BODE: Four holy habits for a new Year of Grace

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