Matthew Warner is a lover of God, his wife, his kids, his life, cookies, hot-buttered bread, snoozin’ & awkward (as well as not awkward) silence. He is the founder and CEO of Flocknote, the creator of Tweet Catholic, a contributing author to The Church and New Media book, and writer/founder at The Radical Life. Matt has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M and an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship. He and his family hang their hats in Texas. It was a pleasure to invite Matt to... Read more
How Mary demonstrated humility St. Alphonsus points out that several biblical accounts of Mary’s conduct reveal her humble spirit. It’s a part of humility to serve others. Consider how Mary didn’t hesi- tate to go and serve Elizabeth for three months. For this reason, St. Bernard says: “Elizabeth wondered that Mary should have come to visit her. But still more admirable is that she came not to be ministered to, but to minister.” Those who are humble are retiring, and... Read more
How Mary demonstrated hope in God St. Alphonsus observes that in all the events of Mary’s life recorded in the Gospels, we find that she demonstrated a firm hope in God the Father and in her Son. Mary showed her confident hope in God when she knew that the time for the birth of our Lord approached. For she was driven from even the lodgings of the poor in Bethlehem, and obliged to bring forth her Son in a stable,... Read more
When God seems far away Mary suffered great sorrow when she couldn’t find the boy Jesus for three days. St. Alphonsus says we can learn from the way she suffered in those days how we ourselves can suffer yet have peace. The sorrow of Mary at losing the boy Jesus for a while should serve as a consolation to those souls who are desolate because they no longer enjoy, as they once enjoyed, the sweet presence of their Lord. They... Read more
This week Dynamic Catholic sponsors the CBB giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a copy of Messy and Foolish: : How to Make a Mess, Be a Fool, and Evangelize the World by Matthew Warner (you can read the review here) . I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. The contest starts at midnight tonight EST and will end 12AM EST Friday 03/18 with a winner being announced later that day. Good Luck! a Rafflecopter... Read more
Mary searches for Jesus in Jerusalem St. Alphonsus ponders the anxiety Mary must have felt when she was search- ing for three days before she found young Jesus in the temple. In the second chapter of his Gospel, St. Luke tells us that every year at the Passover feast, the Blessed Virgin used to visit the temple with her spouse, St. Joseph, and Jesus. When her Son was twelve years of age, she went as usual, and when she returned,... Read more
Pope Francis during the 2013 World Youth Day festivities told us he wants us to make a mess. That’s right. And what does that mean? Go out and gets your hands dirty. Do something, anything to build Christ’s church. Don’t be afraid, just do it. Matthew Warner gives us a guide on just how to do that in his book Messy and Foolish: How to Make a Mess, Be a Fool, and Evangelize the World. Matthew tells us early in... Read more
What did Jesus and Mary talk about? Blessed John Henry Newman speculates about the subjects of conversation between Mary and Jesus during the thirty years he lived with her. What was the grand theme of conversation between Mary and her Son but the nature, the attributes, the providence, and the works of Almighty God? Wouldn’t our Lord be ever glorifying the Father who sent him? Wouldn’t he unfold to her the solemn eternal decrees, and the purposes and will of... Read more
Jesus, remember your mother’s immeasurable love Blessed Henry Suso imagines the fond playfulness of mothers with their chil- dren, and asks, in that light, how Mary’s Son could ever possibly deny her request. Exalted Lady of heaven and earth, arise now and be to us a mediatrix who obtains grace from your tender Child, the Eternal Wisdom. And you, Eternal Wisdom, will you deny me anything? Even as I present you before your heavenly Father, so I present your tender... Read more
Jesus was obedient to His mother While other virgins follow the Lamb of God (see Rv 14:4), St. Alphonsus reminds us, the Lamb followed Mary. So great is the authority that mothers possess over their sons that even if they are monarchs, and have absolute dominion over every person in their kingdom, yet never can mothers become the subjects of their sons. It is true that Jesus now in heaven sits at the right hand of the Father. He has... Read more
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