40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross: Station 14 Jesus Is Buried In The Tomb

On this solemn celebration of the Holy Triduum, Good Friday, we welcome you to join us in praying the Way of The Cross.  Each Day, for the last two weeks, we have featured one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station 14 Jesus Is Buried In The Tomb


We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.


Christ Speaks To Me: Thus my mortal life ends. Yet, even now, new life is beginning. Like the seed buried beneath the soil whose growth begins even as it lay hidden and in darkness; for my mother, for Mary Magdalen, for Peter, John...for you.

My life's work has been fulfilled. The work of my life-giving Spirit must begin though my Holy Church and through your own life too.

I look to you.

Day by day, from this moment on you must be my faithful apostle, my willing victim, my humble saint.

I Reply: My Jesus, my Lord, my spirit is as willing, as my flesh is weak. And yet, I pledge;

The words you had no time to speak, the pains you had yet to endure, the loving work you could not do in your shortage of time,

Let me speak, let me endure, let me do - through you.

I may be weak. But you, Lord, will be my strength.

Amen.

Closing Prayer



My Jesus, My Lord,  as I view your victorious wounds, help me to meditate on them and
to see in them the sign of your victory for all.

Bless me with your outstretched hands. Give me your peace, and those three most
sacred, and eternal gifts of faith, hope and love. I pray that I, in spite of my weakness, might find in your willing woundedness the courage to give myself to you, who gave me your entire life.
Receive my own loving sacrifice and walk with me as I go out to do the will of God in my life.

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross: Station 13 Jesus Is Taken From The Cross

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station 13 - Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.



Luke 23:50-52

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph...This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.


Christ Speaks To Me: The final cup has been drunk. I have breathed my last. The Lamb of God has offered all, for all.

My Mass may be complete, but not my disciples', not my mother's...and not yours.

My mother weeps beneath the cross, my lifeless body lay in the arms of the woman who shared her life with me. We are a picture of all partings, you too must say goodbye to those whom you love most dearly...and grief will come.

In your dark moments of sadness and loss remember this, beloved;

A world of souls were saved, by the piercing my my mother's heart.

Your bereavement too, may be the price of souls.

I Reply: My Jesus, my Lord, make haste to help me;

To accept the partings that may come,
friends moving,
children leaving,
dear ones going home to you.

Give me Lord, the grace to say "Not my will, but thine be done." And if by just one word of mine, I might draw them back from rest in you against your loving will...I would not speak.

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross: Station 12 Jesus Dies On The Cross

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station 12 - Jesus Dies On The Cross

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.


Luke 23:34,44-46

"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit!"


Christ Speaks To Me: My Cross becomes my final pulpit - Seven times I speak, fighting for each breath, willing myself to act in spite of the pain that crushes my human spirit. Seven acts of pouring out, seven acts of re-creation, seven acts of restoration, seven words for my beloved, seven prayers for you...


‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’


‘Today you will be with me in Paradise.’


‘Woman, here is your son...Here is your mother.’


‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ - ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’


‘I am thirsty.’


‘It is finished.’


‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’


I Reply: My Jesus, my Lord, what can I possibly say? What can I possibly do?

You gave me your death, that I might share your life.

I offer you my death. All of my pains, all of my tears, all of my sufferings, all of my fears.

I accept, my God, the time and kind of death in store for me. Not by one single instant, not by one act of weakened and frightened will, would I lengthen my span of days and years - hours and minutes.

For my sins, and for all my human family. Though we know not what we do.

Into your hands Lord, I commend my spirit!

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross Station 11: Jesus Is Crucified

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station 11 - Jesus Is Crucified

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.



John 19:18-19

There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.


Christ Speaks To Me: Enter my death...

Executioners stretch out my arms; hand held to wood - nails pierce my flesh. Pain explodes through my entire body.

My other arm is seized and pain I thought could not get worse, escalates beyond comprehension.

They raise my knees next until they are flat against the wood and hammer them fast. To breath, I must push upwards, against the spikes through my flesh and pray I might hold for just a moment.

One.

Agonizing.

Breath.

I Reply: My Jesus, My Lord - My God! I look to you and think; Is my life, my soul worth this much?

What could I possibly give in return?

What gift, so precious and profound could I give?

My Jesus, My God, here, today I accept what sickness, torment, or pain that may come.

To each and every cross of my life - I touch my trembling lips.

That blessed cross inviting me -

to be co-redeemer with you.

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross Station 10: Jesus Is Stripped

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station 10 - Jesus Is Stripped

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.



John 19:23

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier.


Christ Speaks To Me: Behold - the poorest king who ever lived. I stand before my whole creation, stripped and naked. The crowd is filled with scorn. Still, I give...and give.

Yet who has been as rich?

Possessing nothing, I own all through my Father's love.

If you would own all, you must give all - your food, your clothing...

