The Cyrenian Way

In this week's podcast, Nick Longo discusses how Mary's model of surrender and trust in the Father's will is a perfect example for us in our call to accompany our neighbor.

This week, Nick & Christina Longo discuss how they experience The Eucharist and live out the Third Pillar of The Cyrenian Way in their family and daily lives.

This week on the podcast Nick Longo discusses the third pillar of The Cyrenian Way with Tim Fitzgerald.

In this episode, Nick Longo and Chris Spilka discuss the second spiritual pillar of the Cyrenian Way - A Call in the Silence and how God tells us to listen to Jesus. We hope your Lenten journey is off to a great start, thanks for joining us.

Each week for Lent, our host, Nick Longo, will lead a discussion centered on one of the Five Spiritual Pillars of The Cyrenian Way. This week Nick chats with Tom Andino about the first spiritual pillar: An Invitation to Spiritual Poverty. Join Nick each week to dive deeper into your faith and your relationship with Jesus, and get inspired to live out the Spiritual Pillars of The Cyrenian Way: 1. An Invitation to Spiritual Poverty 2. A Call in the Silence 3. The Sweet Embrace (The Cross) 4. The Mystery of All Mysteries (The Eucharist) 5. Mother of Mercy (Marian Devotion)

Nick Longo would like to invite you to tune in to The Cyrenian Way YouTube channel to experience a Visio Divina prayer session with The Cyrenian Way. Chris Spilka leads our prayer in Visio Divina during the video. Find the video here: https://youtu.be/j39polMwMsM

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Today’s Quote: “If the Cyrenian can begin to see Jesus, his Lord, clearly in the elements of bread and wine, then he will more clearly see Jesus, his Lord, in the eyes of his neighbors. The Eucharist is what teaches the Cyrenian to see people as Jesus sees them, and to feel for people what Jesus feels for them.” The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 4, Page 34, 35

Today’s Quote: “And as he continued his journey, he stopped fighting his lot, started to loosen his grasp on his ego, and began to open up to what was happening to him and for him.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 4, Page 26 Question to prayer with today: Have I ever questioned if I was on the path the Lord intended for me? Action Step: Take a moment of silence and be grateful for where you are in your life right now. Write down three things in your life that you are grateful for.

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Today's Quote: "The Cross teaches the Cyrenian that his weakness and his wounds are not obstacles to God’s grace, but the channels through which God’s power flows into the world." - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 3, Pages 22 & 23 Question to pray with today: What “masks” have I put on to prevent others from seeing or sharing my weaknesses? Action Step: Look up “The Incredulity of Saint Thomas” painting by Caravaggio and spend 10 minutes reflecting on this icon, asking the Lord to remove any doubts that you have about the power your weakness has to help others.

Today's Quote: “His wounds will never be covered over or go away, not even at the end of time.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 3, Page 26 Question to pray with today: Do you really believe the Lord Jesus wants to transform your wounds into springs of grace? Action Step: Open the Bible and read John 20: 24-29

Today's Quote: "The act of accompaniment is the act of embracing the wounded Christ in the wounds of another. As the Cyrenian embraces his own wounds and the wounds of his neighbor, he more fully enters into a sweet mystical embrace with his Lord." - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 3, Pg. 18 Question to pray with today: Has my Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving enabled me to embrace the wounds of my neighbors? Action Step: Reach out to someone close who may be experiencing some hurt or some trial. Ask how you can pray for them.

Today's Quote: “As the Cyrenian reaches up and presses his wounds to the wounds of Jesus, he becomes a living chalice from which the spiritually impoverished can drink deeply from and find the Lord’s rest.” - The Cyrenian Way,-Chapter 3 pages 23-24 Question to pray with today: How can you be more vulnerable in prayer? Action Step: Go to Confession and lead your family to come with you. Pray for them and intercede as they confess their sins. Never underestimate the power of prayer to intercede for those in your family.

In this bonus episode, Nick Longo discusses our Lenten journey so far with Tom Andino. They dive into some of their favorite reflections so far and share some gratitude for the amazing response from listeners.

