FORMED 4+

In my busy life I find it hard to sit and read a book on spirituality, or hard to pray set prayers for long stretches at a time. Sometimes, even at Mass, my mind wanders and I miss the message. I feel “occupied” with life and I don’t want to pray.

Using FORMED is like finding an oasis in a dry expanse. I can find books on audio for the car or while I get ready in the morning - like the Advent audio “Meditations On the Art of Waiting by Mary Francis” was soooo helpful relieving my stress as I wrapped presents at Christmas. Watching saint movies with my kids, or opening important topics to discuss with my teens through YDisciple, FORMED bridges a gap I’m sometimes at a loss to know how to cross. Even encouragement for my marriage is a result of FORMED.

Vastly more important than helping my family relationships, FORMED brings me closer to God. I can feel His presence and hear His leadings after I’ve meditated on the application of something I’ve heard or seen on FORMED. I’m hungry and have the strength, the desire to seek after God once my soul has been touched by one of the shows in FORMED. And at times, I need all the help I can get!!!

I have been a Catholic all my life. My parents raised my siblings and I with the sacraments, the saints, the rosary and a Catholic education. My husband and I raised our children in the same way but sadly, the secular world as seduced them away from the “faith of our fathers”. Since I discovered Formed, I have learned so much about our beautiful faith and I find such comfort in learning more about the sacraments, saints and teachings of the Church. Watching the series “Presence” and “Forgiven” I was brought to tears of love to rediscover the joy of these incredible gifts from Our Loving Father! The audio series about St. Patrick and St. Cecelia were also amazing. My grandchildren enjoyed the Ryan Defrates series. The quality and entertaining potential of the movies about Maria Goretti, Mother Theresa, and St. Barbara have enriched my life and bolstered my faith. Any time I am struggling with an issue, I can get on Formed and find wisdom, grace and peace. Thank you for doing this great work for all of us in the Church Militant. Please pray for my children and grandchildren, siblings and cousins who have lost their way. God bless you all.

I have used and enjoyed Formed since our parish signed up a couple of years ago. I’ve read ebooks, watched various bible studies and films, and enjoyed special devotions for Lent and Advent. It has been a blessing.

I would like to see more resources on Catholic Social Teaching as I believe it would guide me as I seek to do my part in this broken, beautiful world. I appreciate the very short series with the Brother who draws so effectively (Brother Mickey?), and I would like to those in the parish. But I also need more in-depth resources for my own study.

One thing I’ve found frustrating in recent months is that the app logs me out between uses (not every time; just sometimes). To get back in requires an email address, a visit to an email inbox, and a click on a link. It’s obviously doable, but when I have a just a few minutes or am on my phone, it’s a lot of steps and especially on my phone where I can’t see as well, I leave and read something else. I would appreciate a simpler process or just not getting logged out. Overall, though, I enjoy Formed and find it helpful.