E LOQUOR II

R ISE
Last week we covered what it meant to be an artist. This week well talk about what it means to be a builder. When one thinks of a builder, usually structures or buildings come to mind. A builder can certainly build buildings. (In fact, St. Helena to the right built a great number of churches on holy sites in the Holy Land. St. Elizabeth Seton also built many schools in her time). However, a builder can also build things that dont have anything to do with concrete, wood, or bricks. St. Benedict of Nursia for example is regarded as the father of Western Monasticism. He founded the Benedictine Order which is based on the principle of prayer and work (Ora et Labora) This Rule of St. Benedict serves the Church in so many important ways and is regarded as one of the reasons many of the early Church writings and teachings survived to be available to us today. The rule has preserved much over time including Sacred Scripture. In a similar way, St. Josemara Escriv built a personal prelature (The first ever in the history of the Church) that allowed ordinary men and women a path of holiness by offering up their daily work. Builders take the tools and materials God has made to build institutions of worship so future generations can know the Truth.

AND
L ESSON T WO

S HINE !
G REAT B UILDERS T HROUGHOUT THE H ISTORY OF THE C HURCH : St. Helena (c. 248-c. 328) St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) St. Josemara Escriv (1902-1975)

C HARISM OF THE W EEK : B UILDER

S T . J OSEMARA E SCRIV :

Builder Extraordinaire:

St. Helena
(c. 248-c. 328)

K NOW Y OURSELF : T HE B UILDER

You might be an builder if you:

Enjoy starting projects Enjoy finishing projects Like to work with a team toward a common goal Enjoy encouraging others to do their very best

Take the time to show someone how to do something Show concern for those who are hurt by tragedies in their lives Enjoy working with your hands Work best when you have a list of tasks to complete

Prayer then becomes continuous, like the beating of our heart, like our pulse. Without this presence of God, there is no contemplative life. And without contemplative life, our working for Christ is worth very little, for vain is the builder's toil if the house is not of the Lord's building.
(Christ is Passing by, #8)

P AGE 6

R ISE AND S HINE !

D AILY O RDER : R ISING

FROM

S LEEP

St. Gemma Galgani

Okay, lets talk about that snooze button. Last week, we talked about the importance of devotion early in the morning. But what happens if we refuse to get up in the very first place? This course is about knowing yourself and for many of us, how we wake up in the morning can tell us a lot about ourselves. Now, you might say that youre not a morning person; that you get your best work done in the evening. While this might be true, the principle still remains that you need to have a set time each day that you wake up. Even if your week is crazy and activities vary from day to day, set your alarm the night before for the time you intend to rise. And when the bell rings, get up! Tell yourself the truth and youll be ready to start the day on the right foot as a soldier in the Church Militant.

St. Agnes of Rome

H AIL , M ARY , FULL OF GRACE , THE L ORD IS WITH THEE ;

BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN , AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF THY

D AILY P RAYER : A G OOD M ORNING

It is a good thing to say hello to your mother/matriarch here on earth when you wake up in the morning. How much more so with our Mother in Heaven!

TO

M ARY

Prayer Checklist: Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

J ESUS . H OLY M ARY , M OTHER OF G OD ,

PRAY FOR US SINNERS , NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH .

WOMB ,

A MEN

-T HE H AIL M ARY -

My Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely to you, and, in proof of my affection, I give you my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Since I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession. Amen.

G OING FOR THE G OAL : Y OUR W AKING H ABITS

Your Waking habits can say a lot about your joy in seizing each day for the glory of the Lord. This week, keep a log of your waking time in comparison to the time you set on your alarm or the time you intend to wake up (if you dont use an alarm). Calculate the average difference below to see how you measure up. Total Wake Time
Average/Day is___Minutes

Time Alarm is Set: Saturday:___________ Sunday:___________ Monday:___________ Tuesday:___________ Wednesday:___________ Thursday:___________ Friday:___________

Actual Wake-Up Time: Saturday:___________ Sunday:___________ Monday:___________ Tuesday:___________ Wednesday:___________ Thursday:___________ Friday:___________

St. Elizabeth of Portugal

L ESSON T WO

P AGE 7

M Y D AILY T ASKS: W ORKING

We all have daily tasks and many times these tasks either have to do with school or work. This week, keep a log of the most common items you have to complete before you can begin your daily work. Do you need to brush your teeth? Take a shower? Clean off your desk? Mop the floor? Eat your breakfast? Create a checklist to the right so you can have a visual of what needs to get done so you can get started with your ever -important daily work.

TO

W ORK

Take time this week to log the items to check off before you can begin your daily work:

Checklist:
1. 2. 3 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

St. Joseph: the Worker

Y OUR A POSTOLATE: T HE F IVE W EEKLY J OURNAL Q UESTIONS

1. What are some ways I can build up the body of Christ? 2. Are there ways I am tearing others down? 3. Could I give God more of a particular area of my life? 4. Do I begin my day with joy? Why or Why Not? 5. How can I say hello to my heavenly family each day I awake? (God the Father, Mary our Mother, Jesus our Lord,
and our brothers and sisters in the Holy Spirit: the Saints.)
EARLY SHALL
MY PRAYER COME BEFORE THEE.
-P SALM 88:13

G OING ON V OCATION : B ENEDICTINE M ONK

Girded with a faith, and the performance of good works, let us follow in Christs path by the guidance of the Gospel; then we shall deserve to see him who has called us into his kingdom. If we wish to attain a dwelling place in his kingdom, we shall not reach it unless we hasten there by our good deeds. Just as there exists an evil fervor, a bitter spirit, which divides us from God and leads us to hell, so there is a good fervor which sets us apart from evil inclinations and leads us toward God and eternal life. No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but rather what seems good for another. Let them put Christ before all else; and may he lead us all to everlasting life. - from the Rule of Saint Benedict

St. Benedict of Nursia

ASSIGNMENTS
Listen to Lecture for Lesson Two Read Pages 5-8 of the Curriculum Say Good Morning to Mary Each Day Fully Complete the Wake-Up Log Fully Complete the Morning Checklist Complete Journal Entries from Page 7 Log your Morning Mood each day Take Online Exam for Lesson Two

W EEKLY F OCUS : M OOD

The way we begin our day is critical to what we accomplish and how we spread the message of the Gospel. Weve all heard the phrase: Rise and Shine! While some of us may already have this approach to their day, many of us have to work hard to make this a part of our daily routine. As Catholic Christians, we are called to rise up in the newness of the live Christ has given to us. We are to let His light shine everywhere we go with every breath in our lungs. The challenge this week to ensuring you are being bright for Christ even in the early hours of the morning. This week, you will keep a log of your early morning mood. This will help you see what areas could be improved (if any) in the way you begin the day. Morning Mood: Saturday________, Sunday________, Monday________, Tuesday________, Wednesday ________, Thursday________, Friday________

P ROJECT M ANAGEMENT : P ERSONAL H YGIENE

Do you have a routine to keep yourself clean?

Do you: Make sure your teeth are properly brushed each day? (Dentists recommend twice/day) Include important items like flossing, clipping nails with clippers, or even (guys) ensuring body odours are kept in check?

St. Sebastian

T HE S AINTS K NOW B EST : O N W AKING U P

You drag along like a dead-weight, as if you had no part to play. No wonder you are beginning to feel the symptoms of lukewarmness. Wake up!

-St. Josemara Escriv, The Way, #257