Benefits of a Retreat: 10 Rs to look forward to when you go on a spiritual retreat

 A Retreat gives at least 10 Rs: 

• Refreshes
• Revitalizes for purposeful action
• Reconciles with God, our Creator and loving Savior
• Repairs deep-seated moral deficiencies
• Reduces stress and anxiety levels
• Rests and relaxes the soul
• Redirects away from trouble, the pains of purgatory and eternal damnation
• Restores our spiritual and even physical health
• Recreates you towards the best version of yourself
• Reconfigures you to live the Life of Love and Deep Joy of Jesus Christ. 

10 Reasons You Need to Go on Retreat this Year

by Nick Bernard in Life Teen (excerpts) 

1. You Need Rest. Even God took time to rest when He created the world!

2. Your Savior Needed a Retreat. Throughout the Gospels, Christ periodically takes time to step away from the world, and even from His disciples, to be alone with His Father.

3. You Need Community. Friendships centered on Christ will change your life, and a retreat is a perfect place to foster these relationships.

4. You Need to be on God’s Time (Kairos, anybody?). While on retreat, we sometimes seem to be in another world. We step out of our normal routine and live on God’s time, also known in Greek as Kairos. 

5. You Need Reflection. While retreats have the potential to change our lives in the future, they also give us a chance to look back at our past. By reflecting on who we’ve been, we can better understand who God desires us to become.

6. You Need Prayer. Retreats give us a unique opportunity to concentrate on prayer more than we do in everyday life. [And prayer, relationship with God is "the one thing necessary." (Lk 10:42)]

7. Your Life Needs to get Wrecked. Stepping into God’s love for a retreat weekend might reveal to us a relationship we need to change, a prayer style we ought to alter, or a perspective we hadn’t yet seen about a life decision. 

8. You Need Reconciliation. The gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation gives us the chance to clear our lives of the sin that separates us from God and others.

9. You Need to Receive Jesus to be a Disciple. Retreats allow us to refocus our gaze on Him and reunite our efforts to His Spirit, enabling us to persevere in our mission as disciples.

10. You Need to Be Open to Changing Your Life. Retreats will not magically transform our lives but they can show us how to change our own lives. 

Why go on a Spiritual Retreat? 

by Fr. Francis Hoffmann

The powerful benefits of time alone with God  

You could be as wealthy as a king -- yet miserable -- if you have no friends. Or you could be as poor as dirt -- yet happy -- because you're surrounded by loved ones. 

A recent study of human happiness by the distinguished British economist Richard Layard concludes that the most significant factor for personal happiness is relationships with other people. And what personal relationship could be more important than the relationship with God? 

The saints -- who were notoriously happy -- gave witness to this reality. Even St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Claretian Martyrs of Barbastro, and the Carmelite nuns of Compiegne sang hymns of joy on their way to martyrdom. Immersed in conditions that would make mere mortals sad, these friends of God faced suffering with joy. It was their friendship with God that gave them strength and joy. 

But friendship takes time and needs to be strengthened by conversation. Couples who have strong marriages will tell you about the importance of getting away for a long weekend to spend time alone in conversation. We need to do the same with God, and that's why the Church warmly recommends annual retreats for the faithful. 

Retreats are a time away from our normal activities to spend time getting reacquainted with God, to examine the priorities of life and to make concrete and practical resolutions for improvement. Retreats can be a powerful step toward personal conversion. 

An Ancient Practice 

Before Our Lord began His public ministry, He spent 40 days in the desert praying and fasting as a way to prepare for the important work ahead (see Lk 4:1-13). Those were days of retreat.

During His three years of public ministry, Jesus would sometimes invite His disciples to "come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mk 6:31). Again, days of retreat. 

When Jesus entered forcefully into the life of St. Paul, He directed him to rise and go into the city, where he would be told what to do. For three days St. Paul neither ate nor drank, preparing himself to receive the spiritual direction of Ananias (see Acts 9:1-9). Those, too, were days of retreat

CULTURE OF VOCATIONS IN SCHOOLS: Practical tips from all over

 

Coined by St. John Paul II, the term "culture of vocation" was born from what he calls "the urgency of cultivating 'basic vocational attitudes'...higher values." 

"Every Christian community, every member of the Church, needs to consciously feel responsible for promoting vocations," Benedict XVI points out, "especially now when the voice of the Lord seems to be drowned out by ‘other voices'"--the worldly priorities of our time. 

Recently, Pope Francis has stressed that promoting vocations is "the soul of all evangelization"--the mission of all Christians. 

Since culture means "the full range of learned human behavior patterns," here are tips on new behaviors we can learn based on several materials on the web and in books. They are classified into three:

1. Regular prayer for vocations since winning new vocations is the best way of showing love. 

2. Make people very aware of God's calling us through vocation. 

3. Encourage everyone to find and seek their personal vocation. 

1. Best way of showing love and regular prayer for vocations: ask students and parents to pray for vocations, and teach that "winning vocations is the best way of showing love" (St Josemaria) 

1. Tell children and parents the teaching of St Josemaria: helping someone to find their vocation and unite with Christ through that vocation is "the best way of showing charity" and charity (love) is greatest commandment and virtue, the only things by which we will be judged. Each Catholic is responsible for promoting vocations in the Church. (cf Benedict XVI)
2. "Prayer is the first and indispensable service we can offer to the cause of vocations. Vocation is always a gift from God." (Pope Francis)
3. Introduce in Religion classes the Chalice Program or Vocation Crucifix Program for families to pray for vocations. A Vocation Crucifix or Chalice is taken home by a family for one week, to pray for vocations for the Catholic Church, and also for the faithfulness of each member of the family to the universal vocation to follow Jesus in holiness and mission. And then it's passed on to another family. "Prayer for vocations can be offered at any time during the day, perhaps before the family’s main meal, or whatever time is most convenient." 
4. The secret of places with many vocations, says Pope Francis, is that the leader sends "a letter every month to people who wanted to pray for vocations such as old ladies, the sick, newlyweds, etc. with a thought and aid to accompany the prayer."
5. Have the students write a prayer for vocations they can say each day; or at least once a week.  When the class meets, pray together one of the prayers the children have written. 
6. Make the class recite age-appropriate prayer for vocations. It would be good if the prayer includes finding and embracing one's own vocation. 
7. Use the excellent USCCB Prayer to Know One's Vocation found here. 
8. Invite students to offer mortifications and sacrifices for vocations. 
9. Pray for vocations in the school Mass intentions regularly. During Masses when many parents are around, include a prayer for vocations. 
10. During Eucharistic Vigils, the school community prays for the holiness of everyone and for vocations. "Abundant fruits come if the thoughts and hopes of a school turn around Jesus in the Eucharist." (cf. St. Josemaria) 
11. Teach children to pray well, in this way they can hear the voice of God. (Benedict XVI; cf Msgr. Fernando Ocariz) 
12. The Church celebrates World Day of Prayer for Vocations on the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Vocation Sunday). Since this is summer vacation time in the Philippines, the school can choose another day within the school year as Vocation Day. One possibility is Monday after the Baptism of our Lord, for students to commemorate their own Baptism, which, together with the Confirmation and Eucharist, "ground the common vocation of all Christ's disciples, a vocation to holiness and to the mission of evangelizing the world." (CCC 1533) 

