PRAYER

PRAYER

• What is a basic definition of prayer?• Raising• Requesting

• To what two types of prayer is each Christian called? • Personal, individual prayers• Communal worship.

• Read aloud the words of St John Paul II. Who should get the most credit when we pray?

OUR FATHER

• Read Matthew 6.5-15. What does this teach us about prayer?• Read Luke 11.1-13. What does this teach us about

prayer?• What are the two most important sentences in

the Our Father?• The Our Father, line by line.

OUR FATHER

• Tertullian and St Thomas Aquinas state that the Our Father is the perfect prayer. Support their claim.• Most important matters spiritually (forgiveness)• Most important matters materially (daily needs)• Essence of Gospel—God is our Father• Essence of holiness—doing God’s will• Essence of mercy—forgiveness, deliverance from evil

TYPES OF PRAYER

SELF-DENIALMORTIF ICATION

SELF-DENIAL

• Read 1 Corinthians 6.12-20• What does St Paul mean when he says “All things

are lawful, but not all things are helpful”?• What does it mean that our bodies are not our

own?

SELF-DENIAL

• Holiness comes through self-denial• Related words: renunciation, self-sacrifice, mortification• Purpose: the more we deny ourselves the pleasures of

this life, the easier it is to look ahead• Examples• Athletic training• Read 1 Corinthians 9.24-27

• Learning any skill• Not just about practice; it’s also about sacrifice

• Self-denial is• Renouncing your own pleasures• Sacrificing your desires for the good of God or others• Putting to death the desires of the flesh (mortification)

MORTIFICATION

• Meaning• Dying to the flesh• It is a means of seeking holiness through self-discipline

and self-denial. • Purpose• To avoid sin and to subdue the body so as to strengthen

the soul. • Christians are in training• Spiritual growth requires difficult discipline• Spiritual growth requires looking ahead to the prize at the

end

• KEY: Just as an athlete must train him- or herself to compete successfully, mortification, or self-denial, is an essential part of growing in holiness and pursuing the goal of the Christian life

MORTIFICATION

• How can mortification help us avoid “near occasions” of sin?• “Near occasions of sin” are situations which can lead us

to sin. • Example: hanging out with friends who drink or do drugs

may tempt us to do the same• Example: dressing provocatively may signal…• “If a guy wears booty shorts…” (guess)

• Example: playing violent video games may lead us to think that life is cheap

• What is the point of denying ourselves innocent pleasures?• It helps us grow in self control• It helps us focus not on ourselves but on God and others

OFFER UP

• What does it mean to “offer up” self-denial or hardships to God?• From St Paul: “Offer yourself a living sacrifice”

• What helps make self-denial more effective?• Prayer• Charitable giving

SELF-DENIAL

DAILY HOLINESS

THE CHURCH’S WORK

• What is the basis of the Church’s missionary work?• How is this done today?• The Church today is “urgently called upon to save and

renew every creature, that all things may be restored in Christ and all men may constitute one family in him and one People of God.”

• Who is called to this work?• If everyone, then why are their priests and religious?

MISSIONARY ACTIVITY

• What is the first and foremost method of carrying out missionary activity?• Going to Mass• Christian witness in everyday life• Empathy for others• Willingness to share in others’ lives

• How does St Francis’ words help us understand this activity?• St Francis: “Preach the Gospel always; if necessary, use

words.”

• How important is it to know your faith well?

VOCATION

• What is a vocation?• specific, permanent state of life to which God calls a

person

• What is your primary vocation?• Holiness

• What is the most common vocation in the Church?• What is the connection between the common

priesthood of all the faithful and the lay state?

VOCATION

VOCATION

• What is the vocation of married couples?• “being witnesses of the Faith and the love of Christ to

one another and to their children”

• Who are the primary educators of children?• In loco parentis

• What is the most important educational job parents have?

VOCATION

• What virtues can children learn in family life?• the joy of work• fraternal love• generous—even repeated—forgiveness• Tenderness• Respect• Fidelity• Service for others without concern for self• self-denial• sound judgment• self-mastery• Empathy

VOCATION

• What are some duties of children toward their parents?• love and gratitude• Respect• Obedience • Care-taking

HOLINESS IN WORK

WORK

• Why is work able to be made holy?• Work is a gift from God• Originally to tend or take care. Now includes sweat or

labor

• How can we sanctity our work, ourselves, and others when we work?• Performing our duties well• Maintaining a cheerful and positive attitude• Exercising Christian virtues

WORK

• What are some virtues we can develop through our work?• Fairness• Ethics• Courtesy• Kindness• Friendship

• How can our work draw others to Christ?• How can work be redemptive?

LAITY & CONSECRATED LIFE

LAITY

• What is an apostolate?• An apostolate is the task of building up the Church

• The apostolate of the laity is to build up the Church• In the family• In the workplace• In the Church’s formal work• In society (culture and politics)

• What is the responsibility of the laity in public life?• to promote the common good

CONSECRATED LIFE

• What is the consecrated life?• Persons called to live the evangelical counsels • Chastity• Poverty• Obedience

• This is opposed to the worldly worship of• Money• Sex • Power

• Imitates the life of Jesus

CONSECRATED LIFE

• The primary tasks of consecrated life are ora et labora• Prayer and Service

• Examples of consecrated religious life:• Women religious (often referred to as sisters or nuns)• Religious brothers• Clergy who are members of a religious order or institute• Consecrated virgins

• KEY: The commitment to a radical imitation of Christ

CONSECRATED LIFE

• What are the main forms of consecrated life today?• Religious orders and congregations• Community life in monastery or convent• Public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience• Example: Benedictines

• Societies for apostolic life• Life in the world apart from monastery or convent• Public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience• Example: Jesuits

• Secular institutes• Oblates

ASSIGNMENT

• Read 216-225• Workbook to #47• Study Questions to #41• Vocab

IS HE THE NEXT POPE?

OR IS HE?

NO, REALLY, THIS ONE!