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LiturgyWhat is Liturgy?
What we often hear is the words, The Liturgy of the Mass. But what does
that mean? These words refer to what happens during the Mass, (the
service of God or work during the Mass). Liturgy is the public work or serviceof God by which Christ continues the redemption through the Church.
Meaning
As with all Gods work, the liturgy is His blessing to us. Our response is
adoration and praise.Focus
The saving life and mission of Christ is the central teaching of our faith: the
Churchs liturgy proclaims and celebrates this same mystery. By the Liturgy
of the Word (proclamation) and the Liturgy of the Eucharist (the offering of
the bread and wine and there consecration), we celebrate the life, passion,
death, and resurrection of Jesus in the Mass. On the altar at the words of
the priest, re-presentation of Calvary occurs and we receive the Resurrected
Jesus in Holy Communion. We unite our works, sacrifices, sufferings and our
self in union with the one sacrifice of Jesus as He offers Himself to the Father,on the altar, in union with the Holy Spirit.
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Liturgy
What is Included in the Sacred Liturgy?
The Eucharistic SacrificeThe Holy Mass
The Seven SacramentsSacramentals
Liturgy of the Hours
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LiturgyLiturgy of the Mass United to Heavenly LiturgyIn the liturgy of the Mass, Heaven unites with Earth and we see the Holy
Eucharist as the mystery of faith in which Christ is the High Priest. This
sacrifice and sacrament brings creation together and offers it to God. The
Book of Revelation presents a striking imagery of the heavenly liturgy and
helps us appreciate how the Eucharistic celebration, looks heavenward. At
the same time, the Eucharist commits us to do our part to make this world a
better place in which to live. The Eucharist unites heaven and earth and calls
for our active faith response. In the earthly liturgy, by way of foretaste, we
share in that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem
toward which we journey as pilgrims. Christ crucified and risen is the Lamb
standing as though it had been slain. He is the one high priest of the true
sanctuary. The river of the water of life from the throne of God and of the
Lamb is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Recapitulated in Christ, these are the
participants in the service of the praise of God, in the heavenly liturgy: the
heavenly powers, all creation (the four living beings), the servants of the Old
and New Covenants (the twenty-four elders), the new People of God (the
144,000), the martyrs slain for the word of God, and the Mother of God (the
Woman), the Bride of the Lamb, and finally a great multitude which no one
could number, from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples and tongues
(CCC, 1137, 1138). What you have come to is Mount Zion and the city of the
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have
gathered for the festival, with the whole Church of first-born sons, enrolled as
citizens of heaven (Heb. 12:22..) The Eucharist is a foretaste of this joy. It is a
confident waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
John Paul II: The Eucharist is really a glimpse of heaven appearing on earth.
It is a glorious ray of the heavenly Jerusalem which pierces the clouds of our
history and lights up our journey.
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Liturgy
The Order of the MassThe Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Has Two Parts:
Liturgy of the WordLiturgy of the Eucharist
INTRODUCTORY RITES:
Their purpose is to unify the community and prepare the assembled believers to listen to Gods wordand then to celebrate the Eucharist.
Entrance Song or Antiphonopens the celebration and accompanies the procession. Book of Gospelsis sometime carried by the Lector.
Greeting- the ministers greet the altar by kissing the altar as a sign of veneration, and then make thesign of the cross with the whole Christian community. The priest then greets the assembled withwords expressing that we are about to celebrate the Christian mysteries.
Penitential RiteThe priest and the entire assembly make a general confession of their sins, typicallyby reciting the Confiteor ( I Confess to Almighty God) , and this is concluded by the priests absolution(May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive our sins and bring us to everlasting life) . In the Book ofJames 5: 16, Scripture tells us Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that youmay be healed.
Kyrieis a Greek word that means Lord (Kyrie eleison means Lord have mercy). The priest and theassembly recite this prayer to implore the mercy of God.
Gloriais an ancient hymn whose opening phrase comes from Scripture (Luke 2: 14). The Gloria isonly said on Sundays (except during Advent and Lent), and on Solemnities and special feasts.
Opening Prayer (Collect)The priest recites a prayer that expresses the theme of the liturgy of theday, and then petitions the Father through the mediation of the Son (Jesus Christ) and in the HolySpirit. The people make the prayer their own by saying AMEN (so be it. or yes I agree).
When on enters and leaves the church, one
blesses oneself with Holy Water saying:By this holy water and by Your Precious
Blood, wash away all my sins, O Lord. Amen.
Holy Water washes away venial sins and
prepares us to enter into the presence of God.
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LiturgyLiturgy of the Word:On Sunday, this part of the Mass is found in a book called the Lectionarywhich the lector may carry in the procession. The Lectionary has 3 cyclescalled A, B and C. Each cycle contains all the Scriptures used at Sunday Massfor a year.
First Reading this reading is almost always from the Old Testament exceptbetween Easter and Pentecost when the reading comes from the Book ofActs. The readings selected for a particular service are chosen to illustratesome common link or parallel with the selected Gospel reading. Thesereadings over a 3 year period acquaint us with the 46 books of the OldTestament.
Responsorial Psalmobviously is from the Book of Psalms, expresses manyof the emotions and troubles of human existence as the author cries out toGod, and then trusts in His deliverance.
Second Readingtypically this reading is from one of the Letters or Epistlesfrom St. Paul, St. Peter, St. James, or St. John. Thus, this reading acquaintsCatholics with the New Testament.
Gospel - This Scripture reading is introduced by a chant. Typically this is an
Alleluia chant except during Lent when the chant is typically Praise to youLord Jesus Christ, King of Endless Glory. The priest and the faithful also signtheir forehead, their lips and their heart to signify that Gods Word istransforming their minds, their speech and their hearts. The faithful areinstructed to stand to hear the Gospel. This is an old Catholic practice thatindicates a special significance for the Gospel, since it is the part of Scripturethat contains the words and sayings of Jesus Himself. This practice may havebeen adopted from Jesus via the book of Nehemiah. Priest or Deacon Says:The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
May the Word of God,
be on my mind,
on my lips
and in my heart.
