The Lord's hand....
I just want to take a moment to say that I am really thankful for each of you that has been posting. Corrine, Michelle and JoAnn --- your insights have been a wonderful blessing. I just love reading what the Lord puts in you heart after you read the chapter. I also appreciate those reading the book, not posting, but still sharing their enthusiasm with me about the book. What a gift. At times posting has been a pressure but it has been a greater blessing. I know I have gotten a lot more out of the book reading it this way rather than quickly cover to cover. Thanks again ....and let continue blogging. Ruth
- posted by Ruth @ 6:10 PM (0) comments

 
Ruth - Chapter 18 The Rosary
As I reflect for this posting I feel that I have to confess that for a long time I had a personal struggle with the rosary. The struggle was brought on by strong protestant influences in the 70's and 80's. I really think that it is dangerous to attend other churches and/or non-catholic bible studies. These often leave spiritual scars we don't recognize until later. I now enjoy saying the rosary in groups....united in prayer and I enjoy personalizing the rosary saying "pray for (name) now and at the hour of his/her death, Amen." We do that for our boys. I also appreciate the Lord's gift of the Luminous Mysteries. "The fruits of all spiritual exercises are an increase in the supernatural virtues: faith, hope, and love." This reminded me of Janie Meyer. When we pray the rosary during the "Pilgrim Prayer Walk" on Saturday mornings she always add the fruit of each mystery. I had never heard that before but now I read something similiar in this book. The Catholic church offers so many prayer options. Like Matthew states on page 263 "Learn to allow the Spirit to guide you to the type of prayer that will most benefit you on a particular day." That was a freeing statement to me. I love talking to the Lord throughout the day, yet we are called to group and liturgical prayer and we are graced with the rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Liturgy of the Hours, etc. What a blessing we have been given in the Catholic Church. Thank you Lord for all the blessings we have been blessed with especially the gift of faith and access to you in prayer.
- posted by Ruth @ 10:13 PM (0) comments

 
Ruth: Chapter 17 Spiritual Readings
I really could relate to the line on page 243 - “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body and prayer is to the soul.” This is the time of my life where I am trying to find a balance with all three…. All three being important and refreshing to the soul. Spiritual reading help me keep my goals “in my face.” It is easy to get side tracked with odd and end things but when I am reading spiritual books it helps me remember to keep the spiritual side in balance …not left to happenstance. As on p. 244 it states that “spiritual reading seeks to encourage us to live a life of holiness.” If our family, friends, books, activities are all spiritual wholesome they can and should call us to holiness. It makes me realize that if a book, activity, friend, etc does not call me to holiness then it should not be in my life and if it is in my life it had better have a holy purpose. Matthew states on page 246/7 that he had a holy priest in his life that “in any conversation his only concern was Matthew’s spiritual growth”…always calling him to a life of holiness. What a blessing to have someone like that, priest or not, who would be so focused. I concurred with Matthew as he imagined “if every Catholic in your parish read a good spiritual book for fifteen minutes a day.” I can testify that I have grown so much from the books, tapes and videos that I have listened to that are in the parish library. That challenge is to get people to utilize the resources and blessings that are theirs for the seeking. Thanks to each of you for being part of this study …. Your faith and the book have been a blessing to me.
- posted by Ruth @ 9:41 PM (0) comments

 
Great post
I was so excited to see a new Blog posted. Corrine, your posting touched on something that has stayed with me since I read the chapter. I too had thought of fasting more as a penance rather than as gaining more strength of spirit over body... self-controll. I am now trying to impliment this in my life...... less snacking all day long..... etc. but I am trying to make it a spiritual exercise rather than just a weight management help. This chapter also reinforeced my love for the church and its wisdom. Thank you Lord for the gift of the church and the spiritual tools we have been gifted with.
- posted by Ruth @ 4:22 PM (0) comments

 
Question from Ruth
I am going to post this afternoon after getting my housework done. Please try to post soon. The book continues to be really good and I look forward to all your insights. JoAnn is having trouble with her connection to the BLOG so she is working with "Blog" to get her account reactivated. If you decide not to continue please let us know. Let us continue to pray for each other and for the renewal of our parishes and diocese. Ruth
- posted by Ruth @ 11:03 AM (0) comments

