In our vocal prayers, we must not try to follow the exact meaning of all the words. Each prayer expresses one or several sentiments; the words are only means to that end. To each sentiment there corresponds an attitude of soul, an attitude of confidence, of regret, of love, etc. We must assume these attitudes.

Thus, for instance, the first part of the Our Father supposes an attitude of devotion to the interest of God; the second part, supplication for our needs. The first part of the Hail Mary supposes an attitude of loving veneration for the mother of Jesus; the second, one of humble supplication. It is easier for us, and also much more profitable, to take with Mary the attitude required by the part of the prayer we are reciting then to pay attention to the meaning of each word. The presence of Mary will immediately induce in us the sentiment of humility, of trust, of love, or regret to Jesus, to the Father, or to the most holy Trinity as the case may be.

Fr.Emile Neubert  (from Life of Union with Mary)

The post On Vocal Prayer first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Fr. Ben Luedtke gives the twenty-second of twenty-five conferences for his Eight Day Ignatian Retreat. The subjects he covers are: Grades of Prayer, reality received by the five senses, will and intellect, help from God. How a retreat helps reduce static of world to be able to sense God, see God in a spiritual quiet, nothingness, vocal prayer, Intermediate, Meditation, contemplation, St. Francis, night of the senses, Dark night of the soul, Spiritual Espousal, Transforming union. This is the goal and is accessible to everyone even if only a few actually attain it in this life

About the retreat:   The retreat was conducted by Fr. Ben Luedtke who has condensed St. Ignatius’ classic thirty day spiritual exercises into an eight day retreat that makes this life changing spiritual experience more accessible to the average person. It consists of twenty-five conferences (recorded in this video series), which are used by those on retreat along with further reflections given to them as handouts to base their hour long meditations which they make after each conference. The typical day consists of three of these conferences, one in the morning, afternoon and evening. Fr. Ben also gave them private spiritual direction and Mass each day. The retreat took place at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN from Oct 9-17th, 2016. Father usually gives these retreats at this retreat center in the spring and fall of each year. See his website for other times and places or to arrange one near you.

Links:

Full Series of conferences on AirMaria: http://dev.airmaria.com/category/air-maria-shows/conferences/8-day-ignatian-retreat/

Fr. Ben Luedtke’s web site: http://www.godblessya.com/

Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center: http://www.maryschildren.com/

Audio (MP3)

The post Video – Fr. Luedtke – 8 Day Retreat – 22/25 – Grades of Prayer – CONF 354 first appeared on AirMaria.com.

CCC # 2697-2724 – Fr. Mahan continues his Tour of the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it teaches on the various expression of prayer including, vocal prayer, meditation and contemplative prayer,

Part Four – Christian Prayer
– Section One – Prayer in The Christian Life
– – Chapter Three: The Life of Prayer
– – – Article 1: Expressions of Prayer – # 2697 – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a1.htm
– – – – I. Vocal Prayer
– – – – II. Meditation
– – – – III. Contemplative Prayer

“Tour of the Catechism of the Catholic Church” is given by Fr. Daniel J. Mahan, S.T.L., pastor of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Bloomington, Indiana, and St. Jude the Apostle in Spencer. He will cover the entire Catechism in about 80 videos, giving an outline of the content along with clear easy to follow explanations. It will be based on the 2nd Edition of the Catechism.

+++

The post Expressions of Prayer – Catechism Tour #103 first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Fr. Ignatius gives the first of two talks on the necessity and importance of prayer for the 2019 Lenten Reflection on Prayer and Penance at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center, a conference on prayer and penance to prepare for Easter.