2. Vocation awareness: make students and parents aware that God continues to call each one to his service, and of the importance and attractiveness of vocations

1. The "vocation crisis" is really a "vocation awareness crisis," because "God continues to call men and women into service, but we have created an environment where people no longer have the ears to hear that call." (cf. Sr. M. Louise O’ Rourke) The US bishops dedicate one week to National Vocation Awareness Week. 
2. According to Fr. Randy de Jesus, the National Coordinator of the Directors of Vocations in the Philippines, among the very successful best practices that draw dozens of vocations are the following: Vocation Festival, Vocation Camp and Vocation Posters.
3. The Vocation Festival is a day that includes: (a) prayer before the Eucharist (Holy Hour), (b) talk on vocation with open forum where the students can ask priests, nuns and others who have the vocation about their life,  (c) vocation exhibit with booths of the different Catholic groups, (d) talent show and fun program.  
4. The Vocation Camp is a weekend camp especially for altar servers, with talks and fun activities.
5. Ask bishops, priests and Church leaders to talk and discuss about their vocation, and about the urgent concern for having more vocations for the Church and the world.
6. Take children to an ordination ceremony or the first Mass of a priest.
7. Ask students and parents to show support for seminarians and priests, praying for their work.
8. Make students and parents write letters of gratitude during the priestly anniversary of chaplains and other priests. Some of these letters can be published so the students see how much the vocation is appreciated.
9. Ask people who have inspiring works of vision and service to talk with the children. Ask alumni or alumnae who have answered God's call to talk about the joy of their vocation and let the children ask them questions. Other possible resources speakers are relatives or friends of students, former teachers and chaplains, priests of the diocese, etc. 
10. Let students personally interview people who have received a vocation. 
11. Make the children aware that marriage is a vocation. Ask fruitful Catholic marriages to inspire the students. 
12. Discuss with parent leaders the foremost issues of formation in the school and what they can do to lead the other parents to live according to the Christian ideal and follow the Christian vocation in their families, and promote vocations. 

3. Encouragement to seek personal vocation: in one-on-one chats with children and parents, talk about the universal vocation to holiness and apostolate and the importance of finding their own personal vocation. 

1. In 2022, when the ordinands in the US were asked when they first considered a vocation to the priesthood, 30% said Elementary, 24% High School, 21% College, 17% Adulthood, 8% Preschool. The percentages have been more or less the same for previous years. In schools, "the potential here is great!" (cf. The Harvest) 
2. Study of US bishops: If one person encourages someone to consider a vocation, this doubles the likelihood that they will do so. If three people offer encouragement, respondents were more than five times more likely to consider a vocation.
3. Conduct regularly a Christian Practice Survey, asking the students if they are aware that God calls them to holiness and deep friendship with Jesus Christ, if they perform specific acts of piety and service, if they have thought about their specific vocation and their level of interest to the call. 
4. Incorporate the Vocation Curriculum guide of the USCCB. See here. 
5. 90% of our vocation comes from our parents. (St. Josemaria) The family is "the most excellent seedbed of vocations." (St. John Paul II)  Make parents see early on the dangers of an ever-increasingly materialistic and sex-crazed culture that their young children will face, that will prevent them from being generous to the universal call to holiness and apostolate. Help parents teach chastity; (See resource for parents here.) and all the Christian virtues.  
6. Help parents to see clearly what the Catechism teaches: "Parents should respect and encourage their children's vocations. They should remember and teach that the first calling of the Christian is to follow Jesus." (CCC 2253) 

Sources:

• Pope Francis on How to Promote Vocations 
• 20 Ways to Promote Vocations in Schools - USCCB
• The Harvest: A Guide to Vocation Ministry in Education - contains 75 activities for vocation ministry
• Creating a culture of vocation in today's Irish Church - Sr. M. Louise O’ Rourke
• How to promote vocations - this is a PDF file that includes 10 tips for each for parents, teachers, catechists, priests, youth ministers, etc. on how they can promote vocations. 
• Top Ten Things to Promote Vocations - USCCB
• The Catholic Family and Vocations by Fr. Hardon, S.J. 
• St. Josemaria's Teachings on Winning Vocations

Image is by GovernmentZA in Flickr

St. Josemaria’s Teachings on Winning Vocations

Importance: best charity. “Winning new vocations is the best way of showing charity to souls.” 

More effort, more vocation. “Anyone who tries to win new apostles gets vocations. Anyone who makes little effort to win new apostles obtains few vocations. Anyone who makes a lot of effort to win new apostles gains many vocations.” 

Vocations: result of youth formation.  The apostolate with the youth "is directed towards giving Christian formation to young people and as a result, also to help many discover their vocation.” (Catechism of Opus Dei)

Doing what has been established systematically so as to get vocations. “Many vocations should come. And if they don’t it will be our fault for not doing what has been established, for not doing things in a cheerful, systematic, constant, holy way.” 

• Young people teaching catechism and visiting and interacting with the poor has "divine efficacy" and "proven effectiveness"
• "If you faithfully employ the traditional means, everything will go well."

Apostolate of friendship: source of greatest fruit. “The greatest fruit is what each one obtains personally by the apostolate of friendship.” 

Rely entirely on prayer, the most effective way. “Prayer is the most effective means of winning new apostles. We rely entirely on prayer. We must ask God for more vocations: vocations from every sector of society, from every walk of life.” “Vocations, Lord, more vocations!”

Abundant fruits by being centered on Jesus in the Eucharist. “If the center around which your thoughts and hopes turn is the Tabernacle, then, my child, how abundant the fruits of your sanctity and apostolate will be!” 

Key role of parents. "We owe 90% of our vocation to our parents."

