The Second Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy
2:20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth: and some indeed unto honour, but some unto dishonour.
2:21. If any man therefore shall cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and profitable to the Lord, prepared unto every good work.
CATECHESI TRADENDAE (On Catechesis In Our Time)
Pope John Paul II
Apostolic Exhortation of His Holiness to the Episcopate, the Clergy and the Faithful of the Entire Catholic Church given on 16 October 1979
FAMILIARIS CONSORTIO
Pope John Paul II
On the Christian Family in the Modern World: Apostolic exhortation of His Holiness Pope John Pope II on the family to the Episcopate, to the Clergy, and to the Faithful of the Whole Catholic Church
The Five (5) Finger Prayer
1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. Th ey are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a “sweet duty.”
2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders . Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our Nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guidance.
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano
teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly comes our little finger – the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, “The least shall be the greatest among you.” Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
