The True, the Good and the Beautiful: A Lesson in Human Flourishing

Today Fr. Mike unpacks the three Transcendentals; Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, and why and how our hearts can be misled by emotion and feelings at times which distorts these fundamental realities.
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[@cozyhomemakingvibes]

Love C.S.Lewis. This is so true. We shape our conscience through what we spend time with. Thanks for this video. God used this ministry to help me find my way home to the Church. I was baptized Saturday. Thank you everyone at Ascension, for this and Bible in a Year. 💗

[@elizabetharr8551]

Welcome home! ♥️

[@cozyhomemakingvibes]

@@elizabetharr8551 thank you!❤️ Soo happy 😊

[@ellenrussell8005]

God bless you. Congratulations!

[@cozyhomemakingvibes]

@@ellenrussell8005 thank you❤️ God bless!

[@carla7657]

Welcome home!!! ❤️🙏🏽

[@mattberg916]

As a lukewarm lifelong Catholic I wholly agree. I've been bitten by the Holy Ghost within the last year and my life is top to bottom changed. I very rarely listen to music anymore just for the reason of guarding my soul. It's amazing to me how all the changes in my life have been seemingly effortless. I was always a bit of a pig in my thoughts, never honored the Sabbath (other than Mass), indulged in all the filth of the internet and never thought about guarding my soul from anything. Now, I pray about 5 hours a day, fast daily and 100% on Friday, no work on Sunday very little media and I've never been more at peace even though I have been recently given a few crosses to bear. I adore Thee Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ!

[@andrewbangs9073]

Wow what a battle you got there bro

[@mattberg916]

@@andrewbangs9073 it's actually all been very easy, so far. I pray that when I am put to the test, by His mercy, I will not fail Him.

[@hazyday8736]

Do you possibly have a vocation Matt?

[@lainey7595]

"in this day and age we don't think super clearly, but we feel so strongly", this is exactly what I'm struggling with at the moment.

[@ehelvz]

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23

[@BiornBear]

Father Mike, you make me think deeper about not just Christ but also my own self. Thank you for what you do. You are truly a man of God. God Bless.

[@charleshayden7408]

God bless everyone 999 trillion times: Truth, Goodness and Beauty is the most genius philosophy of all time!!!

[@CARS63]

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23.

[@vf6068]

Thank you Fr Mike. I just said a Hail Mary for you. Hope everyone who sees this video say a Hail Mary to protect this holy priest.

[@JuanMartinez-xl2oj]

Father Mike, I'd say you need a raise, but you've got the best retirement plan in all of the land! Thanks for your efforts in bringing us all along! I'll continue to pray for your Fortitude!

[@karenbliss5075]

So TRUE!!! We need to discern everything in this world. Evil can disguise itself as good, we always need to be on guard

[@Joe-dh2bf]

Interested to hear how this video pertains to something like aa and 12 step groups.

[@TJ1920]

Lord let me discern the truth in a world that has increasingly became distorted seek only goodness with an informed conscience and to know what if false when I see it

[@yalidoletupua9530]

Thanks, Father! That was Truth, Good and Beautiful, Love and Prayers from Fiji

[@rosieroberts6738]

I love your enthusiasm about Christ!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! ✝️🙏🕊✝️🙏🕊✝️

[@aureliaana4814]

“Watch, what you watch. Be careful what you listen to.”

[@evangelinehoke5512]

Great take. Deleted social media for this exact reason. I’m done fighting the current by surrounding myself with depravity and expecting goodness from it. Not worth it and never was

[@mmut8602]

Yep! Decade ago that is why I got rid of cable. Why was I inviting that depravity into my home?

[@susandubanowich4527]

Please pray for me Ascension and Fr Mike. I started leading a Bible study for the first time and I’m kinda nervous (public speaking isn’t my thing lol)

[@highwaycode778]

Thanks Father if you read this please pray for me. My Heart often strays from truth and my head has no will power to guide it back to thé straight and narrow and lead it in the true direction.

[@janetandrews1306]

Thank you Father Mike.

[@debrahollingsworth5534]

Psalm 101:3 "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes..." Excellent teaching! Yes, Fr. Mike! We must guard our hearts and minds. Many scriptures instruct us to do this.

[@wreloise1]

Dear Lord, Help! ABBA Father, I desire my heart and intellect to follow the One True God. “ Jesus, I trust in You!”

