His Stregnth Will Make Your Different - Part 1 (Lesson 14)

I - God continues to give us gifts through the Sacraments, most especially the Sacrament of Confirmation. There is a set of gifts that the Spirit of God puts into our soul - they are called the SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. In this lesson, we will discuss four of the gifts, followed by the last three gifts. Let's begin!

1. As we mentioned before, the Holy Spirit gives us ACTUAL GRACE (CLICK for the past notes). 

a. Along with this Grace, the Holy Spirit gives to you SEVEN powerful GIFTS to help you through the Spiritual Journey. 

b. The Gospel of St John teaches us what Jesus intended for these Gifts can, and should do through us. He speaks of it as Love In Action - something we have been craving or wanting to see, to give us reason to believe in Him and what He can do in our lives. Jesus says, 

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him. (John 14: 15-21)

2. How does this look when my life is connected to the Holy Spirit? 

Think of it like the Coach in this film. The Holy Spirit is our Coach, using the human coach to motivate us to complete tasks or actions that may seem incredibly hard to accomplish. The spirit of the team has beaten. Listen how the Coach pushes a strong football player to find his strength. 

II - The 7 Gifts make us into Saints for many to see and believe in God.

1. The Gift of Wisdom - This Gift helps us to make God the Center of your life. Should we lose our way, should we be distracted with the things in life, or should we be knocked off the Journey, God will make His presence known by urging us to turn to Him in prayer, and to wake us RISE - to get back on that road. Life will trip us up - God knows that, but He's not going to let you stay there. Wisdom will help you to find God, to hear Him even during the painful moments of your life. Like the Coach, He will push you beyond your limits, because God sees your potential when some may not see it. Here, your relationship with God will grow - you will slowly love what He is doing for you, and trust Him. 

Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, [then] what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. (John 14:22-26)

2. The Gift of Understanding - This Gift is given to us so that you can know and love God. He  will teach you through faith, so that you can live His teachings and blessing each day. God will strengthen your mind by experience and practice - He will urge you to read and study. This is why you are taking Confirmation Class, not because your parents put you here to receive the Sacrament only, but to understand that God wants a relationship with you. He wants to transform you by this relationship. 

a. God wants you to be His Witness - John 15:18-25

b. Our Lord teaches us how the Holy Spirit will Act through you - John 16:5-15 

3. The Gift of Counsel - This Gift is given to you for Spiritual Direction, as the Holy Spirit will guide you in all your actions. The Holy Spirit uses this Gift to make sure you know God's will in your life, which is to be HOLY first. This is why you pick a Saint name, so that you stay connected to this person who has lived for God before you. You become an apprentice of the Saint, like an apprentice of the Coach, or a Teacher. He also leads you to people who will mentor you through the Spiritual Journey.

4. The Gift of Fortitude - This Gift strengthens your soul to face tests, or what we call TEMPTATIONS. Remember, we spoke of moments in our lives that can trip us along our Spiritual Journey. It's impossible to avoid these tests, but possible to choose the right over the wrong. This Gift also gives us spiritual confidence in God. If our relationship is strong with God, we can know what God is doing through us. This Gift also helps us to answer for ourselves, whether we have sinned or not. It is very hard to shake a person whose fortitude is strong in God. 

Let us pray:

O good Jesus: Word of  Eternal Father, convert me.

Son of Mary, take me as her child.

My Master, teach me. 

Prince of Peace, give me peace. 

My Refuge, receive me. 

My Shepherd, feed my soul.

Model of patience, comfort me. 

Meek and humble of Heart, help me to become like you.

My redeemer, save me. 

My God and my All, possess me.

The true Way, direct me. 

Life of the saints, make me live in you. 

My Support, strengthen me. 

My Justice, justify me. 

My Mediator with your Father, reconcile me.

Physician of my soul, heal me. 

My Judge, pardon me. 

My King, rule me. 

My Sanctification, sanctify me. 

Abyss of goodness, pardon me.

Living Bread from Heaven, nourish me. 

Father of the prodigal, receive me. 

Joy of my soul, be my only happiness. 

My Helper, assist me. 

My Protector, defend me 

My Hope, sustain me. 

Object of my love, refresh me. 

My Divine Victim, atone for me. 

My Last End, let me possess you. 

My Glory, glorify me. Amen.

Our Father...

