Category Archives: Archdio of St. Paul Minneapolis

3 ~ JEREMIAH’S WORD OF HOPE

Companion

~ 3 ~

JEREMIAH’S WORD OF HOPE ~
“I know the plans I have for you.”

I prepare my heart for prayer
As I begin, I take a moment to become aware of the Lord present to me,
looking upon me with love, desiring to speak to my heart.

Prayerfully, I read Jeremiah 29:11-14
After prayerfully reading, I ask for a grace I desire in this time of prayer.

Using my reasoning:

• Think about what is happening in the scene; what are the action words?
• Who are the people in the scene? What is the place? What things are described?
• What words catch my attention? What does this mean to me?

Using my imagination:

• Imagining myself in the scene – am I an observer or participant? To whom am I drawn?
• Using all of my senses – what do I see? What do I hear? What do I feel, smell or taste?

Reflect on what God is saying to my heart:

• As I reflect, I use my spiritual senses to acknowledge what is transpiring in my heart – my thoughts, feelings and desires. (Acknowledge means to see, to notice, to become aware of, to name.) This is important to do, as my thoughts, feelings and desires shape my actions.

• I look for the truth the Lord is communicating to me. I ask Jesus to give me his mind and his thoughts to see with the eyes of his heart what he wants to reveal to me today. How is Jesus calling me to apply this truth to my life?

Guided Reflection
Quoted from “An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer,”
by Father Timothy M Gallagher, O.M.V1 

I read the word of God, through the prophet Jeremiah, to his people in their time of exile.

Their hearts are heavy … Their nation, their temple, all that was dear to them, has been destroyed, and they are reduced to a helpless group of exiles, far from their home. The present is dark; the future, too, seems without hope, and their exile continues … My heart, too, knows such times …

And in their hearts, in our hearts, is fear – fear that this has happened through our own fault, through our failure to love and serve the Lord as we were called to do …

My heart too is afraid … I too fear that I am not what I ought to be, that I fail the Lord … Even in this time of prayer … will I respond to the Lord?

The Lord speaks to them … and the Lord speaks personally to my heart, here, in this moment of prayer.

“I know the plans I have for you … plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” I feel my anxieties about the future, about what lies ahead for me, about what will happen in my spiritual life, my prayer …

I know that my desire to grow in love is real, but I feel so weak, so helpless … and I am afraid. But now I hear this word of the Lord to me: “I know the plans I have for you …” I hear these words, deeply, I read them, I reread them …

“You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” My heart lifts at this promise: “and I will hear you.” Lord, now, today, I call upon you, I come to you,
I pray to you …

“You will seek me and find me.” I speak to the Lord of my greatest desire: I seek you … My heart opens as I hear your promise to me: and you will find me …

“I will restore your fortunes …” A new hope … that my heart can truly change, can truly heal, can truly grow in love: “I will restore …”

My heart lifts up as I hear the Lord speak these words personally to me … offering me new hope, new trust, as I live my calling in his service, as I look to what lies ahead …

I linger over these words, I read them, I hear the Lord speak to me. My heart responds.

I ask for this grace in this time of prayer:

Converse with God2

Acknowledge:

• What are the thoughts arising in my heart? I think …
• What are the feelings arising in my heart? I feel …
• What are the desires arising in my heart? I desire …

Relate:

I honestly relate these to God; I talk to him about them, trusting he is present and listening to me, his beloved child.

Receive:

• I listen to what the Lord wants to say to my heart, knowing his love is gratuitous and unconditional.  I receive his love and consolation. I trust he longs to console me, to encourage me, to strengthen me, to heal me, to forgive me …

• I allow him to lead me; perhaps returning to the scripture …

Respond:

• I conclude my prayer time speaking to Jesus, God the Father, and/or the Holy Spirit as I would speak to a friend. I may also invoke the intercession of Mary and the Saints.
(St. Ignatius calls this a colloquy.)

Praise him – give glory to God for who he is; for being all good and loving; for being my Lord and savior …

Thank him – for our time together; for his word to me; for the gifts he has given me today …

Ask him – for his help, grace, strength, wisdom, deeper faith …

• Based on what God is saying to my heart, I resolve to act in the following concrete way to love God and love neighbor (which could be something small). Today I will …

Rest in the Lord: Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10

1Gallagher, T., 2008. An Ignatian Introduction To Prayer: Scriptural Reflections According To The Spiritual Exercises. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company.