[@theresemeggetto1220]

Reading CS Lewis’ amazing book The Screwtape Letters is truly an eye opener to how the Devil messes with our minds. There is so much in our world today that can look harmless. Our intellect tells us we can sift out the bad and ignored it BUT we are human… what we feed our senses with - eyes, ears, mouth, touch and smell if experienced often enough can soon become part of our hearts and minds. Good or bad. We need to watch out for our human PRIDE. As they say… Pride comes before the fall…. Thank you Fr Mike!!! I read The Screwtape Letters many years ago… I am definitely going to read it again, especially during these confusing and hard times. God Bless you and (‘Saint’) C S Lewis 😉

[@rabbster7]

How can we discern when we're being prideful when we're new to the faith and not used to discerning these things?

[@ChildofGod98765]

Thank you for your message of encouragement. Please pray for me living with lupus and heart disease has it’s ups and downs. I’m in a lot of pain swollen joints, fevers out of nowhere and fatigue are just a few, because of my condition I declined the vaccine, and was fired over my decision. I was denied my medical/religious exemption from Forsyth hospital. Since than I’ve been struggling to provide for myself and my two autistic children. Every month is a struggle. My husband passed away three years ago, so I’m all alone. I have no family nor friends. My situation already has me down, I’m in constant fear we are going to end up on the streets. I’m so embarrassed because of my situation. I have no family nor friends to help me, I have been mocked and laughed at over my circumstances, but I have nothing but Faith that God will provide for me and my children.

[@trumpwon8972]

Watch the documentary called Fork Over Knives on KZbin or Netflix. It might help you with lupus and heart disease. Wishing you the best 💛

[@Ezekiel336-16]

If you haven't already, please reach out to your local churches and be at peace telling them your situation and asking for help. That also includes non Catholic Christians as well! The Body of Christ is here for you and yours because your part of our family, and many of us are happy to help once we know what's needed. If you have done this before and been discouraged or turned down, I am sorry, but please keep moving forward in that pursuit by being living prayer in action. None of us are meant to shoulder our (over) burdens alone! God WILL provide but you must seek it in faith and endurance. I have faith in Him through you and will pray for you right now! In Christ, Andrew

[@bgg7518]

Praying for you Mousey ❤

[@jimselimos4863]

Praying for you and for us all AMEN

[@ejegbavworuemu2129]

May the Lord be your strength and guide.

[@msgoody2shoes959]

Ephesians 4: 2-5 With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call- one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

[@inesbarrera3638]

"beginning to love things that aren't worth my heart"

[@eoinbrennan3949]

"For when understanding, unclouded by passion, acts freely and clearly, it is able to detect the truth and to penetrate into the evil which is hidden under a fair appearance and into the good which is veiled by a semblance of evil" (Spiritual combat - Lorenzo Scupoli).

[@arkofthecovenant6235]

Thank you Fr. Mike .I gave up popular Metal/ Rock and the bar scene and hav’t looked back. Coffee is my new drink of choice. So your words ring true to my ears. Thank u Fr ✝️+☕️

[@arkofthecovenant6235]

@@jayamburn1959 whats up. God bless!

[@arkofthecovenant6235]

@@jayamburn1959 Im good. Im not in chat to meet people but hey thanks for being friendly bye✌🏼

[@CRFSUIGENERIS]

I needed this message today. Feeling disillusioned by mirages. I believe in the purity of truth and goodness, not superficial entrancement. Thank you, Father Mike. We need to discerning.

[@beverlyhanlon8526]

You know when God 🙏 is with you., Ask God to come into your heart Jesus I love you...repeat it.

[@mcv5705]

Wowww. When he said, "I may know with my intellect that this (show, book, etc) isn't good, but I'm allowing myself to love that which is not worth my heart." So relatable. It reminds me of when my aunt said, "Everything either helps your salvation or it hinders it." So true in all circumstances. Even the catechism speaks on how grace can be granted by simply using objects according their proper use

[@trishspinazola287]

Love the beautiful.. choose the good!! Thanks Fr Mike!! God Bless!!

[@michelleparker4741]

I absolutely love you. It’s so true when I want to share my faith. Thank you

[@valbrand3018]

I started to watch my eye and ear gates going on a year & I never felt so much peace since consuming more if the Word instead. Thank You Lord!

[@user-oj2sd1sj5b]

Awesome description, Fr. Mike! Thank you. 🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️

[@beenabenny6772]

It's not a dump vedio. You said something very beautiful. Love your vedios. May God bless you to help us. Thank God for you.

[@pattitaylor384]

YOU ARE A RARE GIFT Father Mike! I am so fortunate that I literally stumbled upon You. All of your messages have made me think! Made me better!

[@Bigchilezlife]

Thank you Fr.Mike!!! i love you brother My heart aches for forgiveness from God

[@mmut8602]

YES!!!! We need to surround myself with things that are truly good and holy and beautiful.

