Mike Pacer is with the BeatiDudes to talk about the gritty, grace-filled reality of Catholic marriage and fatherhood. From why kids actually want boundaries to how husbands can shift from praying “next to” to praying “with” their wives, Mike lays out a hopeful, practical path: witness first, build a shared spirituality, make joy a decision, and apologize quickly.

Paul Kolker, Nick Bezner, and Jeff Schiefelbein laugh their way through Ignatian holy water, Latin(ish) dad jokes, and a peek behind the scenes of 5 Stones’ work with the Eucharistic Congress.

Top Takeaways
• Witness Over Words: Your kids imitate what you do before they believe what you say.
• Love = Willing the Good: Love isn’t a butterfly; it’s a choice repeated daily, especially when it costs you.
• Pray Together, Not Just “Next To”: Stop forcing your spouse into your style; discover a shared spirituality through dialogue and humility.
• Boundaries Are Love: Discipline that trains, not shames.
• Entrance Prayer: Before you walk in the door, pause and pray because your primary vocation is waiting at home.
• Joy on Purpose: Temperaments differ, but joy can be a decision in service of love.
• Own It Fast: The quickest way to lead at home? Admit faults and apologize to your wife and your kids.

Practical Challenge (Do This Today)
• Text of Blessing: Send your wife a simple, sincere note, no agenda, just love.
• Hidden Service: Do one chore she’ll never notice… because you did it before it became a burden.
• Couple Prayer Plan: Choose one shared devotion for the week (e.g., Divine Mercy Chaplet in the car; a decade after dinner; or a bedtime psalm).
• Driveway Pause: Say a short prayer in the car before entering the house.

Learn more about 5 Stones
weare5stones.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/5-stones/posts/?feedView=all

Books by Mike Pacer
Prayers for Catholic Men
https://ignatius.com/prayers-for-catholic-men-prcmp/?searchid=0&search_query=prayers+for+catholic+men
Mercy and Hope
https://ignatius.com/mercy-and-hope-mhop/?searchid=2865552&search_query=mercy+and+hope
The Three Comings of Christ - Daily Meditations for Advent
https://ignatius.com/the-three-comings-of-christ-tccp/?searchid=0&search_query=three+comings+of+christ

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