(GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> I AM FATHER MITCH. WELCOME TO SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION WHERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE BUT TO DO SO THROUGH THE LENS OF OUR CATHOLIC TRADITION. NOW THROUGHOUT THIS PROGRAM WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BE A PART OF THE SHOW. MAY DO SO BY ADDING YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND YOU MAY DO THAT DURING THE LIVE SHOW WHICH IS TUESDAY AT 2 PM EASTERN TIME. CALL IN QUESTIONS. IF YOU ARE IN NORTH AMERICA, 1 800 221 9460. IF YOU ARE NOT IN NORTH AMERICA YOU CAN STILL CALL. THE COUNTRY CODE IS 1. 205 271 2980. IF YOU CALL ON THAT NUMBER WE WILL PUT YOU AT THE HEAD OF THE LINE. OR SEND EMAIL TO: SCRIPTUREANDTRADITION@EWTN.COM. ALSO, YOU CAN GO TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FACEBOOK.COM/EWTN & YOUTUBE.COM/EWTN. TODAY WE WILL DISCUSS SOME PRACTICAL TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE OUR PRAYER TIME MORE FRUITFUL WITH SCRIPTURE AS A WAY TO LEARN TO LISTEN TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. WE ARE STARTING ON PAGE 115 OF MY BOOK ENTITLED HOW TO LISTEN WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING, A GUIDE FOR MODERN DAY CATHOLICS. YOU MAY GET THAT AT THE EWTN RELIGIOUS CATALOG. IT IS ITEM 1833. LET US TALK ABOUT THIS A BIT. 1ST PRINCIPLE THAT I WANT TO START OFF WITH IS THAT PRAYING DEPENDS ON THE LORD HOLY SPIRIT. THE 3RD PERSON OF THE TRINITY. INFINITE GOD HIMSELF. AND WE EXPECT THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE OUR PRAYER AND TO FILL IT WITH HIS PRESENCE. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN METHODS AND TECHNIQUES THAT WE CAN USE AS HELPS JUST LIKE IN EVERYDAY SPEECH WE USE STANDARD EXPRESSIONS. WE HAVE FORMS OF SPEECH THAT WE USE EVERY DAY IN SPEECH SO WE DO THAT WITH PRAYER. WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WHATEVER TECHNIQUE I MAY USE IN MY PRAYER THAT TECHNIQUE IS NOT CAUSING GOD'S PRESENCE TO BE THERE. IT IS NOT MAKING ME FIND PEACE. RATHER IT IS SIMPLY THE WAY THAT OUR LORD CAN SPEAK TO ME MORE EASILY, AND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP, OUR SPEECH PATTERNS, WHAT WE USE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR FRIENDS, IT IS A TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION AND THAT IS WHAT THESE PRAYER METHODS ARE. I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND A VERY SIMPLE WAY TO PRAY THAT WAS TAUGHT BY 1 OF MY FELLOW JESUITS. FR. ARMAND NIGRO. HE WAS FROM THE OREGON PROVINCE IN THE NORTHWEST. A VERY GOOD AND HOLY PRIEST. I FOUND HIS ARTICLE BACK WHEN I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER BACK IN 72, 73 RIGHT BACK THEN. I STILL FIND THIS VERY HELPFUL. NOW FATHER SPEAKS ABOUT "5 P'S" OF PRAYER. PLACE, POSTURE, A PASSAGE, FINDING GOD'S PEACE AND THEN RETURNING TO THE PASSAGE. THE REPETITION IS IMPORTANT. LET'S GO THROUGH THESE STEP BY STEP. WE WANT TO FIND A PLACE OF PRAYER. A QUIET PLACE. A PLACE THAT IS FREE OF DISTURBANCE AND DISTRACTION. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE SEE IN THE BIBLE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT HOW THE PROPHET ELIJAH AS HE WAS FLEEING FROM THE MURDEROUS INTENT OF THE QUEEN JEZEBEL HE WENT TO MOUNT HOREB, REMEMBER HOREB IS THE NORTHERN DIALECT WORD FOR MOUNT SINAI IN THE SOUTH OF ISRAEL THEY CALLED IT SINAI. AND IN THE NORTH THEY CALLED IT HOREB. IT IS THE SAME PLACE. SO HE WENT THERE. AND WHEN HE FLED FROM JEZEBEL HE WANTED, HE WAS TELLING GOD THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE A PROPHET ANYMORE. IT WAS DANGEROUS. THEY WERE LOOKING TO TAKE HIS LIFE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PROPHETS HAD ALREADY BEEN MURDERED BY QUEEN JEZEBEL. SO HE WENT TO MOUNT HOREB AND, IT IS INTERESTING A SIDE POINT FROM SCRIPTURE. ELIJAH IS 1 OF THE PEOPLE CALLED A MAN OF GOD. AND THIS MAN OF GOD IS NOT JUST LIKE WE USE IT. OH YES HE IS A REAL MAN OF GOD. WE MEAN THAT SOMEBODY IS PIOUS OR HOLY. IN THE BIBLE IT IS DIFFERENT. A MAN OF GOD IS A CATEGORY FOR A PROPHET. SO THEY HAD DIFFERENT WORDS FOR PROPHET. ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH THEY LIKE TO USE THE WORD HOSEA WHICH MEANS A SEER. ONE WHO SEES VISIONS. UP IN THE NORTH THEY USED "NAVI". IT IS THE WORD THAT WE TRANSLATE PROPERLY AS PROPHET, IT COMES FROM THE WORD MEANING MESSENGER. TO BRING A MESSAGE. MAN OF GOD IS A SPECIFIC CATEGORY OF PROPHET, IT IS A PROPHET WHO DOES MIRACLES. SO MOSES IS CALLED MAN OF GOD. ELIJAH IS CALLED MAN OF GOD. THEN ELISHA IS CALLED MAN OF GOD. AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHERS. ONE WHO IS NOT NAMED I THINK IN 1ST KINGS 10. A COUPLE OF OTHERS WHO ARE CALLED MEN OF GOD. BUT THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY, SO IT IS A HIGHER STATUS THAN PROPHET. AND LIKE MOSES ANOTHER MAN OF GOD, ELISHA GOES TO THE SAME MOUNTAIN WHERE MOSES MET THE LORD AT MOUNT SINAI, MOUNT HOREB, AND WHILE HE IS THERE and THIS BY THE WAY YOU FIND THIS IN THE 1ST BOOK OF KINGS CHAPTER 19:1 THROUGH 18. WE SEE IT 1ST THERE IS AN EARTHQUAKE AND THERE IS A BIG WINDSTORM AND THEN THERE IS FIRE IN SUCH BUT GOD DOES NOT SPEAK IN ANY OF THOSE THINGS. HE HAD USED FIRE AND GREAT VOICE AND THE WIND BACK IN EXODUS CHAPTER 19 AND FOLLOWING BUT HERE GOD SPEAKS IN A STILL SMALL VOICE. HE ALSO IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. THAT THE LORD PROMISED TO PASS BY ELIJAH JUST LIKE HE PASSED BY MOSES. BACK IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS CHAPTER 34 BEGINNING WITH VERSE 1. THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, CUT 2 TABLETS OF STONE LIKE THE FORMER ONES AND I WILL WRITE ON THE TABLETS THE WORDS THAT WERE ON THE FORMER TABLETS WHICH YOU BROKE. BE READY IN THE MORNING AND COME UP IN THE MORNING TO MOUNT SINAI AND PRESENT YOURSELF THERE TO ME ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. NO ONE SHALL COME UP WITH YOU. DO NOT LET ANYONE BE SEEN THROUGHOUT ALL THE MOUNTAIN. DO NOT LET THE FLOCKS OR HERDS GRAZE IN FRONT OF THE MOUNTAIN. SO MOSES CUT THE 2 TABLETS OF STONE LIKE THE FORMER ONES HE ROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND WENT UP ON MOUNT SINAI AS THE LORD HAD COMMANDED HIM AND HE TOOK IN HIS HAND THE 2 TABLETS OF STONE. THE LORD DESCENDED IN THE CLOUD AND STOOD THERE WITH HIM. AND PROCLAIMED THE NAME, THE LORD. IN THAT CASE SAYING THE DIVINE NAME. THE LORD PASSED BEFORE HIM AND PROCLAIMED THE LORD, THE LORD, A GOD MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS, SLOW TO ANGER AND ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE LORD SAYS AS HE PASSES BY MOSES. NOW HE IS GOING TO PASS BY THE PROPHET ELIJAH IN THE SAME PLACE IN 1ST KINGS 19. NOW FINDING A PLACE WHERE YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD'S QUIET PRESENCE IS 1 OF THE POINTS HERE. AND THAT WE NEED TO FIND THAT QUIET PLACE THAT PEACEFUL PLACE AND I LIKE TO EMPHASIZE A RELIGIOUS PLACE. THERE ARE A LOT OF QUIET PLACES, SOMETIMES IT IS GOOD TO GET OUT INTO THE WOODS WHERE YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY DISTRACTIONS BUT I MYSELF PREFER THAT QUIET AND RELIGIOUS PLACE TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR EUCHARISTIC LORD. I THINK IT IS GOOD TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IN THE CHURCH OR CHAPEL. AND TO FOCUS ON HIS EUCHARISTIC PRESENCE. THIS IS VERY GOOD. IT IS VERY INTERESTING TO ME HOW THE INSTINCT OF FAITH ROSE UP IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME IN THE 70S AND 80S WHEN MANY CHURCHES WERE TAKING THE BLESSED SACRAMENT OUT OF THE MAIN CHURCH AND PUTTING THEM INTO SMALL CHAPELS. IN SOME PLACES THAT PUT THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IN A SMALL CLOSET TO RESERVE ONLY FOR THE SICK BUT NOT PRESENT FOR ADORATION. THIS WAS GOING ON AND I WILL NEVER FORGET ABOUT BEING 1 CHURCH IN ILLINOIS BY THE BLESSED SACRAMENT WAS REMOVED FROM THE MAIN CHURCH AND THEY HAD A EUCHARISTIC ADORATION CHAPEL, SO I WENT THERE TO GO AND PRAY MY OFFICE. EVEN WHEN I GOT IN THERE I DID NOT SEE MANY PEWS OR CHAIRS TO SIT DOWN IN AND THERE WERE ALL OF THESE PLANTS AROUND THE TABERNACLE AND I STILL CANNOT FIND THE TABERNACLE FOR A WHILE. THAT IS WHEN I STARTED CALLING THAT PLACE AND OTHERS LIKE IT THE CHURCHES OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE. THAT IS BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONE WHO SAID THEY HAVE TAKEN AWAY MY LORD AND I KNOW NOT WHERE THEY PLACED HIM. THAT IS NOT HELPFUL. IN RESPONSE, LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE STARTED ASKING THEIR PASTORS FOR TIMES OF EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. AND TO