Personal Discussion Questions
If you are interested in going deeper into your relationship with Jesus,
these questions may help you.
these questions may help you.
1.Do I realize that even with my personal history of sinfulness, I am still holy when I ask forgiveness and keep on trying to love God?
2. In my sinfulness, do I realize how the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will help me grow in holiness? When is the last time I
participated in the gift of this Sacrament?
3. How do I talk about the Church? Am I negative, allowing myself to define the Church in political terms, such as "liberal" or
"conservative" or am I positive in my appreciation for the Church? If negative, do I desire to work on being more positive?
4. On page. 55 of Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly speaks about celebrating life as Catholics. Do I allow myself to live my life as a
joyful Catholic, contributing to the true spirit of Catholicism which is predominantly one of celebration? Do I need to work on this in
my personal life? Am I willing to try?
5. What do you think our culture celebrates today? Is this in sync with the Catholic values you embrace?
Matthew Kelly says "We become what we celebrate." In that sense, what has our nation become? Who have you become? Who has
your family become? Do you want to change these realities for the better?
6. On page 61 we read:
Offer the actions of your life to God as a prayer, whether you are washing the dishes, repairing the car, or studying for an exam, and by
your inner intentions, you will transform ordinary daily activities into the noblest tasks. By doing so, you will elevate tedious tasks to
spiritual exercises that draw you nearer to God. This is how modern men and women in the midst of busy lives can seek and find
intimacy with God.
Have you tried this? Would you like to? When will you start?
7. What can you offer to God right now?
8. God is "the perfect gentleman." God will never force holiness upon me. God offers me holiness for the taking, each day. My life is
not authentic if it is not holy.
9. How would you define "the Best Version of Yourself" personally?
10. The Church has not tossed aside the belief in the Communion of Saints. Have I lessened my devotion to key saints in my life?
Do I realize that though saints should not be put on pedestals for me to venerate, they do have a wealth of assistance that they can give to me in my life. Who are the saints I turn to?
11. What have I learned from the saints that helps me live my life more fully?
12. What are my habits? What are the things I do every day, every week, every month? Are my habits helping me become a better- version-of myself or are they self-diminishing?
13. How would I like my life to be different this year than it was last year? How will this happen?
14. Take a piece of paper right now and write down your habits. What are the things you do every day, every week, every month?
Go down the list and ask yourself, "Which of these habits are helping me to become the best-version-of myself? Which habits are
self-destructive?
We become the stories we listen to. Our culture offers us stories of greed and hate and violence. The lives of the saints are stories of virtue and character, and if we would read them, tell them and listen to them over and over again, our lives would become examples of that same virtue and character. (Pg 126)
15. When is the last time I discussed a life of a saint at the family meal? When is the last time I read a book about a saint?
When is the last time I read stories of the saints to my children?
16. What am I willing to give my life for?
17. What am I giving my life for today?
18. Catholicism is a lifestyle. How do I live this lifestyle?
19. Read pages 188-191 of Rediscover Catholicism. Answer: Do I know the Shepherd as the old priest did?
20. Am I faithful to participating at Mass on every Sunday? How do I prepare myself? Read the suggestions of Matthew Kelly on
pages 194-202 and find ways that you can help yourself reclaim your placer at the Eucharistic Table of Life.
21. What are the spiritual game changers of your life? Read pgs. 210-212 to re-read what Matthew Kelly claims as his game changers.
22. What is my favorite prayer?
23. Is gathering in prayer as a Community of Catholics important to me? Chapter 14 may help me to rediscover this gift.
24. Chapter 15 speaks about the importance of the Bible for all Catholics. Do I want to grow in my understanding of Sacred Scripture?
Would the Men's or Women's Bible Studies, offered at St. Henry's be something I may want to participate in?
25. Chapter 16 is an excellent instruction on the meaning of fasting. Am I a disciplined person? How does discipline nurture my
offering of fasting for others, for myself, for those I do not know?
