Personal Study 9

Symbolon episode (“Knowing the Faith 9: Mary and the Saints”)

• Both parts of the episode available on Formed.org

Questions to answer:

1. Why do Catholics honor the saints? Why are the saints’ prayers for us so powerful?
2. What are the four Catholic dogmas about Mary? What do they teach us about Jesus and the Father’s plan of salvation?
3. Now let’s focus on one of these dogmas: the Immaculate Conception. According to the video, why is this teaching so important?

Podcasts (embedded below): Daily Prayer of Discernment (the Examen)

*E-mail answers to vincent@catholicgators.org

1. According to Fr. Gallagher, what is the examen prayer?
2. What does "examen" mean?
3. What is the guiding question Fr. Gallagher keeps repeating in the telling of the saints' lives?
4. What was the classic phrase with which one of St. Ignatius's early companions characterized him? What does that phrase mean?

1. What's the best time of the day for someone to look for to pray the examen? What time of day is that for you?
2. Explain the first step of the examen prayer, describing its "internal dynamic."
3. What is, according to St. Ignatius, one of the worst things in God's eyes?  What is one of the best?