Sarah Mitchell
Holiness is an obligation, a call, and the will of God for every Christian. Many Catholics want to grow in holiness but don't know where to start. The answer is simple: look to the Saints, the holy men and women of God who lived their lives dedicated to serving God. Additionally, one can develop a plan for life that includes daily prayer, spiritual reading, and striving to live virtuously. One can also pray the Rosary daily, as Our Lady of Fatima requested in 1917. Listening to the Holy Spirit and following up on the little intimations to be better can also help one grow in holiness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Spiritual reading | Awakening Love, An Ignatian Retreat with the Song of Songs by Gregory Cleveland, OMV (Boston: Pauline Media, 2017) |
| The Discernment of Spirits, An Ignatian Guide to Everyday Living, by Timothy Gallagher, OMV, (New York: Crossroad, 2005) | |
| Daily prayer disciplines | 15 minutes of daily prayer with Scripture |
| Daily Mass, ideally, or at least once during the week besides Sunday | |
| 10-15 minutes of daily spiritual reading | |
| Rosary – five decades if possible, or at least one decade | |
| 5-10 minutes of daily examination of conscience | |
| Striving to live the virtues | |
| Annual weekend (or longer) prayer retreat | |
| Sacrifice | Refraining from a sarcastic comment when your spouse, friend, or neighbor annoys you |
| Reduction of selfish tendencies | |
| Listening | Actively searching out a sound, a message, or a nudge |
| Following up on little intimations to be better | |
| Saints to emulate | Teresa of Avila: courage to persevere in prayer |
| Philip Neri: joyful humility and a sense of humor even during trials | |
| Jane de Chantal: loving God with simplicity of heart and childlike trust | |
| Aloysius Gonzaga: mastery of the flesh through self-sacrifice |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Develop a daily routine of prayer and spiritual reading
Developing a daily routine of prayer and spiritual reading is a great way to grow in holiness as a Catholic. This can be done by incorporating prayer into your daily life and making time for spiritual reading.
Prayer
Prayer is a source of strength and clarity, reminding Catholics of their identity as God's children and enriching their lives with Christ's Spirit. St. Teresa of Avila described it as a "friendship with God". It is important to not be overwhelmed by the idea of daily prayer—it can be incorporated into a busy schedule in small ways. For example, you can begin with just 5-10 minutes of prayer a day, gradually increasing the time as the habit becomes more natural. Praying while doing routine tasks like cooking, commuting, or folding laundry can also help.
You can also pray the Rosary, Lectio Divina, or the Morning Offering, which involves dedicating your day to God and offering your work, joys, and struggles to Him. Another suggestion is to pray the Angelus, which a Catholic baker might do while waiting for their bread to rise, or a Catholic mother might do with her children's guardian angels.
If you are able to, committing to a regular Holy Hour at your parish can be transformative, even if it's just 15 minutes before the Blessed Sacrament. This can be a time to sit in silence, pray the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet, or simply rest in God's presence.
Spiritual Reading
Spiritual reading can also be incorporated into your daily routine. This can be done for just 10-15 minutes a day. Some suggested books include:
- 'Awakening Love, An Ignatian Retreat with the Song of Songs' by Gregory Cleveland, OMV (2017)
- 'The Discernment of Spirits, An Ignatian Guide to Everyday Living' by Timothy Gallagher, OMV (2005)
- 'The Heart of Virtue' by Donald Demarco
Additional Tips
It is also important to listen to the Holy Spirit and be open to His guidance. This can be done by praying the "Come Holy Spirit" prayer daily and asking God what He would like you to do each day. Journaling your journey and writing down your thoughts, plans, and intentions can also be helpful.
Remember, the key to growing in holiness is to keep trying. Even if progress is not visible, getting up every time you fall and beginning again is pleasing to God. God looks on us with love as His children, and becoming holy is a simple process of taking one small step forward every day.
Kissing: Sin or Not? Catholic Answers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Listen to the Holy Spirit and be open to God's will
Listening to the Holy Spirit and being open to God's will is a crucial aspect of growing in holiness as a Catholic. This involves actively searching for and heeding the messages and promptings of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. By doing so, we surrender control and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, which can be both exciting and challenging. Here are some ways to cultivate this spiritual discipline:
Prayer and Scripture
Daily prayer and Scripture reading are essential. Praying the "Come, Holy Spirit" prayer and inviting His presence and guidance can help us open ourselves to His will. Additionally, pausing to reflect on Scripture passages for a few minutes each day can provide spiritual insight and direction.
Journaling
Journaling can be a powerful tool in our spiritual journey. Writing down our thoughts, plans, and intentions to grow closer to God helps us stay focused and committed. Journaling about our spiritual experiences and reflections on Scripture can also help us identify patterns and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Sacrifice and Service
True holiness involves self-sacrifice and a reduction of selfish tendencies. Start small with daily sacrifices, such as refraining from sarcastic comments or doing a chore for a roommate. Over time, work towards larger sacrifices that demonstrate your love for God and others. This orientation towards self-giving love is a key aspect of holiness.
Emulating the Saints
The lives of the saints provide us with tangible examples of holiness. Learning about saints like Teresa of Avila, Philip Neri, Jane de Chantal, and Aloysius Gonzaga can inspire us to emulate their virtues, such as perseverance in prayer, joyful humility, childlike trust in God, and self-mastery through sacrifice. Their examples remind us that holiness is achievable and worth striving for.