26. Do I want to avoid discipline at any cost? If so, why is this weakening me spiritually?
27. Rediscover Catholicism is not talking about the fasting that one is asked to do before necessary blood work, or the fasting I initiate to get into my new clothes. Intentional fasting can be a spiritual instrument to bring me closer to God and, or to offer prayer for someone in need. Can I tweak my understanding of fasting? What needs tweaking in this regard in my life?
28. What kind of fasting do I choose to do in my daily life?
29. What spiritual book, (not new-age), am I reading now? If none, take a look at www.DynamicCatholic.com.
30. Books change our lives. To be the best-version-of-myself, I need to read some good spiritual books.
31. Do I pray the rosary? Do I understand the devotional praying of the rosary? Chapter 18 is a good instruction on praying the
rosary in our lives.
32. How do I think the Roman Catholic Church needs to change to become more life-giving?
33. Am I willing to become the change that the church needs?
34. Ponder Matthew Kelly's words on page 280:
So I urge you, be patient with the Church, which is two thousand years old and made up of 1.2 billion wonderfully flawed human beings
like you. Change will come slowly, because the church will change for the better only as quickly as you and I respond to God's call to
grow in virtue and become better-versions-of-ourselves. When you become a better-version-of-yourself, the Church becomes a better-
version-of-itself.
35. How is or how can St. Henry's better follow the evangelization strategy that Matthew Kelly outlines for us on pages 288-294?
36. Who do I think of when I read Chapter 20 on Leadership in the Church?
37. What kind of a leader am I?
38. It is not enough to eradicate vices from our lives. We must work at cultivating virtue. How do I strive to live virtuously?
(Faith, Hope, Love, Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude)
39. Do I believe that our world needs the Church?
40. It may be helpful to re-read this paragraph from pg. 309 and to ponder it:
One part of our ongoing mission as the Church is to offer people a better life. The key word in all of this is offer. The Church
doesn't force people to do things. The Church is a lover who comes to propose to the beloved (you and me). The Church
proposes certain courses of action for certain situations, just as a physician offers you a prescription. But your physician does not force
you to get your scrip filled. Nor does she force you to take the medicine. We are free to choose. The Church proposes to you and me
a certain way of life. Each of us, like the beloved who is proposed to, can accept or reject the proposal. But whatever our decision, we
will live with it forever.
2. In my sinfulness, do I realize how the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will help me grow in holiness? When is the last time I
participated in the gift of this Sacrament?
3. How do I talk about the Church? Am I negative, allowing myself to define the Church in political terms, such as "liberal" or
"conservative" or am I positive in my appreciation for the Church? If negative, do I desire to work on being more positive?
4. On page. 55 of Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly speaks about celebrating life as Catholics. Do I allow myself to live my life as a
joyful Catholic, contributing to the true spirit of Catholicism which is predominantly one of celebration? Do I need to work on this in
my personal life? Am I willing to try?
5. What do you think our culture celebrates today? Is this in sync with the Catholic values you embrace?
Matthew Kelly says "We become what we celebrate." In that sense, what has our nation become? Who have you become? Who has
your family become? Do you want to change these realities for the better?
6. On page 61 we read:
Offer the actions of your life to God as a prayer, whether you are washing the dishes, repairing the car, or studying for an exam, and by
your inner intentions, you will transform ordinary daily activities into the noblest tasks. By doing so, you will elevate tedious tasks to
spiritual exercises that draw you nearer to God. This is how modern men and women in the midst of busy lives can seek and find
intimacy with God.
Have you tried this? Would you like to? When will you start?
7. What can you offer to God right now?
8. God is "the perfect gentleman." God will never force holiness upon me. God offers me holiness for the taking, each day. My life is
not authentic if it is not holy.
9. How would you define "the Best Version of Yourself" personally?
10. The Church has not tossed aside the belief in the Communion of Saints. Have I lessened my devotion to key saints in my life?
Do I realize that though saints should not be put on pedestals for me to venerate, they do have a wealth of assistance that they can give to me in my life. Who are the saints I turn to?
11. What have I learned from the saints that helps me live my life more fully?
12. What are my habits? What are the things I do every day, every week, every month? Are my habits helping me become a better- version-of myself or are they self-diminishing?
