The Apostleship of Prayer

POPE BENEDICT XVI'S MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTIONS 2008

JANUARY
  • Christian Unity.  That the Church work for full visible unity that better manifests a community of love which reflects the Blessed Trinity.
  • Church in Africa.  That the Church in Africa, preparing for a special Synod, may be an instrument of reconciliation and justice.
FEBRUARY
  • Mentally Handicapped.  That the mentally handicapped may not be marginalized, but respected and lovingly helped.
  • Institutes of Consecrated Life.  That the Institutes of Consecrated Life in mission countries may rediscover the missionary dimension and generously proclaim Christ to the ends of the earth.
MARCH
  • Forgiveness.  That all may understand the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation between individuals and peoples and that the Church may spread Christ’s love.
  • The Persecuted.  That Christians who are persecuted because of the Gospel may be sustained by the Holy Spirit and continue to bear witness to the Word of God.
APRIL
  • Proclamation of the Resurrection.  That Christians may not tire of proclaiming with their lives that Christ’s resurrection is the source of hope and peace.
  • Future Priests.  That the future priests of the young Churches may be formed to evangelize their nations and the whole world.
MAY
  • Human Dignity.  That Christians may use literature, art, and mass media to create a culture which defends and promotes the values of the human person.
  • Mary’s guidance.  That the Virgin Mary, Star of evangelization and Queen of the Apostles, may still guide missionaries with maternal affection, just as she accompanied the Apostles in the early stages of the Church.
JUNE
  • Friendship with Christ.  That all Christians may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Christ so to communicate the strength of his love to every person they meet.
  • International Eucharist Congress.  That the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec may lead to greater understanding that the Eucharist is the heart of the Church and the source of evangelization.
JULY
  • Volunteers.  That there may be an increase in the number of volunteers who offer their services to the Christian Community.
  • World Youth Day.  That World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia may awaken the fire of divine love in young people and make them sowers of hope for a new humanity.

AUGUST

  • Respect for Creation.  That the human family may know how to respect God’s design for the world and thus become ever more aware of the great gift of God which Creation represents for us.
  • Call to holiness.  That through discernment of gifts and commitment to spiritual formation, holiness may be promoted among the people of God.
SEPTEMBER
  • Refugees.  That Christians may defend and protect refugees.
  • Christian Families.  That every Christian family may be a small evangelizing community which is responsive to the needs of others.
OCTOBER
  • Synod of Bishops.  That the Synod of Bishops may help all those engaged in the service of the Word of God to transmit the truth of faith courageously in communion with the entire Church.
  • Participation in the Church’s Universal Mission.  That in this month dedicated to the missions, every Christian community may feel the need to participate in the universal mission with prayer, sacrifice, and concrete help.
NOVEMBER
  • Love of God and Neighbor.  That the testimony of love offered by the saints may fortify Christians in their devotion to God and neighbor, imitating Christ who  came to serve and not to be served. 
  • Church in Asia.  That the Christian communities of Asia, contemplating the face of Christ, may find the most suitable ways to announce Him, in full faithfulness to the Gospel.
DECEMBER
  • Culture of Life.  That, faced with the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities.
  • Fraternal Witness.  That, especially in mission countries, Christians may show through gestures of kindness that the Child born in Bethlehem is the Hope of the world.

 


 

Spirituality is Applied Theology

By Frances Correia

Christian Theology is all about what we think or believe about God. Christian Spirituality is what we do with that knowledge. How do we relate to God? How does what we believe change who we are and what we do? Within this, Ignatian spirituality is apostolic - it concerns choices, how moment by moment we are being invited to choose to more radically follow Christ in every thing that we do. It’s very practical and is focused not just on our relationship with God but also on our mission as Christians.

One exercise that Ignatius strongly recommended to help us in co-operating with God is the Examen. This is a time of prayer which enables reflection on the variety of things that pull me in different directions each day. It is based on the belief that God is present and active in everything that happens and wants us to work for the greater good. We can only do this if we are aware of how we are drawn towards God and how we are pulled by other forces away from God and God’s plan.

At the end of each day, St Ignatius suggests the following steps:

  1. I ask the Holy Spirit to highlight for me what God wants me to notice.
  2. I recall the events of the day, noticing particularly anything that had a strong emotional effect on me. I look again at those moments. Thinking about what was really going on in them.
  3. A helpful guideline as I begin to discern if my choices were for God or not is to notice how they left me feeling - do I have a sense of peace, hope or gratitude about my choices? Am I left feeling ill-at-ease, irritable, frustrated or trapped?
  4. For those choices that leave me feeling deeply negative or separated from God, I ask God for forgiveness and healing, that I may make better choices in the future. For those memories that leave me feeling at peace, I give thanks.
  5. Finally I think about tomorrow and ask God for those graces that I will need in order to most effectively co-operate with God’s plan.

Over the next month I suggest you try and pray this prayer 4-5 times a week. If possible you might like to briefly write out your reflections, so that you have a record of what was going on for you. At the end of the month it would be good to read through your entries and to notice what patterns you see emerging in your relationship with God and your mission as a Christian.

Christ’s calling is dynamic, inviting us to change, to grow and to become more like Christ. This tool of the Examen helps us to become more aware of what is happening in our lives. When I practise the Examen, I have in the back my mind those lines from John’s gospel, ‘I have come that they may have life and have it to the full’ (Jn 10.10).

When we are aware of how we are living we are better able to change. To choose life more effectively.

Frances Correia is a member of the Ignatian Spirituality Team of the Jesuit Institute.



For further details about the Apostleship of Prayer you can contact the National Secretary:

Rev. Fr. Chris Chatteris SJ
c/o Jesuit Institute - South Africa
PO Box 31087
Braamfontein
2017, South Africa