UPON THIS ROCK
Pax et bonum!
In 1205, Jesus asked St. Francis of Assisi to
“go and rebuild my house which is falling down.” Francis thought Jesus meant to repair the church building. In time Francis discovered God meant him to repair the living church,
the Body of Christ, us, His children.
Seek & repair your inner self, the living church…
Our Family is the Domestic Church
Family & Catholic Culture
The Domestic Church (family) is the foundation of the living church (us) where our conscience is formed to help make good decisions/choices to be able to exist peacefully in a secular world full of challenges. The Domestic Church is where we teach and practice Christian values learned by living our Catholic faith.
Treating each other with love and respect is the best way to teach such values.
" Command and teach these things." 1 Timothy 4:11
Parents are responsible to shelter, feed & clothe their children in a safe and positive home environment. In addition to these basic responsibilities, God calls parents to educate their children in the light of faith to "Love one another. Just as I have loved you" John 13: 34. This crucial lesson of love prepares children to find, develop and nurture caring relationships with God, self and others.
Children cannot fully comprehend what Love is on their own. They need to see it and hear it from others, especially their family, the Domestic Church. Everyone, especially children, need to feel secure and loved in order to thrive. To be able to teach Love, families need to know and understand all about God first, because... "GOD is LOVE" 1 John: 7-9
Ideally, family (the Domestic Church) is where our faith, our world and God take shape. It is where we learn one of the most important lessons in life - to be nurturing and caring people, with the ability to give and receive LOVE. The family teaches these crucial lessons by treating each other with kind and respectful behavior and examples.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
1 Corinthians 13: 4-5.
“For this reason, the family home is rightly called the ‘domestic church,’ a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and Christian charity.” Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 1666
Blessed are the families that put God first and provide a secure and loving home environment. Periodically evaluate the foundation of your Domestic Church seeking to enhance any weak areas.
"The home is the first school of Christian life and "a school for human enrichment.” CCC 1657
The Domestic Church as your School of Life
Family & Catholic Culture
We live in an age where dysfunctional and fractured families are more common than ever before. Research indicates that 50% of marriages, today, end in divorce mainly because there is a lack of understanding the importance of love by one or both partners. Many parents and children wander through life struggling with emotional wounds inflicted by being exposed/raised in broken homes lacking or not understanding love.
"For I hate divorce, says the LORD God of Israel."
Malachi 2:14-16
What becomes of children from broken or unhappy homes that are not provided the opportunity to learn the spiritual attitudes necessary to support healthy relationships with self, God and others? What is the probable outcome of children from a family that is uninformed, unhealthy, broken, fractured, incomplete, unloving or maybe non-existent?
Fortunately, many times, God puts other people in their path so they are able to recognize and learn to love. Regrettably, other times they struggle to survive in unloving circumstances. Traumatized souls sometimes end up experimenting in risky behaviors such as substance/alcohol abuse, promiscuity, developing violence and anger issues or tolerating abusive relationships, all in a desperate attempt to feel loved.
Family research indicates that many types of negative inherited wounds are cumulative and contaminate future relationships with the same problems learned in the family of origin, thus creating a cycle of unhealthy relationships simply by not knowing how to love self, others and God. Children with tender hearts are forever scarred by the deterioration of a broken or negligent home environment. Our society has created generations of wounded or neglected children trying to cope with feelings of insecurity, insignificance and abandonment issues. They seem confused and unsure when it comes to matters of loving self and others. Parents, please teach your children how to find the source of love (God) first.
"But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you."
Matthew 6:33
Our very being: our heart, mind and soul crave to love and be loved. And since God is love, we sometimes fail to understand and believe that what we all crave is GOD.
"You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1
Eventually and in spite of our family history, we are all responsible for educating/correcting/developing our own spiritual selves. Do not disregard or try to forget past bad experiences or relationships. Instead use CHALLENGING life experiences as history for becoming strong and resilient people. Embrace POSITIVE life experiences as encouragement in moving forward, never backwards.