Think of worldwide need to keep zeal. Spread the zeal. No fear. “By often considering the need for vocations all over the world, we will keep our zeal for winning new vocations enkindled.” 

“Zeal for winning vocations! Set those around you on fire!” “Enkindle your zeal for winning vocations, and cast aside all fear.” 

Patience and never stopping. “Seek new vocations calmly, slowly, at God’s pace…But no matter what never leave this task.” 

Vocations to the priesthood and religious. “It grieves me to see a priest or religious not seeking vocations for the diocesan seminary or novitiate.” 

Daily prayer for priestly vocations. “The Church needs priests, and always will. Ask the Blessed Trinity for them each day through our mother Mary.” 

Responsibility for winning vocations. “What I want to hear from you is an account of your apostolic fruit, the vocations you have won, and the souls you have brought closer to God.” 

Relevant article:

Pope Francis on Promoting Vocations

POPE FRANCIS ON HOW TO PROMOTE VOCATIONS

Promoting vocations "is the soul of all evangelization and all of the Church's pastoral ministry." — Pope Francis

There were two instances when Pope Francis delved specifically and deeply on vocational ministry:

• Convention "Rise, go and do not fear. Vocation and Holiness: I am on a mission" (RG)
• Conference on Pastoral Work for Vocations (PWG). This will be the main outline of this article, with RG providing some anecdotes from the Holy Father. 

Here are his key insights—including a sharing of actual best-practices that produced results!

Three convictions about promoting vocations 

1. All pastoral action is oriented, by its very nature, to vocational discernment

• Its ultimate goal is to help the believer to discover the concrete way to carry out the project of life to which God calls him.
• Promoting vocations:
• soul of all evangelization and of all the Church’s pastoral ministry
• close connection with evangelization, education in the faith - leads to a personal encounter with Christ,
• special - pastoral care of the family. Parents to: 
• assume their mission joyfully and responsibly to be the first vocational animators of their children
• free themselves and free their children from the inner barrier of selfish, calculating perspectives or of power, which often occur in the bosom of families, even those practicing the faith.

2.  Promoting vocations finds its most appropriate “humus” (fertile ground) in youth pastoral ministry

• Vocation
• not to be raised only at the end of the whole process or to a group that is particularly sensitive to a specific vocational call
• must be constantly raised throughout the process of evangelization and education in the faith of adolescents and young people.

3. Prayer must occupy a very important place in promoting vocations

• Jesus: "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Mt 9: 38). 
• Prayer is the first and indispensable service we can offer to the cause of vocations. Vocation - always a gift from God
• Prayer for vocations presupposes:
• praying and working for fidelity to one’s vocation
• creating environments where it is possible to listen to the Lord’s call; promoting the “Gospel of the vocation”, working tirelessly to create a vocational culture [Benedict XVI in the US said this means "to teach young people to pray and pray well", so "we will be cooperating with God’s call."] 
• Pope Francis asked bishops of dioceses which were "blessed with vocations." "What did you do?" "First of all, a letter from the bishop, every month, to people who wanted to pray for vocations: old ladies, the sick, newlyweds... A letter every month, with a spiritual thought, with an aid, to accompany the prayer. Accompany prayer...We need to look for a way. The first task is prayer! Praying is the first thing. To pray with the heart, with one's life, with everything, with the desire that what I am asking be done. Pray for vocations." (RG) [See a collection of Prayer for Vocations here.]

Three challenges of promoting vocations

1. Trust in the young and trust in the Lord.

• Trust in the young
• there are many young people who seek full meaning in their lives
• Stay awake to awaken young people to be centered in the Lord. Help the young to focus on Him
• Trust in the Lord
• Be sure that He continues to awaken in the People of God various vocations 
• Say no to temptation that in some environments vocations are not possible

2. Clear knowledge of our society and the current generation of young people

• So as not to give answers to questions that nobody is asking
• Today young people must be on the move. To work for vocations it is necessary to make young people walk, and this is done by accompanying them. The apostolate of walking. And how to walk, how? Inventing pastoral actions that involve young people, in something that makes them do something: during the holidays we go for a week to do a mission in that country, or to do social assistance in that other country, or every week we go to the hospital, this one, that…, or to feed the homeless. (RG)

3. Conviction that following Christ is worthwhile

• Total gift of self to the cause of the Gospel is beautiful and can give meaning to our whole life

Five Characteristics of Promoting Vocations

1. Differentiated - Jesus calls each one by his name. Offer what is needed for each person. 

2. Narrative - Young people want to see the model of Jesus in a concrete life

3. Ecclesial - based on Vatican Council II; participate in the life of the Church

4. Evangelical, and as such, committed and responsible

• Start from the center of all pastoral ministry: Jesus Christ
• Place the demands of the Gospel to live radically and sincerely, to accept responsibly the consequences of faith. 

5. Accompanied - create an atmosphere of trust, make young people feel that they are loved; with personal relationship 

6. Persevering - sow and wait patiently for the seed to grow. Our job is to plant. 

7. Youthful

• dynamic, participative, cheerful, hopeful, risky, confident
• filled with Jesus - the only path they have to travel, the only truth to which they are called to adhere, the only life for which it is worth giving everything (Jn 1.35)

Two Truths of Promoting Vocations

1. There are no magical answers

2. We are called to a true “pastoral conversion” - not only of language, but also of lifestyle, if we want to connect with young people and propose a path of faith and offer a vocational proposal.

It is true that a boy or a girl hears the Lord's call, but the call is always concrete: "I would like to become like this or like that". It is our testimonies that attract young people... Once a mother superior went to speak in a college; instead of speaking of the challenge of education, of the young people who are being educated, of all these things, she began to say: "We must pray for the canonization of our founding mother", and she spent more than half an hour talking about the founding mother, that this must be done, asking for a miracle... But the teachers thought: "But why does she tell us these things, while we need more... Yes, that's fine, that she be beatified and canonized, but we need another message". In the end, one of the teachers—I met her—said , “Mother, can I say something?” – "Yes" – Your founding mother will never be canonized." – "But why?" – "Eh, because she is certainly in purgatory." – "But don't say these things! Why do you say this?"  "Because if you who are the mother superior is so – let's say – silly, to say the least, your founding mother hasn't been able to form you". It is the testimony: that they see living in you what you preach. (RG)

RESOURCES ON VOCATION PROMOTION

• 20 Ways to Promote Vocations in Schools
• Top Ten Things to Promote Vocations

ABSOLUTE IMPORTANCE OF SILENCE: Liturgical rubrics on periods of silence at Mass

St. Josemaria: "There is no better way to show how great is our concern and love for the Holy Sacrifice than by taking great care with the least detail of the ceremonies the wisdom of the Church has laid down."

