It is our goal that all people may accept Jesus as the Master of their lives, listen to his word and be obedient to it and thus bring forth his kingdom of Peace and Love.
We at the apostolate are tillers of the soil so to speak. We seek to help the true sower of the seed Jesus Christ to plant his "Word " in the hearts of all people. We acknowledge that we of ourselves can do nothing. We seek to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His power to achieve His goals.
There are many ministries but one spirit. We see our's as helping people to find Jesus within - "I have written it in their hearts." To do this we seek to bring each person to a new awareness of Jesus within. We do this by teaching from the scriptures and by providing guidance to have a more openness to prayer by seeking the Holy Spirit's inspiration. We realize that each person is unique and the Father has a special plan for each one of us. However, there are certain time-tested ways to grow in holiness.
"We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit makes intercessions for us with groanings that can not be expressed in speech."
The members of the Apostolate lead prayer services and provide teachings at church gatherings approved by the pastor. We also hold prayer and teaching sessions on the weekend at retreat centers like the Claret Retreat Center, part of the Phoenix Catholic diocese near Scottsdale, Arizona.
We also speak at conferences and seek to inspire those who we meet in our everyday life.
Our approach to days of spiritual renewal is to "teach and apply" calling on the power of the Holy Spirit. We know with absolute certainty that the Holy Spirit will pour out his blessings with signs and wonders to all those with a humble and sincere heart.
Our talks cover practical ways to improve your prayer life and be more open to the workings of the Holy Spirit. The topics cover such things as seeking the "grace of repentance" as St. Francis of Assisi would call it.
We need to ask the Holy Spirit to empty us of self-love.The illumination of Self as St. John of the Cross would describe it. Understanding the Discernment of Spirits as taught by St. Ignatious of Loyola. The Jesus Prayer or Centering Prayer as taught by our friends at the Benedictine Abbey at Pecos, New Mexico.
The need for Fasting to rise to higher levels of prayer. This was a clear call made by the Blessed Virgin Mary at apparitions such as Fatima.
The practice of solitude and silence to improve one's prayer life by reducing distractions caused by all the noise and over-activity of today's modern world. Many of the holy people of the past and of today "disappear" from the world to refresh themselves with the intimacy of the Holy Spirit. The importance of spending quality time in the morning in private prayer as taught by St. Francis de Sales.
We give talks on how to improve one's prayer life by being more open to the charisms of the Holy Spirit as prayed for at Vatican Council II when its opening prayer was for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
We also talk most importantly about developing a sound "interior life of prayer." This can be done by an individual utilizing silence, solitude and fasting and having access to a good spiritual director.
The importance of being supported by a loving prayer community is stressed. Finally, tactics of spiritual warfare are covered using modern teachings on inner healing and other methods. We also cover the movement of spiritual consolations and desolations as part of our growth in holiness.
"The Introduction to the Devout Life".............. by St. Francis de Sales
"The Soul of the Apostolate".............. by Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard, OCSO
"The Interior Castle".................. by St. Teresa.
"The Spiritual Life".................. by the Rev. Adolphe Tanquerey
The Apostolate publishes pamphlets and tapes on how to pray better and grow in personal holiness. Our website - Jesus Christ is the Lord (www.jesuschrististhelord.com) is a place of learning about the spiritual life and sharing testimonies about the workings of the Holy Spirit. We also see it as a place where one can participate, meet others and grow in deeper prayer and obedience to the Holy Spirit by listening.
The Parable of The SowerOn another occasion Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. 2 And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them. "Hear this! A sower went out to sow. 1. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 2. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. 3. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. 4. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. 1. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. 2. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 3. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. 4. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." (Mark Chapter 4 vs. 1 to 29) End |
"The kingdom of God is not about words, it is about power," St. Paul
We perform our ministry as servants of bishops, priests, pastors and all religious. We have come to serve and not to be served. We seek to follow Jesus' call to go out to the whole world and tell the good news of His resurrection and the power of the outpouring of His Holy Spirit to all who ask. We seek to serve his apostolic delegates with the simplicity exhibited by holy people of the past like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Ignatious of Loyola. and many others.
We believe that all christians should carry with them a spirit of prayerful recollection all through the day. When you do not, you drift from a life that is guided by the Holy Spirit. One can easily be inundated by too many distractions due to the activity of the day. One can forget about the presence of Jesus within their hearts. It can become like the seed that fell on the soil with all the thorns which choked it. Yes, that can happen to our spiritual life. The cares, distractions and over-activity of the world can and will draw us away from a "sense of the presence of Jesus within us."
One can even get caught up in good works and lose His presence. St. Theresa of Calcutta made it a point to have her sisters pray first and then minister to the poor. She knew a breakdown in the interior life had to be avoided if the ministry was to continue to do the will of the Holy Spirit. We find our strength in God.
