Catholic Meditations on Virtues: A Daily Meditation on a Virtue

By Joseph Steffen

Meditation has numerous positive benefits on the human body and mind. It can strengthen our immune systems, reduce pain and stress, improve our sleep, and lessen anxiety and depression. But did you know that meditation can also have a positive effect on our soul?
Catholic Meditations on Virtues is a simple, easy method for the daily practice of meditation—even children can do it! Ten minutes per day is all that is needed to enjoy the benefits of meditation, including improvements in health and brain function. But the greatest benefit for Catholics, of course, is spiritual, with each daily meditation endorsed by quotations from the Bible.
By meditating on a different virtue each day of the month, or by choosing to meditate on the same virtue for as long as desired, you too can experience these health and spiritual benefits. In this way, you will form a stronger bond with Jesus Christ and bring out your potential spiritual talents.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973664994

Joseph Steffen

Joseph Steffen attended a Catholic parochial school in Tucson, Arizona, and at the advice of a parish priest, he attended a Roman Catholic seminary during high school for two years, experiencing the benefits of daily meditation. He graduated from Salpointe Catholic High School before going on to earn a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Arizona in 1971. Joseph also attended a college of Oriental medicine (1983–84), earning a diploma and developing more interest in Eastern methods of meditation.

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Copyright © 2019 Joseph Steffen.

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Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are taken from the New American Bible, Revised Edition, Copyright © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6500-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6501-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6499-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019907180

WestBow Press rev. date: 6/11/2019

Contents

Chapter 1     The Benefits of Meditation

Chapter 2     Biblical References to Meditation

Chapter 3     Common Mistakes in Meditation

Chapter 4     Practical Guidelines for Meditation

Chapter 5     Virtues

Compassion

Courage

Covenant

Faith

Fear of the Lord

Forgiveness

Generosity

Gratitude

Health

Honesty

Hope

Humility

Joy

Justice

Knowledge

Love

Mortification

Obedience

Patience

Peace

Praise

Silence

Speech

Temperance

Trust

Understanding

Union

Watchfulness

Wisdom

Zeal

Meditations on the Rosary

Chapter 6     Other Virtues and Keeping a Journal

Chapter 7     What Takes Us Out of a Virtuous Life?

Chapter 8     Holy Anointing Oils

Chapter 9     Information on Sacramentals

Chapter 10   Prayer to St. Michael

Introduction

Meditation is not new. The practice of meditation has been in existence as long as recorded history, perhaps even longer.

In the Old Testament, we read from the Book of Genesis, chapter 24, verse 63: Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide…

Today we are seeing a rise in the popularity of meditation. People are discovering the benefits of meditation. Current scientific research on the practice of meditation is so positive, it would seem foolish not to gain these benefits; especially when we consider that meditation requires only a short amount of time each day.

There are many techniques or kinds of meditation. Catholics and Christians alike should keep in mind that we allready have the greatest teacher in Jesus Christ. So there is no need to seek other teachers who charge exorbitant fees to learn their method of meditation.

This book provides a simple, easy, step by step method for beginners to learn to meditate. By meditating on a different virtue each day, we can strengthen that virtue as part of our character. Daily meditation is a continuous effort to make virtues a reality in our lives. Along with the benefits to the human brain and the body, meditation offers many other practical advantages for our everyday lives; including benefits that begin to manifest in a relatively short period of time. Some positive signs that we are meditating correctly would include examples like the following:

• Being calmer under stressful conditions

• Displaying more intelligence than before

• Being more alert, for example, when driving

• Being more aware of your surroundings

• Sleeping better.

The individual who establishes inner tranquility has a greater likelihood of acquiring emotional stability.

There is no better way to prepare for a day than to