2 This way to converse with God in prayer often called ARRR is taught by The Institute for Priestly Formation out of Omaha Nebraska. For more information see Father Traynor, Scott (2013) The Parish as a School of Prayer and Dwyer, Karen and Lawrence (2011) WRAP Yourself in Scripture (IPF Publications).

5 ~ GOD AT THE ORIGIN OF MY BEING

Companion

~ 5 ~

GOD AT THE ORIGIN OF MY BEING ~
“You knit me in my mother’s womb.”

 

I prepare my heart for prayer
As I begin, I take a moment to become aware of the Lord present to me,
looking upon me with love, desiring to speak to my heart.

Prayerfully, I read Psalm 139:1-18
After prayerfully reading, I ask for a grace I desire in this time of prayer.

Using my reasoning:

• Think about what is happening in the scene; what are the action words?
• Who are the people in the scene? What is the place? What things are described?
• What words catch my attention? What does this mean to me?

Using my imagination:

• Imagining myself in the scene – am I an observer or participant? To whom am I drawn?
• Using all of my senses – what do I see? What do I hear? What do I feel, smell or taste?

Reflect on what God is saying to my heart:

• As I reflect, I use my spiritual senses to acknowledge what is transpiring in my heart – my thoughts, feelings and desires. (Acknowledge means to see, to notice, to become aware of, to name.)  This is important to do, as my thoughts, feelings and desires shape my actions.

• I look for the truth the Lord is communicating to me. I ask Jesus to give me his mind and his thoughts to see with the eyes of his heart what he wants to reveal to me today. How is Jesus calling me to apply this truth to my life?

Guided Reflection
Quoted from “An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer,”
by Father Timothy M Gallagher, O.M.V1 

This psalm is a prayer, words spoken from the human heart to God. I make these words my own. I say them to the God who is present to me now …

A psalm of wonder, of marveling at the closeness of God to me: “You have searched me and known me!” My heart ponders this marvel, that the infinite and eternal God knows me, that I am important to him …

“You know when I sit and stand; / you understand my thoughts … Even before a word is on my tongue, / Lord, you know it all.” Again this sense of marvel, that God is so intimately close to me, always, faithfully, sharing with me the hidden depths of my heart, my hopes, my struggles, my thoughts … I invite him into my heart …

“Behind and before you encircle me / and rest your hand upon me …” His loving and protecting hand is always with me … No matter where I am, “your hand will guide me, / your right hand holds me fast.” You are faithfully with me, at all times, in all the places of my life …

A psalm of wonder, of marveling now at God’s eternal love, calling me into being: “You knit me in my mother’s womb.” I sense the Love that lies at the origin of my being, that gave me life, that gives me life each day, that tells me that I am valued and loved …

My heart speaks now to the Lord: “I praise you … / wonderful are your works.” Gratitude awakens in my heart. My heart sings its wonder, its praise, to my God …

“How precious to me are your designs, O God.” Here, in my prayer, I ponder the loving designs of God. They become precious to me anew; they give me hope, a sense of the meaning of my life.

I read, I reread, the words of this Psalm, allowing God to show me their meaning …

And now my heart replies to the Lord …

I ask for this grace in this time of prayer:

Converse with God2

Acknowledge:

• What are the thoughts arising in my heart? I think …
• What are the feelings arising in my heart? I feel …
• What are the desires arising in my heart? I desire …

Relate:

I honestly relate these to God; I talk to him about them, trusting he is present and listening to me, his beloved child.

Receive:

• I listen to what the Lord wants to say to my heart, knowing his love is gratuitous and unconditional.  I receive his love and consolation. I trust he longs to console me, to encourage me, to strengthen me, to heal me, to forgive me …

• I allow him to lead me; perhaps returning to the scripture …

Respond:

• I conclude my prayer time speaking to Jesus, God the Father, and/or the Holy Spirit as I would speak to a friend. I may also invoke the intercession of Mary and the Saints.
(St. Ignatius calls this a colloquy.)

Praise him – give glory to God for who he is; for being all good and loving; for being my Lord and savior …

Thank him – for our time together; for his word to me; for the gifts he has given me today …

Ask him – for his help, grace, strength, wisdom, deeper faith …

• Based on what God is saying to my heart, I resolve to act in the following concrete way to love God and love neighbor (which could be something small). Today I will …

Rest in the Lord: Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10

 

1Gallagher, T., 2008. An Ignatian Introduction To Prayer: Scriptural Reflections According To The Spiritual Exercises. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company.

2 This way to converse with God in prayer often called ARRR is taught by The Institute for Priestly Formation out of Omaha Nebraska. For more information see Father Traynor, Scott (2013) The Parish as a School of Prayer and Dwyer, Karen and Lawrence (2011) WRAP Yourself in Scripture (IPF Publications).

