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My Prayer Box
the Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition
To subscribe to the newsletter, please follow this
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My
Favorite Prayer |
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Anima Christi |
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Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
0 good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malignant enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me.
And bid me come to Thee.
That, with Thy Saints, I may praise Thee
Forever and ever. Amen |
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For a list of Traditional Prayers,
please click here. |
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from the American Catholic
Friar Jack's E-spiration |
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(This is a
great e-newsletter t add to your collection) |
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Lent Calls Us to
Repentance as Adults |
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Now that we are in the midst of the Lenten season,
parishes will be offering several opportunities to
receive the sacrament of reconciliation. It’s
fairly common knowledge that many people have
pretty much eliminated this sacrament from their
lives--perhaps not consciously, but simply pushed
it aside.
Let’s face it. It’s not easy to admit our sins,
and it’s even harder to confess them to another
person, even if it is a priest. I can only assure
you that every priest, including myself, must
confess his sins to his brother priest. In fact,
if you do attend a parish communal penance
service, you have probably seen most of the
confessors, before or afterwards, move to another
priest to confess their sins and receive
absolution.
In some ways it may seem a burden. And yet, to be
truthful, there is hardly anything more adult and
mature that we can do than face our own faults and
sins. Some may say, “Well, I just go directly to
God.” But my question is: Do you actually examine
your conscience, sit down quietly, confess your
sins to God and ask forgiveness? Or is this merely
a way of saying, “Well, God knows I’m sorry.” As
difficult as this can be, it is one opportunity to
actually ask ourselves how we have acted towards
our families, spouses and those around us. While I
might call myself a Catholic, have I done what I
need to do in living my faith? Lent is a perfect
time to give honest answers to these questions.
How we approach the reception of God’s mercy is
important. We are God’s children. We come to the
father to ask his forgiveness through the mercy of
Jesus given by the ordained priest. It’s not just
ritual. It is life.
The Simple Steps to Receiving the Sacrament
a) Examination of conscience. This is not
supposed to be a torture session. Actually, our
consciences will bring to mind any serious sins we
have committed. Even people who have been away
from the confessional for many years, even
decades, realize that knowing our sins is not the
hard part. It’s actually owning up to them to
another. Keep in mind that God knows the whole
past in every detail anyway. We make an honest
effort to know ourselves and our failings. But,
again, it’s God’s mercy that is most important.
b) Sorrow for sin. If we are serious about
going to confession, sorrow comes almost
automatically. After all, we are admitting we are
sinners right up front. That truthful admission
brings sorrow. But please don’t confuse sorrow
with emotions or feelings. You may still struggle
with feelings of resentment and yet tell God you
are sorry for the time you were angry with another
person. Sorrow is in the heart (not feelings) and
in the will.
c) Confession of sin. Confess your sins as
simply and as honestly as you can. It is easy to
link sin with a commandment: missing Mass (third),
anger (fifth), impurity (sixth, ninth). There is
no need for great details, nor is the priest
interested in detail. If you need help, don’t
hesitate to ask the priest for assistance.
d) Receive penance given. Listen to the
words of the priest as he tries to guide you and
remind you of God’s love for you.
e) Act of contrition. Making an act of
contrition can be very short: “O, God, I am sorry
for all my sins, now and in the past, and I will
try with all my heart not to sin again.”
f) Thanks to God. Leave the confessional
and thank God for his forgiveness and pray the
prayers the priest gave you for a penance.
Not to Worry About Past Sins
Now, a very important point. When God forgives sin
through the absolution of the priest, he forgives
ALL our sins, including those we cannot remember.
We need to be sincerely sorry for all our sins.
Otherwise, why go to the Lord for forgiveness?
If you later remember something you forgot,
dismiss it from your mind. It is gone forever, and
the Lord wants you to trust his mercy, put the
past aside and live each new day in his love, one
day at a time. When we spend too much time on the
past to make sure we got it all, we become
self-centered. And let’s face it: We will never
get it all. Confession is much more about trust
than exact numbers and detail.
