fill me up...

I love, love, love fall. This coming season will be different with five little ones and homeschooling. It feels like there are important, God-given priorities that I have no doubt I'm supposed to be doing, but I don't want to get so lost in doing them {even good things} that I forget the Source of life in the first place. I don't want to start going my own way. I don't want to seek after stupid things like pleasing myself on this earth in the very few years I get to live.

If there's a theme song- a prayer on my heart- for this fall, I long for it to be this:



Fill me up God...

Jesus, empty me of me- make me forget myself- my insecurities, my own desires, the things I love more than you, and fill me up with YOU, Father. Jesus, I want you. Nothing else is worth my life. Fill me up with your Spirit. Become my joy, my passion, my only reason for living, Jesus. Your name is written on my heart- in the depths of my soul, and I have nothing else to cling to but you in this world. Make me overflow with your Spirit, to reflect your glory and your love, not my own. We praise you for this day, Lord, for it is yours, and yours alone. Thank you for giving us life- may it be for you, Lord Jesus.

Do you have a theme song or big prayer for fall?

fighting distraction in prayer

Here's how my morning prayer time went, I kid you not:

"Oh Father, I love you- help me to be more like you, God."

I wonder what color I should paint the girls' room...that cream might be too yellow...

"Lord God, I need your help. I am weak and have nothing apart from you."

What color should we paint the stairs? Should we use enamel? When in the world will we have time to paint them?

AHHHHH, good grief, what the heck am I thinking about painting for?? I'm in the middle of praying!

"Oh, Lord I'm so sorry my mind keeps wandering. Keep me focused on you, Jesus. I don't even want to be thinking about painting. Please keep the enemy from distracting me right now."

And I have to keep praying that to keep my mind from going to what I'm cooking for dinner, when I'm getting the oil changed in the car, and how the grass is looking this year.

It's so sad.

I might be the only person this ever happens to, but it took me forever to even realize it was happening, and it's still a constant battle to quiet my own thoughts when I pray.

The weird thing is that an entire side of my brain is going 90 miles an hour while I'm trying to speak on the God of the universe.

Sometimes I get so tired of wearing this human flesh.

I started thinking about the reasons why it's always so easy for me to be distracted in prayer:

1. I am a sinner. It is the sinful flesh I'm wearing. The desire in me, even subconsciously, to put anything or myself before God, is horrific and wicked, and it's what started this whole mess back in the Garden.

2. I have a very real enemy who does not want me to have fellowship with God. He hates it when I focus my heart and mind on Him. He's trying everything to take my attention away from God when I am alone with Him.

3. I've made a habit of thinking of everything else but God for many hours of the day. So when it comes time to pray, is it really any surprise that the thoughts I think all day long invade?

While I think about God and pray often throughout the day {and it's increased the more I've grown in Christ- thanks only to God}, I've still given first priority of most of my thoughts to my tasks and plans all day long. I should be meditating on God more throughout my day to make Him the focus of my thoughts. And I should be in the habit of giving Him the first place in my mind.

What's really strange to me: I'm always so surprised when I realize that I was thinking about something else while praying. It's like Jesus says, my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. My heart wants to be entirely focused on God, but my mind won't let me. It's so frustrating, but I've only found one solution.

The one thing that helps me to focus on God while I'm in prayer is to ask Him to help me focus on Him.

As soon as I notice I'm distracted, I ask God to please help me not to think of anything else but Him, and that He would keep Satan back from me. I ask Him to empty my mind, and keep me from loving other things before Him.

And He does it.

He quiets my mind, and it's like all of the sudden there's a hedge around my mind. It's only the God of the universe who can quiet my mental to-do list. He alone can defeat the enemy- I can't do it with my own willpower.

I'm so thankful He can.

It makes such a difference.

I want to love Him with all of me. I want Him to make my heart pure before Him. I want to love Him with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

I want Him to be in my thoughts all day long- I long for my mind to be pure before Him. I don't want anything to come before He does.