Talk Outline for Week 1

Discussion

Talk Outline for Week 1:
Prayer is a Personal Relationship with God

Welcome to the Praying with Scripture series taught by Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens.  

Below is the outline for Talk 1, titled “Prayer is a Personal Relationship with God.”  As you listen to the teaching video, follow along in this outline.  You may print this outline and use the space to the right for notes, or use your own journal for notetaking.

Talk Outline

I. The goal is to help everyone grow in their prayer life.

  1. Will draw upon the tradition, with a focus on St. Ignatius teaching on prayer.
  2. St. Ignatius teaching is designed for the active life.  Finding God in all things was his goal.

II. Prayer is a way to enter into a relationship with God.

  1. God is personal.
  2. “Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”  (Joy of the Gospel 7; Pope Francis quoting Pope Benedict XVI)

III. Prayer is the place where I live this relationship.

  1. “Prayer is not something accessory, it is not ‘optional’ but rather a question of life or death.  Only one who prays, that is, who entrusts himself to God with filial love, can enter into eternal life, which is God himself.” Pope Benedict (March 4, 2007)

IV. I must believe that God desires a personal relationship with me.

  1. Letter from Mother Teresa to her sisters in the 1990s. “… have you seen with the eyes of your soul how He looks at you with love?  Do you really know the living Jesus – not from books but from being with Him in your heart?  Have you heard the loving words He speaks to you?   Ask for the grace, He is longing simply to give it….”  (Mother Teresa, Varanasi Letter)
  2. Prayer is this encounter with love that changes me and begins to transform me. 

V. God speaks first, God pursues us; what He has to say is most important.

  1. Zacchaeus – Jesus takes the initiative.
  2. “… The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water:  there, Christ comes to meet every human being.  It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink.  Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us.  Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours.  God thirsts that we may thirst for him.  CCC ¶2560

VI. A word about silence and imagination.

  1. The importance of silence.  St. Augustine: “I was without, you were within.”
  2. Use of imagination.
    1. Imagination is a faculty that God gives us to make images in our mind and to experience within ourselves a spiritual reality.
    2. Real imagination versus fantasy.
    3. St. Ignatius conversion; God at work in his imagination.
    4. Scenes in scripture communicate truth, not just the words.
    5. Prayer with the imagination can provide a real experience of God’s love, God’s glory that transforms me.  “Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire.  This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ….”  Pope Benedict XVI, Address to Seminarians and Youth
    6. St. Ignatius encourages us to pray with our imagination, applying all the spiritual senses of the soul.  In the example of praying with the Nativity scene, see with the site of imagination the place and the persons, hear what is being said, smell, taste, and touch, drawing profit from it.

VII. Basic outline of a time of prayer; The Prayer Companion

  1. I prepare my heart for prayer and ask for a grace.
  2. Prayerfully, I read the scripture passage using my reasoning and imagination, reflecting on the truth the Lord is communicating to me.
  3. I converse with God:
    1. Acknowledge – I acknowledge the thoughts, feelings, and desires arising in my heart.
    2. Relate – I honestly relate these to God, trusting he is present and listening to me, his beloved child.
    3. Receive – I listen to what the Lord wants to say to my heart.
    4. Respond – I conclude my prayer time speaking to Jesus, God the Father, and/or the Holy Spirit as I would speak to a friend.  I resolve to act in a concrete way to love God and neighbor, which could be something small.
  4. I rest in the Lord.

 

 

1 ~ BARTIMAEUS

Companion

~1~

BARTIMAEUS ~
“What do you want me to do for you?”

I prepare my heart for prayer
As I begin, I take a moment to become aware of the Lord present to me,
looking upon me with love, desiring to speak to my heart.

Prayerfully, I read Mark 10:46-52
After prayerfully reading, I ask for a grace I desire in this time of prayer.

Using my reasoning:

• Think about what is happening in the scene; what are the action words?
• Who are the people in the scene? What is the place? What things are described?
• What words catch my attention? What does this mean to me?

Using my imagination:

• Imagining myself in the scene – am I an observer or participant? To whom am I drawn?
• Using all of my senses – what do I see? What do I hear? What do I feel, smell or taste?

Reflect on what God is saying to my heart:

• As I reflect, I use my spiritual senses to acknowledge what is transpiring in my heart – my thoughts, feelings and desires. (Acknowledge means to see, to notice, to become aware of, to name.) This is important to do, as my thoughts, feelings and desires shape my actions.

