ABOUT LUMEN | 26 DISCUSSION TOPICS | SMALL GROUPS | CATHOLIC CULTURE | CLOSER TO JESUS | LINKS

Tips for Established Groups Sometimes groups that have been together for a long time can get stuck in the way they relate to each other, especially if they've been reading material that does not foster conversations of the heart. We suggest a fresh new approach with some fresh new material. We've been told that Life After Sunday often prompts "the best discussion of the year" when introduced into established small groups. Try the first article of the Wonder Issue and see if your group begins a deeper conversation.

• Select Life After Sunday single issues.
• Thought provoking discussion questions.
• Scripture and Catechism Resources.
• Comprehensive Leader's Materials including tips for organizing group discussion.

Enjoy Life After Sunday's premier Catholic resource series with your small group in the following three stages:

1. The Purification Stage (Includes Life After Sunday single issues: Wonder, Open, Assent, Attention, Trust).
In the Purification Stage of the Intimate Path, the Lord offers to purify everything that is keeping us from drawing closer to him. First, we are struck in awe and Wonder at the attraction of this amazing Man. This promps us to become Open to his actions in such a way that we begin to pay closer Attention to his movements in our lives. Slowly we begin to give our Assent to his plan instead of our own, and find the joy of discovering someone we can totally Trust.

›› Wonder (334kb)
›› Open (330kb)
›› Attention (346kb)
›› Assent (226kb)
›› Trust (344kb)

2. The Illuminative Stage (Includes Life After Sunday single issues: Dance, Touch, Kiss)
Once purified, the Lord begins to share his light with us. In the Illuminative Stage of the Intimate Path, there is an intimacy that grows deeper and more mysterious as the Lord reveals his divine life and love. This fully human experience becomes an amazing Dance between each human person and the One who is making himself increasingly present. As our intimacy with Christ grows, we begin to recognize his Touch in the people who surround us. His Kiss is experienced in the joy and fulfillment that comes with living more closely with his Presence in them.

›› Dance (305kb)
›› Touch (370kb)
›› Kiss (832kb)

3. The Unitive Stage (Includes Life After Sunday single issues: Passion, Surrender, Union)
Illuminated by Christ's life and love, we increasingly allow him to live more fully in us. In the Unitive Stage of the Intimate Path, the Lord offers the fullness of his Passion, Surrender and Union of life and love with his Father, so the believer can truly say with St. Paul, "I live, now not I, but Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:20).

›› Passion (305kb)
›› Surrender (370kb)
›› Union (832kb)

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