What should a day in the life of a Catholic look like?

[TimothyH]

I do not have a vocation as I am my wife’s full-time caregiver as well as our daughter’s.

Everyone has a vocation. Every person has the vocation to be holy. Holiness is a decrease in sin and an increase in virtue. Everyone’s primary vocation is to holiness.

We all have secondary vocations to either 1) religious life, 2) Priesthood, 3) Matrimony or, 4) the generous single life.

Our tertiary vocation is to use the gifts and talents God has given us to better the world. We do this through careers, working in the home, interacting with other people, etc.

But everyone has a primary vocation to holiness.

-Tim-

 

[L_Marshall]

I’ve been trying to work myself into a personal horarium for awhile. I’ve succeeded in incorporating some elements, and I’m trying to inch into it more and more. This is what I would like my daily schedule to revolve around (times are approximate):
05:45 Rise
06:00 Morning Devotions (Angelus, Prayer to Guardian Angel, et c.)
07:00 Begin Holy Hour (incl. Lauds & Matins)
08:00 Mass
08:30 Post-Sacrifical Meditation
10:00 Terce
12:00 Angelus
13:00 Sext before Lunch
15:00 Divine Mercy Chaplet
16:00 Nones
17:00 Vespers before Dinner
18:00 Angelus, followed by Spiritual Reading
20:00 Compline (incl. Examination of Conscience)
21:45 Retire

 

[CB_Catholic]

What are fast days and abstinence days?

I am unable to fast from food because I am hypoglycemic.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/lent/catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence.cfm

This explains the fast and abstinence. I cannot fast either because I am a diabetic. Also, I am 65 years old and dispensed from it. However, I do abstain from meat on the proper days.

 

[TimothyH]

LoneGrey…

All of the examples given here are good.

I pray the Liturgy of the Hours in the morning, am an altar server and reader at Mass, I go to the monastery once in a while, try to go to confession weekly. I pick up my daughter from Catholic School every day at 3:00 and I try to get there 15 minutes early to spend a few moments in adoration or in front of the tabernacle - 3:00 PM is the traditional time of prayer from way back in the Old Testament. But that is my spirituality. Everything else suggested are other people’s practices and spirituality.

Trying to force yourself into a spirituality which is not your own will make you miserable. Don’t try to force yourself to be something you are not. There is nothing worse than the drudgery of a spirituality which is not yours.

Prayer is universal. It doesn’t have to be the Liturgy of the Hours or the Rosary. It can be those or something else. The sacraments are universal - frequent the sacraments. Stick to what is universal. Other than that, just read, look, listen, attend seminars, download spiritual talks, speak with other Catholics and let God take you where your heart belongs. Go to a Carmelite retreat, or to Jesuit center or to a monastery for retreat and follow your heart to Jesus.

-Tim-

 

[wendiek]

I had a thought - wouldn’t it be great if “cafeteria Catholic” actually meant picking and choosing from the many wonderful prayer, devotional and other spiritual practices we have in our Catholic toolbox? We are so blessed with our richly beautiful faith traditions.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

No typical day, but here is the advice given by a wonderful priest (ADVICE not REQUIREMENT):

1. 
   *]Morning Offering
   *]Spend a few minutes praying about the day ahead
   *]Attend daily Mass (our parish offers 3 morning Masses every weekday, not everyone has this blessing. Someone who is a full-time care-giver might find this too much of a burden.)
   *]Say the Jesus Prayer at moments of need
   *]Pray the rosary
   *]Read and reflect on a Bible passage (even just 5 minutes)
   *]Visit the Blessed Sacrament (again not something that is always easy or even possible)
   *]Evening reflection
   *]Night Prayer

 

[PJM]

=lonegreywolf20;11375350]I am curious as to what a day in the life Catholic looks like?

Is there something we should be following like a guide to what daily life looks like or is it what each Catholic decides to do?

Not talking about work, or going to Mass on Sundays, or Saturday Evenings, or Holy Days of obligation, I’m talking about the times in between. Are we supposed to pray at certain times during the day? Are we supposed to read our Bibles twice a day?

I am just curious as to how much it differs from non-Catholics and since I am just coming back to Catholicism, I want to do it right.

