Rule of 7

DAILY DISCIPLINES

1. Morning Offering – Offer your prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God.

2. Rosary – Pray for your growth in holiness, your family, friends, and the intentions of the Soldiers of Christ.

3. Examination of Conscience – Review your day, acknowledge sins, and thank God for blessings.

WEEKLY DISCIPLINES

4. Fraternity Meeting – Show up for prayer, support, and brotherhood.

5. One Extra Mass – Attend at least one daily Mass in addition to Sunday.

6. Friday Penance – Abstain from meat and social media; offer it for your sanctity, your family, and the intentions of the Soldiers of Christ.

MONTHLY DISCIPLINE

7. Confession – Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a month.

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of my family, friends,
and the Soldiers of Christ,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

The Rosary is truly the liturgy of the family.  God entrusts men with spiritual authority in their homes, calling us to act as priests of our households.

By leading the Rosary, a father sanctifies his family, shields them from evil, and exercises the authority God has entrusted to him.

The Rosary is not merely prayer, it is our weapon, our shield, and our anchor in Christ.

➡️ USCCB – How to Pray the Rosary

• Prayers – Was I faithful in prayer today? Did I remember God often?
  
  

• Works – Did I work honestly and diligently? Did I use my gifts to serve others?
  
  

• Joys – Did I thank God for blessings? Did I rejoice in others’ good without envy?
  
  

• Sufferings – Did I unite hardships to Christ with patience and trust?
  
  

• Sins – Did I fall into sin? Did I seek God’s mercy quickly?
  
  

• Family, Friends & Brothers – Did I pray for them and encourage them in faith?
  
  

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

🛡️ The Soldier’s Renewal – Confession Guide

Adapted from the form prayed in Soldiers of Christ fraternity meetings, prepared here for private devotion.

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I unite myself with Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered throughout the world.
Strengthen me in faith, that I may listen to Your Word and grow as a man of courage and holiness. Amen.

Reading – Ephesians 6:10–17

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 68

R. GOD ARISES; HIS ENEMIES ARE SCATTERED.

Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him. 

R. God arises; His enemies are scattered. 

As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God. 

R. God arises; His enemies are scattered. 

But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! 

R. God arises; His enemies are scattered. 

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 

R. God arises; His enemies are scattered.

Intercessions

With trust in God’s power, I bring these petitions before Him: 

For Pope Leo, Bishop Vasa, and Fr. Brown, may the Lord strengthen and protect them. 

R. Lord, hear my prayer. 

For vocations to marriage, the priesthood, and religious life. 

R. Lord, hear my prayer. 

For courage to live as a Christ-like man. 

R. Lord, hear my prayer. 

For the sick, suffering, and dying in our parish.

R. Lord, hear my prayer. 

For the defense of life and an end to abortion. 

R. Lord, hear my prayer. 

For the faithful departed, may they rest in God’s peace. 

R. Lord, hear my prayer.  

[Personal Intentions] 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father…

Closing Prayer

Father, form me as a Soldier of Christ—faithful, brave, and obedient to Your will.
Clothe me in Your Spirit and guide me as I fight the good fight for Your Kingdom.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to St. Joseph, Terror of Demons

Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, cast thy solemn gaze upon the devil and all his minions and protect us with thy mighty staff. Thou fled through the night to avoid the devil’s wicked designs; now, with the power of God, smite the demons as they flee from thee! Grant special protection, we pray for children, fathers, mothers, families, and the dying. By God’s grace, no demon dares approach while thou art near, so we beg of thee, Saint Joseph, always be near to us! Amen.

Prayer for Protection 

(From Prayers Against the Powers of Darkness — an appendix of prayers approved for use by the laity, taken from Exorcisms and Related Supplications)

O God, author of every mercy and all goodness, who willed Your Son to submit for our sake to the yoke of the Cross, so that You might drive from us the power of the enemy, look with mercy upon my lowliness and pain, and grant, I pray, that, defeating the onslaught of the Evil One, You will fill with the grace of Your blessing the one You made new in the font of Baptism. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Fathers share in the very Fatherhood of God, entrusted with real spiritual authority over their wives and children. This sacred role is expressed in prayer and blessing, especially with holy water.

✠ The Father’s Blessing

(From the Shorter Book of Blessings)

Make the Sign of the Cross on your child’s forehead with holy water:

May the Lord keep you and make you grow in his love, so that you may live worthy of the calling he has given you, now and forever. Amen.