In his latest guidelines on the liturgy, Pope Francis stressed: "Among the ritual acts that belong to the whole assembly, silence occupies a place of absolute importance." He pointed out that silence is something "grand." It is not trivial, but "a point of arrival within a liturgical sequence." It is a "symbol of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit;" being an integral part of the sacrament it effectuates grace. (Desiderio Desideravi 52)

Grace is divine life and help, something we all sorely need. 

And so, he asks us to enact silence with "extreme care."  

When are these moments and what do the rubrics say about them? 

Here are quotes from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):

1. Within the Penitential Act (45, 51)

The Priest calls upon the whole community to take part in the Penitential Act, which, after a brief pause for silence, it does by means of a formula of general confession. (51)

Nature of silence – individuals recollect themselves (45)

2. After “Let us pray” of the opening collect (45, 54)

The Priest calls upon the people to pray and everybody, together with the Priest, observes a brief silence so that they may become aware of being in God’s presence and may call to mind their intentions. (54)

Nature of silence – individuals recollect themselves (45) 

3. Before the Liturgy of Word (56)

It may be appropriate to observe such periods of silence, for example, before the Liturgy of the Word itself begins. (56)

4. After the first two readings (45, 56, 128, 130)

It may be appropriate to observe such periods of silence, for example … after the First and Second Reading. (56)

Nature of the silence - All meditate briefly on what they have heard (45)

At the end [of the First Reading], the reader pronounces the acclamation The word of the Lord, and all reply, Thanks be to God. Then a few moments of silence may be observed, if appropriate, so that all may meditate on what they have heard. (128)

Then [after the reply to the acclamation after the Second Reading], if appropriate, a few moments of silence may be observed. (130)

5. After the homily (45, 56, 66, 136)

It may be appropriate to observe such periods of silence, for example…at the conclusion of the Homily (56)

It is appropriate for a brief period of silence to be observed after the Homily. (66)

When the Homily is over, a period of silence may be observed. (136)

Nature of the silence - all meditate briefly on what they have heard. (45)

6. After communion (43, 45, 164)

If appropriate, [the faithful] may sit or kneel during the period of sacred silence after Communion. (43)

Nature of silence - praise God in their hearts and pray to him (45)

After [the priest purifies the chalice and dries it with purificator], the Priest may return to the chair. A sacred silence may now be observed for some time, or a Psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may be sung (164)

7. After “Let us pray” of the post-communion prayer (165)

A brief period of silence may precede the prayer, unless this has been already observed immediately after Communion. (165)

Putting liturgical silence into practice

Of the seven moments, four are referred to with the word "may", while three are in the indicative: (1) Within the Penitential act, (2) After the "Let us pray" of the Collect, and (3) After the Homily. 

Still, Pope Francis in Desiderio Desideravi pointed out that silence is "present in the penitential act, after the invitation 'Let us pray,' in the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings, between the readings and after the homily), in the Eucharistic prayer, after communion." 

And so parishes and communities, may want to consider adapting all the seven moments of silence, given the "absolute importance" of these moments of silence at Mass--the very summit and source of our Christian life. 

Based on my internet search, many parishes instruct lectors to pause either for 2-3 seconds or 5-10 seconds. If one chooses the mid-point of 4 seconds, then the seven pauses will only mean an additional 28 seconds, that's less than half a minute--half a minute of receiving completely the powerful action of the Holy Spirit himself.   

At the very least, it is truly important that the three moments that the rubrics clearly indicate should be deliberately and calmly practiced. 

GENDER THEORY: Key points from Pope Francis and the Vatican

POPE FRANCIS ON GENDER THEORY

Gender theory is part of world war to destroy marriage. A great enemy of marriage today: the theory of gender. Today there is a world war to destroy marriage. Today there are ideological colonizations which destroy, not with weapons, but with ideas. Therefore, there is a need to defend ourselves from ideological colonizations. (Address to Priests, Religious, Seminarians and Pastoral Workers during the Apostolic Journey to Georgia and Azerbaijan, October 1, 2016) 

Gender theory is a step backwards and creates a problem. I ask myself if the so-called gender theory is not an expression of frustration and resignation, which seeks to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to deal with it. Yes, we risk taking a step backwards. The removal of difference in fact creates a problem, not a solution. (General Audience on Man and Woman, April 15, 2015) 

Ideology of choosing one’s own gender is terrible ideological colonization. In Europe, America, Latin America, Africa, and in some countries of Asia, there are genuine forms of ideological colonization taking place. And one of these - I will call it clearly by its name – is [the ideology of] ‘gender’. Today children – children! – are taught in school that everyone can choose his or her sex. Why are they teaching this? Because the books are provided by the persons and institutions that give you money. These forms of ideological colonization are also supported by influential countries. And this is terrible! (Address to the Polish Bishops during the Apostolic Journey to Poland, July 27, 2016) 

Age of sin against God the Creator. In a conversation with Pope Benedict, he said to me: ‘Holiness, this is the age of sin against God the Creator’. He is very perceptive. God created man and woman; God created the world in a certain way… and we are doing the exact opposite. Pope Benedict’s observation should make us think. (Address to the Polish Bishops during the Apostolic Journey to Poland, July 27, 2016) 

We don’t have absolute power over our bodies. Pope Benedict XVI spoke of an “ecology of man.” “Man has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.” Thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation. (Laudato Si’ 155) 

Value our own body to meet someone different and joyfully accept specific gifts. Valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment. It is not a healthy attitude to seek to cancel out sexual difference. (Laudato Si’ 155) 

Sex and gender cannot be separated. It needs to be emphasized that ‘biological sex and the socio-cultural role of sex (gender) can be distinguished but not separated.’ It is one thing to be understanding of human weakness and the complexities of life, and another to accept ideologies that attempt to sunder what are inseparable aspects of reality. (Amoris Laetitia 56) 

It’s a sin for creatures to replace the Creator. Let us not fall into the sin of trying to replace the Creator. We are creatures, and not omnipotent. Creation is prior to us and must be received as a gift. At the same time, we are called to protect our humanity, and this means, in the first place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created. (Amoris Laetitia 56) 

Help the young to appreciate their own body, to be self-aware and not be afraid of being different. The young need to be helped to accept their own body as it was created, for ‘thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation… An appreciation of our body as male or female is also necessary for our own self-awareness in an encounter with others different from ourselves. Only by losing the fear of being different, can we be freed of self-centeredness and self-absorption. (Amoris Laetitia 285)

VATICAN'S MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM: Towards a path of dialogue on the question of gender theory in education

Context: there is an educational crisis on affectivity and sexuality due to the challenges of gender theory:

• denies the difference between a man and a woman and their complementarity
• sees sexual difference as a mere product of cultural influences 
• gender identity is a choice of the individual and can change
• leads to destabilization of family 
• Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia: gender ideology “leads to educational programs and laws that promote a personal identity and emotional intimacy radically separated from the biological difference between male and female.” 

