YLSE Kit

Our Lady of Beautiful Love Parish Youth Prayer Community

YLSE Kit

(Youth Life in the Spirit Encounter)

Lamb: Shepherd: Contact No.: Tricord: Contact No.:

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WHAT IS FINDING LIFE IN THE SPIRIT? The Encounter The Life in the Spirit Encounter is primarily an evangelical tool which takes the basic message of Christianity and proclaims it anew so that those who hear it can make an authentic and deeper commitment to the Lord in a way which will allow them to receive a fuller experience of the work of the Spirit in their lives.

The Goals To help the lambs…  establish, reestablish or deepen a personal relationship with Christ  yield to the action of the Holy Spirit in their lives so that they can begin to experience His working in and through them  be joined to Christ more fully by becoming a part of a community of Catholics with whom they can share their Christian life and from whom they can receive support in that life  begin to make use of effective means of growth in their relationship with Christ.

The Four Basic Truths God loves us.

He wants us to live a full, happy life.

I came that they might have life and have it abundantly. (Jn 10:10) Man is sinful.

By ourselves, we we are sinful and separated by God, and therefore cannot know God's love and share in God's life with others.

All have since and come short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23) Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins.

Jesus is the only one who can give you power to live this life. Through Him, you can know God's love and share in God's life with others.

God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, that whoever believed in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16) You must accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

To be baptized in the Holy Spirit and experience the power to live a new life, we must enter a personal relationship with Jesus wherein we receive His love and in turn offer our life to Him.

PROMISE AND FULFILLMENT Before Jesus went up to heaven, He promised to send His apostles the Holy Spirit, from whom they would draw wisdom, strength and power which they would need to fulfill His command: to preach the Good News and bring salvation to all.

"Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world!" (Mt.28:20) "I will ask the Father and He will give you another Paraclete to be with you always: the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot accept, since it neither sees Him nor recognizes Him. But you can recognize Him because He remains with you and will be with you." (Jn 14:16-17) Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is with us. He empowers us and works in us. Through His Spirit and in His Name, all things are made possible.

Before His ascension, Jesus instructed his apostles to wait for the coming of His Spirit.

"Remain here in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." (Lk 24:49) "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be my witnesses...even to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) The Book of the Acts of the Apostles describes how this promise was fulfilled.

After Jesus ascended, the apostles returned to their room in Jerusalem. With some women, including Mary, mother of Jesus, and his brothers, they devoted themselves to constant prayer. When the day of Pentecost came, suddenly, from up in the sky, there came a noise like a strong, driving wind, and tongues of fire appeared distributing themselves, and rested on each one of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-4) When they prayed, the place where they had gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God's Word with confidence. (Acts 4:31) The Holy Spirit was alive and active in the early Church. The experience of His presence is recorded mostly in the Book of Acts, although it is recorded in other books of the New Testament, as well. The union with the Holy Spirit is also described as "being baptized in the Holy Spirit", "receiving the Holy Spirit" and "the Holy Spirit falls upon". All three descriptions of the union refer to the same experience.

The entrance into a deeper life in the Spirit is effected through the "Baptism in the Spirit" or "release of the Spirit". Scripturally, the Baptism in the Spirit is cited in all four Gospels, (Mt 3:11, Mk 1:8, Lk 3:16, Jn 1:33). In Mark 1:7, John categorically announced: I have baptized you with water, but He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

RECEIVING THE SPIRIT Paul: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers? disciples: We have not heard that there is a holy Spirit.

Paul: John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.

Paul gave the disciple the good news and taught them about Jesus. And when he laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them. (Acts 19:2-6) In Acts 8:14-17, Peter and John "imposed hands" on the people of Samaria. The Holy Spirit "had not yet come down upon any of them since they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The pair, upon arriving, imposed hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

This is what is done today in the Charismatic Renewal. Teachings are given, then hands are laid or "imposed".

The baptism experience differs per person. Some people feel a tingling sensation in their fingertips or up their arms like an "electric current" coursing through their veins. Others feel a strange warmth when the "anointing" comes. Still others feel a deep sense of peace, or a surge of joy, or even copious tears. Some even see visions: Jesus with outstretched arms, on the cross, or with the baptism.