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Liturgy
Liturgy of the Word: (Part 2)
Homily (Sermon) - here the priests explains the three Scripture readings and gives insightinto their meaning. Often the priest will relate spiritual messages and points from thereadings that are very relevant to our life, and the local circumstances that we live in.During the homily, we should be quietly listening and learning and may also be silentlypraying for the Holy Spirit to speak through the priest to our hearts.
Profession of Faith - this is typically only done on Sunday celebrations of the Mass andSolemnities. The profession of faith is the Nicene Creed which is a statement of ourCatholic Christian beliefs that has not changed since the Councils of Nicaea andConstantinople in the 4thcentury. This profession of faith always keeps Catholicsknowledgeable as to what the church teaches now, and has consistently taught throughoutthe centuries. By reciting the Creed, the faithful are acknowledging their consent andagreement with the three previous Scriptures that were read.
General Intercessions or Prayers of the Faithfulthis prayer is generally read by the priestor the lector, and the congregation responds in antiphonal manner. As a rule the sequenceof petitions are as follows:
1. For the needs of the Church
2. For public authorities and the salvation of the world
3. For those oppressed by any need (such as the sick members of our parish)
4. For the local community
Lector: We pray to the Lord. People: Lord Hear Our Prayer
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LiturgyLiturgy of the EucharistAt the Last Supper Jesus Christ instituted the paschal sacrifice and meal. In thismeal the sacrifice of the cross is continually made present in the Church whenthe priest, representing Christ, carries out what the Lord did, & commissionedhis disciples to do in His memory.
Presentation of Altar and Gifts (Offertory)Altar is prepared then the gifts ofbread and wine are brought to the altar. Bread and Wine are Offered while thepeople respond: Blessed Be God Forever. During this part of the Mass, the
priest washes his hands as an expression of his desire for inward purification.
This custom most likely came from our Jewish roots where the Old Testamentpriests would purify themselves with several ritual washings prior to offeringthe Old Testament sacrifices. Priest asks that the sacrifice may be accepted andpeople respond: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise
and glory of His name, for our good and for the good of His Holy Church.Prayer Over the Gifts People Respond: Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer - is a hymn of thanksgiving for the whole work of salvation:the offerings become the Body and Blood of Christ. There are four standardEucharistic prayers with the second one being the oldest and the shortest.These Eucharistic prayers are in the large book that rests on the altar called theRomans Missal. The sub-elements of the Eucharistic prayer are as follows:
Preface (Thanksgiving) - in this first part of the Eucharistic prayer, the priestinvites the people to lift their hearts to God in prayer and in thanks. The priestpraises the Father and gives thanks for the work of salvation.
Acclamation - united with the angels the congregation sings or recites Holy,Holy, Holy .. (see Isaiah 6:3). Also called theSanctus.
Epiclesisin this part of the Eucharistic prayer, the priest calls on Gods power(Holy Spirit descends upon the gifts) and asks that the gifts offered by men may
be consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Christ, and that this Victimbecome a source of salvation for those who share in communion. Epiclesis
Offertory
During the offertory, the
people are to offer to
God their gifts, works,
sacrifices, good deeds,
donations and especially
their very self to God.
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Liturgy of the Eucharist (Part 2)
Narrative or Consecration - in this part of the Eucharistic prayer the
words of Jesus at the Last Supper are said This is my Body and
This is my Blood.. These words are found in Matthew 26: 26-28, Mark 14: 22-24, Luke 22: 19-20 and 1stCorinthians 11: 23-25.
Mystery of Faith- The priest states, Mystery of Faith and people
respond: We proclaim your death O Lord, and profess your
Resurrection until you come in glory.
AnamnesisTherefore as we celebrate the memorialis thefulfillment of the command from Christ through the apostles to keep
a memorial of the Last Supper, Do this in remembrance of Me.
Offeringhere the Church offers the spotless sacrificial victim (Jesus
Christ) to the Father and in the Holy Spirit.
Intercessionsin this part of the Eucharistic prayer the priest states
that the offering made above is for the whole Church and all of its
members, both living and dead.
Final Doxology (Great Amen)Through Him with Him and in Him O
God Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory and honor
are yours forever and ever. The congregation should express their
agreement by a vocal but reverent Amen.
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LiturgyLiturgy of the Eucharist (Part 3)Communion Ritesince the Eucharistic celebration is the paschal meal,
in accord with Jesus command, the Body and Blood of the Lord should
be received as spiritual food by the faithful who are properly disposed.
The sub-elements of the Communion Rite are as follows:The Lords Prayerwhich comes from Matt 6: 9-13 or Luke 11: 2-4, is recitedor sung by the congregation and the priest together. The priest ends this specialprayer that Jesus taught us with an embolism requesting deliverance andpeace, and stating our joyful hope in the Second coming of Christ.
Rite of Peacebefore we share in the Eucharist which is the Lord, we expressour love for each other and beg for peace and unity among the members of theBody of Christ. Priest: Peace of the Lord be with you. People: And with YourSpirit. The priest will say: Let us offer each other the sign of peace. Wegenerally display some outward sign of this to those near us. This is optional bythe priest.
Breaking of the Breadthis gesture of Christ at the last supper gave the entireEucharistic action its name in apostolic times. (Emmaus walk in Luke 24: 30)
Comminglingthe priest drops part of the host into the chalice (symbolicallyrepresents unity with the bishop and the two natures of Christ)
Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) - these words come from John 1: 29. The host isbroken during the reciting of the Lamb of God
Reception of Jesus by the Priestthe priest shows the Eucharist to thecongregation saying, Behold the Lamb of God. as the faithful recite Lord Iam not worthy, that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word andmy soul shall be healed. This prayer comes from Matt 8: 8. During this part ofthe liturgy it is a wonderful time to ask the Lord for healing (Spiritual,
psychological, relational and physical)
Sign of Peace
Behold the Lamb of God
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Liturgy of the Eucharist (Part 4)Reception of Jesus by the Faithful - the faithful process to the front ofthe church to receive Jesus in His Body and His Blood. This is a mostintimate time as God Himself touches us flesh to flesh. When the priest
offers you Jesus in the Eucharist he says Body of Christ and the properresponse is a firm but very reverent Amen or So be it. (This Catholicaltar call).
