Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Fri, 12/10/10
- readings, teachings, references and reviews -
Contents:
- Ad - Amazon.com gift cards
- Spiritual Growth Resource of the Month
- Weekend Readings
- Theology Note of the Week
- Saint of the Week
- Book of the Week
- Shalom Place Discussion Board
- Personal Spiritual Guidance
- Affiliate Web Sites
- Website of the Week
- Joke of the Week
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Amazon.com gift cards
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
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SPIRITUAL GROWTH RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
- free ground shipping for paperback orders through Dec. 14th. Use
code: HOLIDAY305
"Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
- see http://shalomplace.com/view/handbook.html
"Handbook for Spiritual Directees" is a collection of spiritual
exercises that can be used by directees to stimulate reflection and
discussion in spiritual direction. Spiritual directors will also
find it a helpful resource in their ministry of supporting and
guiding directees. Of course, anyone interested in spiritual growth
can also make good use of this material, even if they are not in a
formal, spiritual direction relationship.
Some of the exercises included in this work include:
* Preparing for Spiritual Direction
* Methods of Prayer
* Faith History
* Guidelines for Discernment
* How to Drop an Attachment or Addiction
* Knowing Your Spiritual Pathways
* Writing Your Mission Statement
* Rule or Way of Life
And many more . . .
Free sample preview of the first 17 pages. Available as a
paperback book, pdf download, or for Amazon Kindle and Apple
iBookstore.
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WEEKEND READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19;
Mt 17:9a, 10-13
Sunday: Is 35:1-6a, 10; Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; Jas 5:7-10;
Mt 11:2-11
R. (cf. Is 35:4) Lord, come and save us.
The LORD God keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.
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THEOLOGY NOTE OF THE WEEK
- Idealism
Idealism is the philosophical position that experience is based on
mental activity, that the only things truly knowable are
abstractions, ideas, thoughts. It maintains that reality is
comprised of consciousness and mental abstractions, which are more
fundamental in nature than is the physical realm.
- http://www.carm.org/i
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
- St. John of the Cross (1541-91): December 14
John is a saint because his life was a heroic effort to live up to
his name: "of the Cross." The folly of the cross came to full
realization in time. "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny
himself, take up his cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34b) is the
story of John's life. The Paschal Mystery--through death to
life--strongly marks John as reformer, mystic-poet and
theologian-priest.
Ordained a Carmelite priest at 25 (1567), John met Teresa of Jesus
(Avila--October 15) and like her vowed himself to the primitive
Rule of the Carmelites. As partner with Teresa and in his own
right, John engaged in the work of reform, and came to experience
the price of reform: increasing opposition, misunderstanding,
persecution, imprisonment. He came to know the cross acutely--to
experience the dying of Jesus--as he sat month after month in his
dark, damp, narrow cell with only his God!
Yet, the paradox! In this dying of imprisonment John came to life,
uttering poetry. In the darkness of the dungeon, John's spirit came
into the Light. There are many mystics, many poets; John is unique
as mystic-poet, expressing in his prison-cross the ecstasy of
mystical union with God in the Spiritual Canticle.
But as agony leads to ecstasy, so John had his Ascent to Mt.
Carmel, as he named it in his prose masterpiece. As
man-Christian-Carmelite, he experienced in himself this purifying
ascent; as spiritual director, he sensed it in others; as
psychologist-theologian, he described and analyzed it in his prose
writings. His prose works are outstanding in underscoring the cost
of discipleship, the path of union with God: rigorous discipline,
abandonment, purification. Uniquely and strongly John underlines
the gospel paradox: The cross leads to resurrection, agony to
ecstasy, darkness to light, abandonment to possession, denial to
self to union with God. If you want to save your life, you must
lose it. John is truly "of the Cross." He died at 49--a life short,
but full.
- http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1229
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
"Light in the Dark Ages: The Friendship of Francis and Clare of
Assisi," by Jon M. Sweeney. Paraclete Press, 2007.
-
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1557254761/ref=noism/christianspiritu/
The author believes that there was much light in the Dark Ages,
especially the light that emanated from Francis and Clare. He
thinks that anyone can be in the dark ages when she/he forgets the
Sermon on the Mount. Francis and Clare inspired change and thus
brought light into darkness, as well as light to deal with the
timeless temptations that come with being human, such as greed,
competition, ego, and selfishness.
