Everday Catholic Life
The Catholic Church does not offer the false promise today that you will certainly be Saved when you die. Our Lord Himself warned about this: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom, but he who does the Will of My Father." (Mt 6:21)
There is the possibility of self deception. "On that day many will say to Me, 'But Lord, Lord, did we not....' and I will say, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity'." (Mt 6:23)
No, we cannot go around saying, "I am saved" – this would be the sin of Presumption – but the Church, with the Authority of Christ, shows us the way to know today that we are on the Right Road. We ought not to be nagged with anxiety. "I give you peace – a peace that the World cannot give." (Jn 14:27)
There is nothing complicated about living the Catholic life.
Do these things, and you have every 'Good Christian Hope' that you will be received into Eternal life.
(1) You wake up in the morning.
(2) You make the sign of the Cross to consecrate the day. You make your morning prayers. This can be as simple as the Morning Offering and the prayer to your Guardian Angel:
O My Jesus, through the most pure heart of Mary (Here kiss your scapular) I offer Thee all my thoughts, words, actions, joys and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of thy Divine Heart, in union with the Holy Mass, and I intend to gain all the indulgences and merits that I can, during this day. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary, I love you. I consecrate myself to you. Please convert sinners and help the Holy souls. Amen.
Angel of God, my Guardian dear
To whom God's love commits me here,
Ever this day be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.
The Morning Offering is a most powerful prayer. Once said, every moment of your day, dedicated to God, will advance the salvation of your own soul and of the world, even when distractions drive this out of your mind.
Ideally there should be more time spent in prayer before the day's work. A short passage of Scripture, especially from the Gospels, is highly recommended.
Daily Mass is ideal.
Reading Holy Scripture carries a power of itself. The daily Mass Readings make an excellent selection.
A habit of mental prayer, and habitual mortal sin, cannot coexist in the same soul. One or the other will be driven out.
(3) For each meal of the day, make the Sign of the Cross and Grace Before and After Meals. There are various formulae. The commonest in Ireland, in the English language, is
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts
which of Thy bounty
we are about to receive
through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
[there is a prayer in the Irish language, a short verse in classic metre and rhyme, that is at least a thousand years old]
After Meals:
We give Thee thanks, Almighty God,
For all Thy benefits.
Who livest and reignest
World without end. Amen.
May the souls of all the Faithful Departed
Through the Mercy of God
Rest in peace. Amen.
(4) During the day, make short 'Aspirations' - either some short phrase, or simply a wordless raising of the mind to God, and/or the Hosts of Heaven. Live with the background knowledge that God and the Family of Heaven are passing through the day with you. Aspirations include:
My Lord and my God!
Jesus, Mary, I love you. Save souls.
In time of temptation:
Help me, God!
Jesus, mercy! Mary, help!
(5) If you can, help your neighbour, "for the Sake of the Saviour" – especially those to whom you are not drawn by natural affection – "As often as ye do these things to the least of these My brethren, ye do them unto Me". (Mt 25: 31-46)
Do not despise the Little Things. The Judge will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. You have been faithful to me in little things: now I will place thee over greater". (Mt 25:21)
(6) Wear the Scapular. There is a short ceremony of enrolment.
“Whoever dies wearing this Scapular will not suffer Eternal fire”. (Our Lady to S. Simon Stock)
(7) At some point pray the Rosary. Preferably as a family in the evening.
"Pray the Rosary every day" (Our Lady at Fatima)
"The soul that is devoted to the Holy Rosary will never be overcome by misfortune." (Our Lady to S. Dominic)
(8) God will send you trials. Accept them as your Cross, and Offer them Up, as an essential part of the Road to Heaven:
"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross each day, and follow Me". (Lk 9:23)
"If you do this, you will come to love your Cross. If you do not.... you will have to carry it anyway"... (Thomas a Kempis)
(9) Keep away, as far as you can, from 'occasions of sin'. If you deliberately place yourself in danger of sin, you cannot presume that God will save you.
(10) If you slip, tell Him you are sorry and ask for strength to keep His commandments.
Go to Confession when you can, to a Catholic priest, who is the successor of the Apostles.
Our Lord said to them: "whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained". (Jn 20:23) This will wipe the slate clean. Past sins should not be allowed to trouble you.
(11) Say night prayers.
A short Examination of Conscience, and an Act of Contrition, is recommended.
Here is an Act of Contrition:
O my God, I am sorry, and beg pardon for all my sins, and detest them above all things, because they deserve Thy dreadful punishment, because they have crucified my Loving Saviour Jesus Christ, and most of all, because they offend Thy Infinite Goodness. And I firmly resolve, by the help of Thy Grace, never to offend Thee again, and carefully to avoid the occasion of sin. Amen.
(12) Go to sleep.
The next day, do the same again. And the next day ... And the next ...
(13) On Sunday, go to Mass. You are going to Calvary, and He can see you from the Cross.
[We are living in a time of confusion and poor discipline in the Church and the world. If the Mass at your nearest church is being performed in a manner scandalous to you, you are not obliged to attend. Remember that the Traditional Latin Mass was established as a Default until the End of Time, as a safeguard. It is always lawful to assist at the Traditional Mass, if the priest is validly consecrated and not excommunicated (Pope S. Pius V).]
Receive the Sacraments, especially Penance/Reconciliation and Holy Communion. We actually are members of the Body of Christ, and our supernatural food is Christ HImself under the appearances of bread and wine.
"He that eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has life in him, and I will raise him up on the Last Day." (John, Ch. 6)
Spend the Lord's day, as far as you can, in prayer, rest, legitimate recreation, and reflection. In this way, you will not charge blindly through life.
(14a) If you are called to the priesthood or the Religious life, answer the call.
"Friend, come up higher." (Lk 14:10)
(14b) If you are called to Matrimony, welcome the children that God may be pleased to send you. Lead them in prayer. Teach them the catechism. Bring them to the Sacraments. Provide, as far as you can, a loving home, with the best education you can manage in your circumstances. If you are a breadwinner, provide for their material needs, with prudence, as far as circumstances allow.
(15) If you find you have special gifts, develop them and use them for the Glory of God and the benefit of your neighbour.
There is great diversity. "No two souls are more than 50% alike." (S. Teresa of Avila)
(16) At the end of your life, receive the last Sacraments if circumstances allow.
Do these things, and you have every 'Good Christian Hope' that you will be received into Eternal life.
"My yoke is easy, and my burden light" (Mt 11:30)
"No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (1Cor 10:13)
There is only one catch – you must really mean it. It does not work if we try to live with the mindset and priorities of The world, and just toss God a bone here or there. "No man may serve two masters." (Mt 6: 24, Lk 16:13).