Weekend Edition: Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Thu, 10/25/07
- readings, teachings, references and reviews -
Contents:
- Weekend Readings
- Saint of the Week
- Book of the Week
- Christian Spirituality Series
- Shalom Place Premium Groups
- Personal Spiritual Guidance
- Shalom Place Discussion Board Highlights
- Affiliate Web Sites
- Web Site of the Week
- Joke of the Week
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WEEKEND READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Saturday: Rom 8:1-11; Ps 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Lk 13:1-9
Sunday: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23; 2 Tm
4:6-8, 16-18; Lk 18:9-14
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
- October 30th. St. Marcellus the Centurion.
St. Marcellus is perhaps the most distinguished recorded case of
someone who refused to continue to serve in the Roman army because
of his adhesion to Christ; two separate accounts ("Acts") of his
martyrdom have survived, though it is not clear whether it took
place in Leon in Northern Spain or at Tangiers on the North African
coast. During the birthday celebrations for the Roman emperors
Diocletian & Maximian on July 21st., 298, Marcellus "a regular
centurion, first class" threw away his arms and badge of allegiance
in front of his legion's banner' saying: "I am a soldier of Jesus
Christ the eternal King. From now on I cease to serve your emperors
and I despise the worship of your gods of wood and stone, for they
are deaf and dumb images". The local governor, Fortunatus, clearly
regarded Marcellus as temporarily deranged, and wanted to hide what
had happened from higher authority, but could not. On the day of
his death, Marcellus' case was read out before the prefect
Agricolanus; Marcellus made things even clearer by saying then that
it is not fitting for a Christian to fight for the armies of this
world. He was duly sentenced to be put to death by the sword, and
left the judgement hall saying: "Agricolanus, may God reward you".
Persecution of Christians by Roman Emperors was often for the very
reason that they were suspected of being unwilling to fight in the
imperial armies.
- http://www.hullp.demon.co.uk/SacredHeart/saint/StMarcellus.htm
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
"Jeremiah, Preacher of Grace, Poet of Truth," by Carol Dempsey OP.
Liturgical Press, 2007.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0814659853/christianspiritu/
The author brings the prophet alive for readers today, a prophet
who is very complex, a prophet who is madly in love with God's
people. Dempsey lists the prophet's overwhelming times of
adversity, cruel rejection, and unjust oppression. "I will be with
you ... to deliver you." (1:19) Dempsey shows how this promise
remained steadfast in Jeremiah's life, even when Judah was ravaged,
the holy City of Jerusalem destroyed, and the remnant scattered.
Dempsey shows Jerusalem surviving tragedies, and yet becoming a
living symbol of God's enduring promise of faithfulness to the
ancient covenant previously made. Prophets respond to their times.
This study shows how Jeremiah responded to his times through his
use of imagery, symbols, metaphor, and simile.
This book also raises questions for continued thought on Jeremiah,
the one graced by God and having a mission and word that are
personal and yet profoundly repugnant to his audience. The author
ends by suggesting how the readers have the potential to be
preachers of grace and poets of truth like Jeremiah.
(Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman, O.P. 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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"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.
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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.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- 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 featured the following topics:
Liberal media - Religion and Culture forum.
Dark night of the soul and kataphatic vs. apophatic prayer -
Christian Spirituality Issues forum.
Exquisite music - Book and Movie Reviews forum.
It's out of the closet: the New World Order - Shalom Place Lounge
forum (this one is nutty)
Rapture and its detractors - Christian Spirituality Issues forum.
- see http://shalomplace.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php to read these
topics -
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AFFILIATE WEB SITES (please give them a visit)
Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis
http://www.centeringprayerstl.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/
SeeScapes. Picturing the deeper dimensions of our spirituality.
http://www.seescapes.com
Carry the Light CD: Piano Meditations for the Hopeful Heart
http://www.sharonkcooper.com/pages/1/index.htm
Stillpoint: programs in spiritual direction, contemplative prayer.
http://www.stillpointnashville.org/
Solitude and Streets: an emerging faith community.
http://www.solitudeandstreets.org
Family Life Training and Counseling Center: an online Bible
college/seminary
http://www.familylifetrainingcenter.com/
The Ark: Providing a variety of scripture and lectionary study
resources.
http://www.theark1.com
Contemplative Ministries of the Pacific Northwest: teaching and
support on contemplative practice
http://www.prayeroftheheart.com
Heartland Center for Spirituality (sponsoring Internet workshops
year-round).
http://www.heartlandspirituality.org/index.html
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/
Holy Trinity: Old Catholic Orthodox Church. Corpus Christi, TX
http://www.holytrinityoldcatholic.org/
Temenos Catholic Worker: support for homeless youth in Polk Street
neighborhood, San Francisco
http://www.temenos.org/
(Reach thousands of 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
by Diana Murray
Learn Greek
- http://www.kypros.org/LearnGreek/
LearnGreek is a free online audio/paper lesson course on both the
Modern and Ancient Greek. (The material for Ancient Greek
currently include elementary lessons only.) The whole content of
this site is structured into 7 different courses. Each course has
15 lessons (an audio file of around 15 minutes, lecture notes,
additional material, etc). It is a lot of fun to be involved with
the community of students on a site into which the developers have
really put their hearts!
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
- Grounds for Divorce
A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and
asked, "What are the grounds for your divorce?"
She replied, "About four acres and a nice little home in the middle
of the property with a stream running by."
"No," he said, "I mean what is the foundation of this case?"
"It is made of concrete, brick and mortar," she responded.
"I mean," he continued, "What are your relations like?"
"I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so do my
husband's parents."
He said, "Do you have a real grudge?"
"No," she replied, "We have a two-car carport and have never really
needed one."
"Please," he tried again, "is there any infidelity in your marriage?"
"Yes, both my son and daughter have stereo sets. We don't
necessarily like the music, but the answer to your questions is
'yes'."
"Ma'am, does your husband ever beat you up?"
"Yes," she responded, "about twice a week he gets up earlier than I
do."
Finally, in frustration, the judge asked, "Lady, why do you want a
divorce?"
"Oh, I don't want a divorce," she replied. "I've never wanted a
divorce. My husband does. He said he can't communicate with me."
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