Young Family
Breathing and Prayer from Finding God, Loyola Press
In the Old Testament the breath of humans is considered God's breath because the Lord himself breathed life into the nostrils of Adam (Genesis 2:7). In the same way, the New Testament portrays Jesus as conferring the Holy Spirit upon the apostles by breathing on them (John 20:22). One of the ways we can focus on the Holy Spirit is by paying attention to our breathing.
You can help your children prepare for reflective times of prayer and avoid distractions by teaching them to concentrate on their breathing. Invite them to get into a comfortable position and to "get quiet on the outside, so we can get quiet on the inside." Shut your eyes and and take in a long and deep breath letting it out slowly. Establish a rhythm by slowly counting to three while breathing in and slowly counting to three while breathing out. Invite your children to concentrate on their breathing. This can be very calming and can settle anxious thoughts and worries as well as prepare us for prayer.
When all are quiet and attentive to breathing, choose a prayer to focus your family time around. Pray it aloud slowly and invite all to focus on the presence of God in your midst. Before opening your eyes and concluding, invite them to privately share with God any concerns or worries, or praise and thanks that is in their hearts. You might like to use the following prayer of St. Augustine or go to www.FindingGod.org for more prayers.
Holy Spirit Prayer of St. Augustine
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Amen.
Think about the third and fourth lines in the prayer.
Talk with God about something you might do.
Rest peacefully in God.
In the Old Testament the breath of humans is considered God's breath because the Lord himself breathed life into the nostrils of Adam (Genesis 2:7). In the same way, the New Testament portrays Jesus as conferring the Holy Spirit upon the apostles by breathing on them (John 20:22). One of the ways we can focus on the Holy Spirit is by paying attention to our breathing.
You can help your children prepare for reflective times of prayer and avoid distractions by teaching them to concentrate on their breathing. Invite them to get into a comfortable position and to "get quiet on the outside, so we can get quiet on the inside." Shut your eyes and and take in a long and deep breath letting it out slowly. Establish a rhythm by slowly counting to three while breathing in and slowly counting to three while breathing out. Invite your children to concentrate on their breathing. This can be very calming and can settle anxious thoughts and worries as well as prepare us for prayer.
When all are quiet and attentive to breathing, choose a prayer to focus your family time around. Pray it aloud slowly and invite all to focus on the presence of God in your midst. Before opening your eyes and concluding, invite them to privately share with God any concerns or worries, or praise and thanks that is in their hearts. You might like to use the following prayer of St. Augustine or go to www.FindingGod.org for more prayers.
Holy Spirit Prayer of St. Augustine
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Amen.
Think about the third and fourth lines in the prayer.
Talk with God about something you might do.
Rest peacefully in God.
Celebrate Thanksgiving
Place five kernels of corn in a small mesh or netting bag on each plate at your dinner table. Then tell the story of the first Thanksgiving. The first year the Pilgrims spent in America were bleak and morbid. Starvation loomed over their heads. The daily ration was said to have been five kernels of corn per meal. It is no wonder that their hearts were so grateful at the second years harvest. Invite your family to reflect on how hungry they would be with only five kernels of corn to eat. Before praying our traditional grace before meals, ask each person at the table to share what they are most grateful for in this past year.
Place five kernels of corn in a small mesh or netting bag on each plate at your dinner table. Then tell the story of the first Thanksgiving. The first year the Pilgrims spent in America were bleak and morbid. Starvation loomed over their heads. The daily ration was said to have been five kernels of corn per meal. It is no wonder that their hearts were so grateful at the second years harvest. Invite your family to reflect on how hungry they would be with only five kernels of corn to eat. Before praying our traditional grace before meals, ask each person at the table to share what they are most grateful for in this past year.
Learn
Wounds Sacred Wounds
In this season of saints, I enjoyed reading this story of Theresa of Avila and the wounds of Jesus. Reflecting on our own woundedness puts us in solidarity with those who are most wounded in our society. The Nov/Dec e-news letter from Loyola Press is a wonderful read to keep us inspired and focused on living out our faith.
Also in this issue is an article titled, How Can I Help My Child to Grow Up Respecting Other People? There are some really great and practical tips.
Gratitude and Guilt
Gratitude is a key aspect of Ignatian spirituality, and even when I don’t have much time for prayer, I do try to take a few moments each day to thank God for the blessings of the day. The problem is that sometimes when I look at the world around me, it seems so very dark for many, and I have to admit that my gratitude can be weighed down in guilt. I go to sleep each night in my warm house, never worrying that my neighborhood might be bombed as I sleep. I say good-bye to my husband each morning as we head off to work, never worrying that he may be taken by armed men never to return. I send my daughter to school each day, never wondering if her education might cost her life. I don’t know the pain of hunger or the loneliness of loss. Sometimes in considering the overwhelming blessings in my life, I wonder how it is that I could live such an easy life while others suffer so cruelly. Guilt takes over. In this affluent society in which we live, I suspect I’m not alone in feeling this.
Now, guilt is the natural result of our transgressions and normally leads us to remorse and apology. The fact that we live relatively comfortable lives, however, is not completely within our control. Consequently, it may not be something we should feel sorry about. It’s tempting to stop there and dismiss the feeling as “good ol’ Catholic guilt.” But what if the guilt is stemming from something deeper?
St. Ignatius encourages retreatants to pay attention to how they are feeling, so it would be wrong just to dismiss the guilt. Rather, Ignatius would have us spend some time in the messiness of such an uncomfortable feeling and see where it leads. Maybe the guilt does stem from something we can control; maybe it comes from something we are not doing—yet.
