Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Tue, 03/08/11
- 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 AND FOR LENT
- The Five Consents: Co-operating with the Spirit to grow in Grace
http://shalomplace.com/inetmin/fiveconsents/index.html
Open registration; free-will donation requested.
Although there are many invitations from God that break into our
lives, we can identify five basic areas that are common to all of
us, and which are ongoing:
1. To life, and living to the full (Jn 10: 10)
- the invitation to hope.
2. To God's providential care (Mt 6: 25-34)
- the invitation of faith.
3. To loving service (Jn 13: 6-17)
- the invitation to love.
4. To hardship, suffering and death (Mt 16: 24-25)
- to carry our crosses.
5. To the present moment (2 Cor 6: 2)
- to resurrection life.
Each of these invitations are extended in many ways throughout our
lives, and sometimes one takes more precedence than the others.
Consenting to all is necessary, however, if one is to grow in grace.
Those who sign up for this Internet retreat will receive
reflections on the consents listed above with practical suggestions
for practicing them. There will be 35 reflections in all -- 7 for
each consent. The first will be sent the day following your
registration and will continue, usually every day or two, until you
have received them all.
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WEEKEND READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Saturday: Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Lk 5:27-32
Sunday: Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17; Rom
5:12-19; Mt 4:1-11
R. (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
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THEOLOGY NOTE OF THE WEEK
- Inspiration
The doctrine that the Bible was written by the influence of God. It
is, therefore, without error. It is accurate and authoritatively
represents God's teachings (2 Tim. 3:16). As such it is a
revelation from God which implies direct knowledge about God,
creation, man, salvation, the future, etc. It is an illumination in
that it shows us what we could not know apart from it.
One of the ways to prove that the Bible is inspired is to examine
the O.T. prophecies fulfilled in the N.T. concerning Jesus (Luke
24:27-45). Because the Bible is inspired, its words are unbreakable
(John 10:34-36), eternal (Matt. 24:35), trustworthy (Psalm
119:160), and able to pierce the heart of man (Heb. 4:12).
Additionally, the inspired Word of God will not go forth without
accomplishing what God wishes it to (Isaiah 55:11).
- http://www.carm.org/i
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
- St. Patrick (415? - 493?) March 17
Legends about Patrick abound; but truth is best served by our
seeing two solid qualities in him: He was humble and he was
courageous. The determination to accept suffering and success with
equal indifference guided the life of God's instrument for winning
most of Ireland for Christ.
Details of his life are uncertain. Current research places his
dates of birth and death a little later than earlier accounts.
Patrick may have been born in Dunbarton, Scotland, Cumberland,
England, or in northern Wales. He called himself both a Roman and a
Briton. At 16, he and a large number of his father's slaves and
vassals were captured by Irish raiders and sold as slaves in
Ireland. Forced to work as a shepherd, he suffered greatly from
hunger and cold.
After six years, Patrick escaped, probably to France, and later
returned to Britain at the age of 22. His captivity had meant
spiritual conversion. He may have studied at Lerins, off the French
coast; he spent years at Auxerre, France, and was consecrated
bishop at the age of 43. His great desire was to proclaim the Good
News to the Irish.
In a dream vision it seemed "all the children of Ireland from their
mothers' wombs were stretching out their hands" to him. He
understood the vision to be a call to do mission work in pagan
Ireland. Despite opposition from those who felt his education had
been defective, he was sent to carry out the task. He went to the
west and north, where the faith had never been preached, obtained
the protection of local kings and made numerous converts.
Because of the island's pagan background, Patrick was emphatic in
encouraging widows to remain chaste and young women to consecrate
their virginity to Christ. He ordained many priests, divided the
country into dioceses, held Church councils, founded several
monasteries and continually urged his people to greater holiness in
Christ.
He suffered much opposition from pagan druids, and was criticized
in both England and Ireland for the way he conducted his mission.
In a relatively short time the island had experienced deeply the
Christian spirit, and was prepared to send out missionaries whose
efforts were greatly responsible for Christianizing Europe.
Patrick was a man of action, with little inclination toward
learning. He had a rocklike belief in his vocation, in the cause he
had espoused.
One of the few certainly authentic writings is his Confessio, above
all an act of homage to God for having called Patrick, unworthy
sinner, to the apostolate.
There is hope rather than irony in the fact that his burial place
is said to be in strife-torn Ulster, in County Down.
- http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1325
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
"Good Words, Inspiration for Catholic Women," St. Anthony Messenger
Press, 1989 (2010 edition now available)
-
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0867169567/ref=noism/christianspiritu/
- (A good resource for non-Catholics as well who seek to grow
through Lenten disciplines.)
This little book would make a good Lenten companion as it gives
short sections based on Eccl.3: 1-8 "for everything there is a
season". The booklet is intended to inspire in times of hope,
grief, despair, joy, love, hate, pain, war, and peace. All these
selections have previously been published in St. Anthony Messenger.
The various authors give affirmation for one's gifts and talents in
happy times and they offer encouragement in times of despair.
Readers will find words of consolation when obstacles seemed too
difficult to overcome. Comfort is offered to those in grief. There
are words of healing for the pains that the human body is often
encountering. There are hints to show what immortal souls can
actually endure. Encouragement is offered in all seasons of the
human activity.
Read this book as a companion in quiet moments of the day. Take it
along for a walk. Let it open your heart to the strength of a God
who is one's constant companion, who never forgets you even if you
forget this great lover God. The authors hope that this companion
of the journey will inspire in all manner of circumstances.
(Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.)
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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.
Lenten Rules - Christian Morality and Theology forum.
Anger as part of one's journey - Christian Spirituality Issues
forum.
Abortion doctor turns pro-life - Christian Morality and Theology
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)
SeeScapes. Picturing the deeper dimensions of our spirituality.
http://www.seescapes.com
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/
(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
The Reverend Know-it-all
- http://www.rev-know-it-all.com/2008/2008---03-30.html
This link will take you to the page on why Catholics abstain from
meat on Fridays during Lent (and, in the distant past, on all
Fridays). Lots of topics addressed, as you will see if you click
around on the site. Good humor and straightforward responses about
basic Christian and Catholic beliefs and practices.
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
- Dust
A little boy came home from Sunday School and went into his room to
change his clothes. When he emerged he asked his mother, "Is it
true we come from dust?" "Yes dear," replied mother. "Is it true
that when we die we go back to the dust?" "Yes dear, that's
right." The little boy ran into his room and came out all excited,
"Mom, I just looked under my bed and there's someone either coming
or going!"
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- Tolerance
If you can start the day without caffeine or pills,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can do all these things,
Then you are probably the family dog.
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Please help support Heartland Center's Internet ministries:
- For more info on tax-deductible donations, see
http://shalomplace.com/seed/donations.html.
Thanks for your consideration!
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