Episode Transcript
[00:00:04] Speaker A: Welcome to Sundays with Bishop Ken, a weekly podcast brought to you by the publishers of Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw.
Each Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Gospel and Bishop Ken's homily are proclaimed by members of our faith community during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. Our Sunday prayer time will be taken from the Little Book's reflections for that season.
We are pleased to spend this quiet time with you today.
[00:01:03] Speaker B: Hello, it's April 6th. We have reached the fifth Sunday of Lent.
In the late 1800s, the Catholic Church in the United States needed a clear and simple way to teach the faith.
In 1884, at a meeting of bishops in Baltimore, a decision was made to create a new catechism.
Known as the Baltimore Catechism, it included 421 questions and answers about the Catholic faith.
The Baltimore Catechism was easy to understand and memorize. There were four versions, each intended for a different age group.
The book was divided into four main parts. What Catholics believe based on the Creed, Signs of God's Grace, the Sacraments, Rules and Morals for living a good life based on the Ten Commandments and how we connect with God. Our Prayer.
The Catechism helped many Catholics in the United States learn the faith in a simple, organized way. For many years, it was the standard book for teaching and passing on Catholic beliefs in schools across the country.
Nearly one century later, Pope John Paul II recognized the need for the creation of an updated and universal catechism that would incorporate the teachings of Vatican II within the living tradition of the church.
Published in 1992, the Catechism of the Catholic Church presents the faith in a comprehensive and contemporary manner. It's the Church first catechism published for the entire world in over 400 years.
The Catechism summarizes and explains Catholic faith and morals while also teaching about prayer and the spiritual life. In Part four, the Baltimore Catechism first was published on this day in 1885.
As we return to our reflections on prayer, we add a new traditional form of prayer. Today we will be discussing contemplation.
One of the easiest of all forms of prayer is the one that most people think is out of their league. Contemplation.
We usually associate contemplation with mystics, monks, cloistered nuns, or great saints.
The truth is, contemplation is meant for all of us.
I already do it. Although I may not realize it, I'm no stranger to wordless experiences, looking at a starry sky or a sleeping child's face.
Often it happens when driving a long stretch alone in these experiences, I am fully captivated by something. I don't try to analyze it, think it through. I simply take it in.
Contemplative prayer is the same kind of experience, except that I'm captivated by the presence of God.
Contemplation is simply being with God and knowing it.
In contemplation, I'm not trying to accomplish anything other than to let myself be captivated by God.
That's enough.
It's everything.
God shapes me through these experiences like a child is shaped by being held in its mother's arms.
Sometimes contemplative prayer happens unexpectedly. When I wasn't even planning on praying or when I was using a different form of prayer.
Fine, stay with it.
On the other hand, sometimes I may try to move into contemplative prayer and be unsuccessful.
Not to worry. I can't always make it happen. It's ultimately a gift from God.
But it's always worth a try.
Care to try? Now, Be as still as you can.
Wash your mind of any distracting thoughts.
Close your eyes and open your entire self to the presence of God deep within you.
To have that experience, if only briefly, is so good, so profound, it can't be put into words.
Spend some quiet time with the Lord.
