Our community will be joining my friend Judith Kelly and others in the Witness to End Torture fast this month. Please consider fasting and praying for an end to torture everywhere starting with the closing of the prison in Guantanamo Bay. This year marks the 10th year the prison has been in operation.
Here is a list of some practical ideas for fasting, praying and taking action: give up candy/sweets, television time, snacks between meals, soda or coffee. Spend more time with family, give to the poor, perform a random act of kindness, spend more time in prayer. Pray from Scriptures, using lectio divina, attend Mass on a weekday, pray the rosary alone or with your family. Make a special prayer notebook and list all the people in your life who need prayers; pray for them each day. Add someone new every day. Learn to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Make a commitment to attend Eucharistic Adoration regularly.
Write a letter to God each day. Commit to examining your conscience each evening. Avoid shows with gratuitous sex or violence. Set time limits on online usage, subscibe to a prayer podcast. Find the psalms of thanksgiving or praise in the Bible and pray them. Go for a walk each day with a loved one and talk about life and faith. Exercise each day. Make a CD or iPod playlist of praise and worship music and listen to it each day. Help your children write thank-you letters to their teachers. Read the documents of Vatican II, especially Gaudium et Spes. Sign up for adult formation classes at a local parish. Join a Bible study. Volunteer at soup kitchen or other food program. Find out who in your parish is sick and offer to visit them or bring them food.
Michael Gayman
Oaks of Mamre Catholic Worker, Davenport