Short option

May God bless you, ✠ the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

✠ As fathers, we are called not only to guard and provide, but to bless and sanctify our families. In this, we live as true Soldiers of Christ, leading our domestic churches in holiness and strength. ✠

A Soldier’s Prayer Campaign

A novena is nine straight days of prayer, like a battle campaign. The Apostles and Our Lady prayed for nine days before Pentecost, and we follow their lead.  A novena is steady firepower, showing up every day, holding the line, and entrusting the victory to God through the intercession of one of His saints.

St. Joseph Novena 

Stand with the protector of Jesus and Mary, learning strength, silence, and faithfulness.

3.10 - 3.19

St Joseph’s, you are the faithful protector and intercession of all who love and venerate you. I have special confidence in you. You are powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me, to your intercession. By the love you have for Jesus and Mary, do not abandon me during life, and assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the immaculate Virgin, Foster-father of Jesus Christ, obtain for me a pure, humble, and charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the Divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore: (MENTION YOUR REQUESTS).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I am confident that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.

St. Michael Novena

 Call on God’s warrior to defend against the powers of darkness.

9.20 - 9.29

St. Michael the Archangel, loyal champion of God and His people, I turn to you with confidence and seek your powerful intercession. For the love of God, Who made you so glorious in grace and power, and for the love of the Mother of Jesus, the Queen of the Angels, be pleased to hear my prayer. You know the value of my soul in the eyes of God. May no stain of evil ever disfigure its beauty. Help me to conquer the evil spirit who tempts me. I desire to imitate your loyalty to God and Holy Mother Church and your great love for God and people. And since you are God's messenger for the care of His people, I entrust to you this special request(s): (MENTION YOUR REQUESTS).

Saint Michael, since you are, by the Will of the Creator, the powerful intercessor of Christians, I have great confidence in your prayers. I earnestly trust that if it is God's holy Will, my petition will be granted.

Pray for me, Saint Michael, and also for those I love. Protect us in all dangers of body and soul. Help us in our daily needs. Through your powerful intercession, may we live a holy life, die a happy death, and reach heaven where we may praise and love God with you forever.

Amen.

You may add the Prayer to Saint Michael 

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. 

Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. 

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, 

O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, 

thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, 

who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Novena

Said with a 5 decade Rosary

9.29 - 10.7

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet. Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart, and for this special favor which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son. If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused. I know, dearest Mother, that you want me to seek God's holy Will concerning my request. If what I ask for should not be granted, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual "Bouquet of Roses" because I love you. I put all my confidence in you, since your prayers before God are most powerful. For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus, your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Rite for Visiting a Cemetery or Grave  (for use by a lay person - nos. 707–715)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation.
He comforts us in all our afflictions
and thus enables us to comfort those who grieve
with the same consolation we have received from him.

Reading of the Word of God

John 11:17–27

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away.
And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”
Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.

OR

2 Corinthians 5:1, 6–10 (NABRE)

For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed,
we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.

Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

Intercessions

Our Savior has said: ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.’ With faith in his words, let us pray to the Lord.

• For N., that he/she may have eternal rest.
  
  

• For our relatives and friends who have gone before us, that they may see God face to face.
  
  

• For those who mourn, that they may be comforted.
  
  

• For all of us assembled here, that we may be consoled in our grief by the promise of Christ’s resurrection.
  
  

After the intercessions, the leader invites all to pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Prayer

All-powerful God,
whose mercy is never withheld
from those who call upon you in hope,
look kindly on your servant N.,
who departed this life confessing your name,
and number him/her among your saints.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Concluding Rite

Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.

May he/she rest in peace.

Amen.

May his/her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”

Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“I must warn you against a ploy of satan — yes, without a capital, because he deserves no more — who tries to make use of the most ordinary circumstances, to turn us away, slightly or greatly, from the way that leads us to God.

If you are struggling, and even more if you are really struggling, you should not be surprised at feeling tired or at having sometimes to “go against the grain”, without any spiritual or human consolation. See what someone wrote to me some time ago, and which I kept for those who naively consider that grace does away with nature: “Father, for a few days now I have been feeling tremendously lazy and lacking in enthusiasm for fulfilling the plan of life. I have to force myself to do everything, and I have very little taste for it. Pray for me so that this crisis may soon pass, for it makes me suffer a lot to think it could make me turn from my way.”

—I answered only: did you not know that Love demands sacrifice? Read the words of the Master slowly: “Whoever does not take up his Cross quotidie — every day — is not worthy of Me.” And further on: “I will not leave you orphans…” Our Lord allows that dryness of yours, which you find so hard, so that you may love Him more, so that you may trust only in Him, so that you may co-redeem with the Cross, so that you may meet Him.”

St. Josemaría Escrivá' - # 149, The Furrow

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