Dare Great Things For Christ

DGT Episode 87 Courageous Leadership Part 8 - Pope St. John Paul II

When most people speak about leadership today, they mean it in the context of business.  And there are ample examples of great leadership in the world of business, and ample examples of Catholics who have typified that same leadership in the world of business.  But I’d like to focus us today on the reflection of a great Saint who was not a business leader but in fact the Pope, Pope St. John Paul II, and see how his life teaches us about Catholic leadership.

DGT Episode 86 - Courageous Leaders Part 7 - St. Stanislaus

Today, leadership requires courage.  In times like ours it’s easier to stop rather than to keep going.  But what’s the secret to courage?  In the lives of the saints we find many examples of courageous leadership.  But in the life of St. Stanislaus, Bishop of Krakow, there is a special lesson that speaks to each one of us: the strength of consistent integrity.

DGT Episode 84 - Courageous Leaders Part 5 - St. John Bosco

I think that most of us feel that when you do something heroic you should be recognized for it.  Almost like, “Good heroes usually win.”  In the story of St. John Bosco, however, this was not the case.  He had to defend himself, work hard, be under appreciated, and make his case boldly in a situation where people did not believe in him, or make it easy for him.  His is a story of true heroism.

 

 

DGT Episode 83 - Courageous Leaders Part 5 - Saint Junipero Serra

Courageous leadership requires courageous leaders.  And that’s what we find in the lives of many Saints, but few saints excel in the areas of zeal and apostolic labors like Saint Junipero Serra.  I’d like to look at his life in particular because it reminds us of the urgency to both spread the Gospel and the willingness to lay down our lives in order to make this happen.  Obviously this is something that we can apply to all the calls of God in our lives.

DGT Episode 82 - Courageous Leaders Part 4 - St. Catherine Drexel

All of us are inspired by the lives of Saints.  I think it is important that we remember, though, that Saints come in all different stripes.  Some are poor and destitute and others come from lives of affluence.  What makes Saints great is not their background but how they use it for the love of God.  In today’s Saint, St. Catherine Drexel we learn the surprising story of a young woman of wealth who becomes holy for others.

DGT Episode 81 - Courageous Leaders Part 3 - St. Francis Xavier Cabrini

When you read the lives of the Saints you can get the impression that things were pretty easy for them.  Afterall, they’re the Saints!  It looks like their lives just kind of roll along and they do wonderful things for God.  A far cry from what we have to go through.  When you read the life of Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini that impression can change.  This was a woman of terrific courage who faced amazing hardships and endured.

DGT Episode 80 - Courageous Leaders Part 2 - St. Marianne Cope

Heroes come in all sizes and stripes.  We are well versed in the lives of heroic priests and bishops in the Catholic church.  But not many of realize the heroism intrinsic in America women saints.  One of the most amazing of them is St. Marianne Cope.  I want to tell you about her life and her example of courageous leadership.

DGT Episode 79 - Courageous Leaders Part 1 - St. Damien of Molokai

Fr. Nathan's series on courageous leaders to inspire us during difficult times!  Part 1 discusses the courage of St. Damien of Molokai.

DGT Episode 78 - Christ's Mission, Our Mission Part 12 - Leading Through His Death

There are many things that make us stop as leaders.  Things that keep us from doing that job that we’re here to do.  One of those biggest things is our fear of death.  How amazing then to follow Jesus Christ who came in order to die and to save us through His death.  What lessons does that hold for you and me today

DGT Episode 77 - Christ's Mission, Our Mission Part 11 - To Preach The Gospel

I think all of us agree that preaching the Gospel is a good thing.  I think all of us actually understand that that forms the heart of our faith.  But I don’ think all of us understand how we who are engaged in the world in secular business and in professions can actually be expected to preach the Gospel.  What does it look like for a Catholic business leader or professional to preach the Gospel?