It makes me really sad that I think of paint colors{!} or dinner plans while I'm praying. Mostly because I know nothing is hidden from Him. It's not like I can have a separate place in my thoughts He won't notice. And I keep failing Him there, over and over again.

Why does He even help me?

Because He loves me.

He wants me to be pure before Him. He died for me, while I was still a sinner. I wasn't good before He saved me, and I'm not keeping my salvation by being good enough for Him. That's what so incredible.

I don't even really get it. It doesn't make sense to my human heart.

He LOVES me, even when I fail Him. My heart is broken and ugly, but He's giving me a new one. One like His Son's, that won't fail Him.

And that's why He deserves all of my heart. And soul. And strength. And every part of my mind, too.

Oh, He is so good to me.

Thank you Father, for being good when we are not.

Do you find yourself thinking of other things in prayer too? {please tell me I'm not the only one!}

Have you seen God defeat invading thoughts in your prayers? What has helped you?

Rosary in Portuguese

The Rosary in Portuguese.  No need to elaborate.

Video of a talk by a seminarian with an inoperable brain tumor

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Thanks to Fr. Z for the following:

In the past I have asked for prayers for, Philip Johnson, a seminarian with an inoperable brain tumor.

A reader alerted me to a video of a talk that he gave at Catholic High School called St. Thomas More Academy, in Raleigh, NC.

He covers four major points:

1. His conversion story. Not being a great Catholic in High School. Looked forward to fraternities and parties in college. Ultimately went to the Naval Academy. It was there that he went to Mass again and began feeling called to the priesthood. He explains this call and talks about time he spent in France, especially at Lourdes.
2. His vocation story which is ultimately intertwined with his cancer diagnosis and being released from the Navy.
3. Being diagnosed with a terminal and inoperable brain tumor and reacting to this news.
4. Embracing this cross and talking about the value of redemptive suffering.

Seminarian Philip Johnson from Deacon Watkins on Vimeo.

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola

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Written by the founder of the Society of Jesus, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius is a powerful book. Derived

mostly from St. Ignatius' conversion experiences in 1521-3, Spiritual Exercises has provided guidance and encouragement to its readers for several hundred years. The aim of Spiritual Exercises is to assist people in finding God's will for their life, and to give them the motivation and courage to follow that will. It is not a continuous piece of writing, but more like a program of sorts, containing a collection of thoughts, rules, encouragements, readings, meditations, prayers, warnings, and notes. Nevertheless the condensed writing is organized into four "weeks," or periods of time, with each week focusing upon a different theme--the first, human sin; the second, Christ's life on earth; the third, Christ's death on the cross; the fourth, Christ's risen life. A key theme throughout the Spiritual Exercises is discernment--the need to discern between good desires and evil desires in one's life. It is by following the four weeks, and by utilizing such discernment, that a person can better realize God's will for his or her own life. Although more profitably worked through with another person or spiritual director, Spiritual Exercises can be extremely beneficial for private personal study.

Name	Size (MB)	Play Time (min)	Bit rate

01_Spiritual Exercises_Preface and Prayer-CCEL.mp3	3.2M	07:39	56kbps
02_Spiritual Exercises_Annotations-CCEL.mp3	8.1M	19:15	56kbps
03_Spiritual Exercises_First Week-CCEL.mp3	16.2M	38:31	56kbps
04_Spiritual Exercises_Second Week-CCEL.mp3	19.9M	47:21	56kbps
05_Spiritual Exercises_Third Week-CCEL.mp3	6.7M	15:59	56kbps
06_Spiritual Exercises_Fourth Week-CCEL.mp3	2.4M	05:42	56kbps
07_Spiritual Exercises_Contemplations-CCEL.mp3	1.9M	04:32	56kbps
08_Spiritual Exercises_Three Methods of Prayer-CCEL.mp3	4.1M	09:45	56kbps
09_Spiritual Exercises_Mysteries-CCEL.mp3	16.2M	38:40	56kbps
10_Spiritual Exercises_Rules-CCEL.mp3	13.3M	31:43	56kbps

UPDATE: I'm having trouble fixing the links. The original page can be found here.