Methodology: 

• Dialogue through listening, reasoning and proposing 
• Pope Francis: “while the ideologies of gender claim to respond ‘to what are at times understandable aspirations’, they also seek ‘to assert themselves as absolute and unquestionable, even dictating how children should be raised’, and thus preclude dialogue”. 
• We have to be open to research that deepens our understanding of the differences between men and women 

History of gender theory. Listening

• 1990s theory of a radical separation between gender and sex, with the former having priority over the latter. 
• Vision of a society without sexual differences
• Nature and culture are contraposed
• Concept of "queer" 
• sexuality as extremely fluid, flexible, and constantly moving
• liberation of the individual from sexual definition
• disappearance of rigid classifications

Points of agreement and criticisms. Reasoning

• Points of agreement
• need to educate children to respect every person in their particularity and difference, so that no one should suffer bullying, violence, insults or unjust discrimination based on their specific characteristics, such as special needs, race, religion, sexual tendencies, etc
• the values of feminity
• willingness of women to dedicate themselves in a special way to human relationships, especially for the benefit of the weakest
• St John Paul II - women exhibit a kind of affective, cultural and spiritual motherhood, which is of inestimable value 
• Point of criticism
• radical gender theory 
• speaks of process of denaturalisation, that is a move away from nature 
• sexual identity and family are based on a confused concept of freedom in the realm of feelings and wants
• Rational arguments
• clarify the centrality of the body as an integrating element of personal identity and family relationships
• the data of biological and medical science shows that ‘sexual dimorphism’ (only two sexes) can be proved by science, as, for example, by the study of chromosomes. 
• importance of the dialogue between faith and reason. 

Proposing a Christian anthropology: an integral ecology of man

• Genesis: male and female He created them 
• Human nature
• to be understood in light of the unity of body and soul
• the “horizontal dimension” of “interpersonal communion” is integrated with the “vertical dimension” of communion with God. 
• Education
• Parents have the primary rights and duties with regard to the education of their children — rights and duties which cannot be delegated or usurped by others. 
• Children have the right to a mother and a father, and that it is within the family that children can learn to recognize the beauty of sexual differences. 
• Schools are called to assist families and to dialogue with parents, respecting also the family’s culture.
• Rebuild an “alliance” between family, schools, and society, which can produce educational programs on affectivity and sexuality that respect each person’s own stage of maturity regarding these areas and at the same time promote respect for the body of the other person

The path of dialogue: Transforming concerns and misunderstandings 

• the path of dialogue, which involves listening, reasoning and proposing, appears the most effective way towards a positive transformation of concerns and misunderstandings, as well as a resource that in itself can help develop a network of relationships that is both more open and more human
• Catholic schools have a legitimate aspiration to maintain their own vision of human sexuality
• a democratic state cannot reduce the range of education on offer to a single school of thought
• Importance for Catholic schools:
• to take into consideration the age-group of the students to be taught
• to treat each person with respect. 
• to accompany, discreetly and confidentially, reaching out to those who are experiencing complex and painful situations
• to be an environment of trust, calmness, and openness, particularly where there are cases that require time and careful discernment
• to provide a patient and understating ear, far removed from any unjust discrimination

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Accept your sexual identity. Sexual complementarity is for the good of marriage and the family. Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. Physical, moral, and spiritual difference and complementarity are oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life. The harmony of the couple and of society depends in part on the way in which the complementarity, needs, and mutual support between the sexes are lived out. (CCC 2333)

Man and woman have equal personal dignity. By creating the human being man and woman, God gives personal dignity equally to the one and the other. Each of them, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. (CCC 2393)

FREQUENT COMMUNION: why and how to promote it

If the goal of our life is union with Jesus, then we have to go as often as possible to the sacrament by which Jesus "unites us to himself in a most perfect union." (St. John Paul II)

Our ultimate goal: union with Jesus

To be highly effective, we need to know our ultimate goal. The recently published Directory for Catechesis clearly states the goal of all the work of the Church and of catechesis: communion with Jesus Christ.  “Formation does not consist in acquiring information or filling ourselves with ideas," notes theologian and prelate Msgr. Fernando Ocariz. "The objective of formation is identification with Jesus Christ.”

Shortest and surest way to the goal: Eucharistic communion  

Once the end goal is clear, we have to use the best, most effective means to achieve it. St. John Paul the Great tells us that in eucharistic communion, "God joins us to himself in the most perfection union." Indeed, who else but Jesus himself in person can unite us to himself. 

Thus, other great saints have pointed out the superlative power of Holy Communion:

• Most beneficial and most delightful prayer (St. Alphonsus)
• Shortest and surest way to heaven (St. Pius X)
• Greatest way to enrich our soul with virtue and rapidly advance to a high degree of perfection (St. Teresa)

Biblical and early Christian practice: daily communion

Based on the logic of this supreme sanctifying power, the early Christians received communion not once in a while, but daily:

Every day they broke bread in their homes. (Acts 2:46) 

Together with other saints of the time, St. Cyprian, born around 210 AD, attests to this fact:

We are who in Christ receive the Eucharist daily, so as not to be separated from Christ through sin. 

This is not surprising because Jesus taught us to pray:

Give us this day our daily bread. (Mt 6:11)

Strongly encouraged: Help everyone to receive as often as possible, even daily

Thus, the Church through its Catechism says: 

“The Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily.” (C 1389) 

Given the clarity of the above, it is important for Christian educators to help children receive Jesus more often, if possible daily. 

This year 2022, Dualtech Training Center, after seeing that only 15% of the students were receiving communion during the school Mass, took specific steps to form the students and eventually reached 54% reception at one point.