Hail Mary...

Glory Be...

Queen of Angels, pray for us. 

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HOMEWORK # 13 - Due Sunday

I - Reflection Question

1. Using the video, choose 1 of the four Gifts of the Holy Spirit that best describes the Coaches lesson to the Football player? Why? 

II - Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 27 - Answer these questions

1. In the beginning verses, who was kind to St Paul, allowing him to visit his friends? 

2. On the second ship that St Paul boarded, what did he warn the ship crew? What was their response?

3. What did the ship run into during their voyage? What did St Paul tell the ship crew when they became scared at their situation at sea?

4. Who wanted to abandon the ship? What did St Paul tell them?

5. What verse did St. Paul give thanks to God? What did St. Paul celebrate?

6. What happened to the ship after the storm? What were the soldiers going to do to the prisoners? 

Let Christ be Seen - The Gift of Love (Lesson 13)

I - The Gift of Love - otherwise known as CHARITY - is a Divine VIRTUE that God gives to us to Love Him above all things, and our neighbor as ourselves. 

1. We believe this to be the Truth. Jesus brings these words to reality, by showing us how to love as an important part in our journey to become saints. 

2. Jesus begins by teaching a summary of the Commandments to the Scribes. From generation to generation, the Scribes studied these words from Moses. It was a summary of the Ten Commandments, broken down into two sentences, quoting the Book of Deuteronomy 6:4. 

“The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

3. The authors of Sacred Scripture teach us how the Virtue of CHARITY is seen in action:

1. The action of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
2. Christ calls us to live in His Love (John 15:7-11)
3. Jesus also teaches us to Love One Another (John 15:12-17)

4. If you have forgotten the 10 Commandments, here is the full list:

1st - Love of God focuses on these three Commandments:

1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. 
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day. 

2nd - Love of Neighbor focuses on these seven Commandments

4. Honor your father and mother.  
5. You shall not kill
6. You shall not commit adultery
7. You shall not steal
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

II - With this Virtue of Charity, the Holy Spirit gives you graces that strengthen your spiritual journey towards sainthood. 

1. He gives to you actual graces to know what you must do, and act with love that will please God. But if you do not know God, and speak to Him, then your connection with God will be a struggle, a turning away, and a rejection of God's Love. It is about the Spiritual Journey in developing your relationship with Him during your preparation for Confirmation. 

2. The Holy Spirit, which you will receive in Confirmation, will strengthen your mind by giving you the Light of His Understanding, as well as the will power to do good and avoid evil. That includes your personal rejection to not sin. Should you struggle or fall, the Sacrament of Confession will help you in to get back to God. He will even give you strength to come to Confession, knowing you need of Him. 

a. Actual Grace stays with you all your life, so long as you need it to do good, and to avoid evil. 

b. Along with this grace, the Holy Spirit gives to you Seven Gifts that will make you into an amazing person. 

Think of it like Superman. What makes him amazing? The power of the Sun. For us, it's not just the Sun that gives us natural strengths (like Vitamin D), it is the Son who provides the Physical and Spiritual Strength to become Holy. 

Kal-El, or Clark Kent is taught by his father about his strength and power. Putting on the SUIT is like receiving the Mark of the Holy Spirit. The SYMBOL on his chest is of Hope - it is the same with us a Christians - the symbol is the Cross. After receiving it, Clark has to teach himself how to fly, and to control his gifts. He will fall, here and there, but he has to get up again. This is our Christian experience - we are given Spiritual Gifts that we must learn to adapt to, use them for good, and to become extraordinary - a Saint. 

Let us pray:

COME, O Creator Spirit blest,
And in our souls take up Your rest,
Come with Your grace and Heavenly aid,
And fill the hearts which You have made.

Great Paraclete! To You we cry,
O highest gift of God most high!
O fount of life! O fire of love!
And sweet anointing from above.

You in Your sevenfold gifts art known,
The finger of God's hand we own;
The promise of the Father, You!
Who dost the tongue with power endow.

Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o'erflow with love;
With patience firm and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us, Your true peace instead;
So shall we not, with You for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Your grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And You through endless times confessed
Of both the Eternal Spirit blest.

All glory while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son
Who rose from death; the same to You,
O Holy Spirit, eternally. Amen.

Our Father...

Hail Mary...

Glory Be...

