How to start my day

[ACanthony]

Hello all. I’m 26 and in the past 2 years I have turned to Christ and really have given my life to Him. In my learning about Christ, our religion, and the Bible, I understand there’s a lot of things we have to do to follow Christ. “Be humble” “Love our neighbor” “Love God” “Love your enemies” “Be peaceful, kind, gentle, etc.” I try to do all of these things. I guess my question is this: I think I would be more successful in cultivating more joy in my life (and also be a better Catholic) if I had a better morning routine. Right now, I wake up, read my Bible and pray, say prayers of thanks, etc. I love this routine but after my quiet time is up in the morning and it’s time to face the commotion of the world, I’m a little lost. What mantras or mantra do you guys tell yourselves to help you focus throughout the day? Do you guys even have one? I find if I repeat one or two phrases in my head it helps me to focus on the bigger goal in life. Sometimes I say “Today I’m going to be as loving as possible” or “Today I’m going to follow Christ as best as possible” or “Today I’m going to see Christ in everyone.” Does anyone have any suggestions or is this even a good idea to do?

 

[DavidFilmer]

Do your circumstances permit you to consider a Religious vocation? You are still “too young” in the Faith to be considered for admission by most Orders, but this could be a time of discernment for you. You seem to yearn for a more contemplative lifestyle.

For me, I deal with adversity better if I can see that the end is in sight. For you, the end might be a Religious vocation, and working towards it could give you strength to face the challenges of the secular life.

Whether or not you are in a position to consider a Religious vocation, I think it would be great if you could find a good Spiritual Director to meet with on a regular basis. Unfortunately, good Spiritual Directors are in very short supply these days. You might inquire with the Chancery Office of your Diocese, or maybe the Pastor of your parish.

Please don’t take this the wrong way, but your post did remind me of the warning that Jesus taught the Apostles in the parable of the sower. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and flourished for a time, but lacked roots and died off. Your faith has grown a lot in a very short time. I would not want to see your faith become like one of those seeds whose roots could not sustain the plant. This is one reason why I think you could benefit from good spiritual direction.

 

[puzzleannie]

What mantras or mantra do you guys tell yourselves to help you focus throughout the day? Do you guys even have one? I find ?

we don’t do mantras, we are Catholic, not Buddhists. What we do have are called aspirations, literally, breathing the Word, such as “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” or “for the greater honor and glory of God”, short prayers breathed out through the day. In your morning scripture reading, spend a bit more time in meditation and prayer on the Word you read (called lectio divina) and keep a word or phrase from that scripture passage with you throughout the day to keep the Word alive in your heart so that it becomes part of you. what you describe as a “mantra” is also recognized in classical Christian spirituality, esp. from St. Ignatius as a resolution for the day. It is part of his “daily examen” which can be done any time during the day, but is often done at night. It includes prayer to the Holy Spirit for enlightenment, reflection on the events of the day, thanksgiving for the day, confession and asking forgiveness of faults, forgiving those who have offended one, and a resolution for tomorrow, or for the next 24 hours. That resolution you would yes recall during the day to help you keep it.

It appears that you search has led you to Christian spiritual practices you can’t yet call by name but instinctively recognize as authentic. good for you. When you are ready for more in the morning and evening, look into the Liturgy of the Hours.

 

[rossum]

What mantras or mantra do you guys tell yourselves to help you focus throughout the day? Do you guys even have one? I find if I repeat one or two phrases in my head it helps me to focus on the bigger goal in life. Sometimes I say “Today I’m going to be as loving as possible” or “Today I’m going to follow Christ as best as possible” or “Today I’m going to see Christ in everyone.” Does anyone have any suggestions or is this even a good idea to do?

Have a look at Saying the Jesus Prayer.

If you do decide to follow this then please be aware of Bishop Ware’s warning:“But those who have no personal contact with starets [a teacher] may still practice the Prayer without any fear, so long as they do so only for limited periods - initially, for no more than ten or fifteen minutes at a time - and so long as they make no attempt to interfere with the body’s natural rhythms.”

