Kingdom Stewardship A Steward’s Prayer and Refl ection Journal The Gospel of Matthew Prepared by the Stewardship Offi ce of The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. Images in this work are taken from Dover Classic Full-Color Illuminated Borders, Dover Publications, INC. Mineola, New York © 2006 Prayers in this work are taken from http://www.catholicdoors.com/ prayers/prayers-a.htm © September 2007 Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio Permission is given to duplicate with acknowledgment given to the Stewardship Offi ce of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. For a free PDF fi le, please contact the Stewardship Offi ce at: Stewardship Offi ce Catholic Diocese of Cleveland 1027 Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH 44114 800-869-6525 X2120 [email protected] 2 55 Kingdom Stewardship Stewardship Time A Steward’s Prayer and Talent Refl ection Journal Treasure The Gospel of Matthew Blessing Commitment Name: _______________________ Date: ________________________ 54 3 A Steward’s 30 Day Prayer Journal Magnifi cat This prayer journal is a free gift. Your Parish has chosen to My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in distribute this to you either during a Stewardship presentation God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; at your church or through the mail. behold, from now on all ages will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with This Prayer Journal was created specifi cally for you by the his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown Stewardship Offi ce of The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The Ohio. Our hope is that it will assist, inspire, and encourage hungry he has fi lled with good things; the rich he has sent away you as you live out your life of Stewardship. As the U. S. empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, Bishops stated in their letter on stewardship: “A Christian according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his Steward is: One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, descendants forever. cultivates them responsibly, shares them lovingly in justice with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord.” Luke 1:47-55 Stewardship is a way of life! Stewardship is the sincere profound response we make when God touches our lives. It is The Anima Christi the response we make as we imitate Jesus Christ and ponder the Saving Cross and Resurrection. New wonderful spiritual Soul of Christ, sanctify me; adventures and opportunities are waiting for you. Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the side of Christ, wash me; May you receive gratefully and give generously. Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesus hear me; Within your wounds hide me; separated from you, let me never be; The Stewardship Offi ce From the evil one protect me; Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio At the hour of my death, call me; And close to you bid me; That with your saints, I may be praising you forever and ever. Amen. Anonymous 4 53 Prayer For The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit How to use this Stewardship Journal Holy Spirit, Divine Counselor, I adore You as my true God, with God the This prayer journal was designed for you. Please include it as Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You part of your prayer time. Each day set aside a few minutes to receive from the angels and saints. I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me. read and refl ect on the prayers, scriptures and questions. This journal is a small step along the way of stewardship which is O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who fi lled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a life-long journey of spiritual development and conversion Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your which strives for the perfection of the Children of God. grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon. As you pray through this Stewardship Prayer Journal may the Holy Spirit inspire and fi ll you. May you be blessed Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased with peace, love, good health, gifts, talents, and abundant fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your treasures. May God guard and protect you, your family, and divine precepts with greater fi delity. your community. May each page bring you closer to God and Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, those you love. enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Reach out, grasp it, and pass it on. Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul. Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter. Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world. Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Amen. St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696 – 1787 AD) 52 5 Lorica of Saint Patrick (Breast Plate Prayer “Lorica”) (Continued) Christ shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, Week 1 Prayer So that reward may come to me in abundance. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Lorica of Saint Patrick Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, (Breast Plate Prayer “Lorica”) Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. I arise today I arise today Through a mighty strength, Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through a confession of the Oneness Through a belief in the Threeness, Of the Creator of creation. Through confession of the Oneness St. Patrick (ca. 377 AD) Of the Creator of creation. St. Patrick (ca. 377 AD) 6 51 Week 1 Refl ection Lorica of Saint Patrick (Breast Plate Prayer “Lorica”) We are created in the Image of God and were chosen to live here and now in God’s Kingdom. Because we (Continued) are created in the Image of God ( Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) we are a “Communion of self-giving I arise today Through God’s strength to pilot me; love.” We are Stewards of this love and God’s Holy God’s might to uphold me, Kingdom. God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, This week we refl ect on the goodness of God, in God’s ear to hear me, ourselves, in others, and in the world around us. We God’s word to speak for me, ponder and recognize God’s great love and our many God’s hand to guard me, blessings. We seek ways to generously return the God’s way to lie before me, wealth we have received. God’s shield to protect me, God’s hosts to save me, Holy Spirit fi ll me with wisdom. Grant me understanding and courage as I commit my time to From snares of the devil, From temptations of vices, prayer and seek ways to nourish and share my talents From every one who desires me ill, and many treasures. Help me be a good Steward. Afar and anear, Alone or in a multitude. I summon today all these powers between me and evil, Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of women and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul. (Continued) 50 7 Week 1 Day 1 Lorica of Saint Patrick I am Good (Breast Plate Prayer “Lorica”) God created man in his image; in the divine image I arise today he created them; male and female he created them. Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, God blessed them.