M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In the Pope’s homily yesterday, he stressed prayer:
In the Pope’s homily yesterday, he stressed prayer:
"How can I make sure... I hear the voice of Jesus?" -- Pope Francis
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S
St_Pancake
Guest
Praying with you.
W
womanatwell
Guest
Thank you for pointing this out. I have been discussing discernment on my own blog (I usually post once a month) and was going to do some more research about discernment. Our local churches are going through some big changes and I feel group prayer would be a good start for discernment of direction for us. I had read about a group who discussed their problems, read the Bible and prayed together. If they did not agree about a particular plan, they would wait until the next time they met and repeat the process. They found that they often ended up agreeing after a time and had more unity and peace about their actions. When I had talked about this to others in the past, they seemed to think it is too much to ask the Lord to direct us. Yet don’t we try to discern our own individual vocations and direction? It seems if we can seek the Lord individually, we can seek His direction together.
T
tawny
Guest
Praying with all.
M
MariaChristi
Guest
Thanks so much, and please let us continue to pray always, without ceasing!
M
MariaChristi
Guest
Thanks, tawny. Please let us continue to pray, always and without ceasing. Our spiritual lives really depend on prayer – not just words recited but prayer as it is defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a “covenant relationship” or my favorite definition from St. John Vianney: “Prayer is nothing other than union with God”.
M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear woman the well,
Thanks so much for your reply and for the link to your blog, in which you wrote:
Yes, we need to patient with others, as God has been so patient with us. The more we prayerfully listen to the Gospel, asking the Holy Spirit to bring us into the complete Truth, the more we will begin to understand His Will and discern the truth He calls us to live. Jesus is The Way, The Truth and the Life for all who follow Him. In love, we want for others the good we have found in Christ. May we burn with the fire of His Love for others.
Listening to scripture and praying together is a great way to grow spiritually as person and as a Church. My husband and I lead a Scripture Study on Sunday mornings on the Mass Readings and it has been a blessing for all of us. I hope more Catholics will heed the words of Pope Francis in his urging for deeper prayer. All of our good works among the poor and needy must come from the depths of our prayer relationship with God.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful and kindle in us, the Fire of your Love.
**O Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother look down in mercy upon England thy Dowry
and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our Hope was given unto the world
and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.
Plead for us thy children whom thou did receive and accept at the foot of the cross O sorrowful Mother,
Intercede for our separated brethren that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the Chief Shepherd the Vicar of Thy Son.
Pray for us all dear mother that by faith, fruitful and good works we may all deserve to see and praise God
together with thee in our heavenly home. Amen.
St Thomas More Pray for us
St John Fisher Pray for us
All the saints of
England Pray for us**
and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our Hope was given unto the world
and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.
Plead for us thy children whom thou did receive and accept at the foot of the cross O sorrowful Mother,
Intercede for our separated brethren that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the Chief Shepherd the Vicar of Thy Son.
Pray for us all dear mother that by faith, fruitful and good works we may all deserve to see and praise God
together with thee in our heavenly home. Amen.
St Thomas More Pray for us
St John Fisher Pray for us
All the saints of
England Pray for us**
M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Nelka,
Thanks for your reply and the beautiful prayers. In praying to Mary I am more and more aware, always by God’s Grace, of her union with the Holy Spirit!
P
pollylodges
Guest
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
†
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
†
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
†
Amen.
†
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
†
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
†
M
MariaChristi
Guest
Thanks for your prayers, pollylodges!
P
pollylodges
Guest
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
†
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
†
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
†
Amen.
†
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
†
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
†
W
womanatwell
Guest
Thanks for visiting my blog! Your group sounds wonderful. The Catechism links Scripture reading with prayer:
- The Church “forcefully and specially exhorts all the Christian faithful… to learn ‘the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ’ (Phil 3:8) by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures… Let them remember, however, that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man. For ‘we speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles.’”4 (133, 1100).
May the Lord give us wisdom to find the righteous paths.
C
China123
Guest
Praying with all
Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
M
MariaChristi
Guest
M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear womanatwell,
Thanks for the Catechism quote. Yes, it is very important to remember that God’s Revelation comes to us primarily through Sacred Scripture but also through Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church. My husband and I also have an afternoon Bible Study on Sundays, which we began for those unable to attend Sunday Mornings. We began with the Books of the Old Testament and then decided to study Parts of the Catechism and began with Part IV on Prayer. Some from our morning group attend the afternoons as well. Currently we are studying the moral teachings from Part III. It is good to see how the Catechism and the Scripture are “in sync”.
My husband and I have a blog also which you and others might like to visit at: renewthechurch.wordpress.com
He is also a photographer and uses his photos on occasion as he did in several blog entries.
W
womanatwell
Guest
I admire your energy, dedication and discipline!Dear womanatwell,
Thanks for the Catechism quote. Yes, it is very important to remember that God’s Revelation comes to us primarily through Sacred Scripture but also through Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church. My husband and I also have an afternoon Bible Study on Sundays, which we began for those unable to attend Sunday Mornings. We began with the Books of the Old Testament and then decided to study Parts of the Catechism and began with Part IV on Prayer. Some from our morning group attend the afternoons as well. Currently we are studying the moral teachings from Part III. It is good to see how the Catechism and the Scripture are “in sync”.
My husband and I have a blog also which you and others might like to visit at: renewthechurch.wordpress.com
He is also a photographer and uses his photos on occasion as he did in several blog entries.
Your blog is visually impressive. Beautiful picture of boats on latest post with clouds drawing in the attention and inspiring contemplation.
I think the Catechism mentions about prayer being different for different people. You seem to have found a satisfying venue (if that is the right word) for yourselves and others in your group, yet in quoting Pope Francis have a burden for others on your heart.
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244Rocket
Guest
I pray daily.
W
womanatwell
Guest
That also takes energy, dedication and discipline.
I sometimes go to daily mass, which is a great help in prayer. I also try to pray at home, in a manner such as Lectio Divina, which includes reading Scripture, prayer, meditation and contemplation.
M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear womanatwell,
Believe me, dear sister in Christ, at age 78, my energy level decreases every day; and only by God’s Grace and Mary’s intercession, am I able to do anything!
My husband does the beautiful work on the blog. I’ve written a few entries and always write comments, but he is the true artist and author. He once told me that photography is a form of prayer for him and I believe that is true – he “ponders” a scene – looking and listening for God’s message before he takes the photograph. The picture indeed “speaks” because it conveys something God-given.
Prayer is a relationship, I think the words of the Catechism are that it is a Covenant relationship between us and God. Because each person is unique and unrepeatable, coming from the Creator’s Hand, it follows that each person’s prayer while following a general pattern is yet unique too.
Thanks again for your reply, and comments, they are truly appreciated. May God bless the work of your hands! May Our Blessed Mother, especially on this Frist Saturday of her special month of May, be honored in and through your life and the lives of all God’s children.
- Status