www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Has EWTN helped to shape anyone's faith?

I am just curious if anyone listens or watches EWTN, and if you have, has it helped you with your faith as a Catholic? For me it has been a blessing in disguise.

Hi Seminarian,

I suggest that you look at the recent thread on Mother Angelica in Church News to see the various comments about EWTN.

You will read my positive comments about EWTN and Mother Angelica there...may I add that even as an Orthodox, EWTN has been, at difficult times in my life, a spiritual anchor, refuge and inspiration. I have also learned alot about what my Western brothers really believe, and that education and knowledge has helped me bridge differences between my Church and yours, since sadly, many of us are ignorant about the *true* teachings of the other.

I especially love the Holy Land Rosary early in the morning w/Father Mitch Pacwa and also the afternoon Rosary recited in many different languages, too. (There is even a woman in a Greek Orthodox Church that recites the 'Our Father' in Greek! )I love the Litanies too, they are poetic, but short and concise.

In Christ,
Alice

Fr. Benedict Groeschal & Fr. John Corapi

Quite opposites in presentations.

james

Oh, yes! I am a big fan of EWTN. I find it very catechetical in nature, a great source of Catholic support for those of us not living in strongly Catholic areas. Recently, on the Journey Home segment, there was a fascinating witness from a cradle Catholic - gone astray, so to speak - and then returned to his Eastern Catholic roots, later to become a monk and ordained priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Rite. EWTN also provides information on the Eastern Church through its various programs ...

those of you who are blessed enough to have EWTN as part of your cable makeup should always be grateful, as that station is not part of the basic cable makeup in Chattanooga. but I realize that there is something called the Internet, and I can rely on that for what is lacking here. count your blessings, and be thankful to God for Mother Angelica.
Much Love,
Jonn

John,

Maybe you can get your parish to take that on as a project. That is how many places started carring EWTN. The PEOPLE rose up and said we want it on our cable. Even right here in Birmingham, she was on many years before they persuaded the owner of one cable company - a staunch Southern Baptist - who said he wouldn't have any of that pegan stuff on his cable station. It was rather funny he had all that gross stuff, but not the awe inspiring work of God EWTN.

Also, Dish Network and Direct TV have it on the satelite (sp)now.

Pani Rose

Dear Seminarian,

I can honestly say that EWTN was instrumental in my vocational journey and that the good work of Mother Angelica, the nuns, and the friars helped me to discern my call to the monastic life.

You see more than a decade ago I was searching for a greater experience of God in my life. I had drifted away from my Catholic upbringing. I did the rounds of church hopping ~ attending a Lutheran, and various Methodist congregations. I fellowshipped with some great and godly Evangelical Christians, however there came a turning point in my life in which I felt I had to make a commitment to a faith community. Long story short, as much as I esteemed my time with other Christian communities, I couldn't abandon the faith of my childhood. Therefore I poured myself into learning as much about the Catholic Church as I could. EWTN was a great help in this regard. In a large part through the influence of the Holy Spirit working through the network, I entered seminary and later became a Benedictine monk.

To this day I thank EWTN for providing things that one cannot get anywhere else. The top on my list are telecasts of the great papal liturgies and coverage of the American bishops' conference. This was particularly evident during the obsequies of the late, great Pope John Paul II.

I heartily echo the sentiment "God grant her (Mother Angelica) many years!"

PAX

Br. Elias

P.S. Seminarian there is a member of my community studying at Mt. Angel. If you have a chance and run into him, would you be so kind as to give him my greetings.

Dear Seminarian,
I think we're so fortunate to have EWTN in this country to teach what is truly Catholic. I commend Mother Angelica for taking on the radicals that took over the American church after Vatican II.
As a convert, I particularly like 'The Journey Home'. Also, I adore Father Benedict Groeschel!
Pax Christi, Wolfgang

Dear Wolfgang,

One day I was walking with my daughter and lo and behold, she spotted Father Groechel in a car. Well the car stopped at the stop light, and I ran calling Father Groechel's name. Well he opened the window, looked at me and said, "do I know you".

I was in a state of awe and simply dumbstruck ...just couldn't speak. Fortunately my daughter, who still had her senses, answered the good Father, and said we were introduced by Mr. 'So and So' at a lecture. Then he gave me his blessing and I can proudly say, I was blessed by a 'saint'. (I'm sure he's one).

Zenovia

You're lucky you weren't stalled in traffic in front of him; he likely would have leaned out the window and yelled "Hey lady, move it!"
He may be a saint, but he drives like a New Yorker...
-Daniel, who has witnessed this

"The Journey Home", with Marcus Grodi, has been instrumental in keeping me Catholic. Daily Mass has helped me too. Hearing Fr. Benedict Groeschel inspires me. The coverage of the Eastern Churches is wonderful. The CONSISTENT and fervent emphasis on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist has been superlatively important. In truth I say: God bless EWTN.

Yet, I also do not find everything perfect with EWTN.

For example, most Catholics in the world are brown people or black people, yet most of the people on EWTN are white. Where are the Catholics of color on EWTN?

Also, I wish they had more about living that faith everyday through corporal and spiritual works of mercy. While I respect EWTN's emphasis on teaching the truths of the Catholic faith, I wish they had more coverage of how to *live* the Catholic faith: not outside of piety and, prayer and worship but by giving expression to that interior life through the exterior life. For example, EWTN does a good job talking about being involved in pro-life protests; how about adding to that by discussing working at local shelters or counseling centers for giving support (material, emotional, psychological, spiritual) to pregnant women? It's great that EWTN encourages people to go Mass and Confession; how about adding to that by discussing volunteering at the local parish's or diocese's ministries? Etc. There are some good beginnings: there is a show, for example, for fathers (the "carpenter's shop"?). But, I think more could be done along those lines.

In sum, I like EWTN�s coverage of Catholic faith and morals and piety, but I wish EWTN did more to show living that faith in everyday life. I'm not one of these people who thinks the Gospel is only interior life or only exterior life. Instead, I think that the interior life must be expressed in the exterior life (and vice versa) for living the whole Gospel through the whole of our ordinary lives. So, while I respect the good work that EWTN does in preaching the truths of the Catholic faith, I hope that EWTN would also discuss more how to put that faith into practice in our daily lives.

Dear John,

Welcome back to posting on the forum!

With love in Christ,
Alice

I can`t say enough about how much benefit ETWN and Mother Angelica have been for me. Of course it isn`t perfect but you can always count on ETWN being completly faithful to Catholic teaching in all of it`s programming.

, Meant to type EWTN above.

Amen ! :-)