From 2024-2025, our Pastorate will be providing resources and hosting events each month to celebrate the variety of ways we can each grow in love with the Lord through prayer. 

Fr. Neterer: "I think prayer's a great thing!"

Fr. Shocklee: "You need to pray, sinner!"

Fr. Peter: "I think of the Liturgy of the Hours."

Books

Videos

This Month's Challenge:

Pray a Rosary (even just a decade!) with your family or a friend.

“The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christ-centered prayer.  It has all the depth of the gospel message in its entirety.” 
- St. Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae

An Introduction:

• Rosary: two meanings: a form of prayer and also a physical item. The physical rosary can be used for other forms of prayer. 
• Decade: Meditation of a Mystery of the Rosary over 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatima prayers
• Mystery, Mysteries: Meaningful scenes from Jesus and Mary's lives for meditation/contemplation. 
• Meditation: "An exercise and a form of prayer in which we try to understand God's revelation of the truths of faith and the purpose of the Christian life, and how it should be lived, in order to adhere and respond to what the Lord is asking" (Catechism of the Catholic Church Glossary, p. 888). Meditation is "the connecting of mind, heart and soul in communicating with God and... a response to His invitation to offer oneself totally to Him." (Fireside New American Bible Encyclopedic Dictionary, p. 96)
• Christocentric: having Christ as the center- while we most commonly associate the Rosary with Mary, Jesus Christ remains the central focus. We go to Jesus, through Mary!
• Mediatrix: We profess that Jesus Christ is the "one mediator between God and man (1 Tm 2:5)." Some say that calling Mary our Mediatrix means we are looking to her for salvation- but this is not what it means! Mary "is sometimes called Mediatrix in virtue of her cooperation in the saving mission of Christ" (Catechism of the Catholic Church Glossary, p.887). Just as Mary asked Jesus for help when the hosts ran out of wine at the Wedding at Cana, so she asks Him for help on our behalf when we call on her.
• Blessing: "a rite dedicating persons, places, or things to a sacred office.... A blessing is valid only if the prescribed formula is followed by the properly authorized ecclesiastic" (Fireside New American Bible Encyclopedic Dictionary, p. 23).
• Blessed: In regards to a blessed object- "Something that has been hallowed by a religious rite of blessing" (Fireside New American Bible Encyclopedic Dictionary, p. 23).
• Sacramental: "Sacred signs which bear a certain resemblance to the sacraments, and by means of which spiritual effects are signified and obtained through the prayers of the Church" (Catechism of the Catholic Church Glossary, p.887).
• Indulgence: Praying a rosary can be used to gain an indulgence, which is remission granted by the Church of the temporal punishment due to a sin which has already been forgiven. see CCC 1471 for more detail.

Why pray the Rosary?

How do you pray the Rosary?

"There are as many and varied methods of meditation as there are spiritual masters. Christians owe it to themselves to develop the desire to meditate regularly, lest they come to resemble the three first kinds of soil in the parable of the sower. But a method is only a guide; the important thing is to advance, with the Holy Spirit, along the one way of prayer: Christ Jesus.
Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. . . . Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him."
 —Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2707-2708

Where does the Rosary come from?

Which Rosary should I use? Can I make one?

Praying as a family:

How can all these variations be called a rosary?

More Resources

Books & Authors to look for: 

Video

Kids & Family:

• Coloring pages, books, and toys: The Little Rose Shop (also has Rosary videos for kids on Youtube)
• Alternative rosary formats (like wooden bead puzzles, pop-its, etc.: Gather and Pray

Audio: 

Please click here for more detail!

Why are we focusing on Prayer & Music this month, and how is music connected to prayer? 

It’s fitting to focus on music during the Advent and Christmas season, because music plays a big role in both our liturgies and also our cultural celebrations. From Christmas choirs to O Antiphons, caroling and catchy pop songs, music seems to point us to the Christ-child throughout the month of December.

Music- whether singing at Mass, listening to a song, playing an instrument, or softly playing in the background- is an opportunity to direct our focus to the Lord. Music allows us, body and soul, to draw nearer to our Creator. This, as with all prayer, looks differently for different people.

You don’t necessarily have to sing or play an instrument to pray with music, whether individually or in a communal setting. But it's also worth giving it your best try, and we'll look into why this month!

