Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Fri, 06/01/12
A Daily Spiritual Seed
Weekend Edition: June
1-3, 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: Dt 4:32-34, 39-40; Ps 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22; Rom 8:14-17; Mt 28:16-20 R. (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.  Upright is the word of the LORD,and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host. For he spoke, and it was made; he commanded, and it stood forth. See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, To deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield. May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our hope in you. - - - Amazon
Gift Cards - - - Spiritual Guidance - see http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums
for these and hundreds of other
discussions. Inner Explorations: a vast array of spirituality resources for the mature
Christian. Theology Note of the
Week Occult means "hidden". It covers practices that are not approved of by God e.g., astrology (Isaiah 47:13), casting spells (Deut. 18:11), consulting with spirits (Deut. 18:11), magic (Gen. 41:8), sorcery (Exodus. 22:18), witchcraft (Deut. 18:10), and spiritism (Deut. 18:11). Those who practice the occult open themselves up to demonic activity, possession, and oppression. Occult practices such as Ouija boards, tarot cards, Wicca, astrology charts, contacting the dead, séances, etc. are to be avoided. |
Featured Spiritual
Growth Resources
 Discerning
God's Will, by Philip St. Romain. Contemplative Ministries, Inc.
2012.Anyone seeking to grow spiritually would do well to learn more about discernment. One can obtain lofty degrees in biblical studies or theology, but such do not necessarily help one to live in God’s will. Indeed, the phrase, “God’s will,” holds lots of baggage for many, especially those who have suffered religious abuse. Nevertheless, we cannot dispense of the topic as it is central to any theistic approach to spirituality such as we find in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. These religions affirm that not only is there a God or Creator, but that God’s nature is personal and relational. It follows that God created each of us to do some kind of work on this planet during our brief sojourn. Finding out what that work might be is the concern of discernment. (From the Introduction) Price: $2.99 - PDF version - Kindle Edition - ePub Edition (check iBookstore for availability). - - - Book (movie, CD) of the Week Our One Great Act of Fidelity: Waiting for Christ in the Eucharist, by Ronald Rolheiser. Doubleday, 2011. - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0307887030/ref=noism/christianspiritu/ 
Rohlesier offers Christians of all denominations much food for thought
in this book on Eucharist which he calls the anchor of many people’s
lives, prayers, and way of life. He explains the history and the
meaning of the sacrament of Eucharist. His sources are scripture
scholars, theologians, and the teachings of the church.The author gives helpful insights drawn from his own upbringing in a Catholic home where he as a child learned the meaning of receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. Living then in a parish where daily Mass was not available, he received the sacrament whenever he could. In his adult life and in his life as a Catholic priest, daily Eucharist is the highlight of each day. He believes that the Eucharist helps secure one’s faith, belief, and intimacy with God. He makes it very clear why so many receive Eucharist every day. Crossing inter-denominational and inter-religious lines, Rohleiser offers understandings of the Eucharist as a way to heal and unite in love. Part Two of his book, offers the many dimensions of the Eucharist, such as, Eucharist as God’s physical embrace, as daily bread, as a celebration of pain and sorrow as well as health and joy, as an invitation to mature, as a way to wash each other’s feet, as an invitation to justice, as a ritual to sustain our health, as a communal rite of waiting, as the priestly prayer of Christ. The book ends with three powerful sermons from the pen of St. Augustine, explaining to the new initiates into the faith the meaning of Eucharist the day after the Easter Vigil. This is a powerful teaching especially for those who have participated in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This is a book which can be treasured by Christians of all denominations. “I hope the book will reflect an understanding and a respect for other traditions around the Eucharist and other ways of anchoring faith and searching for intimacy with God and each other. For the times when this understanding and respect is not evident, I apologize in advance. Everyone has biases and blind spots. I freely admit to mine.” - 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=1925 - St. William of York (d. 1154): June 8 
A disputed election as archbishop of York and a mysterious death. Those
are the headlines from the tragic life of today's saint.Born into a powerful family in 12th-century England, William seemed destined for great things. His uncle was next in line for the English throne—though a nasty dynastic struggle complicated things. William himself faced an internal Church feud. Despite these roadblocks, he was nominated as archbishop of York in 1140. Local clergymen were less enthusiastic, however, and the archbishop of Canterbury refused to consecrate William. Three years later a neighboring bishop performed the consecration, but it lacked the approval of Pope Innocent II, whose successors likewise withheld approval. William was deposed, and a new election was ordered. It was not until 1154—14 years after he was first nominated—that William became archbishop of York. When he entered the city that spring after years of exile, he received an enthusiastic welcome. Within two months he was dead, probably from poisoning. His administrative assistant was a suspect, though no formal ruling was ever made. Despite all that happened to him, William did not show resentment toward his opponents. Following his death, many miracles were attributed to him. He was canonized 73 years later. - - - Joke of the Week - More from the mouths of little kids . . . The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple! tray: 'Take only ONE . God is watching.' Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, 'Take all you want. God is watching the apples.' - - - One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, 'Why are some of your hairs white, Mum?' Her mother replied, 'Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.' The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, 'Mummy, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?' (Thanks Nick.) - - - Web
Resource of the Week
Stats on Religion and "Churchgoing" - http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_chu_att-religion-church-attendance What percentage of the population are regular attendees of church (mosque or synagogue)? You can find out at this web site. Click on a link for a country and you'll find out more about it's religious make-up. Click on a link for the religion and you'll come to yet more stats. One thing that stands out is that the countries belonging to the old USSR have a very low churchgoing percentage -- except for the Polish, that is! |
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