HTH

rossum

 

[RosaryFan]

Hello all. I’m 26 and in the past 2 years I have turned to Christ and really have given my life to Him. In my learning about Christ, our religion, and the Bible, I understand there’s a lot of things we have to do to follow Christ. “Be humble” “Love our neighbor” “Love God” “Love your enemies” “Be peaceful, kind, gentle, etc.” I try to do all of these things. I guess my question is this: I think I would be more successful in cultivating more joy in my life (and also be a better Catholic) if I had a better morning routine. Right now, I wake up, read my Bible and pray, say prayers of thanks, etc. I love this routine but after my quiet time is up in the morning and it’s time to face the commotion of the world, I’m a little lost. What mantras or mantra do you guys tell yourselves to help you focus throughout the day? Do you guys even have one? I find if I repeat one or two phrases in my head it helps me to focus on the bigger goal in life. Sometimes I say “Today I’m going to be as loving as possible” or “Today I’m going to follow Christ as best as possible” or “Today I’m going to see Christ in everyone.” Does anyone have any suggestions or is this even a good idea to do?

If you have the opportunity, I recommend daily Mass and reception of Holy Communion. This is how I start my day, every day. I cannot think of a better way to begin the daily routine. Of course, this is difficult if you work full time (which I do not), but our parish has a 6:30 am and 9:00 am Mass every day.

 

[ACanthony]

Hello all. I appreciate all of the advice. If I had 3 lives I’d definitely join the priesthood or the Franciscans but I just don’t think it’s my calling. I believe I was called to be a husband and father. I think the idea of going to daily Mass is a great one. I guess since I’m relatively new to the faith I’m just trying to do the best I can and I have to understand I need to be patient. I’m not going to be fully connected with God right away and I know this probably takes most of my lifetime. So if I struggle at first, I need to understand I probably need to undergo struggles because struggles bring me closer to God.

 

[RosaryFan]

Hello all. I appreciate all of the advice. If I had 3 lives I’d definitely join the priesthood or the Franciscans but I just don’t think it’s my calling. I believe I was called to be a husband and father. I think the idea of going to daily Mass is a great one. I guess since I’m relatively new to the faith I’m just trying to do the best I can and I have to understand I need to be patient. I’m not going to be fully connected with God right away and I know this probably takes most of my lifetime. So if I struggle at first, I need to understand I probably need to undergo struggles because struggles bring me closer to God.

ACanthony, it will take ALL of your lifetime, not most. It is a lifelong process. That’s why God gives us a lifetime on earth. A whole lifetime is what most of us need for our conversion. Be patient as God is patient with us. You may not see changes from day-to-day, but when you look back a couple years from now, you will see your progress. Remember, being Catholic is a relationship with God. Relationships develop over time, by patiently learning more about the other. Relationships don’t just hit their highpoint in one day. It’s a process. A lifelong process.

 

[ACanthony]

Yes, I guess it is a lifelong process I guess my point of this post in the first place was to have a little more focus to start my day in hopes that I’d be a better Catholic, but am I correct in saying that there’s tons of things we must do as Catholics and we really can’t be focused on one thing? Like we have to love ourselves, others, God, be patient, help the needy, etc. so to focus on one thing or have one mantra would be kind of limiting? What exactly is our goal as Catholics anyways? Specifically I mean, is it just to have a close relationship with God? Follow Christ? Love others? Is it all of these?

 

[RosaryFan]

Yes, I guess it is a lifelong process I guess my point of this post in the first place was to have a little more focus to start my day in hopes that I’d be a better Catholic, but am I correct in saying that there’s tons of things we must do as Catholics and we really can’t be focused on one thing? Like we have to love ourselves, others, God, be patient, help the needy, etc. so to focus on one thing or have one mantra would be kind of limiting? What exactly is our goal as Catholics anyways? Specifically I mean, is it just to have a close relationship with God? Follow Christ? Love others? Is it all of these?

It is all of these. Like Jesus said: “Love God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as yourself”. But these are not daunting tasks. It all comes naturally if you receive the graces necessary from Jesus through the sacraments. Jesus gave us the sacraments to help us along our journey. Through the sacraments, we receive strength and grace to easily live as we are supposed to live. Jesus knows we cannot do this on our own, so He has given us the 7 sacraments. Just trust in Jesus, pray for grace and strength and utilize the sacraments as much as possible, including reconciliation (people tend to want to forget about that one). Frequent reception of the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) is a great source of strength and grace! I wish you all the best!