It is never too late to adjust or change our ways to make room for Love. God desires our life to be filled with Love, peace and joy. He sent His Son Jesus to teach us how to do this.
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
What about domestic churches with single parents?
When family is grounded in God, love is normal and natural.
If you were raised in a healthy family environment with one parent that inspired you to put God (love) first, you are truly blessed.
“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Matthew 25:21
Upon This Rock Ministry
Your Domestic Church as Ministry
Upon this Rock is a ministry to help families build a strong and caring domestic church by encouraging a deep spiritual life within the boundaries of Catholicism.
Upon this Rock shares basic Catholic faith beliefs to ground your domestic church and connect to the larger community of believers. Below are multiple website links with information & resources to help discover/strengthen your faith and RENEW, REPAIR and REBUILD your house, the domestic church.
Families are forever. We do not outgrow our family responsibilities. The responsibility just migrates to and from each generation (parents to children, children to parents and extending to grandparents and others). We need the proper tools to assist us in building strong family foundations. We are all teachers and we are all students throughout our entire lives and frequently after death. Our family history and experiences (good and bad) form us as individuals, as do our faith beliefs. Our spiritual responsibility is to grow from all our experiences. With God as our Father, we are blessed with good experiences and are able to grow and be resurrected from bad experiences. This is what our spiritual journey is all about.
"Come, follow me" Matthew 4:19
We may seem different from each other, but ultimately, we are all related to the same family of God and He, as our Father and head of our household, loves all of us dearly. He desires for us to thrive together in an environment of love, peace and joy.
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" - Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Steps 1,2 and 3 below, followed by website links, provide information that will assist your spiritual journey to
Renew, Repair & Rebuild your domestic church.
“If God is for us, who can be against us” Romans 8:31
In His service,
Upon this Rock contributors
Steps to Renew, Repair & Rebuild
First - RENEW INTERNALLY
RENEWING absolutely needs to start first with our own lives. We cannot change our past experiences, but we can gain wisdom from them. We cannot change other people, but we can definitely change ourselves & become living examples to other people.
St. Augustine: Man Cannot Hope To Find God Unless He First Finds Himself
Tether yourself to God our Father, be grounded in Jesus Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to transform you.
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
2 Corinthians 13:14
Tether yourself to God, our Father... Our Catholic Church is unique in that it was founded by His Son, Jesus Christ, and is sacramentally Christian in nature. Utilize the sacrament of confession to cleanse your soul, repent and reconcile with our Father.
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
ACTS 3:19
Seek a priest to hear your confession. Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation and asked his apostles (first ordained priests) to help heal His flock with this command:
Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”
John 20:22–23
St. Francis of Assisi writes, “Sin is shameful only when we commit it; when it has been converted by confession and repentance it becomes honorable and salutary."
Cleanse your soul first with Confession. Then, be grounded in Jesus Christ through the Eucharist. The Mass is the main and and most powerful Catholic prayer in our Church. At Mass you enter unto sacred ground and come heart to heart with God. Talk to Him. Thank Him. Tell Him your concerns. He can hear your thoughts. Allow yourself to be drawn into relationship with Him. No one knows and loves you more than He does. When you are internally cleansed from Confession, receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is the next step and perfect nourishment to continue your journey...
"Unless you eat my body and drink my blood, there is no life in you”
John 6:53
Read, study and ask the Holy Spirit to transform you. Meditate on God’s word (Scripture) and pray using your preferred devotional methods. Our Catholic faith has many devotions to assist your prayer life.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" John 14: 25-26
Second - REPAIR INTERNALLY
Ruth Institute. The Sexual Revolution has harmed millions of people with distorted views on what authentic love really is. Perhaps you can relate or know someone that has experienced the symptoms of: an abandoned spouse, an unhealthy relationship, a woman who regretted her abortion, a child impacted by divorce, someone struggling with sexual identity, or someone dealing with gender confusion. This site focuses on Christian sexual ideals with 3 concepts: Sound Thinking, Facts and Survivor's Stories.
