Many start the New Year with good intentions and resolutions, hopefully including some spiritual resolutions.

Viewing life from the ultimate perspective, we realize this life is only temporary and that God and eternal life deserve to be our highest priority. Assuming we have already decided to follow Jesus, are trying to do God’s will and to avoid sin… then what next?

Besides obeying God’s commands, going to Mass, and receiving the sacraments, what can we do in our daily life that leads to a deeper relationship and union with God? The short answer to that question is prayer and spiritual reading.

Our spiritual life is very important and deserves to have some time dedicated to it each day. One way to do this is to have a “rule of life“. Below is an example:

A Simple Rule of Life

The following was put together from some suggestions by Fr. Christopher La Rocca, OCD.

Besides participating in the sacrifice of the Mass on Sundays and Holydays (and daily Mass if possible), here is a suggestion on a simple way to order your day to include prayer:

1. Begin your day with a Morning Offering to offer the day to God. You can use a formal prayer as the link suggests and/or pray in your own words.

2. Live in the presence of God during the day by calling to mind that God is always with you and lift up your mind and heart to God during the day. (For further information online read The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection.)

3. Meditate on the Word of God in the Bible. One way to do this is to choose a Scripture quote to meditate on during the day, for example, something that stands out to you from the Readings for Daily Mass listed on the U.S. Catholic bishops website at usccb.org.

4. Pray before meals in your own words or use a traditional prayer such as this link from catholic.org website.

5. End the day with prayer and a General Examination of Conscience such as from the EWTN website by Fr. John Hardon, S.J.

If all this is a bit much to incorporate into your life all at once, then start small and add more of these elements over time.

For more information on how to pray and have a deeper union with God consider the Seeking Union with God Online Personal Spiritual Formation Program.