Note: The physical manifestation does not matter. The Holy Spirit comes to all who have decided to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, provided they have prepared themselves spiritually for it and are open to it.

To receive the Baptism of the Spirit, 1. Know what it is and have faith that Jesus wants to give it.

2. Desire to live the fullness of a life in the Spirit.

3. Spend time with those who have already experienced it.

4. Receive the sacraments and be sincere in your repentance.

5. Keep a community to pray with and to be prayed for.

Even if nothing exciting or dramatic is felt of seen at the moment of baptism, differences will be felt and seen in a new relationship with God, in the new life that comes to those who have been baptized and who welcome the spirit with them.

Being baptized in the Spirit is an introduction to the transforming power of the Spirit. It allows the Spirit to dwell in us, to work through us and to reveal Jesus in us; just as the Spirit empowered the early Christians, guided them, spoke to them, and instructed them (Acts 8:29, 39; 11:28; 13:2; 16:6-7; 20:21).

Through the Spirit, we learn to know God and to receive His wisdom and His truth. "His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and power. (2 Pt 1:3) The life in the Spirit, the life in which we can experience His presence and His work, was the normal way of life of the early Christians. It should be our normal way of life as well.

Being baptized in the Spirit is not a guarantee of the Spirit's continuous presence within us. We can alienate the Spirit, fall away, and deliberately accept sin back into our lives.

How are we to remain in the Spirit? Better yet, how are we to grow in the Spirit?

Baptism gives new life, but that life must be nurtured and fed. It is necessary to have a deep personal prayer life, to study scripture and to learn to know Jesus intimately, to receive the Sacraments regularly, to serve Him and to witness for Him. Fulfilling these will be difficult to sustain without community. God wants us to be a part of a Christian community, for His grace and His blessings His gifts flow to us through community.

We cannot stand still in our life.

We cannot just mark time.

We have to move forward, or we will slide back.

In community, faithful Christian brother and sisters who are more spiritually mature will help us as we take our first faltering steps toward the fullness of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness and chastity" (Gal. 5:22-23)

BIBLICAL BASIS FOR “BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT” Referred to as

Bible Source

(being sent) what the Father promised

Lk 24:29, Acts 1:4, 2:33

the gift of God

Acts 8:20, 11:17

receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:38

receiving the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:17, 19, 10:47, 19:2, Jn 7:39, 14:17, 20:22, 2 Cor 11:14, Gal 3:2, Rom 8:15

being filled with the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:4, 9:17

being baptized in the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:5, 11:19, Mk 1:8, Mt 3:11, Lk 3:16, Jn 1:33

being clothed with power

Lk 24:49

the Holy Spirit comes on

Acts 19:6, Lk 2:27

the Holy Spirit falls upon

Acts 10:44, 11:15

the Holy Spirit is poured out on

Acts 2:33, 10:45

the Spirit is given

Acts 8:18, Jn 7:39, 1 Jn 3:24, 5:13, Lk 11:13

receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit

Gal 3:14

being sealed with the Holy Spirit

Eph 1:13, 4:30

being born of water and the Spirit or being born again from above

Jn 3:5-8, Gal 4:30

the Holy Spirit is sent into our hearts

Gal 4:6

the Holy Spirit is supplied

Gal 3:5

the Holy Spirit descends on or alights and Mk 1:10, Lk 3:22, Mt 3:16, Jn 1:32-33 remains – the description of Christ’s baptism

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT Our baptism in the Spirit opens up for us the treasures that the Spirit has in store for us, so that we may be able to fulfill God’s mission for us on earth.

As Catholics, we learn that it is through the Sacrament of Confirmation that the Spirit bequeaths to us seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, piety, fortitude and fear of the Lord. We receive these gifts to make us militant in our struggle for the kingdom of heaven.

However, in his letter to the faithful of the Church of Corinth, which he founded, St. Paul enumerates nine spiritual gifts with which the Corinthians were richly endowed.

“There are different gifts but the same Spirit; there are different ministries but the same Lord ... To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one, the Spirit gives wisdom in discourse, to another the power to express knowledge.

