Holy Habits

Micaela Darr

If I had to choose a cultural trademark for 2020, it might be upheaval. Fear, violence, and sickness are, each in their own way, affecting our families, our communities, and the culture at large. There’s nothing new under the sun, of course, and we have always and will always face real struggles related to sin and illness, but lately there seems to be almost a frenzy around us. It’s different. We can all sense it. 

Current events, even though they’re outside of our immediate control, are also the only thing anyone is talking (and talking and talking) about. Like onlookers as a runaway train heads for disaster, our society just can’t look away.

But what if we stopped looking for it and indulging in it? What if we returned to the only thing that will bring peace? Not up-to-the-minute news, not endless political commentary, certainly not fear and loathing. 

Christ. 

On the feast of Saint Martha, I sat in a folding chair at my outdoor church, listening to the gospel reading with silent tears running down my face. Again, one week later, I sat just a few seats over, weeping almost to the point of drawing attention. The messages couldn’t have been any clearer. 

Martha, Martha, you are busy about many things. 

What would happen if I paused for a moment and laid my head on the lap of Jesus, listening to Him instead of talk radio? What if I drew near to Him, sitting at His feet, resting as Saint Mary of Bethany surely did, and basking in His love and His teachings? (Luke 10:38-42) 

Christ. 

One week later, it wasn’t Martha, but Saint Peter in the storm. (Matthew 14:22-33) He stepped out of the boat in trust, and began walking towards Jesus Christ. He remained safe and unharmed by the wind and the sea! But somehow Peter’s eyes strayed from Our Lord, and he became fearful of the lashing rain and the crashing waves. He began to sink. When Peter cried out to the Lord, Jesus saved him, but also chastised him. 

Oh ye of little faith.

Will the storm devour me while my eyes are fixed on Jesus? Of course not! In my quiet moments, in stillness , I know deep down that keeping my eyes on Him is exactly what I should be doing.

Christ.

As Elizabeth said recently in one of her morning Instagram Lives: Heaven, our eternal home, is being near Christ. The more time we spend near Him on earth, the more Heaven will feel like home when—God willing—we arrive there after death. 

So how do we grow in His love? How do we grow in holiness?

I believe, no… I am firmly convicted, that the way to peace and weathering the storm is by building holy habits. 

By “holy habits,” I mean devotions, big and small, that anchor us to God. These habits will keep us close to Him even when the sea around us is churning. Doesn’t that sound like something worth doing? Are you as convicted as I am?

We all need to start wherever we are right now. Whether you’re barely remembering to pray before meals or you’ve been going to daily Mass for years, the Lord is calling you into a deeper relationship with Him. So don’t be afraid! Your holy habits don’t need to look like anyone else’s. The Holy Spirit will meet your efforts, no matter how small, and bless them. He will encourage you on your way!

So here’s what we’re going to do. Starting Tuesday September 1, we’ll kick off the new month with a plan to grow in holiness. Please make sure you’re following us on Instagram so we can keep encouraging you all month long. We’ll be sharing graphics, reminders, and more.

A few steps to get you started:

Step 1: Reflect on where you are now. Take a few moments to look at your spiritual practices (read descriptions below) and the demands of your current vocation (look around you!), and then assess what you’re doing now. Ask yourself: What do I do daily? Weekly? Monthly?

Step 2: Plan how you will build holy habits. Prayerfully discern which practices you can add in to your day, week, and month. Ask yourself: What’s lacking in my life of prayer? What can I realistically add in to grow in holiness?

Step 3: Commit! Mark your calendars each time you meet one of your goals. Ask yourself: How will I remind myself of my new habits? How will I track my progress?

An overview of Spiritual Practices:

Contemplative prayer: "St. Teresa of Avila says contemplative prayer is "nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us."" (CCC 2709-2719) Examples: Eucharistic Adoration (in front of a tabernacle or an exposed monstrance), scripture study, silent contemplation of the crucifix or other Christian image, daily examen

Vocal prayer: whether silently or aloud, praying the words of our faith with our whole heart makes "our prayer take flesh." (CCC 2700-2704) Examples: Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, noon Angelus, prayers before meals, Morning Offering

Spiritual Reading: "the study of the sacred page should be the very soul of sacred theology." (CCC 101-141) Examples: scripture study (especially lectio divina), catechism, liturgy of the hours, the lives of the saints

Sacraments: The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the Body of Christ and, finally, to give worship to God." (CCC 1113-1134) Examples: Confession and Holy Eucharist 

Sacrifices: "It is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of adoration and gratitude, supplication and communion." (CCC 2099-2100) Examples: abstaining from meat or other foods, limiting or giving up social media, giving up other pleasures, offering small sufferings to God

A few questions to consider as you plan:

What physical or emotional thing do I turn to, aside from God, to soothe myself?

What can I detach myself from in order to make room and time for holiness?

What can I remove to make room to grow spiritually?

-social media

-alcohol/gluttony of any kind

-Netflix/binge reading/

Which saints do I want to accompany me on this journey?

Which saints have been seeking me out?

Which saints speak to me in my circumstances or struggles?

Do I have a spiritual director? If not, how do I go about finding one?

Finally, consider how you have successfully reached a goal in the past? (Hint, it wasn’t by biting off more than you could chew. ;))

Let me be clear: We will be more successful in building holy habits if we choose wisely and consider each practice in light of our vocations and the support we have to be successful in meeting the goals (I.e. it might be imprudent to plan to go to daily Mass if you have 5 children under 6 and your husband is deployed).

What has helped you achieve your goals in the past? Are you an all-or-nothing person, or do you need to take baby steps?  Do you work best alone or with an accountability partner? (Members, we’ve got your accountability covered. ;)) 

These are times wherein a whole army of saints might be raised up, just by getting on our knees and begging for courage and holiness. Let us not take that blessing for granted. <3 

Saint Peter, Saints Martha and Mary of Bethany, ora pro nobis.