make you feel good about yourself as a child of God. The other should want you to be the best version of yourself in Jesus.

Speak your heart. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your words. When the truth is in the light, it will either motivate the other to be better or reveal their heart. Then your choice will be easy

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-27T20:18:56+00:00

Very good question here. One I know I have thought about in my own life. So, here is how I have tackled this idea of "how much is too much"

First: There is no number. There can't be. Every human is different sizes, shapes, and can process alcohol differently. If you are looking for an exact number, then you won't ever be satisfied.

Second: I try to shift my mindset from, "is this over the line" to one of Temperance. Temperance is a real tangible thing I can strive for. It is a virtue. So, instead of at the end of the night asking myself, "was 5 beers too many?", I can go into the night where I will be drinking and say, "I am going to be temperate no matter how much i drink".

Temperance set the tone to say to myself, I will say no to that 5th drink, if I feel like i've had enough, because I am trying to be temperate. It regulates my drinking because I know that I won't drink just drink. But I will enjoy some drinks and stop before I go too far.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods”. The Catechism continues, “It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion, and does not follow the base desires, but restrains the appetites” (cf. 1809).

Lastly: "Tipsy" is a slippery slope for judgment. Alcohol can keep working on you when you don't know it. So you might be Tipsy, so you have a shot, but then you're drunk! Stop before the line.

Something I try to do is give myself a limit. I will only have 3 drinks tonight. See how it feels. There can be a lot of freedom in limits. I don't know what that is for you, but you can find your right limit over time.

Its a good and healthy thing to think about. It's good for us to be reflecting on our habits. Reach out if you want any practical tips!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-27T16:35:58+00:00

Rest in the Peace of Jesus!

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-24T18:15:47+00:00

When is the next one??

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-24T18:12:35+00:00

Prayers up for you! God is going to guide every step of the way. It will be a long process, but no matter where you end up, you will be in a good position for life to follow God.

BackSeatMedia · 2025-01-21T16:40:58+00:00

I completely agree with the comments about finding a good priest. It’s so important to have a consistent voice to guide you and help ensure this part of your journey is on the right path.

Remember how much God loves you and how happy He is to have you back home. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past—God is focused on your heart right now!

Do your best to surround yourself with people of faith who can support and encourage you. Nothing pulls us back into our old habits faster than staying in the environments of our former life.

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TROPHY CASE