Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Fri, 04/01/11
- 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 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: Hos 6:1-6; Ps 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21; Lk 18:9-14
Sunday: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13; Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6;
Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
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THEOLOGY NOTE OF THE WEEK
- Irresistible Grace
Irresistible Grace is a Reformed teaching that states that when God
calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to
all people the gospel message. This is called the external call.
But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be
resisted. This call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts
and minds of the elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration
whereby they willingly and freely come to God.
Some of the verses used in support of this teaching are Romans 9:16
where it says that "it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs,
but of God who has mercy." Philippians 2:12-13 where God is said to
be the one working salvation in the individual. John 6:28-29 where
faith is declared to be the work of God. Acts 13:48 where God
appoints people to believe, and John 1:12-13 where being born again
is said to be not by man's will, but by God's.
- http://www.carm.org/i
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
- St. Crescentia Hoess (1682-1744): April 6
Crescentia was born in 1682 in a little town near Augsburg, the
daughter of a poor weaver. She spent play time praying in the
parish church, assisted those even poorer than herself and had so
mastered the truths of her religion that she was permitted to make
her holy Communion at the then unusually early age of seven. In the
town she was called "the little angel."
As she grew older she desired to enter the convent of the
Tertiaries of St. Francis. But the convent was poor and, because
Crescentia had no dowry, the superiors refused her admission. Her
case was then pleaded by the Protestant mayor of the town to whom
the convent owed a favor. The community felt it was forced into
receiving her, and her new life was made miserable. She was
considered a burden and assigned nothing other than menial tasks.
Even her cheerful spirit was misinterpreted as flattery or
hypocrisy.
Conditions improved four years later when a new superior was
elected who realized her virtue. Crescentia herself was appointed
mistress of novices. She so won the love and respect of the sisters
that, upon the death of the superior, Crescentia herself was
unanimously elected to that position. Under her the financial state
of the convent improved and her reputation in spiritual matters
spread. She was soon being consulted by princes and princesses as
well as by bishops and cardinals seeking her advice. And yet, a
true daughter of Francis, she remained ever humble.
Bodily afflictions and pain were always with her. First it was
headaches and toothaches. Then she lost the ability to walk, her
hands and feet gradually becoming so crippled that her body curled
up into a fetal position. In the spirit of Francis she cried out,
"Oh, you bodily members, praise God that he has given you the
capacity to suffer." Despite her sufferings she was filled with
peace and joy as she died on Easter Sunday in 1744.
She was beatified in 1900 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in
2001.
- http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1345
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
"Spirituality of the Beatitudes: Matthew's Challenge for First
World Christians," by Michael Crosby, O.F.M. Orbis Press, 1987.
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570755493/ref=noism/christianspiritu/
This is a book that does not grow old or outdated because it is so
deeply involved in Matthew's story of the Beatitudes. Crosby chose
Matthew's version of the Beatitudes instead of the shorter form
given in Luke simply because he wanted his book to have at least
eight chapters. In so doing, Crosby enters upon an exciting
experience of faith. This is what he offers his readers.
Crosby learned that Matthew wrote his Gospel for First World
Christians and this makes it so relevant to today's readers in the
New World. He learned that this Matthew is not the tax collector in
the Gospel according to Matthew. This writer was steeped in
rabbinic knowledge and Jewish ways and was at home in the
Greek-speaking world. His community experienced religious upheaval,
conflicts of authority and interpretation of the law, as well as
cultural clashes. Crosby thus finds Matthew speaking to today's
world.
To develop a spirituality for doing good and receiving God's
blessing demands that moral concerns are brought to all levels of
life. It means imitating the life of Jesus by incarnating in our
spiritualities. In Matthew 11:1f Crosby notes that Jesus imitated
the life of the Second Isaiah by making Isaiah 61 the center of his
spirituality. (Mt 11: 1 f "Are you the one who is to come or do
we look for another?" Is 61 "The spirit of the lord is upon me
because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news.)
(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.
The God dimension of experience - Christian Spirituality Issues
forum.
Liesure or selfishness - Christian Spirituality Issues forum.
Musings - Shalom Place Lounge 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)
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
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/
(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
Spiritual Theology
- http://www.domcentral.org/study/aumann/st/default.htm
This classical work by Jordan Aumann, O.P., is available online.
Anyone interested in Christian spirituality would benefit from this
reference, which was formerly published as "The Theology of
Çhristian Perfection," a work that is now out-of-print and very
difficult to find.
Here's a challenge: bookmark the site, and read one chapter a week.
You won't regret it.
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
- A letter to Dad
Dear Dad,
$chool i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying
very hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can't think of anything I
need, $o if you like you can $end me a card, a$ I would love to
hear from you.
Love, Your $on.
******
Dear Son,
I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmics, and oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to
keep even a hoNOr student busy. Do NOt forget that the pursuit of
kNOwledge is a NOble task, and you can never study eNOugh.
Love, Dad.
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