Lenten Prayer on Tuesday March 2nd: Ignatian Prayer |
Every Tuesday during Lent from 7:00-7:30 pm, we will be gathering in church for a different style of prayer before our Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation from 7:30–8:30 pm.
Ignatian Imaginative Method of Scriptural Meditation
Choose a passage from scripture as the focus for your prayer. The Ignatian method of praying scripture works best with the action-oriented passages of the Bible (Old Testament and New Testament). Choose a gospel scene where Jesus is actively relating to and interacting with people. Select a passage from the Bible, perhaps the day’s readings.
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Make a preparatory prayer. Before entering into the time for praying, spend some time relaxing. Focus for a few moments on your breathing. Take this time to recall what you are about to do, why you have come to this time of prayer. Take a moment to call to mind the attitude of reverence with which you approach this privileged time with God. Recollect everything up to this moment of the day (your thoughts and words, what you have done and what has happened to you) and ask that God direct it all to God’s praise and service. Pray to the Holy Spirit to guide your reading.
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Read the passage through twice. The first time, read through it normally to get the overview of the passage and what’s happening. The second time you read it, engage all of your imagination. Make it real! Spend a few minutes reflecting on the passage.
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Compose the place. Compose the gospel scene in your imagination. What stood out to you? What word or image grabbed your attention the most? What are the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings of the place? Focus on the significant images. What does the place look like? What do the people look like? Use your creative imagination to recreate the gospel scene as vividly as possible.
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Petition for the special grace needed. Ask God for what you want and desire in this time of prayer according to the subject matter of your prayer and your own dispositions during your time of prayer. “If the contemplation is on the Resurrection, one is to ask for joy with Christ in joy; if it is on the Passion, he is to ask for pain, tears, and torment with Christ in torment.” (Spiritual Exercises, #48) Pray to know, love and follow God.
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Intellect: Apply reason to scripture. The intellect is to reflect on the lessons one wants to get from the point chosen for meditation. Use your mind to better understand the scriptural scene. Watch what happens. Who are the people involved? Look at each individual. What do they experience? What is being said? Who is speaking to whom? Are you drawn to a specific character? What do you think your character would be feeling, thinking, etc? (Remember, the people in the stories are real people!) So what would be the attitudes and reactions of the people in the story? Listen especially to Jesus and his words of life. Be there with Jesus. What kind of man is he? What is he feeling? How does he relate to people? Become part of the story yourself. Assume the role of one of the characters. What would you say to Jesus? How would he respond to you? What feelings arise in you? Let Jesus be for you what he wants to be. Read the passage again, this time focusing in on your character or that image that grabbed your attention. Notice, what keeps stirring in you?
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Draw some practical fruit. What difference does this passage make for your life, your family, for society if you hear the message? What decision, resolution, commitment, etc. do you want to make because of the time you have spent praying this passage from Scripture? How do you see this applying to your own life? Is there something going on in your life that this passage speaks to or brings up a memory? If so, what do you want to say back to God in prayer? Example: Ask God for help. Pray for someone you know who is in need. Give thanks to God for the people who have shown you love or helped you during a hard time. Ask God for forgiveness for judging others harshly, etc.
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Colloquy: Have an intimate, familiar, loving conversation such as a child has with a mother or father. Talk to the Father, Son, and Spirit. Talk to Mary, the mother of God. Tell Jesus how you feel about him. Ask Jesus how he feels about you. Express your love for Jesus. Give him time to respond to you. Pray for the grace to keep your resolutions.
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Read the passage one final time. Then simply sit in the presence of God for a few minutes. Finish with a prayer of thanksgiving for the time spent in prayer and what God has revealed to you. Your closing prayer can be anything from the heart or a simple Our Father, Glory Be, or whatever prayer comes to mind.
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Kolbe House Lenten Engagement
We will be collecting white washcloths and puzzle books (crossword, sudoku, activities) to be included in care packages for women incarcerated at Cook County Jail. Ideally we would like to make 100 care packages. Please drop these items off at the rectory by March 19th. If you have any questions please contact Kelly Smith at kellytheresesmith@gmail.com.
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Try the 2-Minute Challenge!
Did you know that one of our parish goals this year is to Start Everything With a Prayer (SEWP)? With that in mind, the SEWP committee challenges YOU and your family this Lent to start each day with a prayer! Will you commit to just 2 minutes of prayer each morning? How will you encourage your family members to keep it up? A friendly competition or a sticker chart? Keep an eye out for prayer ideas, prompts and encouragement throughout Lent.
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Special Collection: Aid for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe
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Livestream Help Wanted
We are looking for 2 college-age or older adults who love tech and are interested in video production for our Sunday 10:00 am Mass livestream team. You will be trained on our livestream technology, which includes the Mevo camera and Vimeo. Hours are 9:30-11:15am on Sundays, with additional events as scheduled. This is a paid position. Please send an email to Grace@stjosaphatparish.org with your credentials and contact information.
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Unity Event
Save the Date
In the spirit of Mardi Gras, please save the date for our Unity Event on Friday, March 19th, from 8:00 - 9:00pm over Zoom. We are excited about the virtual alternative to our always popular Unity Gala. Thanks to Faye Shillair, Pam Niedzwiecki, Trisha Brooks and Jessica Grossnickle who have kept the spirit alive and are working hard to plan a fruitful and fun event.
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Unity Award
Nominations
We will be conferring our Unity Award, with a $10,000 honorarium, to an individual or organization who has exemplified the spirit of bringing people together and making the Gospel present - as St. Josaphat did. Please make nominations here by Monday, March 1st.
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Faith Sharing Groups
It's never too late to join our Faith Sharing Groups on Zoom! We meet Tuesdays at 10:00am for Breaking Open the Word and Wednesdays at 7:00pm for Bible Study: The Book of Matthew. Invite a friend or two and Sign Up Here!
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Sunday Offering
Thank you for your continued support of our parish!
Please Click Here for Give Central, or text SUNDAY to 312-625-5666
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*Reservations are required for all Masses and services in the church.
Friday, 2/26
Saturday 2/27
Sunday 2/28
10:00am RCIA
2:30pm RCIA
Monday 3/1
8:00am School Mass
7:00pm Parish Pastoral Council
Tuesday 3/2
8:00am School Mass
10:00am Faith Sharing: Breaking Open the Word Join us!
6:00pm Religious Education
7:30pm Holy Hour of Prayer, Adoration & Reconciliation*
Wednesday 3/3
7:00pm Faith Sharing: Bible Study, The Book of Matthew Join us!
Thursday 3/4
6:30pm Alpha
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A Friendly Reminder
The Archdiocese of Chicago requires that everyone must wear a mask covering their nose and mouth the entire time they are in the church building. If you are unwilling to do so, you will be asked to leave, for the safety of all others in attendance. Thank you for your cooperation! Physically unable to wear a mask? We invite you to watch Mass online: facebook.com/StJosaphatParish/live/
The priest, deacon and lector may remove their mask temporarily when speaking. And everyone is permitted to briefly remove their mask to consume the Eucharist.
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Dine Around
Join us for Sunday morning donuts with Stan's Donuts and Coffee! Place your pre-orders online and then pick up your fresh donuts at the Parish Red Door Room anytime between 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Sunday 3/7. A portion of sales will be donated to St. Josaphat.
Amazon Smile
Choose St. Josaphat Parish as your charity of choice at smile.amazon.com and we get a percentage back from eligible purchases! You can also set it up to work on the Amazon app! Download and open the app, tap "Settings" and then tap "Smile" to order directly from your phone app!
Support our Parishioner-Owned Restaurants:
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