Fr. Ken Geraci - Spiritual Warfare and Divine Mercy

Fr. Ken Geraci, of the Fathers of Mercy, joins Ginny and Mary Ellen today and fills us in about his latest book, Spiritual Warfare and Divine Mercy, the Weapon for Our Times. Father is a friend of homeschoolers, having spoken at many of our conferences.   Father is an engaging speaker with a gift for converting complex spiritual matters into simple, understandable lessons. And our hosts take advantage of Father’s gift for plain speak to the max. This is a must-listen, for those who want to be a better-equipped homeschooling parent.   Fr. Ken Geraci - Spiritual Warfare and Divine Mercy   If you attended homeschooling conferences through the years know the Fathers of Mercy. An order dedicated to preaching missions, they have been great supporters of Catholic homeschooling and often preached at our conferences.  Fr. Ken Geraci was raised in a Catholic home but was a bit of a late bloomer in practicing his faith. He was an agnostic, then a non-denominational Christian, and finally found his way back to Holy Mother Church. He joined the Fathers of Mercy, headquartered in Kentucky, in 2006 and was ordained in 2012.     Fr. Geraci is the author of two books, "Why Be Catholic," published in 2021 by TAN Books, but today we will speak about his new book, "Spiritual Warfare and Divine Mercy, the Weapon for Our Times" published this year.   Father Geraci asks:  “Is the Church a cruise ship or a warship?” Follow the Captain's orders Know your job and do it with excellence While doing your job, look to see if you can assist others. Do not sink your own ship or shoot at your crewmates. (We see this everywhere today.) Practical Ways to Enter Spiritual Warfare Am I in a state of grace? Do I have a daily plan of prayer? (Moms need reliable habits! 15 minutes of silence for us would be a blessing.) Do I have monthly goals for receiving the sacraments? Do I have a plan for mortification? (Americans are terrible at self-denial.) How do I plan to serve my community? Is There an Absolute Need for Regular Confession? Few Catholics confess regularly, but virtually ALL Catholics receive Communion. Receiving in this manner is a potential sacrilege. (What should moms do when their parishes offer scant availability?)   The Value of Divine Mercy as revealed to St Faustina. Sincere examination of conscience.   Divine Mercy Sunday (Sunday after Easter Sunday) Confession within 20 days and receiving Communion in a state of Grace brings total remission of sin and remits temporal punishment for those sins. It is similar but not the same as a plenary indulgence.   The Value of Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet The rosary is a meditation, while the Chaplet is an action. But we can meditate on the passion of Our Lord while saying the Chaplet.   At the conclusion of the book, Father Geraci reveals that some in the Church preach that hell is empty. Why is this dangerous?   References: Spiritual Warfare and Divine Mercy: The Weapon for Our Times by Fr. Ken Geraci, CPM