Sunday, May 22, 2016
spread the good news
Be a Light
The world is filled with darkness and suffering. Our friends, families and coworkers suffer all around us. In your conversations, in listening to others in working and being with them in their trials you bring light to the darkness. Be mindful of your bright message of Hope. Use your power to light up the darkness even for a few moments for another who is floundering in the darkness.
Offer Direction
So many people say they are spiritual now, and not religious. We are both. We carry our Faith through all that we do spiritually. Don’t be shy about the way in which Jesus has empowered you. Don’t hide your good news; share it! Don’t preach, don’t quote and don’t do anything but point in the direction of Jesus whose power working in you has made all the difference.
Smile
Catholics are joyful people, but sometimes you wouldn’t know it. We are often afraid to smile. Try it! It is contagious! When done genuinely, it is warm, inviting, catchy, and it brings joy to others. A kind smile goes a long way to a mother struggling to manage her kids in a supermarket line. A warm smile makes someone in an uncomfortable situation feel accepted. A welcoming smile makes people feel a part of something, and it encourages them to participate.
Say God Bless You
Not just when someone sneezes. Say it when the situation calls for it. Say it when you are listening to the achievements of another. Say it when someone is in despair and doesn’t know what to do. Say it when another comes to you for encouragement. Say it when someone is showing anger or impatience. Don’t be shy to call upon the power of God and the many blessings He has for us.
Share a cheeseburger
So when you are passing a fast food place and notice someone outside who might be in need, pass along a cheeseburger. When you are cooking up a storm, throw in a few extra pieces of chicken and share a dish with a needy neighbor. When you bake, bring some to share at work. When you are at the supermarket buy an extra can or two of soup to donate to the local food pantry. If you are so inclined, invite a lonely, depressed, sad or needy person for dinner. Share what little or bounty you have.
Turn the other cheek
How many times in a day or week are we prone to road rage, lashing out at an indifferent sales person, or being sarcastic to a telemarketer? Try being nice. Try pausing, counting to 10 and become a model of politeness. It works. It is catchy, and when you are nice in the face of another’s hostility you instantly model Christ.
Forgive
This is a hard one. Forgiving isn’t easy, but it is so healthy for body, mind and spirit. Forgiving frees us from being chained to the hurts in life that drag us down. When you forgive, you open a door to better places in your life. Forgiving allows you to be you; to be free of the pain that others cause. It doesn’t mean sticking around for more, it means moving onward and forward.
Invite
In all of our lives we know someone who is alone for one reason or another. They can get too comfortable being alone, and we all need people and relationships. Make an extra effort to invite someone for a lunch, dinner, walk or ice cream or even to a liturgy. It is a good thing.
Praise
When you count your blessings, win the lottery, your child makes the honor roll, your boss praises you—don’t forget to offer praise to God. Say it aloud. Let people hear you. When they praise, return the praise and glory to God. Acknowledging God within you encourages the God working in others to shine forth.
Show someone God’s love
You’ll know whom; you’ll know when. Just get the courage to do it. Step outside of your comfort zone; don’t be shy; act on the love within you and share it with another person. It doesn’t matter how; it only matters that you do it. They’ll know us by our Love. Enjoy spreading the Good News! Be brave!
The world is filled with darkness and suffering. Our friends, families and coworkers suffer all around us. In your conversations, in listening to others in working and being with them in their trials you bring light to the darkness. Be mindful of your bright message of Hope. Use your power to light up the darkness even for a few moments for another who is floundering in the darkness.
Offer Direction
So many people say they are spiritual now, and not religious. We are both. We carry our Faith through all that we do spiritually. Don’t be shy about the way in which Jesus has empowered you. Don’t hide your good news; share it! Don’t preach, don’t quote and don’t do anything but point in the direction of Jesus whose power working in you has made all the difference.
Smile
Catholics are joyful people, but sometimes you wouldn’t know it. We are often afraid to smile. Try it! It is contagious! When done genuinely, it is warm, inviting, catchy, and it brings joy to others. A kind smile goes a long way to a mother struggling to manage her kids in a supermarket line. A warm smile makes someone in an uncomfortable situation feel accepted. A welcoming smile makes people feel a part of something, and it encourages them to participate.
Say God Bless You
Not just when someone sneezes. Say it when the situation calls for it. Say it when you are listening to the achievements of another. Say it when someone is in despair and doesn’t know what to do. Say it when another comes to you for encouragement. Say it when someone is showing anger or impatience. Don’t be shy to call upon the power of God and the many blessings He has for us.
Share a cheeseburger
So when you are passing a fast food place and notice someone outside who might be in need, pass along a cheeseburger. When you are cooking up a storm, throw in a few extra pieces of chicken and share a dish with a needy neighbor. When you bake, bring some to share at work. When you are at the supermarket buy an extra can or two of soup to donate to the local food pantry. If you are so inclined, invite a lonely, depressed, sad or needy person for dinner. Share what little or bounty you have.
Turn the other cheek
How many times in a day or week are we prone to road rage, lashing out at an indifferent sales person, or being sarcastic to a telemarketer? Try being nice. Try pausing, counting to 10 and become a model of politeness. It works. It is catchy, and when you are nice in the face of another’s hostility you instantly model Christ.
Forgive
This is a hard one. Forgiving isn’t easy, but it is so healthy for body, mind and spirit. Forgiving frees us from being chained to the hurts in life that drag us down. When you forgive, you open a door to better places in your life. Forgiving allows you to be you; to be free of the pain that others cause. It doesn’t mean sticking around for more, it means moving onward and forward.