Text referred to: St. Alfonsus de Liguori – “Great means of Salvation and Perfection” – Text – YouTube Audio Part 1 & Part 2 (not to be confused with Great Way of Salv & Perf)

For both the videos from this day of refection:  http://dev.airmaria.com/tag/2019-lent-refl-prayer-penance/

Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center: http://www.maryschildren.com/

01:30 – Prayer is a Battle

05:00 – Jesus and Mary as teachers and exemplars

08:00 – Prayer builds Faith and visa versa

13:00 – Pray Always – Foster culture of prayer

18:00 – Unite works to prayer – Spiritual food – Grace Light of the Soul

23:00 – Pray for strength in battle against Satan – Salvation

27:00 – Prayer: sign of Salvation – Devotion to Mary – Pray for Purity

29:00 – Prayer for Perfection

31:00 – Prayer: To give honor and glory to God

32:00 – Prayer gives Humility – Build Trust in God

35:00 – Build loving relationship with God

37:00 – Three Rs – Response, Raising, Relationship

39:00 – Kinds of Prayer: Petition,Thanksgiving, Contrition, Adoration

42:00 – Forms of Prayer: Vocal, Meditation, Contemplation

45:00 – Conclusion – Find means to persevere.

Text referred to: St. Alfonsus de Liguori – “Great means of Salvation and Perfection”

Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Salvation-Perfection-Saint-Alphonsus-Liguori/dp/1785168622/

Text: http://www.catholictreasury.info/books/prayer/index.php

YouTube Audio Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WgJdfSgH34

YouTube Audio Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7UVn8aqqcY

+++

The post Video – Battle of Prayer – Fr. Ignatius – Lenten Reflection – CONF 474 (2019) first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Fr. Terrance concludes the discussion on the 1^st mansions, briefly highlighting some important aspects mentioned in St. Teresa’s book, and then he concludes the lesson by speaking on the type of prayer which is particular to the 1^st mansions, namely, vocal prayer.

Also on Youtube: https://youtu.be/qQjFZ9jmLBg

and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/2081260795505785

This series on prayer according to St. Teresa of Avila’s book “The Interior Castle” is a supplemental class for the MIM (Mission of the Immaculate Mediatrix) members in Bloomington, IN,

More video from this series: http://dev.airmaria.com/category/air-maria-shows/conferences/interior-castle-teresa-2019/

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU7lmindpAw&list=PLejh_e0-LN4zjcLLARZPf2DpYdqqI2Q09

MIM (Mission of the Immaculate Mediatrix): https://marymediatrix.com/m-i-m/

+++

The post Audio – #5 -1st Mansions & Vocal Prayer, The Interior Castle first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Oct 12, 2021, starting a 101 course on prayer on how vocal prayer is the first step in the spiritual life that leads to heaven. The key to vocal prayer is the amount of charity we say them with so that we have attention, reverence, and devotion. Notes:

Prayer quoted for starting vocal prayer:

Lord, open my lips to praise Your holy Name. Cleanse my heart of any worthless, evil, or distracting thoughts. Give me the wisdom and love necessary to pray this Office with attention, reverence, and devotion. Father, let my prayer be pleasing in Your sight, for it is offered through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Attention – two types virtual, actual

Three effects of prayer: meritorious, implores graces from God, and gives delight to the soul.

prayer is meritorious when it is at least virtual attention, not necessarily actual

Actual attention,  focused on prayer whereas virtual means started with attention but got distracted yet completed the prayers.

To implore graces from God virtual attention is suffient

To get the effect of personal delight we must have actual attention.

Another way of distinguishing attention, three: material attention saying the words correcting. Literal, focusing on the words’ meaning,  Spiritual or mystical attention, focusing on God. Best is the last but all three are compatible and desirable.

Reverence – Needed because we are talking to God. Defined as to give honor or respect to someone great, to stand in awe or to revere them. We need to be familiar with God but should not regard Him casually.

Devotion – From the heart, better fewer words with devotion than many with none.

Must give up the vocal prayer when God raises us up to the higher level of mental or mystical prayer

but must do the obligatory vocal prayer that you promised to do

Can never move away from vocal prayer entirely

Liturgy is a vocal prayer, the only way to pray in common.

Pray to Our Lady that we say our vocal prayers with attention, reverence, and devotion.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Seraphin of Montegranaro – Opt Mem
Readings: Tuesday 28th Week of Ordinary Time – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101221.cfm
1st: rom 1:16-25
Resp: psa 19:2-3, 4-5
Gsp: luk 11:37-41

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=726&r=1524

Also on Facebook: https://fb.watch/8BpZj2pEx-/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/OYfRElB2jvY

The post Prayer 101: First Step to Heaven – Oct 12 – Homily – Fr Terrance first appeared on AirMaria.com.