Category Archives: Archdio of St. Paul Minneapolis

Year of Saint Joseph Prayer

St. Joseph

Year of St. Joseph Prayer Card

Parishes are welcome to download and print copies of the prayer cards in the languages listed below. If you would like a larger quantity, please email ocrequest@archspm.org with the name of your parish and the quantity required.  We will contact you to confirm and send them directly to the parish office.

Prayer for the Year of Saint Joseph

English (Download Prayer Card)
Father,
Who gave St. Joseph to Jesus and Mary
As protector and guide,

Grant that our Archdiocesan Synod,
Under his protection and guidance,
May help us discern your direction for our Church.
May we listen as he listened,
Trust as he trusted,
Obey as he obeyed,
Receive as he received,
Love as he loved,
And share in his life of devotion to Jesus and Mary.
Amen.
St. Joseph, pray for us.

Spanish (Download Prayer Card)
Oración para el Año de San José
Padre celestial,
Que diste a San José a Jesús y María
Como su protector y guía,
Concede que, nuestro Sínodo Arquidiocesano,
Bajo su protección y guía,
Nos ayude a discernir la dirección para nuestra Iglesia.
Haz que escuchemos como él escuchó,
Confiemos como él confió,
Obedezcamos como él obedeció,
Recibamos como él recibió,

Amemos como él amó,
Y compartamos, como él,
su vida de devoción a Jesús y María.
Amén.
San José, ruega por nosotros.
Vietnamese (Download Prayer Card)
Năm Cầu Nguyện Thánh Giuse
Lạy Cha Chúng Con Trên Trời,
Cha đã đặt Thánh Giuse làm Đấng Bảo Trợ và
hướng dẫn Đức Chúa Giêsu và Mẹ Maria,
Xin Cha ban cho Hội Nghị của
Tổng Giáo Phận chúng con,
nhờ sự che chở và hướng dẫn của Thánh Nhân,
nhận biết được ý Cha muốn
thực hiện cho Giáo Hội.
Chớ gì chúng con biết mở lòng để
lắng nghe như Thánh Nhân,
tin tưởng như Thánh Nhân,
vâng phục như Thánh Nhân,
đón nhận như Thánh Nhân,
yêu mến như Thánh Nhân,
và chia sẻ đời sống của Ngài là hiến mình
cho Chúa Giêsu và Mẹ Maria.
Amen.

Lạy Thánh Giuse, xin cầu cho chúng con.

Polish (Download Prayer Card)
Rok Świętego Józefa
Ojcze Niebieski, który uczyniłeś św.
Józefa opiekunem i przewodnikiem
Jezusa i Maryi, spraw, aby nasz archidiecezjalny
synod prowadzony pod jego opieką
i przewodnictwem pomógł nam w rozeznaniu
kierunku dla naszego Kościoła.
Abyśmy potrafili słuchać,
tak jak on potrafił słuchać; ufać, tak jak on ufał;
być posłuszni, tak jak on był posłuszny;
abyśmy potrafili przyjmować,
tak jak on umiał przyjąć i kochać,
tak jak on ukochał, i abyśmy naśladowali go,
poświęcając nasze życie Jezusowi i Maryi.
Amen.
Św. Józefie, módl się za nami!

Swahili
Baba wa Mbinguni,
Uliyempa Mtakatifu Yosefu kwa Yesu na Maria
Kama mlinzi na mwelekezi,
Tujalie ili Sinodi yetu ya Jimbo kuu
Chini ya ulinzi na mwongozo wake,
Tuweze kutambua mwelekeo wa Kanisa letu.
Tuweze kusikiliza jinsi alivyosikiliza,
Kuamini jinsi alivyoamini,
Kutii jinsi alivyotii,
Kupokea jinsi alivyopokea,
Kupenda jinsi alivyopenda,

Na kushiriki kwa maisha ya  kujitolea kwa Yesu na Maria
Amina
Mtakatifu Yosefu, utuombee

