Thirsty Thursday: Advent Atonement

Since Advent and Lent are Penitential seasons, these are times for us to repent for our sins.

In my own Catholic faith, we must confess our sins regularly to a clergy member to cleanse our souls for communion.

No matter how holy I strive to be, I as a human have my share of shortcomings. With a conscience, I’ve constantly prayed

• The Act of Contrition
• series of the Hail Mary

Remorse for our mistakes won’t do us any good if we keep repeating them. Learning lessons from our wrong actions and doing right by GOD will lead us closer to Heaven …

R.I.P., Father Romanus ✌ 

Thirsty Thursday: One with GOD

My Church celebrated our ☼milestone☼ anniversary of our ♥Adoration♥ †Chapel† last night!

During his homily, our Bishop told us of five ways to pray at the Blessed Sacrament:

1. Praise
2. Contrition
3. THANKSgiving
4. Petitions
5. Communion

The fifth type means to simply be with GOD. Our Bishop also reminded us that the Eucharist and Perpetual Adoration both our important, yet taking the Body and Blood of CHRIST is the top priority of our faith.

Reverence Reference

* Sis, Bishop M. (2015, July 1). Homily: Eucharistic Adoration Chapel Anniversary Mass. Holy Family Catholic Church.

Thirsty Thursday: Contrition Way

†The Prayer Way† continues with Contrition

“May the †LORD† be in your ♥heart♥ and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow.” ~ Rite of Penance

There are times in our lives when we make mistakes that we may regret and repent, or we at least learn from them and don’t repeat them anymore. When we have a conscience for venial sins (non-mortal sins ~ meaning that they don’t kill our spirit and keep us from †GOD†), then we confess them and reflect on how to redeem ourselves. Yesterday, my childhood Church had a Penance service in which we confessed to our priests from our local Catholic parishes.

Act of Contrition

O my †GOD†, I am heartily sorry for having offended You. I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my †GOD†, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Check out our other ways to pray…

• ♥Adoration♥ 
•  THANKSgiving
• Supplication  

Sources

• Fr. Oscar J. Lukefahr, C. M. “From the Spiritual Director.” The Association of the Miraculous Medal, Vol. 47, No. 3: Fall Bulletin (2014).*
• Jesus Our Life Activity Book, Faith and Life Series, 3rd ed. (Book 2). Chapter 9, Lesson 2, (p. 34)**; “Kinds of Prayer,” Chapter 15, Lesson 3 (p. 59)***. Ignatius Press, San Francisco. Catholics United for the Faith, Steubenville, Ohio. (2014).
• Jesus Our Life  Student Text, Faith and Life Series, 3rd ed. (Book 2). Chapter 9, “I Choose to Love God” (pp. 45-49); Chapter 20, “The Sacrament of Penance” (p. 95). Ignatius Press, San Francisco. Catholics United for the Faith, Steubenville, Ohio. (2014).

For me personally, I’ve admittedly broken some of the Commandments, so I’m confessing having committed those sins, preventing myself from breaking them again and making peace as I approach a more holy life. As we enter Advent season and prepare for Baby JESUS’ birth, I encourage my fellow believers to this CHRISTmas Challenge of daily devotions and good deeds: Random Acts of CHRISTmas Kindness (RACK).

CHEERS to this time of year, as JESUS’ birth is very near ~ NO worry about presents, for His presence that we need indeed is here!

Thirsty Thursday: The Prayer Way

To ♪The Player Way♫ chorus rhythm of rapper pastor Ma$e …

Everything that I do be all about the ☼LORD†
I’ve been lifting up †prayer† instead of being bored
Getting lifted by my ♥heart♥ and ☼soul☼
I give the world GOD, who has the main role
In my life
So I maintain thrive and strife
In the ☼morning☼, noon, and night, at all times everyday
†The Prayer Way, the Prayer Way†

~ †The Prayer Way†, by Elaine Dispo (Bust a Flow)

I went the extra mile to freestyle from another song to remind us about the importance of leading a prayerful life.

Crucifixion Statue from María Elena and Rosary blessed by Pope JP2 from Church Bro Joe

Recently, Bishop Mike sent me a newsletter* with valuable information, including the ACTS acronym that stands for these prayer divisions that appeared on the first page and also in my own Religious Education teachings of loving GOD** and prayer***:

*How to Pray

• ♥Adoration♥ ~ **loving GOD
• †Contrition† 
• ♣Thanksgiving♣ ~ **thanking GOD
• ☼Supplication☼ ~ ***petition (**asking GOD for things we need) and ***intercession (**praying for other people)

We’ll review each prayer division individually in the next Thirsty Thursday segments. Meanwhile,

Keep ☼shining☼ * Keep smiling * Keep †praying† * Keep following GOD’s perfect plan!!!

Sources

• Fr. Oscar J. Lukefahr, C. M. “From the Spiritual Director.” The Association of the Miraculous Medal, Vol. 47, No. 3: Fall Bulletin (2014).*
• Jesus Our Life Activity Book, Faith and Life Series, 3rd ed. (Book 2). Chapter 9, Lesson 2, (p. 34)**; “Kinds of Prayer,” Chapter 15, Lesson 3 (p. 59)***. Ignatius Press, San Francisco. Catholics United for the Faith, Steubenville, Ohio. (2014).
• Lyrics inspired from: Ma$e. “The Player Way.” Retrieved from MetroLyrics.

3:33 ~ make a †prayer†