"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed." Psalm107:29
This site is for those seeking to understand the painful wounds created from the effects of unhealthy/divorced and dysfunctional families. Specific to adult children of divorce is the book by Catholic author, Leila Miller with PDF copy on this website titled, Primal Loss, which has helped many process the wounds of family brokenness. Families are supposed to be forever. When divorce happens, children are the ones that become confused and suffer most profoundly by feeling abandoned, insignificant and insecure. Our children are not disposable. Neither is marriage. Nurture your Domestic Church.
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
John 15:12-13
Retrouvaille is a lifeline for marriages... a program to help couples heal and renew their hurting marriages.
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8
Rachel's Vineyard Ministries is an American organization offering weekend retreats and recommended reading for women who have had abortions and for men who believe they have been hurt by abortion. It is named after Rachel in the Bible, who weeps "for her lost children".
"LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me". Psalm 30:2-3
Avoid entering into relationships that endanger families. Education, information & assistance.
"Be not afraid." Isaiah 41:10
For men and women who experience same-sex attractions and those that love them.
"Light shall shine out of darkness,"
2 Corinthians 4:6
Calix Society for alcohol/substance abuse
Calix is an association of alcoholics, drug addicts, their family members and friends affected by addiction, who are maintaining their sobriety through participation in their Catholic faith and a 12 Step program.
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control."
2 Timothy 1:7
A Catholic oriented 3-year addiction program offering a source of hope and salvation for many dependent on drugs, alcohol and distractions while searching for meaning in their lives. This program is free of charge and accepts men ages 18-40 and women 18-30 for a minimum 3-year journey.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
Third - REBUILD INTERNALLY
Make the time to explore the websites below to build and better understand your role in living with true Catholic faith and identity.
Free convert online instruction in the Catholic faith or a refresher course for Catholics,
For lapsed Catholics seeking to come home,
"Seek and you shall find" Matthew 7:7
- You are on your way into a Catholic Journey to enhance self and your domestic church. Invite the Holy Spirit to accompany you. Remember, you need to feed yourself first before you can feed your domestic church and others.
- When you put God first, you will discover authentic meaning and purpose to your life; you will appreciate and use your God-given gifts generously; ultimately, you will find and appreciate your true self. This is also known as the "born again" experience. For Catholics, the "born again" experience never ends - it is only the beginning.
- As you continue your spiritual journey, your personal relationship with Jesus and family bonds will strengthen. The journey is on-going. Keep seeking and keep growing your faith. The Catholic journey never ends, it just blossoms, until He lovingly, and at last, calls us home.
- May you have a blessed and God-transforming journey.
“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”.
Matthew 7:8
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God" Matthew 6:33
The Bulldog Catholic: Father Mike Schmitz, popular and well respected in helping form Catholic faith thoughts with inquiring minds. Short videos with multiple topics of Catholic interest via YouTube.
is the largest Catholic apologetics and evangelization organization in North America. They are lay people devoting full time efforts to promoting the Catholic faith through books, tracts, tapes, radio, magazines and parish seminars. If you have a Catholic question, they have the Catholic answer.
RELEVANT CATHOLIC RADIO STATION
Relevant Radio provides programming that speaks to the human condition, helping to bridge the gap between faith and relevant everyday life. The station produces a variety of popular programs to help strengthen your inner life, clarify Catholic questions, addressing family issues, discussions regarding country, world and social issues viewed through a Catholic lens. Call in if you have questions or need a bit of encouragement. Click on the link above to listen or to find your local radio station.
Word on Fire Ministries is a Catholic media organization founded by Bishop Robert Barron that uses digital and traditional media to introduce Catholicism to the broader world. Interesting sermons, podcasts and gospel reflections.
ALETEIA is a worldwide network providing daily content designed to inspire readers in their Catholic spirituality, lifestyle, world news and culture.
ASCENSION PRESENTS - Strengthen your faith, get answers to tough questions and discover truth with informative and relatable Catholic YouTube videos by authors like (Bulldog)
Fr. Mike Schmitz and company.