Preguntas de Diálogo Semana 5

Archdio of St. Paul Minneapolis, Discusión
  1. Uno de los grandes obstáculos para la oración es la desolación espiritual. ¿Cuáles son algunas de las formas en que puede combatir la desolación espiritual? (¡Recuerde ser paciente y amable consigo mismo!)
  2. La quinta regla de San Ignacio para el discernimiento de los espíritus dice que, en tiempos de desolación espiritual nunca cambien sus propuestas espirituales. ¿Cuáles son algunas de sus propuestas espirituales que se esfuerza por mantener, incluso cuando experimenta la desolación espiritual?
  3. Describa una experiencia con un amigo o un grupo pequeño que le animó en su fe. ¿Tiene actualmente amigos que puedan apoyarlo en su vida espiritual? Si no es así, ¿cómo podría construir usted una red espiritual?
  4. Orar con R-R-R-R es una gran herramienta para vencer una lucha espiritual. Describa cómo ha orado siguiendo estos pasos durante las últimas semanas. ¿Dónde ha luchado? ¿Dónde se ha encontrado con Dios? ¿Cómo le invita a perseverar?
  5. Todos tenemos distracciones en la oración y esto es algo normal. A veces nuestras mentes se aceleran, y otras veces nos distrae algo en particular. ¿Cuáles son algunas prácticas que le han resultado útiles para lidiar con estos diferentes tipos de distracciones?
  6. Una de las cosas más importantes a lo largo de nuestra vida espiritual es la lectura regular espiritual. ¿Cuáles son algunos de sus libros y / o santos favoritos?
  7. La perseverancia es una virtud importante para crecer en nuestra vida de oración y vivir como auténticos discípulos. ¿Cuál es la cantidad de tiempo razonable que podría dedicar a orar cada día? ¿Cuáles son algunos pasos concretos que podría tomar para incorporar esto a su vida diaria?
  8. ¿Puede identificar momentos de consuelo que Dios le ha dado durante estas últimas semanas? Recuerde cuando lo encontró a él y su amor particular por usted. ¿Cómo podría serle útil reflexionar sobre estas experiencias en el futuro?

Preguntas de Diálogo Semana 4

Archdio of St. Paul Minneapolis, Discusión
  1. Los movimientos del alma provienen de 3 lugares: Dios, el enemigo o yo mismo. Dé un ejemplo de uno o más de estos movimientos.
  2. La Introducción de San Ignacio a las Reglas del Discernimiento dice: “Reglas para tomar conciencia y comprender, hasta cierto punto, los diferentes movimientos que se provocan en el alma, los buenos para recibirlos y los malos para rechazarlos”. Describa cada uno de estos tres pasos con sus propias palabras (tomar conciencia, comprender y responder).
  3. Comparta un ejemplo de un momento en que Dios le abrió los ojos “un poco” para tomar conciencia y comprender un movimiento en su alma. ¿Cómo respondió?
  4. San Agustín dijo: “Estabas dentro; Yo estaba sin ti “. Estamos invitados a vivir dentro, a vivir con Jesús en nuestro corazón. ¿Cuáles son algunas de las cosas que le mantienen al margen?
  5. San Ignacio describió dos posibles movimientos: personas que se alejan de Dios y personas que se acercan a Dios. Para las personas que se alejan de Dios (Primera regla), ¿Cómo actúa el enemigo? ¿Cómo obra Dios?
  6. Para las personas que se acercan a Dios (Segunda regla), ¿Cómo actúa el enemigo? ¿Cómo obra Dios?
  7. En las Reglas Tercera y Cuarta, San Ignacio define la consolación y la desolación espiritual. ¿Cómo te ha hecho consciente esta enseñanza de experiencias de consolación y desolación en tu vida? (El ejemplo de Santa Teresa de Lisieux ilustra cómo Dios puede usar cosas simples en la vida, como una gallina con sus polluelos).
  8. El Padre James Peterson comentó que todos experimentamos los altibajos de la consolación espiritual y la desolación espiritual a lo largo de nuestras vidas. ¿Cuáles son los dos breves ejemplos que dio el Padre Peterson al final de su charla para combatir la desolación espiritual?
  9. Esta enseñanza cubrió las primeras cuatro de las catorce reglas para el discernimiento de los espíritus dadas por San Ignacio. ¿Cómo podría seguir aprendiendo más sobre estas reglas para su viaje espiritual?

