Any advice on the liturgical and
spiritual life for a confused convert layman? – such was the burden of an email
I received this morning. Now, as a confused convert layman myself, I will dare
to tender such advice as I may have to give; though I am very conscious that in
doing so I may not be very helpful at all, at least thinking about this
question has reminded me to lift my own game and try harder. After all, as St Augustine notes, if we
do not ever strive harder, we begin to fall backward. The way to heaven is narrow, though it is a sure way, for
Christ is our Way, our truth, our life.
First, “where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is liberty” and again, “For freedom Christ hath set us
free”. Therefore as regards the spiritual
life, there ought be a great spirit of Christian freedom, but of course guided
by the Holy Ghost “into all truth”, that “Christ may be all in all”. Remember, sin is mean and repetitive
and numbing and enslaving – while grace gives the power freely to do all manner
of good things, just as the Spirit suggests to true, free, Christian men.
Hence, when a layman considers
what steps he may take when seeking how better to live a spiritual and
liturgical life, he must be guided in his counsels by the virtue of prudence
(his baptized mind being secretly enlightened by the Holy Ghost, of
course). When doing so, he will
happily and freely conform himself to the wise guidance of Holy Mother Church –
particularly in the matter of liturgical worship. But of course there are many Rites throughout the Church,
and within the one Roman Rite, the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms…
That said, I can only speak from
my own experience, and recommend what seems to me sensible – let readers draw
from it whatsoever may help them, being guided by the Spirit to wisely discern
what is useful. Hence, I must
begin at last to make suggestions, explaining that, while at University, in a
first flush of convert enthusiasm, I drew up a list of religious exercises to
undertake, from which I draw what I am writing now. Any such a rule of life provides a useful reference whereby
to measure one’s fidelity to prayer – certainly each man should compose his
own, wisely and prudently.
It goes without saying, of
course, that first and foremost one must strive to live a moral life: every man
must ever attend to that duty, and hie him to the confessional when he fail in
it, honestly and frankly telling all, and trusting in the priest to assist him with
ghostly counsel. (I recommend
frequent and regular confession: fortnightly or weekly.) But related to this is the need
seriously to reflect upon one’s behaviour, and more particularly at the close
of each day: this is the so-called examination of conscience, which is
undertaken, liturgically speaking, at Compline, just before saying the Confiteor (and likewise, though perhaps with not so much time
to reflect, at the outset of Mass).
Mention of Mass reminds me of an
adage I learnt long ago: “I will always be thankful for the Mass, and put the
Mass first in my life.” If only I
had ever heeded these words! The
Mass is Calvary made present, in all its power: at Mass we assist in offering
up the Sacrifice of the Divine Victim, “for all the living and the dead, / for
our poor lives so badly led”. As
the fruit of the Sacrifice we receive the Sacrament, His very Body and Blood,
uniting us to Him Who is the Food of life eternal. As if this were not enough,
at Mass one also hears the Scriptures read and sermons preached, commemorates
the saints, and lives out the liturgical year. It is indeed the “source and summit” of the spiritual and
liturgical life. Any pretended
devotional life that is not focussed on the Mass is vain.
Therefore, while of course always
attending Sunday Mass and Mass on Holy Days of Obligation, we should make a
serious effort, according to our state of life, our abilities and obligations,
to attend Mass also on weekdays, at least on the greater feasts and during
Lent. (I am aware that not every
Mass is so conducted as to be entirely and perfectly beautiful in its
revelation of its inner mysteries: let a choice be made, where possible, of the
most devout celebration thereof, that attendance may edify, not dishearten, the
congregant.)
I can testify to the blessings
accruing from frequent attendance at Mass. To arise early and attend Mass before
work (or better still, being able to sleep in and hear Mass after work!) really
does pay off. Quite apart from
anything else, to have a quiet half-hour or so to focus on the “one thing
necessary” is a blessing that very few in our manic age ever get. Never underestimate the good that comes
simply from such peaceful time in church with the Lord, in Holy Church
assembled.
After Mass, for such as wish to
conform their devotion to the Sacred Liturgy, comes recitation – or, better,
participation in the public celebration – of some portion of the Divine
Office. Prudence is required in
determining what is feasible and of spiritual benefit: for nothing is truly
beneficial if it interferes with the duties of our life, or is too difficult
given all the circumstances: so if saying the Office privately is difficult or
a strain, at least attend its solemn public celebration when offered.
Of course, all things being
equal, attendance at Vespers (and Benediction) is most uplifting (two saints as
different as St Ignatius and St Philip Neri agree on that); but likewise
privately praying some part or form of the Hours is essentially to pray the
Psalms, those divine compositions of the Holy Ghost whereby God praises Himself
and teaches us how to pray, oft-times setting before us the very sentiments of
Christ (as proven by the references He made to the Psalms, and the way the
Psalms are very often rightly understood as being His own meditations or
illustrations of His life, death and resurrection).
A truly lucky soul is he who
lives near a monastery, who can visit there and assist at the Office; but even
a man alone, reading some of the Breviary or Little Office or whatnot, is
participating in the liturgical worship of the Church. I have in the past lived where I could
participate in the Hours even daily, lucky me; nowadays, I sing and serve at
fortnightly Compline and Benediction – or sometimes, as on my recent weekend in
Sydney, attend solemn Vespers.
Some people find praying the
Office much easier than others, of course: and if this form of prayer seems
difficult and unhelpful, one should change to some other. But, given the email I received about
how to cultivate a liturgical and spiritual life, I assume that such as would
ask such a question will have some impulse toward use of the Divine Office or
Liturgy of the Hours. Learning how
is of course a more complex matter!