Trust in God's Love
It's important to remember that God is not a judgmental figure but a loving parent who wants us to succeed. Like a parent encouraging a child, God delights in our efforts to grow in holiness. Even when we stumble, God is pleased with our willingness to get back up and try again. Focusing on God's love and goodness can give us the motivation to continue on our spiritual journey.
AmeriCorps and Catholic Volunteer Network: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Sacrifice and reduce selfish tendencies
To grow in holiness, Catholics are encouraged to follow in the footsteps of the Saints, who dedicated their lives in service to God. Holiness is not an overnight process, and it requires a long-term commitment to spiritual growth.
Sacrifice and the reduction of selfish tendencies are key aspects of this journey. Catholics are encouraged to make small, daily sacrifices, such as refraining from sarcastic comments when annoyed, and instead, offering patience and kindness. This practice can extend to performing small acts of service for others, such as doing the dishes for a roommate or smiling at a passerby. Over time, these small sacrifices can lead to larger acts of selflessness.
The Rosary is also recommended as a daily devotion, with specific prayers dedicated to obtaining peace and ending conflicts. Additionally, Catholics can strive to live virtuously, reading books such as "The Heart of Virtue" by Donald Demarco.
The key to spiritual growth is perseverance. Even if progress is not visible, God is pleased with the effort and willingness to begin again after each fall. This journey towards holiness is a lifelong process, and Catholics are encouraged to start small and make gradual changes that will lead to authentic transformation.
Catholics Reflect on the Spanish Inquisition
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Look to the Saints for guidance and inspiration
To grow in holiness, Catholics can look to the Saints for guidance and inspiration. The saints are the holy men and women of God who dedicated their lives to serving God and came from tumultuous times in the Church, such as the Reformation. They can provide a time-tested path to spiritual growth and a deeper knowledge of God.
St. Thérèse, for example, teaches that the key to growing in holiness is to keep trying, even if progress is not visible. Getting up every time we fall pleases God. She also teaches that we can start by doing little things, such as smiling at a passerby, doing the dishes for a roommate, or refraining from complaining.
Teresa of Avila is another saint who can inspire us with her courage to persevere in prayer. Philip Neri, who is known for his joyful humility and sense of humour during trials, can also guide us. Jane de Chantal, who loved God with a simple heart and childlike trust, and Aloysius Gonzaga, who achieved self-mastery through self-sacrifice, are further saintly examples to follow.
We can also look to the first Christians, the saints and martyrs, for guidance. Their level of holiness may seem unrelatable and unattainable, but we can still learn from their experiences.
In addition to looking to the saints, Catholics can take practical steps to grow in holiness. This includes developing a plan for spiritual disciplines, such as daily prayer with Scripture, attending Mass, spiritual reading, praying the Rosary, examining one's conscience, striving to live virtuously, and making prayer retreats. Journaling can also help to materialise thoughts and plans.
Catholics' Flight: A Grave Event?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Persevere and trust in God's love and goodness
Perseverance and trust in God's love and goodness are essential for spiritual growth in the Catholic faith. While the journey towards holiness may be challenging, Catholics can find solace in the belief that God is not a judgmental figure but a loving parent who watches over His children with compassion and forgiveness. This perspective can help individuals remain steadfast in their pursuit of holiness, even in the face of adversity.
The teachings of St. Thérèse offer valuable insights for Catholics seeking to deepen their trust in God's love and goodness. St. Thérèse emphasizes the importance of perseverance, encouraging believers to keep trying even when they don't see progress. She assures that God is pleased with their efforts and that their dependence on Him is essential for spiritual growth. According to St. Thérèse, becoming a saint may not be easy, but it is simple—a matter of taking small steps forward each day.
Catholics can also find guidance in the lives of other saints, such as Teresa of Avila, who exemplified the courage to persevere in prayer, and Jane de Chantal, who loved God with a simple and childlike trust. By emulating the virtues of these holy men and women, Catholics can strengthen their own trust in God's love and goodness.
Additionally, it is crucial to cultivate a spirit of sacrifice, which is an integral part of true love. This involves denying selfish tendencies and making small, daily sacrifices for the benefit of others. Over time, these small sacrifices can lead to more significant acts of selflessness, bringing individuals closer to holiness.
To persevere in their spiritual journey, Catholics are encouraged to develop a consistent routine that includes daily prayer, spiritual reading, and the Rosary. By incorporating these practices into their lives, they can stay focused on their spiritual goals and maintain a close connection with God.
In summary, Catholics seeking to grow in holiness can find strength and resilience by trusting in God's love and goodness. Through the examples set by the saints and by incorporating prayer, sacrifice, and spiritual disciplines into their daily lives, they can persevere on their spiritual journey, gradually drawing closer to God and fulfilling their call to holiness.
Amy Welborn's Traditional Catholicism: Exploring Her Beliefs
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The answer to this question is simple: look to the Saints. Many Saints came out of a tumultuous time in the Church and their lives were dedicated in service to God.
Develop a plan of life that includes daily prayer and spiritual reading. Make an annual weekend prayer retreat. Pray the Rosary every day.
True love involves giving yourself to others and reducing selfish tendencies. Start small with tiny sacrifices, such as refraining from a sarcastic comment when annoyed.