Pray for Health Care Workers

Health Care

Find a list below of all those in health care who have requested prayers. Sign up to receive a weekly email with the latest prayer requests here.

Please Pray for These Individuals in Health Care

  • Anonymous: Prayers for perseverance in learning to walk again after foot surgery.
  • Anonymous: Doctor in Seattle. Pray for her continued strength, health, wisdom and
    compassion in planning and caring for others during the pandemic.
  • Anonymous: Nursing Home nurse
  • Mrs. Betre Jayne Haak
  • Annie D T: Nursing Home Nurse
  • Michael Madaras
  • Anonymous: Nurse working with Covid patients.
  • Anonymous: Physician working in busy hospital and clinic
  • Mrs. Holly B.: R.N. in the Post-Delivery Dept. at United Hospital.
  • Ms. Christine J.: R.N. at Hennepin County Medical Center and also home care nurse.
  • Anonymous: Pregnant nurse working in a hospital. Please pray for protection for mom and baby from illness and strength to persevere in these trying times.
  • Mrs. Ali Gardner
  • Anonymous: Nurses in Long-term care
  • Mrs. Lori Hernandez: Nurse working COVID care unit.
  • Mr. Richard G Evans: PCA providing direct care and ADLs for home care patients in
    their homes
  • Anonymous: Essential worker, breast cancer
  • Mrs. Anna S: Nurse
  • Cindy Belisle: RN
  • Anonymous: Nurse working in a cancer center
  • Ms. Trayonna Dixson: On top of Hurricane Laura, working in the Covid Unit at the Lake Charles, LA hospital
  • Anonymous: Suffering with Covid. Hospitalized for nearly a month now and on a vent
    fighting for her life.
  • Ann Marie: HCMC
  • Anonymous: Outpatient Physical Therapist facing job insecurity. Hundreds of PTs in the Twin Cities are facing (or enduring) layoffs and pay cuts right now. As more people get laid off, the work becomes more difficult for those who are still working in the clinic. Please pray for the jobs we need and the support we need from the leaders of our organizations.
  • Anonymous: Tech working in Emergency Department at Unity Hospital in Fridley
  • Krissa: Pediatric nurse practitioner
  • Anonymous: Doctor in a clinic; burnout; limited PPE; stress to work on production
    model
  • Miss Megan Alonso: Nurse
  • Mrs. Rachel Evans: Occupational therapist working in home care
  • Anonymous: I work in communications and fundraising for a senior care facility. Working
    through COVID has been traumatic and exhausting. Please pray for all our staff and
    residents and their families, plus our supporters.
  • Anonymous: Communications professional for nursing home and senior housing
  • Mrs. Laura M Knutsen
  • Anonymous: Nurse working at HCMC providing care to patients of all ages and COVID +. Pray for our protection w/lack of PPE, our patients that we provide care for and our own families that we don’t transmit COVID accidentally to them.
  • Chris Johnsen: RN working in Long Term Care
  • Harper Skulley: Sonographer at Bethesda Hospital
  • Anonymous: RN normally work in the OR but have been floating to the COVID ICU’s
  • Miss Anne Radtke: New Nurse working in ICU