EXPOSE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IN THE MONSTRANCE. AND EVEN IF THEY WERE RELUCTANT THEY WERE PERSISTENT IN ASKING THIS AND SOME PLACES NOW HAVE OPENED UP EUCHARISTIC CHAPELS THAT ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY. OR MANY HOURS DURING THE DAY. SOMETIMES THEY LOCKUP FOR SAFETY REASONS. BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THERE IS SOMETHING OF A MOVEMENT. THERE WAS JUST A EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN BUDAPEST IN HUNGRY. AND THIS AND MANY OTHER MOVEMENTS ARE HELPING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. AS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, I REMEMBER SOME YEARS AGO BEING IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL IN MINNESOTA. AND THAT DIOCESE MADE A BOAST, BASED ON FACT, THAT THEY HAD MORE EUCHARISTIC ADORATION CHAPELS PER CAPITA OF ANY DIOCESE CERTAINLY IN THE COUNTRY AND THEY THOUGHT MAYBE IT MIGHT BE IN THE WORLD. THEY HAD THESE EUCHARISTIC ADORATION CHAPELS OPEN FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO. 1 OF THE RESULTS OF THAT WAS THE SEMINARY WAS SO FULL THAT THEY HAD TO RENT APARTMENT BUILDINGS OFF CAMPUS TO HOLD THE SEMINARIANS. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MORE ROOM. NO MORE ROOM. IT IS SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT HAPPENED IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER WHERE THEY HAD TO START RENTING OUT THE EMPTY CONVENTS IN VARIOUS PARISHES TO HOUSE THE SEMINARIANS. AND THE REASON I MAKE THIS LINK IS THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN THE SEMINARIANS WERE SAYING, I FOUND MY VOCATION BY GOING TO THE EUCHARISTIC ADORATION CHAPEL. AND THERE BEING SILENT BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF GOD I DISCOVERED MY VOCATION. IN DALLAS TEXAS WHEN I LIVED THERE THERE WAS A GROUP OF YOUNG ADULTS WHO MET FOR ADORATION ONE TIME A WEEK. AND IT WAS NOT ONLY THAT MANY OF THEM, THAT WOULD BE FROM THAT GROUP THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 10 A YEAR THAT WOULD GO TO THE SEMINARY AND A FEW WOULD GO TO THE CONVENT BUT ALSO MANY OTHERS FOUND THEIR VOCATION TO MATRIMONY. AND A NUMBER OF THE COUPLES THAT I KNEW PROPOSED MARRIAGE BEFORE THE SAME EUCHARISTIC LORD IN FRONT OF THE TABERNACLE. IT MIGHT BE ROMANTIC TO HAVE YOUR PROPOSAL AT A NICE RESTAURANT WITH THE GUY'S KNEELING DOWN AND YOU GET APPLAUSE BUT TO DO SO BEFORE THE LORD JESUS, BEFORE WHOM LATER ON THEY GOT MARRIED AND CATHOLIC WEDDINGS. THIS WAS FINDING THEIR VOCATION TO MATRIMONY OR TO RELIGIOUS LIFE OR TO THE PRIESTHOOD THERE WITH CHRIST. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING. SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED IN ST. LOUIS, WHERE AND PAY ATTENTION TO DIOCESES AND ARCHDIOCESES WHERE THE NUMBER OF SEMINARIANS GOES DOWN AND THE ONES WHERE THEY GO UP. THEN CHECK AND SEE IN THOSE DIOCESES HOW STRONGLY DOES THE LOCAL BISHOP PROMOTE EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. CHECK FOR THAT CONNECTION. AND IN PLACES, AT THE SEMINARY ITSELF, DOES THE BISHOP PROMOTE EUCHARISTIC ADORATION AND DOES ITS RECTOR? AND HAVE THAT KIND OF A PLACE IS VERY IMPORTANT. NOW IF YOU CANNOT GET TO A CHAPEL THEN THERE ARE OTHER THINGS. AND IT IS A GOOD CUSTOM, IN EUROPEAN PLACES, TO HAVE LITTLE SHRINES, CRUCIFIXES OR STATUES AND IMAGES OF OUR LADY AND THIS IS TRUE NOT ONLY IN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES BUT IN GREEK ORTHODOX COUNTRIES. THEY WILL HAVE THESE LITTLE CHAPELS AND PEOPLE STOP AND PRAY. BUT YOU CAN ALSO DO THAT WITH YOUR OWN HOME. SET ASIDE A CERTAIN AREA OF YOUR HOME WITH HOLY PICTURES, MAYBE A CANDLE IF YOU FIND THAT HELPFUL, AND HAVE THIS AS A PLACE FOR PRAYER AS MOTHER ANGELICA USED TO LOVE TO CALL IT, WITH HOLY REMINDERS THERE. BEAUTIFUL PIECES OF ART AND SUCH THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOME BUT IN THE PLACE OF PRAYER TO HAVE IMAGES AND ICONS OF THE SACRED HEART OF THE BLESSED MOTHER OR MAYBE YOUR PATRON SAINT OR SOME OTHER FAVORITE ST. THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING. AND KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ARE IN THERE THAT ANYBODY WHO SEES YOU WILL LEAVE YOU ALONE. AND I THINK IT IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE WHEN THEY ARE IN ADORATION AT CHURCH. THAT IS NOT A TIME TO GOSSIP