|
|
|
Will It Rain?
|
Spiritual LinksThese are personal reflections on spiritually uplifting web site which are broadly created by Catholic sources – but have a straightforwardly Christian outlook to them. Some are more “modern” than others – but different people have different preferences from the point of view of personal reflection etc. Pray As You Go: http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/ The Jesuits at their best!!! You will need to click the “download WMA” tab to listen to it directly on your computer (you will need to make sure you have sound switched on with the sound cone at the bottom right of your machine.) This is singly my very favourite reflective site. There is contemplative music – with varying styles from day to day – (including Gregorian Chant periodically!!) The mass of the day gospel is read. A short reflection is given based upon the gospel. An invitation to reflect again upon the gospel follows, with the gospel being repeated. Then a short musical follow up based upon the follow up – and a “Glory Be” building in strength. Its always excellently done – very powerful! Universalis: http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/compline.htm Very formal prayer – but opportunities for separate morning prayer, night prayer and the full daily mass readings for the day for people who can’t get there due to work commitments. It includes within the prayer structure an opportunity for reflection and examination of conscience. Praying Each Day: http://www.prayingeachday.org/reflectoctober.html This is done by the De La Salle Brothers. Very contemporary daily reflections – often pitched against a historically relevant event. Takes about 3 minutes to read – with a short “get me under way with the day” prayer echoing the reflective story. The stories are usually good – but are sometimes mind blowingly inspirational!! I often use this source when we have had staff prayer at school. Taize: http://www.taize.fr/en_article75.html A 30 second “thought for the day.” Great – but not terribly meaty – sometimes thought provoking – needs to be used in conjunction with another source to fully benefit. St. Ann’s Daily Mass: http://www.themass.com/default1024.htm St. Ann’s Basilica (Passionist Community) in Pennsylvania USA. I don’t know how the American’s do this – since they are minimum 5 hours behind us – but they always seem to have today’s daily mass up and running – presumably before they have gone to bed – they must film it as a “vigil mass” the night before. I think this is the best Daily Mass type website that I have been able to find – though I will list others separately. I think it would be great for people who would like to experience daily mass but can’t get through illness, immobility or other commitments eg work. Listeners need to get past the American accents – and the screechy cantor (and the most out of tune “honky tonk” piano you have heard in your life) when they decide to sing – but otherwise pretty good for a “virtual” experience of the daily mass. Canadian Daily Mass http://www.canadiandailymass.com/ From St. Basil’s Church Toronto has some direct videos on the web site itself – but also links to three or four new daily videos on You Tube where viewers can watch the daily mass. Its main disadvantage over the above version of Daily Mass is that it comes in four parts – since You Tube only allow maximum video length of about 10 minutes. The creaky cantor makes a Trans America appearance again – which is again a little off putting – but those who wish to engage with this kind of thing will see past that. Picture quality is also slightly weaker that the above Passionist version. Eternal Word Television Network: Web site relating to the EWTN channel which is available on Sky through the religious section. The channel on TV has sections such as saying the rosary etc and daily mass in full – but its very traditionalistic - and I find it somewhat inaccessible. Nevertheless – available for those wishing to watch daily mass without a computer. The web site version streams live TV content – so the mass is also available – but you have to be watching at the right time to catch it. Novenas: http://catholicism.about.com/od/novenas/Assorted_Novenas.htm Novenas for every occasion. Great if you like that kind of thing – genuinely good – though not for me. Loyola Press (Jesuits) 3 minute Retreats : Making Christian Choices. http://www.loyolapress.com/making-christian-choices-3-minute-retreat.htm# I don’t know why I like this site. Its probably the “god in a hurry” element that works for me. All I know is I do like it quite a lot. There are other daily prayer elements too. The retreats are quite repetitive – but the flute and piano background music is quite calming and puts one on the right frame of mind for prayer. Thought For The Day: Radio 4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/thought/ I absolutely love these – and one can also retrieve archived thoughts for the day from days gone back. Coping.org Somewhat introspective in some respects – and I don’t use it much personally – but good for people who are suffering certain crises of times of their lives How To Pray The Rosary: http://www.rosary-center.org/howto.htm Includes some (actually rather nice) old fashioned pictures reflecting each mystery in turn – plus 10 points of reflection for each mystery. Pretty well does what it says on the can – as the advert goes!! The Holy Rosary: Basically just an alternative to the site above. The picture of the statue of Our Lady is a bit gaudy on the opening page – and that puts me off – but some good reflections on the mysteries of the rosary – and other associated information. Sacred Space: http://sacredspace.ie/#chooseday I’ve only recently discovered this site – and I think I like it quite a lot – though its not very straightforward to navigate through it. Some very through provoking and challenging reflections. Liverpool Archdiocese Christian Education Department The final links I would like to put in are links to the RE Teaching section of the Archdiocese Web Site. From here you can access all the up to date planners, assessment and documents associated with the RE Teaching scheme. |
|
|
