Monday, July 25, 2016

Ready to Begin?


Ready to begin daily reflection on Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation entitled “The Joy of Love”, Amoris Laetitia’?  Starting August 1st, join hundreds of others in reading one-paragraph-per-day as we ponder the Pontiff’s thoughts on marriage and family.

If you have already subscribed to www.AJoyWhichIsShared.org, there is no need to re-subscribe.  But please consider sharing this link with friends or family members who might be interested in signing up: click here to “Subscribe by Email” (new subscribers will receive a confirmation code to complete the enrollment process).

Thank you and God bless! 



Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Counting Down to "The Joy of Love"--8.1.16


Dear Friends of Pope Francis,

If you are interested in reading the Holy Father's new document on marriage and family life, entitled The Joy of Love, then you are in the right place!

We will begin posting one-paragraph-per-day on Monday, August 1st.  If you have received this post in your email, then you are already subscribed and the posts will begin arriving in a couple of weeks.

However, if you have not yet subscribed--or if you would like to invite family and friends to consider this daily walk with Papa Francesco, just enter your address in the "follow by email" tab on the blog www.ajoywhichisshared.org; a confirmation email will arrive in your in-box, and you will be ready to start the journey :)

Thanks and God bless!
The Diocese of Joliet

Monday, July 4, 2016

Congratulations!



Congratulations on finishing our journey through Laudato Si!  We hope it has inspired discussion, a call to take action within your community, and much personal growth.  Thank you for joining us! 

Can’t get enough of Pope Francis? The journey with our Holy Father will continue at a later date as we begin sharing his new encyclical “The Joy of Love”, 'Amoris Laetitia’, one paragraph per day.  No need to re-subscribe, if you’re interested … just stay tuned!  (To unsubscribe, simply click the link at the bottom of this page.)

Finally, if you would like to share a brief reflection on how these daily passages from Pope Francis have impacted your faith journey, the editor of the Diocese of Joliet’s monthly magazine will be collecting comments for possible inclusion in Christ is our Hope.  Simply email Carlos Briceno, subject “Laudato Si,” at cbriceno@dioceseofjoliet.org

Thank you and God bless,
The Diocese of Joliet’s offices of Lay Formation, Communications, and Information Technology

Sunday, July 3, 2016

On Care For Our Common Home - 246




246. At the conclusion of this lengthy reflection which has been both joyful and troubling, I propose that we offer two prayers. The first we can share with all who believe in a God who is the all-powerful Creator, while in the other we Christians ask for inspiration to take up the commitment to creation set before us by the Gospel of Jesus.

A prayer for our earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.

A Christian prayer in union with creation
Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!
Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!
Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!
Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.
God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!
Amen.


© LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

On Care For Our Common Home - 245


245. God, who calls us to generous commitment and to give him our all, offers us the light and the strength needed to continue on our way. In the heart of this world, the Lord of life, who loves us so much, is always present. He does not abandon us, he does not leave us alone, for he has united himself definitively to our earth, and his love constantly impels us to find new ways forward.Praise be to him!


© LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA.


Friday, July 1, 2016

On Care For Our Common Home - 244


244. In the meantime, we come together to take charge of this home which has been entrusted to us, knowing that all the good which exists here will be taken up into the heavenly feast. In union with all creatures, we journey through this land seeking God, for “if the world has a beginning and if it has been created, we must enquire who gave it this beginning, and who was its Creator”.[172] Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.


[172] BASIL THE GREAT, Hom. in Hexaemeron, I, 2, 6: PG 29, 8.


© LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA.