Today we had a SUM Branch leaders meeting in Milwaukee, and one of the items of business that we dealt with was to come up with a branch resolution for the month of February. What we came up with was that each member of the branch would make at minimum one serious post, on a serious topic, on the forum each day. We felt that this resolution would help us in building up our branch in a number of ways including: getting us as a community to discuss important spiritual ideas, forcing us each to spend a little time each day thinking about important spiritual ideas in order to be able to make said daily post, and build up our communication and community by getting us in the habit of posting on the forum.

In trying to figure out what types of topics might make for good discussion DJRS remembered that architect of Schoenstatt had posed a interesting question about Lectio Divina, so we figured this would be a good starting point for the resolution, so we want to try doing some online, group Lectio Divina where we can share and discuss our findings.

For those of you who are not familiar with it, Lectio Divina is basically, focused prayerful, contemplative Bible reading. Watch for an email tomorrow with attachments and links to help us get started.

Also, if you would like to talk about something else, feel free to start another serious topic and fulfill the February resolution with that topic, the main thing is help each other grow spiritually through participation in this community.

Questions and comments are much appreciated, so don't be shy about asking for clarification or information.

Alex

Well, I may not know exactly what I'm doing since I have only had limited exposure to Lectio Divina, but may I suggest that we read the Letters of Saint Paul to the Timothy this week and even into next week? Today I was told by someone that a priest said that for me and the SUM branch that would be an ideal letter of the New Testament to read in the bible. So if no one has any objection to this proposal, then I will start reading and praying with the Letter to Timothy tomorrow.
Is there any better proposal by anyone else?

-Daniel

This sounds like an excellent idea. I agree that it would be nice to have a bit more structured idea of what we're doing, but it shouldn't be that hard to figure out as we go.

Also, I've started reading Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. It's a great book; if you guys can find it, I'd really recommend it. It has short, like, page long reflections for spiritual reading and meditation, and they're quite good. Doing that for five/ten minutes every day would be great, and a bit more structured/ordered.
So that's another idea. But I think doing Lectio Divina, with the Letter to Timothy, the Gospels, or something else would be great as well. Whatever y'all think. :-)

Following suggestions is usually a good idea when they come from a credible source, so I'm up for the letter to Timothy. Also, I PROMISE to send out the hand outs that I have on Tuesday, no classes, so no excuses for not getting this done--this is exactly what the SUM is about, I would have easily let this slide for longer than I already have if it was just me, but with this community there is definitely the push in the right direction.

Keep it up guys!! Have to keep going and making an honest effort to do what needs to be done when we have time off from our school!

Well guys, I just started yesterday on doing Lectio Divina by reading Paul to Timothy. I have to say it is an amazing experience quite frankly. Please take/continue the opportunity to participate in Lectio Divina by taking your bible with you whenever you go to Adoration or to pray in a church. You just might find it very powerful and helpful in guiding you each day.

Have been doing Ecclesiastes...kind of got off track over break, but will get back on. And here's an article about Lectio.

http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1347134?eng=y