 
Ruth Chapter 16: Fasting
God is amusing. I was in a discussion the other day with several friends. At one point this very prayerful friend suggests that we all fast on an issue. She strongly urges us to fast not just talk. She wanted an immediate decision. Well a stubborn and rebellious part of me says to myself, “I’ll fast when I am ready, when I feel called by the Lord to do so. Fasting is a personal thing.” So we continued the conversation without any real commitment to do anything but pray. A bit guilty, I came home and started the next chapter…on fasting… a simple yet profound chapter. The Lord had my attention. I have to admit that I have not read a lot on fasting just bits of information here and there. Lent is about all the fasting that I have done. I am not very disciplined when it comes to fasting. In this chapter I could relate to the idea that the “body and mind are constantly vying for dominance…..the body is ordering us around….” In each of the scripture examples given fasting was used to humble oneself before God. Jesus fasted in preparation for his mission. (What are our missions? Are we preparing ourselves?) …” Yick! I am entrusted with several missions, one pretty big. ……………Matthew stated ... "We fast to cultivate the inner life.” ….. “Some spirits can only be cast out by fasting.” “Some demons in our lives can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.” St. Augustine stated, “Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Give it two wings: fasting and almsgiving.” I reflected on the idea that in fasting “you assert the dominance of the spirit. The will is strengthened and the soul is a little freer.” Matthew talked about the history of fasting in the church. All this has called me to reflect on the call to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays year around. …So thanks to this chapter I have decided to set a few fasting commitments….just so that my mind has dominance over my body , so that my soul is able to better resist temptation and to give my prayers wings. Now let’s see if I have the discipline to follow through. Lord, help me to follow your lead and to become a more disciplined disciple as I yearn to do your will.
- posted by Ruth @ 10:08 PM (0) comments

 
Ruth: Chapter 15 The Bible
I was in awe at the simplicity and practicality of this chapter. I am amazed at the wisdom the Lord has graced Kelly with and the gift this book can be to so many people. I wish I could buy this book in bulk and just give it out. Can you image if everyone in our parish read it and even half the people took it to heart. This is Christianity and Catholicism 101. A concept I had not heard expressed in quiet as nice a way before was the idea of reading the words of the first christians as prayers...words spoken directly to Christ. "Lord, Help my unbelief", "Lord, open my eyes so that I may see", etc. And when Kelly relates the question God asked Adam and Eve he also asks us, "Where are you?" Where am I compared to where I am called to be? And again Kelly writes, "Until you have learned to see yourself in every person in the Scriptures, you have not read the Bible." What a way to look at it. Matthew stated, "We love what we know." It is so true. When a Scripture reading is read at Mass that I am familiar with I seem to listen more closely. It is like a familiar song. We are called to be more familiar with the entire bible. How did you like Matthew's introduction to this chapter telling how the bible has been kidnapped in recent history from its rightful owners? Great summary on the appropriate use of the Bible. This chapter was a great review of a hot topic but Matthew did a great job of bringing it from the head to the heart using great examples................ Lord, thank you for the gift of your Word.
- posted by Ruth @ 3:24 PM (0) comments

 
Ruth: Chapter 14 The Mass
I love the Mass yet I know that there is so much more that I could get out of it. Matthew talked about using a missal and understanding the rhythm and parts of the Mass. Tom subscribes to the Magnificat and I should too. We try to use it to say evening prayers together but I have not been in the habit of using it at daily / Sunday Mass. I should. Do some of you use it? If so, how do you find it helpful? Matthew asked if we experience the wonder of the Mass? Most of the time I do because I find it such a privilege to receive the Lord, His body, blood, soul and divinity. I believe that but if I really understood what that means in the depths of my soul I think I would be frozen in awe. Jesus, my Lord and Savior joining us in the here and how....really present....Walking up to receive Him should be a pilgrimage .... should be a holy event. We don't wait for heaven… He is here present NOW in the Eucharist! What a wonder our God is but it is so sad that so few seem to understand the reality of what is actually going on at Mass. So sad! Matthew’s challenge to ask the Lord each week, “Lord, show me one way to become a better person this week.” reminds me of my constant prayer, “Lord, make and remake me into the woman you want me to be.” Matthew's, prayer is better. It makes us more of an accomplice in the molding process. “Lord, show me one way I can become a better person this week.” I need to listen and act more not just expect the Lord to do the work. What is your favorite part of the Mass? I love the simple line, “We lift up our hearts to the Lord.” When I say this my whole being often wants to lift my hands and heart to the Lord in a literal sense. I also like to say with the priest, “Lord, wash me of my iniquities and cleanse me of my sins.” I even find myself praying that line in the shower in the morning. Matthew's favorit line after the Our Father is also one of mine. I liked Matthew’s reflection on joining ourselves with the sacrifice on the altar. (P.200-201). I yearn to be so transformed, like the bread and wine, so that those that see me see Christ. What a gift we are given....... and..... What a gift we have in our Catholic faith. I do feel sad for those that leave the Catholic Church for something less or have little understanding of the gift they have. Let us pray for the renewal of our parish and families. Lord, I thank you for the gift of the Catholic Church and of the Mass. Help me to grow in love for both and allow me the grace to share that love with others.
- posted by Ruth @ 5:11 PM (0) comments