Archive for the ‘Prayer’ Category

How To Get More Out of Mass?

Posted by Marcel on May 20th, 2013

Q – Mass can be boring. How can I go to Mass and get more out of it?

A - Thanks for your question. First off, I will tell you that your question is all too common. Many people go to Mass with the expectation that they are supposed to “get” a lot out of it. But, what you get out of Mass is dependent on what kind of changes you are willing to make in your efforts before, during and after Mass, because what you put into Mass determines what you get out of it.

Let me give you eight pointers that have helped me in the past:

1 – Properly prepare for Mass.

  • Read and study the readings before you go to Mass, and then listen to them intently while The Word is proclaimed. You can find the Sunday readings here.
  • Study the Church’s teachings. The more you know about Christ and His Church, the more there is to love. – You can’t love what you don’t know.
  • Go to Confession regularly. This will help prepare you spiritually.
  • Pray daily. Without prayer you have no spiritual power!
  • Dress appropriately. You are going to meet the King of Kings. Don’t dress the same as you would for a lunch date, a party, or class. Make it special.
  • Get there early and sit up front. Less distractions and more time for prayer before Mass.
  • Once inside, don’t talk or people-watch…pray.

2 – Make sure your attitude is adjusted properly

  • Don’t expect to be entertained. It isn’t as much about what God is doing for you, but what you are doing to worship God.
  • Look for God in every part of the Mass.
  • Don’t let outside distractions disturb your internal peace.
  • Find one nugget in the preaching to take home with you.

3 – Participate

  • Sing, even if your voice is bad.
  • Respond and pray with gusto. Give it all to God and don’t worry about others.
  • Remember that during Mass isn’t socializing time.
  • Offer your pain, sufferings, joys and prayers to God.

4 -Listen to the Word and be open to it changing you

  • Are you open to letting God change you? If not, then you won’t be changed.
  • Listen to the Word proclaimed and let it challenge you.
  • Find something in the Homily and apply it for the week.

5 – Know, understand, and proclaim your Faith

  • Don’t just recite the Creed – proclaim it like you mean it and understand what you are proclaiming.

6 – Tithe

  • If every Catholic tithed…think what we could accomplish in spreading the Gospel.
  • Yes, it is our duty to support the Church. But, it does more for our own faith than it does for the Church.
  • Most people “tip” not “tithe” – so be a tither, not a tipper.

7 – When you receive Jesus in the Eucharist – understand what it is you are doing

  • You are taking the Body, blood, soul, and divinity of GOD into you
  • You are joining in heaven on earth
  • You are becoming one with The Body of Christ
  • Be reverent
  • Realize that He is in everyone else that received Him as well.

8 – Tell other people about Him

  • You are now empowered to evangelize (share the Good News of Christ) – which is what the Church exists for.

“If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy.” – Saint Jean Vianney

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Why Would Any Man Become a Priest?

Posted by Marcel on May 14th, 2013

An Aggie Catholic answers the question in an interview with a DFW TV station.Please pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Posted in DFWCatholic "Recommended Reads", Prayer Tags: Aggie Catholic, DFW TV, St. Mary No Comments »
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Summer Rule Of Life For College Students

Posted by Marcel on May 7th, 2013

The primary authors are the Apostles of the Interior Life. I did a little bit of editing.

A RULE OF LIFE FOR SUMMER

Summer can be a very good time for relaxation and rest, compared to the hectic life of the year, but it can also be a very fruitful time for spiritual growth.

“In this oasis of quiet, before the wonderful spectacle of nature,” the John Paul II says, “one easily experiences how profitable silence is, a good that today is ever rarer. The many opportunities of relation and information that modern society offers sometimes run the risk of robbing time for recollection, to the point of rendering persons incapable of reflecting and praying. In reality, only in silence does man succeed in hearing in the depth of his conscience the voice of God, which really makes him free. And vacations can help us rediscover and cultivate this indispensable interior dimension of human life” (Angelus, July 11, 2004).

