...I can pray an entire Rosary without a single thought about myself
...I can find the resolve to pray the Daily Office, the only real obstacle between me and the Secular Carmelites
...I can work up the nerve to tell people who insist on chatting in church that they are preventing others from praying
...My daughter will return to the Church and to the sacraments
...I can have the kind of job that permits me to spend an hour a day in Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
...I will do a better job of glorifying God through my every thought, word and deed
...I will never have a serious sin to confess again
...I will think the best of people, always, until proven wrong
And on a lighter note, I hope that someday I will...
... be the person my dogs think I am
... bake the Italian rum cake my late mother-in-law used to make
...be able to say I visited Lourdes, Lisieux and Nevers
...get over my addiction to Pepsi
...resume distance running
...live to see the Dallas Cowboys win another Super Bowl
wonderful goals ! I should do this little exercise too (I would probably surprise myself). thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gardenia, I will definitely try it again.
ReplyDeleteI love love your list! You may be starting something new here Joyce LOL! I can relate to so much (including the dogs). Remember God sees our intentions and hopes. Don't let the exclusion of the Office be a reason to not seek further into a possible call into the Secular Carmelites. Remember...you have six years of formation to discern this vocation. AT any rate...in my prayers.~Theresa
ReplyDeletethanks Theresa, I may make it a weekly exercise ;)
DeleteKeep persevering with that Daily Office. Us seminarians have to pray that on a daily basis, and it's a tough habit to get into, but it is well worth it. It's the highest form of prayer right after Holy Mass, since it is part of the Church's liturgy. I don't know where my prayer life would be without it, because to me it is an anchor. If I fail at all else, at least there is the Breviary to keep me grounded.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of praying the Office after Mass. I don't know why, but I've always had the impression I had to pray it before. Truth be told, I think I'm just lazy. I find it hard enough to get up in time for Mass every morning, but like last year, I'm going to try it again during Lent. I've always believed in adding a devotion during Lent that one could continue once Lent ends. I should ask God for the grace to continue, shouldn't I?
DeleteWell, I actually didn't mean "right after Mass" in a chronological sense. I meant that it's second to Mass in terms of how high a prayer it is. Though one could pray it after Mass I suppose. I find that praying before Mass is much better. At the seminary we all pray Morning Prayer in community just before Mass. It's a very good way to prepare. If you do start praying it during Lent, you can start gently. Many (including seminarians) only do Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer at first, before moving on to things like the Office of Readings. It's tough, but as I said, it's well worth it.
ReplyDeleteAh, Daniel... see what's happened to my mind? My job is driving me crazy and I should probably not blog at all when I'm this exhausted. I do pray Compline every night. Just have to get it in gear for the rest.
DeleteI hear you on the Cowboys. There is something wrong with the coaching. Such a lack of discipline.
ReplyDelete"...I will do a better job of glorifying God through my every thought, word and deed"
-me too!
Manny, I think the owner is the problem. He insists he's a GM and we all know he isn't. No point trying to tell him, he won't listen.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The owner (Jerry Jones) is the problem.
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