Your life.

I Reply: My Jesus, My Lord, I give you all I have, all that I possess and more - I give you my Self.

help me to detach from those cravings for prestige, position, wealth.

Root out of me all trace of envy at my brother or sister who has more than I. Release me from bondage to pride, the desire to exalt myself. Lead me to the lower places where I might be poor in spirit.

So that I might be rich in your love.

Amen.

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40 Days of Prayer and Reflection - Lenten Prayer Holy Week

Lenten Prayers - Holy Week


Palm Sunday
Hosannah! Blessed be the one
who comes in the name of the
Lord! (see Mark 11:9-10)


Monday
You, Lord, have called me for the
victory of justice. You have
grasped me by the hand. (see Isaiah 42:5)


Tuesday
The Lord chose me and gave me
a name before I was born. (see Isaiah 49:1)


Wednesday
“I didn’t turn aside when they
insulted me and spit in my face.”
(Isaiah 50:6)


Holy Thursday
Lord, help me to understand what
you have done for me. (see John 13:1-15)


Good Friday
Father, I put my life in your hands.
(see Psalm 31)


Holy Saturday
And God saw that it was good.
(see Genesis 1)


Easter Sunday
I rejoice in this day that the Lord
has made! (see Psalm 118)

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40 Days of Prayer and Reflection - Table Prayers For Lent

Blessing for the Family Meal

Bless us, Lord, and the food we are about to eat. May our love

for one another, and the food we share, strengthen us to

share your love with others. Amen.

Holy Week—Lord of Faithfulness

Blessed are you, Lord of Faithfulness.

Through your relationship to the Father you show

Us what it means to be faithful to our commitments

And our relationships.

Help us to be faithful to our values and beliefs,

And to reach out to you in the forgotten and downtrodden.

All: Lord, hear us and keep us in your love.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross; Station 9 Jesus Falls A Third Time

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station  9 Jesus Falls A Third Time

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.


The spirit is willing, but His flesh is so very weak. It is hard to conceive how awful the weight of His cross must be. He falls and we wonder, will he ever get up? Can he get up? As the crowd jeers and the soldiers crack their whips...He rises.

Christ Speaks To Me: Drained, empty, my strength is gone. I collapse into stones and dirt adding new wounds and opening old ones. My body lies still. Kicks and blows do not rouse me.

Yet - my will is my own, as is yours.

You must know this - your body may break, but there is no force on earth, and none is the depths of Hell, that can take away your will.

My will is mine, your will is yours. I rise...so you can too.

I Reply: My Jesus, my Lord. I see you fall, and my heart leaps to my throat. You lay still. Are you breathing? Am I? Then you rise and stagger on. This too, I can do. My will is mine.

When all strength is gone, and guilt, shame and self-reproach drag me to the ground pressing stones and dirt into my flesh, protect me from Judas' sin - save me from the pit of paralyzing despair.

My Jesus, my Lord help me to know that no sin of mine, is greater than your love. No matter how heavy or paralyzing my past may be, I can rise again with you!

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross; Station 8 Jesus Consoles The Women

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station 8 Jesus Consoles The Women


We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.


Luke 23:27-28


"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."


Christ Speaks To Me:  How often have I desired to gather you together as a hen gathers her brood beneath her wings. Yet you refuse.

Here, these women weep for me, and my heart breaks for them - for all the sorrow that will come.

Here, in the midst of my own pain, I console those who would console me.

In the midst of your own pain, how gentle, kind, and compassionate to others are you able to be?

I Reply: My Jesus, my Lord, your compassion in the midst of passion surpasses me.

Teach me, Lord, help me. When all that is in me wants to lash out at those who hurt me, those who misunderstand, or try to placate me with empty, thoughtless words. When they seek to invade my private sorrow, and take my grief for themselves -

Help me to catch my tongue.

Make your gentleness my cloak.

Gather me beneath your wings. Draw me to yourself, and fill my broken heart with your kindness and compassion.

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross; Station 7 Jesus Falls A Second Time

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station 7 - Jesus Falls A Second Time

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.


We often forget that the scourging itself, prior to the crucifixion, was often fatal. It was intended to at least horribly weaken the victim, as well as hasten their death. Beaten, bloodied and in a state of near-mortal shock, Jesus, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings - through whom all things came into being - falls.

Christ Speaks To Me: Ah, beloved, this second fall is a test of your will. You must learn to persevere in doing good, even as you are being rejected and beaten down. The time will come when every effort seems doomed to fail and you will cry out "I cannot go on!"

Turn to me, you with all of your burdens, all of your failings and fallings - I will give you rest.

Trust me.

I Reply: My Jesus, My Lord, give me your courage, your strength. When my failures press upon me, and I collapse beneath the load, when I despair and my heart is empty - stretch out your hand. Lift me up.

I know I must not stop, but persevere always in doing good.