It is important to enter summer with a “plan” for your spiritual life. Otherwise it is so easy to drift away even from the prayer commitment that you had during the year.
  • First of all be faithful to your daily prayer. Establish how much time you want to devote to it, how (rosary, meditation on the Word of God, adoration…) and where (home, the chapel, your parish…). It is better to start with a little commitment (for example 20 minutes every day), and then in case increase it, than to start big and then give up because you can’t keep up with it.
  • Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation with frequency. Get information about the days and times for Confessions in your parish.
  • If it is possible, you ought to go to Mass during the week as much as you can, according with your academic/work commitments.
  • Summer is usually a period when you have some more free time on your hands. It is ideal to read some good spiritual books that can inspire you and nourish your faith. You will find a great treasure in the lives of Saints, their writings, and in books about specific topics in which you are interested (e.g., spiritual discernment, virtues, faith and reason, Church history, apologetics, morality, etc.). You can ask your spiritual director or a campus minister for some good titles.
  • Try to be in touch with some good friends, with whom you share the same values. You can either pray together sometimes, or take a commitment at the parish together (e.g., helping with teens, Bible study, working in a soup kitchen, etc.), and certainly keep each other accountable for your spiritual life. If you can’t be physically in the same place, at least you can call each other regularly.
  • If you have a spiritual director, or spiritual mentor, keep in touch with him/her, calling or emailing him/her if you are in need of help and suggestions during the summer.
  • If you are going to spend summer at home, you might find difficulties because you don’t have the St. Mary’s community around. Families are not always supportive of faith, some parishes seem to be less alive than the CatholicCenter, and you don’t get to see so many young people around. Remember that God is at work also in your parish, in your family and in your home town. Try to see the positive aspects there, and to think of that as an opportunity to give something of what you have received here at St. Mary’s during the year. With your family, try to be strong about your decisions, but also understanding of where they are at and not judgmental. You can be a witness to them, with your peace and gentleness.

Have a great summer and we are praying for all of you who have finals starting tomorrow.

Posted in DFWCatholic "Recommended Reads", Prayer Tags: Campus Ministry No Comments »
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11 Ways To Study And Pray With The Bible

Posted by Marcel on April 18th, 2013

I am commonly asked how a Catholic might start studying or praying with Sacred Scripture. Therefore, I decided to introduce you to a range of different ways to read, study, and pray with the Bible. I hope you find it helpful.

These methods are not the only ways to study and pray with Scripture, but merely some of the most popular ways.

_________________________________________________________________

6 POPULAR WAYS OF STUDYING SACRED SCRIPTURE


1 – Read and pray with the Lectionary.

Many Catholics, including my family, like to read the Scriptures they will hear in the Liturgy of The Word before and/or after they attend Mass.

Some subscribe to periodicals that make it easier for them to have the readings and may also include mediations on the readings. These include, The Magnificat, The Word Among Us, and Living Faith.

2 – Big Picture Study

There are some very nice resources that will help you get the “big picture” of the story of salvation. One of the best resources, though it is very expensive, is The Great Adventure series by Jeff Cavins. We do have this series here at St. Mary’s, but do not keep it in the library, due to the expense of having to replace it if it isn’t returned. Other resources include some nice courses from St. Paul’s Center for Biblical Theology.

3 – In-Depth Study With Commentaries

There are many good commentaries that can help you study one book of The Bible at a time. Maybe you have an interest in the Psalms, Revelation, or Romans. While this can be a more expensive way to study the Bible, but you can find most of my recommendations below in St. Mary’s Library. With this kind of study you can get in-depth study into language, cross-references, culture, etc. Some of my favorite series of in-depth studies include the Navarre Bible, The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible (only New Testament has been released so far), and the Sacra Pagina series.

4 – Thematic Study

Thematic studies will focus on a certain theme (e.g. Men’s Bible study, social justice Bible study, Bible study on patience, Marian Bible study) and bring together the different passages that focus on that issue. Many Catholic publishers have various kinds of thematic studies. We have a wide-variety in our library.

5 – Cover-to-Cover Study

I don’t necessarily recommend this method of reading The Bible, especially for those that aren’t very familiar with Sacred Scriptures. This is because many people get bogged down in some of the Old Testament books that have difficult passages or less interesting parts. There are a number of resources that can give you a 1, 2, or 3 year plan to read the entire Bible. One good one is from the Coming Home Network which give Catechism passages as well.

6 – Use The Four Senses and Three Criteria for Interpretation Given By The Church

These can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The four senses are:

  1. Literal sense - is to understand what the human author intended to teach and what his audience understood. Does NOT mean “word-for-word” interpretation. We consider - language / culture / type of literature / human authors understanding of world, relationships, etc.

    Three layers to the Spiritual sense:

  2. Allegorical sense -Some call this Typology. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, which looks toward the New and should be read in light of it.
  3. Moral sense - Personal – we have to apply the text to our lives. Thus, what does this passage mean for my life? How should I live in light of this truth?
  4. Anagogical sense - Also personal, but a more spiritual sense, not active – but contemplative. Points us to heaven.