AND IF IT IS YOUR PARISH PRIEST, LEAVE HIM ALONE. NOW IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, YES GO AHEAD. IF SOMEBODY IS SICK OR DYING, YES GO AND TAP HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND SAY, FATHER THEY NEED TO YOU. BUT IF IT IS, FATHER, I THINK THE LIGHT IS OUT IN THE BATHROOM, LEAVE HIM ALONE. WAIT TILL UNTIL AFTER HE IS DONE PRAYING. SO THAT ANYBODY WHO IS THERE WHETHER IT IS THE PRIEST OR 1 OF THE SISTERS OR THE LAYPEOPLE, IT DOES NOT MATTER. LET THEM BE. TO BE WITH THE LORD. AND TO INTERACT IN THAT HOLY PLACE. BY DOING SO YOU HELP TO ESTABLISH IT AS A SACRED PLACE FOR LISTENING TO GOD ESPECIALLY IF OUR EUCHARISTIC LORD IS PRESENT. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK. WE WILL COME BACK AND DEAL WITH THE 2ND "P" WHICH IS POSTURE DURING PRAYER. SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> ALL RIGHT. SO WE TALKED ABOUT CHOOSING A PLACE. THAT IS THE 1ST "P" IN FR ARMAND NIGRO'S SCHEMA. THE 2ND "P" IS POSTURE. IT IS LOOKING FOR A BALANCE BETWEEN PEACEFUL, RESTFUL LISTENING AND ALERTNESS. WE WANT TO BE PEACEFUL AND FIND GOD'S PEACE IN YOUR LIFE AS YOU LISTEN TO HIM, BUT ALSO YOU NEED TO BE ALERT. SO PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT POSTURES. THERE IS NOTHING THAT REQUIRES ANY ONE POSTURE FOR THE WAY YOU PRAY. DURING THE LITURGY THAT IS DIFFERENT. THE LITURGY IS COMMUNAL PRAYER AND SO CERTAIN POSTURES ARE REQUIRED. THERE ARE TIMES TO KNEEL, TIMES TO STAND, TIMES TO SIT. ALL OF THAT IS IN THE LITURGICAL NORMS AND THE RUBRICS FOR EACH OF THE RITES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ARE TO BE FOLLOWED WHEN WE ARE IN THE COMMUNAL PRAYER OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST. BUT IN OUR PRIVATE PRAYER IT IS DIFFERENT. WE HAVE A LOT OF FREEDOM AS TO YOUR POSTURE AND HOW YOU ARE PRESENT BEFORE THE LORD. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER FOR YOURSELF THE BEST POSTURE THAT HELPS YOU STAY ALERT AND AT THE SAME TIME FEEL PEACEFULLY RELAXED. THAT IS THE TENSION. SO I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A NOVICE THERE WERE BROTHERS, JESUIT BROTHERS WHO WERE IN CHARGE OF TAKING CARE OF THE PHYSICAL PLANT. IN THOSE DAYS THE NOVITIATE HAD ITS OWN FARM. NOT IN MY DAY BUT BEFORE THAT DAY THEY HAD RAISED THEIR OWN ANIMALS FOR MILK AND I THINK FOR MEAT AS WELL. SO THEY WOULD COME IN FROM WORKING IN THE FIELDS. AND DOING MAINTENANCE WORK AROUND THIS VERY LARGE NOVITIATE COMPLEX. OUR NOVITIATE HAD ROOM FOR 250 GUYS. SO THEY HAD COLLEGE AND NOVICES THERE. AND WHEN THEY WOULD COME IN AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY WOULD QUICKLY SHOWER AND GO TO THE CHAPEL THAT THERE IS A 2ND TIME PERIOD OF MEDITATION BEFORE DINNER. AND MANY OF THEM WOULD CALL THAT MEDITATING ON JESUS IN THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. BECAUSE LIKE THE APOSTLES MANY OF THEM FELL ASLEEP. THEY WERE EXHAUSTED. THEY HAD BEEN WORKING VERY VERY HARD DOING PHYSICAL LABOR. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD JUST FALL ASLEEP DURING THE AFTERNOON MEDITATION. SO THIS IS SOMETHING WHY YOU HAVE TO ALSO WORK TO STAY ALERT SO THAT YOU ARE NOT LIKE THE APOSTLES IN GETHSEMANE. NOW HOW TO DO THAT? I WILL GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES. THERE WAS A FATHER GENERAL, IN FACT HE WAS THE GENERAL OF THE JESUITS BACK WHEN I WAS A NOVICE, BACK IN 68 WHEN I ENTERED. I HAD BEEN ELECTED NOT LONG BEFORE THAT. HIS NAME WAS FATHER PEDRO ARRUPE. HE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO BE NOVICE MASTER IN JAPAN. THE JESUITS HAVE A PROVINCE OVER THERE. IN FACT HE WAS NOT FAR FROM HIROSHIMA WHEN THE ATOMIC BOMB FELL AND HE WAS PART OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT GAVE RELIEF. WELL HE KNEW THAT HE WAS LIVING IN A VERY BUDDHIST SOCIETY AND THE ZEN BUDDHISM WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE JAPANESE CULTURE, SO TO ADAPT TO THE CULTURE HE LEARNED HOW TO MEDITATE WHILE STANDING ON HIS HEAD. NOW IN MY WHOLE LIFE, NOT AS A KID OR AS A TEENAGER, CERTAINLY NOT AS AN ADULT, HAVE I EVER BEEN ABLE TO STAND ON MY HEAD. THIS WOULD NOT BE A GOOD PRAYER POSTURE FOR ME. I WOULD BE DISTRACTED BY ALL OF MY EFFORTS TO NOT FALL BUT HE WAS QUITE CAPABLE OF DOING THIS AND HE FOUND THAT WAS THE BEST POSTURE FOR HIM TO STAY ALERT AND IN PRAYER. SO THAT WAS WHAT HE DID. ON