Time Management

Opening Story: Country Mart in Coweta, America

• Host shares a humorous experience at the Country Mart grocery store in Coweta, Oklahoma, a beloved local spot with no self-checkout and bag boys who carry groceries to cars.
• After Mass, dressed in a suit, the host is mistaken for a preacher by four different people (a passerby, a deli customer, the cashier, and a bag boy).
• Jokes about leveraging his "preacher hair" and suit to become the mayor and preacher of Coweta, introducing the concept of "nondenominational Catholic" (a playful term explained as Catholics not being a denomination, derived from Latin de nominae meaning "other name").
• Reflects on the Christian culture of the store, where such assumptions are a kind gesture.

Coweta Anecdote: Natural Family Planning (NFP) Story

• Host recounts a family story about his parents, the first NFP teachers in Oklahoma, teaching the Couple to Couple League’s symptothermal method.
• A humorous moment from a class where a participant mispronounced "coitus" as "Coedes," leading to an ongoing family joke about Coweta (pronounced similarly).
• Mentions his in-laws’ involvement in promoting NFP classes and their eventual move to Coweta, tying it to the town’s significance.

Listener Question: Plenary Indulgence During Sede Vacante

• Listener query: Can a plenary indulgence be received during a sede vacante (when there is no pope), given the condition of praying for the pope’s intentions?
• Hosts ponder without definitive answers, suggesting:
• Prayer is outside linear time, so praying for the next pope or the recently deceased pope’s soul might satisfy the condition.
• Pope Francis’ intentions for the month (published in advance) could still be prayed for.
• No prayer is wasted; God applies it appropriately, even if the target (e.g., a soul in hell or heaven) cannot benefit.
• Encourage canon lawyers or experts to clarify, acknowledging their limited knowledge on the topic.
• Brief mention of Polymarket, a prediction market where bets can be placed on the next pope, highlighting absurd betting trends.

Pilgrimage Promotion

• Promotion of Select International Tours, a long-time sponsor offering pilgrimages to holy sites worldwide for 34 years.
• Visit selectinternationaltours.com for details on their high-quality tours with excellent hotels and guides.

Clarification from Previous Episode

• Correction from a prior episode about papal eligibility: Any baptized Catholic man can theoretically be elected pope, not just clergy.
• Hypothetical first act as pope:
• One host would set a date for Blessed Carlo Acutis’ canonization, expected to be a priority for the next pope.
• Other host jokingly suggests suppressing the Jesuits, quickly clarifying it’s a jest, praising Jesuits like Father Mitch Pacwa and noting their potential as Dominicans.

Main Topic: Time Management for Catholic Dads

• Introduction and Context:
• Host shares a chaotic day (e.g., a cow in the wrong pasture) to humorously underscore the need for time management, the episode’s focus.
• Aimed at Catholic dads balancing work, family, and prayer life.
• Philosophical Understanding of Time:
• Time is a gift from God, not an enemy, akin to grace—available only in the present moment, not to be saved or earned.
• Avoid the mindset of “just getting past this weekend” to reach holiness; every moment is an opportunity for sanctity through fulfilling one’s vocation.
• Busyness does not equal holiness; faithfulness and resignation to divine providence do.
• References a conversation with Dr. Carlo Broussard defining time as “the measurement of change,” emphasizing human agency in shaping incremental changes toward holiness.
• Stewardship of Time:
• Inspired by St. Louis de Montfort’s feast day and Mary’s fiat, time belongs to God and should be wholly available to His will, not divided into “God’s time” and “personal time.”
• Stewardship involves giving 100% of time back to God, not just a portion, mirroring the Trinity’s interplay of love.
• Children are the highest form of stewardship; parents form their souls to return them to God.
• Practical Time Management Principles:
• Act Promptly and Orderly: Inspired by Mary’s haste to visit Elizabeth, act promptly when God’s will is clear. Father James Schall (from The Life of the Mind) states, “Promptness in action flows from love of the good.” Avoid paralysis or using discernment as an excuse for inaction (St. Joan of Arc: “Act, and God will act”).
• Guard and Structure Time: Time management is about saying no to lesser goods to say yes to greater ones. Protect time for intellectual and spiritual growth for yourself, your wife, and children.
• Routines vs. Flexibility: Routines are crucial but should serve love, not become idols. Flexibility increases as habits form, especially with older children, but deviation without established habits risks chaos.
• Calendar as a Reflection of the Soul: Father Schall’s insight: “We do not really believe what we do not live.” A calendar reveals priorities. Examples:
• Daily 3 PM alarm for Divine Mercy hour to reorient toward Christ.
• Scheduling monthly family confessions to ensure regularity.
• Waking up early for prayer and reading, sacrificing comfort for spiritual/intellectual growth.
• St. Alphonsus Liguori’s 12 Steps of Holiness: Focus on one virtue per month (e.g., mercy in April) to build family habits. Articulate and reinforce the virtue in daily interactions (e.g., emphasizing forgiveness during sibling disputes).
• Well-Ordered Family: Suggests setting yearly, monthly, and weekly family goals with family meetings to track progress. Caution against overly businesslike approaches to avoid utilitarian family dynamics.
• Balancing Business Principles and Family:
• Critique of equating business culture with family (e.g., “we’re a family” in workplaces is utilitarian, as employees can be fired, unlike family).
• Distinction: Applying business tools (e.g., goal-setting) to family is valid if ordered toward charity and disinterested service, not utilitarian ends. Every family member has a duty to serve others selflessly (per John Paul II and the Catechism).
• Incremental Change for Holiness:
• Holiness requires incremental changes, not instant sainthood (e.g., can’t bench press 500 pounds without training or become St. Francis overnight).
• Reference to Solid Virtue (prior episode): Focus on amending faults in small, daily increments (e.g., half-day resolutions) rather than lifelong commitments to avoid overwhelm.

Practical Tips for Catholic Dads

• Prioritize Spiritual and Intellectual Time: Block off time for prayer and reading, even if it means sacrifices (e.g., earlier wake-ups, shorter lunches).
• Set Family Virtue Goals: Adopt St. Alphonsus Liguori’s model to focus on one virtue monthly, reinforcing it in family language and actions.
• Use a Calendar: Schedule critical spiritual activities (e.g., confession, prayer) to ensure they aren’t neglected.
• Establish Routines with Flexibility: Build habits early, especially for prayer, but allow prudent flexibility as children grow and habits solidify.
• Avoid Busyness as a Holiness Metric: Focus on faithfulness and love, not task volume.
• Act Promptly: When God’s will is clear, act without delay, trusting He will guide.

Drink of the Episode

• Glentauchers 8-Year-Old Scotch (Scotch Malt Whisky Society, “Smokehouse on the Beach”)
• From the Campbeltown region, with a coastal, briny flavor, blending Islay and Highland characteristics.

Closing

• Invitation to join the hosts’ October pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy, to see Blessed Carlo Acutis, St. Francis, and St. Clare (incorrupt saints). Assisi is a highlight, with two days planned for a deeper experience.
• Dedication of the episode to the hosts’ wives, Pamela and Hailey.
• Cheers to Jesus!

Sponsors: Select International Tours (selectinternationaltours.com)

Recommended Reading:

• The Intellectual Life by Sertillanges
• The Life of the Mind by Father James Schall
• The 12 Steps of Holiness by St. Alphonsus Liguori
• Well-Ordered Family by Mike O’Connor (TAM Publishing)
• Solid Virtue by Father Balakius (Coresu Press)

Note: Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their calendars and share feedback on time management strategies for Catholic dads.