Day 34
Saving Grace: (1 minute) Catechism quote of the day.....
"The Church ... is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy. This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as 'alone holy,' loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God."289 The Church, then, is "the holy People of God,"290 and her members are called "saints."291 Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 823
Question of the Day....
"At church when do you bow and when do you genuflect."
In the Roman rite, we bow to the altar and we genuflect (go to one knee as to kneel before "the King") to the Eucharist (the tabernacle when the Eucharist is contained within). The customs of bowing, prostration, and genuflecting differs in the different rites of the Church, as does the sign of the cross. In the Eastern Rite, they use three fingers and do the sign of the cross from right to left. The three fingers represent the Trinity and the other two fingers represent Christ's divinity and humanity. In the Roman Rite, we do the sign of the cross with all five fingers and go from left to right. The five fingers represent the five wounds of Christ on the Cross.
Athletics: (30 minutes) We will use the acronym S.P.O.R.T.S to focus on 6 virtues that will keep you focused all 40 days.
Virtue of the day: Perseverance. Go the extra mile today in the tasks you do. Be strong and courageous. Persevere to the end.
Never Give Up If there ever was a tale of American leadership and perseverance, it is that of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was born into poverty in 1809. Through his life he continually faced setbacks and defeats. He twice failed in business, lost eight elections, and suffered a nervous breakdown. Defeat and failure were often beckoning him, inviting him to quit, but he refused that invitation, and his story is one of extraordinary perseverance. This is a sketch of his life.
In 1816, Lincoln’s family was forced out of their home, and he had to go to work to support them. In 1818, his mother died. In 1831, he failed in business. In 1832, he ran for the Illinois House of Representatives and lost. In 1832, he lost his job. Later that same year, he decided he wanted to go to law school, but his application was rejected. In 1833, Lincoln borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business, but by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent then next seventeen years paying off that debt. In 1834, he ran for the state legislature again and lost. In 1835, Lincoln was engaged to be married, but his fiancée died and it broke his heart. In 1836, Lincoln suffered a total nervous breakdown and was confined to his bed for six months. In 1838, he sought to become Speaker of the state legislature and was defeated. In 1840, he sought to become elector and was defeated. In 1843, he ran for Congress and lost. In 1846, he ran for Congress again; this time he won and finally made his way to Washington. In 1848, Lincoln ran for reelection to Congress and lost. In 1849, he sought the job of land officer but was rejected. In 1854, he ran for Senate of the United States and lost. In 1856, he sought the vice presidential nomination at his party’s national convention. He got fewer than on hundred votes and lost. In 1858, he ran for the United State Senate again and lost again. Then, in 1860, Lincoln decided to run for president. He won and went on to become one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States and one of the finest models of leadership in modern times. In a speech, Lincoln said, “The path was worn and slippery. My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself, ‘It’s a slip and not a fall.’”
Exercise for 30 minutes today.
Instructor's Manual: (5 Minutes) Get the memo for today. Click here for today's readings. http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/
Need to Know Him: (5 minutes) Say at least one decade of the rosary today. As we approach Holy Week, focus on the fourth sorrowful mystery, Jesus Carries His Cross. "What you do when you feel like you can do no more is how you carry the cross. That is the ultimate war within. The body cries for mercy, but the heart says to push on." -excerpt from "Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Mission"
(Bonus: You could say the whole rosary while exercising and accomplish two challenges at the same time :)
THEOLOGY OF THE BODY: (5 minutes) The following excerpt is from C.S. Lewis's book "The Great Divorce", in chapter 11, about the "Lizard of Lust". It is a powerful reflection on every person's battle with lust. The setting is a soul about to enter heaven, but decides to leave because he can't keep the lizard on his shoulder quiet. He meets an angel who offers to take care of the problem, and the following conversation ensues.
I saw coming towards us a Ghost who carried something on his shoulder. Like all the Ghosts, he was unsubstantial, but they differed from one another as smokes differ. Some had been whitish; this one was dark and oily. What sat on his shoulder was a little red lizard, and it was twitching its tail like a whip and whispering things in his ear. As we caught sight of him he turned his head to the reptile with a snarl of impatience. "Shut up, I tell you!" he said. It wagged its tail and continued to whisper to him. He ceased snarling, and presently began to smile. Then he turned and started to limp westward, away from the mountains.
"Off so soon?" said a voice.
