Ed Bode, a member of Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City, adapted the following suggestions he received from Catholic parishes in Janesville, Wisconsin:
Increase your personal holiness. Practice FOUR Holy Habits:
Sundays
- Attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation
- Receive the Eucharist worthily
- Make Sunday special; spend time with family, serving, praying, enjoying holy leisure
- Attend a weekday Mass; worthily receive the Eucharist
Pray daily
- Pray before and after all meals
- Spend at least 15 minutes in private prayer
- Read a Catholic Bible; begin with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
- Apply the messages to yourself for personal responses
- Pray the Rosary; vary the Mysteries; apply the messages
- Pray in a Eucharistic Adoration chapel; respond to Jesus
Friday penance
- Make every Friday a day of penance
- Do not eat meat, or make some other sacrifice to remember the crucifixion of our Savior, Jesus Christ
Monthly confession
- Before going to bed, make an examination of conscience
- Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation worthily at least monthly