Weekend Edition: Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Tue, 07/15/08
- readings, teachings, references and reviews -
Contents:
- Weekend Readings
- Saint of the Week
- Book of the Week
- Email Spirituality Series
- Shalom Place Premium Groups
- Spiritual Enrichment Resource
- Email Spirituality Series
- Shalom Place Discussion Board
- Affiliate Web Sites
- Website of the Week
- Joke of the Week
- - -
WEEKEND READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Saturday: Jer 7:1-11; Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11; Mt 13:24-30
Sunday: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12; Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130;
Rom 8:28-30; Mt 13:44-52
R. (97a) Lord, I love your commands.
I have said, O LORD, that my part
is to keep your words.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
For I love your command
more than gold, however fine.
For in all your precepts I go forward;
every false way I hate.
Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
- July 25: St. Christopher
Was he or wasn't he? Officially removed from the calendar of the
Church, he remains a popular patron for travellers. Allegedly put
to death in Bithynia (in Turkey) in the 3rd. Century, he is one of
the so-called 'Fourteen Holy Helpers'. His story is contained in
the great medieval collection the 'Golden Legend'. This makes him a
man of colossal build who was converted to Christ, taught by a
hermit, and given the duty of helping travellers cross a river. One
day he took a little child who weighed so much that the saint was
forced down. The child revealed himself as Christ, who had loaded
Christopher (="Christ-bearer") with the weight of the world
Christopher was told to plant his staff in the ground, and like
Aaron's staff [Numbers 17:8] it budded and bore flowers and dates.
Wall-paintings of the giant Christopher were popular in churches;
placed on the north wall opposite the door, they were the first
thing one saw on entering. Legend had it that anyone who saw an
image of Christopher would not die that day. Hence the popularity
of the Christopher medal in cars, bearing the inscription "Behold
St. Christopher, and go thy way in safety". No matter what the
official calendar of the church may say, as road travel becomes
more frantic and cars butt each other ever more vigorously on the
M25, Christopher medals will still sell.
- http://www.hullp.demon.co.uk/SacredHeart/saint/st_christopher.htm
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
"15 Days of Prayer with St. Thomas Aquinas," by Suzanne Urai and
Andre Pinet. Liguori Publ., 2000.
-
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ref=noism/0764806564/christianspiritu/
Here are 15 days of prayer with St. Thomas Aquinas which are also
15 days of absorbing the teaching of the Angelic Doctor. From the
nature of God to the Blessed Virgin, from the Body of Christ
offered on Calvary to the Body of Christ incarnate in the Church,
here one finds the clear distillation of St. Thomas' thought and
philosophy.
The authors present three simple rules if one is to follow this
book with a measure of satisfaction:
a. place - choose an atmosphere for reflection without
distractions, a comfortable place with good lighting;
b. time - choose the best time of the day for reflection,
meditation and prayer, and determine how much time one will spend
in this experience;
c. freedom - take a stance toward life; give oneself permission to
be oneself, to be gentle and understanding of who one is.
Readers are urged to be free to use the book as best fits oneself,
skipping parts that do not seem relevant. Especially do the
authors urge the readers to Be Open to Surprises in Prayer.
(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
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SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and study and spiritual growth.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made . . . (Christian metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Communities in Transition (Spiral Dynamics)
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come for only
$65.00.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html for more info.
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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT RESOURCE
"Recovery Resources for Christians"
- by Philip St. Romain
A reprinting of "Twelve Steps to Spiritual Wholeness" and "Freedom
from Codependency," bound together now as one volume. Ideal for
anyone seeking to use the 12 Step spiritual growth process in the
context of Christian faith.
- see http://shalomplace.com/books/recres.html
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EMAIL SPIRITUALITY SERIES
"The Way of Christian Spirituality"
- 24 teachings on Christian spirituality and practice. Conferences
now available as free email subscription.
- see http://shalomplace.org/basXspir.html for more info and to
subscribe.
"The Five Consents"
- 35 lessons to your email. Topics pertain to faith, hope, loving
service, redemptive suffering, and joyful living. Free-will
donation.
- see http://shalomplace.org/fiveconsents for more info and
subscription form.
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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
- Discussions this past week covered a variety of topics:
- see http://shalomplace.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php to read these
topics -
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AFFILIATE WEB SITES (please give them a visit)
The Sanctuary Foundation for Prayer: resources for spiritual growth.
http://fromholyground.org/index.htm
Contemplative Ministries of the Pacific Northwest: teaching and
support on contemplative practice
http://www.prayeroftheheart.com
Inner Explorations: a vast array of spirituality resources for the
mature Christian.
http://innerexplorations.com
Emanuella House of Prayer: a place for prayer and silence in
British Columbia
http://members.axion.net/~massf/
The Ark: Providing a variety of scripture and lectionary study
resources.
http://www.theark1.com
SeeScapes. Picturing the deeper dimensions of our spirituality.
http://www.seescapes.com
Kyrie Places of Pilgrimmage and Renewal.
http://www.kyrie.com/places/index.htm
Temenos Catholic Worker: support for homeless youth in Polk Street
neighborhood, San Francisco
http://www.temenos.org/
Contemplative Rudder: "In the midst of Consecrated Silence'
atmospherics ... a Rudder!
http://www.contemplativerudder.com/
Heartland Center for Spirituality (sponsoring Internet workshops
year-round).
http://www.heartlandspirituality.org/index.html
(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
Explore Faith
- http://explorefaith.org/
Spiritual guidance for anyone seeking a path to God
Explorefaith.org is unique among this type of website in that it
offers in-depth, seemingly endless, creative and expert guidance to
exploring our relationship with God, our spiritual journey and
Christianity. The more time I spend at this site, the more
surprises I come across. For example, there is an extensive section
on "guided journaling" under "Tools for Your Journey", which
contains a dozen journaling topics, including "autumn", "journaling
about time", and "purpose in life", each of which further provide
readings and journaling questions. I have found the suggestions
offered to be an extremely probing and valuable means to
understanding my life, my faith, my joy, and my suffering through
writing. Keep in mind that "guided journaling" is only one small
piece of what this website has to offer.
(Thanks to Diana Murray for this review.)
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
- Which Service?
One Sunday morning the pastor noticed little Johnny was standing
staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the
church. The young man of seven had been staring at the plaque for
some time, so the pastor walked up and stood beside him and gazing
up at the plaque he said quietly, "Good morning son."
"Good morning pastor" replied the young man not taking his eyes off
the plaque. "Sir, what is this?" Johnny asked.
"Well son, these are all the people who have died in the service",
replied the pastor. Soberly, they stood together staring up at the
large plaque.
Little Johnny's voice barely broke the silence when he asked
quietly, "Which one sir, the 8:30 or the 10:30?"
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