Think about those times in your life when you have felt inspired to something really great. Where does that inspiration come from?
The Holy Spirit. God inspires us to do great things with our lives.
----Matthew Kelly

Welcome to The Not So Perfect Catholic!

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian, just a Catholic empty-nester trying to figure it all out. The views on this blog are my own.

FMF: Access

 

Five Minute Friday: Kate provides a word every Friday. The writer sets a timer for 5 minutes and writes whatever comes to mind.

I did it again: I've overextended myself for Lent. There was a time not so long ago when access to Catholic study materials was very poor. We depended on our parish to provide us with Lenten materials. What and how much you received depended on the pastor. Times have thankfully changed. We have so much to choose from now. Every year I swear I won't overextend but most years I do.

The internet has given us a huge amount of access to materials we didn't have before. Podcasts do, too. Not to mention social media. There is so much out there, we just have to access it. There's so much that it's hard to decide because it's all so good. I think I could do year-long Lenten studies with the materials I have access to. 

Let's not forget Zoom; it gives us access to national and international book studies! I recently completed a book study on Bernadette Speaks. Sr. Mary Martha led us through the book every Wed. night. We had people from all over the USA and one lady in England reading the book and commenting on it. For Lent Sister is leading us in the book "He and I" (Gabrielle Bossis). 

Times up!!! How do people write so much in just five minutes? I'm a pretty quick typist but  I can't get any more than what I wrote today in 5 minutes! 

I have to include my list of Lenten studies:
Metanoia (Fr. Dave Pivonka)- Some ladies in my parish are gathering once/week to discuss a video from this series.
The Ascension Lenten Companion (Fr. Mark Toups)-Fr. Toups is amazing with visualization. He has a way of using words to put you in the scene of what is happening in the Bible and applying it to your life.
Be Transformed (Dr. Bob Schuchtes-the Abiding Together Ladies are leading this book study. They've done some excellent Lenten book studies in the past.)
Best Lent Ever (Dynamic Catholic---I usually only watch the videos-which you can have delivered daily in your email- but a friend gave me the journal and I can't let it go to waste!)
He & I (Gabrielle Bossis): This is the zoom book study by Sr. Mary Martha (Daughters of St. Paul- the "media nuns"). The good thing about this study is that if I can't make the zoom on Wed., the sessions are recorded so I can catch up during the week. Gabrielle was a single woman in the early 20th century who, at the age of 62, began dialoguing with Jesus during her daily life. 

What are your Lenten plans?
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7 comments:

  1. Lisa BlairFebruary 10, 2023 at 10:55 AM

    It sounds like you are enjoying your deeper studies of Lent, Mary! FMF#2

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2023 at 10:59 AM

    I have to agree with you when you wonder how people can write so much in just 5 minutes...lol. It is hard to do. Isn't the internet wonderful for study materials? We have so many options available at our fingertips.

    ReplyDelete
  3. achildofthekingFebruary 10, 2023 at 1:03 PM

    Yes, there are so many things we can access with today's technology. I am very discerning about what to trust, though. I can be very misleading. Great post, Mary! Thanks for sharing. You can read my post here:
    https://awifesreflections.wordpress.com/2023/02/09/five-minute-friday-link-up-access

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2023 at 1:05 PM

    I honestly have no lenten plans. :) The access we gain online is at times just fantastic. FMF13

    ReplyDelete
  5. AndrewFebruary 10, 2023 at 8:54 PM

    Don't know what to give for Lent,
    don't know what would be most pleasing,
    but it seems my body's bent
    on the giving up of breathing.
    Sleeping on my back ain't on,
    I wake up with a thankful gasp,
    really glad I am not gone,
    like Cleopatra with the asp.
    And speaking of that long-gone queen,
    we do share some qualities,
    for as I do the cancer scene,
    to Death I may seem a tease,
    for every day I wear a smile,
    as the true Queen of de Nile.

    Ok, I'm a guy, so sue me already.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2023 at 4:58 AM

    I am praying for you and your husband, love from Canada

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2023 at 10:45 AM

    These are some great ideas. I think I need to think about this. :) Deirdre FMF#7

    ReplyDelete

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