Communion Hymn or Antiphon expresses the spiritual union of thecommunity as we shared in the Eucharist who is the One Lord of us all.
Prayer after Holy Communion -it is desirable after receiving Holy
Communion that the priest and the congregation spend some time insilent prayer as this is meant to be a most intimate time for communingwith the Lord in our body, mind and spirit. This period of silence is endedby the priest saying the Prayer after Communion from the Roman Missal.
CONCLUDING RITE:
This consists of the following:
Priests Blessingthe priest blesses the congregation in the Name of theFather and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Dismissalthe priest or deacon sends each member of the congregationout into the world to do good works to bring glory and praise to God.The word Mass comes from the Latin word for dismissal. Go forth, theMass has ended.
Processional Hymn
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Liturgy
Liturgical Year
This is the name given to the days an seasons within a years
time in which the Church celebrates Christs paschal mystery.The liturgical seasons begin with Advent (the new liturgical
year), in which we prepare for Christmas.
The Christmas Season, celebration of Christs Birth.
Lent, which are 40 days of preparation for Easter.
Easter, which is the celebration of Christs Resurrection, which
lasts until 50 days after the Easter and ends onPentecost
Sunday.Ordinary time, which is the season of the year outside of
Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter seasons. One part of
ordinary time falls between Christmas Season and Lent and
the other falls between Pentecost and Advent.
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Liturgy
Liturgical Year
The Liturgical Readings at Mass
Sunday- Year A, Year B, Year C
For example: 25thSunday Year B, Ordinary Time
readings are: Wis. 2:12, 17-20, Psalm 54, James 3: 16-
4:3, Mark 9: 30-37.
Weekday- Year 1 and Year 2
The Liturgical readings help us to hear most of the Bible
at Holy Mass in a 3 yr. period on Sunday and in 2 yrs,
during the week.
Sanctoral Calendar- The calendar of saints throughout
the year, example June 13this always the feast of St.
Anthony of Padua. The Catholic Calendar lists the dates
of the Holy Days of Obligation in the United States for
2013, as well as the dates of moveable feasts (holy days
whose dates change from year to year), such as Ash
Wednesday. And dates of Saint feast days. Easter is a
moveable feast and is always first Sunday after the first
full moon, after the vernal equinox (spring).
Months are dedicated to certain
Saints or Devotions.March- St. Joseph
May- Blessed Virgin
June- Sacred Heart
July- Precious Blood
October- Rosary
November- Holy Souls
December- Nativity
Weekdays are Dedicated to CertainSaints or Devotions.
Sun.-Resurrection and Trinity
Mon.- Holy Spirit and Poor Souls
Tues.- Holy Angels
Wed. St. Joseph
Thurs. Eucharist and Priesthood
Fri.- Jesus Suffering & Sacred HeartSat.- Blessed Virgin & IHM
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Liturgical ItemsAmice- Cloth that goes Around Shoulder and Neck of Priest
Alb- White garment under the Vestment
Cincture- Rope (Girdle) around the waist of the Priest
Vestment(Chasuble)
Stole- Cloth Goes Around the Priests Neck
Dalmatic(Deacon Vestment)
Purificator-Cloth used to purify chalice
Pall- Square Cover Goes on Top of the Chalice
Corporal(cloth on top of altar) Name comes from Body
Altar-Marble Table used to Offer the Holy Sacrifice of the MassAltar Cross- Crucifix Placed on the Altar
Confessional Stole- Purple Stole Used for Confession
Thurible- Censor used to burn incense on black coals. Boat- Contains Incense
Processional Cross- Crucifix Carried in Procession beginning and end of Mass
Credence Table- Small Table used to hold hosts, wine, chalice, water, bowl and hand towel
Ablution Bowl- used to wash fingers of Sacred Particles after touching Host when finished distributing Communion
Chalice Paten- Metal Plate which holds Priests Host
Server Paten- Metal Plate with a handle use to collect particles that may fall during Communion
Altar Candles- Candles on the Altar
Altar Cloth- Cloth Covering the Altar
Chalice-Gold Plated Cup used to Consecrate wine into the Blood of Christ
Ciboria- Round Metal Container used to hold Consecrated Hosts and has a Lid
Surplice- White Top used by Servers and Priest
Cassock- Black Clothing Used by Priests and Some Servers
Lectern- Pulpit
Book of Gospels
Lectionary- Scripture Readings
Roman Missal- Mass Prayers
Cruets
Cope and Humeral Veil - Used For Benediction
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LiturgyLiturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) (Breviary)
The remote origin is given to the inspiration of the Old Covenant. God commanded the
Aaronic priests (c.1280 BC) to offer a morning and evening sacrifice (Ex. 29:38-29). During the
Babylonian Exile (587-521 BC), when the Temple did not exist, the synagogue services of
Torah readings and psalms and hymns developed as a substitute for the bloody sacrifices ofthe Temple, a sacrifice of praise. The inspiration to do this may have been fulfillment of
David's words, "Seven times a day I praise you" (Ps. 119:164), as well as, "the just man
mediates on the law day and night" (Ps. 1:2). After the people returned to Judea, and the
Temple was re-built, the prayer services developed in Babylon for the local assemblies
(synagogues) of the people were brought into Temple use, as well. We know that in addition
to Morning and Evening Prayer to accompany the sacrifices, there was prayer at the Third,
Sixth and Ninth Hours of the day.The Acts of the Apostles notes that Christians continued to pray at these hours. Monastic
and eremitical (hermit) practice as it developed in the early Church recognized in the Psalms
the perfect form of prayer and did not try to improve upon it. The practices were quite
individual from monastery to monastery. At first some tried to do the entire Psalter(150
Psalms) each day, but eventually that was abandoned for a weekly cycle built around certain
hours of the day. Among the earliest Psalter cycles of which we have a record is the division
given by St. Benedict in his Rule (c.550), with canonical hours of Lauds (Morning Prayer)offered at sunrise, Prime (1st hour of the day), Terce (3rd hour, or Mid-morning), Sext (6th
hour or Midday), None (9th hour or Mid-Afternoon), Vespers (Evening Prayer) offered at
sunset, and Compline (Night Prayer) before going to bed. In addition, the monks arose to
read and pray during the Night. This Office of Matins (Readings) likewise had its divisions,
into nocturnes, corresponding to the beginning of each of the "watches of the night" (Ps.