Simply Catholic mission is to help Catholics know and love the Lord and his Church so that they may be equipped to share their Catholic faith with others.
"He will teach us His ways" Micah 4:2
St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers is an informal network of Christian men under the patronage of St. Joseph. The primary mission of St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers is to help men live out their vocations as husbands and fathers. The site is filled with solid information and great resources for dads.
Community of women encouraging and supporting one another in the vocation of Catholic motherhood. This is a website for sharing and learning about parenting and faith issues. Some highlights include: recipes, traditions, holy day and holiday ideas, home management, kids’ activities, and motivational tips pages; you can submit your ideas or find out new tips.
RADIANT is a resource that encourages Catholic women in their 20s and 30s to step into their identity in Christ and embrace the mission God has entrusted to them. Articles on spirituality,
Relationships and culture.
E5Men is a site for men to help husbands and wives live the truth of Ephesians 5: "Husbands love your wives, wives love your husbands."
Good Catholic parenting information & resources. Maybe you’re a new parent and you’re feeling slightly overwhelmed at the task of raising little people and building a domestic church. Perhaps friend, siblings, or cousins of yours are new to this parenting thing and you want to help them out.
Catholic Digest is an American Roman Catholic monthly magazine founded in 1936. A simple and easy read, Catholic Digest gives you the tools you need to feed your faith life, nurture your relationships, care for your family, and bring the light of Christ to others.
At Dynamic Catholic they are passionate about helping you discover, celebrate and become all that God created you to be. Here on their YouTube channel, you will find tons of videos to help you become a better version of yourself.
Be Bold – Be Catholic
They will know we are Christians by our love- John 13:35
ROMAN CATHOLIC MAN
Roman Catholic Man is a website with everything needed to inspire and train men who seek the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. Of interest on this site is GUIDE TO CONFESSION, CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS AND PRAYERS and articles on current social events.
The Wild Goose Ministry is a part of Franciscan Pathways, a non-profit outreach of the Franciscan Friars of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Third Order Regular. It is a 14-part online video series on discovering a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit (aka, wild goose). You can watch free of charge or donate for digital streaming. Highly recommended to feed or jump start your spiritual life.
Living out the Gospel in challenging times. This site shares Franciscan values that guide their spirituality and determine the work they do in the public sector with an emphasis on care for creation, peace-making, poverty and human rights.
Multiple ways to encounter spirituality via prayer, help with decision making, articles on contemplating God in the real world and so much more. Sign up for daily mini retreats.
SACRED SPACE
This is a ministry of the Irish Jesuits. You can make a "Sacred Space" in your day, and spend ten minutes praying as you sit front of your computer, with the help of on-screen guidance and scripture chosen specially every day. It's like having a ten-minute online retreat at your disposal every day!
Work of the Holy Angels - View this site to learn all about angels. Interesting page on Angel Stories; Catechesis on the Angels; Commonly asked Questions on the Angels - Angels in the Writing of Saints and Praying with the Angels.
MY CATHOLIC LIFE
This website posts all the daily Mass readings plus reflections on the Gospel for a deeper meditation on the Word of God. “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life”. John 6:68
"those who seek me diligently find me" Proverbs 8:17
GOOD CATHOLIC – Learn, live and share your faith. Numerous articles, podcasts and videos or purchase streaming series on various Catholic topics.
Inspiring all Catholics in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life. Sign up for their daily email called "The Loop" that recaps the big issues of the day from a fresh Catholic perspective.
features daily Mass and rosary for shut-ins as well as praying the litanies, novenas and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. EWTN presents various Catholic speakers, Vatican news and programs to aid in Catholic faith development. A complete program is listed on their website.
CATHOLIC CULTURE
This site is interesting if you like to follow cultural news on a global level. It tries to organize many of its news features briefly out front. The "What You Need to Know" features quick hits about important subjects for a quick read with option for additional reading. They review over 500 Catholic web sites annually to let you know what's out there - both what to look at, and what to avoid. If you want to learn more about your Catholic Faith - it's doctrine, history, and what is happening in the Church today - this is the site for you!