• I look for the truth the Lord is communicating to me. I ask Jesus to give me his mind and his thoughts to see with the eyes of his heart what he wants to reveal to me today. How is Jesus calling me to apply this truth to my life?

 

Guided Reflection
Quoted from “An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer,”
by Father Timothy M Gallager, O.M.V1 

I see the crowds, the road as it leaves the city, the blind beggar seated by the road … I am there with him … perhaps I take his place, and, now, I am seated there, like him, waiting …

He seeks to come to Jesus out of his great need, and his hope that in Jesus he will find healing. But he is helpless to approach the Lord … I sense my own need, my own hope, my own helplessness.

I watch as he pours out his need and his hope in the repeated cry: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” His cry becomes my cry too of my heart: “Jesus … have mercy on me!” I make this prayer to the Lord …

Jesus hears this cry. He stops. He says to the crowd: “Call him.” I hear them say to me: “Take heart; rise, he is calling you.” I feel my heart begin to lift with new hope …

I stand before Jesus. Our eyes meet … I see his face, I hear his words, his question to my heart: “What do you want me to do for you?” Now Jesus and I are alone in the midst of the crowd. And I speak to him from my heart, unhurriedly. I dare to tell him all that I hope he will do for me … all that I hope for from this time of prayer …

I say to him: “Master, let me receive my sight.” Help me to see! Help me see my way clearly in the doubts and fears that my heart feels; help me to overcome the obstacle that keeps me from the closeness I desire with you …

And, with Bartimaeus, I experience Jesus’ word of healing … I sense the love that pours out from him and brings healing, brings new hope into my life …

I follow him along the way …

I ask for this grace in this time of prayer:

Converse with God2

Acknowledge:

• What are the thoughts arising in my heart? I think …
• What are the feelings arising in my heart? I feel …
• What are the desires arising in my heart? I desire …

Relate:

I honestly relate these to God; I talk to him about them, trusting he is present and listening to me, his beloved child.

Receive:

• I listen to what the Lord wants to say to my heart, knowing his love is gratuitous and unconditional. I receive his love and consolation. I trust he longs to console me, to encourage me, to strengthen me, to heal me, to forgive me …

• I allow him to lead me; perhaps returning to the scripture …

Respond:

• I conclude my prayer time speaking to Jesus, God the Father, and/or the Holy Spirit as I would speak to a friend. I may also invoke the intercession of Mary and the Saints.
(St. Ignatius calls this a colloquy.)

Praise him – give glory to God for who he is; for being all good and loving; for being my Lord and savior …

Thank him – for our time together; for his word to me; for the gifts he has given me today …

Ask him – for his help, grace, strength, wisdom, deeper faith …

• Based on what God is saying to my heart, I resolve to act in the following concrete way to love God and love neighbor (which could be something small). Today I will …

 

Rest in the Lord:  Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10

 

1Gallagher, T., 2008. An Ignatian Introduction To Prayer: Scriptural Reflections According To The Spiritual Exercises. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company.

2 This way to converse with God in prayer often called ARRR is taught by The Institute for Priestly Formation out of Omaha Nebraska. For more information see Father Traynor, Scott (2013) The Parish as a School of Prayer and Dwyer, Karen and Lawrence (2011) WRAP Yourself in Scripture (IPF Publications).

2 ~ JESUS’ WORDS OF INVITATION

Companion

~2~

Jesus’s Words of Invitation ~
“Come to me, all you who labor …”

I prepare my heart for prayer
As I begin, take a moment to become aware of the Lord present to me, looking upon me with love, desiring to speak to my heart.

Prayerfully, I read Matthew 11:25-30
After prayerfully reading, I ask for a grace I desire in this time of prayer.

Using my reasoning:

Think about what is happening in the scene: what are the action words?
Who are the people in the scene?  What is the place?  What things are described?
What words catch my attention?  What does this mean to me?

Using my imagination:

Imagining myself in the scene – am I an observer or participant?  To whom am I drawn?
Using all of my senses – what do I see?  What do I hear?  What do I feel, smell or taste?

Reflect on what God is saying to my heart:

As I reflect, I use my spiritual senses to acknowledge what is transpiring in my heart – my thoughts, feelings and desires.  (Acknowledge means to see, to notice to become aware of, to name.)   This is important to do, as my thoughts, feelings and desires shape my actions.

I look for the truth the Lord is communicating to me.  I ask Jesus to give me his mind and his thoughts to see with the eyes of his heart what he wants to reveal to me today.  How is Jesus calling me to apply this truth to my life?