63:6), that is, 9 pm, midnight and 3 am. With the reforms of the Second Vatican Council the
traditional one-week Psalter cycle became a four-week cycle. (Today the Office is requiredto be prayed by Priests and Religious. Lay persons are encouraged to pray the Office.)
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Liturgy
What is Advent?
The purpose of Advent is to focus on the coming of our Lord. (Advent
comes from the Latin adventus, meaning coming.) The Catechism
stresses the two-fold meaning of this coming : When the Church
celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this
ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long
preparation for the Saviors first coming, the faithful renew their ardent
desire for His second coming(No. 524). Therefore, on one hand, thefaithful reflect back and are encouraged to celebrate the anniversary of
the Lords first coming into this world. We ponder again the great
mystery of the incarnation when our Lord humbled Himself, taking on
our humanity, and entered our time and space to free us from sin. Onthe other hand, we recall in the Creedthat our Lord will come again to
judge the living and the dead and that we must be ready to meet Him.
A good, pious way to help us in our Advent preparation has been the
use of theAdvent Wreath.
Liturgy
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Liturgy
How to Prepare for Christmas
Through Advent we prepare to celebrate the Birth of Jesus on
Christmas and we also prepare for the Second Coming ofJesus. Since there are four weeks of Advent, we are able to
prepare for Christmas by doing something during each week.
For example, on each Sunday of Advent, we can light a candle
on our advent wreath, before we offer our prayer before ourmeal.
Liturgyd h
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LiturgyAdvent Wreath
The wreathe is a circle, which has no beginning or
end: So we call to mind how our lives, here and now,
participate in the eternity of Gods plan of salvation
and how we hope to share eternal life in the Kingdomof Heaven. The wreath is made of fresh plant
material, because Christ came to give us new life
through His passion, death, and resurrection. Three
candles are purple, symbolizing penance, preparation,
and sacrifice; the pink candle symbolizes the same
but highlights the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete
Sunday, when we rejoice because our preparation is
now half-way finished. The light represents Christ,
who entered this world to scatter the darkness of evil
and show us the way of righteousness. The
progression of lighting candles shows our increasing
readiness to meet our Lord. Each family ought to have
an Advent wreath, light it at dinner time, and say the
special prayer. The tradition helps each family to keepits focus on the meaning of Christmas.
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LiturgyDuring Advent
Attend Mass During the Week- We will grow spiritually if we attend weekday
Masses during Advent. Special weekday Masses include (Dec. 6thSt. Nicholas),
(Dec. 8th
, the Immaculate Conception), which is a Holy Day of Obligation, and(Dec. 12ththe Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe). Advents 1st readings involve
waiting; the 2ndweek, its John the Baptist; the 3rdWeek, we rejoice with
Gaudete Sun.; the 4thweek focuses on the Nativity.
Daily Personal Prayer- Every day, we should pray to God for about 10 to 15
minutes. We should also pray the Rosary every day and pray the Rosary withour family.
Confess our Sins - Confess at least twice during Advent. Take the family to
confession several times, during Advent. You would be surprised at how many
children actually want to go to confession, but do not have the opportunity.
Strive to work on one sin and examine your conscience every night before
going to bed and see how well we did with that sin. To overcome sin, it is best
to practice the opposite virtue. For example, if we struggle with pride, we
should practice humility. We are required to Confess our sins at least once a
year. The Easter Duty asks that we receive Holy Communion at least once yearand during the Easter Season.
Liturgy
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LiturgyDuring Advent
Create a Family Altar
On the top of a small table, place an opened bible, a
rosary, a crucifix and a picture or statue of Mary. Whenthe family gathers to pray, everyone faces the altar, and
may kneel down and pray together.
Family Prayer
Pray as a family before going to bed. Turn off the TV,
Internet, etc.. and gather in the living room. Begin by
making the sign of the Cross, then ask each person, who
they want to pray for. Then ask each person what they
are thankful for the past day. Then read a short section
from one of the Gospels. Finally, close with an Our
Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, or Pray a decade of the
Rosary, or pray the whole Rosary. Some may want add
the Guardian Angel Prayer, or the Prayer to St. Michael,
or the Memorare. End with the Sign of the Cross. When
praying before meals, add one Our Father, One HailMary & the Glory be.
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LiturgyDuring Advent
Eucharistic Adoration of Jesus
Come to Adore Jesus during the week when there is
Eucharistic Adoration. Or come before Jesus in the
Tabernacle. Our Lord waits for us to come to Him and when we do
come to Him, we always leave with peace in our heart. To spend a
Holy Hour once a week, can transform the family and bring about
peace, unity and forgiveness.
Visit or Call Someone- Many elderly would enjoy your visit, whether
they are in the hospital, at home, in the nursing home. Or call or visit
a friend or relative, who may need encouragement.
Help a Neighbor- Many neighbors need help with Christmas
decorations, raking their yard, removing snow or perhaps going tothe store for them. A good deed is a loving way to prepare for the
coming of Jesus. We can also help others by way of money, or food.
Charitable organizations need your help to help others. Call local
agencies to see how you can be of help.
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During Advent
Mortification and Fasting
We should do penance during Advent. The color purple represents penance. All of us should
strive to deny our self pleasures, such as avoiding sweets, not drinking pop, avoiding desserts,not speaking as often, not watching TV, or wasting time on the Internet. We should try to be
silent. But also do things for the love of God, such as our daily duty, keeping the house clean,
doing the best we can at our job, taking care of our self and our children. Every Friday of the
year, we are supposed to Fast or do some penance. Avoid eating meat, or eat foods you do not
prefer. Most of all---fast from sin. To mortify is to die to ones self and ones earthly desires.
