This week look at your behaviors and determine how many times you engage in these behaviors. Then, try to decrease the negative behaviors and increase the positive ones. Fast from anger; Feast on patience. Fast from pessimism; Feast on optimism. … Continue reading
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In last week’s Bulletin I began sharing thoughts about the Prayer of Ephrem, which is THE Lenten Him of the Eastern Church. In the first verse of the prayer, we deal with the four negative “objects” of metanoia. They are … Continue reading
The fourteenth step on John’s Ladder, Gluttony, is particularly apropos for people during the Great Fast. Why? Because many times people spend fasting periods groaning about food. And not only this – some become so obsessive about observing the rules … Continue reading
In the last issue of this article, I began sharing St. John Chrysostom’s thoughts about the supernatural Light of Tabor. His thoughts seem, however, to have an apparent inconsistency. In another passage, he states with equal clarity that the righteous … Continue reading
We have reached the mid-point of the Great Fast. This week the Church calls us to venerate and reflect on the Cross of Christ. She directs us to place the Cross, decorated with flowers, in the very center of our … Continue reading
This week try to reduce the clutter in both your spiritual and physical lives. Each day go to a different room and organize and reduce clutter. Throw out the things you don’t need. Each day during the week, take time … Continue reading
The fourteenth step on St. John’s Ladder deals with GLUTTONY. What comes to mind when you hear the word gluttony? You probably think of someone overweight eating large quantities of food. One might even think that, outside the fasting periods, … Continue reading
As I shared in the last issue, the call to holiness is a call to union with Jesus. This is the first goal of the Christian life. The problem that arises, however, is that past memories often get in the … Continue reading
The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is the center of our worship. We often refer to ourselves as a “Eucharistic community” meaning that all believers gather in unity at the Lord’s Table. The Eucharist is more than just a ritual, it … Continue reading
While the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is the preeminent liturgical service of our Church, the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian is the preeminent personal, lenten prayer of our Church. Our Church encourages all members to say it each … Continue reading