  • Anonymous: Nurse working in the operating room. Husband is immunosuppressive…a kidney transplant patient
  • Ms. Kathy Burns: Physical therapist working in-home care
  • Miss Magdalena LaFond: Working in a nursing home
  • Anonymous: An Anesthesiologist caring for patients with COVID-19
  • Del Sliter: Health Care worker at a Skilled Nursing Facility
  • Anonymous
  • Anne Fashant
  • Anonymous: Medical Lab Scientist in Microbiology
  • Laura W: Nurse working in a hospital on a medical unit
  • Anonymous: Hospitalist working in Minneapolis
  • Mrs. Jeanne Hill
  • Anonymous: Chaplain in a nursing home
  • DiAnn Akkerman: Dietitian working in long-term care
  • Anonymous: Pediatrician working in the hospital
  • Amy Smith: PA working in the Emergency Department
  • Kelly Meyer: I work at Hennepin Healthcare.
  • Matt Meyer: Dentist
  • Mary: RN working at United Hospital
  • Beth Remarcke LMFT
  • Ms. Anne Marie Hansen: Admin at Gianna Homes- for nurses, aides, admin, and other
    staff in our assisted living who are fighting this virus and working long hours with no
    reprieve in sight.
  • Dr. Rick McGeehan: EM Physician
  • Sarah Cole: Nurse, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Jonathan Berger: PA working in ICU at Bethesda
  • Mr. Peter Tierney: ICU RN at University of Minnesota Hospital
  • Anonymous: Working on floors in hospitals in the managing of patients’ equipment used in their treatment for COVID-19
  • Mrs. JoAnn Nelson: ER R.N.
  • Ms. Jenna Nelson: Radiology Tech
  • Mrs. Kathleen Rose: Nursing aide in assisted living and memory care
  • Mrs. Juana Godina
  • Mrs. Maggie Fossand: Nurse working in the emergency department
  • Anonymous: Nurse in the hospital
  • Carol Langer: PT working with elderly patients in-home care setting
  • Cassie Bruski RN: Part-time staff nurse at Methodist Hospital. I work in a variety of departments, including the COVID unit.
  • Ms. Megan Hynes: Nurse anesthetist
  • Ms. Tina LaVergne: Please pray for wisdom and compassion in serving members of a 55 and over residence.
  • Amanda Hitchings: RN working at a testing site
  • Anonymous: OB nurse working with COVID positive patients
  • Miss Gina Barthel: I’m a hospice RN case manager. The emotional and spiritual intensity of hospice care right now is unprecedented in my lifetime. Prayers for strength and peace.
  • Anonymous: Dietary aide serving long-term residents
  • Anonymous: Nursing assistant working in trauma care
  • Mr. Jeffrey Beyer
  • Mrs. Mari Hobday: Nurse Practitioner with Hospitalist Department at St. Cloud Hospital
  • Dr. Michael Fang -Yen
  • Mrs. Kathy Trosvik: Nurse on a COVID unit
  • Anonymous: Pediatric resident physician working in the hospital and pediatric ICU
  • Mr. William Gerads
  • Anonymous: Nurse practitioner in geriatrics with double facilities now due to furloughs and care for patients has become exponentially difficult. More neglect evident and I don’t have families or other ‘eyes on’ for accountability in a setting where moral burnout is rampant. Please also pray ethical care is promoted among organizational leadership.

