Catholic Bucket List #7: Pray the rosary
It’s been a while since I’ve done a “Catholic Bucket List” item, so here’s a simple one:
Bucket List Item #7: Pray the rosary
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Catholic Bucket List #6: Read some CS Lewis
Today we have something of a rather odd Catholic Bucket List item:
Catholic Bucket List #6: Read some CS Lewis
This is something of an odd Bucket List item since CS Lewis isn’t, in fact, Catholic. However, he is an absolutely terrific writer. This year I have read four C.S. Lewis books and have been so impressed by his depth of thought and refined style. His insight into spiritual battle and temptation in The Screwtape letters is so insightful. His articulation of the Christian faith in Mere Christianity is just superb.
However, you don’t have to read this theological works to fulfill this bucket list item though. Lewis was a writer of some wonderful fiction. I grew up with my mother and sister reading The Chronicles of Narnia to me and they were some of the first books I read myself when I was able. In fact, I would go so far as to invite you, if you have not yet read them, to read The Chronicles of Narnia. In the past few years I have made new friends who have never read them before. When I discover this to be the case, I immediately go out and buy a set for them.
Tea, reading and other important topics…
Here are some statistics from 2003 conducted by The Jenkins Group:
• One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
• 42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
• 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
• 70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
• 57 percent of new books are not read to completion.
Shocking, right? I mention these statistics because I am currently picking out the books I’m going to read in 2013, drawing heavily from the Best Catholic Books of All-Time list posted by Brandon Vogt:
I’ll be posting my 2013 Reading List in a week or two. So what books do you plan to read next year?
Sunday Lectionary: Are you listening to the words coming out of my mouth?
Once again, in the spirit of regaining more of my free time to engage in other projects, these notes will be fairly terse and to the point…
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 19th, 2012
The Readings this week continue on a similar trajectory to those of recent weeks. In Proverbs we hear how Lady Wisdom has “dressed her meat [and] mixed her wine” and sent out an invitation to all to come eat and drink at her table. In our Responsorial Psalm, the psalmist invites us once again to “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord”. St. Paul continues his moral exhortation to the Ephesians in the Second Reading , commending them to be “filled with the Spirit” rather than wine. Finally, in our Gospel extract, the Lord again affirms that He is “the living bread that came down from heaven” and He promises that “whoever eats this bread will live forever”.
For the last few weeks the Readings have all been about food and drink. Are you hungry yet? Are you spiritually salivating? Are you hungry for holiness? Do you long for the flesh of Christ?
I have no delight in corruptible food, nor in the pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was of the seed of David; and I desire the drink of God, namely His blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life. – St. Ignatius to the Romans, Chapter 7
Sunday Lectionary: Oh that today you would listen to His voice…
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 29th January, 2012
In our First Reading, Moses promises that a prophet will come after him, someone who will guide Israel. In the light of the New Testament, we recognize this person to be Jesus Christ who, in this Sunday’s Gospel Reading, not only teaches with authority, but demonstrates that authority by casting out an unclean spirit.
The psalmist in this Sunday’s psalm sings “Oh, that today you would hear his voice…harden not your hearts”. That is our invitation this Sunday. We are invited to come and listen to the voice of the Lord. The word of God is powerful indeed. If we come to the Scriptures with open hearts they have the power to transform our lives….
Catholic Bucket List #2: Try a Tridentine Mass
Continuing my Catholic Bucket List series from the other day, this week’s suggestion is:
Bucket List Item #2: Attend a Tridentine Mass
A little background
So what’s a “Tridentine Mass”?
Well, when Joe Catholic attends a Mass today, he typically attends a “Novus Ordo” (“New Order”) Mass. This formulation of the liturgy was brought about in the Seventies through Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council.
"Oh that today you would listen to his voice…"
An extract from my travel journal while in England:
23rd March 2011 – Reading, England
My tour of the UK begins today. This morning I gathered my things and went to the train station. After collecting all of the tickets for my upcoming journeys (the total cost of which should really entitle me to my own private train), I set off for Leamington Spa to see a sign-language society friend from University.
While on the train I prayed Morning Prayer. Although I often find travelling very tedious, there is also something about it which I find draws my spirit to God. As the English countryside sped past my window, I prayed the opening Psalm of Morning Prayer:
“…Oh that today you would listen to His voice! Harden not your hearts!” – Psalm 95
I don’t think it was by chance that the Church chose *this* psalm to be the opening prayer at the beginning of each new day. Before we face the world, with its troubles, trials and temptations, we need a reminder. We need to be reminded to attend to the Lord’s voice, both before we begin the day, and also to listen for it attentively, hidden amongst the noise and clamour of a busy world. A heart, if it is to remain beating and life-giving, must not become stoney or calloused by time spent with the world.
As I begin this tour of England to see friends and family, I realise that I’m walking into a lot of situations where, quite frankly, I’m way out of my depth. What am I to say? What am I to do?
“Oh that today you would listen to His voice, harden not your heart” – Psalm 95
