Peter identifies Christians as people who have received mercy. When you see or hear the word evil, what images come to mind? Paul says confidently that believers have entered into the fullness of God in Christ, "who is the head over every power and authority." What are the implications for how we should view evil? When did you unexpectedly receive something you didn't deserve? How did it come about?Ĭhrist is called "the true light." How would you distinguish between a true light and a false light? What about God is still mysterious to you? Justification bestows on us a righteous standing before God. How would you explain his repeated statement?Ĭhrist's death is called a "ransom." How is God's ransom different from our ideas of ransom? Paul twice says that Christ's death demonstrates God's justice. When has taking Communion been especially moving or meaningful to you?ĭo you think the concept of sin is overemphasized or underemphasized today? What is your reaction to the prominence of God's wrath and judgment in his passage? When Jesus knew that he was about to die, he gave instructions to his disciples for how they should remember him. How do you respond to the idea that Jesus' crucifixion was done by as well as for humanity? On the contrary, he goes to the cross voluntarily, even deliberately. What do you think most people consider the heart of Christianity?Īlthough Jesus is brought to his death by human sins, he does not die as a martyr. We cling to the work of the cross as the center of our faith. This section introduces the topic, explains the structure followed in each study and offers tips for those approaching the study on their own as well as those participating in a group. Our own life and character and mission take shape from our prayer, which itself must be biblical if it is to be authentically Catholic.These 13 inductive Bible studies based on John Stott's book The Cross of Christ show you how the cross transforms everything-your worship, your call to mission, and your ability to love your enemies or face suffering. We learn the Catholic way of prayer from Jesus, whose very life and character and mission were defined by his prayer to the Father. We learn the ways of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and intercession by observing the prayers of the patriarchs and prophets, the great kings and the apostles. We range in the biblical canon, the Old Testament and the New, and we read with the great saints. And that is indeed how we treat it in our new study. The history of Christian spirituality, then, can be seen as a great community Bible study on the subject of prayer. The path we follow, through the ages and stages of spiritual life, is a path blazed in the pages of the Bible. Michael Prayer, from the Jesus Prayer to the Divine Office - are, one and all, expressions of biblical religion and fruits of biblical reflection. Our most common prayers - from the Sign of the Cross to the Holy Mass, from the Hail Mary to the St. … We must never forget that all authentic and living Christian spirituality is based on the word of God proclaimed, accepted, celebrated and meditated upon in the Church.”Ĭatholic prayer is inconceivable apart from God’s word, apart from divine revelation. … The word of God is at the basis of all authentic Christian spirituality. And he kept coming back to the same answer: “the great currents of spirituality in the Church’s history originated with an explicit reference to Scripture. Pope Benedict XVI considered the matter not just once, but repeatedly in his 2010 apostolic exhortation “Verbum Domini” (“The Word of the Lord”). What is it that makes one way of all those many ways? It’s good for us to take a breath and think deeply about what they all hold in common. How to sort them out and find one’s own way? We pray in tongues.Ĭatholic ways of prayer are breathtakingly varied. Individual Catholics have their own options. ![]() ![]() And different ritual families - Malabar, Melkite, Chaldean, Anglican Use - preserve their ancestors’ particular customs. ![]() Franciscans, Dominicans, and Augustinians follow their own ways. Jesuits teach Ignatian methods, while Carmelites follow after Sts. And Catholic prayer is rich and diverse - a treasury of traditions and techniques. Guidance in prayer is what Jesus’ disciples have always sought from their Master (Luke 11:1). Paul insisted upon it (see 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Ephesians 6:18). Jesus said so (see Luke 18:1), and our patron St. The truth is, we should always be praying. Lots of people are praying for relief from the heat. Baseball fans are praying for their team - or for the conversion of its management. It’s midsummer, and everyone should be praying.
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