From our meeting on Saturday, February 20

It was another great turnout for our group this week.  We had 14 of us there.  We've had 14 a couple times in the past that I can remember.  I was hoping one more member would show up and become the 15th person.  That would have been the first time that I know of that we would have had 15 people together.  Maybe next time.

Welcome to our newest member - Norm!  We were all glad to have you there and even happier that you mentioned that you came as a result of our group being mentioned as a part of the stewardship program outreach announcement during Sunday Mass.  We all hope to see you again and again!

Our discussion seemed to focus around our realization that the Lenten season is a focused time for us to test ourselves to be who we want to be.  To be who God is calling us to be.

Michael mentioned a salesman who discussed how he could automatically add to his bank savings account by signing up for a regular automatic decduction.  He related this to our spiritual lives.  We don't have that option with God.  We can't sign up for an "automatic spritiual deposit" into our "faith accounts."  We are called to make deposits into this account through our actions.  This was another reminder of what the Lenten season is about.

Troy mentioned that we should spend more time reading about the Saints.  Of course, I first thought he meant the SUPER BOWL CHAMPION SAINTS - but he meant the Saints in heaven.   Sorry - selfish moment there!  But we all agreed that there is a lot to be gained from spending time reading about, learning about, and praying to the Saints.

I can not remember who mentioned it, but someone mentioned that there was a proverb that spoke to the thought of resisting temptation nad it will flee from you.  I could not find a proverb that spoke directly to this point, but I did come across a quote from the book of James, James 4: 7 - it says:

So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

It's about changing our behaviors and the rewards and peace that result from choosing to do so.

Finally - Jay Schmidt mentioned that there are Chapel Prayer Services during Lent on Friday's at 7 PM.  The prayer services will be held during lent and include prayers from the Pieta Prayer Booklet and the St. Bridget Prayers.  You can read more about the 15 St. Brigdget Prayers at  http://www.medjugorje.org/pieta.htm

Have a wonderful, Christ centered week!

-Eric

Second Day of Lent

So, today is the second day of lent.  I've been thinking about this blog post all day and can't really come up with anything poignant to say.  Maybe that's ok.

I'll just take the opportunity to say thank you to Jesus for his sacrifice.  He did it for me.  And you.

I pray that I find strength in his willingness to die for my sins.  I'll pray tonight for guidance about what to post on here tomorrow. 

Choose to move

The Lenten Season is upon us. The arrival of Ash Wednesday brings, for all of us, a sense of repentance and an opportunity to look within ourselves to assess our spiritual health.

What came to me today as I contemplated the beginning of this season was that this is, uniquely, a time that WE can CHOOSE to MOVE towards God.  So much of our year is spent in prayer about preparation, hope, and other passive spritual activies.  I realized today that the season of Lent is a time that we can actively MOVE towards God and His will.

As Catholics, we grew up knowing that we had to "give up" something for Lent.  Oh, boy - we thought. Here we go again.  Candy, movies, soda, meat, or whatever it was.  Growing up, it was just what you did.  Give something up.  But what did it MEAN?

Giving something up means changing your behavior.  And everytime you go to the activity or item that you give up, you are reminded of what Jesus gave up for US.  Your choice, our choice, to participate in a sacrifice - even a small one - is a way for us to MOVE towards God.

It's pretty cool if you think about it.  We can actually demonstrate our love to God.  We can SHOW Him that we love Him.  Not in a self-seving sort of way, but in a selfless manner.  I love the idea that God gave us this gift - a gift of actively particpating is His love.  So amazing!

Bread for Christmas

While listening to a cd about the spirit of Christmas, some things occured to me - specifically about BREAD.

Being a food-geek by nature, I find discussion about food always of interest.  Thinking about the connections between Christ and Bread resulted in some observations.  Consider:

• Jesus was born in Bethehem.  The Hebrew translation for Bethehem is "house of bread."  Of all the places in the WHOLE WORLD that God chose to take human form, He chose the house of bread, Bethlehem
• Jesus is the Bread of Life.  The 6th Chapter of the Gospel of John gives us Jesus' explanation that He is the Bread of Life  John 6:35
• Bread has been a basic staple of man's diet for all of our existence.  Every nation, every race, every historical society has made bread and depended on it for daily sustenance.  Jesus being the Bread of Life is no accident.  His love is an essential need for all of us.
• Bread is made by hands.  It does not exist naturally, but must be produced through effort.  The correlation here is that a human was MADE by God and was given to us for our nourishment.  God made his body.  The body of Christ did not exist naturally - it was MADE by God.

All of these thoughts led me to also consider the meaning of Bread as it relates to Christ's love.  Bread is something that is very basic and very accessible.  God chose to make Jesus' love ACCESSIBLE to all.  Rich and poor, Jesus - like bread, is accessible for all.

After looking at all of these thoughts, how can anyone NOT believe in the power of the Eucharist.  It is bread that becomes the body of Christ.  Given to us by Him.  Jesus did not hold up a plum and say "Take this plum - it is my body."  He chose bread and he chose it for a very good reason.

This Christmas, when it's time for your family Christmas dinner, please consider these thoughts and maybe make a special Christmas Bread.  Here are some links to some recipes that your family may enjoy.

http://winter-recipes.suite101.com/article.cfm/christmas_bread

http://greekfood.about.com/od/greekbreadspitas/r/christopsomo.htm

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/199715/christmas/how_to_make_christmas_bread.html

-Eric

Welcome to the St. Aloyisius Men's Prayer Group Blog

This is the blog for the Saint Aloysius Men's Prayer Group.  This blog will be updated as often possible.  Since we meet twice per month, we will have at least two postings per month.  Topics posted on our blog will relate mostly to the subjects we discuss in our meetings, but will not be limited to them.

Over time, we hope to have postings from all of the members of the Men's Prayer Group.  Our discussions are always interesting, lively, and certainly worthwhile of sharing outside of our meetings.

If you would like post to our blog, send me and email at nolafoodguy@gmail.com and I will add you to our list of bloggers!

This past Saturday, December 5th we discussed the readings from the second Sunday of Advent.  Out of that discussion, some key points were:

• The Prayer of St. Gertrude.  One of the members brought this up when we were discusssing praying for the souls in Purgatory.  Everytime someone says this prayer, 1,000 souls are released from Purgatory.  Imagine how many souls can be helped by this!  You can link to the prayer by going to www.olrl.org/pray/stgertrude.shtml
• Remember to spend time with your Guardian Angel!  The church teaches us that "From infancy to death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession."  Think about it!  Each of us have an ANGEL watching us with care and interceding on our behalf!  Here is a link to aseveral prayers for Guardian Angels:  www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?s=54
• The Prayer for the Dying.  The link to this prayer is : http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=477  Thanks to Adam for bringing this up for discussion!

Remember that we will be holding mini-summit in the Eagle's Nest on January 30th.  Look for details in the bulletin and on this blog soon!

God's blessings on each of you

-Eric