Through the Spirit one receives faith, by the same Spirit another is given the gift of healing, and still another miraculous powers. Prophecy is given to one; To another power to distinguish one spirit from another. One receives the gift of tongues, another that of interpreting the tongues. But it is one and the same Spirit who produces all these gifts, distributing them to each as he wills.” (1 Cor 12:4-11) Rom 12:4-8 and 1 Pt 4:10-11 mention other spiritual gifts that the faithful can receive.

Stephen B. Clark says that St. Paul’s great hymn to love found in 1 Cor 13, was written to instruct the Corinthians that spiritual gifts had to be used in love to build up community.

In his epistle, Paul makes it clear that there is a difference between charismatic power and holiness, that power can be possessed without holiness. In Matthew 7, Jesus presses the point that power is not a guarantee of spiritual maturity and does not ensure entry into His kingdom. What gives a man holiness is his obedience to the will of the Father in heaven.

It is fortunate for us, two thousand years away from the Epistles of Paul, that the Corinthians were remonstrated in Chapters 12-14 of the first letter, giving us insights to the charismatic gifts, their nature and purpose, perpetuating for us the experience of the early Christians.

St. Paul refers to the gifts as “manifestations” of the Spirit, signs that the Spirit is at work, proof of God’s presence and His power to change lives and to change the world.

As Catholics, we believe that the Spirit dwells in us through our reception of the Sacraments. But His power is not fully released in us until after we are baptized in the Spirit.

In Heb 6:4-5, St. Paul speaks of those who have been enlightened, “have tasted the heavenly gift and become sharers in the Holy Spirit”. They have partaken of the powers of the age to come”.

The first two gifts which St. Paul enumerates in 1 Cor 12 are TEACHING gifts: “wisdom in discourse” and the “power to express knowledge”, sometimes referred to as the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. They are words inspired by God to give understanding, or to give instruction.

The word of wisdom is an expression of God’s guidance, given as practical spiritual teaching.

The word of knowledge gives “knowledge” or awareness of God and of the mysteries of God, as doctrinal teaching.

Wisdom and knowledge are word gifts that work through inspired understanding, fed by the Spirit, and give evidence of the presence and work of the Spirit. They are agents of spiritual growth and maturity.

The next three gifts mentioned by Paul in 1 Cor 12 are the SIGN gifts: faith, the gift of healing, and miraculous powers. They are striking evidences of God’s grace and call attention to His reality. Jesus promises His apostles: “Signs like these will accompany those who have professed their faith: they will use my name to expel demons, they will speak entirely new languages, they will be able to handle serpents, they will be able to drink deadly poison without harm, and the sick upon whom they lay their hands will recover.” (Mk 16:17-18) The sign gifts are given by the Spirit to confirm the truth of the Christian message and to give evidence that is tangible and visible. Mark 16:20 relates: “The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord continued to work with them throughout and confirm the message through the signs which accompanied them.”

St. Paul writes: “I will not dare speak of anything except what Christ has done through me to win the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, with mighty signs and marvels by the power of God’s Spirit”. (Rom 15:18-19)

The charismatic gift of faith is not the same faith by which all Christians believe and turn to Christ. It is a special gift of prayer that carries God-given expectancy and conviction, confidence that whatever is sought for will be granted. It is the kind of faith that can move mountains (Mk 11:23) and is the result of the work of the Spirit.

There are also those with a special gift of healing. The spirit works through them to produce “works of power”, signs of the presence and favor of God. The next four gifts can be called REVELATIONAL: prophecy, the power to distinguish one spirit from another (also known as discernment of spirits), the gift of tongues and the interpreting of tongues.

Discernment of spirits is necessary for the protection of the Community, to detect the presence of an evil spirit in a person or in a situation, to determine whether it is the spirit of God or merely the human spirit that is dictating an action or a decision. It was the gift that prompted Peter to rebuke Simon, when he tried to buy the power to confer the Spirit (Acts 8:23).