[@seans.1331]

Hi Fr. Mike, excellent exposition. I have been studying a lot about the heart, so please allow me to share it. The body-soul unity may be drawn out further. According to the Catechism (and others), there is also the highest part of the soul, which may be called the spirit (also, the nous, in Greek). It is this aspect of ourselves that we must place into the heart, once purified of passions through asceticism and the sacraments, whereby we “see God” and become like Christ (i.e. deified). Prayer of the heart is the unceasing or self-acting prayer of the Holy Spirit within us. This is where we can and do experience God as an ever-living reality; indeed, as our very life. God bless, thanks so much. 😊☦

[@v4vannatta521]

Thank you, Fr. Mike! Amen! An especially important message coming out of Lent, the battle wages on! God bless everyone!

[@livingpurgatory3]

JESUS, MARY, I LOVE YOU SAVE SOULS!

[@jenniferpratt8883]

I love CS Lewus too. He explains complicated things so clearly. I can't speak highly enough of him. Hope to see him, Warny, Joy and all his family in heaven one day. Thank you for this Father. You explain complicated things clearly too. May God bless you abundantly 🙏🙏🙏

[@LOVEYOURSELF4WHO-U-R]

Father, it's funny I fell upon this video by happenstance after writing the following today in my journal: Okay there's kind of been a shift in the way I'm seeing things. In the faith it is wise to discern first and grow in the paths you see as good for your relationship with God. Water the things that nourish your soul and cut down or let dry the things that cut at the goodness of your heart. I'm starting to see a shift where things don't have to be spectacular at the start. To commit and be dedicated to something that merely feels so good but doesn't speak to the heart must be questioned and met with extreme caution because committing yourself to an overwhelming sense of happiness for a fleeting reward as time and commitment progress is a path of or a path toward sin and hatred. Simply in the music I listen to. Megan gave me the idea to cut out secular music last week and I've been listening to Christian worship instead. It started out as alright, not that good not that bad. Songs that would've repulsed me a year ago now start to have a place in my heart because it's not simply for the way the bass hits. I hear the words and the tone of the music that gives me a message. It's a tool that keeps me uplifted to have a joyful relationship with God and to praise his name. It fuels my soul and my heart and isn't a bandage to my emotions. In a similar way I see a way to begin to navigate my interactions, works, and leisure. I am beginning to see that it can pay off to take things slow with questions and observance and let the reward build which is commonly much stronger of a support toward building a powerful relationship with our creator and the ones around us. He's breaking the chains of my sins in a lifelong battle toward living gracefully in His will!

[@delia1954ful]

Beautiful! Thank you Fr Mike for this lovely video. We need to be constantly reminded that our intellect and hearts must always be guided by truth, beauty & goodness. God bless you 🙏

[@annehimpel2076]

Father, you do not know me but pretty soon you'll hear of me. St. Marys church in Bridgepirt here will tell the news you wait to hear. I love you. I love you.

[@MiracleWorkerUK]

Write one Preaching of mine everyday and record and upload on youtube and share to all your contacts and send on all social media. You will be blessed from day 3

[@ribbit1964]

Surrender to Him and let His love flow - the good will come 🙏🏼 Thank you Fr Mike, God bless you, your ministry and your priesthood

[@miajane3878]

That's why I can't give up on my Catholic faith I walked away for a while to go to another denomination but thank God about 16 years ago he brought me back into a area where I had nothing but Catholic churches to go to and I was coming home Catholic thank God I ran home. After you don't a word of God daily day and night night and day it's impounded it's in betted in my head and in my mind and in my soul

[@rabbster7]

Loved the holistic way you looked at having faith as it being in your intellect but also your heart and your soul. I know I have faith in God due to my intellect but I don't seem to have that faith in my heart and soul. There's a hardness in my heart and soul from all the bad things that have happened to me and from praying to God I'm sure that's the reason why I don't have a very firm and true faith in God. I need healing and help from God. Maybe many other people can relate to your heart going hard from trauma. I guess this is just my cross to bear but I do have hope in God that one day he'll help me let go of this coldness inside me. I won't give up.

[@caroldapcic1661]

Not a Downer, but truly Inspirational...blessing Fr. Mike!

[@adriannefluet5980]

The devil is evil and will distort our mind thoughts keep praying keep going to church love forgive

[@MiracleWorkerUK]

What you said is not enough. Write one Preaching of mine everyday and record and upload on youtube and share to all your contacts and send on all social media. You will be blessed from day 3.

[@17CW68fNv]

This is so true. We are in need of guidance like this. Thanks for your teachings. So good. We do need to discern.

