"...I will show you the way
to heaven."

The Seven Daily Habits
of Holy Apostolic People

A few weeks ago, I came across an article by a Fr. McCloskey on www.catholicity.com entitled "The Seven Daily Habits of Holy Apostolic People. "

It’s a spin–off of the popular Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  The operative word here is ‘daily’.  The following habits are to be done on a daily basis.  Take a look and see what you may already be doing.  If you want to be a holy, apostolic person these daily habits will put you on that path.  By the way, this article was written for you, the laity.  Holiness is not for a select few, or only for priests and nuns.  Your goal as well as mine is to become ‘holy’, or in other words, a “saint!”

1. Make a morning offering—a formal or informal prayer placing your entire day into God’s hands for His glory.

2. 15 minutes in silent prayer—a little QT with JC!

3. 15 minutes of spiritual reading—the Scriptures      or a book on the Lives of the Saints is a great place to start.

4. Daily Mass—Give us this day our daily ‘spiritual’ bread.

5. Pray the Angelus at Noon—Don’t forget your spiritual Mom!

6. Pray the Rosary—a must for any Catholic.

7. Examination of Conscience—a good way to end the day.  Make an Act of Gratitude for the good you did and an Act of Contrition for the good you failed to do.

Pope Benedict XVI Declares
“Year for Priests”

In March, Pope Benedict announced a special year to celebrate the Holy Priesthood from June 19, 2009—June 19, 2010.  What is of special note is that it centers around the 150^th anniversary of the death of St. John Marie Vianney, our very own patron saint!  Pope Benedict says, “The centrality of Christ brings with it the correct appreciation of the ministerial priesthood, without which there would be neither the Eucharist, nor even the mission nor the Church herself.”

To find out more, check out www.usccb.org and click on the icon “Year for Priests.”

St. John Vianney, pray for us and all priests!

Fr. John Blum