Holy Friendship

St. Francis De Sales, in his Introduction to the Devout Life, discusses friendship, writing: "For those who live in the world and desire to embrace true virtue it is necessary to unite together in holy, sacred friendship.  By means of this they encourage, assist, and lead one another to perform good deeds."*

One of the blessings of participating in The Women's Apostolate to Youth (WAY), is this form of holy friendship.  In order to serve our mission, which is to promote the spiritual well being of children and youth and to provide spiritual formation and support for the women who serve youth*, each member is encouraged to strive for sanctity in their current stage and respective state in life.   It is this common goal which forms and guides our relationships, not only with each other, but with our families, our students, and with each person we encounter.  

May we, through the example of Mary, Mother of God, our model of spiritual maternity, strive to live fruitful and faithfilled lives.

With prayers,

Melissa

*Introduction to the Devout Life, Third Part, Section 19

**WAY Statutes

WAY Prayer to Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, bride of Christ and mother of souls, you went to your martyrdom united with the sacrifice of your Divine Spouse and in solidarity with the suffering of God's Chosen People.

Inspired by your teaching on our feminine nature and vocation, we seek a path to holiness that allows us

to carry out the duties of our state in life with patience, gratitude, and joy.

Pray that we may find in our study of your work a compelling vision of our charism of spiritual maternity and how we are to live this charism in a world that denies what it means to be authentically human.

May your love of learning rouse us from mental sloth, rebuke our ignorance of the teachings of the Church, and inspire us to use our minds to witness with conviction and courage to the certain victory of Christ the King over every form of evil that plagues us in this world.

In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Prayer for Enlightenment

Prayer for Enlightenment

Holy Spirit, soul of our souls, we adore Thee.

Enlighten us, guide us, strengthen and comfort us.

Tell us what we ought to do, and order us to do it.

We promise to submit to all that Thou requirest from us,

and to accept with love all that Thou allowest to happen to us.  Just show us what Thy will is.

(Cardinal Mercier)

Divine Love, we beg Thee to enlighten our minds so we may know how to bring the gospel message to the souls we meet. Help us, like the early Christians, live with joy in a world that is at times hostile to what we hold dear. 

May we be confident in the knowledge that we are beloved children of God, and that our task is not to rely on our own strength, but rather to be responsive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as He uses us to be instruments of God’s love. 
We ask that you deepen our life of prayer in the coming months so we may have a more profound sense of The Father’s will in our lives and the courage to carry our that will. 

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

“O Holy Spirit, sweet Guest of my soul, abide in me and grant that I may always abide in You”

 The Women’s Apostolate to Youth invites you to pray for the spiritual well being of children and youth.

Acts of the Apostles Reading Schedule

As baptized Christians we are called to proclaim God’s message of salvation, to bring Christ to each person so they can receive Him in faith.  We are not called “simply to teach a doctrine, but to proclaim Jesus Christ by our words and actions, to make ourselves instruments of God’s presence and actions in the world” (CDF Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization, Dec. 3, 2007). 

Pope Benedict reiterated this when he wrote on the New Evangelization, reminding us that evangelizing is a form of living, not merely speaking.  (Pope Benedict XVI “The New Evangelization” Dec. 12, 2000).

It is hoped through our reading of the Acts of the Apostles we will glean practical insights that can be applied to our lives.   May we, like the early Christians, “live Christ”, and be bearers of God’s message of salvation to the many souls He places in our lives. 

As you read the Book of Acts:

1.     Pray with and from these texts, asking the Holy Spirit to point out what God wants you to learn through this study.

2.     Ask, what do these passages teach or reveal about being a witness to Christ?

3.     Does your life reflect these teachings?

4.     Note any resolutions or changes you are making as a result of what you have learned.

September 11: Introduction to the Acts of the Apostles, found in our retreat packet and Chapters 1 and 2 from the Book of Acts. 
October 9:    Chapters 3-5
November 6: Chapters 6 and 7
December 4: No regular meeting
January 15:  Chapters 8-12
February 12: Chapters 13-16
March 12:   Chapters 17-20
April 9:    Chapters 21-23
May 7:  Chapters 24-26
June 11: Chapters 27-28

Essays on Woman Reading Schedule

“Woman can become what she should be…only when formation through grace accompanies the natural inner formation.”

Essays on Woman, p135. Edith Stein

Please join us at either Angelus Academy, 7644 Dynatech Ct. Springfield, VA  22153 or

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8213 Linton Hall Rd., Gainesville, VA  20155

Meetings are held each month from 7:30pm-9:00pm (see dates below)

Essays on Woman

 by Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)

  Reading Schedule

September 18: Chapter I, The Ethos of Women’s Professions. 

October 16: Chapter II, The Separate Vocations of Man and Woman According to Nature and Grace

November 13: Chapter III, parts 1 and 2, pages 87-108 Spirituality of the Christian Woman

December 11: Chapter III, parts 3 and 4, pages 109-128 Spirituality of the Christian Woman

January 22: Chapter IV, Fundamental Principles of Women’s Education

February 19: Chapter V, part 1, pages 147-172, Problems of Women’s Education

April 23: Chapter V, part 2, pages 147-191, Problems of Women’s Education

May 21: Chapter V, parts 3 and 4, pages 191-235, The Goal of Education

June 18: Chapter VI, The Church, Women and Youth

July 23: Chapters VII and VIII, The Significance of Woman’s Intrinsic Value in National Life and Mission of the Catholic Academic Woman

As you read each chapter, begin by asking the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts so you may draw insights from this text. 

1. Identify concrete steps that can be taken for the formation and education of young women in our society. 

2. Consider how the teachings of Edith Stein (Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) apply to your own life, and in particular each woman’s call to be a “fruitful vine” for others. 

3. Note any resolutions or changes you are making as a consequence of what you have learned. 

4. Close with a prayer of thanksgiving and ask for the grace to implement the changes you have identified if they are pleasing to God.

To RSVP or for more information about the Women’s Apostolate to Youth, contact Melissa Manaker at 703-350-5015 or womensapostolatetoyouth@gmail.com.  Or visit our blog at http://www.womensapostolatetoyouth.blogspot.com/

The Women’s Apostolate invites you to pray for the spiritual well being of children and youth.