Prepare a Manger for Baby JesusMake a homemade manger out of sticks using glue, and place within it one straw for every time
you make a sacrifice. Then on Christmas Eve place the Infant Jesus on the bed of straws, as a
sign you prepared for His Coming.
Keep Watch!
No one knows the day nor the hour of our judgment.And no one knows the day or the hour when Jesus will come again.
We should live everyday as though it were our last
and prepare as though we had no tomorrow.
Pray for a conversion of heart, turn away from sin and be
faithful to Jesus, in this way, you will be prepared for Christmas!
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LiturgyChristmas
Attend Midnight Mass or Mass on Christmas Day- There is a
tradition Jesus was born at midnight and so people enjoy
celebrating His birth at the Christmas Midnight Mass.
Presents-St. Nicholas of Myra was a bishop, who gave gifts
and money to the poor. Rather than creating a tale, about him,
ask St. Nicholas to obtain presents from Jesus on Christmas. All
gifts come from God, so why not refer God as the giver of the
gifts? Christmas has been commercialized and the true meaning
of Christs birth is becoming lost. The word, Christmas, refers to
what the Christians referred to as Christs Mass.
Christmas CarolsMany families sing Christmas carols together
before eating their Christmas dinner. Some families join other
families and Church groups to go Christmas Caroling to thosewho are shut-in.
12 Days of Christmas- Thesong is symbolic and reminded
persecuted Christians of Christian beliefs. For example: Two
turtle doves is symbolic of Christs 2 natures, both human and
divine. 12 days refers to the 12 days of the Christmas season. The13thda is the Feast of the E i han .
St. Francis of Ass isi
In the 1200s, he
created the first
nativity scene, which
had real animals & a
manger during theMass. The Christ
Child appeared in his
arms during the
Mass, witnessed by
those present. Since
then Christians made
crches for their
homes.
St. Clare
She miraculously saw
the Midnight Mass
and heard the homily
from her bed when
she was sick andunable to go to Mass.
Lent
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Lent
Lent- What is It?
Forty days of preparation for Easter in imitation of Our
Lords forty days in the desert, which he suffered
temptation from the devil. He fasted and prayed. Italso reminds us of the people of Israels 40 years in the
desert and Moses 40 days on the mountain in which
he fasted.
Lent originated as a time in which non-Christians were
preparing to become Christian. Later, those whowere already Christians wanted to also prepare for
Easter as those becoming Catholic and they too
adopted this time, which spread throughout the
Church. It was a spiritual time of examination,
mortification, penance, meditation, prayer and
almsgiving to prepare to receive the Sacraments of the
Church, including Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation.
The 40 days do not include the Sundays during Lent,
because every Sunday, even during Lent is a
celebration of the Lords Resurrection.
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Three Key Penitential Practices
One of the greatest preachers of the early church explains the key
penitential practices of Lent prayer, fasting, and almsgivingor mercy. SaintPeter Chrysologus declares that Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains,
mercy receives.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to
your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Matt. 6:6
Prayer- Praying more than we usually do everyday. And try to pray with
deeper intensity and love. To pray the heart, seeking Gods will in our
life. We come to daily Mass if possible, pray before Jesus in Adoration in
the tabernacle and pray at home in the silence of our heart. Wemeditate on Sacred Scriptures especially the sufferings of Jesus. We
think of Our Lords passion and death so as to grow in deeper love for
Him and it inspires us to turn away from sin and to be faithful to Him
and the Gospel.
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Fasting
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may
not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your
Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.
Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent. In fact, the
paschal fast predates Lent as we know it. The early Church fasted intensely
for two days before the celebration of the Easter Vigil. This fast was later
extended and became a 40-day period of fasting leading up to Easter.Fasting is more than a means of developing self-control. It is often an aid to
prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God. Fasting
should be linked to our concern for those who are forced to fast by their
poverty. It should lead us to greater efforts to alleviate that suffering.
Abstaining from meat traditionally also linked us to the poor, who could
seldom afford meat for their meals. It can do the same today if we
remember the purpose of abstinence and embrace it as a spiritual link to
those whose diets are sparse and simple. That should be the goal we set
for ourselvesa sparse and simple meal. Avoiding meat while eatinglobster misses the whole oint!
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LiturgyFasting in PracticeIn the United States, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has declared that "the age of fasting is
from the completion of the eighteenth year to the beginning of the sixtieth." The USCCB also allows
the substitution of some other form of penance for abstinence on all of the Fridays of the year,
except for those Fridays in Lent. Thus, the rules for fasting and abstinence in the United States are:
Abstain from Meat in Lent
Every person 14 years of age or older must abstain from meat
(and items made with meat) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday,
and all the Fridays of Lent.
Fast in LentEvery person between the age of 18 and 60 must fast on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday. To fast means to eat one meal in
one day and not to eat snacks. For some two smaller meals can
be taken as long as combined they dont equal one meal.
Abstain from Meat All Fridays of the Year
Every person 14 years of age or older must abstain from meat
(and items made with meat) on all other Fridays of the year,
unless he or she substitutes some other form of penance or good
deed. If we do not plan to do another form of penance or do a
good deed (ex: visit the sick), we are to abstain from meat.
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LentTurn away from Sin- Examine our Conscience and
Frequent Confession
During Lent, we examine our conscience everyday and
to work on one particular sin throughout Lent, striving
to practice the opposite virtue. It is good to go to
Confession often at least once a month during Lent and
hopefully more often as often as once per week if we like.Stations of the Cross
Many parishes have Stations of the Cross on Fridays
of Lent. This a tradition that goes back to the early
Christians, who use to make pilgrimages to theHoly Land to walk the actual foot steps of Christ on
His way to Calvary. The Stations were popularized
by the Franciscan Order, which helped to establish them
in each parish, so people who could not go to the Holy
Land, could make the Stations in their own parish.