Only help me Lord. Alone I can do nothing but fall.

With you, I can do anything you ask.

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross; Station 6 - Veronica Helps Jesus

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station 6 - Veronica Helps Jesus

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.


Legend has it that a woman came forward from out of the jeering crowds to wipe the sweat, dirt, and blood from Jesus' face. In gratitude, Jesus made his likeness appear on the veil she used.

Christ Speaks To Me: Are you brave enough, beloved, to wipe the dirt and blood from my pain-wracked face?

What face? Where?

When eyes fill with tears, or tempers flare. When fights break our on playgrounds or slums. When sadness and despair find their way into courtrooms, hospitals and jail cells. Wherever one of my beloved suffer -

There is my face, looking for you.

So I ask again; Are you brave enough, is your heart big enough to wipe my blood and tears?

I Reply: My Lord, my Jesus, what you ask is so very hard. It requires courage, sacrifice - and I am so weak. Give me strength, Lord. Don't let me run in fear.

Live in me.

Act in me.

Love in me.

Not in me alone Lord - but in all of us, so that we might reveal no more your dirt and tear-stained - but your glorious face to the world.

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross; Station 5 Jesus Is Helped By Simon

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station  - 5 Jesus Is Helped By Simon

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.

Mark 15:21

"They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus."


Christ Speaks To Me: My strength fails, I am unable to bear this cross alone, so the soldiers force a stranger, Simon, to help me.

He is like you, reluctant, anxious, afraid. But I need his strength, and I need yours too.

Each time you lift some weight from another's arms, you bear the awful weight of this cross that crushes me.

I Reply: Lord, help me to realize that every time I wipe a dish, clean my house, help a child, or allow another to take my place in traffic or in line at the store; each time I open my heart, my wallet, my cupboard to feed the poor, clothe the naked, free the imprisoned, it matters not to whom - my name is Simon and all kindness I extend, is given to you.

Amen

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross Station 4: Jesus Meets His Mother

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station  4 - Jesus Meets His Mother 

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.


Though the gospels do not record a meeting between Our Lord and His mother on the path to His crucifixion, John's gospel does attest to the fact that she was indeed present, never far from the Passion of her Son. (John 19:25)


Christ Speaks To Me: My mother sees me whipped. She watches as I am kicked, and beaten - driven like a beast to the slaughter. She counts every lash, numbers ever wound. Her own heart pierced. But though every corner of her soul cries out in shared agony, she does not protest. Though her tears flow, no complaint escapes her lips or enters her mind.

She shares my Passion, my pain - and I share hers. We hide nothing, no pain, no sorrow. This is my Father's will.

I Reply: My Jesus, My Lord, I know what you are telling me. To watch the pain of those I love is much harder than to bear my own.

To carry my cross after you, I must be willing, sometimes, to stand and watch the sufferings of those most dear to me - the heartache, sorrows, sickness and brokenness in the lives of those whom I love.

And I must let them watch mine.

I do believe - for those who love you - all things work together for good.

Amen

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40 Days of Prayer and Reflection - Lenten Prayer Week Six

Lenten Prayers - Week Six


Fifth Sunday of Lent
Lord, you are the resurrection and
the life. (see John 11:25)


Monday
“Lord, your kindness and love will
always be with me each day of my
life.” (Psalm 23:6)


Tuesday
Lord, help me to have faith in you
for who you are. (see John 8:24)


Wednesday
Lord, I pray to know the truth, the
truth that will set me free. (see John 8:31)


Thursday
“The Lord is our God, bringing
justice everywhere on earth.”
(Psalm 105:7)


Friday
“I sing praises to you Lord. You
rescue the oppressed from the
wicked.” (Jeremiah 20:13)


Saturday
You, O Lord, are our God. We are
your people. (see Ezekiel 37:27)

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40 Days of Prayer and Reflection - Table Prayers For Lent

Blessing for the Family Meal

Bless us, Lord, and the food we are about to eat. May our love

for one another, and the food we share, strengthen us to

share your love with others. Amen.

Week Five—Lord of Healing

Blessed are you, Lord of Healing.

You remove the pain of separation and want,

And heal us of all our hurts.

Help us to be for others,

In our family and world,

The healing and hopeful presence

That Jesus is for us. Amen.

All: Lord, hear us and keep us in your love.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross Station 3: Jesus Falls

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station 3 - Jesus Falls

We adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For By Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World.

Jesus, the burden of the cross caused the blood to flow from your wounds and the strength to ebb from your bones. You fell to the dust...but you pulled yourself up again.


Christ Speaks To Me: The God who created the Universe, who made Heaven and Earth, and sustains all things in existence by His loving will alone, has become a man, too weak to bear the timber's weight.

How human in His weakness, is the Son of God. My Father willed that it should be so. I could not be your perfect model otherwise.

