
Ways to Expand Your Faith and
Become a Better Person
Click on the underlined items for printouts, links and good stuff....
BUILD YOUR PRAYER LIFE
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Pray the Rosary and/or join a rosary group.
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Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (at 3:00pm daily if possible)
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Pray with your own words using the Acronymn of ACTS
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Follow the example of St. Ignatius and Pray the Examen, the 500-year-old daily practice of honest self assessment and reflection. A great book is "Reimagining the Ignatian Examen" by Mark Thibodeaux, SJ — a new and unique version of the Examen that is totally flexible and adaptable to your life. You can use these flipboards to help, as you await your book to arrive: Morning Examen Evening Examen
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Attend novenas at our Church or do novenas at home by joining PrayMoreNovenas.com
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Learn more about how to pray & how to make personal prayer a significant part of your daily life:
Ignatian Spirituality...How Can I Pray?
Loyola Press...Ways to Renew your Personal Prayer Life
10 Creative Ways to Energize your Prayer Life
**NEW** ENJOY SACRAMENTAL AND FAITH BUILDING ACTIVITIES
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Have a good confession. You can prepare by using this easy Guide to Make an Examination of Conscience and a Good Confession, and by viewing this awesome video from Ascension Press called The Power of Confession
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Attend Eucharistic Adoration and ponder on Jesus' sacrifice for all of humankind...get a book with Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration like Jesus, Present Before Me to help focus your thoughts.
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Get some sleep! Did you know sleep is actually a great spiritual exercise? Watch this video to re-think why you should have an early bedtime and a full night of rest... What's Your Bedtime?
**NEW** REFLECT ON AND CELEBRATE SPECIAL DAYS AND SEASONS
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Prepare for Lent! Check out these awesome videos by Fr. Mike Schmitz:
The Significance of Ash Wednesday
Heaven: You're Not Good Enough (and why that's ok)
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Reflect on Christmas: Check out this fun video that talks about your qualifications to celebrate Christmas: God's wants All of You
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All Saints Day... what being surrounded by "a cloud of witnesses" is all about: All Saints Day Pep Talk Video
STUDY THE BIBLE
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Study scripture either formally in a Bible Study, or study on your own using free online bible studies and bible podcasts like these:
Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology Online Studies
Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology Audio Studies
CatholicBoard.com Understanding the Scriptures Podcast
GET INVOLVED IN SPIRITUAL STUDIES AND GO TO RETREATS AND CONFERENCES
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Attend or host study courses like:
The Great Adventure Bible Timeline
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Invest in and watch interesting and informational Study programs - split the cost with your friends, then plan a special day and place to meet to do the study program. When the day arrives, get some chai and biscotti and enjoy the program together... Some programs you might like:
Catholicism: The New Evangelization
The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters
Conversion Following the Call of Christ
Eucharist: Sacred Meal, Sacrifice, Real Presence
Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues
Untold Blessing: Three Paths to Holiness
Catholic Courses - Miscellaneous Study DVD's, CD's
CatechismClass.com - online Catholic catechesis program
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Attend Retreats and Women's conferences every chance you can.
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Check out Online Retreats that you can do yourself.
**NEW** GET A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
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Get a spiritual director....... or use resources to serve as a director for you. Watch these videos for ideas:
No Spiritual Director, No Problem!
ENJOY GREAT CATHOLIC BOOKS, AUDIOTAPES, PRESENTATIONS AND VIDEOS
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Get a good Daily Devotional and read at a specified time each day, such as My Daily Bread , My Daily Life
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Read great books like My Imitation of Christ, and enjoy free or reduced cost Catholic books and CD's from websites like DynamicCatholic.com
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Practice Daily Positive Affirmations and give gratitude daily for all the blessings and good things in your life. Use a book like Sarah Ban Breathnach's The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude to help you.
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Listen to high quality pesentations on audio CD's by inspirational authors -while driving, working out - like those in our SCWC CD Library.
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**NEW** Check out awesome Catholic videos on YouTube by Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, and many more on all kinds of great topics: Ascension Presents
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Bookmark or get on email list for online Blogs and podcasts by some great Catholic authors, like The Great Adventure Blog, or the Catholic Exchange Podcast, so you can get daily inspiration.
GET OUT AND ABOUT: VISIT NEW PLACES
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Go on a pilgrimage - it can be to a local cathedral/church or to a holy site or even to a beautiful place in nature (like a park, sunrise at the beach, or even in a beautiful atrium in a fancy hotel) where you can be quiet and feel God's presence.
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Go on a spiritual getaway - make arrangements for an overnight stay at a Catholic guesthouse, like the one located at St. Leo Benedictine Abby or at Marywood Inn Retreat and Conference Center. (Note: many retreat houses are peaceful sanctuaries, with beautiful gardens and tranquil locations)
OTHER
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Get a group of 12 families together and start a Pilgrim Queen of the Family program.
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Check out this Interactive Catholic Internet Guide for a listing of the best Catholic websites, resources and blogs!
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Check out our Useful Links page, for even more great resources!!!