This is what they did:

• The formation council clearly saw the importance of communion and decided to meet regularly, observe the numbers and take the necessary steps.  
• This council increased the allotted time for the class of Religion so they can have more time to discuss these most important topics: Confession, Holy Mass and Communion and prayer. 
• They allotted more time for Confession. 
• The training and mentoring council asked everyone to be involved and to pray for the students. 
• Reception of the sacraments was made the priority in the weekly report during the weekly meeting. 
• The first numbers reviewed in the meeting is how many received Holy Communion, how many went to Confession.
• They monitor the progress through a graph, and evaluate for further improvement. 
• The students are free to go to Mass or not. 
• The teachers explained the value of the sacraments almost daily, and encouraged the students to go to Confession and receive Communion. They also conduct orientation to prepare the students for Confession. Before the Mass, the teachers also give a 15-minute preparation before the Mass where the Gospel is read and meditated on. 
• The mentors pray for their mentees. This is their first task. They follow them up if they have questions. They listen to each student on why they were not receiving and help each one to overcome the problems, especially by encouraging Confession. 
• The chaplains spoke more about Confession and Communion during the homilies. During the seminar for new enrollees, they explain the sacraments and invite them to these, becoming their friends, and giving homilies to which the students can relate and apply to their lives. 
• The student leaders, who assist the teachers, invited their co-students to the sacraments. They also give Confession tutorials when needed; they give support and even accompany them to the Confessional. 

Guide to Holy Communion, the most delightful prayer

So that the students can enjoy the time with Jesus during communion with much fruit and look forward to it, this blog features a guide to Eucharistic communion, entitled Most Delightful Prayer: A Guide to Holy Communion, which you can access here. It contains general ideas from the saints on how to pray during the 10 to 15 minutes that Jesus is in us, and some traditional prayers for communion. To easily print and distribute the guide to the students, you can download it in PDF here, or you can redo the doc in Word here. 

MOST DELIGHTFUL PRAYER: Guide to Holy Communion

Communion is "the most beneficial and delightful prayer." (St. Alphonsus) God joins us to himself in the most perfect union. (St. John Paul II)

To easily print this guide for mass distribution, you can download it in PDF here, or you can redo the doc in Word here. 

GENERAL IDEAS 

Receive Jesus like Mary. 

As Mary said “Fiat” [Be it done] to receive Jesus’ body, we say “Amen,” to receive the same body. (St. Pope John Paul II) 

“I want to be like Mary...to be Mary for Jesus, to take the place of His Mother...she must make me one with Him.” (Bl. Maria Candida of the Eucharist) 

Converse with Jesus as your King, Doctor, Teacher and Friend. 

Converse with Jesus as your King, a king who wants to reign in your heart, with peace, joy and justice. He expects deeds of love. 

Converse with Jesus as your Doctor. He heals your selfishness, especially the worst sickness: pride that hides our sins. Be totally sincere with him, tell him the whole truth. 

Converse with Jesus as your Teacher. He teaches us the knowledge of love for God without limits, and in God, for all men. Our life belongs to God. We spend it generously for people.  We tell him: Teach us to forget ourselves, so that we may concern ourselves with you and with all souls.

Converse with Jesus as your Friend. “I have called you friends,” he says. He laid down his life for us. He cries for us if we have a dying Christian life. “I say to you, my friend, arise and walk.” (St. Josemaria) 

See the benefits and stay with him. 

Think that communion greatly benefits your soul and that Jesus is so delighted to be with you in communion. Stay with him and do not lose this opportunity. (St. Teresa) 

Love, thank and praise him, and ask his help. 

Spend the time telling Jesus you love him. (St Alphonsus) 

Do not only talk lovingly with him, but also thank and praise him and especially ask his help. (Pope Pius XII) 

Give him our deepest and most sincere thanks. (St. Augustine) 

Jesus is saying to you, “What do you want me to do for you. I came from heaven to give you grace, Ask me what you want and you will be heard.” (St. Teresa) 

Ask that he hears our prayer, that he frees our thoughts and actions from evil, increase our faith and guide our minds, grant us holy thoughts and lead us to his own joys. (St. Augustine) 

Keep silent and enjoy your God. 

Beware of talking too much. Remain in silence and enjoy your God. God says: “I am he to whom you have to give your whole self, so you no longer live in yourself but in me.” (Thomas a Kempis)

SOME COMMUNION PRAYERS

Pray these with the burning passion of one who has just fallen in love...as if this is your last chance to talk to Jesus. (St. Josemaria) You can also use the thoughts here as conversation points with Jesus. 

Prayer after Communion by St. Thomas Aquinas 

Sweetest Jesus, Body and Blood most Holy, be the delight and pleasure of my soul, my strength and salvation in all temptations, my joy and peace in every trial, my light and guide in every word and deed, and my final protection in death. Amen. 

Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified 

My good and dear Jesus, I kneel before you, asking you most earnestly to engrave upon my heart a deep and lively faith, hope and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon your five wounds, and dwell upon them with deep compassion and grief, I recall, good Jesus, the words the prophet David spoke long ago concerning yourself: They have pierced my hands and feet; they have counted all my bones. 

Self-Dedication to Jesus Christ by St. Ignatius 

Lord Jesus Christ, take all my freedom, my memory, my understanding, and my will. All that I have and cherish you have given me. I surrender it all to be guided by your will. Your grace and your love are wealth enough for me. Give me these, Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more. 

Anima Christi 

Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O Good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds hide me. Permit me not to be separated from you. From the wicked foe, defend me. At the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to you That with your saints I may praise you For ever and ever. Amen. 

Stay with me Lord by St. Padre Pio (excerpt) 

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have you present so that I do not forget you. You know how easily I abandon you. Stay with me, Lord, for you are my life, and without you, I am without fervor. Stay with me, Lord, for you are my light, and without you, I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me your will. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love you very much, and always be in your company. Stay with me, Lord, if you wish me to be faithful to you. Stay with me, Lord, for it is you alone I look for, your Love, your Grace, your Will, your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love you and ask no other reward but to love you more and more. With a firm love, I will love you with all my heart while on earth and continue to love you perfectly during all eternity. Amen.

NOTE: To easily print this guide for mass distribution, you can download it in PDF here, or you can redo the doc in Word here. 

OTHER COMMUNION PRAYERS

These are not included in the one-page guide. 

Liturgical prayers (taken from Jesus-Centered: Guide to the Happiest Life)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit, your death brought life to the world. By your Body and Blood free me from all my sins, and from every evil. Keep me faithful to your teaching, and never let me be parted from you. 

We have consumed, O Lord, this divine Sacrament, the perpetual memorial of the Passion of your Son; grant, we pray, that this gift, which he himself gave us with love beyond all telling, may profit us for salvation. 

