For some Catholics, carrying the reverence, faith, and grace they feel during Sunday Mass with them into their busy weeks can prove difficult. The peace and beauty of the Mass is a welcome respite from the pace and distortions of life in the modern world. However, a respite is all that it is for many Catholics who lead stressful lives. They cling to that one hour on a Sunday morning as one would to a life raft adrift in a raging sea of noise, distractions, temptations, and darkness. Once Monday rolls around, they tread water the best that they can until the raft drifts back into view the following week. So, the question becomes: what bridges the gap between the lives we live for an hour each Sunday at Mass and the lives we live for the rest of the week?
One of the most powerful tools the Catholic can employ is the regular practice of personal pieties. These devotions can carry the Mass far past Sunday morning and deep into the week. They can be used by the faithful not only to re-center their days on Christ but also to tap into the peace and faith of the Mass. The Catechism clearly encourages the practice of personal piety, provided it is grounded in Church teaching and the Church’s liturgical life (CCC 1674-176).
When used properly, personal pieties are invaluable. These personal devotions should never take the place of regular Mass attendance and the reception of the Sacraments. But they should not be shied away from or discounted for their spiritual efficacy.
Unfortunately, the nature of modern life in the West dictates that our priorities don’t normally focus on our prayer and spiritual wellbeing, and ultimately the final destinations of our souls. This is ironic, as through all of the noise and distractions, the fragility of life is always before us.
Whether it is in our own lives and the people we know or through endless media, our senses are inundated with images and stories dealing with death. We are acutely aware of the fact that tomorrow is never guaranteed, and therefore, we ought to be mindful of the decisions we make today.
Still, some do not explore the world of personal devotion as a means to shore up spiritual health in the same manner as they would when it comes to researching vitamins, motivational podcasts, and gym memberships. While the physical and mental health of individuals is obviously important, if not considered as important, the spirit can be damaged, and the very source of our lives, Christ, becomes a distant, periodic voice rather than a constant conversation partner.
Devotions, according to the Catechism, should “extend the liturgical life…not replace it” (CCC 1675). Personal devotions can help ensure our Mass attendance and reverence in prayer by being those little motivators that point us to the bigger picture. While we cannot simply say a Rosary instead of attending Mass on a Sunday when the weather is particularly adversarial or when we stayed up too late binging a streaming series the night before, we can rely on the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, different devotions to saints, prayer routines, etc., to strengthen our resolve to attend Mass regardless of the weather or our lack of sleep.
Personal pieties, practiced with the express intention of bringing us into a deeper relationship with Christ and the Sacramental life of the Church, should always point to the Eucharist and Mass attendance as the ultimate form of devotion.
Imagine a scenario where you are more excited for Sunday morning than you are for Friday night. It may seem impossible, but with firm reliance on the divine and our personal pieties as conduits for grace and strength, it is not only possible but almost guaranteed.
The devotions we choose to take on ought to fit where we are in our lives most practically. For some, it is impossible to take on certain devotions that require time that they simply do not have. For others, physical limitations might be a major concern as to what they can realistically take on. The first step is to examine where we are and, from there, discern a reasonable expectation to place upon ourselves.
Whatever personal pieties we decide to take on, consistency ought to be paramount. For that reason, taking on too much right away may not be the best course of action for some. It is better to adopt devotions that we can express faithfully and practice routinely than it is to attempt more arduous spiritual therapies and programs that come with periodic bursts of zeal and then eventually fade away.
The entire purpose of taking on a personal devotion is to enhance our faith lives and spur us on to spiritual perseverance. Not to frustrate us and lead to possible feelings of shame and guilt if we do not live up to the expectations that we have placed on ourselves.
Along with consistency, we must understand that there will be days that, due to any number of reasons, we may not be able to perform our devotions fully, or in a manner that we have prescribed. Those instances must be met with patience and a resolve to carry on the next day with an even stronger desire to bring glory to God through our actions and prayers.
It can be too easy, at times, to pull away from the devotions and practices we place on ourselves due to a sense of guilt or shame born from the times when we fall short. However, it is in those moments that Christ calls to us in the sweetest, mildest ways. It requires a quiet heart to hear Him and to allow Him to wipe away our false notions of ourselves and replace them with a desire to love Him in a manner that shores up our faith in what we are capable of.
Whatever we decide to take on as personal pieties should be something that we look forward to and enjoy. Anything that we do that enhances our experience of the divine is to be celebrated and cherished.
After practicing our devotions faithfully, we will see the fruits of the Spirit more clearly in our lives. The world becomes quieter. Mass becomes even more precious to us. Christ, His Mother, and His saints get deeply involved in our lives because we have personally opened the door to our hearts and invited them in. We give Him the time He deserves in our lives throughout the course of our weeks, months, and years. We strive to grow closer to Him in our devotions as a means to ensure an eternal life with Him.
The saints didn’t become holy by Sunday Mass alone, but by cultivating a constant relationship with God through daily practices. We need to do the same.
Photo by Anuja Tilj on Unsplash