Fr. John Riccardo - Male Friendship

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Here's a fantastic talk about the importance of male friendship by Fr. John Riccardo:

01_Male_Friendship64K.mp3

Also, because I enjoyed it when I heard it and I like to share, here's another talk of Fr. John Riccardo's on Lectio Divina:

Lectio_Divina32K.mp3

The Seven Deadly Sins

Fr. Paul Scalia, son of Justice Antonin Scalia, has given a series of talks on the Seven Deadly Sins. They're good. Really good. The hook? There aren't seven, they're not deadly and they're not sins. Don't believe me? Give him a listen.

Oh...but first, he'd like for you to listen to his Natural Law talk as an intro.

Time for the good stuff:

Natural Law - the Intro:

Talk 1:

Talk 2:

Talk 3:

Talk 4:

Michael Voris - The One True Faith

Double-barreled Catholic Michael Voris continues to shoot straight with his One True Faith show, but beware: they're On The Road:

On The Road

Episode One : Love in Truth
Episode Two : How to Change the World
Episode Three : Being Catholic
Episode Four : The Church and Modern World
Episode Five : Western Civilization

Everyone's hurting these days, but 501(c)3s are taking it on the chin. If you're willing, skip your Starbucks (offer it up) once this week and send the $6.23 to Michael Voris. Here's his donation page.

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross from the Rosary Army.
(Click to Listen, Right Click to Download)
STATIONS OF THE CROSS

From the USCCB Lenten Resources
(Click to Listen, Right Click to Download)
Stations of the Cross

From EWTN – Click to Listen
Stations of the Cross

From Fr. Z:

Here is a reading of the Via Crucis, the Way of the Cross, composed by Joseph Card. Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, for the 2005 Good Friday observance at the Colosseum in Rome.

Also, for your Lenten spiritual warfare, here are two versions the popular Via Crucis by St. Alphonsus Liguori. One version is plain, just my voice. The other is the same voice recording, but with the Gregorian chant Sequence Stabat Mater interlaced between the stations.

Stations of the Cross - Joseph Ratzinger (Good Friday 2005) [65:41m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Stations of the Cross by St. Alphonsus Liguori [35:43m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Stations of the Cross by St. Alphonsus Liguori (with chant) [34:16m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Come and Get Your Rosaries!

In time for Lent -- Found here:

1. Website: Rosary Army.
With Greg and Jennifer Willits.
Link: http://www.rosaryarmy.com

THE ENGLISH ROSARY

• Joyful Mysteries - Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays (18.7 MB)
• Sorrowful Mysteries - Prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays (18.2 MB)
• Glorious Mysteries - Prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays (18.3 MB)
• Luminous Mysteries - Prayed on Thursdays (19.2 MB)



2. Website: Rosary Army.
With Greg and Jennifer Willits.
Link: http://www.rosaryarmy.com

THE ENGLISH SCRIPTURAL ROSARY (BIBLE PASSAGE BETWEEN EACH PRAYER)

• Joyful Mysteries - Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays (26.3 MB)
• Sorrowful Mysteries - Prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays (25.2 MB)
• Glorious Mysteries - Prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays (22.9 MB)
• Luminous Mysteries - Prayed on Thursdays (26.7 MB)

3. Website: David MacDonald.
Link: http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/mary_rosary_directions.htm

THE HOLY ROSARY IN ENGLISH

• “Joyful Mysteries”(Monday & Saturday)  (38.8 MB)
• “Sorrowful Mysteries”(Tuesday & Friday)  (39.0 MB)
• “Glorious Mysteries”(Wednesday & Sunday)  (40.5 MB)
• “Luminous Mysteries”(Thursday) (38.8 MB)

