Meditate: If the sacraments are God's masterworks, how then should I approach them? What does it mean to say that the sacraments are the way that God brings us into a relationship with Him? How and why did God choose to bring us His salvation through the Church in His sacraments? What does it mean to share in the Divine Life? If I am looking forward to receiving the sacraments, how can I prepare and in what ways is God helping me? If I have already received a sacrament, how can I benefit from it's effects? Pray: Father, we thank you that we can participate in your divine life through your Son in the Holy Spirit poured out to us in the work of your sacraments administered by your Holy Church. Amen Imitate: St. Alphonsus Liguori Apply: If I am a member of the Catholic Church, do I frequently seek to strengthen my relationship with God through frequent reception of the sacraments (Confession and Holy Communion)? If I am anticipating membership in the Catholic Church, am I making sufficient preparation to receive the sacraments? Do I have a genuine faith? Am I really repentant of my sins? Extra: Catholic Encyclopedia: Sacraments Catholic Encyclopedia: Sacramentals Outside da Box: The Seven Sacraments Elements of the Catholic Mass: Sacramental Signs
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Disputation of the Holy Sacrament (La Disputa) by Raphael (1483 - 1520) Why "Not to go to Communion is like someone dying of thirst beside a spring." - St. John Vianney Read: Genesis 14:17-20 Psalm 5 Luke 22:14-20 Study: 1) Handouts: Liturgy: An Introduction; The Liturgy of the Hours; History of the Mass; The Liturgical Year; The Parts of the Mass; What is a Rite?; Liturgical Vocabulary List 2) 3MC: 39 – What is Holy Mass? 40 – What are the parts of the Mass? 3) CCC 1066-1206, 1322-1405 (YOUCAT 166-192, 208 - 223) Meditate: What happens when the Christian community comes to together to worship God? If our worship is our work, how and why is it also God's work in our lives? If Jesus comes to meet us in the Mass by His real presence in the Holy Eucharist, how then should I prepare myself for the Mass? How should I spend my time during the Mass? Why is it so important that I make every effort to attend Mass on Sundays and all Holy Days of obligation? Pray: Lord Jesus, I wish to receive you into my heart with all the ardor of love that the most fervent soul ever had for you. May I receive you with the purity, love, and joy of Mary. Amen. Imitate: St. Benedict of Nursia Apply: Do I make the effort to pay attention during the Mass? Am I thankful for all the good gifts God has given me, and do I express that thankfulness in my worship? Do I show God the proper reverence while worshiping Him? Do I attend Mass on Sundays and all Holy Days of Obligation? Extra: Documentary Video - Catholic Mass The Meaning of the Mass - Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen Catholic Encyclopedia: Liturgy of the Mass Catholic Encyclopedia: Sacrifice of the Mass Catholic Answers: The Institution of the Mass Catholic Answers: The Sacrifice of the Mass Why We Don't Drink Coffee at Mass?
Meditate: In what ways has God given me help up to this point in my life? In what ways can I expect God to help me now and in the future? If God's grace is unmerited favor: How then can I prepare for it, how can I apply it in my life, why does God allow me to cooperate with it, and why does God reward me for cooperating with His grace? What does it mean to be saved and how was my salvation accomplished? How does faith play a role in my salvation? Is conversion a one time event or a process that lasts a lifetime? If so, how can I cooperate with God to become more and more the person he calls me to be? Pray: Oh my God, You know my weakness and failings, and that without Your help I can accomplish nothing for the good of souls, my own and others’. Grant me, therefore, the help of Your grace. Grant it according to my particular needs this day. Enable me to see the task You will set before me in the daily routine of my life, and help me to work hard at my appointed tasks. Teach me to bear patiently all the trials of suffering or failure that may come to me today. Amen. Imitate: St. Augustine Apply: Do I thank God for His grace in my life? Do I humbly ask for His grace when needed? Am I responsible with the grace He has given me? Extra: Justification: Process or One-Time Deal? Reward and Merit Assurance of Salvation? What Does it Mean to Merit Salvation? Bishop Robert Baron on the Parable of the Talents Bishop Robert Baron on Nature and Grace Bishop Robert Baron on What Faith Is and What Faith Isn't Bishop Robert Baron on The Council of Trent
The Triumph of the Immaculate by Paolo de Matteis "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." (1 Corinthians 12:26) Read: Romans 14:7-9 Psalm 18 John 15:5-12 Study: 1) Handouts: The Communion of Saints; Holiness and Joy; Solemnity of All Saints 2) 3MC: 59 – Why do Catholics call on the saints? 3) CCC 459, 825-828, 946-959, 1471-1479, 1716-1729, 2013-2015, 2030, 2635-2636 (YOUCAT 146-149, 342) Meditate: In what ways can I honor the memory and lives of the heroes of my faith? Do I also desire to be a saint? What steps must I take to foster holiness and virtue in my own life? Were all saints perfect their entire lives? Pray: Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Imitate: Sts. Perpetua, Felicity, and Companions Apply: In times of need, do I ask for help from my brothers and sisters both on earth and in heaven? Do I pray for those in purgatory? I spend time reading about the lives of the saints? Extra: Why pray to saints? Bishop Robert Barron on All Saints Day All Souls Day All Saints Day Praying to the Saints The Intercession of the Saints Saint Worship? Relics
3) 3MC: 52 – What is the Church? 53 – What are the four characteristics of the Church? 54 – Why does the Church even exist? 55 – What is the structure of the Church? 57 – What and how many? 58 – Criticism of the Church Meditate: There are many different symbols for the Church: What does it mean to call the Church the Bride and Jesus the Bridegroom? How is it that the Church is called the Body of Christ? If the Church is the Living Temple of the Holy Spirit, how then should I conduct myself? How can I work toward the unity of all Christians or for that matter the unity of all people in Christ? In what ways can those who are not part of the Church be blessed by those who are in the Church? Pray: We pray to You, O almighty and eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ has revealed Your glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Your mercy, that Your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of your name. Amen. Imitate: St. Mary Magdalene Apply: When was the last time I invited someone to consider joining the Catholic Church? Extra: Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth Authentic Ecumenism Salvation Outside the Church The Church Union of Christendom
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