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Unit Four: Catholic Spiritual Practices. Theology 12 Catholic Spirituality Mr. Phillips. Spiritual Practices Covered in this Unit. Praying with the Psalms Liturgy of the Hours Lectio Divina The Rosary The Examen Prayer Ignatian Contemplation The Jesus Prayer Praying with Icons.
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Unit Four:Catholic Spiritual Practices Theology 12 Catholic Spirituality Mr. Phillips
Spiritual Practices Covered in this Unit • Praying with the Psalms • Liturgy of the Hours • LectioDivina • The Rosary • The Examen Prayer • Ignatian Contemplation • The Jesus Prayer • Praying with Icons
The Book of Psalms Psalm = __________________ Hebrew name of the book: Mostly written for ___________ prayer Also used for ____________ prayer Total of _______ psalms in the book About half are credited to ____________ authorship Authors of the Psalms called ______________ Entire collection sometimes called the ____________
Why pray with the Psalms? • ____________ (both Jewish and Christian) • “Ever _________, ever _______” • A “____________________” from God • Covers full range of human _____________ and _________________ • The prayer(s) of ___________
How to choose a Psalm for prayer • Start with some “______________________” (8, 23, 42, 51, 91, 130, 131, 139) • Use ______________ – do any strike a chord? • Use the ___________________ or the upcoming ____________ (see www.usccb.org) • The ____________________________
The Liturgy of the Hours • a.k.a. the __________________ • Prayers for _______________ of the day: • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ prayer • Consists mostly of the _____________, supplemented by other hymns and readings
LectioDivina • LectioDivina = _____________________ • A process of “__________________” the scripture • Dates back to at least ______________ • In the __________________ (6th Cent.) • Formalized by a monk named ___________ (11th cent.) • Four “_______________” of LectioDivina: • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________
I. Lectio(= Reading) II. Meditatio (= Meditation) • ______________________ about the text • Looking for the ______________ meaning • Noticing any __________________ that stand out • Guided by the _________________ • ______________ if you wish Slow _______________ reading Aloud or ____________________ “Listening with the ____________________” (St. Benedict)
III. Oratio(= Prayer) IV. Contemplatio (= Contemplation) • Loving __________ on God • ______________ • Joyfully ______________ in God’s presence • Think of a __________ looking up to his/her __________ A loving ____________________ with God Moving from “___________________” Holding our _________ up to God in light of the scripture Gently reciting a __________________ from the scripture _____________ if you wish
How to choose a passage forLectioDivina • A reading of the _______ or of the coming _____________ (see www.usccb.org or www.dailygospel.org) • Slowly go through an entire ________________, or portion of a Bible book. For example: • ___________, passage by passage • Sermon on the ______________ (Mt 5 – 7) • Luke’s ________________________ (Lk 1 – 2) at Christmas • ___________________ from a book or website • Go where the ____________ leads you!
The Rosary • Rosarium = _____________________ • Symbol of _____________ • Some early rosary beads made with __________________ • A ______________ prayer • Expresses __________________ for Mary, mother of God • Popular especially in _________________ tradition • A __________________ prayer • Meditation on events in lives of _______________________ (the Mysteries of the rosary) • The ________________and first half of the _____________ come from scripture • “The ______________ made into __________________”
The Examen Prayer • Examen = __________________ • Examination of _____________________, not just ________________ • Asks, “Where has God been _________________ in my day?” • Five steps:
Ignatian Contemplation • A way of praying with ____________ • Not __________________ contemplation • Use of ___________________ to put yourself into a scene • Works best with stories from the ____________
Ignatian Contemplation – Four Steps _________ your Heart Seek a ____________
3. Read Passage and __________ • Closing __________________________
Scriptural Roots of the Jesus Prayer The Jesus PrayerLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner • The words of blind _____________________ of Jericho as Jesus passed by leaving town: “On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.’” (Mk 10:47) The prayer of the _________________________ from Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector: “The tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raisehis eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, bemerciful to me a sinner.’” (Lk 18:13)
How to Practice the Jesus Prayer • Gently ____________ the prayer over and over (aloud or mentally) • Two approaches: • _______________________ • _______________________ • Rhythmic ____________________ • Possible aids: • ______________________ (or a rosary) • _________________ • A _________________ • An _______________ (such as an ________________) • Goal: __________________(= inner _______________)
What is an Icon? • Icon (eikon) = _______ • A _________, _____________ image of Jesus, Mary or the saints • Developed historically in the ______________ churches • Use of traditional _______________, ______________and _________________ features • ________________ • Created in _____________ and for _______________ • “________________ to Heaven”
Praying with Icons • _________________ leading to ___________________ • The eye is the ____________ to the soul • Prayer with eyes wide ___________ • Holy images are ______________ and ______________