4. Website: EWTN
EWTN's International Rosary
Link: http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=501&T1=rosary

THE HOLY ROSARY
• Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)  (2.11 MB)
• Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)  (2.10 MB)
• Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)  (2.12 MB)
• Luminous Mysteries (Thursday) (2.11 MB)

5. Website: EWTN
The Holy Rosary with Mother Angelica and the Nuns of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery
Link: http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=6707&T1=rosary

THE HOLY ROSARY
• Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)  (3.14 MB)
• Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)  (3.14 MB)
• Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)  (3.14 MB)
• Luminous Mysteries (Thursday) (3.14 MB)

6. Website: EWTN
The Rosary in the Holy Land with Fr. Mitch Pacwa
Link: http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=503&T1=rosary

THE HOLY ROSARY
• Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)  (2.24 MB)
• Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)  (2.09 MB)
• Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)  (2.07 MB)
• Luminous Mysteries (Thursday) (2.34 MB)

7. Website: EWTN
The Scriptural Rosary  (Note: May have to turn up the volume to hear it.)
Link: http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=504&T1=rosary

THE HOLY ROSARY

• Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)  (3.32 MB)
• Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)  (3.25 MB)
• Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)  (3.36 MB)

8. Website: Scriptural Rosary
(Male voice)
Link: http://www.scripturalrosary.org/audio_rosary.html

THE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
• Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)  (20.0 MB)
• Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)  (20.0 MB)
• Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)  (20.2 MB)
• Luminous Mysteries (Thursday) (25.0 MB)

9. Website: Scriptural Rosary
With Melissa
Link: http://www.scripturalrosary.org/audio_rosary.html

THE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
• Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)  (27.0 MB)
• Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)  (28.4 MB)
• Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)  (26.6 MB)
• Luminous Mysteries (Thursday) (26.1 MB)

10. Website: Queen Mother Mary
Link: http://www.geocities.com/metatronworld/queenmothermary.html?20091

THE HOLY ROSARY
• Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)  (2.71 MB)
• Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)  (2.71 MB)
• Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)  (2.71 MB)
• Luminous Mysteries (Thursday) (2.71 MB)

Scriptural Rosary - Steubenville Version

Found this while surfin'.

The four scriptural rosaries-- Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. The script was arranged by Eva M. Hite, edited by Fr. Jordan Hite, TOR (Franciscan Friars), and produced at Franciscan University of Steubenville. It is based on the Catholic Bible and is used with the permission of the U.S.C.C.B.

1) Joyful Mysteries (remixed Jan 07) (24 MB -- right-click to download)
2) Luminous Mysteries (remixed Jan. 07) (24 MB-- right-click to download)
3) Sorrowful Mysteries (remixed Jan. 07) (17.3 MB-- right-click to download)
4) Glorious Mysteries (remixed Jan. 07) (15.7 MB-- right-click to download)

The Insights of St. John of the Cross

This was the theme of a weekend retreat recently conducted by Fr Greg Homeming at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville. In these talks Fr Greg reflects on St John of the Cross' profound insights into the human person and the soul. The talks have been divided into approximately 30 minute segments.

Talk 1a Talk 1b Talk 2a Talk 2b Talk 3a Talk 3b Talk 4a Talk 4b

From Discalced Carmelites via reader James

New Gregorian Chant

With a big ol' hat tip to Mark Shea, here's a link to St. Antoine Daniel Gregorian Chant Ordinaries.

Some simply beautiful chant. For example:

Mass XVII (In dominicis Adventus set Quadragesimæ)

Go. Let your ears drink their fill.

Some Simple Hints - Fr. Homeming

*HT to James, who sent me the following tip...

Fr Greg Homeming from our St Ives community is a popular speaker at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre. Recently he gave a day retreat offering simple hints for those trying to pray. The two talks he gave are available for download. They have been divided into approximately 30 minute segments.

