November 2010 - Traditional Catholic Living

These daily prayers and devotions will make us saints. They are:

The Morning Offering

Immediately on arising, we should fall on our knees and make this offering, slowly and deliberately.
Morning Prayers

Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostle’s Creed, Confiteor, Hail Holy Queen
Evening Prayers

Same as morning, with an added short examination of conscience and a fervent Act of Contrition. These prayers must be said slowly, reverently, on our knees in our bedroom. In this room we spend a third part of our lives, and here we shall probably die. Therefore, it is well to sanctify it by our daily prayers.
The Rosary

All good Christians say the Rosary daily.
The frequent repetition of the Holy Name

This practice gradually fills our hearts with peace and happiness; it delivers us from many evils and obtains for us more graces in a single day than we may otherwise hope to receive in a whole year.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart

Our Lord gave 12 special promises to everyone who practices this devotion.
Daily Mass and Communion

Better than the most lengthy prayers and the severest penances.
A visit to the Blessed Sacrament

-Taken from An Easy Way to Become a Saint by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, O.P. pp. 56 – 62

One more devotion I’d like to add to this list is:

The following is a self-help review for couples to be done yearly or even quarterly to determine one’s progress to richer living. Ask yourself:

Am I so living that I have a better chance of earning heaven than I did a year ago?
Am I practicing my religion faithfully and meaningfully?
Am I dealing honorably, charitably, with my fellow-men?
Am I deepening the love which my marriage partner and I feel for one another by my devotion, patience and understanding?
Am I aware of his/her virtues, tolerant of his/her shortcomings?
Am I helping him/her to get to heaven?
Am I doing my duty by my family joyfully, unremittingly?
Do I deal generously with my employer or employees?
Do I ever strive to help the poor or oppressed?

If you are a parent, examine your children’s development:

Am I helping my children’s spiritual growth by personal example, inculcating habits of daily prayer, Mass attendance, rosary devotions, etc.?
Are they learning to control their emotions and their desires?
Are they happy and adjusted to life?
Are they truthful, honorable, self-reliant?
Do they share joys, belongings, and duties cheerfully?
Are their manners improving?

What of your family life?

Do you talk to one another of anything save the mechanics of living?
Do you confide in one another?
Are you loyal?
Do you present a united front to the world?
Do you enjoy each other’s company?
Do you read, sing, play games, go on outings together?
Do you respect one another’s confidences, take pride in accomplishments, sympathize with troubles?

What of your life as a couple?

Has your concern for children or job pushed your wife/husband into the background of your life?
Do you confide in one another?
Do you listen when your mate talks of his/her problems, ambitions, worries and accomplishments?
Do you respect one another’s opinions?
Do you express your love in words and deeds?
Do you have time for each other?
Do you happily spend some of your leisure hours together, without children or others?
Do you try as hard to please each other as you did during your courting days?
Who is your husband’s sports hero?
What color is your wife’s winter coat?
If you cannot answer these last two questions, you are losing interest in each other.

What of your personal life? Ask yourself:

Do I enjoy the work that fills my days? What can I do to make it pleasanter?
Is my leisure spent in ways that truly please me, with people I really like, or does sheer inertia keep me glued to a television screen or gossiping with bores?
How long is it since I have: learned a new skill, craft, art, or game? Read material that challenged my intellect, enlarged my horizons, deepened my understanding of life?
Am I keeping abreast of world affairs and scientific advances?
Have I made new friends? Kept in touch with old ones?
Am I becoming narrow-minded, opinionated, boresome?
What can I do for me to make next year happier?

-from American Catholic Etiquette, pp.242-243

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