Renewed by partaking of this divine gift, we pray, O Lord our God, that by the example of the saints, bearing in our body the Death of Jesus, we may strive to hold fast to you alone. 

Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy, and graciously perfect and nurture us that we may please you in all we do. 

We ask you, Lord, as we receive the divine mysteries: grant your servants, to whom you have given a love for us [relatives and friends], pardon for sins, consolation in this life and unfailing guidance, that all of us, united in your service, may rejoice together before your face. 

May this sacrament of charity, O Lord, make us fervent with the fire of holy love, so that, drawn always to your Son, we may learn to see him in our neighbor. 

Having been made partakers of this table of unity and charity, we beseech your mercy, O Lord, that through the work you have given us to do we may sustain our life on earth and trustingly build your Kingdom. 

O God, who constantly feed and strengthen the Church with your Sacraments, grant to us, who have been nourished at the heavenly table, that, by obeying your teachings of love, we may become life-giving leaven and a means of salvation for the human family. 

Having been made partakers of this spiritual food, we pray, O Lord our God, that, steadily imitating the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may always be found intent on service of the Church and may know the joys of doing your will.

Total Abandonment to the Will of God by St. Faustina 

Jesus-Host, whom I have this very moment received into my heart, through this union with you I offer myself to the heavenly Father as a sacrificial host, abandoning myself totally and completely to the most merciful and holy will of my God. From today onward, your will, Lord, is my food. Take my whole being; dispose of me as you please. Whatever your fatherly hand gives me, I will accept with submission, peace and joy. I fear nothing, no matter in what direction you lead me; helped by your grace I will carry out everything you demand of me. I no longer fear any of your inspirations nor do I probe anxiously to see where they will lead me. Lead me, O God, along whatever roads you please; I have placed all my trust in your will which is, for me, love and mercy itself. 

Communion Prayer by St. Bonaventure (new translation)

Pierce the depths of my soul, O sweetest Lord Jesus, with the most delightful and most saving wound of your love, with true, serene and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may always languish and melt with love and longing for you. May it yearn for you and swoon for your dwellings, and long to be detached and be with you. May my heart always hunger for you, the bread of angels, the refreshing food of holy souls, our daily, life-sustaining bread, containing all sweetness and relish, and all delicate delight. May I always hunger for you and feed on you—you on whom the angels desire to gaze. May the depths of my soul be filled with the sweetness of your taste. May my heart always thirst for you, the flowing source of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the gushing stream of pleasure, the abundance of the house of God. May my heart always desire you, seek you and find you. May I run to you and reach you; think of you, speak of you and do all things to the praise and glory of your name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance until the end. May you always be my only hope, my complete assurance, my wealth, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my delicacy, my fragrance, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my inheritance, my possession and my treasure—in you, may my mind and heart be fixed and fastened, and immovably rooted now and always. Amen. (See here for the original Latin and English.)

Daily Communion Prayer of St. Mother Teresa (based on St. John Henry Newman) 

Dear Jesus, help me to spread thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with thy spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of thine. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others. Amen.

Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

We give Thee thanks, O most merciful Lord and Redeemer of our souls, for this day Thou hast made us worthy by means of these immortal and heavenly mysteries. Direct our way; keep us in fear of Thee; guard our lives; and make our steps firm through the prayers and intercessions of the glorious and holy Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary. Be exalted above the heavens, O God, and above all the earth, Thy glory, now and forever and ever. Amen.

For the Fruits of the Passion 

Most sweet Jesus Christ, grant that your passion may be to me a power by which I am strengthened, protected, and defended. May your wounds be to me food and drink by which I am nourished and sustained. May the sprinkling of your blood be to me an ablution for all my sins. May your death prove to me life everlasting and may your cross be to me an eternal glory. May your resurrection be my sure hope of future glory. In these be my refreshment, my joy, my preservation and sweetness of heart. 

The Universal Prayer (attributed to Pope Clement XI) 

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith. I trust in you: strengthen my trust. I love you: let me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow. I worship you as my first beginning, I long for you as my last end, I praise you as my constant helper, and call on you as my loving protector. Guide me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me with your power. I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you; my words: to have you for their theme; my actions: to reflect my love for you; my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory. I want to do what you ask of me: in the way you ask, for as long as you ask, because you ask it. Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will, purify my heart, and make me holy. Help me to repent of my past sins and to resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weakness and to grow stronger as a Christian. Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under my authority, my friends and my enemies. Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself and reach out toward others. Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity. Keep me, Lord, attentive in prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions. Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, my life well-ordered. Put me on guard against my human weaknesses. Let me cherish your love for me, keep your law, and come at last to your salvation. Teach me to realize that this world is passing, that my true future is the happiness of heaven, that life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal. Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, but a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Meditation of St.Therese 

O how sweet it is, the first kiss of Jesus to my soul. Yes, it is a kiss of love. I feel I am loved, and I too say: “I love Thee, I give myself to Thee forever!” Jesus asks nothing of me, demands no sacrifice. Already for a long time past, He and I have watched and understood each other. This day our meeting is no longer a simple look but a fusion. No longer are we two. I have disappeared as the drop of water which loses itself in the depths of the ocean. Jesus alone remains: The Master, the King.

Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

I give thanks to Thee, O Lord, most holy, Father almighty, eternal God, that Thou hast vouchsafed, for no merit of mine own, but out of Thy pure mercy, to appease the hunger of my soul with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Humbly I implore Thee, let not this holy communion be to me an increase of guilt unto my punishment, but an availing plea unto pardon and salvation. Let it be to me the armour of faith and the shield of good will. May it root out from my heart all vice; may it utterly subdue my evil passions and all my unruly desires. May it perfect me in charity and patience; in humility and obedience; and in all other virtues. May it be my sure defence against the snares laid for me by my enemies, visible and invisible. May it restrain and quiet all my evil impulses, and make me ever cleave to Thee Who art the one true God. May I owe to it a happy ending of my life. And do Thou, O heavenly Father, vouchsafe one day to call me, a sinner, to that ineffable banquet, where Thou, together with Thy Son and the Holy Ghost, art to Thy saints true and unfailing light, fullness of content, joy for evermore, gladness without alloy, consummate and everlasting happiness. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to Our Lord

I beseech Thee, O most meek and loving Jesus, that this immortal Host may return Thee thanks on my behalf, may reconcile and restore me to Thee. May it procure pardon for me, a sinner, and lead me to everlasting life. Amen. 