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LiturgyAsh Wednesday
Ash Wednesday begins Lent. Its a day of fasting
and abstinence. While its not a holy day of
obligation, many Catholics come to Mass toreceive ashes which remind us of the need to
turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel
and it reminds us of our mortality. That we shall
all one day return to ashes. Ashes are burnt palm
branches from the previous year Palm Sunday.
The day before Ash Wednesday is called by some
Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras). On this day,
Christians used to use up all the fat so that they
would not spoil during Lent. However, the dayshould not be a day in which we do all sorts of
sins and eat all kinds of sweets. The day is called
by some Carnival day due to the last day in
which some people would eat meat. DecadenceDa is a horrible da which reatl offends God.
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Lent
Sacrifices- We are called during Lent to offer
sacrifices, to prepare our hearts for Easter. Suchsacrifices include avoid eating sweets, ice-
cream, deserts, soda pop, alcohol, stop
smoking, avoid television, movies, etc.. But the
most important sacrifices include turning away
from the pleasures of sin, accepting sufferings
in our life, and doing our daily duties (washing
clothes, doing our homework, keep our room
clean, daily work, job, etc..) with love and joy.
Some people will adjust thermostats, so as toavoid the comfort of bodily pleasure. These
sacrifices when united to the sacrifice of Jesus
on the Cross are called offering up, in which
we offer them up for the salvation of souls.
LentH l W k
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LentHoly Week
Begins with Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday, which is the Sunday
before Easter. On Palm Sunday, palm branches are blessed and given to
the people. There is often times a procession carrying the palm
branches at the beginning of the Mass and a Gospel reading before
Mass starts about Jesus entering Jerusalem. The Gospel is proclaimed,
which is always the reading of the Passion of Jesus.
Holy Week Days- Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday
(special readings for each day) Holy Thursday- Chrism Mass at the
Cathedral, which can be moved to another day such as Holy Tuesday.
During the Chrism Mass priests renew their promises, oils of blessed (Oil
of the Sick, Chrism, Oil of Catechumen) by the bishop. Representatives
from each parish in the diocese present at the Mass return with the 3oils to their parish. In the evening the Mass of the Lords Supperis
celebrated in parishes. Good Friday- Celebration of the Passion of Jesus.
Holy Saturday- Easter Vigil (Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus)
Easter Sunday- Renew Vows of Baptism and sprinkling rite are added.
LiturgyEnd of Lent
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LiturgyEnd of LentLent officially ends on Holy Thursday. That is when the "Triduum", great three
Days of holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday occur leading to Easter.
Easter is not only a day but an Octave (eight day) celebration leading to a Season
of the Church, Easter Season, which ends on Pentecost.
Holy Thursday- Celebration of the Lords Supper. Hosts are removedfrom the tabernacle before Mass and after Mass people will pray before
the Hosts in an altar of repose commemorating Our Lords agony in the
Garden, when He asked His apostles to stay awake and pray. During the
Mass, the priest washes the feet of 12 men in imitation of Jesus washing
His 12 apostles. It is the day, Jesus instituted the Eucharist & Priesthood.
Good Friday- (only day no Mass is celebrated). Celebration of the
Passion of Christ is usually at 3pm in parishes, the time Jesus died on the
Cross. In the liturgy of the Word we read the Passion of Jesus, liturgy of
the Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion.
Easter Vigil- The Greatest of All Masses of the Year. There is the Liturgy
of the Fire, which is the blessing of the fire, procession of the EasterCandle, which represents Christ rising from the tomb in the world of
darkness. The lights of the Church are not on as the candle is carried.
Then the Exultant is sung. Followed by the Liturgy of the Word with as
many as 9 readings (7 Old Testament and 2 New Testament) and the
Gospel. Homily. Then those who are becoming Catholic will be Baptized
after the water is blessed, Confirmation, Profession of Faith, FirstCommunion. Catholic renew their baptismal promises.
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LiturgyEaster
There is a tradition that Our Lord first
appeared to His Mother before He
appeared to Mary Magdalene and the11 Apostles.
Easter celebrates the Resurrection of
Jesus. By His resurrection, Jesus
conquered, sin, death and the devil.At the end of the world, there will be a
General Resurrection, where everyone
will receive a new body, both the living
and the dead, the good and the bad.
The Easter Season lasts for 50 days
until Pentecost, the descent of the
Holy Spirit.
Resurrexit Sicut Dixit (He has risen as He said)!Alleluia!
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PrayerCome to me, all you weary and are burdened, and I willgive you rest. Matt. 11:28
What is Prayer? Communication with God. Its talking toGod with mind and heart, and often with the voice. It is
a response to Gods invitation to seek Him.
Christians pray in the name of Christ- Through baptismwe are one with Christ and His Church, and therefore allour prayers are offered with His to the Father in the HolySpirit. Jesus is the focal point of our prayer. We strive to
have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesusthrough prayer.
By groping about after Him they might search for andfind God, for He is not far from any of us. Acts 17:27
Everyone Must Pray- God calls everyone to pray. Hewants to engage us in a personal relationship with Him.Even if we dont hear the call, God continues hisinvitation to each human heart. If you pray, you will becertainly saved; if you do not pray, you will be certainlydamned. St. Alphonsus Ligouri
Everyday, we should pray at least 10 to 15 minutes.
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Why Pray?
Because God created us to know, tolove, to serve Him and be with Him inthe next, our deepest desire in ourheart is for God.
-When we experience the things of theworldwe desire God above all else.
St. Augustine said, You have made usfor yourself O God and our hearts arerestless until they rest in you.
-All of us long to rest in God.
-God the Father sent His Son into theworld to draw us back in communionwith Him and to be our source ofcompassion and mercy for our
troubled hearts.
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yJesus is our Example of PrayerThe apostles saw very often Jesus praying.
He went into the desert to pray.
He prayed before He chose His 12 apostles.
He prayed before He raised Lazarus from the dead.He prayed for His apostles at the Last Supper(the long discourse),which was His priestly discourse. He prayed often times in a quietout of the way placeand took His disciples away to places to pray.
