Catholic Resolutions
Brandon Garnreiter
Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: Faith
We have a new number to write down on our papers, checks, and anything requiring a date, signifying it must be a new year! The start of every year brings about resolutions to exercise and lose weight, watch less television, or do something better for your daily life. However, we do not often hear of good Catholic practices for this time. Things that will help us further develop our relationships with God are not always on the top of our resolutions lists. Here are a few ideas to jump-start the thought process and work towards deepening your relationship with God.
Pray the Rosary
I know the rosary may seem daunting, especially if you are new to the practice, but it is a wonderful meditation that can truly deepen your love of God. The rosary is an incredible meditative tool that can be used to help refocus, and mentally examine the mysteries of our Lord. It can be incredibly helpful in prayer and devotion in learning about God. There are a number of free websites with instructions, and many Catholic churches have brochures to help. They lay out the prayers to be said and the particular mysteries to be prayed on specific days of the week.
Daily Mass
Sharing a meal with our Lord in the middle of the week can be one of the most satisfying experiences on campus. Both the 12:10 and 9:10 pm masses are incredibly welcoming and intimate. You have the chance to approach God and focus your week more fully on Him. Taking time out to go to mass even once a week other than Sunday can be such a revitalizing experience.
Regular Prayer Schedule
Developing a regular prayer schedule can be incredibly useful for college students. We are all incessantly busy, and frankly if it is not planned out, it does not seem to happen in the college world. If you build time into your schedule to pray, reflect on the day, share joys and challenges with God, important things will happen for you. A simple reflection in communion with the Lord is incredibly important and helpful for dealing with any and every situation that may arise throughout your day.
These are just a few of the innumerable suggestions for how to improve worship in your daily life. I encourage you to take these suggestions and run with them, making them your own. The beauty of prayer is that there are a myriad of ways to go about it, and it will always be best when you let God speak to your own unique needs and desires. Happy New Year, and may God bless you with strength and grace in your resolutions in this new year.
Brandon Garnreiter is a Junior at Gonzaga University.
Pray the Rosary
I know the rosary may seem daunting, especially if you are new to the practice, but it is a wonderful meditation that can truly deepen your love of God. The rosary is an incredible meditative tool that can be used to help refocus, and mentally examine the mysteries of our Lord. It can be incredibly helpful in prayer and devotion in learning about God. There are a number of free websites with instructions, and many Catholic churches have brochures to help. They lay out the prayers to be said and the particular mysteries to be prayed on specific days of the week.
Daily Mass
Sharing a meal with our Lord in the middle of the week can be one of the most satisfying experiences on campus. Both the 12:10 and 9:10 pm masses are incredibly welcoming and intimate. You have the chance to approach God and focus your week more fully on Him. Taking time out to go to mass even once a week other than Sunday can be such a revitalizing experience.
Regular Prayer Schedule
Developing a regular prayer schedule can be incredibly useful for college students. We are all incessantly busy, and frankly if it is not planned out, it does not seem to happen in the college world. If you build time into your schedule to pray, reflect on the day, share joys and challenges with God, important things will happen for you. A simple reflection in communion with the Lord is incredibly important and helpful for dealing with any and every situation that may arise throughout your day.
These are just a few of the innumerable suggestions for how to improve worship in your daily life. I encourage you to take these suggestions and run with them, making them your own. The beauty of prayer is that there are a myriad of ways to go about it, and it will always be best when you let God speak to your own unique needs and desires. Happy New Year, and may God bless you with strength and grace in your resolutions in this new year.
Brandon Garnreiter is a Junior at Gonzaga University.
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