# My Catholic Life!

A journey of personal conversion!

- サイト: https://mycatholic.life/ja/

## Catholic-tuned AI

- リンク: https://mycatholic.life/ja/catholic-tuned-ai/
- 公開日: 2023-10-10T20:21:40-05:00
- 作成者: My Catholic Life!

Below is an experimental chatbot powered by OpenAI’s technology. While OpenAI’s 
model draws on general data sources, this chatbot is instructed to provide answers
from an orthodox Catholic perspective. Though useful as a demonstration of AI’s 
potential in theological inquiry, its responses are not guaranteed to be accurate.
For a more reliable Catholic AI tool, please explore [Magisterium AI.](https://www.magisterium.com/)

## Identity and Mission

- リンク: https://mycatholic.life/ja/identity-and-mission/
- 公開日: 2020-01-20T14:12:21-06:00
- 作成者: My Catholic Life!

In my ministry as a Spiritual Director, I often pose two key questions: “Who are
you?” and “What is your mission (purpose for living)?” Mature discernment regarding
one’s identity and mission are important indicators of affective maturity. As a 
person moves through life stages (infancy, childhood, etc.), there will be many 
changes in the identity and mission, e.g. student, worker, profession, vocational
path such as single, marriage, clergy, religious. There is a belief  in the Roman
Catholic tradition (or other Christian faith traditions) that an indelible mark 
of identity is implanted that marks one as a disciple of Christ.

The Gospel teaches that when Jesus began his public ministry, he began to build 
the Church by calling his disciples to follow him. The twelve disciples were personally
called to leave family behind and follow him. Later, the Gospel relates how many
other men and women were called to follow, accompany, or support his mission in 
various ways and paths. 

If I identify as a disciple of Christ, I am always called to service. It is in my
DNA (“you are the image of the invisible God” Col. 1:15). For example, reaching 
the age of retirement status, I am still called to serve even as my capacity or 
limits of age will affect my ability to respond. I am very grateful that health 
and mental capacity still allow me to serve as a Spiritual Director. However, I 
know that with any change in health, that may decline. Until I die, I am always 
called to serve. My sister-in-law who is 95 and bedridden with some memory loss 
has a core identity and mission. When I visit, bringing her communion, I often remind
her of her identity and mission, such as offering up her prayers and suffering for
her children and grandchildren. She often smiles and seems at peace when she realizes(
if only vaguely) her identity (disciple, beloved daughter) and mission as a purpose
for living. 

Our core identity as disciples of Christ is nourished whenever we celebrate the 
Eucharist. “Food for the Journey.” A retired priest who is over 90 and serves still
always reminds his listener, “You are Jesus Christ to all you encounter.” All disciples
have a mission. To more closely recognize our mission, we need to give priority 
to prayer in our daily schedule. I give to all my spiritual directees a handout 
entitled “Disciples of Prayer.” In the preface, it begins with an explanation that
in order to live more intentionally as a Catholic, it is important to order our 
lives in such a way that one cultivates a discipline of prayer. To better grasp 
and accept my mission for the day, I begin with a series of morning prayer, prayers
of praise, protective and deliverance prayer, and prayers for guidance from the 
Holy Spirit. One of my favorite prayers is the “Secret of Sanctity”: “O, Holy Spirit,
soul of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me. Tell 
me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to be submissive to everything
that you permit to happen to me. Show me only what is your will.” 

In the book of Genesis we read, “Let us make man in our own image and likeness” (
Gen 1:26). The image of God implanted as our core identity and the likeness is realized
over time as we seek with the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit to put on
Jesus Christ – “my disciples are those who hear my words and put them into practice.”(
Matt. 7:24). The expression “practicing Catholic” often means those who celebrate
the Sunday Eucharist and are sent forth to live the Eucharist. They hear the word
and connect the word to their daily life. “Spirituality is the art of being connected
in a disconnected world.” I often feel that my days go better when I accept invitations
to serve and be connected in prayer to God and others that I encounter along the
way. As disciples of Christ, we need to cultivate vigilance being awake like the
Scripture passage of the Watchman on the Tower able to recognize the approach of
any enemy and any voices which mislead us. 

The Good News (Gospel) gives us confidence as Jesus offers the disciples as servants–
the Paraclete – a counselor, a defense attorney. “I will not leave you orphans. 
I will send you another advocate who will be with you always and remind you of all
that I told you.” (see John 14:18–26). As I get older, my memory recall often fails
or is slow to respond. So I often pray begging the Lord, Come Holy Spirit, remind
me often (sin is often forgetting who I am). I repeat throughout the day invoking”
Come Holy Spirit, Enlighten me, Come Holy Spirit empower me, Come Holy Spirit anoint
me.” To frequently activate the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to realize the personal
gift of “new wine,” source of living water promised by Jesus, and to realize the
abundant life here and hereafter. “Rivers of living water will flow from within 
him” (John 7:38).

Msgr. Ed