Finally, people wonder how often we should receive
this sacrament. It is required only for serious or
mortal sin. But the sacrament is a gift, and it is
good to present ourselves to the Lord even when we
have nothing serious to confess. As difficult as
this sacrament may sometimes be, isn’t it true
that we leave with a sense of peace, a fresh
start, a feeling of having faced our weaknesses
and admitted them and received forgiveness? That’s
my experience. |
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The Third Sunday of Lent
March 15,
2009 |
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First Reading From
the Book of Exodus: |
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Ex 20:1-17 or 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17
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In those days, God delivered all these
commandments: "I, the LORD, am your God, who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place
of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides
me.
You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the
shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth
below or in the waters beneath the earth; you
shall not bow down before them or worship them.
For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God,
inflicting punishment for their fathers'
wickedness on the children of those who hate me,
down to the third and fourth generation; but
bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation
on the children of those who love me and keep my
commandments.
"You shall not take the name of the LORD, your
God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave
unpunished the one who takes his name in vain.
"Remember to keep holy the sabbath day. Six days
you may labor and do all your work, but the
seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God.
No work may be done then either by you, or your
son or daughter,
or your male or female slave, or your beast, or by
the alien who lives with you. In six days the Lord
made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all
that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested.
That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day
and made it holy.
"Honor your father and your mother, that you may
have a long life in the land which the LORD, your
God, is giving you.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You
shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male
or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything
else that belongs to him." |
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or |
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In those days, God delivered all these
commandments: "I, the LORD am your God, who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place
of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides
me.
"You shall not take the name of the LORD, your
God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave
unpunished the one who takes his name in vain.
"Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
Honor your father and your mother, that you may
have a long life in the land which the Lord, your
God, is giving you.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor
his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor
anything else that belongs to him." |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 |
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R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting
life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting
life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting
life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting
life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting
life.
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Second Reading from the First Letter
to the Corinthians |
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1 Cor 1:22-25 |
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Brothers and sisters:
Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but
we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to
Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who
are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is
wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God
is stronger than human strength. |
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Reading From
the Gospel of John:
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Jn 2:13-25 |
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| Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus
went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area
those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as
the money changers seated there. He made a whip
out of cords and drove them all out of the
temple area, with the sheep
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and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money
changers
and overturned their tables, and to those who sold
doves he said,
"Take these out of here, and stop making my
Father's house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will
raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for
forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.
While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of
Passover,
many began to believe in his name
when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because
he knew them all,
and did not need anyone to testify about human
nature.
He himself understood it well. |
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References |
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Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life
by
Charles J. Chaput
(Author)
“At a time
when the ‘faith and values’ vote has never
been more important, Archbishop Charles Chaput
deftly explores the intersection of morality,
reason, and politics. |
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This isn’t
just a book for Catholics, but for anyone who
cares about the state of America’s soul —and
how that concern might shape the 2008
elections.”
—John
L. Allen Jr., NCR and CNN senior Vatican
correspondent,
Amazon |
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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)
- 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 |
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"... this account of Christianity's remarkable
growth within the Roman Empire 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 B - 2009
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 |
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to the many questions
concerning the Catholic Church. It spells out
profound truths in very 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: |
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After years of spiritual study and reflection,
inspirational speaker and 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 |
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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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The First Book of Kings (Cambridge Bible Commentaries on the Old Testament) 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 |
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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.
Canon Robinson suggests that the editors of I
Kings compiled their history in order to teach
the Hebrews that their existence as Israel, the
covenant people of God, depended upon their
continuing loyalty to their own religious
traditions, and their refusal to exchange them
for the very different traditions of the
Canaanites among whom they lived.
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I & II Samuel: A Commentary (Old Testament Library)
First sentence in
the book:
""THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL contain that
part of the history of Israel which describes
the foundation of the State, running from the
close of the period of the Judges to the
establishment of the united kingdom." |
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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 |
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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
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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
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faithfully Catholic
commentaries. Like other volumes in the
world-renowned Navarre Bible series, these
commentaries draw on Church documents, the
exegesis of Fathers 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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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this link.
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Copyright
© 2006. My Catholic Tradition. All rights reserved |
Dear Friends:
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Thank you.
Rey
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