GREAT question [wish I’d of thought of it]

here are the Critical elements

Prayer at least 3 times a day: [minimum NOT maximum]
Upon wakeing

Mid-day

Exam of conscience and a prayer of gratitude before going to sleep

If time and circunstances permit:

Daily Mass and holy communion IF POSSIBLE

A Rosary daily [as a family IF possible]

Sacramental Confession monthly [or more if needed]

Works of charity when ever the opportunity arises

Spiritual reading at least 15 minutes EVERY day [if possible]

Keep in mind that GOD does judge our hearts and SINCERE efforts COUNT [even when we fail]

God BLESS YOU!
Patrick

 

[TimothyH]

GREAT question [wish I’d of thought of it]

here are the Critical elements

Prayer at least 3 times a day: [minimum NOT maximum]
Upon wakeing

Mid-day

Exam of conscience and a prayer of gratitude before going to sleep

If time and circunstances permit:

Daily Mass and holy communion IF POSSIBLE

A Rosary daily [as a family IF possible]

Sacramental Confession monthly [or more if needed]

Works of charity when ever the opportunity arises

Spiritual reading at least 15 minutes EVERY day [if possible]

Keep in mind that GOD does judge our hearts and SINCERE efforts COUNT [even when we fail]

God BLESS YOU!
Patrick

It is not right to tell someone that praying three times each day is critical. That is your spirituality, not theirs.

It is one thing to offer what works for you but it is wrong to tell someone that it is “critical” that they do the same. You are not their spiritual director.

-Tim-

 

[OraLabora]

I pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day. My schedule varies a bit depending on whether I work from home (2x per week), at the office in the city (3x per week) or if it’s the weekend.

Basically on weekdays:

Vigils (Office of Readings) upon rising (5:30 if working in the city, 7 if working from home)
Lectio divina after Vigils (something new I’m trying)
Lauds before leaving for work or before starting work
Terce either upon arrival at the office or mid-morning if working from home;
Sext every day just before lunch
None mid-afternoon
Vespers before dinner
Compline before bed.

Terce and None can be omitted if I have meetings or am overloaded with work.

Weekends are a little different depending on the season and planned activities. But I try to do at least the Vigils, Lauds, mid-day prayer, Vespers and Compline every day.

 

[PJM]

=TimothyH;11380340]It is not right to tell someone that praying three times each day is critical. That is your spirituality, not theirs.

It is one thing to offer what works for you but it is wrong to tell someone that it is “critical” that they do the same. You are not their spiritual director.

-Tim-

Hi Tim,

Under diffirent circumstances I MIGHT agree, BUT

Our friend lonewolf is struggling to become an Informed and fully practicing Catholic.

For such to both happen and then be maintianed; what I offered is the minimum effort; not the maximum. He is sincerly seeking “good advice” and it seems to me prudent to grant his request.

Luke.9: 23 "And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Frankly the idea that one can do less and accomplish LW’s goal seems to me at best: EXTREMELY unlikely.

God Bless you,
Patrick

 

[clem456]

I am curious as to what a day in the life Catholic looks like?

Is there something we should be following like a guide to what daily life looks like or is it what each Catholic decides to do?

Not talking about work, or going to Mass on Sundays, or Saturday Evenings, or Holy Days of obligation, I’m talking about the times in between. Are we supposed to pray at certain times during the day? Are we supposed to read our Bibles twice a day?

I am just curious as to how much it differs from non-Catholics and since I am just coming back to Catholicism, I want to do it right.

There is no right or wrong way to pray.
Other Christians may not have corporate prayer as the Catholic Church does, as a couple of the posters have outlined with the Liturgy of the Hours etc… The LOH is a great authentically Catholic prayer practice to get into. Lutherans may use it also??

In my life, work makes accomplishing the LOH next to impossible. It would be something I’d have to strive to accomplish, and I don’t like to pray under time pressure.

My prayer day looks like this
7am Read a chapter of Scripture, and meditate on it. I am reading the NT currently. Takes 20 minutes or so. My wife prays for about an hour next to me, we will frequently have great conversations during prayer.
I then focus on the day ahead and give it to God in 4 areas.
I say “God I give you this day in…
1.Complete abstinence from lust
2.Temperate use of all things… food, time, my opinion, etc… I give you all things that you have given me for your greater glory.
3.Joyful prayer, praise and thanksgiving
4.Generous attention to your people, may others recognize you in my eyes, and may I recognize you in the eyes of others.”