[@artorefalnera3055]

Fr. Thank you 😇

[@sarasmile5274]

No Fr. Mike, I needed to hear this message. Not a downer at all, no worries

[@Cpripri85]

BE ARE ALARMIST. YOUR OUR PRIEST

[@johnhealy4647]

This video fed my cynicism, His word cuts my heart, I want to withdraw not unlike a hermit. I think I've spent enough time in His word to "know" what I must do, but like you said, my heart is not with it; it's still caught up in the world and those I rub shoulders with.......

[@marymccannfrancis9855]

Amen Beautiful FR Mike Thank you God-bless you

[@mictho5302]

I'm a simple guy.. l see a new Fr. Mike video.. l instantly click the like button 👍

[@violetaster3798]

How TRUE. Needed to hear this.

[@enaukara6266]

Father, bless our marriage. 😢❤️💐

[@Emmy-lm1zq]

Fr. Mike, we can always feed ourselves your videos and be reminded what is the most important. Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@mazikode]

Amazing thank you father Mike

[@sandramillar9067]

VERY VERY VERY WELL EXPLAINED Father !!! Thank you!!! 🙏🌈

[@laineedunn4389]

Thank you, Fr. Mike…for speaking our Blessed Trinity’s Truth even when it’s tough!!! May God continue to bless you!!! 🙏💕🙏

[@lovelast4evergemma508]

Father Mike THANKYOU "Surrender of the heart" I LOVE This!!! It is in my understanding dieing to self for, often times we give our hearts and desires over to things that make us feel good or help us escape reality but, this only leaves us empty in the end. Surrender of the heart to JESUS creates in me a new heart a heart for GOD Alone. TRUE LOVE That is ETERNAL REAL That is JESUS He is LOVE✨✝️❣️❣️❣️. There is all kinds of other things but that love proves often fake and empty at least from my experience. Working for a degree as Mother Angelica said, I can't remember the exact quote but, we are working to get a degree we only get after we die "To be a Saint"....

[@ejegbavworuemu2129]

Yeah to get the "St." title before our names. That is the real deal.

[@AppealToHeaven]

I'm totally on guard with my heart bc for 20+ years, I wasn't, and still paying the price. So happy to hear these words of *leading* the heart to what's true, good, and beautiful. Thank you, you godly man! Praying for your spiritual protection.

[@michelleferrao8888]

Thank you Fr Mike 🌟 Always be strong in faith, and always be vigilant, so that we can be safe from the snares of the devil. Invoke your Guardian Angel he will enlighten and guide you. ~St Padro Pio Our life must be an Advent, a vigilant awaiting for the final coming of Jesus Christ🌻 ~St John Paul II

[@kathleenfrancis1872]

Thank You Dear LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR KING, 🙏✝️🕊️❣️💯

[@jonathanjones906]

Really wonderful. Fr Mike is always excellent, but this was particularly good. Happy Easter, everyone.

[@kerwinfernandes9583]

Thank you, Father. God bless you, the team, and your families to become Saints. 😊🙏🏻❤

[@glopez4919]

Thank you Fr Mike. I'm debating if I need to give up the only excersice that I love. I'm over weight and the only excersice that I enjoy is Zumba but the instructors and some of the music are Inappropriate I just joined the gym for that class but I'm not sure about it. 🙄🤷🏻🙏🏼💕

[@catherinemangham6901]

So so important! Thank you Fr Mike! Precisely because our hearts lead us so much these days… we have to keep them pure! God bless you!

[@jessicamcintosh9008]

What a great message! So much truth. Thank you Father!

[@monicateleckisobolewski5844]

wow Father Mike. God help me to understand my role in this life. Jesus I trust in You. Thinking about keeping marriage which sunk us.

[@MiracleWorkerUK]

Write one Preaching of mine everyday and record and upload on youtube and share to all your contacts and send on all social media. You will be blessed from day 3..

[@momscantu]

Thank you Fr Mike for telling us about CS Lewis. We should be on guard and discern our every action to seek what is good and beauty. I never thought of leading my heart by using the "Three Transendentals before. " God bless you and your ministry.

[@colleenlongua9752]

There's no such thing as talking too much about C.S. Lewis.

[@lostone982]

The mind is powerless against the heart, yet the will can speak to the heart and the mind can discern the Will (God’s). Then the heart can follow the true Will and the intellectual goes hand in hand with the heart to the Will, God!

[@davidramirez2162]

Father I love your messages but i have one question. Who cuts your hair? You always stay looking fresh my G!

[@renee187]

This video speaks to me so much. We need to learn to let go of worldly desires that aren’t truly good. They are like a road block from our journey to Heaven.

