10-12-13 Spiritual Direction

We are always in the process of becoming the person God created.
We are human, seeking to become filled with God.

There is a direction to Spiritual Direction.  It is THEOSIS:  Incorporation of the person into Divine Life without losing the person.

"Theosis" is an Eastern way of thinking
"Eternal Life" is a Western way of thinking

Both point to the same result

Spiritual Direction is to ascertain and discover our promise.  It is a process that occurs on an ongoing and regular basis.  Here are some reasons:

To learn to be attentive to God's Grace
To deepen awareness of God's Grace
To explore what obstructs our attention to God's Grace
To name and honor near occasions of God's Grace
To find the Grace offered in loss, grief, anger and fear
To be conscious of God's Grace in moments of transition
To make important decisions in light of God's Grace

The EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE is a daily discipline associated with the development of Spirit.  Its purpose is to look over each day from the perspective of our proximate direction.

As Aspirants to the Diaconate, our "proximate direction" is: ORDINATION.
Our long term direction is:  THEOSIS.

10-12-13 The Spiritual Life

Principles of the Spiritual Life
Fr. Bede Cisco

1)  God Acts First.  God Takes the Initiative.

The Spiritual Life starts with God's initiation in us.  He started long before we were even aware of it.  But when WE finally decide to pursue "the Spiritual Life", it starts with Awareness:  paying attention to God working in our lives.

A corollary to the first principle is:  Watch and Wait for God. 
Since God Initiates... our response is what's important.

Waiting for the sun to rise is like waiting for God.  He is there - always - and there is nothing we can do to speed it up.  And the sun ALWAYS rises, so all we have to do is wait.
And if we really know what's going on, it is not that we are waiting for God to arrive, because He is always there:  stationary and pervasive.  It is US that are moving slowly toward Him.


2)  I am God's creature, and He made me Good.

It is easy to struggle with the allure of sin.  But remember how God made us, and our part is to develop the Goodness.

There was a very interesting ancillary discussion here:  be very careful about humility. 
We are not being humble if we view ourselves as less that what God made us.  Humility is NOT putting ourselves down... it is recognizing our true and correct relationship with God. 


3)  I am a Mystery to Myself.

Growth is a continuous process of becoming aware of our own selves.

How do we do grow spiritually? 
SILENCE:  The importance of silence is in the listening.
SOLITUDE:  Being alone with yourself.
PRAYER:  Prayer is at the heart of spiritual direction.

"When you pray, let the distractions go.  If you can't let them go, let them become your prayer"

"Pray 1/2 hour each day, unless you're busy.  Then pray for an hour".     -St. Francis DeSales

9/15/13 - Liturgy of the Hours

The first day of the Diaconate training focused on "The Liturgy of the Hours". 

Here is what it looks like:

It is four volumes, comprised of 8140 pages of what St. Benedict called:  "The Work of God".

It is the Prayer of the Whole Church, and it's purpose is to sanctify the day.

Everything in the Church has an Instruction with it.  In Book 1 of the "Liturgy of the Hours", there is a "General Instruction" section, which starts on page 21.  It ends on page 98.  A brief overview which presents "The Mind of the Church".

When a man is ordained, he assumes a commitment to pray the Liturgy of the Hours faithfully.

9/14/13 - What is a Deacon ... and how does the Church make them?

"What is a Deacon?" 
The answer to the first question will be the ongoing goal of this web log.

"How does the church make them?"

The answer to that question is contained in the curriculum they gave us today.
Here's the schedule for the next FIVE years!

Sep, '13 - Discernment
Oct, '13 - Spiritual Direction
Nov, '13 - Research & Writing
Dec, '13 - Evangelization and Ecumenism
Jan, '14 - Theological Reflection
Feb, '14 - Prayer and Sacramental Participation
Mar, '14 - Pastoral Identity, Skills, Boundaries

(These first 7 sessions are 1 day Saturday sessions. 
The rest of the sessions - starting in April, 2014 - are 3 day sessions, once a month)

Apr, '14 - Philosophy
May, '14 - Philosophy
--
Sep, '14 - Church History
Oct, '14 - Church History
Nov, '14 - Intro to Scripture
Dec, '14 - Intro to Scripture
Jan, '15 - Spirituality
Feb, '15 - Foundations
Mar, '15 - Foundations
Apr, '15 - Old Testament
May, '15 - Old Testament
Jun, '15 - Ministry of Deacon
--
Sep, '15 - Epistles
Oct, '15 - Epistles
Nov, '15 - Synoptic Gospels and Acts
Dec, '15 - Synoptic Gospels and Acts
Jan, '16 - Johannine Literature
Feb, '16 - Intro to Liturgy
Mar, '16 - Ecclesiology
Apr, '16 - Ecclesiology
May, '16 - Sacraments
Jun, '16 - Sacraments
--
Sep, '16 - Pastoral Care and Counseling
Oct, '16 - Pastoral Care and Counseling
Nov, '16 - Christology and Mariology
Dec, '16 - Christology and Mariology
Jan, '17 - Intro to Homiletics
Feb, '17 - American Church
Mar, '17 - Catechetics
Apr, '17 - Eucharist
May, '17 - Eucharist
Jun, '17 - Liturgical Practicum 1

Homiletics Week at St. Meinrad

Sep, '17 - Moral Theology 1
Oct, '17 - Moral Theology 1
Nov, '17 - Canon Law
Dec, '17 - Canon Law
Jan, '18 - Liturgical Practicum 2
Feb, '18 - Trinity and Salvation
Mar, '18 - Trinity and Salvation
Apr, '18 - Moral Theology 2
May, '18 - Moral Theology 2
Jun, '18 - Retreat