Formation Materials

What is Worship that pleases God? It is when we come before God to offer our praise and gratitude, to confess our sin and confusion, to offer ourselves, full of love and wonder. We can expect something good to happen.

St. Faustina’s profound love and devotion to the Eucharist was the center of her life. Eucharistic love motivated her every action and she prayed to become a living monstrance.

One of the first things we learn when we study a language is its alphabet. But have we ever learned the ABC’s relating to the formation, development and growth of our spiritual life, our spirituality?

Each day is a gift from God. We are told that the way we wake up and begin our day will influence how we live the rest of the day. So, how should we begin our day?

To be able to get involved in the harvest in the Lord’s vineyard, we need to be involved in the beginning, in the selection and in the planting of the seed. We must also continue our involvement in the growth process. We share with you 20 ways to get you started on your training as an effective gardener in the Lord’s vineyard.

The Capital Sin of envy that we all carry within is us due to the effects of Original Sin can literally destroy us as well as countless others if it is not recognized, resisted, rejected and conquered through the grace of God and our own determination! What are some positive steps we can take to conquer the Capital Sin of envy?

Many people never listen to God because they are not aware that He speaks to them. Yet, God does speak. One way to live in His presence is to acquire the habit of recognizing His voice when He speaks. Fr. Healy talks about prayer and how to be aware of how and when God speaks to us.

In this article we share Fr. Herb’s outline of what BCBP spirituality is. He emphasizes that our spirituality is the way we live for God in response to what he has done in and for us. It is expressed in particular actions and practices which are intended to lead us closer to God and to serve him.

Nursing grudges is a serious stumbling block in the Christian life. Constantly recalling people’s offenses and thinking of ways to pay them back creates a steady drain on our spiritual energy. Bitterness prevents us from receiving the Lord’s power. It blocks our release from the problems that afflict us. Ghezzi offers ways to handle our grudges in this formation article.

The Christian Church was born in song. The reality of God and Christ and creation and salvation and heaven and hell are simply too great for mere speaking; they must be sung. It doesn’t matter who we are or the sound of our voice. God doesn’t look on the outer appearance of a person. In the same way, He isn’t bothered by the sound of our voices. Because it’s the sound of our hearts that He cares about. Find ways to encourage your people to join in singing.