In a previous episode, Fr. Mike said that all Catholics grow in the same “soil” together, but the fruit we bear is unique. But what is this common soil? What are the essentials for every Catholic Christian?
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
So there are four elements in the soil:
Teachings of the Apostles: Magisterial teaching of the Church, Sacred Scripture, and Tradition.
Communal Life (Fellowship): It’s not just me praying to Jesus. We need to share life somehow.
Breaking of the Bread: This refers to the Mass, not just eating together.
Prayer: There are so many ways to pray as a Catholic, and so many awesome prayers. You can pray the Liturgy of the Hours with the Church, or in your own words, or both. But to be in the soil you have to pray. For a great Liturgy of the Hours app, check out iBreviary.
God wants us to flourish in faith, hope, and love for him and for others. He is the one who makes us grow in holiness, but in order to flourish we have to be nourished by the soil he gave us.