Rob Sexton

Rob Sexton

Michigan
Catholic writer, husband, and father. Sharing the costly things- faith, masculinity, suffering, and the pursuit of holiness. Read more at https://costly-things.ghost.io/ or support the mission at coff.ee/costlythingswriting
05
Sep
The Author of Beauty

The Author of Beauty

A reflection on Wisdom 13, Augustine’s Confessions, and the paradox of the Cross: why Truth without Beauty blinds, and how the suffering of Christ reveals both most fully.
2 min read
21
Aug
Selling Authority: Masculinity in Crisis

Selling Authority: Masculinity in Crisis

The crisis of manhood won’t be solved by culture-war slogans or borrowed masculinity. True authority is forged in the Confessional, at the altar, and in the daily labor of leading the domestic church.
6 min read
19
Aug
Take Your Junk to Prayer: Letting God's Light Transform the Darkness

Take Your Junk to Prayer: Letting God's Light Transform the Darkness

Take your spiritual junk to prayer. Beyond the sins we see and confess lies a deeper darkness, the raw material of our wounds, habits, and struggles. God doesn’t just want to fix our behavior—He wants to transform the very junk of our lives into agents of grace.
6 min read
15
Aug
We Remember, and Tremble

We Remember, and Tremble

A family vacation, a brutal river, and a familiar Old Testament reading converge in this reflection on spiritual complacency, reverence, and the quiet danger of letting awe fade. We must remember who God is—and tremble because of it.
5 min read
05
Aug
Hi-Fi Faith: Cultivating Silence and Curating Holy Sound

Hi-Fi Faith: Cultivating Silence and Curating Holy Sound

In a noisy world, silence isn’t just a tool—it’s a whole toolbox. From intentional quiet hours to curating the soundtrack of your home, here’s how our family guards the rare moments of stillness, embraces the holy noise of family life, and keeps the domestic church a place of peace.
5 min read
01
Aug
God's Beet Field

God's Beet Field

The parable of the vineyard isn’t just about God’s grace—it’s about us. About the ways we measure ourselves against others, and the quiet resentment that creeps in when we think we’ve worked harder for the same reward.
4 min read
29
Jul
The Sacrifice of the Sacrifice

The Sacrifice of the Sacrifice

Voluntary penance doesn’t need to be extreme to be effective. In this week’s Toolbox, we explore hidden sacrifices, prudent practices, and how parenthood can sanctify even our exhaustion.
5 min read
22
Jul
Confession: A System, Not an Event

Confession: A System, Not an Event

Regular confession isn't just for the saints or the scrupulous. It's part of a spiritual system that trains your will, exposes hidden sin, and makes grace real. This post unpacks how confession and daily examination work together as tools for serious Christian growth.
4 min read
18
Jul
God's Love Letter to Me: A Reflection from Adoration

God's Love Letter to Me: A Reflection from Adoration

A personal reflection from Adoration, born of prayer during the Ignatian Exercises. In silence, God spoke—reminding me that His love is not just true, but personal. This is what I heard.
2 min read
15
Jul
What Do You Do in Adoration?

What Do You Do in Adoration?

I’ve walked into Adoration in despair and walked out with peace. I’ve experienced moments of clarity, deep consolation, even tears. But more often than not, the grace is slow and hidden. The change happens below the surface.
4 min read