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My Prayer Box
the
Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition
“You cannot strengthen the
weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the
wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You
cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You
cannot help men permanently by doing for them what
they could and should do for themselves.” -
Abraham Lincoln
To subscribe to the newsletter, please follow this
link. |
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Health Notes |
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Food for (Positive) Thought |
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Invest In Your Health |
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Moderate
exercise is an investment in your health that: |
- releases
tension and promotes relaxation.
- naturally
controls your appetite.
-
accelerates weight loss by increasing
mitochondria and burning calories that would
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otherwise
be stored as fat. |
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- strengthens
your immune system.
- produces nor
epinephrine, a chemical that naturally elevates
your mood
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and works as an
antidepressant. |
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- enhances your
overall sense of well-being.
- tones and
firms muscles.
- helps boost
your metabolism.
- increases
your strength and stamina.
- helps you
sleep better.
- improves your
overall flexibility, balance, and coordination.
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From a Company
Newsletter |
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A Prayer
Attributed to a Confederate Civil War
Soldier
We heard this
in a sermon in a small church just outside San
Diego, California. |
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I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might humbly obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater
things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better
things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise
of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need
of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for - but everything
that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were
answered.
I among all men am most richly blessed.
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Our
Faith: What you might want to know about |
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The
Sacrament of the Eucharist |
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The Office of Catechism
of the United States Congress of Catholic Bishops
website puts our knowledge of the Catholic
Faith to a test!
This
is just a sample. |
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1. |
Name the
book, chapter, and verse
from which this comes: "he who eats my flesh and
drinks my blood has eternal life." |
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2. |
The
Eucharistic celebration
always includes:
Pick any combination of the following: |
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a. |
the singing
of a psalm of praise. |
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b. |
the
proclamation of the Word of God. |
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c. |
thanksgiving to God. |
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d. |
consecration of the bread and wine. |
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e. |
reception
of the Lord's body and blood. |
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3. |
True or false.
In the Mass it is Christ who boths offers the
sacrifice and is offered as the sacrifice. |
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4. |
True or false.
Because through our baptism we share in the
priestly, prophetic, and kingly ministry of
Christ, every believer can therefore validly
preside at the Eucharist. |
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5. |
The essential signs
of the Eucharist are the consecrated bread and
wine. Name at least
one Old or New Testament
event that prefigures, that prepares for, the
offering of bread and wine in the Eucharist.
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6. |
Which of the
following is
true
about the Eucharistic species?
Pick any combination of the following.
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a. |
Christ is
present symbolically. |
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b. |
Christ is
not present bodily, but is present in the
power of the Holy Spirit. |
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c. |
Christ is
present in his Body and Blood, soul and
divinity. |
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d. |
Christ is
bodily present along with the true bread
and wine. |
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e. |
Christ is
present really, truly and substantially. |
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7. |
True or false.
The Church no longer considers the Eucharist a
sacrifice, since that is a remnant from an earlier
concept of a vengeful, judgmental God. |
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8. |
Which of the
following is
true
regarding the Eucharist?
Pick any combination of the following. |
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a. |
The Church
encourages the reception of Communion,
even in the state of mortal sin. |
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b. |
A Catholic
is obligated to receive Holy Communion
during both Advent and Lent. |
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c. |
The
Eucharist preserves us from future mortal
sins. |
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d. |
One is
required to be in a state of grace to
receive communion. |
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e. |
The
Eucharist wipes away venial sins. |
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9. |
True or
false.
Eucharistic adoration is still recommended as
a proper way to adore Christ. |
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10. |
Pick any
combination of the following. Participation in
the
Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass: |
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identifies
us with his Heart. |
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unites us
to the Church in heaven. |
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sustains
our strength in our pilgrimage. |
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gives us a
pledge of glory. |
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e. |
makes us
long for eternal life. |
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To
learn more about Our Faith, please
click here. |
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Twenty-third
Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 7,
2008
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First Reading from the Book of Ezekiel |
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Ez 33:7-9 |
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Thus
says the LORD:
You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the
house of Israel; when you hear me say anything,
you shall warn them for me.
If I
tell the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely
die, ”
and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked
from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you warn the wicked, trying to turn him
from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save
yourself. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms |
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Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 |
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R. If today you
hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he
guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts. |
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Second Reading from the Letter to the Romans |
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Rom 13:8-10 |
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Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the
law.
The
commandments,
“You shall not commit adultery;
you
shall not kill; you shall not steal;
you shall not
covet,”
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law. |
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Reading From the Gospel of Matthew |
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Mt 18:15-20 |
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Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell
him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your
brother.
