Tips on writing a Rule of Life for oneself

[Joysong]

My bad habits and failings can take me to the place of humility as almost nothing else can, and since humility is the foundation of all virtue, I embrace them. “Oh happy fault”. The fear can immediately click into place - but if I embrace my faults and failings and not despise them, they will grow stronger. Rather I have found that if I embrace, they loose power. Perhaps this is what St. Paul meant “in my weakness, I am strong” - a quote that I still ponder over.

This was a very helpful reminder, Barb – humility and patience are born out of our weaknesses.

One way at times I deal with my computer addiction that can come and go is to put a timer on near the computer and when that rings its time to come off the computer, like it or not.

You are much stronger than I am, Barb. The only thing that works for me is cold turkey. Remember the dream I shared about “scrubbing toilets”? I found myself repeating the same useless task again in a very disturbing thread. Will I ever learn? Ah, humilty and patience …

 

[Barzillai]

The Catholic Truth Society has a PDF booklet on writing a personal Rule of life consisting of these sections:

Personal Rule of Life:

1. Mass
2. Prayer
3. Where to start in prayer
4. Devotions
5. Confession or Reconciliation
6. Fasting, self-denial and abstinence
7. Bible reading, spiritual reading and study
8. Almsgiving
9. Retreats, days of recollection
10. Service
11. Spiritual direction

The booklet can be downloaded for free or the booklet may be purchased here from Catholic Truth Society.

Note: on the page to purchase the booklet there are three other booklets about “how to live a Christian life amidst the business of every day.”

And here is the classic Rule of St. Benedict, the ancient Rule for monastics – it can be an inspiration for any Personal Rule of Life.

 

[Joysong]

Hi John,

That was very thoughtful of you to send the CTS help in forming a rule of life. Thanks very much. I did read it and was impressed by these closing paragraphs:

Make a beginningAll that you have read so far may seem daunting and even off-putting, but remember that you are probably doing many of these things already and in any case they are guidelines, not hard and fast instructions.
[This is true, that much of it I am already doing. But for someone new who might feel inspired to try this, the helps are wonderful!]

30 Write out your Rule, sign and date it and be sure to review it from time to time, at least once a year. Circumstances change in all kinds of ways. Ask God to help you keep it generously.

Remember it is not a sin to break your Rule (unless it is a rule of the Church) and there are times when it is right to break it. What God asks for is our love and so a well-kept Rule means* not just one where we can tick what we have done*, but one where we are keeping it in the right spirit.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Thank you for the download link, Barzillai…

Joysong:

You are much stronger than I am, Barb. The only thing that works for me is cold turkey. Remember the dream I shared about “scrubbing toilets”? I found myself repeating the same useless task again in a very disturbing thread. Will I ever learn? Ah, humilty and patience …

I had to smile at the “stronger” comment, Carole!
Sometimes I need to use the cold turky tool too. A recent thread I got involved in (not the “Hell” thread - a more recent thread) I managed to take myself out of and I know if I go back for even a quick peek, I will be hooked into it again, so cold turkey is the order of the day and to stay away from it as much as I am urged to have a peek and see what has unfolded.
I learnt the fatality of the “peek” I think with giving up smoking, that one smoke after months of not smoking, can bring one undone. I learnt this with my previous attempt to kick the nicotine - 7 months not smoking and that one smoke took me right back to chain smoking again. Now I am 22months off them again…and still feel as if I have kicked my best friend out.
So for me, its sometimes the alarm, sometimes cold turkey. Sometimes miserable failure!!! Sometimes that treadmill of try, fail, try, fail, try, fail. …and a time when perseverance really gets a big workout.

Blessings and Peace with my regards, Carole…Barb