Holy Week 2019 (And Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag)

Dear Ones,

Today is Wednesday of Holy Week 2019. 

It has been a good Lenten Season for us. My hiatus from writing was an intentional part of Lent for me. We were not planning on trips to the doctor but our Lent was punctuated with some bouts of the flu and complications associated with it. I suppose, if one has to have the flu, Lent is a good season to have it. Offer it up, count it as a penance, and make it a holy suffering. I was also working on a very important personal project as part of Lent 2019 in preparation for my 65^th birthday on March 20th.

Tomorrow is the beginning of the Triduum … Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter. The Triduum that we celebrate is both a conclusion and a fresh new beginning.

As we enter into this Triduum, and the new beginning contained in the Resurrection of Christ, I want to take the opportunity to tell you about something new that will be unveiled sometime shortly after Easter. I spent several months praying about it. I also spent several months trying to talk myself out of it. The idea kept coming back over and over to haunt me until I came to the conclusion that it was not me generating the reoccurring idea. So I said yes to something that is both a bit scary and exciting.

What is this new thing?

Psalty Catholic is a new YouTube channel that is not yet online. The channel is set up. I have also created several categories of topical playlists that I will be initially working content around.  Psalty Catholic will come online once we begin uploading content to the channel.

Why Psalty Catholic?

This is (like it or not) the Google, YouTube, Twitter, Blogger, (and other social media) Generation. It simply makes sense to use these platforms as a means to promote the faith. It makes sense to use these platforms to encourage others that are seeking answers to questions regarding the Catholic faith. There is also the inherent element of stewardship that concerns using gifts and talents in a way that honors the Giver of the gifts and talents.

Aren’t there other channels already doing the same thing?

There are. Just like there are other Catholic Blogs and numerous Catholic websites. The difference is that I come at this blogging/vlogging thing from the perspective of a convert to Catholicism. Not only a Protestant convert but as one that also happened to be ordained clergy in the Protestant church world.

What are the topical playlists?

There are, at this initial starting point, seven playlists. Let me list them.

1.       Testimonial – This will chronicle my Protestant to Catholic journey.

2.       Oblate Reflections – This series of videos will focus on The Rule of Saint Benedict and how I, as an Oblate of Saint Benedict attempt to integrate the Rule into Twenty-First Century life.

3.       Formulas of Catholic Doctrine – This series will be a short course on key doctrinal beliefs.

4.       The Holy Sacraments – This series will focus on the Seven Sacraments … Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance (Reconciliation), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.

5.       Catholic Social Teaching – In this series we will explore the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

6.       The Holy Rosary (And Other Catholic Prayers and Devotions)

7.       Coffee and the Catechism – This series will highlight material that I will be presenting as part of the Adult Education program at our parish. The Catechism Of The Catholic Church and the Compendium will be our primary curriculum.

Other playlists may very well develop as Psalty Catholic comes about.

This is no small venture and it will take a lot of time and work to flesh out the topical categories mentioned above. That is quite ok. Retirement has its perks. Here a little, there a little, and it will all come together.

Psalty Catholic (Video Format) and Oblate Reflections (Written Articles) will complement each other where material content is concerned. My primary motivation in being on these platforms is to uphold the counsel of Abbot Benedict where he quotes 1 Peter 4:11 … so that in all things God may be glorified. I want you to be encouraged, edified, and perhaps challenged by what you read, see, and hear through these pages and videos. Foremost, I desire that God be glorified through what I am doing. Psalty Catholic is definitely going to add to the retirement adventure!

Psalty Catholic is also on Twitter. I hope you will follow along for brief daily tweets of encouragement.

Our prayer is that each of you may be immensely blessed and your faith deepened as we commemorate the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ and celebrate his Resurrection from the dead this Easter Weekend.

Peace to all,

David