“The Sabbath was the consecration of one day of the weekly period to God as the Author of the universe and of time. The day thus being the Lord’s, it required that man should abstain from working for his own ends and interests, since by working he would appropriate the day to himself, and that he should devoted his activity to God by special acts of positive worship” (Catholic Encyclopedia).
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LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.
L – Listen (Receive the Word.)
O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)
F | Franciscan – Spend your entire next Sunday after Mass at home, at rest. Without forcing or browbeating other adults into your observance, make sure every member of your household also has the opportunity to go nowhere and do only what is restful. How can you make this a regular practice, especially the “staying at home” part?
I | Ignatian – The Sabbath is first mentioned in connection with the manna (Exodus 16). Imagine you are an Israelite gathering manna for the first time. It has fallen with the dew, “flake-like and fine as hoarfrost.” What does it smell like? What does it feel like, to the touch? Is it filling? Nutritious? How does it taste?
In your LOVE the Word® journal. or your free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin, try to draw what you think it looked like. Can you hear it fall with the dew? Do you follow the instructions and collect only enough for that day, or do you try to gather more, just in case? Either way, using all your senses, imagine what happens as you collect manna that first day.
A | Augustinian – What one, small thing can you do this week to begin clearing out your Sunday in order to make it a true worship-rest day, both for yourself, and for your household? This week after Communion at Mass, consciously look back over your past week at how God used you and formed you through your work. Consider, in His presence, how He might do so in the coming week.
T | Thomistic – Read the following entry for “Sabbath” from the Catholic encyclopedia. What do you learn?
V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.
E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)
O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. + Amen.
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*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.
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You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.