Prophecy is a gift by which God speaks through a person to convey a message. It is given by the “upbuilding”, “encouragement” and “consolation” of those who hear it as declared by the prophet (1 Cor 14:3). The Prophecy is given in the words of God, in the first person. God takes over the mind of the prophet, who yields and begins to speak the thoughts planted into him by the Lord. He recited them as though they were his own thoughts. To the degree that he surrenders his mind, to that degree his message will be pure.

The spiritual gifts are available to all, given for the upliftment of the community. The word of prophecy can come to anyone in deep prayer. However, the ministry of prophecy, or the office of the prophet is a special gift that is not given to all.

The gift of tongues is mentioned in Acts 2:4 and 11, Acts 10:45-46 and Acts 19:6. When we speak in tongues, we allow the Spirit to use our lips and our voices. We yield our mouths to Him. It is a new gift of praise, a new manner of prayer. It allows us to yield to the Spirit and to respond to the presence of the Spirit. It is a gateway to the full life of the Spirit. In Rom 8:26, Paul refers to this gift as the Spirit’s way of helping us “for we do not know how to pray as we ought” and so “it is the Spirit himself who makes intercession for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in speech.” We should yield to this gift and free ourselves from all our inhibitions. If we ask for this gift and we receive it, the other spiritual gifts will more easily come to us as well. Rejection of the gift of tongues is like closing the door to the gift of God’s grace. It is like telling God that you do not like what He is doing for you.

Speaking in tongues can be two different things. It can be a gift of prayer. This is the more common gift of tongues. But it can also be a gift for the community, done out loud upon the prompting of the Spirit. In 1 Cor 2:13, Paul writes: “We speak of these, not in words of human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, thus interpreting spiritual things in spiritual forms.”

We allow the Spirit to pray through us, in a tongue that the enemy cannot understand.

In this case the whole community hears the message conveyed by the spirit. The Interpreter, like the speaker, does not understand the tongues (1 Cor 14:2, 14). The gift of interpretation, then is not a gift of translation. It is an urging to speak out the words given by the Spirit to the community.

There are obstacles to receiving the fullness of the Spirit. What are they?

1. Not wanting it, or wanting only part of it, rejecting, for example, the gift of tongues.

2. Fear that we are unworthy, undeserving, or unfit to ask for the gift.

We have to believe in faith that God wants us to be baptized in the Spirit.

God wants us to be empowered by His Spirit because He loves us. It is to bring us to salvation that He became man. It is for us that He was willing to subsume His divinity to His humanity. It is for us that He suffered, was crucified and died on the cross. All we have to do to receive His gifts is to desire them and to ask for them, for He wants to give them to us. We must cast out all fear, and trust His perfect love. If we do not want what He offers, we are telling God that it is what we want and not what He wants that must prevail. We are limiting the fullness of what He wants that must prevail. We are limiting the fullness of what He wants to give us, and restricting His offer of love.

When the Church seems to be losing ground in the world, weakening and losing vitality, we need the fullness of God’s power among us; and He puts it at our disposal through the gifts of the Spirit. He gives us a new life in Him, with Him, for Him. As the charismatic renewal grows and spreads into all parts of the Church, people are beginning to experience the Spirit and miracles are being worked through faith. If we seek in faith, the Lord will work in our lives in the same way that He worked among the early Christians. Then we can expect His power to reign over us; and He will be with us in all His glory, making all things perfect in His name, as we surrender ourselves, as we abandon ourselves to His most perfect will and to His most perfect Love.

FORGIVENESS Forgiveness is to pardon and remit the sins and hurts another has committed against one. It is to release blame and to free the other from any sense of obligation and resentment, and involves giving up one’s right to retain that hurt and sin.

The Lord is saying that if you don't forgive, you are incapable of receiving forgiveness since you are resisting the Light; Jesus is the Light of the world. Not to forgive is to keep one's self in darkness so that one blocks himself from the forgiveness of the Lord.

SCRIPTURES: Mt 6:14-15, 21-35; Mk 11:25-28; Jn 20:23; 2 Cor 2:10-11; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13 FOCUS: Because God has been so merciful to us (Col 2:13-14; Heb 4:16) we need to forgive “from the heart” (Mt 18:35). If we do not forgive we block our relationship with God (Mt 6:14-15; Mk 11:25-26), we are turned over to the tortures (Mt 18:34-35), and we are in danger of a root of bitterness being harbored in our hearts. (Heb 12:14-15) STEPS TO FORGIVENESS: 1.

Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of areas of unforgiveness in your life.

(Jn 14:26; 16:3) 2.

Tell God openly how you feel about the person who hurt you, (Ps. 62:9) 3.

Verbally speak out forgiveness for that specific hurt. (Jn 20:23) 4.

Ask God to forgive the person who hurt you. (Lk 23:34) 5.

Ask God to forgive you for holding unforgiveness (1 Jn 1:9) 6.

Release God from blame. (Proverbs 19:3) 7.

Ask the Holy Spirit to come to put His love, joy and peace where the unforgiveness once was (Lk 11:24-26) 8.

Ask God to bless the person who hurt you (Mt 5:44) TYPES OF FORGIVENESS 1.

Forgiving those who sinned against you (Mt 6:14-15) 2.

Asking forgiveness of those you sinned against (Mt 5:23-24) 3.

Forgiving yourself for past mistakes, as God forgives you (Rom 8:1) and you can only love others as you love yourself (Mt 22:39).

FORGIVENESS PRAYER

by Fr. Robert DeGrandis, S.S.J. The following prayer covers most of the significant areas of forgiveness. Often, such a prayer will bring to mind other areas that need forgiveness. Let the Holy Spirit move freely and guide your mind to persons or groups that you need to forgive.

Lord, Jesus Christ, I ask today to forgive everyone in my life. I know that you will give me the strength to forgive and I thank You that You love me more than I love myself and want my happiness more than I desire it for myself.

Father, I forgive YOU for the times death has come into the family, hard times, financial difficulties, or what I thought were punishments sent by You and people said, "It’s God’s will”, and I became bitter and resentful toward You. Purify my heart and mind today.

Lord, I forgive MYSELF for my sins, faults and failings, for all that is bad in myself or that I think is bad, I forgive myself; and I accept Your forgiveness.

I further forgive MYSELF for taking Your name in vain, not worshipping You by attending church, for hurting my parents, getting drunk, for sins against purity, bad books, bad movies, fornication, adultery, homosexuality. Also for abortion, stealing, lying, defrauding, hurting people's reputation. You have forgiven me today, and I forgive myself. Thank You, Lord, for your grace at this moment.

I also forgive MYSELF for any delvings in superstition, using ouija boards, horoscopes, going to seances, using fortune telling or wearing lucky charms. I reject all superstition and choose You alone as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Spirit.

I truly forgive my MOTHER. I forgive her for all the times she hurt me, she resented me, she was angry with me and for all the times she preferred my brothers and sisters to me.

I forgive her for the times she told me I was dumb, ugly, stupid, the worst of the children or that I cost the family a lot of money. For the times she told me I was unwanted, an accident, a mistake or not what she expected, I forgive her.

I forgive my FATHER. I forgive him for any non-support, any lack of love and affection or attention. I forgive him for any lack of time, for not giving me his companionship, for his drinking, arguing and fighting with my mother or the other children. For his severe punishments, for desertion, for being away from home, for divorcing my mother or for any running around, I do forgive him.

Lord, I extend my forgiveness to my SISTERS AND BROTHERS. I forgive those who rejected me, lied about me, hated me, resented me, competed for my parents’ love, those who hurt me, who physically harmed me. For those who were too severe on me, punished me or made my life unpleasant in any way, I do forgive them.

Lord, I forgive my SPOUSE for lack of love, affection, consideration, support, attention, communication; for faults, failings, weaknesses and those other acts or words that hurt or disturb me.

Jesus, I forgive my CHILDREN for their lack of respect, obedience, love, attention, support, warmth, understanding; for their bad habits, falling away from the church, any bad actions which disturb me.

My God, I forgive my IN-LAWS, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, FATHER-IN-LAW, SON/DAUGHTERIN-LAW, BROTHER/ SISTER-IN-LAW AND OTHER RELATIVES by marriage, who treat my family with a lack of love. For all their words, thoughts, actions or omissions, which injure and cause pain, I forgive them.

