Examination of Conscience?

I have been attending a “Life in the Spirit" Seminar. I love it because it is all about learning to incorporate Christ into every aspect of our lives. (Who doesn’t need that?)

My problem is that I am essentially lazy and mis-prioritized. (Is that a word?) Anyway, I need to begin building some better, more consistant spiritual habits into my everyday life.


Lately, if or when I feel depressed or crummy, I stop and try to identify why I am having those feelings. Nine times out of ten, it is because I haven’t connected with God -- AT ALL -- and it is no small wonder that I'm feeling blue.

Francis, my group leader at Life in the Spirit, e-mailed us a great article about a list of 7 things that we can do each day to cultivate an awareness of God in every aspect of our lives. So far, I haven’t attempted anything, except to say the Rosary while I am drying my hair in the morning. The problem is that I get distracted and forget that I was reciting my Rosary, and then at 7:00 p.m., realize that I never finished it and can’t even remember which decade I was on. How am I supposed to grow spiritually, if I can’t even finish a Rosary?

I do listen to CD’s on Catholic subjects like Our Lady of Fatima, the pillars of our Catholic faith – things like that. . . CDs help.

Here is the link for the list that our leader gave us, "The Seven Daily Habits of Holy Apostolic People" by Father John McCloskey:

http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/sevenhabits.html

Even if I did ONE of the exercises on the list, it would be a step in the direction of progress.


I’m giving up e-bay for Lent. Don’t laugh – it’s true. I can spend all day trolling the jewelry section, coveting all the diamond rings that I can’t afford. A ridiculous waste of time.


I’m negative today because the son of my mom’s neighbor passed away a few days ago. I was pondering it and realized that his life had been a gift. He’d had two heart transplants and was in his fifties when he passed away. He had been living a good, full life. Nevertheless, it is always sad when someone passes on. I pray for his eternal soul. He has a 13-year-old son and there is no mother in the picture. Please pray for him.
 Enough babbling for one day! I'll put on my "Little Merry Sunshine" hat tomorrow and practice a little gratitude for my life and all of its MANY blessings. . .

Regards,Jenna (or Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh)

Happy New Year!

God, thank you for a new year.

May everyone in our family be willing

to begin anew with a clean slate.

We know that you are always ready to forgive us.

Help us to be willing to forgive ourselves

and to forgive one another.

As we begin a new year,
remind us of our truest values
and our deepest desires.

Help us to live in the goodness
that comes from doing
what you want us to do.

Help us to put aside anxiety
about the future and the past,

so that we might live in peace
with you now, one day at a time.

(From Loyola Press, a Jesuit Ministry's New Year's Prayer)

Stomping Out Christmas

Please Click on the Link Below:

http://jennapope.hubpages.com/hub/Stomping-Out-Christmas

Morning Offering

I found the most beautiful morning prayer in an old St. Joseph's Missal that I recently purchased. Its copyright date is 1963. . .

"Lord God Almighty, Who have brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us during this day by your power, that we may not fall into sin but that all our words, thoughts and deeds may always proceed and be directed toward that which is just in Your sight."

Why the Latin Mass?

Please Click on the Link Below:

http://jennapope.hubpages.com/hub/Why-the-Latin-Mass