The Three Criteria for Interpretation are (CCC 111-114):

  1. Be especially attentive “to the content and unity of the whole Scripture.”
  2. Read the Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church.”
  3. Be attentive to the analogy of faith. – See with eyes of faith
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5 POPULAR WAYS OF PRAYING WITH SACRED SCRIPTURE

1 – The Liturgy Of The Hours

Also known as “The Divine Office” the liturgy of the hours is the official public prayer of the Catholic Church, along with Mass. All clergy and religious take a vow to pray it daily. The Liturgy of the Hours has many different prayers within it, but the majority are taken from Scripture (e.g., the Psalms) and others are based on the Bible. If you want to try it, I recommend the free app – iBreviary.

2 – Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina means “Divine (or holy) reading”. There are several different methodologies to Lectio Divina, but the basics include reading the Scripture passage slowly several times, quiet meditation, response in prayer, and quiet reflection and rest in God’s presence. More can be found here.

3 – Imagination / Understanding / Love

First, use your imagination to place yourself in the scene described in the passage you are reading. Then try to understand how this passage applies to you. Then move your heart to love God more.

4 – Pray / Read / Reflect / Resolve

Following this simple formula we start to try and conform our lives to Sacred Scripture. We start with a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to inspire us. Next, there should be slow reading of the passage. We then spend a good time reflecting on the passage and finally we make a resolution to draw closer to God in whatever way we are drawn to.

5 – Praying / Singing The Psalms

The Psalms were once memorized by the Israelites as a devotion to Yahweh. We also can pray the Psalms by singing them or praying with them through recitation and meditation on them.

________________________________________________________________

Other Links of interest:
**Good Catholic Bible Studies
**Best Bible Translations
**The Dos and Don’ts of Reading the Bible
**100 Catholic Ways to Pray

Posted in DFWCatholic "Recommended Reads", Prayer Tags: Bible, Bible Study, Catholic Church, Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, sacred scripture No Comments »
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12 Tips For Overcoming Difficulties in Prayer

Posted by Marcel on April 10th, 2013

I once asked a class of college students to rate their spiritual lives on a scale of 1 to 10. Most were very hard on themselves and gave themselves a 5 or less. I then asked “how would you describe your relationship with God?” and again, most were not …

Posted in DFWCatholic "Recommended Reads", Prayer Tags: Culture, prayer requests No Comments »
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20 Tips for Proper Etiquette In Mass

Posted by Marcel on April 8th, 2013

Mass Etiquette: 20 Things To Do And Not Do In Mass
  1. Fast before Mass. It is Church law that one fasts for at least 1 hour before receiving Holy Communion. The only exceptions are medicine, water or unless someone is ill and needs to eat sooner.
  2. No Food and Drink in Church. The only exceptions would be milk for infants, water for the priest or choir (if discreet) and water for those who are ill.
  3. Men take your hats off. It is impolite to wear a hat into any church for a man. 
  4. Never chew gum in church! It breaks your fast and it’s distracting! 
  5. Cross yourself with Holy Water on entering and leaving the church. This is a reminder of our Baptism, which made us members of Christ’s Church.
  6. Dress modestly and appropriately. Wear your Sunday Best. As Catholics we believe that God comes down to meet us at every Mass. Why would we not dress up? 
  7. Show up at least a few minutes early. If you can’t be on time, then sit in the back so you don’t disturb others. 
  8. Cell phones should never be used in Mass for calls or texting. The ONLY exceptions are emergencies (big ones, not everyday ones) and if you are using the phone for readings or prayers.
  9. Don’t sit on the edge of the pew if you sit down before others. Rather, sit in the middle so others don’t have to climb over you. Furthermore – Gentlemen offer their seats to a any lady (elderly, disabled, etc) who must stand. Some churches, like ours, get packed. We live in Texas. In Texas men don’t sit when a woman is standing. 
  10. When we enter and leave Church, genuflect toward the Tabernacle. Christ is present for our sake. By allowing our right knee to hit the floor, we acknowledge He is our Lord and God. If someone is physically unable to genuflect, then a bow is sufficient. During Mass, if you pass in front of the altar or tabernacle, bow reverently.
  11. Sit quietly while in church. Once you enter the sanctuary – it is not the time or place to visit with those around you. If you must talk do so as quietly and briefly as possible. Remember that your conversation might be disturbing someone who is in prayer, which is much more important. Sssshhhhhhhh.
  12. Take loud children to the back. Every parent knows that sometimes the baby is going to have a bad day. Don’t make everyone else’s day bad as well. Sit on the end of a pew, if you can, and take the kid to the back quickly. Don’t wait more than 10 seconds or so before you make a move. There is no reason to be embarrassed about having to quiet your child in the back of the church. It is worse to allow them to disturb Mass continually.
  13. Prepare your offering before Mass. Christ tells us not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing when you make your offering. Keeping the basket while you get your wallet out can be quite a scene. For tips on tithing, check this out.
  14. No bulletin reading during Mass. Imagine if you invited a guest to your house and before dinner (or during) they decided to read a magazine instead of talking to you.
  15. Respect Boundaries others may have. You might want to hold hands to pray, they may not. They might be sick and not want to shake during the sign of peace. These are all OK. Do not make any unnecessary judgment because they worship differently.
  16. Bow before receiving Holy Communion. If it is God, then show your respect with a profound bow from the hip.
  17. Do not receive from the chalice if you are sick. This is an act of charity.
  18. Do not leave early. We should stay to the end of the recession and the hymn that accompanies it, if there is one.
  19. Pray after Mass, if you can. It is a good custom, though not required, to offer a prayer of thanksgiving after Mass is over. What could be more important?
  20. Leave quietly. We encourage you to visit with others, but once you are outside of the main sanctuary of the church so you won’t disturb others who want to stay and pray.
Posted in DFWCatholic "Recommended Reads", Prayer Tags: Catholic Church, Doctrine, Food and Drink in Church, Holy Communion, St. Mary No Comments »
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Faith seeking understanding and understanding seeking faith