Please help me to forgive my RELATIVES, my grandmother and grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins, who may have interfered in our family, been possessive of my parents, who may have caused confusion or turned one parent against the other.

Jesus, help me to forgive my CLASSMATES or CO-WORKERS who are disagreeable or make life miserable for me. For those who push their work off for me. For those who push their work off on me, gossip about me, won’t cooperate with me, try to take my job, I do forgive them.

My NEIGHBORS need to be forgiven, Lord. For all their noise, letting their property run down, not tying up their dogs who run through my yard, not taking in their trash barrels, being prejudiced and running down the neighborhood, I do forgive them.

I now forgive all PRIESTS AND NUNS, MY PARISH, MY PARISH COUNCIL, PARISH ORGANIZATIONS, MY PASTOR, THE BISHOP, THE POPE, AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH for their lack of support, affirmation, bad sermons, pettiness, lack of friendliness, not providing me or my family with the inspiration we need, for any hurts they have inflicted on me or my family, even in the distant past, I forgive them today.

Lord, I forgive all those who are of different PERSUASIONS, those of opposite political views who have attacked me, ridiculed me, discriminated against me, made fun of me, economically hurt me.

I forgive those of different religious DENOMINATIONS who have tried to convert me, harassed me, attacked me, argued with me, or forced their views on me.

Those who have harmed me ETHNICALLY, have discriminated against me, mocked me, made jokes about my race or nationality, hurt my family physically, emotionally or economically, I do forgive them today.

Lord, I forgive all PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE who have hurt me in any way: doctors, nurses, lawyers, judges, politicians and civil servants. I forgive all service people: policemen, firemen, bus drivers, hospital workers, and especially repair men who have taken advantage of me in their work.

Lord, I forgive my EMPLOYER for not paying me enough money, for not appreciating my work, for being unkind and unreasonable with me, for being angry or unfriendly, for not promoting me, and for not complimenting me on my work.

Lord, I forgive my SCHOOL TEACHERS and INSTRUCTORS of the past as well as the present. For those who punished me, humiliated me, insulted me, treated me unjustly, made fun of me, called me dumb or stupid, made me stay after school, I truly forgive them today.

Lord, I forgive my FRIENDS who have let me down, lost contact with me, do not support me, were not available when I needed help, borrowed money and did not return it, gossiped about me.

Lord Jesus, I especially pray for the grace of forgiveness for the ONE PERSON in life who has HURT ME THE MOST. I ask to forgive anyone who I consider my greatest enemy, the one who is the hardest to forgive or the one who I said I will never forgive.

Lord, I beg pardon of all these people for the hurt I have inflicted on them, especially my mother and father, and *my marriage partner. I am especially sorry for the three greatest hurts I have inflicted on each.

Thank You, Jesus, that I am being freed of the evil of unforgiveness. Let Your Holy Spirit fill me with light and let every dark area of my mind be enlightened. AMEN.

Forgiveness is an act of will, not a feeling. If we pray for a person, we can be assured that we have forgiven that person. Daily we need to forgive those who hurt or injure us.

This is my commandment: Love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

PRAYER FOR INNER HEALING (Healing of Memories)

by Betty Tapscott & Fr. Robert DeGrandis SSJ The following is the prayer for inner healing (healing of memories). Ask Jesus to heal your painful memories. Make this your own personal prayer.

Father, I thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who died on the cross not only for my sins, but for my fears. I thank You that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that He wants me to be completely whole: spirit, soul, and body. Lord Jesus, I ask You to walk back through every second of my life. Heal me and make me whole. Go back into the third and fourth generations and break harmful genetic ties.

Jesus, You knew all about me even before I was born. Thank You, Lord Jesus for being there as life began. If fear or any other negative force was transmitted to me as I was in my mother’s womb, set me free from those things. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being there when I was born, and loving me. (Some came into this world not being loved and not being wanted, and they felt such rejection. Lord Jesus, from the very beginning fill each one with Your precious love.)

Lord, walk back through every second of my life during those early years. (Some were separated from parents because of sickness or death; some were born into large families and did not receive the love that was needed.) Lord Jesus, go back and fill every void, give the love that was not received. Remove every hurt. Take away all fears – fear of darkness, fear of falling, fear of animals, fear of being lost. I thank you, Jesus, for setting me free and healing me.