How does one keep the seed of the word growing in their hearts and bringing forth much fruit?
By watering the soil of our hearts with prayer and worship and a study of sacred scriptures. Most importantly we need to spend time in the prayer of solitude and silence supported by times of fasting. After Jesus healed Peter's mother-law, many people in the village came to the house seeking healing. Afterwards, Jesus disappeared. The apostles found him in a deserted place "absorbed in prayer."
We learn from the Master. He teaches us to spend time alone in prayer seeking the will of the Father through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is the heart of one's individual prayer life. With this individual centering on Jesus, we are filled with grace and can participate in all the worship and devotions of the church with a powerfully renewed spirit of enthusiasm that radiates to others. This interior prayer life is supported and sustained by the community and in the Catholic Church by the rich outpouring of graces through the sacraments administered by the priests and special devotions.
"Now, my brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that even as you learned from us how to conduct yourselves in a way pleasing to God - which you indeed are doing - so you must learn to make still greater progress. It is God's will that you grow in holiness........" (1Thessalonians, Chpt 4)
Litany of Prayer to the Holy SpiritLord, have mercy on us. -- Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. -- Christ, graciously hear us. God, Our Father, Creator and Sustainer of all, -- have mercy on us. God, the Son, Lord and Redeemer of the human family, -- have mercy on us. God, the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, Defender and Guide, -- have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, -- have mercy on us. Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, ** Resp.: Have mercy on us, or Fill us. Holy Spirit, co-equal with the Father and the Son, ** Holy Spirit, our Comforter (Jn 14:16), ** Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier, ** Holy Spirit, our Advocate/Paraclete, ** Promise of God the Father, most bounteous, ** Ray of Heavenly Light, ** Author of all good, ** Source of Divine Water, (Jn 4:10)** All Consuming Fire, consume us, ** Spiritual Unction, ** Spirit of Truth (Jn 14:17) and Power (Acts 1:8), ** Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, (Is 11:2)** Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, " ** Spirit of Knowledge and piety, " ** Spirit of Fear (Reverence) of the Lord, " ** Spirit of Compunction, ** Spirit of Grace and Prayer (Rm 8:26), ** Word of Wisdom and Knowledge, (1 Cor 12:8), ** Spirit of faith, healing and miracles, (1 Cor 12:9), ** Spirit of prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretation, (1 Cor 12:10), ** Spirit of love, peace and joy, (Gal 5:22), ** Spirit of patience, endurance, kindness and generosity, (Gal 5:22), ** Spirit of faith, mildness and chastity, (Gal 5:22), ** Spirit of modesty and continence, ** Spirit of adoption as children of God, ** Spirit of praise, worship and adoration, ** You through Whom spoke holy men and women of God, ** You Who overshadowed the Virgin Mary, ** You by Whom Mary conceived Jesus, our Savior, ** You Who reinstated us into the Kingdom of God at our Baptism, ** You Who give us ministry gifts at our Confirmation, ** You Who empower at in the other Sacraments, ** You by Whom we are reborn, ** You Who dwell in us as in a Temple, ** You Who govern and animate Your Church, ** You Who are the Heart of God's holy Church, ** You Who fill the whole world, ** That You will renew the human family, *** we beseech You hear us. That You may shed Your Light upon us, *** That You may pour Your Love into our hearts, *** That You may inspire us to love ourselves and others, *** That You may teach us to ask for the graces we need each day, *** That You may enlighten us with your heavenly wisdom *** That You may guide us in the way of holiness, *** That You may make us obedient to Your commands ** That You may teach us how to pray, *** That You may always pray with and for us, (Rm 8:26) *** That You may inspire us with horror for sin, *** That You may direct us in the practice of virtue, *** That You may make us persevere in a Holy life, *** That You may make us faithful to our vocation, *** That You may grant us good bishops, priests, deacons and religious, *** That You may make us good men and women of God, *** That You may give us good Christian parents and families, *** That You may grant Your Church Spiritual Renewal, *** That You may continue to protect, guide and console our Holy Father, *** Lamb of God, You take away our sins, (3 x's) -- Spare us, O Lord. -- Graciously hear us, O Lord. -- Have mercy on us, O Lord. Holy Spirit, hear us. -- Holy Spirit, Graciously hear us. Lord, have mercy. -- Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Create a clean heart in us, O Lord. -- Renew a right spirit in us, O Lord. Let us pray: Merciful Father, grant that Your Divine Spirit may cleanse, inflame and enlighten our minds and hearts. Enable us thereby to be fruitful in good works for the glory of Your Majesty and for the spiritual and material well-being of Your people Redeemed by the Blood of Your Beloved Son. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit of Love. Amen. end |