The young man's guide/XIV. A RULE OF LIFE
XIV. A Rule of Life
"He that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved"
I. DAILY Conduct. — Have a fixed hour for rising in the morning; bless yourself with holy water, and as soon as possible after your toilet recite devoutly your morning prayers. During the day make at least a short meditation or a spiritual reading. It is commendable to read daily from the "Lives of the Saints." Hear Mass; make a visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. If you can not go to church, make your visit and adoration at home, turning toward the nearest tabernacle and receiving holy communion spiritually. Recite the Angelus; say the beads. In the evening examine your conscience and recite your evening prayers.
2. Confession and Communion. — Receive the holy sacraments frequently — once a week or, certainly, once a month. Go as often as you can to holy communion, with the advice of your spiritual director. When you commit any sin, make an act of contrition immediately and resolve to amend; if it is a mortal sin, confess it as soon as possible.
3. Occasions of Sin. — Avoid idleness, bad companions, low theaters and public balls, immoral books, sensational newspapers, salacious literature, foolish novels and romances, games of chance, and every occasion of sin. In temptations, bless yourself, invoke the most holy names of Jesus and Mary, and think of death. "He that loveth danger shall perish ii it."
4. Sundays. — "Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day." Be not satisfied with hearing a Low Mass on Sundays. Hear sermons as often as possible, and listen attentively to the word of God. No matter how poor an orator a priest may be, no matter how plain his language or how unattractive bis delivery, remember that he is the representative of Christ, and that you can always find in every sermon sufficient matter for reflection and application to your own life and circumstances. Faithfully attend the meetings of the Sodality or Young Men's Society, and never absent yourself unnecessarily from afternoon or evening services and benediction.
5. Pious Practices. — Keep yourself in the presence of God. Accustom yourself to saying short ejaculatory and indulgenced prayers. Keep a crucifix, holy pictures, and holy water in your room. Carry your beads with you. Wear a scapular, and a medal of the Immaculate Conception. Support your parish priest and your parish church in all good works. Help the poor and the orphans according to your means. Frequently think of death and eternity.
6. Blessed Virgin Mary. — If you love Jesus, you will love and honor His blessed Mother. Be most devout to her and daily perform some acts of piety in her honor. A pious Servant of Mary will erect a home altar in honor of the heavenly Queen and Mother of God before which he will recite his prayers. On our Lady's feast-days he will place an offering of fresh flowers on this altar. Hear Mass and receive holy communion on the great feasts of the Blessed Virgin. Daily renew your act of consecration and say the Mentor are for a happy death. Cultivate her virtues, especially purity, modesty, meekness, humility, charity, patience, resignation to the will of God and devotedness to duty.
7. Retreat. — Make a spiritual retreat once a year.
8. Spiritual Communion. — An act of spiritual communion like the following should be made frequently, and especially at Mass. "My Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present in the holy Sacrament of the Altar. I adore Thee. I praise Thee and thank Thee for all Thy blessings. I am sorry that I have offended Thee by my sins. By this act I wish to make reparation to Thee for all the insults and injuries committed against Thee in the sacrament of Thy love. I love Thee with my whole heart. Come to my poor soul; unite Thyself to me. . + . . I thank Thee, my good Jesus. Oh! never, never leave me. Let me not be separated from thee by sin."
9. In the Hour of Death. — When you are dying, make acts of contrition and of love. Pronounce the sweet and holy name of "Jesus."
In life and in death, praise and be submissive to the holy will of God.
Strive to become a saint For "this is the will of God, your sanctification."
"The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years; as a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the sand — so are a few years compared to eternity" — Eccles. xviii. 26.
"Now to the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen" — 1 Tim. i. 17.