Queen of Angels, pray for us. 

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HOMEWORK # 12 - Due Sunday

I - Reflection Question

1. Choose one of the Scripture Passages in "I, 3.": How was love shown?  

2. Which Commandment do you struggle with? How do you want the Holy Spirit to help you?

   

II - Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 25 & 26 - Answer these questions

1.       Who does St. Paul appeal to?

2.       Who was the King that wanted to hear from St. Paul? Why? 

3.       What did St. Paul say to the King about the dead?

4.       When speaking the King who did  St. Paul mention about imprisoning? Why? What changed his mind?

5.       In St. Paul’s testimony to the King, what event made him change his ways?

6.       What were the words of the King about setting St. Paul free? Could he have done it? What did he                 say? 

Never Surrender: The Gift of Hope (Lesson 12)

 The saints have written to us about HOPE:

I - What is HOPE? 

1. HOPE is the divine virtue:

a. It is part of God's strength, which He gives to you in Baptism. This VIRTUE grows during your Spiritual Journey in Confirmation, till you receive the Sacrament. Think of it like Neo in the Matrix:

Neo is given the ability to defend himself through a software download of Martial Arts. It is similar to how God puts in us His Grace, and Virtues, like HOPE, into our very being. Afterwards, Neo is tested. He needs to practice with Morphius, to learn how this gift works within life. Here, Confirmation is the SEAL that marks you with HOPE, and continues to strengthen you. In the video, Morphius explains the rules of the environment, but Neo cannot see past the program of the Matrix. He has to control his gifts within the Matrix, like we have to learn & exercise our spiritual gift of HOPE through life. Morphius finishes the lesson with, "Is that air you're breathing?" In the mind of Neo, he believes that Matrix controls His very being. In Truth, God does control our destiny, but it is mystery that God allows us to learn it, explore it, and experience it. 

b. God gives us this gift of HOPE, so that we may know Him as our True Eternal Happiness.

c. In times of struggle, hardship, or doubt, God will remind us about our HOPE in HIM, which will draw us to God for what we truly need. Read the Gospel of St Matthew 1:18-25, St Joseph is given HOPE by the message of an Angel.)

II - What does Scripture tell us about HOPE? 

1. Jesus heals the son of an Official who HOPES - Gospel of St. John 4:46-54

2. A woman's HOPE saves her from suffering - Gospel of St Luke 8:42-48

3. The HOPE to see - Gospel of St. Matthew 9:27-31

4. HOPE to all that Christ will liberate us from evil - Gospel of St. Mark 9:14-29

5. Ask Our Father in the Name of Jesus - Gospel of St John 14:7-14

6. Our experience living in the Love of Christ - Gospel of St. John 15:7-11

                               

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit...

COME, O Creator Spirit blest,
And in our souls take up Your rest,
Come with Your grace and Heavenly aid,
And fill the hearts which You have made.

Great Paraclete! To You we cry,
O highest gift of God most high!
O fount of life! O fire of love!
And sweet anointing from above.

You in Your sevenfold gifts art known,
The finger of God's hand we own;
The promise of the Father, You!
Who dost the tongue with power endow.

Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o'erflow with love;
With patience firm and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us, Your true peace instead;
So shall we not, with You for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Your grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And You through endless times confessed
Of both the Eternal Spirit blest.

All glory while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son
Who rose from death; the same to You,
O Holy Spirit, eternally. Amen.

Send us your Spirit and we will be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. 

The Act of Hope...

O my God, trusting in your promises, and because you are faithful, powerful, and merciful, I hope, through the merits of Christ, for the pardon of my sins, final perseverance, and the blessed glory of heaven. Amen

Our Father...

Hail Mary...

Glory Be...

Queen of Angels, pray for us. 

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HOMEWORK # 11 - Due Sunday

I - Reflection Question

1. In Line #2; Which of the 5 Scripture Passages represents your experience today? Which character are you in the in the passage? Why? 

II - Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 23 & 24 - Answer these questions 

1.       Who was St. Paul speaking to at the Sanhedrin when he was confronting the High Priests?

2.       What did St. Paul say he was on Trial for? 

3.       How many people wanted to conspire in killing St. Paul?

4.       Who escorted St. Paul to safety?

5.       What was the Hope St. Paul was talking about?

6.       What city was St. Paul a captive?