The speaker was more or less human in shape but larger than a man, and so bright that I could hardly look at him. His presence smote on my eyes and on my body too (for there was heat coming from him as well as light) like the morning sun at the beginning of a tyrannous summer day.
"Yes. I'm off," said the Ghost. "Thanks for all your hospitality. But it's no good, you see.
I told this little chap," (here he indicated the lizard), "that he'd have to be quiet if he came -which he insisted on doing. Of course his stuff won't do here: I realise that. But he won't stop. I shall just have to go home."
"Would you like me to make him quiet?" said the flaming Spirit-an angel, as I now understood.
"Of course I would," said the Ghost.
"Then I will kill him," said the Angel, taking a step forward.
"Oh-ah-look out! You're burning me. Keep away," said the Ghost, retreating.
"Don't you want him killed?"
"You didn't say anything about killing him at first. I hardlv meant to bother you with anything so drastic as that."
"It's the onlv way," said the Angel, whose burning hands were now very close to the lizard. "Shall I kill it?"
"Well, that's a further question. I'm quite open to consider it, but it's a new point, isn't it? I mean, for the moment I was only thinking about silencing it because up here-well, it's so damned embarrassing."
"May I kill it?"
"Well, there's time to discuss that later."
"There is no time. May I kill it?"
"Please, I never meant to be such a nuisance. Please-really-don't bother. Look! It's gone to sleep of its own accord. I'm sure it'll be all right now. Thanks ever so much."
"May I kill it?"
"Honestly, I don't think there's the slightest necessity for that. I'm sure I shall be able to keep it in order now. I think the gradual process would be far better than killing it."
"The gradual process is of no use at all."
"Don't you think so? Well, I'll think over what you've said very carefully. I honestly will. In fact I'd let you kill it now, but as a matter of fact I'm not feeling frightfully well to-day. It would be silly to do it now. I'd need to be in good health for the operation. Some other day, perhaps."
"There is no other day. All days are present now."
"Get back! You're burning me. How can I tell you to kill it? You'd kill me if you did."
"It is not so."
"Why, you're hurting me now."
"I never said it wouldn't hurt you. I said it wouldn't kill you."
"Oh, I know. You think I'm a coward. But it isn't that. Really it isn't. I say! Let me run back by tonight's bus and get an opinion from my own doctor. I'll come again the first moment I can."
"This moment contains all moments."
"Why are you torturing me? You are jeering at me. How can I let you tear me to pieces? If you wanted to help me, why didn't you kill the damned thing without asking me-before I knew? It would be all over by now if you had."
"I cannot kill it against your will. It is impossible. Have I your permission?"
The Angel's hands were almost closed on the Lizard, but not quite. Then the Lizard began chattering to the Ghost so loud that even I could hear what it was saying.
"Be careful," it said. "He can do what he says. He can kill me. One fatal word from you and he will! Then you'll be without me for ever and ever. It's not natural. How could you live? You'd be only a sort of ghost, not a real man as you are now. He doesn't understand. He's only a cold, bloodless abstract thing. It may be natural for him, but it isn't for us. Yes, yes. I know there are no real pleasures now, only dreams. But aren't they better than nothing? And I'll be so good. I admit I've sometimes gone too far in the past, but I promise I won't do it again. I'll give you nothing but really nice dreams-all sweet and fresh and almost innocent. You might say, quite innocent____"
"Have I your permission?" said the Angel to the Ghost.
"I know it will kill me."
"It won't. But supposing it did?"
"You're right. It would be better to be dead than to live with this creature."
"Then I may?"
"Damn and blast you! Go on can't you? Get it over. Do what you like," bellowed the Ghost: but ended, whimpering, "God help me. God help me."
There is a happy ending to this story, as the lizard of lust transforms into a great stallion of love. Lust is love's counterfeit, it will never satisfy you. Kill the lizard before it kills you.
Sacrifice and Service: (10 seconds) Say this simple prayer: "Lord, I offer up the sacrifices and sufferings of this day for......" Pick any soul...lost sheep, family, friends, enemies, strangers, souls in purgatory...anybody. When you get busy and
distracted just remember, other souls are counting on you. You have the power to help get souls to heaven....don't waste it. You may offer up your days for whomever you please....friends, family, strangers, souls in purgatory, enemies.....however, I strongly encourage you to offer up each day of this challenge for "disengaged Catholics" or "lost sheep". Let's bring them home.