As a Jew, Jesus prayed the Psalms. All the apostles did this at theLast Supper.
Jesus offered prayer in simple language, calling His Father, Abba,which means Daddy.
He prayed to conform His will to His Fathers during the agony inthe garden.
He prayed for Peter that He would not fail.
He commended the publican who prayed, God be merciful to me
a sinner.He prayed on the Cross, asking His Father to forgive.
He showed us the importance of praying to His Father and to praywith faith emphasizing that importance of faith in order to receivewhat we wanted. Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, ifyou have faith Matt. 21:22
He encouraged prayer of repetition, Ask and you shall receive,knock and the door, shall be opened.
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yHe was praying in a certain place, andwhen he ceased, one of his disciples saidto him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as Johntaught his disciples." Lk 11:1-3
The Apostles asked Jesus to teach them topray and so Jesus gave them the perfectprayer, the Our Father.
The Our Father
This is how you are to pray:Our Father in heaven, hallowed be yourname, your kingdom come, your will bedone, on earth as in heaven. Give us todayour daily bread; and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors; and do notsubject us to the final test, but deliver usfrom the evil one. If you forgive otherstheir transgressions, your heavenly Fatherwill forgive you. But if you do not forgiveothers, neither will your Father forgive
your transgressions. Matt. 6:9-15
PrayerP f h H
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yPrayer from the Heart-Whether we recite formal written prayers or pray spontaneously, weshould pray from the heart.
-Praying from the heart it to talk to God with love and attention.
-To pray mechanically without thinking what we are praying is notpraying with the heart.
-It also means that we are honest with our self.
-We dont hide from God anything. He sees & knows all things.
-We should also quietly listen to God and allowing Him to come intoour heart.
-When we pray with the Heart we pray with our whole being, tellingGod our sorrows, our joys, our feelings, being very open to God andexpressing what we desire, our fears, anxieties, our disappointments.
Pray throughout the DayAsk Jesus to be with you when you are working, shopping, resting,talking to others. Our Lord is always with us, but He especially
desires that we become aware of His presence and constantly inviteHim into everything we do.
By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit;
and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for allthe saints. Ephes 6:18Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is
the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:17-18
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y
Is the Rosary Babbling?In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will beheard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Fatherknows what you need before you ask him. Matt. 6:5-8
The purpose of the different beads on the rosary is to count thevarious prayers as they are said. The prayers of the rosary are meant tooccupy our whole being, body and soul, whilemeditating on the truthsof the Faith. Any prayer is vain, however, if said mechanically withoutdevotion. Simply to repeat prayers is not the vain repetitioncondemned by Christ (Mt 6:7), since He Himself repeats His prayer inthe Garden three times (Mt 26:39, 42, 44) and the Psalms (inspired bythe Holy Spirit) are often very repetitive (Ps 119 has 176 verses and Ps.
136 repeats the same phrase 26 times).
Psalm 136:1-26Praise the LORD, who is so good; God's love endures forever; Praise theGod of gods; God's love endures forever;. . . Praise the God of heaven,God's love endures forever.
Matthew 26:39 He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying,"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will,but as you will. Matthew 26:42 Withdrawing a second time, heprayed again, "My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass withoutmy drinking it, your will be done! Matthew 26:44 He left them andwithdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again.
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y
Gift of Prayer
-Prayer is a gift from God and it is something we learn.
-It is combination of our own work and the work of God within us.
-Prayer establishes a real communion with God and a realrelationship with Him.
-If we begin to do what we can and ask Him for help, He will help us.
-Lord teach me to pray, help me to pray, help me to have a goodrelationship with you.
-Developing a prayer life can only happen if one makes time for theLord everyday.
Method of Prayer by St. Alphonsus Ligouri (ACTS)
Adore-Call to mind Gods presence before us. I love you, I adore you.I praise You. I worship You. I bless You.
Confess-Tell God sins, then make an Act of Contrition (Sorrow)
Thanks- Give thanks to God for everything.
Supplication -Pray for others and for our self and Pray with the Heart
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y
Why Do We Have to Keep Asking? Why Arent Some of Prayers Answered?Not Appreciate- If we got what we wanted right away, we would not appreciate what wereceived. We would take Godsgoodness for granted.
Not the Right Time- If we obtain the answer too soon, we may later squander what God hasgiven us and so it would be it would be better for us a later date. He teaches us to persevere.
Asking for the Wrong Things- We dont see the fullness of what would happen if our prayer wasanswered, but God sees how will we react to the answered prayer. You ask and you do notreceive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.(James 4:3).
May Be Harmful to Us- Sometimes we ask for things that would be harmful to us spiritually.These seemingly good things could possibly cause us to lose our salvation. For example, if wetell God, if we win a million dollars in the lottery, we will give it all to charity. But what we dont
see is that even if we would win, it could cause us to develop pride, which can cause us to fallaway from God. God can also something better in mind for us, other than what are asking.
Lack of Humility-Sometimes we feel that we know whats best and proceed to tell God what weneed. Even worse, we get angry when He doesnt answer fast enough or in the way that wewant. We need to ask God for what we need with love, reverence, and humility, not forgettingthat we are creatures and He is God.
Its a Mystery, Sometimes We Just Dont Know- God is love and does nothing but loving things
for us. We have to trust that if our prayer isnt answered, God has in mind what is best for oursalvation and He does not permit the prayer to be answered out of love for us and others.
Lack of Faith- When the disciples came to Jesus and asked why they were unsuccessful incasting a demon out of a boy, the Lords response was blunt and to the point Because of yourlittle faith(Matthew 17:20). According to Jesus, whatever you ask for in prayer, you willreceive, if you have faith(Matthew 21:22). Does that mean that every time God doesnt grantour request its because our faith is lacking? No, but it could be a contributing factor and should
be addressed. We can always pray: I do believe; help my unbelief!(Mark 9:24)
PrayerWh t P ?
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yWhere to Pray?
