An Examination of Conscience

Transcription

1 Praying in the Name of Jesus: An Examination of Conscience Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Do I live a Christlike life? Lead me back to the grace of the Spirit given at my baptism. Can the least of my sisters and brothers see Christ in me? Give me courage to stand up for peace and justice. Do I forgive others as Christ forgives me? Grant me a heart full of your mercy and forgiveness. Am I Christlike in generous sharing and charity? Strengthen me to set aside selfish wants and desires. v Does the power of Christ show in my witness? Make me bold to speak joyfully about my faith. Do I spend time in prayer as Christ did? Quiet me to be more dedicated and fervent in prayer. Do others know the presence of Christ through my daily living? Let me be a sign of your love for those around me. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. All materials that are World Library Publications: In accordance with c. 827, permission to publish is granted on August 12, 2013 by Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Kane, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Permission to publish is an official declaration of ecclesiastical authority that the material is free from doctrinal and moral error. No legal responsibility is assumed by the grant of this permission. Copyright 2013, World Library Publications, the music and liturgy division of J.S. Paluch Company, Inc River Road, Suite 400, Franklin Park, IL All rights reserved under United States copyright law. WLP ISBN No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, whether mechanical, photographic, or electronic, including taping, recording, photocopying, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the written consent of the copyright owner. Printed in the United States of America.

2 Lenten Morning Prayer (Holy water may be used for the sign of the cross.) + In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Lord Jesus, you give us living waters: Kyrie, eleison. Christ Jesus, you are Light from Light: Christe, eleison. Lord Jesus, you raise us from death to life: Kyrie, eleison. Our Father... Guard me, Lord, during this day. Keep me faithful to your word and your way, and help me to live as a true disciple of Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Grant me, O God, a grace-filled day, and bring me safely home. Lenten Nighttime Prayer (Holy water may be used for the sign of the cross.) + In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. A time of silent reflection is followed by the Act of Contrition or the Confiteor from the Mass. Lord, be present here through the night and every day. May your holy angels dwell here to keep me in peace, and may your blessing be upon me always, through Christ our Lord. O Lord, grant me a restful sleep and bring me to live one day in the kingdom of heaven.

3 Photo: Public Domain St. John Climacus, also known as John of the Ladder, John Scolasticus, or John Sinaites, was a seventh-century monk who lived in a community of ascetics at Mount Sinai in modern Egypt. He wrote his most famous work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, at the request of the abbot of a nearby monastery. His feast day is celebrated March 30.

4 A Letter from Saint John of the Ladder Brothers and sisters in Christ: Remember Jesus with every breath you take, for he is present in every moment, if you can only remove the blinders on your heart and find him within your soul. I was called to follow God by living an ascetic life in a monastery. This means my fellow monks and I abstained from all but the basic necessities of life. This self-deprivation helped us focus on God with fewer distractions. This must seem incredibly foreign to you, dear friends. You live in a time, place, and culture where convenience and comfort are taken for granted, and things are valued by their ability to entertain. How many channels do you have on your television? Do you ever flip through dozens of choices and decide there s nothing worth your time? How many different types of facial tissue can you choose from at the store? Do you ever wish they would make just one and be done with it? The things of earth are good in and of themselves, but they often distract us from the things that matter most. This is why I entered the monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai, on the slopes where the Lord God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. You too need a place to retreat from the noise and distraction of the world, the discord that drowns out the still, small voice of God. Human beings are created to yearn for wholeness found only in the presence of their Creator. But in order to find that presence we must seek quiet. Stillness, rest, silence: these three are vital pursuits to one who seeks the Lord, and all the entertainment and material bounty in the world cannot take the Lord s place. It may seem threatening to remove these things deliberately for a time and focus inward. But the place where the Lord dwells lies deep within you, and the journey inward can be rerouted by things that demand attention, things that ultimately fail to satisfy. Seek the peace you long for. Do not be afraid of the emptiness, for in it you will find what you never knew you were lacking. May the peace of Christ live always in your hearts. John Climacus

5 Lent: A Time to Rethink Prayer v Afallacy in the modern world holds that if you don t get what you asked for, God didn t answer your prayer. The truth is, there is no such thing as an unanswered prayer. It s just that sometimes the answer is no or not yet. We tend to think of prayer as a shopping list on which we check off the things we need as they are granted. But petition is not the only or even the most important form of prayer. Prayer is the way in which we nurture our relationship with God. It is a conversation by definition, a two-way street. If we fill every moment of prayer with requests, however important, we re only getting a fraction of the benefit. Praise, thanksgiving, and contemplation seeking stillness in the presence of God are powerful forms of prayer, and ones we need at least as much as petition. It s not about getting God to do what we want. It s not about making sure we list every person and situation that we know needs a heavenly touch. God knows what we need better than we do and doesn t need us to yammer on about it. What God wants is for us to sit still and listen for that voice to speak within our hearts and bring our human will into union with the divine will.

6 For most people, time is a precious commodity; we can t imagine carving out time to sit still and do nothing. But how about times like these: Waiting for the washing machine to stop spinning, folding the laundry Stuck in traffic The TV show breaks for advertisements On hold with the insurance company (or the plumber, or the doctor s office) Walking ten minutes to a meeting or appointment Waiting for someone to arrive When a child needs a nap or cuddling in the middle of the night This Lent, when you experience situations like these, don t reach for your smartphone to fill the empty space. Embrace these moments as opportunities for prayer. Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and whisper, Speak Lord. Your servant is listening.