Francis of a noble family finally found God after years of
dissolute living, or rather God found him. He was soon joined by
Clare even though his family was very opposed to the friendship.
The two were placed in times that tested the most courageous. There
was the poor treatment of lepers which they sought to alleviate.
There was corruption in the Church which was a source of pain to
both of the would-be saints. There was the Albigensian heresy which
held that all material things are evil; this in contrast to the
holy Francis who saw all of God's creation as beautiful and holy.
Clare's spirituality was instrumental in changing the ideas of
women in high places. Francis who founded an Order was also to
suffer the control of its members.
This book is written for today's readers who might well consider if
a young person would reject family and follow God's call. Can
today's readers form good friendships and hold to a celibate way of
life? Can today's readers give up material possessions for the sake
of the Kingdom? Can one see nature as truly a blessing of God?
(Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this reivew)
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
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- PERSONAL SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE -
Need a companion for the spiritual journey? We have several
wonderful people ready to help, using email and telephone
conferences to bridge the miles.
- Now providing -
Consultations: this option is best for short-term guidance
pertaining to a specific issue.
Spiritual Direction: ongoing relationship with a spiritual director
to become more attuned to God's presence in all of life.
See http://shalomplace.com/direction/
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SHALOM PLACE DISCUSSION BOARDS
A variety of topics are under discussion.
Christophany by Raimon Pannikar - Book and Movie Reviews forum.
Kundalini, reiki and other things - Kundalini Issues and Spiritual
Emergencies forum.
From seeker to saved - Transformative Experiences forum.
- see http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums for this and hundreds of
other discussions.
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AFFILIATE WEB SITES (please give them a visit)
Temenos Catholic Worker: support for homeless youth in Polk Street
neighborhood, San Francisco
http://www.temenos.org/
Contemplative Ministries of the Pacific Northwest: teaching and
support on contemplative practice
http://www.prayeroftheheart.com
Heartland Center for Spirituality: retreat center in central
Kansas..
http://heartlandspirituality.org/index.html
Emanuella House of Prayer: a place for prayer and silence in
British Columbia
http://emmanuellahouse.shawwebspace.ca/
Serenity of the Mind: supporting those who served and who suffer
from PTSD.
http://serenityofthemind.com/default.html
The Ark: Providing a variety of scripture and lectionary study
resources.
http://www.theark1.com
Kyrie Places of Pilgrimmage and Renewal.
http://www.kyrie.com/places/index.htm
Contemplative Rudder: "In the midst of Consecrated Silence
atmospherics ... a Rudder!
http://www.contemplativerudder.com/
Inner Explorations: a vast array of spirituality resources for the
mature Christian.
http://innerexplorations.com
The Sanctuary Foundation for Prayer: resources for spiritual growth.
http://fromholyground.org/index.htm
Institute for Women's Spiritual Dynamics: holistic, flexible,
sensible Christian spirituality for women.
http://www.womensspiritualdynamics.com/
SeeScapes. Picturing the deeper dimensions of our spirituality.
http://www.seescapes.com
(Reach other people who have a similar interest in Christian
spirituality. Simply publish a link to Daily Spiritual Seed--
http://shalomplace.com/seed --on a prominent place on your web site
and we will reciprocate with a weekly link to your site in the
newsletter. Contact the Editor when you're ready to begin.)
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WEB SITE OF THE WEEK
Is Prayer Good for Your Health?
-
http://www.heritage.org/research/lecture/is-prayer-good-for-your-health-a-critique-of-the-scientific-research
A review of the literature with reflection on its meaning by a
number of researchers. This is a highly substantive treatment of
the topic.
And . . . yes: it is!
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
Not too long ago a scientist tried to clone himself. However, his
clone was very obnoxious and lewd, while the scientist was well
received and respected. Finally fed up with his experiment gone
wrong, he threw his clone off the roof of the laboratory; killing
the clone. He was arrested by the local police for... making an
obscene clone fall.
--------------------
Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, but when they lit a
fire in the craft it sank-proving once and for all that you can't
have your kayak and heat it, too.
(OK, enough!)
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