Here's an excerpt from the article "Why Do We Sing" that Charlie Dispenzieri wrote for us, explaining why we sing at all: 
"In Catholic worship, music and singing play a significant role, transforming liturgical moments into experiences of divine connection and unity. Far from being a mere adornment, music is deeply integrated into the act of worship, reflecting a long-standing theological tradition that highlights the spiritual, communal, and expressive power of song. By examining Catholic teachings, scripture, and traditions, we can understand how music serves as both an instrument of prayer and a profound expression of faith." 

(note: click the green title to read the article, or see full list of resources at the bottom of the page)

"He who sings [well] prays twice” 
 – attributed to St. Augustine

Incorporating personal use of music into your life of prayer:

• Meditate on the lyrics of a hymn:  Similar to Lectio Divina, read through the lyrics, then allow your focus to be drawn to a word or phrase as you ask God to speak to you through the hymn. 
• Listen to the songs used at Mass throughout your week
• Allow your environment to encourage prayer with contemplative or instrumental music, drawing your attention back whenever you become distracted

Praying with song:

This Month's Challenge:

Selection of playlists for Advent:		Selections of playlists for Christmas:
SJRCC on Spotify: Advent Traditional Hymns SJRCC on Spotify: Advent Gregorian Chants SJRCC on Spotify: Advent Contemporary Music Be A Heart on Spotify: Advent Contemporary & Contemplative Songs Catholic Review: Advent Hymns and songs Liturgies.net: Advent Hymns Focus: Advent songs Youtube (can play at the bottom of this page): Advent songs		The Cathedral Singers on Spotify: Catholic Christmas Classics Musica Sacra on Spotify: Christmas Songs & Hymns, English & Latin Grotto Network on Spotify: Contemporary Christmas songs Be a Heart on Spotify: Christmas songs (Contemporary hymns) Youtube (can play at the bottom of this page): Christmas hymns

Music and Scripture:

• “One cried out to the other: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!  All the earth is filled with his glory” (Is 6:3)
• "Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 7:12)
• "They sang a new hymn: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and to break open its seals, for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.” Revelation 5:9–10

Music & Liturgy:

"Song and music fulfill their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are "more closely connected . . . with the liturgical action," according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration. In this way they participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful
How I wept, deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your Church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and tears streamed down my face - tears that did me good.""
-CCC 1157 "

Seasonality & Appropriateness of Music:

• Liturgical Seasons- Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, etc.
• Scriptural Foundations of Music in Liturgy
• General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)
• Music selections based on the specific part of Mass

Communal & Unifying Aspect of Music 

The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate. Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources."
- CCC 1158

More Resources: 

USCCB documents:

Charlie Dispenzieri articles (he wrote all of these specifically for our pastorate!)

Psalms

Hymns

"Upon This Rock" Radio Shows (previously broadcasted for the pastorate)

Please click here for more detail!

What is Liturgical Living? 

What is the Domestic Church? 

“The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called "the domestic church," a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity.” 

CCC 1666

What does Liturgical Living have to do with the Domestic Church?

“the doors of homes, the "domestic churches," and of the great family which is the Church must be open to [everyone]. "No one is without a family in this world: the Church is a home and family for everyone, especially those who 'labor and are heavy laden.” 

CCC 1658

A Note on Liturgy:

Life of the Church:

• Temporal Cycle: cycle of liturgical seasons and feasts that recall all God’s saving acts through Jesus Christ. This includes all Sundays and feasts of Our Lord and can vary from year to year. 
• Sanctoral Cycle: cycle of feasts that commemorate Mary, the Apostles, the Martyrs & Saints. This is date-specific.

Liturgical Living for the Universal Church:

• Advent: Begins 4 Sundays before Christmas, ends on December 24^th
  • Colors: violet, rose
• Christmas: Begins on the evening of December 24^th, ends on the 3^rdSunday after Christmas (the Baptism of the Lord).
  • The Christmas Octave is between December 25^th (begins on the evening of the 24^th) through January 1^st.
  • Colors: white/gold
• Ordinary time (ordinal, ferial): meaning “counted” instead of “not extraordinary”. Begins the Monday after the Baptism of the Lord, ends the day before Ash Wednesday. Continues the Monday after Pentecost until Advent begins again. The final Sunday of the Liturgical Year is the Solemnity of Christ the King, which concludes Ordinary Time for the year.
  • Colors: green; other colors can be used to celebrate specific feast days, such as red for the memorial of a martyr
• Lent: Begins Ash Wednesday (6.5 weeks before Easter), ends on the evening of Holy Thursday
  • Colors: violet, rose
• Triduum: Literally “three days” corresponding to the time between the evening of Holy Thursday and the Vigil Mass for Easter in the evening of Holy Saturday. Chronologically three days, but liturgically one in the unity of Christ’s institution of the Eucharist, his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
  • Colors: red
• Easter: The highest feast of the year is celebrated the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring, and continues for 50 days until Pentecost Sunday.
  • The Easter Octave lasts 8 days through Divine Mercy Sunday
  • Colors: white/gold

• Solemnity: Highest level of celebration, “with all the bells and whistles”
• Feast: Second highest level of celebration
• Memorial: Celebrated throughout the Universal Church; often, commemorates a day of a saint’s death
• Optional Memorial: Priest has the option to recall the life of a specific saint or event, especially based on local significance
• Votive Mass
• Ritual Mass

Liturgical Living for the Domestic Church:

“The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason too it can and should be called "the domestic Church." [LG 11] All members of the family, each according to his or her own gift, have the grace and responsibility of building, day by day, the communion of persons, making the family "a school of deeper humanity" [GS 52]: this happens where there is care and love for the little ones, the sick, the aged; where there is mutual service every day; when there is a sharing of goods, of joys and of sorrows” 

(St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, no. 21).   

Resources for Families: (click below for each link) Pastorate Liturgical Living resource page USCCB’s Tools for Building a Domestic Church Catholic All Year Be A Heart: Seasonal Living articles  Catholic Mom  Catholic Family Crate  Building a Catholic Culture at Home Freebie Vault The Little Rose Shop: Liturgical Living on the blog Freebie Vault (coloring pages, prayer cards, Rosary videos, etc.) Catholic Sprouts website / Daily Podcast for Catholic Kids (various sites) Shining Light Dolls website / Podcast (various sites) Saints Alive Podcast

the Thomas family home altar (above)

For the full response from the Thomas family, please click HERE or on the image below: ​

Liturgical Living for the Individual:

Resources for Liturgical Living and the Domestic Church:

Did you know?? We have an abundance of Family Catechesis resources you are able to use!

Articles:

• Franciscan Media Saint of the Day
• Dynamic Catholic Saint Today
• Catholic Education Resource Center: Kendra Tierney, “Liturgical Living for Life”
  • “One of the many things I love about the Catholic Church is how she manages to be universal and particular at the same time. When I attend Mass in a different parish, or even a different country, the order and the parts of the Mass are the same. Even though there might be unique traditions and practices and languages particular to that part of the world, the Mass still feels familiar.”
• Catholic Review: Laura Kelley Fanucci “Liturgical Living is for Adults, Too”
  • "One easy idea is to change your prayer habits each month. Start your daily prayer with the Hail Mary in October, in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary. Pray your own short litany of favorite saints each day in November or pray by name for loved ones who have died."
• Catholic News Agency: Dcn. Keith Fournier “Living Liturgically as Catholic Christians”
  • "Our Liturgical seasons present a way to receive time as a continual gift and change the way we live our daily lives. Our choice to celebrate them helps us to grow in the life of grace as we say "yes" to their invitations."
• A Catholic Life (Matthew): “How to Live a Liturgical Life”
  • The entire year helps us to commemorate Jesus’ life and the work of the Holy Trinity. Through the Mass, meditation, prayers, acts of mercy, and devotions, we become closer to God. The Mass and all prayers are ultimately for the sole purpose of the worship of the Trinity. Our purpose in life is ultimately orientated to the worship of the Holy Trinity. 
• Diocese of Burlington, VA: “Saints Link and Liturgy Life” (examples of saints living liturgically)

Audio / Podcasts:

• Ave Explores Series: What Is Liturgical Living?
• The Liturgy of the Hours: Sing the Hours (website link)
• Catholic Sprouts: Daily Podcast for Catholic Kids (various sites)
• Shining Light Dolls Podcast (various sites)
• Saints Alive Podcast

Books:

• The Catholic All Year Compendium: Liturgical Living for Real Life by Kendra Tierney
• Living the Seasons: Simple Ways to Celebrate the Beauty of Your Faith throughout the Year by Erica Tighe Campbell 
  • -> Aleteia article
• The Catholic Kids’ Cookbook by Haley Stewart and Clare Sheaf
• Festive Faith: Catholic Celebrations Throughout the Year and Around the World by Steffani Aquila

Go deeper in the Catechism and Papal documents:

• CCC 1163-1178: Liturgical Seasons, the Lord's Day, the Liturgical Year, the Sanctoral calendar, Liturgy of the Hours
• CCC 1194-1196: Summary of Liturgical Celebrations
• CCC 1655-1658: The Domestic Church
• CCC 1666: Summary of Marriage & Domestic Church

• Sancrosanctum Concilium, especially Chapter IV: The Divine Office and Chapter V: The Liturgical Year
• Vatican II: Lumen Gentium, especially par. 11
• Familiaris Consortio

Please click here for more detail!

“Prayer is as necessary as the air, as the blood in our bodies, as anything to keep us alive-to keep us alive to the grace of God.”- attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta

What is Daily Prayer?

How can I pray without ceasing?

What do I do if I struggle to pray?

“You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said, “Lord, I don’t know how to pray!” you can be sure you’ve already begun.” -Saint Josemaría Escrivá

“If you experience dryness in prayer or a time when you come to Mass and feel like you didn’t get anything out of it, then that’s a good day… That’s a day where you get to choose to love God for His sake and not for what He can do for you.” -Father Mike Schmitz

Desiring closeness with God is a beautiful intention, pleasing to the Lord.

Some articles that might help:
When Prayer Becomes Painfully Impossible
When Praying Is Difficult
Pope Francis on the Difficulty of Prayer
 
FAQs about barriers to prayer (from our pastorate) 

Time-specific Devotions

Liturgy of the Hours

What is it?

How do I pray the Liturgy of the Hours?

Resources for the Liturgy of the Hours:

Why should I pray the Liturgy of the Hours?

Resources:

Please click here for more detail!

Windows from St. Joan of Arc in Kokomo, IN, not currently on display. Created by Josef Meir, Jacoby Art Glass and Co, St. Louis, MO.

How is the Mass a prayer, and why does it matter if I pray it?

What does attending Mass have to do with renewing a commitment?

What sets the Mass apart from other forms of worship and praise?                                                                                                                

What sets the Mass apart: Preparation & Participation

• How do I prepare for Mass on Sunday?
• Preparing for Mass
• Internal Preparation for Mass
• External Preparation for Mass: Fasting, Timeliness, Dress
• 4 Things Catholics Should Do Before Mass (video)

• Who can be dispensed from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass—and when?
• What Should I Do If I Cannot Attend Mass?
• "Normally the obligation includes the whole Mass, not just its most essential parts."

A note to families: You and your children are welcome at Mass!

• Bringing Children to the Holy Table
• How To Survive Bringing Small Children To Mass
• Keeping Kids Engaged at Mass
• Let the Kids Come to Mass

A challenge to those without young children: 

Other Resources for Understanding, Preparing for & Participating in the Mass: 

• Liturgical Vessels & Vestments (pdf) 
• Sacramental Preparation Outline of Mass (pdf) 
• A Biblical Walk through the Mass by Edward Sri (book, video series) 

• Walk through the Mass Exploring the Sacred Liturgy (Formed Symbolon video series) 
• The Elements of the Catholic Mass (Formed video series) 

• The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn (book) 
• The Supper of the Lamb by Scott Hahn and Emily Stimpson-Chapman (children's book) 
• The Fourth Cup: Unveiling the Mystery of the Last Supper and the Cross by Scott Hahn (book) 
• The Fourth Cup presentation by Mike Fulmer (audio/video)
• Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper by Brant Pitre (book) 
• Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper by Brant Pitre (video) 
• Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Dr. Brant Pitre (Formed audio)
• Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist (Formed series)
• The Holy Mass, Explained by the Catechism (Formed video)

• If Your Mind Wanders at Mass by Thomas Howard (Formed audio) 
• Engaging Your Faith: How to Pay Attention in Mass (Focus article) 
• 9 Practical Tips for Staying Focused at Mass (Catholic Company article) 
• Distractions at Mass (SpiritualDirection.com article)

Please click here for more detail!