I pray, Lord, that You will take my hand and walk to school with me. At times I felt so shy, so afraid to leave home and go into new situations. Jesus there were times I felt embarrassment at school, would You please take away those memories? When I was treated harshly by a teacher, or I was hurt by classmates, please heal me those hurts.

(Some fears entered during those first school years, the fear of speaking in public, or fear of failures.) Thank You for healing those hurts and setting me free from those fears. I thank You and I praise You. Lord Jesus, I thank You for my mother. (For those who did not have the love of a mother, fill that empty place and give them the love that was needed.) I ask You to stand in between my mother and me and let Your divine love flow between us. I ask for forgiveness from my mother for any way I have hurt her or failed her, and I forgive her for any way she hurt or failed me.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for my dad. (For those who did not feel the love of an earthly dad, please give them all the love they needed but didn’t receive.) Stand between my dad and me. I pray that Your divine love will mend any broken relationship. I ask forgiveness from my dad for any way I hurt or failed him, and I forgive him for any way he hurt or failed me.

I lift up my brothers and sisters to You. Where there were feelings of competition, jealousy, or resentment, I ask that Your healing power and love mend every broken relationship. I forgive each brother and sister for hurting or failing me, and I ask forgiveness for hurting or failing them.

Thank You, Lord, for being there in my childhood and teenage years. There were many problems and fears. As each painful memory is brought to my mind, I pray that You will take a spiritual eraser and wipe away the pain from my mind. Take away any feeling of humiliation, embarrassment, guilt, fear or failure. (Some may have been teased because of race, looks, size, or poverty and they were wounded so deeply.) Let each person know You loved them as a special, unique individual and that You were there in every situation.

As each of us started to grow older, there were new fears, frustrations, or hurts. (Some may have wanted to go on to college but were not able to, others may not have been able to enter the path they had dreamed of, and they felt such disappointment.) Jesus please heal every disappointment and every hurt.

Thank You for being there as we entered marriage. (For some it was such a beautiful, new beginning. For others it was a nightmare,) Jesus, would You please take away every hurt. I pray that You would stand between me and my mate (and if there has been more than one mate, please stand between each one) and heal every hurt. I am saying this to my mate, I forgive you for hurting me, and I ask you forgiveness for hurting you. Lord Jesus, through Your divine love, I thank You for mending every broken relationship, and wiping away every painful memory.

Lord, thank You for our children. Take away any feeling I have of failure or guilt as a parent. When I punished unwisely or was too possessive with my love, when words were spoken in criticism or anger, I pray You will heal any hurt that was caused. I ask their forgiveness and forgive them for hurting me.

Lord, during those terrifying times of accidents, those times of sickness or surgery, I thank You for being there. I ask You now to take away the horror, the fear, and the memory of the pain. Set me free from the trauma I felt. Thank You for being there during those times of sorrow. I thank You for taking my hand and walking through the valley with me. I thank You for lifting the burden; I thank You for taking away my sorrow, my grief, and my mourning. I thank You for giving me Your joy and peace.

Now, Lord Jesus, thank You for walking back through every second of my life up to this exact moment. Thank You for healing me of all my hurts, my painful memories, and my fears, for setting me free. Thank You for filling me with Your Love. Help me to love myself.

Help me to love others. But most of all, Jesus, help me to love You as I want. I thank You for giving me joy. I thank you for giving me peace. I thank you for going way down deep into the dark recesses of my mind and cleansing me.

I thank you for healing my emotions, my mind, and my memories.

I thank you, Jesus, for making me whole; and I give You all the praise and all the glory. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE God has given us the sacrament of Penance so troubled sinners might meet with faith the forgiving Jesus Christ and walk away in peace. The stronger our faith, the clearer we view our sins, the more honestly we confess the greater our desire to improve, the deeper will be the inner joy and personal freedom we experience on those occasions.

There are five steps which surround and make possible a peaceful meeting with the Lord of mercy.

Step 1: Prayer for Light and Courage We begin by a brief prayer asking God to help us believe in His mercy, to see our sins just as they are, to confess them honestly despite the pain that involves, to experience his peace, and to change our future lives.