Guided Reflection
Quoted from “An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer”
by Father Timothy M Gallagher, O.M.V1 

I sense the thrill of gratitude in the heart of Jesus as he lifts up his heart to the Father whom he so loves, and by whom he knows himself so deeply loved … that same Father who says to me, as to Jesus: You are my beloved son, my beloved daughter …

Jesus thanks his Father that he has revealed the mysteries of the kingdom not to the self-sufficient … but to those who feel themselves helpless, dependent on God for everything, like a small infant …. I ask to be such …

I ask Jesus, the Son who knows the Father, to reveal himself, to reveal the Father to me, in this time of prayer … that he chooses to do this in my heart …

Now he is close to me, speaking to my heart. I hear his invitation: “Come to me … “ I share with the Lord my own desire, now, in this time of prayer. Even as I sense my heartfelt longing to “come to him,” to know that my heart is close to him … I hear him say to me, with infinite love: I want you to come close, I invite you, I call you, “Come to me …”

“You who labor and are heavily burdened … I will give you rest.” Lord, grant me the rest that my restless heart so seeks. I embrace this invitation. I come to the Lord bringing my burdens, my heart’s laboring and weariness. I hear his promise of rest, heart’s rest …

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me … for I am gentle and lowly of heart.” Two words. Lord, you are gentle, you are lowly of heart. I ponder each word … There is no more room for fear …

“Learn from me.” I ask the Lord for this “learning” in these times of prayer … This is the learning my heart most desires: personal learning, relational learning, learning of Jesus …” And you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart are restless, until they rest in you” (St. Augustine). I seek the Lord, I seek his rest …

I ask for this grace in this time of prayer:

Converse with God2

Acknowledge:

• What are the thoughts arising in my heart? I think …

• What are the feelings arising in my heart? I feel …

• What are the desires arising in my heart? I desire …

Relate:

I honestly relate these to God; I talk to him about them, trusting he is present and listening
to me, his beloved child.

Receive:

• I listen to what the Lord wants to say to my heart, knowing his love is gratuitous and unconditional.   I receive his love and consolation. I trust he longs to console me, to encourage me, to strengthen me, to heal me, to forgive me …

• I allow him to lead me; perhaps returning to the scripture …

Respond:

• I conclude my prayer time speaking to Jesus, God the Father, and/or the Holy Spirit as I would speak to a friend. I may also invoke the intercession of Mary and the Saints.
(St. Ignatius calls this a colloquy.)

Praise him – give glory to God for who he is; for being all good and loving; for being my Lord and savior …

Thank him – for our time together; for his word to me; for the gifts he has given me today …
Ask him – for his help, grace, strength, wisdom, deeper faith …

• Based on what God is saying to my heart, I resolve to act in the following concrete way to love God and love neighbor (which could be something small). Today I will …

Rest in the Lord: Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10

1Gallagher, T., 2008. An Ignatian Introduction To Prayer: Scriptural Reflections According To The Spiritual Exercises. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company.

2 This way to converse with God in prayer often called ARRR is taught by The Institute for Priestly Formation out of Omaha Nebraska. For more information see Father Traynor, Scott (2013) The Parish as a School of Prayer and Dwyer, Karen and Lawrence (2011) WRAP Yourself in Scripture (IPF Publications).

4 ~ FEAR NOT

Companion

~ 4 ~

FEAR NOT ~
“You are precious in my eyes,  and honored, and I love you”

I prepare my heart for prayer
As I begin, I take a moment to become aware of the Lord present to me,
looking upon me with love, desiring to speak to my heart.

Prayerfully, I read Isaiah 43:1-7
After prayerfully reading, I ask for a grace I desire in this time of prayer.

Using my reasoning:

• Think about what is happening in the scene; what are the action words?
• Who are the people in the scene? What is the place? What things are described?
• What words catch my attention? What does this mean to me?

Using my imagination:

• Imagining myself in the scene – am I an observer or participant? To whom am I drawn?
• Using all of my senses – what do I see? What do I hear? What do I feel, smell or taste?

Reflect on what God is saying to my heart:

• As I reflect, I use my spiritual senses to acknowledge what is transpiring in my heart – my thoughts, feelings and desires. (Acknowledge means to see, to notice, to become aware of, to name.) This is important to do, as my thoughts, feelings and desires shape my actions.

• I look for the truth the Lord is communicating to me. I ask Jesus to give me his mind and his thoughts to see with the eyes of his heart what he wants to reveal to me today. How is Jesus calling me to apply this truth to my life?