1. At Home in Inner Room.
2. Prayer Spot (home altar).
3. Inner Room of the Heart.4. At Church before a Tabernacle.
5. At Holy Mass.
6. To God, who is in heaven.
7. To God who is within usthrough baptism.
8. Adoration Chapel.
9. Before Meals. (in restaurants too)
10. With the Family. (especially Rosary)
11. With Each other:
Two or there are gathered in
my name I am with you.Matt 18:20
12. Everywhere.
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For Whom Should We PrayFirst of all, I urge supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all menkings, and for all those in positions of authority. 1 Tim. 2:1-2
Ourselves
Our FamilyRelatives
Friends
Neighbors
Enemies
Pope
Bishops
Priests
Government Leaders
Lawmakers
Sick
Dying
Sinners
Unbelievers
Souls in Purgatory
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Ask Others to Pray for Us
Prayer Chains
Rosary Groups
Friends
Family
Saints in Heaven Friends of God, who are with God
Blessed Virgin Mary - (Greatest of All Saints)
NovenasNovenas to a Particular Saint or directly to God
9 days of Prayer for a Particular Intention
54 Day Rosary Novena
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Three Kinds of Prayer
Vocal Prayer with the voice out loud or silently
Meditation (thinking about, pondering, using your imagination).
1. Place yourself in the presence of God.2. Ask to help you to meditate.
3. Imagine a scene about God or a truth of the faith you wish to meditate on & place yourself in
the scene.
4. Thank God for meditation.
ContemplationInfused Prayer given by God, which we cannot produce our self, only open our self up to it.
Person becomes freely absorbed in God producing a real awareness, desire, and love for Him.
This often gentle or delightful encounter can yield special insights into things of the spirit and
results in a deeper and tangible desire to love God and neighbor in thought, word, and deed.
Mass the Greatest Prayer
Prayer to God is worship. The greatest prayer is the Mass because the Mass is the sacrificial
worship of God, as we offer our self and our sacrifices in union with Jesus offering of His
sacrifice to the Father.
Rosary is meditation AND vocal prayer. Most powerful prayer after the Mass.
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Problems in Prayer
Distractions in Prayer: Gently turn back to God
1. We are tired and cant focus 2. Devil tries to distract us. 3. OthersDistract us 4. Noise Distracts us. 5. Emotions
Dryness in Prayer
No consolation. We dont feel like praying.To help us grow in faith and hope: we pray when we dont feel like it. We
believe, though we do not feel. God hides to help us to draw closer
to Him but also at times to help us to give up serious sin. We feel
abandoned by God and want to draw closer to Him, we realize thatour sins keep us from Him. In times of dryness of prayer, we should
pray more, use other things to help us to pray, such as the bible,
prayer books, meditations, etc..
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Avoid:
Centering Prayer- Focus becomes self and not God,avoids personal conversation with God.Centeringprayer may be hazardous to your spiritual health! Iscentering prayer an ancient form of authenticallyChristian prayer? The origin of centering prayer wasdescribed by its inventor, Thomas Keating, as theoutgrowth of a retreat given by a Zen Buddhist master.
Keating said, "There was nothing comparable in the
Christian tradition. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger cautionsthat "not everyone is equally suited" even to forms ofEastern meditation which are authentically Christian,stating that such forms "can even become an idol . . .can degenerate into a cult of the body and can leadsurreptitiously to consider all bodily sensations as
spiritual experiences.Yoga as Prayer- Stretching exercises are in themselvesgood, but not when associated with and practicing anon-Christian religion.
Eastern Prayer (empty one self out) Get rid ofdistractions. But, where is God?
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Eucharist and Prayer
Holy Communion- There can no greaterunion with God here on earth. Their
can be not greater personalrelationship with Jesus as in theEucharist. We are one with Jesus inCommunion.
Adoration Chapel-We can spend time
with Jesus in adoration. If we want tolearn how to pray, if we want to grow inholiness quickly come to Jesus in theadoration chapel. Spend one hour withJesus every week or every day ifpossible.
Tabernacle-When ever we come intoChurch our focus should be on Jesus inthe tabernacle.
Prayer
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Master Pieces on Prayer
St. Teresa of AvilaThe Interior Castle
St. John of the Cross- Dark Night of the Soul
Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay
Deep Conversion- Deep Prayer Fr. Thomas Dubay
Opening to God, A Guide to Prayer Thomas Green
The Churchs Prayer:
Liturgy of the HoursThe OfficeThe Breviary
(morn, noon, even, night)
Praying the Psalms
PrayerVotive Candles
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Votive CandlesIn Judaism, a perpetual light was kept burning in the Temple and thesynagogues not only to insure the ability to light other candles or oil lampsin the evening but also to show the presence of God (cf. Ex 27:20-21 & Lv.24:2-4). Later, the Talmud prescribed a lit lamp at the Ark, where the Torahand other writings of Sacred Scripture were kept, to show reverence to theWord of God. (This practice probably influenced our own tradition ofhaving a lit candle near the Tabernacle to indicate the presence of and toshow reverence for the Blessed Sacrament.)
As in early Christian times, we light a candle before a statue or sacredimage of our Lord or of a saint. Of course, we do not honor the statue orthe image itself, but whom that statue or image represents. The lightsignifies our prayer offered in faith coming into the light of God. With thelight of faith, we petition our Lord in prayer, or petition the saint to praywith us and for us to the Lord. The light also shows a special reverence andour desire to remain present to the Lord in prayer even though we maydepart and go about our daily business. When you enter a Catholicchurch, you might see a shrine, small side chapels or side altars withstatues or icons and rows of votive candles. The word votive comes fromthe Latin votum meaning vow, and these candles (which are blessed)
are, when lit, used to symbolize our prayers, vows of prayer or simply ourhonoring God or one of His Saints. They are lit by people outside of Mass(before or after, or during a simple visit to the church) usually for aspecial intention. Its a very Catholic thing to say to someone that you willlight a candle for them, meaning that you will pray for them and rituallysymbolize those prayers by the lighting of votives. We light the candlewhile praying for our intention or offering our thanks and then leave the