"I could tell that God had changed something in me." | Fred Morath

Growing up, Fred Morath struggled to feel seen and known and, by the time he was in college, he was in a very dark place. Heeding his father’s advice one day, he prayed a prayer of desperation and encountered God in a transformative way. This led him to pursue his faith and eventually seek God’s guidance by praying Blessed Sacrament. In this episode, Fred describes two instances of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament during which Jesus called him to serve him in very distinct ways, and shares how responding to those calls has allowed him to live a life of authentic joy, in service of the Lord. 

Show Notes: 

00:34 Fr. Mario and Leah introduce Fred Morath, husband, father to five children, and grandfather to ten grandchildren, who currently serves as the Business Manager at St. John Neumann Parish in Canton, MI. Fred shares about his role at the parish and the work he does for the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan.

02:31 Fred shares about his upbringing, feeling forgotten as one of ten children in his family, and going  to college and experiencing deep emotional pain. He recalls his father’s reminder to him to pray during his freshman year of college and shares how God began to change his life when he heeded his advice and found himself at a Christian charismatic prayer meeting.

07:47 Fr. Mario notes the impact of Fred’s father on his faith journey and Fred describes how his father’s  journey to faith prepared him to be this powerful influence in his life. 

11:20 Fred describes going to the Blessed Sacrament in his late twenties to ask God what to do with his life, knowing he wanted to start a business; which he ended up doing, despite hearing God call him to “be a watchman.” He shares how many years later, during a silent retreat, he prayed a similar prayer and  he sensed the call, once again, to “be a watchman,” and to help  a friend of his who was trying to launch  a Biblical school. After trying to ignore this invitation from God for a few weeks, Fred shares that he eventually approached his friend and took steps to support his endeavor with the Biblical school — something he remains involved in to this day.

15:52 Fred explains how, through Scripture, he also came to understand more fully what God was asking of him when he heard the call to “be a watchman” and explains what that means to him. 

18:00 Fr. Mario comments on the grace present in Fred’s life and Fred explains how much he leans on the Lord’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament throughout the various needs that come up in his life. He describes what his time spent before the Blessed Sacrament is like, in spite of distractions. He talks about his preference for praying the Rosary, with the saints, or with Scripture.

26:22  Fred offers an encouragement to listeners, to approach the Blessed Sacrament in the midst of difficulties, problems, difficulty, and anger, and reminds us that time is never wasted with the Lord.