I intentionally “say” these things everyday. Intentionally doing something puts the day in focus for me.

9am noon, 3pm I say the daytime prayer from the breviary, and depending on the work conditions, sit and give my full attention to God. Frequently I will drift off into a 'zone" which is restorative for me.

10pm My wife and I say a prayer together, a spontaneous prayer of gratitude and supplication.
Then reading till sleep.
Adoration is great. It is silent usually, and an opportunity to just listen to God. I pray the rosary or Divine Mercy there and sometimes at home, but nowhere near as often as I could.

Listening to others and reading the lives of the saints has influenced my prayer life the most.
Praying intentionally is good, in other words, to have a specific routine you would like to enter into every day, and to prioritize the day around it. As opposed to drifting to prayer when the mood or need strikes you.

 

[M1Garand]

I pray several times a day but not in any specific form. I listen to “The Station of The Cross Radio” on my iphone. Sometimes I go to daily mass but not as much as I should. I try to suppress my baser desires but I am usually unsuccessful at it.

 

[M1Garand]

I guess when I read or hear vocation I think being paid money for a skill. I am not paid any income for staying home and taking care of my wife, so I did not think it to be a vocation.

You have the greatest vocation of all. You are married, a father and you are doing your duty as a man by taking care of your family.

 

[TimothyH]

Hi Tim,

Under diffirent circumstances I MIGHT agree, BUT

Our friend lonewolf is struggling to become an Informed and fully practicing Catholic.

For such to both happen and then be maintianed; what I offered is the minimum effort; not the maximum. He is sincerly seeking “good advice” and it seems to me prudent to grant his request.

Luke.9: 23 "And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Frankly the idea that one can do less and accomplish LW’s goal seems to me at best: EXTREMELY unlikely.

God Bless you,
Patrick

With all due respect Patrick, and I like your posts better than most others on CAF, you didn’t tell him to do less or more, you told him that it was critical that he prayed at the prayers that you pray at the times that you pray.

Maybe he would like to pray the rosary instead, or spend a half hour in adoration, or skip prayer on Tuesdays and walk down to the park at lunchtime and give his sandwich to a homeless man, or do lectio, or meditate in the morning instead.

Someone told my sister that she would never get through life without praying the rosary every day. The person who told her that was dead wrong because they knew nothing about my sister. We know nothing about the OP and shouldn’t force our prayer life on him.

-Tim-

 

[OraLabora]

With all due respect Patrick, and I like your posts better than most others on CAF, you didn’t tell him to do less or more, you told him that it was critical that he prayed at the prayers that you pray at the times that you pray.

Maybe he would like to pray the rosary instead, or spend a half hour in adoration, or skip prayer on Tuesdays and walk down to the park at lunchtime and give his sandwich to a homeless man, or do lectio, or meditate in the morning instead.

Someone told my sister that she would never get through life without praying the rosary every day. The person who told her that was dead wrong because they knew nothing about my sister. We know nothing about the OP and shouldn’t force our prayer life on him.

-Tim-

Tim I agree with you but I think it’s important to point out that in the monastic (and other Church traditions) prayer is a continuum, a continuous dialogue with God. Certainly, lectio, meditation, or a walk in the park whether to admire His creation or help a homeless person are prayer. Lectio is listening to God, meditation is contemplation, admiring creation is a form of adoration, and helping others is a active response to God in our dialogue with Him.

Even doing our job well as an offering to God is prayer.

Prayer viewed in this manner is not quantifiable. What is thus critical is not the number of Offices or Rosaries we say but whether we engage with God in a continuous dialogue. Traditional vocal or formulaic prayers are thus just a small subset of prayer regardless if you say them once or 7 times a day.

It’s one reason why I take exception with those who disparage the current LOTH for being too light instead of doing the whole psalter in a week. It’s not the point of the LOTH unless you’re a monastic. It’s not a numbers game, the LOTH should serve to engage us in dialogue with God, the quantity isn’t what matters, it’s the effect it has in engaging one with God and sparking one’s own inner transformation.

