God has provided, through the Church, all the tools we need to help us grow in our relationship with Christ. I hope you’ll seek out these gifts and apply them in your walk with the Lord. They’ll bring you encouragement and hope!
God’s Gifts to Us
The first gift is the Church herself. Christ instituted the Church and gave us Peter as His first vicar on earth to guide her. In Matthew 16:18, we read, “And I tell you Peter, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” Christ has given us assurance that we can rely on the magisterial teaching of the Church — through the pope and the bishops in union with him — to guide us on our faith journey.
The second gift is the liturgy, especially the Mass, in which we worship God and when the events that saved us are not only recalled, but made present in the Eucharist (Catechism 1104). The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments, which are Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony (Catechism 1113). I especially point to the Eucharist and Penance as powerful ways we can continue to grow in our relationship with Christ, as we are encouraged to participate in these frequently.
We’ve also been given God’s word through Sacred Scripture. Here we have the story of salvation history and God’s blueprint for how to have a fulfilling life.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides a compendium of what we believe as Catholics and why. We also have an abundance of testimony and teaching from the saints — spiritual giants who have already “walked the walk.” I encourage you to develop a solid reading list and take advantage of these treasures.
Prayer is an essential part of your faith journey as well. It’s simply “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (Catechism 2559). Our faith offers many forms of prayer, including the liturgy, the rosary, and personal prayer. All of these bring us to a closer relationship with God, so I encourage you to develop an active prayer life.
Finally, what a special gift we have received in Mary, our Blessed Mother! While on the Cross, Jesus spoke to Mary and His beloved disciple John when He said, “Woman, behold your son!” and (to John) “Behold, your mother” (Jn 19:27). As the Mother of Christ and the Mother of the Church, Mary has a special advocacy role to play for all of us with her Son. I encourage you to develop your love for Mary and ask her to help you grow closer to Jesus. That is her desire!
A Daily Spiritual Plan
So how can we get our arms around these gifts and apply them in our lives so that they make a difference in our walk with the Lord? How do we keep God first amidst all of our daily responsibilities and “to-do” lists? Time and commitment are key ingredients to any successful relationship, and our relationship with the Lord is no different. Here are some practical suggestions to help you apply these gifts in your daily life. I call this a daily spiritual plan, and I encourage you to make it your own.
• Dedicate each day to our Lord upon rising with a morning offering.
• Read the Bible, the Catechism, and the writings of the saints for 10 or 15 minutes each day.
• Attend Mass daily if possible. If not Mass, perhaps a brief visit to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
• Pray the Angelus at midday.
• Pray a mystery (or more!) of the rosary in honor of the Blessed Virgin each day.
• Complete a five-minute review, or examination of conscience, of your day upon going to bed.
• Make a weekly holy hour (Eucharistic adoration).
• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation every two weeks.
For a more complete examination of holiness and how one can grow in it, I highly recommend that you read Introduction to the Devout Life.
The Steward’s Prayer
It’s through the sacramental life that we’re able to deepen our relationships with the Lord, and these steps offer a time-tested path for the journey. Here’s a prayer that captures the essence of what I’ve been sharing. I encourage you to take this prayer to heart as you begin this journey of stewardship and financial freedom.
Lord,
I give You thanks for creating me and redeeming me.
Keep me close to You during all my days.
Help me to remember that life on earth is short and the life to come eternal.
Grant me a generous spirit — may I love You well by loving others well.
Guide me to a wise use of the gifts You have entrusted to me — my time, my talents, and my treasure. May I use them for Your greater glory!
Divine Providence can provide.
Divine Providence did provide.
Divine Providence will provide.
Amen.
My hope is that you embrace your call to be a faithful steward of the gifts God has given you. With that life-changing shift in attitude, you’re ready to continue on the journey to true financial freedom!
Phil Lenahan is Director of Media and Finance at Catholic Answers and author of Catholic Answers’ Guide to Family Finances. If you have a question you would like Phil to address, contact him at plenahan@catholic.com.
This article originally appeared in the National Catholic Register and is used by permission of the author.
Photo courtesy of Pavel Chichikov. Pavel's poetry is featured in Catholic Exchange's poetry channel. He is also an accomplished photographer. Click here for more information.
