On Saturday, I woke up at 7:00 a.m. and had an unusual thought: I could get to 7:30 Mass.
After about ten minutes of hemming and hawing, I got up, got dressed, and headed out the door.
As I was walking to Mass, I wondered what had made me get up and go. Honestly, I had kind of forgotten that the 7:30 Saturday Mass even existed. Then it hit me:
A few days earlier, I had watched the Godsplaining video about why we attend Sunday Mass. In the video, Fr. Pine made a side comment that it had taken a while for him to begin attending Saturday Masses since they were so early in the morning (and Saturdays are out of the Monday-to-Friday rhythm), but once he started attending, it became a mainstay for him. The other host responded that Saturday Masses are his favorite, since they’re for Mary. I think that this little exchange, probably 40 seconds out of the 30-minute video, was the reason that the 7:30 Mass even came to mind, and the reason I was there.
While there, I ran into a beloved friend and his two little kids and enjoyed a lovely catch-up and a coffee — all before 8:15 AM. As I was walking to the park, I was struck by the realization that a quick comment in a YouTube video not only stuck with me, but actually altered my behavior that morning.
Which got me thinking…
How else is the content I consume shaping me in ways I don’t even notice?
So I went back through my Spotify and YouTube’s recently played to see what had captured my attention last week. I could see how my thoughts drove me to consume certain content, and how that content impacted how I moved through the rest of that day. And the patterns were clear: in moments of rest and leisure, I reached for things that uplifted and enlightened me. In moments of stress or frustration, I was much more likely to reach for a YouTube short (that’s what happens when you have no Instagram or TikTok) or a podcast to distract me or tell me what to do. And the fruit of those decisions was clear:
For example, right now I’m reading The Seven Storey Mountain, Thomas Merton’s spiritual autobiography. Throughout the book, he talks about moments in his life that eventually led him from climbing the corporate ladder as a banker in Manhattan to becoming a Trappist monk in Kentucky. As I read his story, there are moments on almost every page when I pause and think, Oh wow, I feel the Lord trying to convert me in this way too. Reading that book draws me closer to God. It is also beautifully written and surprisingly funny.
Similarly, I’ve become a huge fan of the Emma M. Lion books. They are the warmest-hug book series I’ve ever encountered, and I’m obsessed. I love the character of Emma, who is walking through really difficult circumstances with tremendous joy, levity, hope, and humor. Her resilience and confidence deeply impact the people around her, and reading these books makes me lighter and happier. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
But last week I also had a couple of very anxious and stressful days. In moments of overwhelm, I found myself listening to podcasts about anxiety, discernment, and decision-making. The problem was that many of those podcasts offered things like “five steps to take when you can’t make a decision.” Instead of helping, they were making me more stressed with additional actions to take and suggestions that made me question if I even knew the next right step.
It wasn’t until I was sitting with the Lord in Adoration on Friday that I was finally able to bring those concerns to Him, let Him respond, and see what He wanted to do. Because ultimately, the best content I can ever receive comes from Him — the Psalms, the Gospels, mental prayer — Scripture is content that always quiets my heart and brings me back to peace.
I’m not saying we should cut out every piece of content that isn’t explicitly spiritual or Catholic. I’m not a crazy utilitarian. I love to laugh, and I think Dropout is the funniest thing on the internet right now (one of their videos recently had me in tears from laughing so hard). But I also want to be aware that the content I consume does impact me — it’s naive to think otherwise. I can forget how much the things I consume shape me… how they affect the way I think, what I notice, how I feel, and even what I do.
We are drowning in content. Wild headlines and natural disasters and deaths and drama. We can scroll for hours without recognizing what it is doing to us, to our hearts and minds and souls.
This week, I’m going to pay closer attention to the things I let into my mind and heart. I want to spend more time with content that draws me toward truth, beauty, and goodness, and less time with content that leaves me anxious, distracted, or discouraged.
What content are you consuming that is having a positive impact on you?! Reply to the email or comment below!
In Christ,
Jane
What I’m loving lately
A podcast I love did a deep dive into the Litany of Humility and featured Pope Leo’s address on Cardinal Del Val, who is behind one of the best (and most painful) prayers ever to exist. I loved this quote from the address: “True authority is not based on positions or titles, but on the freedom to serve even away from the spotlight (cf. Mt 23:11). And those who are not afraid of losing visibility gain availability to God.”
Convicted about gossip
“That’s why we listen to gossip, because we feel connected... it makes sin feel like intimacy.” Oof — I’ve been thinking about gossip a lot lately, and I felt DEEPLY convicted by Fr. Mike’s homily this weekend. I thought it was so, so good.
Thank you, Siri
I was texting a friend, and Siri popped up with a reminder to “give myself some grace,” which was so funny but also a sweet reminder! Thank you, Siri. I shall give myself some grace today!
RIP Dupont Circle Tree
Last week we had a big storm and one of the largest trees in Dupont Circle fell down. Over the course of the past few days, neighbors have been paying their respects to the tree and it’s been so sweet to see the community come out and celebrate our fallen tree!
Kauai recs?
I’m headed to Kauai tomorrow — if you have any recommendations, please please share!! And please pray for the weather to pass safely, and for Julianna and Jonathan as they prepare for their wedding this weekend!
Prayer intentions
For Julianna and Jonathan and their wedding this weekend!
For a friend who is pregnant!
For a few special intentions