When God Seems Silent

 

🎙️ NEW SERIES: When Faith Meets Real Life

Episode 1: When God Seems Silent

Have you ever prayed and heard… nothing?

You asked God for direction. You needed an answer. You waited, prayed, and waited some more—but heaven seemed silent.

In the first episode of my new series, When Faith Meets Real Life, we explore one of the most difficult experiences in our spiritual lives: those moments when God seems distant and we begin to wonder, “God, are You even listening?”

But silence doesn't mean absence.

Sometimes the deepest faith is formed not when we clearly hear God's voice, but when we choose to trust Him even when we don't.

God's silence is not God's absence.

Join me for this short reflection as we talk about trusting God in the waiting, listening for His quiet voice, and continuing to take the next faithful step.

🎧 The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns

When Faith Meets Real Life — Episode 1: When God Seems Silent

🙏 Next episode: When Your Prayers Aren't Answered

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Nothing at Mass Is Accidental

 

Nothing at Mass Is Accidental

Have you ever wondered why Catholics do all the things we do at Mass?

The holy water. The candles. The incense. The different colors. The gestures. The water mixed with the wine. The priest washing his hands. Even those few seconds of silence after he says, “Let us pray.”

Throughout this series, we've discovered that these aren't simply old traditions or meaningless rituals.

They are signs. They are symbols. They are prayers. And ultimately, they are pointing us toward Jesus Christ.

In this final episode of the series, we bring everything together and look at the Mass with new eyes.

My hope isn't simply that you've learned why Catholics do certain things. My hope is that the next time you walk into church, you notice things you may have overlooked before—and through them, encounter Jesus a little more deeply.

Because sometimes tremendous spiritual meaning is hidden in the smallest moments.

Nothing at Mass is accidental.

Everything is drawing us deeper into the mystery.

Everything is inviting us to worship.

And ultimately…

it is all leading us to Jesus Christ.

🎙️ The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns

Helping Catholics see life through the eyes of faith.

#TheCatholicJourney #NothingAtMassIsAccidental #CatholicMass #CatholicFaith #Eucharist #JesusChrist #CatholicPodcast #HolyMass #DeaconPatKearns

Catholic Special Forces — Song Inspired by the Novel

 

Catholic Special Forces — Song Inspired by the Novel

What does it mean to be a soldier for Christ?

“Catholic Special Forces” is an original song inspired by my novel C.S.F. – Catholic Special Forces: A Spiritual Adventure. The story imagines ordinary men and women being called to something extraordinary—to stand for Christ when faith is challenged and darkness seems to be winning.

But the real battle is ultimately a spiritual battle. Our armor is truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the Word of God, prayer, and the courage to follow Christ wherever He leads.

This song is about faith, courage, sacrifice, brotherhood, and answering God's call—even when we feel unqualified or afraid.

We may be ordinary people, but we serve an extraordinary God.

Put on the armor of God. Stand your ground. Hold the line.

✝️ Catholic Special Forces
🎵 Inspired by the novel by Deacon Pat Kearns
🎙️ The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns

#CatholicSpecialForces #TheCatholicJourney #DeaconPatKearns #ArmorOfGod #CatholicFaith #SpiritualWarfare #CatholicMen #Faith #JesusChrist #CatholicMusic

The Hermit’s Word — Inspired by the Novel

 

The Hermit’s Word — Inspired by the Novel

Sometimes God uses the most unexpected people, places, and circumstances to lead us toward the purpose He has planned for our lives.

This song was inspired by my spiritual adventure novel, The Hermit’s Word. It follows people carrying very different struggles—loss, brokenness, questions, regret, and a longing for something more. Their journeys eventually reveal a common truth: God is often working in our lives long before we understand what He is doing.

Sometimes all it takes is a moment of silence, an unexpected encounter, or even a single word to change the direction of a life.

🎵 “The Hermit’s Word”
Inspired by the novel The Hermit’s Word by Deacon Pat Kearns

The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns
Helping us see life through the eyes of faith.

Why Does the Priest Wash His Hands at Mass?

 

Why Does the Priest Wash His Hands at Mass?

You've probably seen it countless times.

The bread and wine have been prepared, and just before the Eucharistic Prayer, a server pours a small amount of water over the priest's hands.

But why?

His hands probably aren't dirty. So what exactly is he washing?

In this episode of The Catholic Journey, we explore the beautiful meaning behind this ancient ritual, known as the Lavabo, and the quiet prayer the priest says while washing his hands:

“Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

What appears to be a simple washing is actually a powerful prayer of humility, purification, and preparation as the priest prepares to enter into the Eucharistic Prayer.

And perhaps this little ritual isn't only a prayer for the priest. Maybe when we see it, we can make it our prayer too:

“Lord, cleanse my heart and prepare me to receive You.”

Sometimes the smallest gestures at Mass carry the deepest meaning.

🎙️ The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns

Helping Catholics see life through the eyes of faith.

#TheCatholicJourney #CatholicPodcast #CatholicMass #Lavabo #CatholicFaith #Eucharist #HolyMass #CatholicTradition #DeaconPatKearns

Church - More than Just a Building

 

It Is Us

“It Is Us” is an original song inspired by my novel, Church – More Than Just a Building.

At its heart, the story reminds us that a church is so much more than walls, pews, stained glass, or a place we visit on Sunday. The Church is us—the people of God, brought together by faith, love, struggle, community, and our shared journey toward Christ.

This song grew out of that message.

Buildings may change. Communities may change. People may come and go. But the Church has always been about something much deeper—the relationships we build, the lives we touch, the faith we share, and Christ living among His people.

It isn't just a building. It is us.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to listen to the song and reflect on what it truly means to be Church.

🎵 “It Is Us”
Inspired by the novel Church – More Than Just a Building

#ItIsUs #ChurchMoreThanJustABuilding #OriginalSong #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #Faith #Community #PeopleOfGod

The Ranch — A Song of Brothers, Faith, and Purpose

 

The Ranch — A Song of Brothers, Faith, and Purpose

I wrote The Ranch as a spiritual adventure novel, but at its heart, it has always been a story about brotherhood, loss, faith, and discovering that God can give purpose even to our deepest pain.

The story begins with brothers grieving the loss of one of their own and eventually discovering a calling they never expected—to create a place where wounded young people can find healing, family, faith, and hope.

I recently took the heart of that story and turned it into this song, “The Ranch.”

There is also something very personal behind the novel. I dedicated The Ranch to my own brothers—the Kearns Boys—because pieces of each of them helped inspire the characters and the bond between the brothers in the story.

Maybe that is the message behind both the book and the song: God wastes nothing—not our struggles, our losses, our gifts, or the roads we've traveled. He can use all of it for something greater.

🎵 The Ranch
Inspired by the novel by Deacon Patrick Kearns

Faith. Family. Brotherhood. Purpose. Healing.