Given work commitments, I must
confess that at present I usually say Lauds, and that’s about it; when my
devotion and discipline have been stronger, I have been able to recite the Day
Hours of the Breviary; and in former times, when I prayed in English not Latin,
for some years I read the whole modern Divine Office daily, changing over eventually to the Roman Breviary
(but after all, I was a student, with plenty of time on my hands – what
Dominicans call “sacred leisure”).
[Selecting and buying a useful edition of the Office is another matter again: luckily, these days several forms are available online.]
If I were married, let alone had
children also, I suspect that I would have even less time to spare: but then
again, I know an older couple who have been Franciscan Tertiaries for many
years, and certainly say Vespers together every evening, if not more also. In any case, how good and pleasant a
thing it is dwell in unity, and to sing God’s praises: let each man determine
what he may be capable of in this respect, and strive with a glad heart to do
so.
Leaving aside the Office, let us
never forget to turn to Holy Mary: and at the least I would most strongly
recommend invoking her by saying the Angelus, a good, short devotion that contains
an abundance of treasures (as I once wrote about at some length on this
blog). If one is also able to say
the Rosary, then do so, Amen!
After all, to meditate on the life, death and resurrection of Christ,
and on the life of His Holy Mother, is surely a most excellent undertaking,
very meritorious and very fruitful.
As a priest I know (now Bishop of
Bathurst) insisted, devotion to Our Lady is not an optional add-on extra, but
an essential part of the Christian spiritual life – for did not Christ love His
Mother? And did not he commend us
all (in the person of the Beloved Disciple) to her, as he hung dying on the
Cross? Therefore ought we entrust
ourselves to the Blessed Virgin, for she is closest of all the Saints to her
Divine Son, and most intent upon aiding all those her children to come nigh
unto Him.
To other aspects of one’s day:
dedicate oneself, one’s life and labours to God, as by saying the Morning
Offering or any other such prayer, just as, at eventide, we should cast our eye
back over the day, examining our conscience and asking forgiveness for aught
done amiss. What the Morning
Offering? Simply the dedication of
all one’s thoughts, words, works and sufferings to God, through, with and in
Christ – with the attached intention to “gain every virtue and merit [and
indulgence] I can”, “in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout
the world”. For such as pray
Prime, the Collects Domine Deus omnipotens
and Dirigere et sanctificare
equate to this Offering (both being in fact indulgenced separately, even
to-day).
Whether we eat, whether we drink,
we ought do so to the glory of God, and begin with grace, that is, a prayer of
blessing, “for all things are sanctified by the word of God and prayer”, and
likewise end with thanksgiving, giving thanks, gratias agens. For
all is grace, as St Thérèse avers.
I still remember the late emeritus Archbishop of Hobart, Dr D’Arcy,
teaching me the short forms Benedictus benedicat (“May the Blessed One bless”) and Benedicto
benedicatur (“May the Blessed One be
blessed”) for grace before and after meals. In his immortal words, “Benedicere takes the dative”…
In sum, I suggest daily, inasmuch
as one can do so, to attend Mass, pray some part of the Office, say the Rosary
and the Angelus, say grace before and after meals, start the day with the
Morning Offering, and end it with an examination of conscience.
Pepper one’s devotions also with
whatsoever other prayers appeal: I could suggest all manner of such, but for
brevity merely refer to making Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity and Contrition (the
latter in particular whenever conscious of sin), lifting one’s heart and mind
to God in short aspirations (“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”), and saying the De
profundis daily for the dead – plus the Miserere for one’s sins. Worship the Sacred Heart! Invoke one’s patron saint! Say litanies!
Meditate!
******
The danger with giving advice is
that one doesn’t know when to stop.
But I feel I must also offer the following counsel: one must feed one’s
faith, and not be an adult with but a childish grasp of sacred doctrine – yet one must also remain childlike in one’s absolute faith in God. Hence, spiritual reading is most necessary – by which I
refer to all sorts of reading about true orthodox religion: reading the Bible,
reliable works of theology suited to one’s comprehension, spiritual writings,
saints’ lives… St Philip Neri in
particular recommended that his penitents hear many sermons and read many
accounts of the lives of the saints.
There are good Catholic
periodicals that one can subscribe to also. And of course there are any number of worthy blogs, ahem, to
ever read for one’s spiritual profit…
But beware, and flee like the
plague, bad books! St Alphonsus
tells us that one bad book can ruin a monastery: how terrible it is, then, if
an innocent layman should take up a heterodox tract, and have his mind
polluted. Having a strong grasp of
the faith includes having the sense to fly heresy, and not to tolerate it even
for an instant.
******
On Fridays, do penance (pray, give
alms, abstain from fleshmeat) – in England and Wales, the traditional
discipline has been restored, but those in other countries (such as Australia)
can choose for themselves, always remembering that the responsibility to do
penance is not light, even according to modern Canon Law: I would certainly
confess it as a sin if I omitted to do so on Friday. How convenient, then, to make sure one customarily goes to
Confession on Saturday (the usual day priests make themselves available to hear
confessions).
If possible, find a congenial
prayer group to attend: for “it is not good for man to be alone”. It is hard indeed to live a Christian
life in this scoffing age; we all need to support each other in our life of
faith.
Once a year or more, strive to
make a retreat, or in some other way to intensify one’s spiritual life. For instance, I have walked the
Christus Rex pilgrimage from Ballarat to Bendigo for a few years now (while the
Paris to Chartres proved a little too taxing for poor old me). Unfortunately, I haven’t made a proper
retreat for too long…
Finally, in all these matters,
find if at all possible a wise and trustworthy priest to consult. I am but a confused convert layman
myself, after all.