“Much will be required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one entrusted with more” (Luke 12:48). It’s interesting that just after this passage in Luke is the verse, “I have come to bring a fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled” (12:49). That uneasy feeling inside is perhaps a call to action—the spark that will ignite that flame. In the uncomfortable feeling, amid our many, many blessings, what is God calling us to do?
The post Gratitude and Guilt appeared first on Ignatian Spirituality.
In this season of saints, I enjoyed reading this story of Theresa of Avila and the wounds of Jesus. Reflecting on our own woundedness puts us in solidarity with those who are most wounded in our society. The Nov/Dec e-news letter from Loyola Press is a wonderful read to keep us inspired and focused on living out our faith.
Also in this issue is an article titled, How Can I Help My Child to Grow Up Respecting Other People? There are some really great and practical tips.
Gratitude and Guilt
Gratitude is a key aspect of Ignatian spirituality, and even when I don’t have much time for prayer, I do try to take a few moments each day to thank God for the blessings of the day. The problem is that sometimes when I look at the world around me, it seems so very dark for many, and I have to admit that my gratitude can be weighed down in guilt. I go to sleep each night in my warm house, never worrying that my neighborhood might be bombed as I sleep. I say good-bye to my husband each morning as we head off to work, never worrying that he may be taken by armed men never to return. I send my daughter to school each day, never wondering if her education might cost her life. I don’t know the pain of hunger or the loneliness of loss. Sometimes in considering the overwhelming blessings in my life, I wonder how it is that I could live such an easy life while others suffer so cruelly. Guilt takes over. In this affluent society in which we live, I suspect I’m not alone in feeling this.
Now, guilt is the natural result of our transgressions and normally leads us to remorse and apology. The fact that we live relatively comfortable lives, however, is not completely within our control. Consequently, it may not be something we should feel sorry about. It’s tempting to stop there and dismiss the feeling as “good ol’ Catholic guilt.” But what if the guilt is stemming from something deeper?
St. Ignatius encourages retreatants to pay attention to how they are feeling, so it would be wrong just to dismiss the guilt. Rather, Ignatius would have us spend some time in the messiness of such an uncomfortable feeling and see where it leads. Maybe the guilt does stem from something we can control; maybe it comes from something we are not doing—yet.
“Much will be required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one entrusted with more” (Luke 12:48). It’s interesting that just after this passage in Luke is the verse, “I have come to bring a fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled” (12:49). That uneasy feeling inside is perhaps a call to action—the spark that will ignite that flame. In the uncomfortable feeling, amid our many, many blessings, what is God calling us to do?
The post Gratitude and Guilt appeared first on Ignatian Spirituality.
Works of Mercy Cards
Make a set of Works of Mercy cards. Print a different Work of Mercy on each one. Use two different colored pens or markers--one for corporal works and one for spiritual works. Each week pick a card at random and discuss how you can act in this way.
Corporal Works of Mercy are: feed the hungry; clothe the naked; visit the sick or imprisoned;shelter the homeless; give alms to the poor; bury the dead.
Spiritual Works of Mercy are: instruct; advise; console; comfort; forgive; be tolerant.
Spirituality in Action
Consider the needs of those in our parish who might require special care, particularly the sick and elderly. Work with your children to create a special bag of cheer. Use a lunch size paper bag or a plain gift bag that can be decorated. Have the children decorate the bag with bright and cheerful pictures from magazines, old gift cards or by drawing on them. Add a cheerful message and fill the bag with tea bags, candies, travel size lotions, lip balm, etc.
Deliver the package with your child and then talk about the experience.
How did it feel to deliver some cheer to someone who is sick/elderly? Sometimes the elderly or the sick can be a little scary to a small child. Meeting them up closer and providing some cheer can help with those feelings.
How would you feel if someone delivered a bag of cheer to you?
It's important to discuss with your child that even if the gift was not well received, it was the right thing to do.(the recipient may be so sick they cannot show there gratitude.)
You can call the parish for the names of individuals who are home bound or sick.
Make a set of Works of Mercy cards. Print a different Work of Mercy on each one. Use two different colored pens or markers--one for corporal works and one for spiritual works. Each week pick a card at random and discuss how you can act in this way.
Corporal Works of Mercy are: feed the hungry; clothe the naked; visit the sick or imprisoned;shelter the homeless; give alms to the poor; bury the dead.
Spiritual Works of Mercy are: instruct; advise; console; comfort; forgive; be tolerant.
Spirituality in Action
Consider the needs of those in our parish who might require special care, particularly the sick and elderly. Work with your children to create a special bag of cheer. Use a lunch size paper bag or a plain gift bag that can be decorated. Have the children decorate the bag with bright and cheerful pictures from magazines, old gift cards or by drawing on them. Add a cheerful message and fill the bag with tea bags, candies, travel size lotions, lip balm, etc.
Deliver the package with your child and then talk about the experience.
How did it feel to deliver some cheer to someone who is sick/elderly? Sometimes the elderly or the sick can be a little scary to a small child. Meeting them up closer and providing some cheer can help with those feelings.
How would you feel if someone delivered a bag of cheer to you?
It's important to discuss with your child that even if the gift was not well received, it was the right thing to do.(the recipient may be so sick they cannot show there gratitude.)
You can call the parish for the names of individuals who are home bound or sick.