THE OTHER HAND, OUR FOUNDER, ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, WOULD LIE DOWN FLAT ON HIS BED AND MEDITATED THERE. I CAN DO THAT, BUT I WILL BE JOINING THE BROTHERS IN MEDITATING ON JESUS IN GETHSEMANE. I WILL FALL SOUND ASLEEP. SO THAT IS NOT A GOOD POSITION FOR ME. BUT SOME PEOPLE CAN USE THAT. BUT IF I TRIED IT, JESUS WILL BE TRYING TO SHAKE AND WAKE ME UP SAYING, COULD YOU NOT STAY WITH ME EVEN ONE HOUR? AND THE ANSWER WOULD'VE BEEN NO. BECAUSE I FALL ASLEEP IF I'M LYING DOWN. SOME PEOPLE CAN KNEEL DOWN. THEY FIND KNEELING A POSTURE THAT IS KEEPING THEM VERY ALERT. I HAVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. I CAN'T. I JUST PHYSICALLY CANNOT KNEEL FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITHOUT NEEDING A CRANE TO PICK ME BACK UP. SO THAT IS NOT MY BEST BUT MANY PEOPLE USE KNEELING. I FIND IT BEST TO SIT IN A CHAIR THAT IS NOT TOO COMFORTABLE BUT A STRAIGHT CHAIR AND I USE THAT TO DO SO. TO PRAY. THIS IS A VERY GOOD WAY, I RECOMMEND THAT ANYBODY WHO IS JUST GETTING STARTED WITH PRAYER AND IS NOT QUITE SURE, EXPERIMENT AND SEE HOW MUCH DO YOU FALL ASLEEP, HOW MUCH ARE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, AND LOOK FOR WHAT I LIKE TO CALL THE BABY BEAR MEDIUM. WHERE IT IS JUST RIGHT. IT IS NOT TOO HARD, NOT TOO SOFT, BUT JUST RIGHT. SO FIND THAT POSTURE IF YOU CAN. THE 3RD "P" IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS CHOOSING A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO PLAY WHAT THEY CALL BIBLE ROULETTE, THEY JUST OPEN UP THE BIBLE AND SEE WHAT YOU HIT ON. MAYBE THAT WILL WORK BUT YOU KNOW EVENTUALLY YOU WILL COME UP ON A LIST OF NAMES AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH SPIRITUAL FRUIT YOU GET FROM THE LIST OF NAMES. I ENJOY THOSE LIST OF NAMES. I FIND THEM INTERESTING. I WROTE A NUMBER OF ARTICLES ABOUT SOME OF THE NAMES IN THE LISTS IN THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES. YOU KNOW YOU GET KIND OF GEEKY ABOUT THESE THINGS. IT IS ALL FUN. BUT EVEN THAT WAS NOT PART OF MY PRAYER. SO WHAT I RECOMMEND RATHER THAN JUST OPENING UP THE BIBLE ANYWHERE THAT YOU THINK IT MIGHT WORK I RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING OF A PLAN OR A STRATEGY FOR CHOOSING READINGS. OKAY? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO A NUMBER OF WAYS. ONE, FR. ARMAND NIGRO CHOSE A SERIES OF PASSAGES. HE WOULD GIVE THE REFERENCE. HE DID NOT HAVE THEM PRINT OUT THE WHOLE PASSAGE. HE JUST GAVE THE REFERENCE. HE ORGANIZED THE BIBLE PASSAGES IN LINE WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS. THAT IS A VERY HELPFUL DYNAMIC. AND TO DO THAT YOU HAVE 4 STAGES. YOU BEGIN WITH WHY DID GOD MAKE ME? WHAT IS MY PURPOSE? YOU TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR OWN PROCESS OF SIN AND THE REALITY OF REPENTING FROM SIN IN YOUR LIFE. THEN THE 2ND WEEK YOU START OFF WITH CHRIST AND CHOOSING CHRIST OUR KING, MAKING HIM THE KING OF YOUR LIFE. BUT THEN MEDITATING ON THE GOSPEL STORIES OF JESUS, UNTIL YOU GET TO THE 3RD PART OF THE EXERCISES WHICH IS MEDITATING ON OUR LORD'S SUFFERING AND PASSION. IN FACT MY NEW BOOK DOES A LOT OF THAT. THEN THE 4TH STAGE IS TO MEDITATE ON THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AND HIS APPEARANCE AND ASCENSION AT PENTECOST AND HIS ONGOING LOVE FOR US. SO THAT IS HOW HE ORGANIZED IT. IT IS A VERY HELPFUL WAY. ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT, IS TO USE THE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY BOOK. THERE ARE NUMBER OF THOSE BOOKS. THE SCRIPTURAL ROSARIES. YOU CAN USE ANY 1 OF THOSE. AND GO THROUGH AND MEDITATE ON EACH PASSAGE THAT THEY HAVE LISTED. THESE BOOKS USUALLY HAVE ONE PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE FOR EACH HAIL MARY. SO YOU CAN DO IT THAT WAY. AND THAT IS ANOTHER VERY GOOD WAY TO DO THIS. A THIRD STRATEGY WOULD BE TO TAKE THE READINGS FROM DAILY MASS OR SUNDAY MASS. AND PREPARE FOR MASS OR AFTER MASS WHEN YOU ARE DOING THANKSGIVING GO THROUGH THEM. SO ANY 1 OF THOSE. TAKE A SMALL PASSAGE AND USE THAT AS A WAY TO GO THROUGH IT. WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF VERSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON THE SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES AND YOU CAN DO THAT ANYTIME YOU WANT. THAT IS A GOOD WAY. FINALLY YOU CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS. THIS IS THE OFFICIAL PRAYER BOOK OF THE CHURCH. IT HAS PSALMS ORGANIZED, AND THE ROMAN RITE THE PSALMS ARE ORGANIZED IN A 4 WEEK CYCLE BUT THEN THERE ARE DIFFERENT READINGS FROM THE BIBLE EACH DAY. YOU CAN USE ANY 1 OF THOSE. AND YOU CAN USE THE PSALMS. MANY TIMES THE PSALMS ARE WHAT I USED IN MY MEDITATIONS. ESPECIALLY GOING THROUGH THE DIFFICULTIES. THERE ARE SO MANY PSALMS THAT ARE LAMENTS AND SADNESS. I THINK THAT YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. AND PRAY THOSE PSALMS OR THE READINGS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YOU HAVE BETWEEN SAY THE BOOK BY FR. ARMAND NIGRO AND I IMAGINE YOU CAN STILL GOOD IT, VERY INEXPENSIVE. OR GET A SPIRITUAL ROSARY BOOK OR THE DAILY MASS READINGS. OR THE SUNDAY MASS READINGS. OR THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS. YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM. THE ONLY THING IS YOU KEEP FOCUSED ON THE SMALL SECTION. DO NOT TRY TO STUFF YOURSELF. TREAT THE PASSAGE THE WAY THAT I WOULD TREAT A VERY EXPENSIVE BOX OF CHOCOLATES. TAKE ONE SMALL CHOCOLATE AT A TIME AND SAVOR IT. TAKE ONE SMALL PASSAGE EACH DAY AND SAVOR IT AND STAY FOCUSED ON THAT. THAT MAY BE ENOUGH OF A SCRIPTURE PASSAGE. AND I WILL JUST MENTION BRIEFLY THAT THE 4TH "P" IS TO SIMPLY PRAY AND SEEK THE PEACE OF GOD. WHEN YOU COME TO FIND GOD'S PEACE IN YOUR PRAYER IN CONSIDERING A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE STAY WITH THAT MOMENT OF PEACE. REMAIN PEACEFUL THERE. AND UNTIL IT STARTS TO FADE AWAY. IN YOU FINDING FADE AWAY AND GO BACK TO YOUR PASSAGE. SO DURING THE PRAYER TIME THE 4TH "P" STAY WITH THE PRAYER MEDITATING ON THE PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE UNTIL YOU FIND THAT PEACE. STAY WITH THAT WITH WHATEVER IS THAT TRIGGERS THAT YOU FIND PEACE WITH GOD STAY WITH THAT. BUT WHEN IT STARTS TO FADE GO BACK TO THE PASSAGE. REPEAT THE PASSAGE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO I JUST WANTED TO COVER THOSE 5 P'S AND NEXT WEEK WE WILL GO BACK TO GO OVER WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FIND THAT PEACE, WE WILL DO MORE ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK. BUT I WANTED YOU TO GET THAT OVERVIEW OF A WAY TO PRAY AND THEN YOU CAN START TRYING THIS. IT IS A VERY SIMPLE METHOD FOR PRAYING. AGAIN FR. ARMAND NIGRO HAS PASSED AWAY. GOD REST HIS SOUL. HE WAS A GREAT MAN. ALL RIGHT. LET US TAKE A LOOK AT AN EMAIL. HERE IS AN INTERESTING ONE. THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION ACTUALLY. THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT. THE WORD EVIL HAS 2 SENSES TO IT IN HEBREW. THE WORD IS - - OR ALSO - -. IT IS A DEEP STYLE. IT HAS THE SENSE OF MORAL EVIL BUT IT ALSO HAS A SENSE OF DESTRUCTION. IT CAN HAVE EITHER THIS MEANING THAT IT IS SOMETHING DESTRUCTIVE OR IT IS MORALLY EVIL. IN THIS CASE, YOU SEE THAT IT WOULD REFER TO A SELF DESTRUCTIVE SPIRIT. SAUL WAS TRYING TO KILL DAVID. HE WAS FILLED WITH ENVY. SAUL WAS ALSO MENTALLY UNBALANCED TO BEGIN WITH. READ THE LIFE OF SAUL IN THE 1ST BOOK OF SAMUEL. YOU SEE HOW HE HAS A NUMBER OF SEEMING BREAKDOWNS. DAVID WOULD COME AND HAVE TO PLAY MUSIC FOR HIM WHEN HE GOT INTO THAT ZONE. THE LORD - AND IT CAME FROM HIS DISOBEDIENCE OF THE LORD'S DIRECT COMMANDMENT ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. AND SO THAT DISOBEDIENCE LED AND SUBSEQUENT MENTAL BREAKDOWN LED TO THE LORD SENDING HIM AN EVIL SPIRIT TO FURTHER DESTROY HIM. AND THIS IS 1 OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS. THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHOOSE TO BE DISOBEDIENT WHEN OUR LORD HAD ALREADY SAID THAT THE LORD PREFERS OBEDIENCE TO MULTIPLE SACRIFICES, SAUL THOUGHT THAT IF HE GAVE GOD GOOD STUFF, GOD WOULD REWARD HIM. AS IF GOD NEEDED THE STUFF. BUT GOD DOES NOT NEED ANYTHING THAT WE OFFER HIM. HE WANTS OUR OBEDIENCE AND OUR LOVE. AND SAUL DID NOT GIVE HIM THAT. SO IT UNDOES HIM. AND HE KEEPS CHOOSING AGAIN AND AGAIN. HE GOES BACK AND FORTH. BUT HE KEEPS RETURNING TO THE PLAN TO KILL DAVID. AND PURSUES HIM LIKE A PARTRIDGE, DAVID SAID IN A LATER PASSAGE. IT ENDS UP BRINGING ABOUT HIS OWN DESTRUCTION. SO THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. IT IS NOT A DEMONIC SPIRIT. BUT IT IS A DESTRUCTIVE SPIRIT. THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THAT POINT. OKAY? SO IT IS IN THESE EARLY STAGES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT THERE IS A LOT OF VAGUENESS ABOUT THINGS. THE ISRAELITES WERE STILL LEARNING A LOT ABOUT GOD, AND THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THEM IN THE EARLY BOOKS OF THE BIBLE AS BEING SO VIOLENT AND SUCH. BUT THE MORE THAT THEY WENT ALONG, THEY CHANGED AND THEY DEVELOPED. SO THEY ALSO BECAME MORE SUBTLE IN UNDERSTANDING THINGS ABOUT WHAT COMES FROM THE EVIL SPIRIT AND WHAT COMES FROM GOD AND WHAT THAT MEANS. SO IT IS ALSO A PART OF IT. THE WRITERS WERE LEARNING. IT TOOK TIME. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK AND BE BACK WITH MORE QUESTIONS FROM YOU AND COMMENTS SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK. WE HAVE TIM ON THE PHONE. TIM, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> MICHIGAN. MUNRO, MICHIGAN. >> I KNOW WHERE IT IS. SOUTH OF DETROIT. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU? >> I USED TO WATCH FATHER LEO CLIFFORD ON HIS TALKS AFTER THE ROSARY. I WONDERED ABOUT THIS. HE REFERRED TO JESUS CHRIST AS OUR ELDER BROTHER AND I WONDERED CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY HE WOULD SAY THAT WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS THE 2ND PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY OF GOD. AND I AM NOT GOD. >> NO. HERE IS WHY HE SAID THAT. TAKE A LOOK AT ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE ROMANS CHAPTER 8 AND HE SAYS THERE, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER RELATED PASSAGES, THAT IF YOU, THAT YOU ARE CO HEIRS WITH CHRIST AND CHILDREN OF GOD BY ADOPTION. IF YOU SUFFER WITH CHRIST THEN YOU WILL BE GLORIFIED WITH HIM. NOW THIS IMAGE, THAT IS WHAT LIES BEHIND FATHER CLIFFORD'S VERY BEAUTIFUL INSIGHT. WHEN A CHILD IS ADOPTED - DO YOU KNOW ANY FRIENDS OR RELATIVES WHO WERE ADOPTED? INTO A FAMILY? >> YES, I ADOPTED A DAUGHTER. >> ARE YOU GOING TO INCLUDE THAT DAUGHTER IN YOUR WILL? >> YES. >> AND ADOPTED DAUGHTER WOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE IN THE INHERITANCE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE WITH THE NATURAL CHILDREN. ESPECIALLY IF THE CHILD, THERE WAS ONE POINT WHERE MY DAD BELONGED TO THIS ORGANIZATION, THE MOOSE, AND THEY USED TO RUN AN ORPHANAGE. THEY TOOK CARE ESPECIALLY AFTER THE WORLD WAR THEY HAD A LOT OF ORPHANS. THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE ORPHANS. AND THEY WERE CONSIDERING ADOPTING A KID. I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ANOTHER BROTHER. BUT I WOULD STILL BE THE OLDEST BROTHER BUT IF THAT KID WAS ADOPTED HE WOULD REALLY BE MY BROTHER RIGHT? AND IN THAT SENSE I WOULD BE THE ELDER BROTHER OF THE ADOPTED ONE. AS WELL AS MY SIBLINGS BORN TO MY MOM AND DAD. SO THIS IS THE IDEA, WE ARE ADOPTED. AS A MATTER FACT WE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION BY WHICH WE CRY OUT ABBA FATHER. BUT JESUS OUR LORD IS STILL THE ELDEST BROTHER. NOW IF A CHILD IS ADOPTED THEY DO NOT GET YOUR DNA. ADOPTION DOES NOT DO THAT. BUT IT DOES MAKE THEM A REAL MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. SIMILARLY WE DID NOT BECOME GOD BUT WE ARE ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY. SO JESUS OUR LORD IS ALSO OUR BROTHER OUR ELDER BROTHER. BECAUSE HE IS GOD BY NATURE. WE ARE THE CHILDREN ADOPTED INTO GOD'S FAMILY. DOES THAT HELP? >> YES VERY MUCH. >> GREAT QUESTION. IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER ABOUT OUR DIGNITY AS HUMAN BEINGS. THAT IF WE ARE ADOPTED CHILDREN OF GOD WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT KIND OF DIGNITY OF EVERYBODY. AND TREAT THEM WITH THAT KIND OF RESPECT. ROYALTY. I REMEMBER READING CS LEWIS SAYING IN HIS BOOK, THE WEIGHT OF GLORY, THAT IF WE COULD SEE ONE ANOTHER THE WAY THAT WE WILL BE IN HEAVEN YOU WOULD BE TEMPTED TO WORSHIP YOUR NEIGHBOR. THE GLORY THAT THEY BEAR WOULD TEMPT YOU TO WORSHIP THEM. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY HELPFUL. ALL RIGHT. LET US NOW GO OVER TO AN EMAIL. ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE A SAINT THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER AS A PATRON. FOR YOURSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS. HER NAME WAS CHRISTINA THE ASTONISHING. LOOK HER UP ON THE INTERNET. YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL SO I SUSPECT YOU HAVE INTERNET. SHE HAD WHAT SEEMS TO BE IN RETROSPECT CERTAIN MENTAL AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS. BUT SHE BECAME HOLY IN THE MIDST OF THEM. AND SHE WAS CANONIZED A SAINT. SHE WAS ODD. SOME FOLKS GOING THROUGH THESE DIFFICULTIES MAY SEEM TO BE ODD TO OTHER PEOPLE. THAT IS NO HINDRANCE EVEN IF YOU ARE RATHER ODD OR IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF PAIN. YOUR PAIN IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN GIVE TO OUR LORD. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SAY, WELL I CANNOT BE HOLY. NO. I CAN BE HOLY WITH THESE DIFFICULTIES. AND TAKING THESE MEDICINES. I CAN STILL BECOME HOLY LIKE CHRISTINA THE ASTONISHING. AND I CAN FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET CLOSER TO OUR LORD WITH THESE. AND I WILL BRING THESE ALONG WITH MY SUFFERING DUE TO THIS. IF YOU HAVE PAST EXPERIENCES OF ABUSE, YOU BRING THAT TO OUR LORD AND YOU MAKE THAT YOUR PRAYER AND YOUR SACRIFICE TO HIM. 1 OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN DO THAT IS TO MEDITATE ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF OUR LORD'S SUFFERING AND DEATH. GO TO THE GOSPEL PASSAGES. AGAIN I RECOMMEND A BOOK I WROTE LAST YEAR CALLED WHEAT AND TARES. I SPEND ABOUT 3 OR 4 CHAPTERS IN WHEAT AND TARES GOING THROUGH THE PASSION OF CHRIST AND LINKING EACH ASPECT OF OUR LORD'S SUFFERING TO THE SUFFERING OF THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE. AND CONNECTING THAT AND HELPING THEM TO SEE THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR PAIN, COMPARED TO THAT OF CHRIST'S, AND ESPECIALLY AT HOLY MASS, UNITED WITH CHRIST'S SUFFERING AND MAKE THAT YOUR OFFERING. SO THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT PRECLUDES PRAYER BUT BECOMES THE MEANS. SAY LORD, YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF SINNERS, LIKE JESUS. WITH HIM I GIVE YOU MINE. IT IS ALL I'VE GOT BUT I GIVE YOU THAT. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THAT WILL BE AN EXTREMELY PRECIOUS GIFT TO OUR LORD FROM YOU. AND HE WILL CHERISH IT. AND YOU WILL GROW IN IT AS WELL. ALL RIGHT WE HAVE ANOTHER CALL. HELLO JANE. >> YES. >> WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM? >> DELAWARE. >> WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION? >> MY QUESTION IS WHEN A PERSON IS CREMATED IS IT PROPER FOR THE RELATIVES TO TAKE THOSE ASHES AND MAKE JEWELRY OUT OF THEM AND WEAR THEM? >> I WOULD FIND THAT, I CANNOT IMAGINE DOING THAT. HAVE YOU SEEN CREMAINS? >> I AM NOT CALLING FOR MYSELF. >> I FIND THAT A VERY ODD THING. I DO NOT FIND THAT TO BE RESPECTFUL TOWARD THE DEAD. CREMATION IS SOMETHING PEOPLE, THEY CERTAINLY CAN DO AND SOMETIMES HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD A BURIAL PLACE. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT YOU STILL NEED TO PUT THE CREMAINS IN A PLACE OF REST AND TAKE NOTE OF THAT PERSON. I DO NOT THINK THAT THAT IS A GOOD IDEA AT ALL. LET THEM REST IN PEACE AND PRAY FOR THEM; SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY WHAT I WANT TO KEEP THEM CLOSE TO ME. WELL, THEY ARE NOT REALLY CLOSE TO YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT. IF THEY ARE IN HEAVEN AND INTERCEDING FOR YOU THEY WILL HAVE A CLOSENESS TO YOU BUT YOU WANT TO SHOW RESPECT AND BY SHOWING RESPECT IN BURIAL MAKE SURE THAT YOU PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THEIR SOULS. THAT WOULD BE MY THINKING. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> SOMEONE SAID IN THE BIBLE IT SAYS THAT THE ASHES SHOULD NOT BE DIVIDED. >> THAT IS RIGHT. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. LEAVE THEM TOGETHER AND NOT SEPARATE THEM. THANK YOU JANE. WE APPRECIATE THAT CALL. WE ALSO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME, SO MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AND CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU. AND LEAD YOU AND GUIDE YOU IN ALL OF YOUR WAYS BY HIS PEACE. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. REMEMBER THAT THIS NETWORK WAS FOUNDED BY MOTHER ANGELICA ON THE BASIS OF IT BEING BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU. SO PLEASE KEEP US IN BETWEEN YOUR UTILITY BILLS AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY OUR BILLS. THANK YOU. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC)