Prayers for Justice and Peace

Justice|Peace

“Let us ask God

to grant that violence be overcome by the power of love,

that opposition give way to reconciliation

and that the desire to oppress be transformed

into the desire for forgiveness, justice and peace…”

– Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, Dec. 19, 2007

  • Please join in praying for and promoting racial justice and peace in our community.
    Pray a decade of the Rosary (one Our Father, ten Hail Marys and one Glory Be) daily for justice and peace in our community.
  • Sign up here to receive weekly reminders to pray for this intention, as well as resources for promoting racial justice and peace.

You may also wish to pray this Prayer for an End to the Sin of Racism.

St. Peter Claver, pray for us.

Pray for Health Care Workers

Health Care

Find a list below of all those in health care who have requested prayers. Sign up to receive a weekly email with the latest prayer requests here.

Please Pray for These Individuals in Health Care

  • Anonymous: Doctor in Seattle. Pray for her continued strength, health, wisdom and
    compassion in planning and caring for others during the pandemic.
  • Anonymous: Nursing Home nurse
  • Mrs. Betre Jayne Haak
  • Annie D T: Nursing Home Nurse
  • Michael Madaras
  • Anonymous: Nurse working with Covid patients.
  • Anonymous: Physician working in busy hospital and clinic
  • Mrs. Holly B.: R.N. in the Post-Delivery Dept. at United Hospital.
  • Ms. Christine J.: R.N. at Hennepin County Medical Center and also home care nurse.
  • Anonymous: Pregnant nurse working in a hospital. Please pray for protection for mom and baby from illness and strength to persevere in these trying times.
  • Mrs. Ali Gardner
  • Anonymous: Nurses in Long-term care
  • Mrs. Lori Hernandez: Nurse working COVID care unit.
  • Mr. Richard G Evans: PCA providing direct care and ADLs for home care patients in
    their homes
  • Anonymous: Essential worker, breast cancer
  • Mrs. Anna S: Nurse
  • Cindy Belisle: RN
  • Anonymous: Nurse working in a cancer center
  • Ms. Trayonna Dixson: On top of Hurricane Laura, working in the Covid Unit at the Lake Charles, LA hospital
  • Anonymous: Suffering with Covid. Hospitalized for nearly a month now and on a vent
    fighting for her life.
  • Ann Marie: HCMC
  • Anonymous: Outpatient Physical Therapist facing job insecurity. Hundreds of PTs in the Twin Cities are facing (or enduring) layoffs and pay cuts right now. As more people get laid off, the work becomes more difficult for those who are still working in the clinic.Please pray for the jobs we need and the support we need from the leaders of our organizations.
  • Anonymous: Tech working in Emergency Department at Unity Hospital in Fridley
  • Krissa: Pediatric nurse practitioner
  • Anonymous: Doctor in a clinic; burnout; limited PPE; stress to work on production
    model
  • Miss Megan Alonso: Nurse
  • Mrs. Rachel Evans: Occupational therapist working in home care
  • Anonymous: I work in communications and fundraising for a senior care facility. Working
    through COVID has been traumatic and exhausting. Please pray for all our staff and
    residents and their families, plus our supporters.
  • Anonymous: Communications professional for nursing home and senior housing
  • Mrs. Laura M Knutsen
  • Anonymous: Nurse working at HCMC providing care to patients of all ages and COVID +.Pray for our protection w/lack of PPE, our patients that we provide care for and our own families that we don’t transmit COVID accidentally to them.