13. How would I like my life to be different this year than it was last year? How will this happen?
14. Take a piece of paper right now and write down your habits. What are the things you do every day, every week, every month?
Go down the list and ask yourself, "Which of these habits are helping me to become the best-version-of myself? Which habits are
self-destructive?
We become the stories we listen to. Our culture offers us stories of greed and hate and violence. The lives of the saints are stories of virtue and character, and if we would read them, tell them and listen to them over and over again, our lives would become examples of that same virtue and character. (Pg 126)
15. When is the last time I discussed a life of a saint at the family meal? When is the last time I read a book about a saint?
When is the last time I read stories of the saints to my children?
16. What am I willing to give my life for?
17. What am I giving my life for today?
18. Catholicism is a lifestyle. How do I live this lifestyle?
19. Read pages 188-191 of Rediscover Catholicism. Answer: Do I know the Shepherd as the old priest did?
20. Am I faithful to participating at Mass on every Sunday? How do I prepare myself? Read the suggestions of Matthew Kelly on
pages 194-202 and find ways that you can help yourself reclaim your placer at the Eucharistic Table of Life.
21. What are the spiritual game changers of your life? Read pgs. 210-212 to re-read what Matthew Kelly claims as his game changers.
22. What is my favorite prayer?
23. Is gathering in prayer as a Community of Catholics important to me? Chapter 14 may help me to rediscover this gift.
24. Chapter 15 speaks about the importance of the Bible for all Catholics. Do I want to grow in my understanding of Sacred Scripture?
Would the Men's or Women's Bible Studies, offered at St. Henry's be something I may want to participate in?
25. Chapter 16 is an excellent instruction on the meaning of fasting. Am I a disciplined person? How does discipline nurture my
offering of fasting for others, for myself, for those I do not know?
26. Do I want to avoid discipline at any cost? If so, why is this weakening me spiritually?
27. Rediscover Catholicism is not talking about the fasting that one is asked to do before necessary blood work, or the fasting I initiate to get into my new clothes. Intentional fasting can be a spiritual instrument to bring me closer to God and, or to offer prayer for someone in need. Can I tweak my understanding of fasting? What needs tweaking in this regard in my life?
28. What kind of fasting do I choose to do in my daily life?
29. What spiritual book, (not new-age), am I reading now? If none, take a look at www.DynamicCatholic.com.
30. Books change our lives. To be the best-version-of-myself, I need to read some good spiritual books.
31. Do I pray the rosary? Do I understand the devotional praying of the rosary? Chapter 18 is a good instruction on praying the
rosary in our lives.
32. How do I think the Roman Catholic Church needs to change to become more life-giving?
33. Am I willing to become the change that the church needs?
34. Ponder Matthew Kelly's words on page 280:
So I urge you, be patient with the Church, which is two thousand years old and made up of 1.2 billion wonderfully flawed human beings
like you. Change will come slowly, because the church will change for the better only as quickly as you and I respond to God's call to
grow in virtue and become better-versions-of-ourselves. When you become a better-version-of-yourself, the Church becomes a better-
version-of-itself.
35. How is or how can St. Henry's better follow the evangelization strategy that Matthew Kelly outlines for us on pages 288-294?
36. Who do I think of when I read Chapter 20 on Leadership in the Church?
37. What kind of a leader am I?
38. It is not enough to eradicate vices from our lives. We must work at cultivating virtue. How do I strive to live virtuously?
(Faith, Hope, Love, Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude)
39. Do I believe that our world needs the Church?
40. It may be helpful to re-read this paragraph from pg. 309 and to ponder it:
One part of our ongoing mission as the Church is to offer people a better life. The key word in all of this is offer. The Church
doesn't force people to do things. The Church is a lover who comes to propose to the beloved (you and me). The Church
proposes certain courses of action for certain situations, just as a physician offers you a prescription. But your physician does not force
you to get your scrip filled. Nor does she force you to take the medicine. We are free to choose. The Church proposes to you and me
a certain way of life. Each of us, like the beloved who is proposed to, can accept or reject the proposal. But whatever our decision, we
will live with it forever.