If you would walk this way with me, be my flesh and blood in the world, you must learn to accept, all of the difficult, beautiful, fragile frailties that make you human too.

I Reply: My Jesus, my Lord, how can I refuse you?

I accept all of my weaknesses, my irritations and angers and the shifting sands of my moods, my headaches, back aches, forgetfulness, and fatigue, all of the defects of my mind, my body and my soul.

These are your will for me, these handicaps to my humanity. I gladly suffer them, for you.

Make me content, with all of my discontents, but give me strength to continue to struggle, rising from the dirt, to walk again with you.

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross: Station 2 Jesus Takes His Cross

We welcome you to join us from now until Good Friday, in praying the Way of The Cross. Each Day, save for Sundays, we will feature one station for your prayer and reflection. If you are just joining now or would like to spend time with one of the previous stations, you may do so using this link: The Way Of The Cross 2012

Station Two - Jesus Takes His Cross

We Adore You O Christ And We Praise You...


For by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

John 19:17

"...and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha."


Christ Speaks To Me: This cross, this chunk of wood and bark, is what my Father chose for me.

The crosses you must bear are not trees, but parts of your daily life. Yet my Father chose them too, for you. You alone. Receive them from His hands.

Take heart, I will not let let your burdens grow one ounce too heavy for your strength.

I Reply: My Jesus, my Lord, I promise to take up my cross daily. I welcome the monotony that often marks my days, discomforts of all kinds, the heat, the cold, disappointment, tension, set-backs, anxiety and worries.

Remind me, Lord, that in carrying the cross, I carry yours with you. And though I bear only a sliver of your cross, You carry all of mine, save for sliver, in return.

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - The Way Of The Cross Station 1: Jesus Is Condemned

During Lent, we are called to realize that following Jesus doesn't mean just going to mass every week or being kind to others. To follow Jesus we must follow the Way of The Cross.

Catholics have a beautiful way of prayerfully entering into this very experience, a particular Lenten Devotion - or method of prayer - that invites us to immerse ourselves in the story and experience of the Cross. It is appropriately named "The Way Of The Cross" others may also refer to it as "The Stations Of The Cross" because the reflections and prayers are broken up into 14 separate 'stations'.

This devotion was originally brought back from the Holy Land by pilgrims who had spent time meditating on Jesus' Passion and Death as they physically walked from the Garden of Gethsemane to Calvary.

Praying these stations requires one to spend time with each scene in prayer and contemplation, not only on the words and actions of these events, but on how these words and actions are reflected in our own lives. From now until Good Friday (save for Sundays which retain their more celebratory flavor even during the weeks of Lent) we invite you to join us on a daily, prayerful 'walk' through this ancient Catholic prayer. May the graces you receive through these prayers help you to truly embrace the Easter hope and joy to come.

Station One - Jesus Is Condemned

We adore You O Christ and we praise you...


For by your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Matthew 27:22-24

"So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’"


Christ Speaks To Me: In Pilate's hands, I see my Father's will. Though Pilate is unjust, he is the lawful Governor and he has power over me.

And so the Son of God obeys.

If I can bow to Pilate's rule because this is my Father's will, can you refuse obedience to those just ones whom I place over you?

I Respond: My Jesus, my Lord, obedience cost you your life. For me it costs nothing more than an act of my will - and yet, it is so very hard for me to bend.

Remove the blinders from my eyes and help me to see that, however it may appear on the surface, it is you whom I obey in all things.

Lord, it is you.

Amen.

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - Spiritual Directive: Give Gratuitously

Your love, insofar as it is from God, is permanent. You can claim the permanence of your love as a gift from God. And you can give that permanent love to others. When others stop loving you, you do not have to stop loving them. On a human level, changes might be necessary, but on the level of the divine, you can remain faithful to your love.

One day you will be free to give gratuitous love, a love that does not ask for anything in return. One day also you will be free to receive gratuitous love. Often love is offered to you, but you do not recognize it. You discard it because you are fixed on receiving it from the same person to whom you gave it.

The great paradox of love is that precisely when you have claimed yourself as God's beloved child...you begin to grow into the freedom to give gratuitously.

-Henri J.M. Nouwen "The Inner Voice Of Love"

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40 Days Of Prayer And Reflection - Lenten Moments: Prayer

Focusing Scripture: Matthew 6:7-15
“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.


 ‘Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name...”

Theme: Prayer
“The Christian family is the first place of education in prayer.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2685) The home is where we learn to pray, where we learn to persevere in prayer. At home, prayer awakens us to Christ’s presence in the midst of life.

Reflective Moment
What is your definition of prayer? Based on this definition, how good are you at being a pray-er?

Living the Message
Choose a time to pray every day. Try to persevere with your prayer time in the home.

Prayer Moment
Light a candle. Slowing pray the Our Father. Offer each other God’s peace.

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