Today's Quote: “The act of accompaniment is the act of embracing the wounded Christ in the wounds of another.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 3, Page 25 Questions to pray with today: Do you approach individuals who experience hardship with sympathy or empathy? How can you accompany someone who is struggling the most during this Lenten season? Action Step: Read the passion of our Lord and imagine that you are the one that is helping Jesus carry his cross to Calvary. What is this experience like for you? What does Jesus say to you as you are walking along? How does he look at you and what stirs in your heart on this journey? Spend a few minutes journaling about your experience and pray to your Lord who loves you.

Today's Quote: “The Cyrenian’s most valuable tool in his sacred apostolate is his weakness, his brokenness, his woundedness.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 3, Page 24 Question to pray with today: When has pride been a stumbling block to your relationship with God? Is it now? Has God put anyone in your life who has been a messenger of Divine Love? Action Step: Give someone else the gift of your brokenness. Receive the gift of someone else's.

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Today’s Quote: "...the Cyrenian "boasts most gladly of his weakness." - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 3, Page 24 Question to pray with today: What wounds that need healing do I need to bring before Jesus today? Action Step: Take a moment to reflect on an area of your life that is wounded and bring it before Jesus.

Today's Quote: "It is because silent prayer is the garden where Christ intimately comes to minister to the Cyrenian." - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 2, Page 16 Question to pray with today: What distractions prevent you from contemplative silent prayer? Action Step: Spend 20 minutes in silent prayer gazing at the Eucharist this week. While doing so, ask the Lord to bring to mind a cross you struggle to carry and wrestle with it in prayer. Allow God to speak truth, love and healing into your life.

Today's Quote: “As the Cyrenian progresses in silent prayer (simply by making time for it), he begins to realize that he is never alone.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 2, Page 14 Question to pray with today: What is my biggest obstacle to carving out consistent quiet time with God each day? Action Step: For 3 Days straight, commit to 5 minutes of quiet prayer at the same time each day.

Today’s Quote: "Solitude becomes a quiet refuge for the Cyrenian because he knows his Savior waits for him there. The Cyrenian no longer fears the silence…" - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 2, Page 12 Question to pray with today: What role does silence currently play in my prayer life? How can I expand it? Action Step: Make a plan to spend silent time with our Lord in adoration this Lent!

Today's Quote:  “Silent prayer is the only place where the soul can effectively hear the voice of the Beloved that ceaselessly calls out to him.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 2, Page 12 Questions to pray with today: What is the thorn in your side that Jesus has not taken away from you? How can you give glory to God in lieu of asking for healing? Can you find strength in spite of your weaknesses today?  Bring all this to your silent prayer. Action Step: Sit in silence with Jesus. Let him love you. Share with him your burdens. Thank Him for his trust in you and ask him to yoke up with you to carry them today. Watch this scene from The Chosen with Jesus and “Little” James, described above, with the link below, and, with your burdens, put yourself in “Little” James’ shoes. Listen closely to how Jesus addresses you. Feel the love and go share it! The Chosen- Jesus And Little James

Today's Quote: “The self-imposed shackles of the spiritually impoverished inhibit a soul from walking away from their ego, from denying themselves, in order to take up their cross and follow Him.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 2, Page 13 Question to pray with today: What are some shackles that lead me to lean on my own strength instead of God? Action Step: Draw out a life-sized cross and list some of the self-imposed shackles that have held you back in your relationship with God.  Put them on the cross and offer them up to the Lord in a way that seems appropriate to you.

Today's Quote: "The Cyrenian will find himself searching for moments of silence day and night, and will most especially long for intentional periods of silence in front of the Blessed Sacrament." - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 2, Page 13 Question to pray with today: What burdens do you need to bring before the Lord while sitting in the silence of the Blessed Sacrament? Action Step: Take time to give yourself the gift of the silent minute or do it with friends and share who you thought about and why.

“Silence is the resting place for any weary soul.”

