Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Fri, 03/30/12
A Daily Spiritual Seed
Weekend Edition:
March 30 - April 1, 2012
| Contents: - Weekend Scripture Readings - Spiritual Guidance - Discussion Board highlights - Affiliate Web Sites - Theology Note of the Week - Spiritual Growth Resources. - Book of the Week - Saint of the Week - Joke of the Week - Web Resource of the Week - - - Sunday: Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mk 14:1-15:47 R. (2a) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?  All who see me scoff at me;they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads: "He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him." Indeed, many dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers closes in upon me; They have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones. They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. But you, O LORD, be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me. I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you: "You who fear the LORD, praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel!" - - - Amazon
Gift Cards - - - Spiritual Guidance Theology Note of the
Week Nephilim is a term used of the giants of the pre-flood generation who were apparently wicked (Gen. 6:5). They were the offspring of the "sons of God" and women. The term "sons of God" seems to indicate spiritual beings (Job 1:6; 2:1) in the Old Testament, but it is used of Christians in the New Testament (Luke 20:36; Rom. 8:14,19; Gal. 3:26). The term "nephilim" is used in Num. 13:33 in reference to people of huge size, which is probably a reference to their military strength. |
Featured Spiritual
Growth Resources
Psychological
Types and Spirituality, by Philip St. Romain, D. Min.
 Fourteen
online presentations on Jung's psychological types, with implications
for spiritual growth. Initially, these conferences were presented
via email, but now they are available in a discussion forum with no
registration fee and open participation. This material would be a
good study and growth resource for Lent.- - - Book (movie, CD) of the Week Give Us This Day (magazine subscription). Liturgical Press. - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00529YCWQ/ref=noism/christianspiritu/  This monthy publication of about
400 pages contains a variety of prayers for daily use. Each day begins
with a short Morning Prayer consisting of one psalm, Scripture reading,
petitions, and closing prayer.This is followed by a page long story of
a holy one of our times. The readings of the day's Mass are complete.
This is followed by a reflection for the day, often written by a
contemporary writer, which can be used for preaching material. The day
closes with Evening Prayer consisting of a psalm, a reading from
Scripture, petitions, and a closing prayer. The Ordinary of the Mass is also included with a variety of prayers. Each week is introduced with a reflection on what will follow in the daily Mass prayers; this is also written by contemporary writers. There may be music and words for about five hymns. There is a sample of the Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word when a priest is not present. The March issue contains the Way of the Cross, Lenten reflections, how to pray Lectio Divina, prayers for the sacrament of reconciliation, and suggestions for meal prayers. Each monthly issue has reflections appropriate to the liturgical season. - Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review Make the Christian Spirituality Bookstore your starting point for online shopping at Amazon.com. You can buy books, cds, videotapes, software, appliances and many other products at discount prices. As Amazon.com affiliate, we are paid a small fee for purchases originating from our web site. Every little bit helps! http://shalomplace.com/books/index.html - - - Saint of the Week - http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1344 St. Vincent Ferrer (1350?-1419): April 5  The polarization in the Church
today is a mild breeze compared with the tornado that ripped the Church
apart during the lifetime of this saint. If any saint is a patron of
reconciliation, Vincent Ferrer is.Despite parental opposition, he entered the Dominican Order in his native Spain at 19. After brilliant studies, he was ordained a priest by Cardinal Peter de Luna--who would figure tragically in his life. Of a very ardent nature, Vincent practiced the austerities of his Order with great energy. He was chosen prior of the Dominican house in Valencia shortly after his ordination. The Western Schism divided Christianity first between two, then three, popes. Clement VII lived at Avignon in France, Urban VI in Rome. Vincent was convinced the election of Urban was invalid (though Catherine of Siena was just as devoted a supporter of the Roman pope). In the service of Cardinal de Luna, he worked to persuade Spaniards to follow Clement. When Clement died, Cardinal de Luna was elected at Avignon and became Benedict XIII. Vincent worked for him as apostolic penitentiary and Master of the Sacred Palace. But the new pope did not resign as all candidates in the conclave had sworn to do. He remained stubborn despite being deserted by the French king and nearly all of the cardinals. Vincent became disillusioned and very ill, but finally took up the work of simply "going through the world preaching Christ," though he felt that any renewal in the Church depended on healing the schism. An eloquent and fiery preacher, he spent the last 20 years of his life spreading the Good News in Spain, France, Switzerland, the Low Countries and Lombardy, stressing the need of repentance and the fear of coming judgment. (He became known as the "Angel of the Judgment.") He tried, unsuccessfully, in 1408 and 1415, to persuade his former friend to resign. He finally concluded that Benedict was not the true pope. Though very ill, he mounted the pulpit before an assembly over which Benedict himself was presiding and thundered his denunciation of the man who had ordained him a priest. Benedict fled for his life, abandoned by those who had formerly supported him. Strangely, Vincent had no part in the Council of Constance, which ended the schism. - - - Joke of the Week - Honesty from little kids . . . A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up." Did Noah Fish? A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?" "No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms. The Lord IS My Shepherd!!! A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know." (That IS true! Thanks to Carol for these stories.) - - - Web
Resource of the Week
The Passion of Jesus Christ - http://www.cptryon.org/xpipassio/passio/index.html  Commentaries on the final week of Jesus' earthly life by
scripture scholar Donald Senior. (see links in left sidebar)The commentaries are a good mixture of scholarly information and meditative reflection. This is a good resource to spend time with during the coming week. |
|