  • Chris Johnsen: RN working in Long Term Care
  • Harper Skulley: Sonographer at Bethesda Hospital
  • Anonymous: RN normally work in the OR but have been floating to the COVID ICU’s
  • Miss Anne Radtke: New Nurse working in ICU
  • Anonymous: Nurse working in the operating room. Husband is immunosuppressive…a kidney transplant patient
  • Ms. Kathy Burns: Physical therapist working in-home care
  • Miss Magdalena LaFond: Working in a nursing home
  • Anonymous: An Anesthesiologist caring for patients with COVID-19
  • Del Sliter: Health Care worker at a Skilled Nursing Facility
  • Anonymous
  • Anne Fashant
  • Anonymous: Medical Lab Scientist in Microbiology
  • Laura W: Nurse working in a hospital on a medical unit
  • Anonymous: Hospitalist working in Minneapolis
  • Mrs. Jeanne Hill
  • Anonymous: Chaplain in a nursing home
  • DiAnn Akkerman: Dietitian working in long-term care
  • Anonymous: Pediatrician working in the hospital
  • Amy Smith: PA working in the Emergency Department
  • Kelly Meyer: I work at Hennepin Healthcare.
  • Matt Meyer: Dentist
  • Mary: RN working at United Hospital
  • Beth Remarcke LMFT
  • Ms. Anne Marie Hansen: Admin at Gianna Homes- for nurses, aides, admin, and other
    staff in our assisted living who are fighting this virus and working long hours with no
    reprieve in sight.
  • Dr. Rick McGeehan: EM Physician
  • Sarah Cole: Nurse, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Jonathan Berger: PA working in ICU at Bethesda
  • Mr. Peter Tierney: ICU RN at University of Minnesota Hospital
  • Anonymous: Working on floors in hospitals in the managing of patients’ equipment used in their treatment for COVID-19
  • Mrs. JoAnn Nelson: ER R.N.
  • Ms. Jenna Nelson: Radiology Tech
  • Mrs. Kathleen Rose: Nursing aide in assisted living and memory care
  • Mrs. Juana Godina
  • Mrs. Maggie Fossand: Nurse working in the emergency department
  • Anonymous: Nurse in the hospital
  • Carol Langer: PT working with elderly patients in-home care setting
  • Cassie Bruski RN: Part-time staff nurse at Methodist Hospital. I work in a variety of departments, including the COVID unit.
  • Ms. Megan Hynes: Nurse anesthetist
  • Ms. Tina LaVergne: Please pray for wisdom and compassion in serving members of a 55 and over residence.
  • Amanda Hitchings: RN working at a testing site
  • Anonymous: OB nurse working with COVID positive patients
  • Miss Gina Barthel: I’m a hospice RN case manager. The emotional and spiritual intensity of hospice care right now is unprecedented in my lifetime. Prayers for strength and peace.
  • Anonymous: Dietary aide serving long-term residents
  • Anonymous: Nursing assistant working in trauma care
  • Mr. Jeffrey Beyer
  • Mrs. Mari Hobday: Nurse Practitioner with Hospitalist Department at St. Cloud Hospital
  • Dr. Michael Fang -Yen
  • Mrs. Kathy Trosvik: Nurse on a COVID unit
  • Anonymous: Pediatric resident physician working in the hospital and pediatric ICU
  • Mr. William Gerads
  • Anonymous: Nurse practitioner in geriatrics with double facilities now due to furloughs and care for patients has become exponentially difficult. More neglect evident and I don’t have families or other ‘eyes on’ for accountability in a setting where moral burnout is rampant. Please also pray ethical care is promoted among organizational leadership.