America's Catholic Television Network® CatholicTV is a beacon of Hope and a unique Herald of the simple, yet profound Message of Jesus Christ. Watch or listen to various programs. Schedule listed on website.
The Catholic League is the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization protecting and defending the Catholic Church. Motivated by the letter and the spirit of the First Amendment, the Catholic League works to safeguard both the religious freedom rights and the free speech rights of Catholics whenever and wherever they are threatened. When slanderous assaults are made against the Church, the Catholic League hits the newspapers, television, and radio talk shows defending the right of the Church to promote its teachings with as much vigor as any other institution in society.
SHALOM WORLD - The YouTube channel broadcasts spiritual and religious programs, Holy Mass, documentaries, animations, music videos, concerts, conferences, events and other programs relevant to the Catholic Church.
"if you love one another" John 13:35
Our Sunday Visitor is a Catholic publisher serving millions of Catholics globally through its publishing, offertory, and communication services.
SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS– Catholic books, music and apostolates to enhance teaching the faith. Supplemental videos and teaching aids by teachers, for teachers and home schoolers.
CATHOLIC ACTION FOR FAITH & FAMILY
Storm heaven with prayer and become one of a million Catholics praying the rosary on the first of each month to besiege Heaven with prayer, and to spread the Light of Truth throughout America and the world.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - USCCB - Find vast information regarding the bible, prayer, sacraments and much more on this website. You can also subscribe to daily email Mass readings with video reflections.
Live Action is a leading national pro-life advocacy and human rights organizations in America, dedicated to education and campaigns for ending abortion and inspiring a culture that respects and defends life.
THE BIBLE IN A YEAR YOUTUBE.COM
Fr. Mike Schmitz walks you through the entire Bible in 365 episodes, 20-25 minute segments, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way.
THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), sums up, in book form, the beliefs of the Catholic faithful.
The Catechism in a year podcast – COMING SOON
the Holy Spirit helps us pray Romans 8:26
BEGINNING CATHOLIC - The beginner's guide to a life of faith -
Starting points, common questions, Catholic prayers, sacraments and so much more starting from the beginning and following through with next steps focusing on important points.
LECTIO DIVINA – Reading and studying the bible in a very focused manner, literally divine reading as a way of becoming immersed in the Scriptures very personally.
DIVINE OFFICE – aka -Liturgy of the Hours - From ancient times the Church has had the custom of celebrating the liturgy of the hours each day. In this way the Church fulfills the Lord’s precept to pray without ceasing. Pray all the hours using this site.
The rosary is a scripture-based prayer based on the events of Jesus Christ’s life. Rosary beads are used to guide one through the four mysteries. This site provides details.
NOVENAS - A Novena is an ancient devotion that consists of 9 days of prayer. Novenas are often prayed in preparation for a feast day or for a specific intention. Many cultures pray a novena for 9 consecutive days after the death of a loved one. Popular novenas include the Surrender Novena and Mary Undoer of Knots. Read more on this site.
DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET
How to pray the chaplet of divine mercy. Rosary beads and basic Catholic prayers are used.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS – Typically practiced during Lent -
pray continually;give thanks in all circumstances -Thessalon
THE MASS - is the main and most powerful Catholic prayer of thanksgiving and seeking God. As your prayer life grows and you enter more deeply in the Eucharistic prayer, you will find the spiritual energy of grace to sustain, fortify and joyfully renew, repair and rebuild your Christian outlook. Pax et bonum!
Have you ever gone to adoration? Have you tried, but felt unsure or uncomfortable with the silence? This Life Teen site provides a beginners guide with a list of 5 ways to approach adoration.
This site helps you explore answers to questions you may encounter on your Spiritual Journey with:
Blogs, Videos and Podcasts.
Surrender Novena instrumental version
Be not afraid to encounter Him. He has been waiting for you... "Be not Afraid" by Catholic artists
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