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Here’s a really beautiful and relatable moment on The Patrick Madrid Show 📻💬
Jessica from Chicago called in with a problem: her husband goes to Mass but doesn’t say the prayers out loud. He stays quiet and prays in his head, so is this wrong?
🙋♀️The Concern:
Jessica is worried the kids aren’t engaging at Mass because Dad’s standing there silently, not responding, not singing, nada. And when she encourages him to speak up, he hits her with a curveball: “Why do I have to say it out loud if I’m praying in my heart?”
Patrick’s Take:
💡 Canon Law doesn’t say you have to pray aloud at Mass. So, technically, her husband isn’t doing anything wrong or sinful.
BUT…Mass is communal. We’re participating as the Body of Christ. When everyone stays silent, especially Dad, it can send the message that he’s not into it… even if he totally is!
📣 Why Speaking (or Singing!) Matters:
Kids need visible faith. They’re watching and learning. If Dad’s not engaging, they pick up on that.
Leadership in the family starts at the pew. Even if it’s just mouthing the words, it shows: “Hey, I’m here; I care, and I’m praying.”
Patrick even offers this great analogy:
“What if I said I loved you but only in my heart? Wouldn’t you want to hear it sometimes?”
(That one hit hard, didn’t it?)
❤️ The Real Goal:
Jessica just wants the kids to see that faith isn’t something we hide.
💬 Your Takeaway:
If you’ve got a “quiet spouse at Mass” situation going on, try Jessica’s new approach:
“Honey, the kids are watching, and they need to see that Dad prays, too.”
And maybe throw in the “I love you in my heart vs out loud” line for good measure. 😉💌
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