Talk 1 part 1 Talk 1 part 2 Talk 2 part 1 Talk 2 part 2

(To download clips, right-click and save linked content)

More resourced from the Discalced Carmelites here.

Commercial Advertisement - Fr. Corapi

If you don't know Fr. Corapi, do yourself a favor and buy one of these. If you DO know Fr. Corapi, you'll know why they're worth the money. Just sayin'.

Flash Point (Fr's Notre Dame Speech) Audio Download Audio Download Approx. 1 Hour $6.99		Personal Testimony Audio Download Audio Download Approx. 1 Hour $6.99		Addictions Audio Download Audio Download Approx. 1 Hour $6.99
Practical Prayer Audio Download Audio Download Approx. 1 Hour $6.99

This blog and its blogger are not associated or affiliated with Fr. Corapi other than being a fellow soldier in the Church Militant. Nothing that money can buy has been received for this advertisement. [/Disclaimer]

Conversion Stories

I'm pretty sure I've posted these before, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for love stories. At their heart, every conversion story is a love story. The good part? When you listen to them you can't help but fall in love a little bit as well! Give these a listen and fall deeper in love with our Lord.

Alex Jones - Former Pentecostal
Bev Whelton - Former Seventh Day Adventist
Bruce Sullivan - Former Church of Christ Minister
David Curie - Former Fundamentalist
David Ulster - Former Non-Denominational Charistmatic Pastor
Jay and Gail Caress - Former Evangelicals
Jerry and Yolanda Cleffi - Former Assembly of God
Dr. John Haas - Former Anglican priest
Kenneth Howell - Former Presbyterian Theologian
Kimberly Hahn - Former Presbyterian
Larry Heimsoth - Former Lutheran Pastor
Mark Shea - Former Evangelical
Norm Dalgren - Former Lutheran
Steve Ray - Former Baptist
Thomas Smith - Former Mormon
Fr. John Corapi - Former Non-Practicing Catholic

Update:

I thought you might be interested in a great conversion story. It's of former atheist Jennifer Fulwiler from the blog Conversion Diary http://www.conversiondiary.com/. You can find it in the archives of Al Kresta's radio show at Ave Maria Radio. (HERE)

Fred

Thanks, Fred!!

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

HT to long-time contributor Filipino Catholic:

Guys check out this link, it features talks of Bishop Sheen which you might not have heard before.

Listen especially to this one: The Demonic Today

God bless you all!

The Demonic Today
Angels
Cure for Selfishness
Guilt
Human Passions
Inferiority Complex
Is A Woman An It?
Knowing and Loving
Meet a Perfect Stranger - Yourself
Of Course There Is Incompatibility
Suffering
The Approach of Midnight
Should Parents Obey Their Children?
To Spank or Not to Spank
The Glory of the Soldier
What Holds Us Together?
The Rosary
What Did I Do to Deserve This?

Your Brothers and Sisters Called. They Left a Message for You.

MP3 Library of Meditations from Carmel Podcast

Meditations from Carmel MP3 files can be downloaded to your computer and loaded up onto your iPod or MP3 player.

St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mt. Carmel - Book One Chapter 13, 12-13
Ascent of Mt. Carmel book II Chapter 5, 5-7
Sayings of Light and Love
Ascent of Mt Carmel Book One Chapter 13, 5-7
Ascent of Mt Carmel Book Three Chapter 6, 4
Ascent of Mt Carmel Book One Chapter 13, 11

St. Teresa of Avila

The Way of Perfection (Chapter 28.2)
The Book of Her Life - Ch. 22.7
Interior Castle Ch.1.7
The Way of Perfection Ch. 23
Interior Castle 1.1
The Book of Her Life 8.5-6
Way of Perfection 26.2-5
Way of Perfection 26.9
The Book of Her Life - Chapter 8.8
The Book of Her Life - Chapter 11.6
Meditation 1
Meditation 2
The Book of Her Life - Chapter 8.4
The Book of Her Life -- Chapter 11.9
The Way of Perfection Ch. 28
The Way of Perfection Ch. 32
Degrees of Infused Prayer
Spiritual Testimonies #59
Spiritual Testimonies #59.2
Interior Castle Chapter 2 1-4
The Way of Perfection - Forgiveness