[@17CW68fNv]

I need to start reading CS Lewis.

[@trumpwon8972]

Same!

[@hopefull61256]

There is a great channel C S Lewis doodle. Check it out!

[@trumpwon8972]

@@hopefull61256 thank you!

[@17CW68fNv]

@@hopefull61256 Thank you for letting me know. God Bless.

[@brettneville2351]

A good place to start is Lewis' classic, "Mere Christianity" but one of his absolute best is "Miracles". Both are great to listen to in audio form as well. A wonderful version of "Mere Christianity" was read by Michael York--phenomenal--Michael York played John The Baptist in the classic 1977 film, "Jesus of Nazareth". "Miracles" has been on the Vatican reading list for many years.

[@francesstager997]

I am surely inspired to read C.S.Lewis!

[@carmelidolorfino2394]

Please provide examples of distorted beauty and twisted truth.

[@AnaClaudia-zr7zk]

Wounderful video!!! Thank you, Father Mike!!! God bless you!!!

[@evea9811]

Great words of wisdom Father! Thank you!

[@ruthortega5822]

Excellent! Thank you Father Mike. I needed to hear this. God bless.

[@andi3739]

Thank you for sharing!

[@emiliasaeter8729]

Beautiful message. Thank you, Fr. Mike

[@anneperaro9818]

God bless you Fr. Mike 🙏

[@jackimohr1]

Thank you for this. I had to break up with my bf today because he of my soul and he does not believe. I had to do this as God has given me so many blessings and protection the past two years, my vocation in life is to have my life light so much with the Holy Spirit that the fire from God, that others want to love God as I do. And I can’t love God above all if I’m putting someone who is pulling me down spiritually, in front of God. I cannot. So this video was another blessing from the Lord. Praise be to God and Fr. mike

[@jeanettegibbs9148]

Wow Father!I feel like you are speaking entirely to me,I’ve been away from the church for several years now,mostly because of Pope Frances,but also from the crooked media,I thought when I retired I would live in church but alas I’ve gone the other way! I have let the evil world distort my thinking ! You have set me thinking that I’m not alone and that even Solomon fell away! Thank you ,thank you ,Thank you and God Bless.

[@betsy3363]

Thank You Father Mike !!! It’s very nice that we all be reminded especially those whose hearts are clouded by distorted truth and goodness because God’s seed was planted in a thorny field. More blessings of wisdom for you Father Mike so that you can share those wisdoms to us. Once again thank you. I’ll share this with my good friend who’s is confused by distorted truth and goodness.

[@rosanakisil5213]

Father Mike, because of you I read The Great Divorce. 3 times. It's so easy tô choose distortion, identify all of them is a day by day work. Thanks! Greetings from Brasil!

[@katarzynanowicka2562]

God bless you Father you are amazing 👏 🙏 ❤️

[@davidserrant976]

Amazing video about the heart 🙏🏾

[@carlacristine3843]

Oh my, I needed this video today

[@brokendreamsandrevelations1193]

Telling me what I didn't know I needed to hear, as usual. Thanks!

[@AjayDonatusPrem]

This was much needed for me dear Fr. Mike... Love you and praying for your ministry. you are truly one good pastor. love you.

[@metildajoseph5265]

Greetings Father Mike, Thanks for the Thoughtful Message on BE YOURSELF before Our Lord Jesus Christ through Sacred Scriptures and C.S Lewis. One of My Favourite Kings mentioned in Sacred Scriptures - King Solomon. With regards with Prayers, RanjithJoseph (R.J)

[@nehad1525]

Whenever I feel confused. I run to Jesus. I go back to my silo and stay there hidden. But, life is so fast moving these days, that people don't have that luxury. Thank you lord, for giving me that luxury and fearlessness. As a woman, I know when I am guided towards sin, it's the bad seed in e. The blood is full of sin. I don't blame Solomon,may God give him peace. We are all gonna be tested. I mean if Solomon was tested, why will we be spared. Look at job for that matter. Maybe job is in heaven and Solomon is not?? I don't know. But as long as we run to Jesus and are not afraid of hiding in him, during our weakness, we'll be fine. Don't be afraid of having less of the world, but be terrified of having less of Jesus.

[@hermionegreen333]

very useful thank you

[@susankesia1783]

Indeed, yes. Watch what we watch! Amen

[@johnnaizer1521]

Amen

[@miajane3878]

Wow for the mike what a revelation. I enjoy watching you especially when you was with Bishop Robert two of my favorites and when I saw you two together I like to fell on the floor how awesome that is God has put both of you in my sight He is truly beautiful and he has goodness for everyone that believes