I’m Spiritual
Spirituality inspires how we live, especially what we do, and how we spend our time. The word ‘spirituality’ owes its origin to the Latin word ‘spiritus’ which has connotations of life-giving breath. We could perhaps call it by another name, such as our value system and beliefs. If I spend the day with a compassionate attitude matched by compassionate actions, I have a spirituality that’s inspired by something good and life-giving, leading me towards a space that enriches me as a human being. If I spend my day demeaning and exploiting others, I have a ‘spirituality’ that is life-denying and undermining my humanity, because the fundamental human orientation is to live life, not undermine it.
Excerpted from Reimagining Religion: A Jesuit Vision by Jim Maher SJ (p.19)
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Pope’s Intention May 2023
We pray that Church movements and groups may rediscover their mission of evangelisation each day, placing their own charisms at the service of the needs in the world.
Morning prayer
Father, here I am.
I know you are always with me.
I place my heart in the Heart of your Son, Jesus.
May your Holy Spirit make me his
friend and his apostle,
available for his mission of compassion.
I place in your hands my joys and
hopes, my works and sufferings,
everything I am and have, in
communion with my brothers
and sisters in this worldwide prayer network.
With Mary, I offer my day for the mission of the Church
and for the prayer intentions of the Pope.
Our Father …
Night prayer
Give thanks to the Lord, for the day is coming to a close.
Bring to mind all that you have experienced today.
Were you able to give comfort to those who are suffering?
Become aware of your attitude towards service and care for all.
Did you live your day aware of your collaboration with Jesus?
In his Mission of compassion for the world?
In your environments and in your daily routine?
Offer your rest to the Lord for the suffering children in the world.
Hail Mary …
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#WhatsTheStory
Sometimes you can be a prisoner of a story not your own. You can be wrapped up in a story of greed, vengeance or vanity. Your entire story can sometimes be captured by others who sum you up in a word or category, and you can then become that word: alcoholic, neurotic, victim, loser, and so on. You can find yourself living through the eyes of others, losing sight of your own value. Stories that tell you you’re hopeless and will come to nothing are self-defeating: stories that tell you you’re wonderful and special can leave you vulnerable when challenges come your way. To be fully alive you need to be in touch with the story that begins and ends in love, and for many of us that is the Christian story.
Excerpted from Dipping Into Life by Alan Hilliard (p.77)
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MentalHealth
If you put too much pressure on any part of your life, there is risk of collapse. If you put too much pressure on any one part of your being, there is a risk of collapse too. The body, soul, mind and emotions are given to you to spread the load. The same is true of your family and friends, and of support services and those things that help you discover your beliefs and values. When you are in good form, you are aware of all these ‘arches’ in your life. The load is spread quite evenly. When you are in bad form, you put too much pressure on one ‘arch’, that single arch just can’t carry the load!
Excerpted from Dipping Into Life by Alan Hilliard (p.48)
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