Guided Reflection
Quoted from “An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer,”
by Father Timothy M Gallagher, O.M.V1

God speaks to the heart of the exiled people … and to me.

I sense the Lord with me, speaking these words to me. I read them slowly, tasting them, allowing their meaning to enter into my soul … I stay with the words that most speak to me, without hurry …

“Thus says the Lord, he who created you … he who formed you …” With the people of Israel, I again become aware of God at the origin of my being, of my belonging to his people. I sense the mystery of an eternal love that surrounds my whole being, my beginning, my life …

“Fear not”: the word so often repeated by Jesus. I speak to the Lord of the fears in my heart: of my inadequacy, my failure, my slowness to respond … Again and again I hear his word: “Fear not.”

“For I have redeemed you.” I am your protector, I am at your side, I am with you; you are not alone. My power and my love accompany you … I hear the Lord speak his words
to me …

“I have called you by name, you are mine.” I think now of my own name. I hear the Lord pronounce my name, giving me my identity, giving me life, making me his own, telling me that I am not alone … In the silent depth of my heart, I hear the Lord pronounce my name … again, again … I respond …

“When you pass through the waters I will be with you; / and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; / when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned”: the symbol of the most dangerous situations, situations which threaten life itself … and these will be powerless to harm me. I will keep you unharmed even in the most difficult situations in life … A new trust dawns in my heart …

“Because you are precious in my eyes, / and honored, and I love you.” Three words. With deep attention I ponder each: you are precious in my eyes; you are honored in my eyes; I love you. I dare to hear the Lord say these words to his people Israel … and to me …

Now my heart replies to the Lord who speaks his love to me …

I ask for this grace in this time of prayer:

Converse with God2

Acknowledge:

• What are the thoughts arising in my heart? I think …
• What are the feelings arising in my heart? I feel …
• What are the desires arising in my heart? I desire …

Relate:

I honestly relate these to God; I talk to him about them, trusting he is present and listening
to me, his beloved child.

Receive:

• I listen to what the Lord wants to say to my heart, knowing his love is gratuitous and unconditional. I receive his love and consolation. I trust he longs to console me, to encourage me, to strengthen me, to heal me, to forgive me …

• I allow him to lead me; perhaps returning to the scripture …

Respond:

• I conclude my prayer time speaking to Jesus, God the Father, and/or the Holy Spirit as I would speak to a friend. I may also invoke the intercession of Mary and the Saints.
(St. Ignatius calls this a colloquy.)

Praise him – give glory to God for who he is; for being all good and loving; for being my Lord and savior …

Thank him – for our time together; for his word to me; for the gifts he has given me today …

Ask him – for his help, grace, strength, wisdom, deeper faith …

• Based on what God is saying to my heart, I resolve to act in the following concrete way to love God and love neighbor (which could be something small). Today I will …

Rest in the Lord: Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10

 

1 Gallagher, T., 2008. An Ignatian Introduction To Prayer: Scriptural Reflections According To The Spiritual Exercises. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company.

2 This way to converse with God in prayer often called ARRR is taught by The Institute for Priestly Formation out of Omaha Nebraska. For more information see Father Traynor, Scott (2013) The Parish as a School of Prayer and Dwyer, Karen and Lawrence (2011) WRAP Yourself in Scripture (IPF Publications).

GUÍAS DE ORACIÓN

Compañero

La serie Orando con las Escrituras proporciona 25 pasajes recomendados para usar a lo largo de esta serie de cinco semanas, uno por día, durante cinco días de la semana.

Para cada escritura, se proporciona una Guía de Oración, con el versículo de las Escrituras, una reflexión guiada y los pasos de la sesión de oración ignaciana. Puede usar su propio diario o imprimir la Guía de Oración (publicada en archspm.org/sinodo), como diario mientras ora.

Guías de Oración

SÍNODO DE LA  ARQUIDIÓCESIS DE
SAINT PAUL Y MINNEAPOLIS
SERIES DE ORANDO CON LAS ESCRITURAS

SEMANA 1

  1. BARTIMEO ~ ¿Qué quieres que haga por ti? Marcos 10,46-52
  2. PALABRAS DE JESUS DE INVITACIÓN ~ “Vengan a mí, todos ustedes que trabajan…”Mateo 11, 25-30
  3. LA PALABRA DE ESPERANZA DE JEREMÍAS ~ “Yo se los planes que tengo para ti” Jeremías 29, 11-14
  4. NO TEMAS ~ “Tu eres precioso a mis ojos, honrado, y te amo” Isaías 43, 1-7
  5. DIOS EN EL ORIGEN DE MI SER ~ “Me tejiste en el vientre de mi madre”. Salmo 139, 1-18