St. Therese of Lisieux

Prayers and Meditations #1
Prayers and Meditations #2
Prayers and Meditations #3
Act of Oblation to Merciful Love
Story of a Soul Chapter 9
Story of a Soul - Ch.8
Love breeds Love
Baptism
Interior Lights
Prayer to Obtain Humility
Infinite Beauty
Refresh Me
Virtue
Mountain of Love

St. Teresa of the Andes

Letter 65 (aridity)
Letter 115 (crasy in love)
Letter 65 (ask you a question)
Letter 149 - God's Will
Letter 51 (cell)
Letter 51 - #2 (prays for sinners)
Letter 138 (Divine Office)
Meditation #2 -- (Jesus lives in my heart)
Letter 16 (sacrifice)
Letter 114 (God Alone)
"God the joy of my Life"
Letter 114 - (communion)
Letter 101 (everything for love)
Letter 96 (heart to heart)
Letter 112 (glacial coldness)
Letter 111 (God who is Love)
Letter 36 (recollected)
Letter 115 (to her mother)
Letter 109 (to Elisa Valdes Ossa)

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection

Letter 8, Page 68
Chapter 2 Spiritual Maxims
Letter 3, Page 57
Letter 15
Letter 15, Page 71
Letter 9 page 69

St. Teresa Benedicta

Selected Verses from a Pentecost Novena
Solitary dialouge with God
Inner Life and Outer form and Action

St. Henry de Osso

"Identification with Jesus Christ"

Père Jacques Bunel

Conference 1
Conference 2
Conference 3
Conference 4

Sr. Miriam of the Holy Spirit

Garments of God

Sister Carmela of the Holy Spirit

reading 1
Make this my life!
#7 Truth and simplicity

Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew

Chapter IX (zeal for souls)
Chapter VII (Method of Prayer)
Chapter VI (Certain Trials)
Chapter II (Darkness)

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity - Letter 129
Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity - Letter 156
Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity - Letter 184
Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity - prayer to the Holy Trinity
Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity - Letter 1273

Mother Isabel of the Sacred Heart

Chapter 41 Her life at Carmel
Giddy Depths
Love is God Himself
Back-ache

Blessed Mary of the Angels

Acts of Virtue
Purity

Blessed Françoise d’Amboise

Exhortations to her nuns

Steubenville Conference 2009

For the kids:

Steubenville South 2009

The 15th annual Steubenville South Catholic Youth Conference was held on June 26-28 2009 in Alexandria LA. Here you will be able to listen and download the talks and homilies given throughout the weekend. You will also find more information about the speakers in the speakers section. You can listen here or get the talks through iTunes by clicking the link on the right.

Keynote: “Choosing Christ” – Mark Hart

This powerful and engaging talk was centered around choosing to pickup our crosses and following Christ. It is a radical choice that will cost something but in light of what we receive, it is nothing.

Catechism and Scripture References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2466, 2053, 520, 1816, 932, 618, 1709, 546, 1036
Scripture: Matthew 10:37-38, Matthew 16:24, Mark 1:17-18, Mark 8:38, Romans 1:16, 2 Timothy 1:8

Standard Podcast: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Keynote: “Rooted in Christ” – Shannon Deitz

Shannon’s Sunday morning keynote led the teens into a time of prayer and reflection, introducing and guiding them through Lectio Divina.