Saving Grace: (1 minute) Catechism quote of the day.....
"The Church ... is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy. This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as 'alone holy,' loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God."289 The Church, then, is "the holy People of God,"290 and her members are called "saints."291 Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 823
Question of the Day....
"At church when do you bow and when do you genuflect."
In the Roman rite, we bow to the altar and we genuflect (go to one knee as to kneel before "the King") to the Eucharist (the tabernacle when the Eucharist is contained within). The customs of bowing, prostration, and genuflecting differs in the different rites of the Church, as does the sign of the cross. In the Eastern Rite, they use three fingers and do the sign of the cross from right to left. The three fingers represent the Trinity and the other two fingers represent Christ's divinity and humanity. In the Roman Rite, we do the sign of the cross with all five fingers and go from left to right. The five fingers represent the five wounds of Christ on the Cross.
Athletics: (30 minutes) We will use the acronym S.P.O.R.T.S to focus on 6 virtues that will keep you focused all 40 days.
Virtue of the day: Perseverance. Go the extra mile today in the tasks you do. Be strong and courageous. Persevere to the end.
Never Give Up If there ever was a tale of American leadership and perseverance, it is that of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was born into poverty in 1809. Through his life he continually faced setbacks and defeats. He twice failed in business, lost eight elections, and suffered a nervous breakdown. Defeat and failure were often beckoning him, inviting him to quit, but he refused that invitation, and his story is one of extraordinary perseverance. This is a sketch of his life.
In 1816, Lincoln’s family was forced out of their home, and he had to go to work to support them. In 1818, his mother died. In 1831, he failed in business. In 1832, he ran for the Illinois House of Representatives and lost. In 1832, he lost his job. Later that same year, he decided he wanted to go to law school, but his application was rejected. In 1833, Lincoln borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business, but by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent then next seventeen years paying off that debt. In 1834, he ran for the state legislature again and lost. In 1835, Lincoln was engaged to be married, but his fiancée died and it broke his heart. In 1836, Lincoln suffered a total nervous breakdown and was confined to his bed for six months. In 1838, he sought to become Speaker of the state legislature and was defeated. In 1840, he sought to become elector and was defeated. In 1843, he ran for Congress and lost. In 1846, he ran for Congress again; this time he won and finally made his way to Washington. In 1848, Lincoln ran for reelection to Congress and lost. In 1849, he sought the job of land officer but was rejected. In 1854, he ran for Senate of the United States and lost. In 1856, he sought the vice presidential nomination at his party’s national convention. He got fewer than on hundred votes and lost. In 1858, he ran for the United State Senate again and lost again. Then, in 1860, Lincoln decided to run for president. He won and went on to become one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States and one of the finest models of leadership in modern times. In a speech, Lincoln said, “The path was worn and slippery. My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself, ‘It’s a slip and not a fall.’”
Exercise for 30 minutes today.
Instructor's Manual: (5 Minutes) Get the memo for today. Click here for today's readings. http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/
Need to Know Him: (5 minutes) Say at least one decade of the rosary today. As we approach Holy Week, focus on the fourth sorrowful mystery, Jesus Carries His Cross. "What you do when you feel like you can do no more is how you carry the cross. That is the ultimate war within. The body cries for mercy, but the heart says to push on." -excerpt from "Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Mission"
(Bonus: You could say the whole rosary while exercising and accomplish two challenges at the same time :)
THEOLOGY OF THE BODY: (5 minutes) The following excerpt is from C.S. Lewis's book "The Great Divorce", in chapter 11, about the "Lizard of Lust". It is a powerful reflection on every person's battle with lust. The setting is a soul about to enter heaven, but decides to leave because he can't keep the lizard on his shoulder quiet. He meets an angel who offers to take care of the problem, and the following conversation ensues.
I saw coming towards us a Ghost who carried something on his shoulder. Like all the Ghosts, he was unsubstantial, but they differed from one another as smokes differ. Some had been whitish; this one was dark and oily. What sat on his shoulder was a little red lizard, and it was twitching its tail like a whip and whispering things in his ear. As we caught sight of him he turned his head to the reptile with a snarl of impatience. "Shut up, I tell you!" he said. It wagged its tail and continued to whisper to him. He ceased snarling, and presently began to smile. Then he turned and started to limp westward, away from the mountains.
"Off so soon?" said a voice.
