We’ll start with

PRUDENCE

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1806) , PRUDENCE is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; “the prudent man looks where he is going…Keep sane and sober for your prayers.” Prudence is “right reason in action,” writes St. Thomas Aquinas. It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It is the charioteer of the virtues; it guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure. It is prudence that immediately guides the judgment of conscience. The prudent man determines and directs his conduct in accordance with this judgment. With the help of this virtue we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid. (Click here for a quick refresher of all the virtues)

During this Jubilee Year dedicated to the Apostle Paul, Pope Benedict XVI has authorized the granting of an indulgence. When you think of an indulgence, what usually comes to mind? The latest, smallest iPod? Every cookie you can stuff into your mouth? Five hundred pairs of stylish shoes?

The Catholic Church defines an indulgence as “a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.” The Church teaches that, although God forgives the sin, we will still undergo a period of purification to remove the effects of the sin. An indulgence now can shorten the period of purification later.

Indulgences are one way to engage in good behavior for the purpose of learning to avoid the bad behavior in the future. They also help us focus on healing the wounds caused by our sin, not just avoid any future punishment associated with it.

The idea of indulgences is not without its critics. About 500 years ago some unscrupulous priests sold indulgences, encouraging people to “buy their way into Heaven.” Although the Church condemned this simony, i.e. the buying or selling of spiritual things, the sin of a few bad people helped spark the Protestant Reformation and contributed to the divisions that still exist among Christian faithful today.

There are five requirements for receiving an indulgence:

• Perform the prescribed act with the intention of receiving the indulgence. For the Jubilee Year it involves participating in approved activities in remembrance of St. Paul and encouraging Christian unity.
• Receive the Eucharist.
• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Pray for the intentions of the Pope.
• Be free from attachment to the sin. (Not wishing you could do it over again.)

The Catholic Church is still attacked for the long-ago abuse of indulgences. However, rest assured that an indulgence is definitely not an encouragement to sin, a forgiveness of all future sins, or a “Get out of Hell Free” card. It is the recognition that a person can be very sorry for committing sins, and is willing to actively make up for the sins during his lifetime.

Catholics accept this gift of indulgences, and the challenges that go with it, as part of our spiritual journey toward a complete conversion to God. As with every facet of our journey, indulgences can help us live our faith in every aspect of our lives.

God is calling. Is anyone listening? That is the question for this second week of Ordinary Time.

Here is our newsletter for the week.

Please enjoy!

We’re beginning the study of St. Paul’s writings in regards to the Sacraments.

The primary resource is:

St. Paul: Jubilee Year of the Apostle Paul Edition: A Bible Study for Catholics
by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.
Birmingham Catholic Press, Inc.
Birmingham, AL2008

The Bible Study blog is separate from this blog. Please feel free to join in!

It’s taking awhile to get back into a routine after having company for 3 weeks.

Now we’re settling back down into Bible Study, marriage preparation classes, and family prayer.

Thank goodness!

Historically Epiphany has been celebrated on January 6th. Now, however, in the United States we celebrate Epiphany on the nearest Sunday so we can all participant in this important solemnity.

Either way, keep up the Christmas spirit! The season is not complete until the Baptism of our Lord, which we celebrate next Sunday. (Click here to learn more about the Christmas season)

We’re back, online, and celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas! Today is the 5th day of Christmas, and the memorial of St. Thomas Becket, an Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century. As Thomas grew in faith he also became more distant from the secular world. In fact, he even alienated his king, Henry II. Eventually he was murdered in his own church, the Cathedral of Canterbury. If you visit this cathedral today, you may see the shadow of this martyred saint.

O key of David and scepter of Israel, what you open no one else can close again;
what you close no one can open.
O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Keep up the official countdown to Christmas, the O Antiphons from the Liturgy of the Hours.

The entire evening prayer is available at universalis. The only thing you need to add is the O Antiphon after the Canticle of Mary (aka Magnificat).

O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim.
O come to deliver us, and do not delay.

Keep up the official countdown to Christmas, the O Antiphons from the Liturgy of the Hours.

The entire evening prayer is available at universalis. The only thing you need to add is the O Antiphon after the Canticle of Mary (aka Magnificat).

Keep up the official countdown to Christmas, the O Antiphons from the Liturgy of the Hours.

The entire evening prayer is available at universalis. The only thing you need to add is this prayer after the Canticle of Mary (aka Magnificat):

O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai, O come and save us with your mighty power.

If you know some Latin, you may notice a pattern in these prayers. We’ll let you know what that pattern is on December 23rd. If you already know the pattern, feel free to comment!