Day 4
SAVING GRACE: (56 minutes) Today is the first video of SIMU, Slaying Dragons. You will learn about the enemy, his game-plan, and his weapons... the 7 deadly sins. You will also learn about all the allies and our weapons, the virtues. Click on this link to watch the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZmOwrAm84I
Athletics: 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.
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) God is the bridegroom and we are his bride. The story is about God's search for us. To him, we are worth every drop of his blood, and as he says through his prophets and from the cross, He "thirsts" for us. I want you to slowly read the powerful reflection from Mother Teresa called "I Thirst" and know that it is Jesus speaking directly to you. Click HERE
After reading this reflection, I want you to make a commitment to go to confession this lent. Maybe you haven't gone in a long time...that is ok. Most people haven't. The priest will walk you through it. Just go and be liberated and soak in the mercy of the bridegroom. Need an examination of conscience? Click HERE
Theology of the Body: (3 minutes) Question of the day: (These questions come from your pre-challenge surveys)
"It is difficult to be chaste in today's world. When you are older and widowed and have known intimacy it is challenging to just give that up. It is also hard to find people who support that decision - even old friends who are Christians and/or Catholics. Quite honestly people make you feel as if you are weird or a religious fanatic by not engaging in premarital sex. So, when one occasionally caves to sins of the flesh and cannot partake in Holy Communion you then are not given any special grace to help and you may not have support from friends and family. This can then lead one to stay away from going to mass since you feel as if you are not participating in the most crucial part of the service. It is also unusual to see others not participating in receiving the holy eucharist. So it then becomes a bit easier to not attend church which then pulls you further from God. What's a girl to do?"
Answer: Lust is a sin of the flesh. The enemy takes what is good and true (love) and plagiarizes it into a counterfeit (lust). We are all looking for love....but we often settle for lust. Love is not a feeling or attraction, it is an act of the will. Chastity is about choosing love....choosing what is best for yourself and others, even when the choice involves suffering. Please watch today's SIMU video "Slaying Dragons" for more on how to overcome the lies of the enemy. We do need support from friends and family, and so we should always seek out friends who can help us become saints and hold us accountable. As far as going to mass, you should never avoid mass, especially out of fear of what others may think. You can get numerous graces and receive a spiritual communion. The Eucharist is the summit of the mass, but it is not required for you to receive every mass. It is good to avoid communion if you are not in the state of grace, but you can do everything you can to make sure you avoid that situation. When you fall, run to confession and utilize that gift often. Also note, the mass itself is an opportunity to receive grace and forgiveness...venial sins are forgiven at mass or whenever we make a genuine act of contrition. If however you are in the state of mortal sin, you must go to confession before receiving the Eucharist. So how do we know if a sin is mortal or venial? More on that later.
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.
SAVING GRACE: (56 minutes) Today is the first video of SIMU, Slaying Dragons. You will learn about the enemy, his game-plan, and his weapons... the 7 deadly sins. You will also learn about all the allies and our weapons, the virtues. Click on this link to watch the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZmOwrAm84I
Athletics: 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.
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) God is the bridegroom and we are his bride. The story is about God's search for us. To him, we are worth every drop of his blood, and as he says through his prophets and from the cross, He "thirsts" for us. I want you to slowly read the powerful reflection from Mother Teresa called "I Thirst" and know that it is Jesus speaking directly to you. Click HERE
After reading this reflection, I want you to make a commitment to go to confession this lent. Maybe you haven't gone in a long time...that is ok. Most people haven't. The priest will walk you through it. Just go and be liberated and soak in the mercy of the bridegroom. Need an examination of conscience? Click HERE
Theology of the Body: (3 minutes) Question of the day: (These questions come from your pre-challenge surveys)
"It is difficult to be chaste in today's world. When you are older and widowed and have known intimacy it is challenging to just give that up. It is also hard to find people who support that decision - even old friends who are Christians and/or Catholics. Quite honestly people make you feel as if you are weird or a religious fanatic by not engaging in premarital sex. So, when one occasionally caves to sins of the flesh and cannot partake in Holy Communion you then are not given any special grace to help and you may not have support from friends and family. This can then lead one to stay away from going to mass since you feel as if you are not participating in the most crucial part of the service. It is also unusual to see others not participating in receiving the holy eucharist. So it then becomes a bit easier to not attend church which then pulls you further from God. What's a girl to do?"
Answer: Lust is a sin of the flesh. The enemy takes what is good and true (love) and plagiarizes it into a counterfeit (lust). We are all looking for love....but we often settle for lust. Love is not a feeling or attraction, it is an act of the will. Chastity is about choosing love....choosing what is best for yourself and others, even when the choice involves suffering. Please watch today's SIMU video "Slaying Dragons" for more on how to overcome the lies of the enemy. We do need support from friends and family, and so we should always seek out friends who can help us become saints and hold us accountable. As far as going to mass, you should never avoid mass, especially out of fear of what others may think. You can get numerous graces and receive a spiritual communion. The Eucharist is the summit of the mass, but it is not required for you to receive every mass. It is good to avoid communion if you are not in the state of grace, but you can do everything you can to make sure you avoid that situation. When you fall, run to confession and utilize that gift often. Also note, the mass itself is an opportunity to receive grace and forgiveness...venial sins are forgiven at mass or whenever we make a genuine act of contrition. If however you are in the state of mortal sin, you must go to confession before receiving the Eucharist. So how do we know if a sin is mortal or venial? More on that later.
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.
