Day 9
Saving Grace: (2 Minutes) Friday is a day of spiritual battle. Put on your armor by saying the following prayer, taken from St. Patrick's Breastplate. I love this prayer...bring on the fasting.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
For the entire prayer, go to http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/st-patricks-breastplate.html
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: Self discipline...This virtue will really come in handy today because of your task in Sacrifice and Service. Every athlete knows that to be successful, you need self discipline. You can't be a champion without it. You can't be a saint without it either. It is not about making yourself miserable. I assure you, the level of your happiness is directly proportionate to your level of self discipline.
Instructor's Manual: Questions of the day
1. When I read the Bible, I think that I am reading it with understanding, however, when I hear our Priest discuss Sacred Scripture, he creates an understanding of it that is so much deeper. I feel that my own understanding is completely inadequate. What can I read that might help me gain such Biblical and historical insight?
2. Why aren't there more BIBLE STUDIES offered in the Catholic Churches? Most Catholics know nothing of the bible. Courses in Introduction to the Bible could be offered as a beginning. The women in my Women's Spirituality group are hungering for the bible.
1. When reading the bible, there are several ways to look at the readings. We can ask how the reading relates to the people of those times (historical context). We can ask how the reading relates to Jesus (everything is Christocentric, even the Old Testament). We can ask how the reading relates to us now (every character is a mirror to teach us something about ourselves.) We can ask how the reading points toward heaven or the future. Hopefully you are following along with the videos. Jeff Cavins Great Adventure Bible study opened so many doors for me to understanding scripture and how to read it. We should always look to the Church to guide us though. After all, it is the Catholic Church who gave us the bible. Several hundred years after Christ the Church had two different councils to decide which books were inspired by God and belong in sacred scripture. For the first thousand years after Jesus, very few people even had a bible (there was no printing press). We need the Church and her Tradition to guide us in interpreting the scriptures, otherwise we can start branching with thousands of different interpretations. There are currently over 30,000 different Christian denominations, all claiming they have been given the proper interpretation. Without the Church, division happens quickly. We can be confident that the Church was founded by Jesus Christ and is guided by the Holy Spirit. The Church is "the pillar and foundation of truth" according to the bible (Tim: 3:15).
2. Be the difference that makes the difference. If there are no studies, it is because we have not stepped up to lead them. There is a wealth of resources, we just have to use them. http://ascensionpress.com/t/category/study-programs/catholic-bible-study
NEED TO KNOW HIM: (20 Minutes) If you want to know Jesus, walk with him on his way to the cross. My mother used to bring me to the Stations of the Cross every Friday night during lent. I pretended I didn't want to go, but I loved going to the stations...smell the incense and listen to the story of the human side of Jesus and the suffering he went through for you and me. It becomes so real. Experience the power of the stations this lent. The Stations of the Cross are a powerful way to get to know God. If you are able and the stations are available at your parish....go. If not, pray your own favorite version in a quiet place. Don't rush through it. Soak in the story. Here is my favorite version in which Jesus speaks to us as "my other self"....a reminder that we are one with Jesus, and we must pick up the crosses of our ordinary life and carry them with heroic virtue for the sake of the Kingdom....just like Jesus. http://www.the-latinmass.com/id79.html
Theology of the Body: (60 seconds) Story of the day
Puddles and Dandelions When I see a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my garden, but my kids, they see flowers for mom and blowing white fluff you can wish upon.
When I look at an old drunk who smiles at me, I see a smelly old dirty person who probably wants money, so I look away. My kids, they see someone smiling at them so they smile back.
When I hear music I love, I know I can’t carry a tune and I don’t have much rhythm, so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids, they feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words as loud as they can, and if they don’t know the words, they make up their own.
When I feel the wind in my face, I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids, they close their eyes, spread their arms, and they fly with it until they fall to the ground laughing.
When I pray, I say, thee and thou, and grant me this and give me that. My kids, they say, Hi God, thanks for my toys and thanks for my friends, and, please keep the bad dreams away tonight. And, sorry God, I don’t want to go to heaven yet. I would miss my mommy and my daddy.
When I see a mud puddle, I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets. My kids, they sit in it. They see dams to build and rivers to cross and worms to play with.
I wonder. Do you think God gives us children so we could teach them, or, do you think God gives us children so they can teach us?
-Author unknown
“The soul is healed by being with children.” -Fyodor Dostoersky
Sacrifice and Service: (No time! It will actually give you more time) Today is Friday, a day of fasting. I recommend you don't eat meat and don't eat between meals, the same as you would on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Also, eat healthy. Don't eat and drink junk food/drink. Remember, these are not rules to follow. It is not an arbitrary hoop to jump through. The purpose is to make a sacrifice and offer it for other souls, but in doing so you will be freeing yourself. You will become master of your body. The body makes a wonderful servant, but a horrible master. We find ourselves by giving ourselves away, but you can't give what you do not first possess. That is why you can not serve unless you are willing to sacrifice. Don't forget to offer up your sacrifices of this day for a particular person.
