St. Lucie Catholic Church

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Poverty is true riches.  So precious is poverty that God's Only Begotten Son came on earth in search of it.  In heaven, He had a superabundance of all goods.  Nothing was lacking there but poverty.

-St. Anthony of Padua

This past Sunday, Fr. Mark gave a homily and told the story of having conversations with his students asking them if they went to Mass.  Half of them didn't go and the other half attended but admitted to being bored and stated that they didn't get anything out of it.  Fr. Mark replied:  "Well, what did you put into it?"  

Upon reflecting on that story I and my assistant Alassra felt that we should share ideas on how to "put more into" our faith so that our experiences at Mass are transformative and engaging.  Here are a few ideas:
 

1. Reading and praying the scriptures beforehand.  We have a tool at our disposal called FORMED which has the weekly readings and a reflection.  They are also listed on this site every week.
2. Once in the pew and after you have already made your personal petitions to God, take the time to quiet the mind and let God speak to your heart.
3. Use the responsorial psalm as a prayer before Mass.  The psalms are used daily as a form of prayer in the Divine Office.
4. Remind yourself of whom you are about to meet in the Liturgy. He is Jesus Christ, who humbles Himself in the form of bread and wine to nourish you physically and spiritually.
5. Stay till the end of Mass.  God has invited you to His table, should you leave early?  Stay for the blessing.
6. Keep the Eucharist in you alive, by going out to love and serve the Lord.

Meaningful conversation takes intentionality, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. We’ve found having a few prompts helps us to connect on a deeper level and get the ball rolling. 

• Try sharing your highs and lows of the day. What got you excited? What made you feel frustrated? (This is a great dinner-time exercise!)
• Do a heart and mind check. What books or articles are you reading? What music, sermons, or podcasts are you listening to? What do you feel God is stirring in your heart? (This is also a great reminder to be continually feeding our hearts and minds.)
• Talk about what you’re reading in the Bible and praying about. Discuss the things of God and see how it helps draw you closer together and closer to Him.

In the next few days, commit to trying one of these prompts when you and your spouse catch a moment alone. Note how great it feels to bond, reconnect, share your prayers, and deepen your connection. You’ll quickly see why this exercise makes a great regular habit!
 

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