Today’s Quote: "The most effective means for the Cyrenian to allow God to work through him in this way for others is by keeping silent prayer at the center of his spiritual life" - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 2, Page 17 Question to pray with today: Lord, how can I approach silence with greater confidence that you are there in the silence with me, and will not abandon me? Action Step: Put your phone down for intentional periods and be quietly present to others and God.

Today’s Quote: "And this is why this path will be the greatest catalyst for renewal within the Church; because it is a revolution of suffering love." - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 1, Page 9 Question to pray with today: How do I approach suffering in my life? Do I take it to the foot of the cross? Action Step: We all know of someone who is dealing with heartbreak, grief, loss. Reach out to them and set up a time to get together. Be intentional about offering your presence, not your insight.

Today's Quote: "This kind of surrender will lead to a holy indifference, a holy detachment from all things and people in your life, and you will begin to see them as God sees them: as pure gift." - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 1, Page 5 Question to prayer with today: How can I develop a more personal relationship with Jesus today? Action Step: Take a risk, and invite a friend to something that enriches your faith journey.

Today's Quote: "The path of spiritual poverty is an uncomfortable one. Indeed, it is the road less taken because it requires a sincere act of humility, even humiliation." - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 1, Page 3 Question to pray with today: What gift(s) do you possess that can be put into greater service for God? Action Step: Whatever you are struggling with most, pray today offering that struggle up to God.

Today's Quotes: “What if we began to see our network of relationships for what they really are? The Streets of Calcutta” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 1, Page 2 “It is only when we understand we have nothing to offer God except our undivided love and attention that we can begin to allow God to begin his work within us to redeem our world.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 1, Page 3 Questions to pray with today: What ascetic practices can you do today that will help you be spiritually poor before our God and be filled with the Holy Spirit? Action Step: Find 3 people today where you see their cross and you become spiritually poor and help them carry that cross.  How did Jesus reveal his heart? Enter into active listening and spiritual poverty.  How did you experience Jesus?

Today's Quote: “Offering our selfless love and undivided attention to the spiritually poor in our midst is the most immediate path to union with God.” The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 1, Page 2 Question to pray with today: Do I spend most of my time during the day looking down and have I made an earnest effort to encounter the impoverished souls around me? Action Step: In the next week, cut down your screen time by 50% and make one extra effort to listen to someone’s story.

Today's Quote: “It is the deep knowledge that we are beloved, that God the Father delights in us with a purifying love that leads to deeper trust and surrender to His will.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 1, Page 6 Question to pray with today: What parts of yourself do you still need to surrender to God in order to rest in the knowledge that you are beloved? Action Step: Ask someone who they are and help them to understand that they are a beloved child of God.

Today's Quote: "We must deny ourselves and leave ourselves behind in an irrevocable way if we desire to love as Christ commands us and if we truly desire to see with contemplative eyes our Savior deep within the eyes of the spiritually impoverished." - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 1, Page 4 Question to Pray with Today: What would the world look like if we all tapped into that holy “desire to love as Christ commands us”? Action Step: Do a random act of kindness. Maybe go to a local coffee shop and buy someone else’s coffee.

Today's Quote: “The spiritual core of the Cyrenian Apostolate … is the deep knowledge that we are beloved, that God the Father delights in us with a purifying love.” - The Cyrenian Way, Chapter 1, Page 6 Questions to pray with today: Do I sometimes think God’s love for me depends on how good I am? Action step: Be aware of the way that God’s grace empowers you to be loving to someone today. --- Today's reflection was written by David Dudrick and narrated by Tom Andino. Thank you for joining us on this journey to walk "The Cyrenian Way" this Lenten season. This is the first of forty upcoming daily Lenten Audio reflections for you to pray with each day. To learn more visit our website.

Tom Andino, writer & the narrator of The Cyrenian Way Lenten Reflections, and Nick Longo, writer & editor, chat together and introduce listeners to what is to come on The Cyrenian Way podcast! Sign up to get our Lenten reflections in your email inbox by clicking here. Find us on social media @thecyrenianway