ECHO: A Pilgrimage through the US Catholic Catechism for Adults

Bishop Donald Hying and the Diocese of Gary, Indiana, together with Ahava Productions, is producing a magnificent film series called ECHO that will introduce viewers to the  US Catholic Catechism for Adults  and bring a greater understanding of what the Church believes and teaches to those who participate in this project.

From the Ahava Productions website:  "Pilgrimage with Bishop Donald Hying as he leads us through the US Catholic Catechism for Adults.  Once a week, you will be sent, via email, the latest ECHO video with chapter reading, and reflection questions from the US Catholic Catechism for Adults.  Prior to the beginning of this series, you will need the US Catholic Catechism for Adults.  To view a free online copy of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults visit the USCCB website."

Those who register for this free program will receive a weekly email with the latest short film coinciding with a chapter of the Catechism.  Once you watch the film, you follow up with further reading of the Catechism.  When the series is complete you will have a better understanding of the US Catholic Catechism for Adults with the guidance of Bishop Hying.

These films are artisticly beautiful and moving.   The team at Ahava Productions does a magnificent job of showcasing our faith and teaching valuable lessons.  Your life is sure to be forever changed and your faith deepened through the ECHO series.

Sign up here to receive the free ECHO film series via email.  The first email will be sent on Wednesday, September 14th and will conclude on Wednesday, May 31st.  Don't miss a single film! Sign up today!

While visiting the Ahava Productions website be sure to view their other magnificent films of faith.  You will be greatly inspired and hungry for more!

 
ECHO PROMO from Ahava Productions on Vimeo.

Magnificat

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my savior, for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant.”

source

Recently, as a penance, a priest in confession told me to pray and meditate upon Mary's Magnificat of praise.  On the occasion of her birthday, my thoughts return to that gorgeous prayer...

In the scriptures Mary is nearly always moving-going in haste to visit Elizabeth, traveling to Bethlehem where she’ll give birth to the Lord, fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod, searching for Jesus in Jerusalem.  Her Magnificat is also a prayer of movement.  In it she moves from gratitude, to praise, to reflection upon God’s treatment of the proud and humble, and finally ending with the reminder that God keeps his promises.  Fr. John Hardon, SJ notes that throughout the Magnificat the stress is always on God.  In other words,  Mary leads us to Jesus, she moves toward Him.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that the Magnificat is both a prayer of the Mother of God and of the Church, that is, each one of us.  Mary teaches us that the Church is called to sing praise to God in all situations and when we praise God, joy will follow. Because the Magnificat is a prayer of the entire Church it's good for us to remember that when praying this ancient prayer our Mother brings us to God and we acknowledge that the Lord has done great things for us, too, and Holy is His Name.  

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.