SEMANA 2

  1. ALFARERO Y ARCILLA ~ “Como la arcilla en la mano del alfarero, así eres tú en mi mano”. Jeremías 18, 1-6
  2. DECIRLE “SÍ” A DIOS ~ “Dios … le dijo: ‘¡Abraham!’ Y él dijo: ‘Aquí estoy’” Génesis 22, 1-19
  3. UN GRITO DE SINCERIDAD ABSOLUTA ~ “Crea en mí un corazón limpio, oh Dios”. Salmo 51, 1-19
  4. ZAQUEO ~ “Date prisa y baja; porque hoy debo hospedarme en tu casa”. Lucas 19, 1-10
  5. CONSAGRADO EN EL ESPÍRITU ~ “Vio al Espíritu … que descendía como una paloma y se posaba sobre él”. Mateo 3, 13-17

SEMANA 3

  1. LA PRIMERA DE LAS SEÑALES ~ “Haz lo que él te diga”. Juan 2, 1-11
  2. LA MUJER SAMARITANA ~ “Si conocieras el don de Dios…” Juan 4, 1-42
  3. “LANZAR A LAS PROFUNDIDADES” ~ “Con tu palabra echaré las redes”. Lucas 5, 1-11
  4. EL VALOR DE DECIRLE TODO A JESÚS ~ “Hija, tu fe te ha salvado”. San Marcos 5, 24-34
  5. DA TU VIDA POR EL EVANGELIO ~ “Al ver las multitudes, tuvo compasión de ellas…” Mateo 9, 35-10, 16

SEMANA 4

  1. CAMINAR SOBRE EL AGUA ~ “Señor, si eres tú, mándame ir hacia ti sobre las aguas”. Mateo 14, 22-33
  2. UN DESTELLO DE GLORIA ~ “Su rostro brillaba como el sol”. Mateo 17, 1-13
  3. DE LA MUERTE A LA NUEVA VIDA ~ “¡Mira cómo lo amaba!” Juan 11, 1-44
  4. “LOS AMÓ HASTA EL FINAL” ~ “Luego echó agua en una palangana y comenzó a lavar los pies de los discípulos”. Juan 13, 1-17
  5. EL REGALO MÁS GRANDE DE TODOS ~ “Este es mi cuerpo que es entregado por ti”. Lucas 22, 7-30

SEMANA 5

  1. NO MI VOLUNTAD, SINO LA TUYA ~ “Padre mío, si es posible, aleja de mí este cáliz”. Mateo 26, 36-46
  2. JESÚS DA SU VIDA ~ “Padre, en tus manos encomiendo mi espíritu”. Lucas 23, 26-49
  3. MUJER… ¿POR QUÉ LLORAS? ~ “¡María … Rabboni!” Juan 20, 1; 11-18
  4. UN VIAJE HACIA LA ESPERANZA ~ “¿No ardía nuestro corazón dentro de nosotros mientras nos hablaba en el camino?” Lucas 24, 13-35
  5. ¿ME AMAS? ~ “Ellos sabían que era el Señor”. Juan 21, 1-19

Praying with Scripture Series

Discussion

Series Overview

Read an Introduction from Archbishop Bernard Hebda

Welcome to the Praying with Scripture series taught by Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Bishop Andrew Cozzens. If you have never prayed with Scripture, that’s okay – this teaching series will help you get started!
If you have prayed with Scripture and want to go deeper, this teaching series will help you grow.

Prayer is a relationship with God. Just like any relationship, there are always opportunities to grow deeper. That’s what this series is about.
It has four components:

1. Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens offer a series of five teaching videos. These videos also feature testimonials from fellow Catholics from across the Archdiocese. The series is hosted by Yen Fasano. The titles of the talks and speakers are listed below:

o Week 1: Prayer is a Personal Relationship with God | Archbishop Hebda
o Week 2: How to Listen to God in Our Hearts | Bishop Cozzens
o Week 3: Conversation with God – Acknowledge, Relate, Receive,  Respond | Bishop Cozzens
o Week 4: Discernment of Spirits – Consolation and Desolation |  Bishop Cozzens
o Week 5: Overcoming Obstacles | Archbishop Hebda

2. Talk outlines are provided for each week. As you listen to the teaching video, follow along in the outline. You may print the outline and use the space on the right for notes or use your own journal for notetaking.

3. Discussion questions accompany these outlines. If you are participating in this series together with a group, consider selecting some or all of these questions for your group discussion.