Step 2: God’s Good Words about Forgiveness The Bible is filled with stories and teachings about God’s limitless mercy, love and forgiveness. Read now one or a few of the selections below and reflect for several moments upon them. a. Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus’ concern for sinners b. Luke 5:17-26 Christ forgives and cures the paralytic c. Luke 7:36-50 The Lord and a penitent woman d. Luke 15:1-7 A story of the lost sheep e. Luke 15:8-10 The misplaced silver coin Step 3: A Look Into The Heart This step requires a period of reflection sufficient for you to look at the past and to search out your sins. This reflective look at the past should be honest, down to earth, painful but healthy and healing.

Step 4: The Confession of Sin The actual confession of sins ideally follows. However, the words you use and the way you say them are of secondary concern. It is the sorrow for sin and the change of heart, which really matter. Should you feel nervous or become forgetful, simply tell the confessor that and ask for his help.

Step 5: Penances for the Past and for the Future The confessor imposes a penance or satisfaction for your sins as the final step in this sacrament of reconciliation. Designed to repair the harm done and to heal the wounds caused by these misdeeds, it is also intended to help you improve in the days ahead.

ACT OF CONTRITION Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I fear the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because I offended You, my God, who are all good and worthy of all my love. I firmly resolve to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

PRAYER TO TAKE AUTHORITY In the Name of Jesus, I take authority and I bind all powers and forces in the air, in the ground, in the water, in the underground, in the netherworld, in nature and in fire.

You are the Lord over the entire universe and I give You the glory for Your Creation. In Your Name I bind all demonic forces that have come against us and our families and I seal all of us in the protection of Your Precious Blood that was shed for us on the Cross.

Mary, our Mother, we seek your protection and intercession with the Sacred Heart of Jesus for us and our families, and surround us with your mantle of protection to discourage the enemy.

St. Michael and our guardian angels, come defend us and our families in battle against all the evil ones that roam the earth.

In the Name of Jesus I bind and command all the powers and forces of evil to depart right now away from us, our homes and our lands. And we thank You Lord Jesus for You are a faithful and compassionate God. AMEN! Hail Mary…

Note: This is a “spiritual warfare prayer” and should be said during our daily morning prayers and repeated at night. This prayer, together with the “Armor of God” (Eph 6), aids and protects us and our families against the snares of the enemy throughout the day and while we sleep at night. This is an important prayer especially for those who are just starting their “walk with the Lord”.

ARMOR OF GOD Lord God, in Jesus' Holy Name, we will be strong in the power of Your might. We put on the full armor of God so that we can take a stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore, we put on the full armor of God so that on this day we may be able to stand our ground. We stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around our waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, we take up the shield of faith, with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. We put on the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And we pray in the Spirit, on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests.

SALVATION PRAYER Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

CANDIDATE’S PRAYER Father, I come before Your holy presence with all my unworthiness, my doubts, my fears, insecurities and apprehensions. As You gaze upon me, You see all my attachments, bondages and vices. You know all about my pride, my stubbornness and selfishness. You know of my anxieties about my future, my hurts and pains, my bitterness and resentments, my financial problems and all other things in my heart and mind that I cannot verbalize.

Oh merciful and loving Father, in spite of all these, I know that Your Love for me is steadfast and everlasting. You have called me by my name and cleared all obstacles to bring me to this Life in the Spirit Seminar.

I accept this opportunity to know You better through Your Son, Jesus Christ, whom I now recognize and accept as my personal Lord and Savior.

Heavenly Father, my soul pines for Your Love. I earnestly desire to establish a new relationship with You. I seek the life you promised; a life full of love, joy and peace. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, as at Pentecost, that my life will be a witness to Your presence and glory.

Let nothing hinder me from going through this encounter. Help me manage my time and resources from this time on. Pour upon me and my loved ones the Sacred Blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that we may be protected from the attacks, the entrapment and oppressions of the world, flesh and Satan.

Send Your ministering angels to keep me, preserve me and guide me and my loved ones from all harm.

All these, I pray and claim in the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in unity with Your Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.