Saving Grace: (2 Minutes) Friday is a day of spiritual battle. Put on your armor by saying the following prayer, taken from St. Patrick's Breastplate. I love this prayer...bring on the fasting.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
For the entire prayer, go to http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/st-patricks-breastplate.html
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: Self discipline...This virtue will really come in handy today because of your task in Sacrifice and Service. Every athlete knows that to be successful, you need self discipline. You can't be a champion without it. You can't be a saint without it either. It is not about making yourself miserable. I assure you, the level of your happiness is directly proportionate to your level of self discipline.
Instructor's Manual: Questions of the day
1. When I read the Bible, I think that I am reading it with understanding, however, when I hear our Priest discuss Sacred Scripture, he creates an understanding of it that is so much deeper. I feel that my own understanding is completely inadequate. What can I read that might help me gain such Biblical and historical insight?
2. Why aren't there more BIBLE STUDIES offered in the Catholic Churches? Most Catholics know nothing of the bible. Courses in Introduction to the Bible could be offered as a beginning. The women in my Women's Spirituality group are hungering for the bible.
1. When reading the bible, there are several ways to look at the readings. We can ask how the reading relates to the people of those times (historical context). We can ask how the reading relates to Jesus (everything is Christocentric, even the Old Testament). We can ask how the reading relates to us now (every character is a mirror to teach us something about ourselves.) We can ask how the reading points toward heaven or the future. Hopefully you are following along with the videos. Jeff Cavins Great Adventure Bible study opened so many doors for me to understanding scripture and how to read it. We should always look to the Church to guide us though. After all, it is the Catholic Church who gave us the bible. Several hundred years after Christ the Church had two different councils to decide which books were inspired by God and belong in sacred scripture. For the first thousand years after Jesus, very few people even had a bible (there was no printing press). We need the Church and her Tradition to guide us in interpreting the scriptures, otherwise we can start branching with thousands of different interpretations. There are currently over 30,000 different Christian denominations, all claiming they have been given the proper interpretation. Without the Church, division happens quickly. We can be confident that the Church was founded by Jesus Christ and is guided by the Holy Spirit. The Church is "the pillar and foundation of truth" according to the bible (Tim: 3:15).
2. Be the difference that makes the difference. If there are no studies, it is because we have not stepped up to lead them. There is a wealth of resources, we just have to use them. http://ascensionpress.com/t/category/study-programs/catholic-bible-study
NEED TO KNOW HIM: (20 Minutes) If you want to know Jesus, walk with him on his way to the cross. My mother used to bring me to the Stations of the Cross every Friday night during lent. I pretended I didn't want to go, but I loved going to the stations...smell the incense and listen to the story of the human side of Jesus and the suffering he went through for you and me. It becomes so real. Experience the power of the stations this lent. The Stations of the Cross are a powerful way to get to know God. If you are able and the stations are available at your parish....go. If not, pray your own favorite version in a quiet place. Don't rush through it. Soak in the story. Here is my favorite version in which Jesus speaks to us as "my other self"....a reminder that we are one with Jesus, and we must pick up the crosses of our ordinary life and carry them with heroic virtue for the sake of the Kingdom....just like Jesus. http://www.the-latinmass.com/id79.html
Theology of the Body: (60 seconds) Story of the day
Puddles and Dandelions When I see a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my garden, but my kids, they see flowers for mom and blowing white fluff you can wish upon.
When I look at an old drunk who smiles at me, I see a smelly old dirty person who probably wants money, so I look away. My kids, they see someone smiling at them so they smile back.
When I hear music I love, I know I can’t carry a tune and I don’t have much rhythm, so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids, they feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words as loud as they can, and if they don’t know the words, they make up their own.
When I feel the wind in my face, I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids, they close their eyes, spread their arms, and they fly with it until they fall to the ground laughing.
When I pray, I say, thee and thou, and grant me this and give me that. My kids, they say, Hi God, thanks for my toys and thanks for my friends, and, please keep the bad dreams away tonight. And, sorry God, I don’t want to go to heaven yet. I would miss my mommy and my daddy.
When I see a mud puddle, I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets. My kids, they sit in it. They see dams to build and rivers to cross and worms to play with.
I wonder. Do you think God gives us children so we could teach them, or, do you think God gives us children so they can teach us?
-Author unknown
“The soul is healed by being with children.” -Fyodor Dostoersky
Sacrifice and Service: (No time! It will actually give you more time) Today is Friday, a day of fasting. I recommend you don't eat meat and don't eat between meals, the same as you would on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Also, eat healthy. Don't eat and drink junk food/drink. Remember, these are not rules to follow. It is not an arbitrary hoop to jump through. The purpose is to make a sacrifice and offer it for other souls, but in doing so you will be freeing yourself. You will become master of your body. The body makes a wonderful servant, but a horrible master. We find ourselves by giving ourselves away, but you can't give what you do not first possess. That is why you can not serve unless you are willing to sacrifice. Don't forget to offer up your sacrifices of this day for a particular person.