4. Twenty-five Prayer Companions, each with a different scripture verse and guided reflection, provide a structure for your time of prayer as explained in this series, with space for journaling. We invite you to
use one Prayer Companion a day throughout the course of this five-week series, feeling free to return to your favorites as desired. These materials are available at archspm.org/synod.

Practical Tips

Every journey begins with that first step. Don’t wait for tomorrow or next week – commit to pray starting today! Here are a few practical tips as your start:

  • Routine is important. It’s helpful to find a consistent time and place to pray each day. You may try various times to see what works best for you.
  • If you haven’t prayed before, start with 15 minutes each day. If you do miss a day, that’s okay – just start again the next day.
  • The Prayer Companions are guides to assist you in your prayer time. Throughout the five talks, each step in the Prayer Companions will be explained in greater detail. Use them when it is helpful, while
    knowing that prayer is personal. Simply ask the Lord to lead you.
  • Sometimes it’s hard to make yourself sit down and pray. Even the saints struggled with prayer at times. Some days you may feel God is near, and other days not. In both cases, the Lord is pleased you chose to spend time with him. Trust he is doing his work in your heart, even if you do not feel it.

Spiritual Reading

Good books can help us understand what is happening in our lives of prayer and learn the ways of God.
They can spur our imagination and our desire to grow in prayer.
Some suggestions for growing in prayer are:

  • Fr. Jacques Philippe, Time for God
  • Peter Kreeft, Prayer for Beginners
  • St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life
  • Fr. Timothy Gallagher, The Discernment of Spirits

May God bless you on your prayer journey!

PRAYER COMPANIONS

Companion

The Praying with Scripture series provides 25 recommended scriptures for use throughout the five-week series – one a day for five days each week.

For each scripture, a Prayer Companion is provided with the scripture verse, a guided reflection, and the steps in the Ignatian prayer session. You may use your own journal, or feel free to print the Prayer Companion (posted at archspm.org/synod) to journal as you pray.

ARCHDIOCESE OF
SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS SYNOD
PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE SERIES

WEEK 1

  1. BARTIMAEUS ~ “What do you want me to do for you?” Mark 10:46-52
  2. JESUS’ WORDS OF INVITATION ~ “Come to me, all you who labor …” Matthew 11:25-30
  3. JEREMIAH’S WORD OF HOPE ~ “I know the plans I have for you.” Jeremiah 29:11-14
  4. FEAR NOT ~ “You are precious in my eyes, / and honored, and I love you.” Isaiah 43:1-7
  5. GOD AT THE ORIGIN OF MY BEING ~ “You knit me in my mothers’ womb.” Psalm 139:1-18

WEEK  2

6.POTTER AND CLAY ~ “Like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” Jeremiah 18:1-6

7.SAYING “YES” TO GOD ~ “God … said to him, ‘Abraham!’  And he said, ‘Here am I.’” Genesis 22:1-19

8.A CRY OF UTTER SINCERITY ~ “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Psalm 51:1-19

9.ZACCHAEUS ~ “Make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” Luke 19:1-10

10.CONSECRATED IN THE SPIRIT ~ “He saw the Spirit … descending like a dove, and alighting on him.” Matthew 3:13-17

WEEK 3

11.THE FIRST OF THE SIGNS ~ “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-11

12.THE SAMARITAN WOMAN ~ “If you knew the gift of God …” John 4:1-42

13.“PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP” ~ “At your word I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:1-11

14.THE COURAGE TO TELL JESUS EVERYTHING ~ “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” Mark 5:24-34

15.SPEND YOUR LIFE FOR THE GOSPEL ~ “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them …” Matthew 9:35-10:16

WEEK 4

16.WALKING ON WATER ~ “Lord, if it is you, bid me to come to you on the water.” Matthew 14:22-33

17.A GLIMPSE OF GLORY ~ “His face shone like the sun.” Matthew 17:1-13

18.FROM DEATH TO NEW LIFE ~ “See how he loved him!” John 11:1-44

19.“HE LOVED THEM TO THE END” ~ “Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet.” John 13:1-17

20.THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL ~ “This is my body which is given for you.” Luke 22:7-30

WEEK 5

21.NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL ~ “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” Matthew 26:36-46

22.JESUS GIVES HIS LIFE ~ “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Luke 23:26-49

23.THE WOMAN IN TEARS ~ “Mary … Rabboni!” John 20:1; 11-18

24.A JOURNEY INTO HOPE ~ “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road?” Luke 24:13-35

25.DO YOU LOVE ME? ~ “They knew it was the Lord.” John 21:1-19