Learning To Pray

"The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness." (Pope Francis)

"There's no greater love than this: the one who lays down his life for his friends." (The Lord).

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." (St Peter)

"Have some backbone; develop some inner resilience." (Fr. Eric Nicolai)

"Simon, you will be called Cefas that means rock." (The Lord)

"In your prayer, you actually take part in the different scenes of the Gospel, as one more among the people present... Imagine the scene or mystery you have chosen to help you recollect your thoughts and meditate." (St. Josemaria Escriva)

"Faith, finally, my beloved daughters and sons, to show the world that all this is not just ceremonies and words, but a divine reality, by presenting to mankind the testimony of an ordinary life which is made holy, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and of holy Mary." (St Josemaría)

Day 5:

Vocation is dynamic: each of us is called here and now

- What helps us to be responsive to God's call? Deepening our friendship with Christ, imitating him...

FREEDOM AND GRACE:

"How Can We Foster Inspirations?

1. Practice Praise and Thanksgiving

2. Desire and Ask For Them

3. Resolve to Refuse God Nothing

5. 4. Practice Filial and Trusting Obedience

7. 5. Practice Abandonment

8. 6.Practice Detachment

9. 7. Practice Silence and Peace

10. 8. Persevere Faithfully in Prayer

11. 9. Examine the Movements of Our Hearts

12. 10. Open Our Hearts To a Spiritual Director" (Jacques Philippe, In the School of the Holy Spirit)

Another spiritual law, which is worth taking note of and that is confirmed by experience, is this: this path of docility to the motions of the Holy Spirit may be very demanding, because "the Spirit breathes where he will," but it is a path of freedom and happiness. We may journey without constraint, our hearts not confined but expanded. This enlarging of the heart is a clear sign of the presence of the Spirit." (Jacques Philippe, In the School of the Holy Spirit)

Day 4: Letting God Drive

—God surprises us always with something more beautiful: miraculous catch of fish; Peter walking on the waters; bringing Lazarus back to life;

Therefore: let God drive:

God wants to do something unique and beautiful in your life:

Jacques Philippe, In the School of the Holy Spirit:

"Holiness is not the realization of a given model of perfection that is identical for everyone. It is the emergence of an absolutely unique reality that God alone knows, and that he alone brings to fruition."

Be The original version of yourself;

—Divine filiation;

—discover your way of praying:

All of us are called to enter the scenes of the gospel,

Here's one example: "And I looked at Him straight in the eye, and I had no doubt that it was Him; and I realized that He had been there with us all that day long and that it was true: He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And I looked around and He was not there any more. And it was clear to me it was my turn to show Him to the world with my deeds. And I got back on the road with my friend. Two ardent flames in the middle of the darkness." (Joel-Isaiah McIntyre)

—sacraments:

—Talents: time: your mission

—Personality: correct flaws and foster virtue: humility endurance daring magnanimity

—Occupation: what are you good at;

—Qualities: good traits;

—BE YOURSELF: do not follow the trend; you set the trend;

—Your calling!

Jacques Philippe, In the School of the Holy Spirit: "Holiness is only revealed to us by degrees, as we journey on, and it is often something very different from what we imagine, so much so that the greatest obstacle on the path to holiness may be to cling too closely to the image we have of our own perfection."

Follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit : God is in charge, we follow.

How? Lights in the intelligence and good desires in our hearts: (explain)

Jacques Philippe, In the School of the Holy Spirit: "What God wants is always different, always disconcerting; but ultimately it is infinitely more beautiful, because only God is capable of creating totally unique masterpieces, while we humans can only imitate."

—the Holy Spirit and Simeon and Anna; the Holy Spirit and the sacraments: what renews us is God grace

The Holy Spirit and our lady: the spouse of the Holy Spirit;

Day 3: In my Father's Field: Perseverance and Meekness;

—parable of the workers in the vineyard; WE ADMIRE THEIR PERSEVERANCE

-Camino de Santiago news interview to an 80 yearold man on how he made it to the end of the Camino; how did you know you were going to make it? I knew I was going to make it by taking the first step and then other and other...

-PERSEVERANCE: if you repeat, you learn it. 10,000 hour rule:

-The way Dylan wrote a hard rain is a gonna fall;

-Ultimate end; ultimate goal: KEEP WALKING;

-Education of the will:

setting your goal;

Set your objectives;

Go;

-Perseverance is necessary to achieve our goal. (&secret of perseverance). Value of suffering.

WE ADMIRE THESE GUYS' PERSEVERANCE; BUT THEY LACKED MEEKNESS!

What is meekness? Blessed are the meek for they shal inherit the earth;

Fulton Sheen: "Meekness is not cowardice; meekness is not an easygoing temperament, sluggish and hard to arouse; meekness is not a spineless passivity which allows everyone to walk over us. No! meekness is self-possession. That is why the reward of meekness is possession.... A weak man can never be meek, because he is never self-possessed; meekness is that virtue which controls the combative, violent and pugnacious powers of our nature, and is therefore the best and noblest road to self-realization."

- Making life pleasant for others, charity and understanding towards the defects of others. Elegantly letting go of a comment or situation that could have been hurtful.

- Forgiveness, asking God for the grace to forgive, to accept the past as it is and move towards the future with peace and joy (Omnia in bonum).

Jacques Philippe: "Meekness can be practiced only by letting ourselves be filled with it by God. ... Only intimate contact with the heart of Jesus can heal the hardness of the human heart. ... Although [meekness] is one of the most precious expressions of love, it is unfortunately quite rare in today's hard, competitive world. Yet it remains a powerful tool for attracting and opening hearts."

—MARY: PERSEVERANCE AND CHARITY;