How sweet and lovely is this Bread of heaven which Thou hast given us! How wonderful is the rest, how full the peace which they experience who receive Thee after a sincere and sorrowful confession of their sins! For this, O my Jesus, be Thou praised a thousand times! In the matter of sin I have been most unfortunate; but now not only do I enjoy true comfort of soul, but I also believe that I have had a foretaste of the peace of heaven. How true it is, O Lord, that our soul was made for Thee, and can enjoy true peace only when it rests in Thee! From the bottom of my heart, therefore, do I thank Thee and I firmly resolve ever to fly sin and its occasions and to take up my lasting dwelling in Thy divine Heart, from which I hope the grace and help to love Thee until death. Amen. (Traditional Catholic Prayers)

Thanksgiving Psalm (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;

    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

 Let us come before him with thanksgiving

    and extol him with music and song.

For the LORD is the great God,

    the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,

    and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,

    and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,

    let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

for he is our God

    and we are the people of his pasture,

    the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,

“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, 

    as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,

where your ancestors tested me;

    they tried me, though they had seen what I did.

For forty years I was angry with that generation;

    I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,

    and they have not known my ways.’

So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

Stay with me Lord by St. Padre Pio (complete version)

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have you present so that I do not forget you. You know how easily I abandon you. 

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need your strength, that I may not fall so often. 

Stay with me, Lord, for you are my life, and without you, I am without fervor. Stay with me, Lord, for you are my light, and without you, I am in darkness. 

Stay with me, Lord, to show me your will. 

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear your voice and follow you. 

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love you very much, and always be in your company. Stay with me, Lord, if you wish me to be faithful to you. 

Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for you, a nest of love. 

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes; death, judgment, eternity approach. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need you. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile! 

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers. I need you. Let me recognize you as your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart. 

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to you, if not by communion, at least by grace and love. 

Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it, but the gift of your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of you! 

Stay with me, Lord, for it is you alone I look for, your Love, your Grace, your Will, your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love you and ask no other reward but to love you more and more. With a firm love, I will love you with all my heart while on earth and continue to love you perfectly during all eternity. Amen.

Prayer to the Virgin Mary 

Mary, holy virgin mother, I have received your Son, Jesus Christ. With love you became his mother, gave birth to him, nursed him, and helped him grow into manhood. With love I return him to you, to hold once more, to love with all your heart, and to offer to the Holy Trinity as our supreme act of worship for your honor and for the good of all your pilgrim brothers and sisters. Mother, ask God to forgive my sins and to help me serve him more faithfully. Keep me true to Christ until death, and let me come to praise him with you forever and ever. Amen. 

Prayer to St. Joseph 

St. Joseph, father and guardian of virgins, to whose faithful keeping Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, the virgin of virgins, were entrusted, I pray and beseech you by that twofold and most precious charge, by Jesus and Mary, to save me from all uncleanness, to keep my mind untainted, my heart pure, and my body chaste; and to help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. Amen. 

Syro-Maronite Farewell to the Altar 

Remain in peace, O Altar of God. May the offering that I have taken from you be for the remission of my debts and the pardon of my sins and may it obtain for me that I may stand before the tribunal of Christ without condemnation and without confusion. I do not know if I will have the opportunity to return and offer another sacrifice upon you. Protect me, O Lord, and preserve your holy Church as the way to truth and salvation. Amen. (Compendium Appendix) 

Straight talk with a child going to a secularist university

A friend asked me for guidance on what he can tell his child who is going to a Western secularist university which can undermine the faith of his child. Putting myself in the shoes of the dad, these are the talking points I would bring up to the son or daughter. It will also be good for any teacher or mentor of a graduating High School student to bring up these points in their own way to their students. 

You will be going to a university that will give you a great advantage in the world. This is a very good thing, but I would like to make sure that you have some clear ideas. 

Despite the excellent secular things you will get, you will be facing dangers for what is most important in your life, in our life. Many of your professors will not believe in God and will undermine your faith and morals, and many of your classmates will be like them. You will therefore face pressures from many sides: from above, from your peers and from the whole environment. This is very strong pressure, and I know many good boys and girls from our country who have succumbed to it. And these were top students, who loved the catechesis they received, and had an above-average spiritual life.  

And so it should be very clear to you that the most important thing in life is God and our faith in him.   As Jesus himself said: "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but suffers the loss of his soul." 

This is the purest truth. I hope your school and I have made clear that this is also the most intelligent, rationally-based choice. (See this article for the basis)

God is our everything; he is the source and the end goal of our life. Only through him can we enjoy the greatest possible happiness every day and throughout eternity. Not being with him is therefore the greatest failure. This failure, more than anything else, will be my greatest pain. If you have any doubts in this aspect, given original sin and the pressures of the environment, you can easily succumb. Since I have a grave responsibility before God to give you a solid education, I would like to know what you think about what I just said.

It is important for the parent to listen to what the son or daughter has to say regarding these things and have a frank conversation to clarify things. 

The next steps will have to be based on the result of the conversation. It is best if the next steps are considered and determined by the student himself, with guidance from the parent. 

Generally, everyone will need continual inputs in both heart and mind to persevere in Christian faith and morals.

• Input of grace and prayer. You will need to go regularly to Mass and Confession, and practice daily humble prayer. A close friendship with Jesus--a relationship of burning love--will be your best support, for this is the very goal of our life. Everything depends, teaches Pope Benedict XVI, on our intimate friendship with Jesus. 
• Input of Catholic Christian teachings. Because there will be a continual input of secularist and amoral ideas, you will need a continual input of Christian ideas, to inspire you and motivate you. For example, read the New Testament everyday, so you can get to know the life of Christ. Read a good Christian book every day. Here are lists of good Christian readings. 
• Input of good Catholic community. A strong support is the company and encouragement of good Catholic friends. 
• Input of the Christian mission. The best defense is a good offense. The first habit of highly effective people, says Stephen Covey is: Be proactive, not reactive. Affect your environment; don't let the environment affect you. We are Christians, so like him, we spread Christianity to the people around us. Go with a sense of mission--of having been placed there by God for a great purpose. 

Because I am the one shouldering your education, I am interested that we continue to talk about all of these every so often during your stay in college. 

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These inputs, in fact, should be stressed, in one way or another, all throughout the schooling of the child, not just at the very end, before he or she leaves for college. 

Note: The Newman Guide to Colleges points out that there are universities which are Catholic in name but are secularist in nature, and they can undermine faith and morals more than some non-Catholic colleges.