Unit Four: Catholic Spiritual Practices

1. Unit Four:Catholic Spiritual Practices Theology 12 Catholic Spirituality Mr. Phillips

2. Spiritual Practices Covered in this Unit • Praying with the Psalms • Liturgy of the Hours • LectioDivina • The Rosary • The Examen Prayer • Ignatian Contemplation • The Jesus Prayer • Praying with Icons

3. The Book of Psalms Psalm = __________________ Hebrew name of the book: Mostly written for ___________ prayer Also used for ____________ prayer Total of _______ psalms in the book About half are credited to ____________ authorship Authors of the Psalms called ______________ Entire collection sometimes called the ____________

4. Why pray with the Psalms? • ____________ (both Jewish and Christian) • “Ever _________, ever _______” • A “____________________” from God • Covers full range of human _____________ and _________________ • The prayer(s) of ___________

5. How to choose a Psalm for prayer • Start with some “______________________” (8, 23, 42, 51, 91, 130, 131, 139) • Use ______________ – do any strike a chord? • Use the ___________________ or the upcoming ____________ (see www.usccb.org) • The ____________________________

6. The Liturgy of the Hours • a.k.a. the __________________ • Prayers for _______________ of the day: • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ prayer • Consists mostly of the _____________, supplemented by other hymns and readings

7. LectioDivina • LectioDivina = _____________________ • A process of “__________________” the scripture • Dates back to at least ______________ • In the __________________ (6th Cent.) • Formalized by a monk named ___________ (11th cent.) • Four “_______________” of LectioDivina: • _______________ • _______________ • _______________ • _______________

8. I. Lectio(= Reading) II. Meditatio (= Meditation) • ______________________ about the text • Looking for the ______________ meaning • Noticing any __________________ that stand out • Guided by the _________________ • ______________ if you wish Slow _______________ reading Aloud or ____________________ “Listening with the ____________________” (St. Benedict)

9. III. Oratio(= Prayer) IV. Contemplatio (= Contemplation) • Loving __________ on God • ______________ • Joyfully ______________ in God’s presence • Think of a __________ looking up to his/her __________ A loving ____________________ with God Moving from “___________________” Holding our _________ up to God in light of the scripture Gently reciting a __________________ from the scripture _____________ if you wish

10. How to choose a passage forLectioDivina • A reading of the _______ or of the coming _____________ (see www.usccb.org or www.dailygospel.org) • Slowly go through an entire ________________, or portion of a Bible book. For example: • ___________, passage by passage • Sermon on the ______________ (Mt 5 – 7) • Luke’s ________________________ (Lk 1 – 2) at Christmas • ___________________ from a book or website • Go where the ____________ leads you!

11. The Rosary • Rosarium = _____________________ • Symbol of _____________ • Some early rosary beads made with __________________ • A ______________ prayer • Expresses __________________ for Mary, mother of God • Popular especially in _________________ tradition • A __________________ prayer • Meditation on events in lives of _______________________ (the Mysteries of the rosary) • The ________________and first half of the _____________ come from scripture • “The ______________ made into __________________”

12. The Examen Prayer • Examen = __________________ • Examination of _____________________, not just ________________ • Asks, “Where has God been _________________ in my day?” • Five steps:

13. Ignatian Contemplation • A way of praying with ____________ • Not __________________ contemplation • Use of ___________________ to put yourself into a scene • Works best with stories from the ____________

14. Ignatian Contemplation – Four Steps _________ your Heart Seek a ____________

15. 3. Read Passage and __________ • Closing __________________________

16. Scriptural Roots of the Jesus Prayer The Jesus PrayerLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner • The words of blind _____________________ of Jericho as Jesus passed by leaving town: “On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.’” (Mk 10:47) The prayer of the _________________________ from Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector: “The tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raisehis eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, bemerciful to me a sinner.’” (Lk 18:13)

17. How to Practice the Jesus Prayer • Gently ____________ the prayer over and over (aloud or mentally) • Two approaches: • _______________________ • _______________________ • Rhythmic ____________________ • Possible aids: • ______________________ (or a rosary) • _________________ • A _________________ • An _______________ (such as an ________________) • Goal: __________________(= inner _______________)

18. What is an Icon? • Icon (eikon) = _______ • A _________, _____________ image of Jesus, Mary or the saints • Developed historically in the ______________ churches • Use of traditional _______________, ______________and _________________ features • ________________ • Created in _____________ and for _______________ • “________________ to Heaven”

19. Praying with Icons • _________________ leading to ___________________ • The eye is the ____________ to the soul • Prayer with eyes wide ___________ • Holy images are ______________ and ______________