Invite
In all of our lives we know someone who is alone for one reason or another. They can get too comfortable being alone, and we all need people and relationships. Make an extra effort to invite someone for a lunch, dinner, walk or ice cream or even to a liturgy. It is a good thing.
Praise
When you count your blessings, win the lottery, your child makes the honor roll, your boss praises you—don’t forget to offer praise to God. Say it aloud. Let people hear you. When they praise, return the praise and glory to God. Acknowledging God within you encourages the God working in others to shine forth.
Show someone God’s love
You’ll know whom; you’ll know when. Just get the courage to do it. Step outside of your comfort zone; don’t be shy; act on the love within you and share it with another person. It doesn’t matter how; it only matters that you do it. They’ll know us by our Love. Enjoy spreading the Good News! Be brave!
Friday, May 20, 2016
new evangelization
Art. 85 — It pertains to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples to direct and coordinate throughout the world the actual work of spreading the Gospel as well as missionary cooperation, without prejudice to the competence of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
Art. 86 — The Congregation promotes research in mission theology, spirituality and pastoral work; it likewise proposes principles, norms, and procedures, fitting the needs of time and place, by which evangelization is carried out.
Art. 87 — The Congregation strives to bring the people of God, well aware of their duty and filled with missionary spirit, to cooperate effectively in the missionary task by their prayers and the witness of their lives, by their active work and contributions.
Art. 88 — § 1. It takes steps to awaken missionary vocations, whether clerical, religious, or lay, and advises on a suitable distribution of missionaries.
§ 2. In the territories subject to it, it also cares for the education of the secular clergy and of catechists, without prejudice to the competence of the Congregation of Seminaries and Educational Institutions concerning the general programme of studies, as well as what pertains to the universities and other institutes of higher education.
Art. 89 — Within its competence are mission territories, the evangelization of which is committed to suitable institutes and societies and to particular Churches. For these territories it deals with everything pertaining to the establishment and change of ecclesiastical circumscriptions and to the provision of these Churches, and it carries out the other functions that the Congregation of Bishops fulfills within the scope of its competence.
Art. 90 — § 1. With regard to members of institutes of consecrated life, whether these are erected in the mission territories or are just working there, the Congregation enjoys competence in matters touching those members as missionaries, individually and collectively, without prejudice to art. 21, § 1.
§ 2. Those societies of apostolic life that were founded for the missions are subject to this Congregation.
Art. 91 — To foster missionary cooperation, even through the effective collection and equal distribution of subsidies, the Congregation chiefly uses the Pontifical Missionary Works, namely, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, and the Holy Childhood Association, as well as the Pontifical Missionary Union of the Clergy.
Art. 92 — Through a special office, the Congregation administers its own funds and other resources destined for the missions, with full accountability to the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.
Art. 86 — The Congregation promotes research in mission theology, spirituality and pastoral work; it likewise proposes principles, norms, and procedures, fitting the needs of time and place, by which evangelization is carried out.
Art. 87 — The Congregation strives to bring the people of God, well aware of their duty and filled with missionary spirit, to cooperate effectively in the missionary task by their prayers and the witness of their lives, by their active work and contributions.
Art. 88 — § 1. It takes steps to awaken missionary vocations, whether clerical, religious, or lay, and advises on a suitable distribution of missionaries.
§ 2. In the territories subject to it, it also cares for the education of the secular clergy and of catechists, without prejudice to the competence of the Congregation of Seminaries and Educational Institutions concerning the general programme of studies, as well as what pertains to the universities and other institutes of higher education.
Art. 89 — Within its competence are mission territories, the evangelization of which is committed to suitable institutes and societies and to particular Churches. For these territories it deals with everything pertaining to the establishment and change of ecclesiastical circumscriptions and to the provision of these Churches, and it carries out the other functions that the Congregation of Bishops fulfills within the scope of its competence.
Art. 90 — § 1. With regard to members of institutes of consecrated life, whether these are erected in the mission territories or are just working there, the Congregation enjoys competence in matters touching those members as missionaries, individually and collectively, without prejudice to art. 21, § 1.
§ 2. Those societies of apostolic life that were founded for the missions are subject to this Congregation.
Art. 91 — To foster missionary cooperation, even through the effective collection and equal distribution of subsidies, the Congregation chiefly uses the Pontifical Missionary Works, namely, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, and the Holy Childhood Association, as well as the Pontifical Missionary Union of the Clergy.
Art. 92 — Through a special office, the Congregation administers its own funds and other resources destined for the missions, with full accountability to the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Stages of faith[edit]
- Intuitive-Projective: a stage of confusion and of high impressionability through stories and rituals. (Pre-school period)
- Mythic-Literal: a stage where provided information is accepted in order to conform with social norms. (School-going period)
- Synthetic-Conventional: In this stage the faith acquired is concreted in the belief system with the forgoing of personification and replacement with authority in individuals or groups that represent one's beliefs. (Early-late adolescence)
- Individuative-Reflective: In this stage the individual critically analyzes adopted and accepted faith with existing systems of faith. Disillusion or strengthening of faith happens in this stage. Based on needs, experiences and paradoxes. (Early adulthood)
- Conjunctive faith: In this stage people realize the limits of logic and, facing the paradoxes or transcendence of life, accept the "mystery of life" and often return to the sacred stories and symbols of the pre-acquired or re-adopted faith system. This stage is called negotiated settling in life. (Mid-life)
- Universalizing faith: This is the "enlightenment" stage where the individual comes out of all the existing systems of faith and lives life with universal principles of compassion and love and in service to others for upliftment, without worries and doubt. (Middle - late adulthood (45-65yrs and plus
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