If he does not listen, take one or two others
along with you, so that ‘every fact may be
established on the testimony of two or three
witnesses.’
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the
church.
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If
he refuses to listen even to the church, then
treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax
collector.
Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose
on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on
earth about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them.” |
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Suggested Readings |
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Happiness Is a Serious
Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual
by Dennis Prager.
In this unique blend of self-help and moral
philosophy, talk-radio host Dennis Prager
asserts that we're actually obligated to be
happy, because it makes us better people.
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Praying With Frederic Ozanam
(Companions for the Journey Series)
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Paperback, by Ronald Cm Ramson (Author) |
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Praying With Louise De
Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series)
by Audrey Gibson (Author), Kieran Kneaves
(Author) |
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Praying with Vincent de
Paul (Companions for the Journey)
2004, by Thomas McKenna
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The Rise of Christianity:
How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became
the Dominant Religious Force ....
(Paperback) by Rodney Stark
(Author)
From the Publisher
"... this account of Christianity's remarkable
growth within the Roman Empire |
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is already the subject of much fanfare. "Anyone
who has puzzled over Christianity's rise to
dominance... must read it," ...
Read the first page. |
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Living Liturgy:
Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for
Sundays and Solemnities, Year A,
2008 (Paperback) by C.PP.S. Joyce Ann Zimmerman
(Author), Thomas A. Greisen (Author), S.N.D. de
N. Kathleen Harmon (Author), M.S. Thomas L.
Leclerc (Author) |
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"Perfect for home use or to prepare for weekly
liturgy . . . It includes help for the
celebration, ideas for catechesis on the
particular event, and ways to understand the
readings more deeply. Finally, it includes
sample questions from which priests, deacons,
lay groups, ministers and others can jump off
into deeper discussion." |
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Straight Answers, Answers
to 100 Questions about the Catholic Faith
by Ph.D Rev. William P.
Saunders (Author)
Review by: Reverend William G. Curlin Bishop of
Charlotte
Straight Answers offers Catholics a simple and
direct response to the many questions concerning
the Catholic Church. It spells out profound
truths in very |
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simple language for all who seek a better
understanding of their Faith. I highly recommend
it for Catholics, both young and old. |
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The Power of Intention:
Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
From Amazon:
After years of spiritual study and reflection,
inspirational speaker and |
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bestselling
author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed
teacher. His current message about tapping into
the power of intention may sound like good old
positive thinking: just stay focused on what you
want, rather than focusing on the lack of having
what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper
than just controlling thoughts (although he does
acknowledge that thought control is a
surprisingly challenging and significant
endeavor).
This book might
help readers land a better job, but it's more
relevant for those who are ready to detach from
an ego-driven life filled with quick fixes of
happiness and step into a more authentic,
joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. His
core teachings speak to tapping into a universal
source of energy that can also be called the
"power of intention." |
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The Chariot of Israel:
Exploits of the Prophet of Elijah
THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL: When Elijah was caught up
to heaven, his disciple Elisha cried out, "the
chariot of Israel, and its horsemen." Elisha was
referring not to the chariot but to the prophet.
This study of Elijah’s life will captivate you
as it walks you through a pivotal period in
Israel’s history, and illustrative maps will
give you a better picture of the physical
geography of this ancient land. |
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Read
more about the Liturgical Year |
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The Origins of the
Liturgical Year (Pueblo Books)
by Thomas J. Talley (Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
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The Cultural World
of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C.
(Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus:
Sunday by Sunday)
by John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides those
who not only fill the pulpits across this
country but also all interested in the
cultural world in which Jesus lived with a
lot of pertinent information that sheds
light on a lot of areas that have been
"muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly
recommend this book. - James Mauldin |
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Learn
more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the
Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these thirty-two
short chapters begins and ends with the
assumption that problems we experience
with the Old Testament are our problem,
not the Bible's. This subordinating of the
Bible reader to the well-weathered book he
holds in his hand opens doors, not to
forced harmonisations of problematic
passages, but to fresh reappraisal of
difficult texts on their own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible:
Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old
Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
documents, the exegesis of Fathers
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and Doctors of the Church, and the works of
contemporary spiritual writers — particularly
St. Josemaría Escrivá, who initiated the
Navarre Bible project. |
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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this link.
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Our Engine |
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by
This
volume of commentary on the New English Bible text of the First Book of Kings
follows the pattern of the now well-established series on the Old and New
Testaments. The main divisions of the text are those provided by the New English
Bible itself, but these are further subdivided for the purposes of the
commentary, which is printed in short sections following the relevant portion of
the text.
