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Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.'s avatar

1. A Boston Pops Christmas Concert. My dad used to take us every year back in the 80s. Family, great music, and the holiday vibe make for unforgettable memories.

2. Downloading all my Kindle books before Amazon eliminates this feature.

3. I too am participating in The Great Fast. I’m narrowing down what I will do regarding prayer and almsgiving.

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Walther Cantu's avatar

How fun! My wife and I have been taking the kids to The Nutcracker for the last two years, but seeing the Phoenix Symphony sounds like a good idea.

Hold on, why would you want to download your books? Wouldn't you just be able to read them on the Kindle? I'm sure I'm missing something.

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Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.'s avatar

Kindle is eliminating the feature beginning Feb 26. You will still be able to access and read your books but not download them to your computer or device. Effectively you have access rights to a book but you no longer own them. This is unjustifiable. People paid for electronic versions of books, not access to them. If you want to download your books to a pc there are videos on YouTube explaining how to do it. They are then in your control and Amazon can’t limit your access. I first heard about this on my local news channel. Amazon is keeping it quiet…another unjustified action or lack thereof.

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Chantal LaFortune's avatar

In the 80s…did you get to attend it when John Williams was their conductor? If so, that is truly amazing.

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Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.'s avatar

I think John Williams was the conductor but I’m not entirely sure. It was so long ago.

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Chantal LaFortune's avatar

1. A Boston Pops concert conducted by John Williams, the composer of Star Wars and Jurassic Park.

2. Writing an outline for a 10-page theology paper.

3. Spiritual reading. Fasting isn’t something I can do very much of due to being very small, so I’m hoping to fast from technology by reading physical religious books. I’m debating whether a page total for each day would be helpful or not.

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Walther Cantu's avatar

I bet that concert must have been epic. Jurassic Park is one of my all-time favorite movies.

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Chantal LaFortune's avatar

I’ve been to a few such concerts, and each was amazing and very memorable. Hearing the opening French horns of the Jurassic Park theme live is incredible.

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Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.'s avatar

Chantal it’s very helpful to have specific attainable goals for spiritual growth, especially during Lent. Plan out what you will do being as specific as possible while being mindful that “life happens”. For spiritual reading 15-30 minutes a day is a good goal. Pick a book, start at the beginning, and read slowly each day for your allotted time. Choosing a period of time over a number of pages is preferable because some days there may be something that speaks to your heart and you might find yourself rereading a paragraph and reflecting on it. Other days perhaps nothing will speak to you. It’s all good.

It’s important to schedule a time in your day for spiritual reading. It might be the same time every day or change every

day depending on your

schedule. Consider it a penance and offer it to God for a specific intention. The intention can be the same or different each day.

It’s also helpful to have a method such as the following:

1. Settle in to your space and chair with a couple of deep relaxing breaths.

2. Ask the Holy Ghost to open your heart to what he wishes to teach you.

3. Offer your reading to God for your intention.

4. Read slowly and thoughtfully for your allotted time.

5. Conclude with a short prayer of thanksgiving such as the Glory be.

I hope this is helpful. Sorry Walther for hijacking your thread. Mea culpa.

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Walther Cantu's avatar

No need for an apology, this is helpful. Making a mental note of this.

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Chantal LaFortune's avatar

Thank you so much, Father! This is very helpful. I think I’ll start easing into the habit during these next couple weeks of Septuagesimatide, and then, God willing, I’ll be prepared to finally have a Lent in which I don’t fail in my resolutions. May God bless you abundantly!

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Ben Ziemann's avatar

By the sound of your coffee routine I think a dog might be less upkeep 😜. But I’d go with a cat.

Coffee is the devil’s drink.

https://www.catholiccoffee.com/coffee-and-pope-clement-viii-devils-drink/#:~:text=The%20ban%20didn't%20last,the%20wildly%2Dpopular%20imported%20drink.

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Walther Cantu's avatar

Cats are the spawn of Satan, Ben.

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Sara Dietz's avatar

Best concert I've ever been to is probably Penny & Sparrow back in the LALDY/Wendigo days. They are absolutely hysterical in concert and incredibly gifted singers to boot.

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Walther Cantu's avatar

I had to look them up, and I'm glad I did.

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