Posted by Jeffrey Miller on February 20th, 2013

I am still going through stages of assimilating the Holy Father declaration that he renounced the ministry of the Bishop of Rome. It is not exactly like the common stages of grief. Although there was an initial denial that the story was true. Didn’t exactly go through anger or depression. More like selfish feelings of [...]

Posted in DFWCatholic "Recommended Reads", Prayer Tags: Faith seeking understanding, Pope Benedict XVI, understanding seeking faith No Comments »
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15 Tips For Prayer

Posted by Marcel on January 28th, 2013

I once asked a class of college students to rate their spiritual lives on a scale of 1 to 10. Most were very hard on themselves and gave themselves a 5 or less. I then asked “how would you describe your relationship with God?” and again, most were not …

Posted in DFWCatholic "Recommended Reads", Prayer Tags: relationship, relationship with God, Types of Prayer No Comments »
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Sleepwalking Through Life!

Posted by Marcel on January 18th, 2013

My son, Dominic, sleepwalks. When he first started, my wife and I were a bit worried about him. He would ramble on about his dreams, which make no sense, (but are amusing at times) which makes it hard not to laugh at him. But, the most disconcerting th…

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A Lonely Place

Posted by Marcel on January 14th, 2013

In Mark 6: 30-32, after Jesus and the apostles learn of the murder of John the Baptist, it says:

The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.

Jesus called his disciples into “a lonely place”. While praying about this, I found myself wondering why the place they needed to go would be “lonely”. Then I became even more intrigued when the passage continued in verses 33-36:

Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late; send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.”

The Greek word used here, erēmos, can also be translated as “solitary, desolate, uninhabited.” In other words, it is time to get away from others and be by yourself. It is time to be quiet. It is time to spend in prayer. We all need this.

Notice that the apostles were so caught up in work they “had no leisure to eat.” We sometimes trick ourselves into thinking our worth is caught up in what we DO. But, in reality it is who we ARE that is what is most important, and WHO WE ARE is developed in leisure.

Now, I am not defining leisure as idleness, messing around, being bored, etc. Rather, the traditional understanding of leisure is an active form of working on being who you are created to be. It involves reflection, prayer, deep thinking and being in wonder at the work of God. It is NOT a time of productivity, in the modern sense of the word.

Most Americans think of leisure as a vacation we take in order to recharge our batteries to go do more work. This is the wrong way to think of leisure. We don’t exist to work. We exist for God’s sake and our own sake. The problem with the modern way of thinking about leisure is that it identifies our worth in our function. It it utilitarianism. We have to fight this understanding of the right place of work, by clearly understanding leisure. This properly orders things, makes us better people, and in turn it makes us better workers.

Even the apostles had to be called into leisure, as many Church workers do.
As I do.

The past 3 weeks were spent mostly in leisure. I spent time with family, reading, praying, laughing, exercising, reflecting, serving others, learning, etc. For the first time in a long time I feel like I have really grown in the leisure time I had. It was almost like a 3-week retreat.

This is because Jesus called me to a lonely place where I could partake in some leisurely activities. Where I didn’t have a to-do list from work. Where I could listen and be quiet. Where I could think and learn. Where I could just be.

I thank God for the lonely places.

Posted in DFWCatholic "Recommended Reads", Prayer Tags: jesus, Jesus and the apostles, John the Baptist, the Apostles No Comments »
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