 

[PJM]

=TimothyH;11384003]With all due respect Patrick, and I like your posts better than most others on CAF, you didn’t tell him to do less or more, you told him that it was critical that he prayed at the prayers that you pray at the times that you pray.

Maybe he would like to pray the rosary instead, or spend a half hour in adoration, or skip prayer on Tuesdays and walk down to the park at lunchtime and give his sandwich to a homeless man, or do lectio, or meditate in the morning instead.

Someone told my sister that she would never get through life without praying the rosary every day. The person who told her that was dead wrong because they knew nothing about my sister. We know nothing about the OP and shouldn’t force our prayer life on him.

-Tim-

Tim if your point is type of "prayer not three times a day [minimum] we agree

God Bless you and PRAY MUCH!

And actually I do know a bit about the OP; he 's taking my FREE Course: BUILDING BLOCKS OF OUR CATHOLIC FAITH.

The POINT I was trying to meke is to STAY in the presnence of god throughout the day:thumbsup:

Patrick [PJM]

 

[DebbieLove]

Um, has anyone noticed that our dear friend lonegreywolf has stopped participating in this conversation?

We can all go back to doing our typical day and be done chronicling our typical day.

God bless,
Debbie

 

[lonegreywolf20]

Um, has anyone noticed that our dear friend lonegreywolf has stopped participating in this conversation?

We can all go back to doing our typical day and be done chronicling our typical day.

God bless,
Debbie

That’s only because I have been reading the comments and taking care of my wife and daughter.

I am going to take bits and pieces of what has been posted and adapt it to my life. I have already downloaded the “Laudate” android app on my phone to help me with the daily missals, etc…

 

[Tous_Logous]

I am curious as to what a day in the life Catholic looks like?

Is there something we should be following like a guide to what daily life looks like or is it what each Catholic decides to do?

Not talking about work, or going to Mass on Sundays, or Saturday Evenings, or Holy Days of obligation, I’m talking about the times in between. Are we supposed to pray at certain times during the day? Are we supposed to read our Bibles twice a day?

I am just curious as to how much it differs from non-Catholics and since I am just coming back to Catholicism, I want to do it right.

There’s no guide telling us laity to “do this” or “do that” when it comes to prayer life, I would think. But I strongly recommend that everyone incorporate something into their prayer life.

My schedule for example, changes week by week, month by month. Unfortunately, everything revolves around my work schedule. I hate the fact that I am surrounded by worldliness. I take it as a test of patience.

Generally, I try to pray the rosary (before work) 4 days out of the week. When I’m done praying the rosary, I make my petitions to God, whether I’m praying for myself, family members, or complete strangers. I also am invested in scapulars, so I say the scapular prayers to remind me of my devotion. When I put on my crucifix I usually say the “before a crucifix” prayer. On weekends, I might ask specific saints to pray for me or others I know. I also pray the St. Philomena chaplet once a week. Before I leave for work and before I leave work, I say a prayer to God to protect me and others when I’m driving (still getting over a fear of driving).

A couple days a week I try to read the Bible, but have fallen short on that. Now I’m lucky if I can even find the motivation to read the Bible one day per week. I am trying to think of a set schedule to where I force myself to do these things. I’m hoping to eventually attend Eucharistic Adoration once a week at my church, but that’s only if I get a new job. I want to try to start praying the Liturgy of the Hours a couple times a week. It’s so easy to get caught in worldliness and forget that our every waking minute should be time spent loving God.

You do what feels best for you. If you want to pray the rosary, pray the rosary. If you want to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, by all means do so. If you want to attend Eucharistic Adoration, go for it. If you want to spend one hour a day or week in total silence and prayer to God, do it. If you want to pray a novena for someone, do the prayer for 9 days. These are things which I should be doing and probably other Catholics as well.

 

[PJM]

=lonegreywolf20;11386636]That’s only because I have been reading the comments and taking care of my wife and daughter.

I am going to take bits and pieces of what has been posted and adapt it to my life. I have already downloaded the “Laudate” android app on my phone to help me with the daily missals, etc…

MY FRIEND,

Good and very good; but proceed slowly and always close to God:thumbsup: