The Real + True Podcast
The Catechism is not a textbook, a collection of ideas, or a set of rules. It is the faithful echo of a God who wishes to reveal himself to us and desires us to respond. Our mission is to pass down and pass along the gift of our faith by creating beautiful, captivating, and relevant content inspired by the Catechism of the Catholic Church. And we are making this content in multiple languages and accessible for free to people all over the world. The Real+True Podcast is part of Real+True, a global initiative of Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) under the patronage of the Holy See. Visit realtrue.org for more information, including videos and other materials to learn more about the Catechism on your own or with your parish.
The Real + True Podcast
Using the Liturgy, Church Documents, and Scripture in Catechesis on Prayer
In this episode of the Real+True podcast, hosts Emily Mentock and Edmund Mitchell explore prayer's wellsprings in the Holy Spirit and the Church. They discuss the use of Church documents, the Catechism, Scripture, and formal prayers in evangelization and catechesis. They also talk about the importance of the liturgy in evangelization and catechesis, and practical steps for making prayer a more profound and personal experience for others. The episode also covers the role of aspiration prayers, the liturgical calendar, and the significance of recognizing God's presence in everyday life.
00:00 - Emily and Edmund discuss learning to pray personally and with the Church, highlighting the Catechism’s four wellsprings of prayer: Scripture, liturgy, the virtues, and Christian living. They share practical tips for encountering Jesus through Scripture and emphasize prayer as a relationship that deepens through the liturgy.
08:47 - The conversation dives deeper into practical ways to help others pray with scripture and liturgy, emphasizing the call-and-response dynamic and the Liturgy of the Hours. These practices can help us even outside of Mass and train our hearts to engage deeply with prayer, Scripture, and the rhythms of the Church’s liturgical life.
17:06 - Emily and Edmund explore aspiration prayers—short, scriptural prayers like “Come, Holy Spirit”—as a way to “pray without ceasing” and integrate prayer into daily life. They discuss teaching these prayers, connecting them to liturgy, and unlocking deeper meaning behind structured prayers to enrich catechesis and evangelization.
27:50 - Emily and Edmund discuss encountering God today through prayer, inspired by Brother Lawrence’s Practice of Presence and the Catechism’s call to embrace the present moment (CCC 2659). They highlight prayer as a journey of the heart, guided by the theological virtues—faith, hope, and love—as the foundation of our relationship with God.
33:52 - The episode ends with a recap of the importance of teaching others to “fish” by leading them to the Church’s wellsprings where Jesus waits. They encourage catechists to revisit these wellsprings, including Church documents, for inspiration and to deepen their own encounter with Christ.
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