Sharing The Vision
"Whatever else you may be doing if you but fix your desire on God's Sabbath rest, your prayer will be ceaseless. Therefore if you wish to pray without ceasing, do not cease to desire.
The constancy of your desire will itself be the ceaseless voice of your prayer."
(Saint Augustine)
The constancy of your desire will itself be the ceaseless voice of your prayer."
(Saint Augustine)
THE VISION'S END
The general end of the Sabbath Life program is to provide a welcoming Spirit filled environment that introduces topics and exercises which simply make way for teens to experience a true encounter with Christ. The particular end of the program is to provide the community, the encouragement, the training and the tools that teens need to develop the life-giving habits of attending Sunday Mass, going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist so that they can continue to encounter Christ throughout their entire lives.
A MEDITATION FROM POPE BENEDICT XVI
“Celebrating Sunday
Christians are Sunday people. What does that mean? Before we ask ourselves how we observe Sunday, we have to consider what we Christians actually celebrate on Sunday. The real and first reason, for celebrating Sunday, lies in the fact that on this day Christ rose from the dead. For the first time someone returns from the dead and will not die again. But Jesus did not pass quickly into heaven. He did not simply shed time as one might shed a worn out garment. On the contrary, He remains with us.
The feast of Sunday is therefore, above all, a profession of faith in the resurrection. Very early in the history of the Church, Christians asked themselves, “Why did the Lord choose this day?” According to Jewish reckoning, Sunday was the first day of the week. It was therefore the day on which God created the world. It was the day on which God ended His rest and spoke, “Let there be light.” Sunday is the first day of the week the day of creation. That means then that Sunday is also the day on which we give thanks for creation. Creation has been given us by God as our living space as the scene of our labor and our leisure in which we find both the necessities and the superfluities of life, the beauty of images and sounds which we need precisely as much as we need food and clothing. "
Christians are Sunday people. What does that mean? Before we ask ourselves how we observe Sunday, we have to consider what we Christians actually celebrate on Sunday. The real and first reason, for celebrating Sunday, lies in the fact that on this day Christ rose from the dead. For the first time someone returns from the dead and will not die again. But Jesus did not pass quickly into heaven. He did not simply shed time as one might shed a worn out garment. On the contrary, He remains with us.
The feast of Sunday is therefore, above all, a profession of faith in the resurrection. Very early in the history of the Church, Christians asked themselves, “Why did the Lord choose this day?” According to Jewish reckoning, Sunday was the first day of the week. It was therefore the day on which God created the world. It was the day on which God ended His rest and spoke, “Let there be light.” Sunday is the first day of the week the day of creation. That means then that Sunday is also the day on which we give thanks for creation. Creation has been given us by God as our living space as the scene of our labor and our leisure in which we find both the necessities and the superfluities of life, the beauty of images and sounds which we need precisely as much as we need food and clothing. "
Waking up The Culture
Sabbath Virtues and Practices
"YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD, YOUR GOD, WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH." LUKE 10:27
"YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD, YOUR GOD, WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH." LUKE 10:27
- Remember God – meaning to abstain from noises of the world, turning our thoughts toward God
Do my activities allow/aid me to think of God? - Longing for God – wanting to spend time with God
During the week, am I anticipating the Sabbath with great joy? - Preparing for Mass – taking full advantage of the tools and time given to us to praise God
Am I attentive and ready to advance my relationship with the Holy of Holies? - Attending Mass – fully participating with a deep appreciation and a growing love for Jesus Christ
Am I looking, listening, waiting, wanting and offering; am I praying to and with God?
Sabbath Points of Focus, Understanding, Loving & Practicing
Understanding the Catechism
UPON THIS ROCK – One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church:
Loving the Eucharist
BODY AND BLOOD – Soul and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ:
Practicing the Holy Mass
THE HOLY MASS – The Pinnacle of Prayer:
Understanding the Catechism
UPON THIS ROCK – One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church:
- Loving the Family – serving, praying and fasting for our souls and those of the whole world
Do I recognize the whole of humanity as intimate members of my family? - Becoming the Church, the Bride – growing in humble union with God
Am I longing and eagerly spending my time getting to know God? - Appreciating Our Heritage – knowing our patriarchs, matriarchs, priesthood and everlasting inheritance
Do I understand the totality of God’s gifts and the faithfulness He shared with his people?
Loving the Eucharist
BODY AND BLOOD – Soul and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Desiring the Sacrament – advantageously seeking the Eucharist
Do I really know and believe that I am encountering Jesus Christ in the Sacrament? - Embracing Spiritual Union – seeking communion with the Eucharist beyond the Sacrament
Do I take brief moments to be alone with Jesus Christ throughout my entire day? - Becoming the Eucharist – being broken bread for others
Am I actively learning from and participating in the Gospel?
Practicing the Holy Mass
THE HOLY MASS – The Pinnacle of Prayer:
- Liturgy of the Word – meeting Christ in the Scriptures
Can I listen to and recognize the voice of God? - Liturgy of the Eucharist – consuming Christ and being consumed
Do I give up my distractions for Christ’s real presence? - Sending Forth – going out and making disciples of all the nations
Do I have the conviction to take up my Christian obligation, to proclaim the Gospel?
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