"[The Rosary's] form is that of a prayerful and contemplative presentation, capable of forming Christians according to the heart of Christ."
Pope John Paul II
For Reflection:
Have I experienced my own heart being conformed to that of Christ as I have prayed the mysteries of the Rosary? Have I witnessed an increased desire for virtue in my life? How have my attitudes, habits, actions, and reactions come under the influence of Christ as a result of my prayer time?
(Read the next three Grace Lines to see how this is accomplished through the Rosary).
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"Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the Rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2708
For Reflection:,br> How can meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary help to move me toward "the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him?"
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"Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2708
For Reflection:
How does this depiction of Christian meditation differ from other ideas of meditation presented in the secular culture? Why do you think all of the faculties of the soul are helpful in entering into prayer? How can I engage my intellect, imagination, emotion and desire when I pray the Rosary?
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Two new studies on the efficacy of vitamins released this week reveal that taking vitamins may not be as harmless as previously thought.
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Commentary by Susan Brinkmann
The passage of a law in the U.S. House yesterday that will prevent all coverage of abortion in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has drawn the usual histrionics from pro-abortion lawmakers and the promise of a veto from President Obama.
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I received this post from a reader who quit Alcoholics Anonymous because he got so tired of all the Church-bashing at the meetings. But I'll let him tell you for himself . . .
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After the senseless slaughter of dozens of peaceful Christian protestors in Cairo last weekend, President Barack Obama is causing outrage among the world's Christian community by calling upon that country's battered minority to show restraint.
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The leaders of 20 national Catholic organizations have published a joint statement protesting the “preventive services” mandate issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in two major Capitol Hill newspapers.
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By Susan Brinkmann
Staff Journalist
The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to two unmarried men who tried unsuccessfully to force the state of Louisiana to change their adopted son's birth certificate to show that he had two fathers.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
In a case that is causing international outrage, the Swedish government is now seeking to terminate the parental rights of a Swedish couple to their nine year-old son, who has been in state custody for 24 months simply because local officials objected to the fact that he was homeschooled.
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