Catechism and Scripture References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2708,2715,2612,2669,2601,1824,2719,2711,787,2700,2654,921,1995,2074,2701,2725,2709,2697,2564
Scripture: Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46, Luke 11:1-6, Romans 12:12, John 15:4-9, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 3:8

Standard Podcast: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Saturday Homily: “Jesus is the Lamb of God” – Fr. Jose Robles-Sanchez

The purpose of this homily was to highlight the role Christ plays in our salvation as the Lamb of God, to encourage the young people to move past a “What Would Jesus Do?” spirituality and move into a true relationship with Christ and to avoid temptations by saying “Adios Baby”

Catechism and Scripture References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 617, 603, 1339, 602, 1367
Scripture: John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:18, 1 Timothy 2:6, Mark 10:45

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Sunday Homily: “Living the Lordship of Jesus” – Bishop Ronald Herzog

In Bishop Herzog’s homily, he encouraged and challenged th teens to live under the Lordship of Jesus. To help them understand God’s authority, but also his protection and care that comes from submitting their lives to Him everyday.

Catechism and Scripture References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 450, 304, 648, 1216, 144, 1269, 2097, 1995, 2280, 1900, 2046, 901
Scrpiture: Romans 5:19, John 3:36, Romans 6:16, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Romans 8:7, Romans 10:3, James 4:7

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Workshop: “Making Godly Decisions” – Mary Bielski

This workshop was to provide a basic foundation for determining right and wrong and some practical skills to help young people choose holiness and God’s will.

Catechism and Scripture References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2343, 1696, 1728, 1777, 2826, 1787
Scripture: Matthew 7:7, Romans 12:2, 1 John 2:17, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Peter 4:17

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Workshop: “Mary and the Saints” – Melea Walden

This workshop was to help teens not only discover the role Saints and Mary can play in their faith lives, but to give them practical tools for developing devotions to these saints.

Catechism and Scripture Reference:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2030, 956, 2683, 828, 2675-2679, 948, 957, 1475, 962, 721
Scripture: Revelation 3:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 4:11-12, 3 John 1:11, Hebrews 6:11-12

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Workshop: “Living Justice/Living Mercy” – Shannon Deitz

Shannon presented a workshop designed to help teens understand the Church’s call to love and serve the poor and to give them practical tips to put this service into practice on a local level.

Catechism and Scripture References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1033, 1825, 2405, 2443-2449, 1929, 2832, 1889, 1397, 2053, 2820
Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 19:21, Matthew 20:25-27

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Workshop: “Vocations: The Path to Holiness” – Fr. Darrin Merlino

In this workshop, Fr. Darrin inspired and challenged the young people to embrace the universal vocation of love and holiness that is each of theirs through Baptism. And as they immerse themselves in this vocation, they will be more disposed to hear the call of God to the religious or married life.

Scripture and Catechism Reference:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1877, 44, 2392, 2085, 2232, 2030, 784, 1603, 2820, 1642, 2331, 826
Scripture: Matthew 9:1, Matthew 4:17-20, Mark 6:7, Luke 6:12-16, Romans 1:1,6-7, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

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Workshop: “The Mass – The Power and Presence of God” – Mark Hart

This workshop given by Mark Hart was designed to reinforce in the minds and hearts of the teens that in the Mass, no matter where they are, Jesus is there – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. To challenge them to prepare their hearts and minds to give and receive as much as possible during the Mass.

Scripture and Catechism References
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1374, 1358, 2827, 1324, 1325, 1365-1367, 1394
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:20, John 6:1-6, Revelation 19:7-9, Matthew 26:26-29, Luke 24:35

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Workshop: “Exposing Lies” – Bob Lesnefsky

This is a talk given by Bob Lesnefsky that focuses on helping teens understand the lies that permeate youth culture, to give them tools to help them see through the lies, and to expose the lies that might be already infecting their thoughts and hearts.

Scripture and Catechism Reference:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2852, 2484, 392, 2486, 2483, 2847, 844, 2470, 1954, 215, 2466, 2468, 2500
Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, John 14:6, 1 Timothy 3:15, 1 John: 5:7, John 8:44, Romans 1:25, Colossians 3:9

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