COVID-19 Anointing Corp

Anointing

Parishioners across the Archdiocese are invited to prayerfully support those who are suffering most intensely, usually in sterile isolation, as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic.

Turn on notifications in the Archdiocese’s Join in Prayer App and, upon receiving
notification that an anointing is about to occur, take a moment to pray:

  • One Our Father for the patient who is in danger of death, as they prepare to meet our
    Heavenly Father face-to-face;
  • One Hail Mary for the patient’s family and friends, asking the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Sorrows, to intercede to comfort them; and
  • One Glory Be in thanksgiving for the priest and for his protection, as well as the medical team attending to the patient.

Want to know more about the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick?
See these articles under our Catholic Faith section:

Hear more on the COVID-19 Anointing Corps in The Rediscover: Hour, and read more in The Catholic Spirit.

 

Discussion Questions Session 5, Talk 1

Archdio of St. Paul Minneapolis, Talks/Discuss

Personal Reflection & Discussion Questions:

1. How do I sense God moving in my life towards greater hope and freedom?

2. How can I give these movements towards something added space and time to grow?

3. Do I tend to use defenses to block the experience of emotional pain or emotional closeness more? What do I fear would happen if I relied less on these defenses?

4. Who can I turn to walk with me on my journey of healing?

5. How does God want me to see and relate to myself?

6. What might God want to make new in or through me?

Discussion Questions Session 5, Talk 2

Archdio of St. Paul Minneapolis, Talks/Discuss

Personal Reflection & Discussion Questions:

  1. What can I do to bring healing to my parish; to our Archdiocese?
  2. What patterns do I want to avoid falling into after this retreat?
  3. When in my day might I be able to reserve sometime for prayer? For what amount of time is God calling me to pray?
  4. What are the patterns of thinking that I want to place into my life?
  5. How can I become more aware of God’s gifts in my life? Name three specific things for which you are grateful. How can I practice gratitude each day?
  6. Who do I know that needs encouragement? What can I do to provide encouragement to those around me?
  7. In what areas do I need to have more hope? What practical steps can I take to be more hopeful in times of adversity?
  8. What new thinking did I learn or new mindset do I have as a result of this retreat? What can I do to make this a lasting mindset?
  9. What specific thing can I do to be an instrument of God’s healing love in the world around me?

Healing and Hope Session 5, talk 2

Archdio of St. Paul Minneapolis, Talks/Discuss
Session 5, Talk 2: Moving Forward with Truth,
Encouragement and Gratitude
Fr. Joseph Jerome Bambenek,
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Talk Outline

I. Spiritual Life is like a Football Game

A.. The ultimate goal is to make it to the end zone. When you are playing offense there is an opponent that is not
only trying to keep you from getting into that ultimate end zone but will also take cheap shots whenever they can, to hurt you.
B. God made us to have teammates, to help us get to the end zone.
C. Success in the spiritual life includes having both a good offense and a good defense.

II. Being Intentional Going Forward from the Retreat: Defending against the threats

A. The Devil will try to take back what he lost on this retreat.
B. We have new strength to fight against temptation. We have a new set of brakes, but we need to use them.
C. It can be very easy to fall back into the same patterns of life. We need to be proactive to fight against falling back into old patterns.
D. If we are looking to make lasting positive changes in our lives it is important to be careful of what
we are allowing into our lives.

III. Whatever healing or freedom we might have experienced, this retreat should open up some space and energy in our mental and emotional lives. What to do with it?

A. Prayer

    1. We can use any extra mental space and energy to deepen our relationship with God.
    2. Just like anyone who loves us, God wants us to spend time with Him every day.
      1. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the
        Devout Life: Pray an hour a day.
      2. If we recognize that we should be praying more than we currently are… the decision will most likely be put into action if we have a plan, if we make an appointment with God like we would make an appointment with anyone else of importance.
      3. Praying with the Bible
        1. Synod virtual Praying with Scripture Series (www.archspm.org/synod)
        2. St. Paul instructs us how we should invest our mental energy: “Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
    1. We can engage in spontaneous prayers as we go around throughout the day.

B. Gratitude

    1. A second way that we can develop a new narrative in Jesus is by approaching life with a mindset of gratitude or deepened gratitude.  That can start with a spontaneous prayer of thanks but then go deeper.
    2. “Prayer joined to sacrifice constitutes the most powerful force in human history.” Pope Saint John Paul II (12 January 1994 General Audience)
    3. Gratitude plays an important role in our experience of love.  When we are grateful it helps to stimulate an   increase in the theological virtue of charity, of love.
    4. Charity is a gift that comes ultimately from the God who is love, the first seeds of which were placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit at baptism.  Depending on how we respond to the love given us, it can expand or shrink.
    5. “Only through an encounter with love can we truly heal.” – Dr. Bob Schuchts
    6. One way to cultivate gratitude in our hearts is to make a list each day of the things which we were  grateful for that day.

C. Encouragement and Truth

    1. A third way to develop a new narrative in Jesus is to go forth with eyes of encouragement and truth.
    2. Christian encouragement is communicating the truth to someone in their circumstances, including their relationship with God, through intentional words or actions directed toward another, or through our life witness, which stimulates an increase in the virtues of hope and of courage or fortitude.
    3. A shorthand definition of hope is faith, lived out over time and through adversity. … Hope is what helps us persevere when we have to wait.

IV. If we live out of a mindset of Jesus, rather than a mindset  shaped by lies and wounds and constricted by tourniquets, then we can emerge from this retreat as instruments of God’s healing love in the world.