The speaker was more or less human in shape but larger than a man, and so bright that I could hardly look at him. His presence smote on my eyes and on my body too (for there was heat coming from him as well as light) like the morning sun at the beginning of a tyrannous summer day.
"Yes. I'm off," said the Ghost. "Thanks for all your hospitality. But it's no good, you see.
I told this little chap," (here he indicated the lizard), "that he'd have to be quiet if he came -which he insisted on doing. Of course his stuff won't do here: I realise that. But he won't stop. I shall just have to go home."
"Would you like me to make him quiet?" said the flaming Spirit-an angel, as I now understood.
"Of course I would," said the Ghost.
"Then I will kill him," said the Angel, taking a step forward.
"Oh-ah-look out! You're burning me. Keep away," said the Ghost, retreating.
"Don't you want him killed?"
"You didn't say anything about killing him at first. I hardlv meant to bother you with anything so drastic as that."
"It's the onlv way," said the Angel, whose burning hands were now very close to the lizard. "Shall I kill it?"
"Well, that's a further question. I'm quite open to consider it, but it's a new point, isn't it? I mean, for the moment I was only thinking about silencing it because up here-well, it's so damned embarrassing."
"May I kill it?"
"Well, there's time to discuss that later."
"There is no time. May I kill it?"
"Please, I never meant to be such a nuisance. Please-really-don't bother. Look! It's gone to sleep of its own accord. I'm sure it'll be all right now. Thanks ever so much."
"May I kill it?"
"Honestly, I don't think there's the slightest necessity for that. I'm sure I shall be able to keep it in order now. I think the gradual process would be far better than killing it."
"The gradual process is of no use at all."
"Don't you think so? Well, I'll think over what you've said very carefully. I honestly will. In fact I'd let you kill it now, but as a matter of fact I'm not feeling frightfully well to-day. It would be silly to do it now. I'd need to be in good health for the operation. Some other day, perhaps."
"There is no other day. All days are present now."
"Get back! You're burning me. How can I tell you to kill it? You'd kill me if you did."
"It is not so."
"Why, you're hurting me now."
"I never said it wouldn't hurt you. I said it wouldn't kill you."
"Oh, I know. You think I'm a coward. But it isn't that. Really it isn't. I say! Let me run back by tonight's bus and get an opinion from my own doctor. I'll come again the first moment I can."
"This moment contains all moments."
"Why are you torturing me? You are jeering at me. How can I let you tear me to pieces? If you wanted to help me, why didn't you kill the damned thing without asking me-before I knew? It would be all over by now if you had."
"I cannot kill it against your will. It is impossible. Have I your permission?"
The Angel's hands were almost closed on the Lizard, but not quite. Then the Lizard began chattering to the Ghost so loud that even I could hear what it was saying.
"Be careful," it said. "He can do what he says. He can kill me. One fatal word from you and he will! Then you'll be without me for ever and ever. It's not natural. How could you live? You'd be only a sort of ghost, not a real man as you are now. He doesn't understand. He's only a cold, bloodless abstract thing. It may be natural for him, but it isn't for us. Yes, yes. I know there are no real pleasures now, only dreams. But aren't they better than nothing? And I'll be so good. I admit I've sometimes gone too far in the past, but I promise I won't do it again. I'll give you nothing but really nice dreams-all sweet and fresh and almost innocent. You might say, quite innocent____"
"Have I your permission?" said the Angel to the Ghost.
"I know it will kill me."
"It won't. But supposing it did?"
"You're right. It would be better to be dead than to live with this creature."
"Then I may?"
"Damn and blast you! Go on can't you? Get it over. Do what you like," bellowed the Ghost: but ended, whimpering, "God help me. God help me."
There is a happy ending to this story, as the lizard of lust transforms into a great stallion of love. Lust is love's counterfeit, it will never satisfy you. Kill the lizard before it kills you.
Sacrifice and Service: (10 seconds) Say this simple prayer: "Lord, I offer up the sacrifices and sufferings of this day for......" Pick any soul...lost sheep, family, friends, enemies, strangers, souls in purgatory...anybody. When you get busy and
distracted just remember, other souls are counting on you. You have the power to help get souls to heaven....don't waste it. You may offer up your days for whomever you please....friends, family, strangers, souls in purgatory, enemies.....however, I strongly encourage you to offer up each day of this challenge for "disengaged Catholics" or "lost sheep". Let's bring them home.
