Thread by @DouayRheims1

THE TEN POINT ‘SPIRITUAL FITNESS PROGRAMME’ FOR A ‘SPIRITUAL OVERHAUL’ TO GET AND KEEP YOUR LIFE BALANCED FROM NOW ON

Outlined briefly below is a balanced TEN POINT SPIRITUAL PROGRAMME for the family which each individual can use:

(thread, in instalments)

1. SIGN OF THE CROSS:

The first act of each day should be the Sign of the Cross. It involves the body and soul and is an expression of our faith in a nutshell. The basic doctrines of three Persons in one Godhead and the Son becoming man and dying on the Cross for our salvation

1b) are all contained in this act of faith. After making the Sign of the Cross, it is well to add: "Behold I come to do Your will, O God."

(The above and all the following posts in this thread from "Common Faith Tract No. 4" by Fr Robert J. Fox)

2. MORNING PRAYERS:

Having taught religious classes for over a quarter of a century and heard confessions for just as long,

it seems to me that even among sincere Catholics a common failing is to forget one’s morning prayers. While human metabolism may not be functioning...

2b) so effectively upon arising, yet it is most proper to pray at least

the MORNING OFFERING to offer to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary all our prayers, works, joys and sufferings of the day in union with the holy Sacrifice of the Mass being offered at every hour

2c) some place throughout the world.
Jesus said, “Pray always.” We should make everything we do a prayer and a sacrifice.

The MORNING OFFERING forms that intention and can be renewed occasionally during the day by simply a prayerful thought. #CatholicTwitter
#Christmas #Jesus

3. ANGELUS:

Ideally said three times a day at meal time. This prayer recalls the incarnation.

Good Catholic families say their meal prayers in common, “Bless us O Lord and these Your gifts…” The praying of the Angelus at meal time would take a little more than an extra minute

3b) and three times a day, at least, there would be recalled that our Lord has became man, and dwelt among us…

[Usually, the Angelus is prayed at 6am, 12noon, 6pm. Quite a few churches toll the Angelus Bell to remind of the prayer times, e.g. #StSaviours, #Lewisham, #London]

3c) How to pray the Angelus #Prayer

prayers4reparation.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/the…

4. ASPIRATIONS:

Short prayers during the day; no special time need be assigned for this practice which raises the mind and heart to God as one’s spirit occasionally breathes forth favourite aspirations, e.g. “My Jesus, I love You”,

4b) “All for You most Sacred Heart of Jesus”, “My Lord and my God”,

“My Jesus mercy”, “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you”, “Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us now and at the hour of our death”, etc.

5. LITURGY:

Holy Communion each Sunday and frequent Confession – there are many Catholics who participate in Mass DAILY and receive Jesus in Holy Communion.

There are many who are not able. For those who are not able, they may make #HolyMass #Jesus #HolyCommunion #Christianity

5b) a SPRITUAL ACT OF COMMUNION, e.g. “Come to me O Jesus; I come to You.”

It is an expression of the desire to receive Jesus when one is not able to receive Him sacramentally. Surely, grace comes from such a desire to be united to the Lord. #catholiques #spiritual #Catholic

5c) Those who can participate in Mass daily should do so.
All the private prayers in the world, said for any number of years uninterruptedly would not equal the value of one holy Sacrifice of the Mass which is infinite in value, for it perpetuates the Sacrifice of the Cross.

5d) Ideally, Holy Communion should be received at every Holy Mass in which one participates.

While it would be ideal to receive the SACRAMENT OF PENANCE every week, a Catholic should not permit his confessions to average fewer than once per month.
#Confession #CatholicTwitter

5e) If one has something serious on his conscience, he should go to Confession at the earliest possible opportunity. Pope John Paul II has repeatedly stated the importance of frequent confession for growth in spirituality. #spirituality
#sacraments
#SacramentOfReconciliation

6. DAILY ROSARY:

(preferably with family).

The proper praying of the Rosary must include meditation on its mysteries. The Our Fathers, Hail Marys, etc. make up the BODY of the Rosary. Meditation on the mysteries of Christ comprises the SOUL of the Rosary…

#HolyRosary #Rosary

6b) Families can pray meditated Rosaries and use them as powerful teaching devices for the children.

Short meditations can be expressed aloud before praying a decade.

Some families split it up by praying a decade at each meal time and the final two decades with night prayer.

7. VISITS TO THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

If possible, a short visit daily. As a minimum, once per week one should stop at the Church when official services are not being conducted, and pray to our Divine Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle.

#BlessedSacrament

7b) If one lives in circumstances where Churches are locked during the week, he can then make visits by arriving early before Sunday or weekday Masses wherever possible.

Also, one should prolong one’s thanksgiving after Holy Communion, as Pope Pius XII urged.

#HolyCommunion

7c) After the Mass is ended, he said,“we ought not interrupt the hymn of divine praise in our hearts.”

In an age grown cold to the love of God, we ought to develop a strong loving devotion to the Real Presence of our Eucharistic Lord in our tabernacles.
#Eucharist #tabernacle

7d) Whenever we pass the Catholic Church where the Blessed Sacrament is contained, we should reverently make the Sign of the Cross. We should genuflect devotedly; we should give example to others.

#BlessedBeJesus
#InTheMostHolySacrament
#OfTheAltar

#CatholicTwitter

8. SPIRITUAL READING:

At least 15 minutes per day; self-discipline is in order. How many books can be read in a year’s time by disciplining oneself to daily spiritual reading. This means not simply Catholic newspapers, but Sacred Scripture or solid Catholic spiritual books.

8b) In doing spiritual reading we should listen, as God speaks to us. The ideal is not to see how many spiritual books one can read, but how well one can digest each paragraph of the book. If in reading a paragraph, one’s heart is uplifted in prayer to love, to praise God,
#God

8c) do not read on. Remain in the joy of the love of God, in contemplation.

While a period of meditation is proper for those seeking a deeper spiritual life.The average Catholic [with a busy lifestyle] will doubtlessly combine his spiritual reading with his meditation period.

8d) Families can well develop again an old custom of parents reading simple spiritual stories, such as the lives of the saints, to their young children.

Story time, with a spiritual lesson and moral, could well be a favourite family time for young children.
#books #family

8e) Grade and high school children could well do their religion homework to fulfill the requirement of spiritual reading and parents could assist them or advise them in this.