Rules for a Christian Life

“In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin.”—(Eccles. vii. 40.)

PRAYER.

O LORD GOD, my Creator and Redeemer, grant that during my mortal pilgrimage through this life, I may so order my conduct, and the tenor of all my actions, that I may be under Thy divine protection, and be ever influenced by Thy grace. Preserve me from sin, to which my evil nature is so prone; support me in temptation, or I must inevitably fall; succour me in all my spiritual necessities, as I have need of Thy assistance; pour down Thy graces upon me, for without these, I must always be found frail and weak. O, my Divine Redeemer, protect and preserve me, point out Thy true way in all my wanderings, through this sinful and deceitful life; conduct me hereafter to the inheritance of Thy elect. May I advance each day in the paths of virtue; may I gain new victories over my passions; may faith confirm me in Thy doctrine; may hope animate me to labour for the kingdom of life eternal; and may charity characterize my conduct in my relations with Thee and all mankind. I renounce the world and its false pleasures, the devil and his temptations, I declare war against concupiscence, sensuality, pride, and all my other rebellious passions. I am resolved, with the help of Thy divine grace, to regulate my thoughts, words, actions, according to those rules I have here laid down for my guidance. Thou knowest, O Lord, my good intentions, but Thou likewise seest my frail nature and erring disposition; therefore, have that compassion for me, which a child of Adam requires. When I am about to faint through languor, support me with Thy assistance; when wearied in travelling through this passage of death, bear me still onwards in the paths of everlasting life; when about to be overcome by temptation, draw me to Thyself in consideration of Thy mercies and benefits to me; when struggling against the torrent of my unruly passions, stretch out Thy arm and save me from a spiritual shipwreck. Keep my course and actions within those rules of life I here propose to follow. They are not capriciously adopted by me, O Lord, but they are maxims whereby Thou desirest our lives should be restrained. I will endeavour, as much as I possibly can, to have them constantly within my recollection, that I may square my life and actions by them, and regulate my conduct according to these wholesome restrictions.

RULES.

RULE I.—Watch over all your actions with the greatest circumspection, lest the enemy take advantage of your remissness, and tempt you to sin. It is far easier to prevent his first approaches than to dislodge him, when he has once taken possession of your heart. “Watch ye,” says Christ, “and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.”—(Matt. xxvi. 41.)

RULE II.—If at any time you be so unhappy as to fall into mortal sin, you must repent sincerely for it, by making an act of perfect contrition. Humble your soul before God, whilst considering your frailty, and beg that by His grace He would enable you to persevere for the future in His love and service. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.” (1 John, i. 9.)

RULE III.—Avoid as much as possible venial imperfections, because they often lead to greater sins. “He that contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little.”—(Eccles. xix. 1.)

RULE IV.—Shun all profane places and all dangerous company. If obliged, through worldly business, to frequent the former, or to hold intercourse with the latter, at least, do not allow your actions to be contaminated by the force of bad associations, example, or habits. If possible, keep away from these temptations, and let your delay never exceed the performance of that necessary business on which you are employed. “He that loveth danger shall perish in it.”—(Eccles. iii. 27.)

RULE V.—Every morning, when you awake or rise from bed, let your first act be to address yourself to God in fervent and humble prayer. Make a resolution to avoid sin and the occasions of it, and to practise some virtue each day. Beg of God His assistance to put these resolutions into practice, and to bestow His graces upon you, that you may walk securely in His presence, whilst performing the ordinary actions of your state in life. “Therefore I say unto you, all things whatsoever you ask, when ye pray, believe that you shall receive, and they shall come unto you.”—(Mark, xi. 24.)

RULE VI.—Set apart some portion of the day for devotion, as it is necessary to have God on our side when the devil makes his assaults. “For every one that asketh receiveth.”—(Luke, xi. 10.)

RULE VII.—Offer up all your actions to God, and beseech Him to pour a blessing on each undertaking before you begin its performance. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you do, do all for the glory of God.”—(1 Cor. x. 31.)

RULE VIII.—Take care to avoid a slothful life, since it is a maxim, that he who learns to do nothing, will soon learn to do worse. It is from idleness, that indevotion, tepidity, and lukewarmness in the service of God, chiefly spring. Hence, sloth is numbered amongst the capital sins, and it is the source of many other evil dispositions. “Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently.”—(Jer. xlviii. 10.)

RULE IX.—If possible, hear mass each day, for God bestows His choicest blessings on those who assist devoutly at this holy sacrifice. The Lord says, “Where there are two or three gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them.”—(Matt. xviii. 20.)

RULE X.—Every morning read a chapter from some pious or instructive book, and meditate on its subject occasionally during your works of the day. Endeavour to perform the necessary duties it prescribes, and avoid all the evil which it forbids. The books which may be recommended for this purpose are, “Bohours’ Pious Reflections for every day in the month,” “Challoner’s Meditations,” “Gahan’s Sermons,” “Kempis’ Imitation of Christ,” “Gother’s Instructions on the Epistles and Gospels of the year,” “Hay’s Sincere or Devout Christian,” the devotional works of Father Faber, &c. These books contain instructions for Christians of all classes and avocations. They should therefore be found on the shelves of every Catholic library. In these works, the Gospel maxims will be found reduced to method and to a practical form. It is by the Gospel we should regulate our conduct. For Christ saith, “Every one, therefore, that heareth these My words and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock.”—(Matt. vii. 24.)

RULE XI.—During the day, practice various acts of mortification and self-denial, that so you may be able to keep down pride and self-love. It is inconceivable, in how many ways, these pious practices can be performed, and at each time rendered acceptable to God. You may either deny yourself certain meats, of which you are fond, limit at your meals the usual quantity of food, deny yourselves certain pleasures or enjoyments; restrain vain expenditure in dress, avoid slothful indulgence, idle company and conversation, &c. Offer these little sacrifices to God with an humble spirit, and beseech Him, that He would be graciously pleased to accept them, in union with the merits of His Son Jesus Christ. Unless for the sake of giving good example, take care to avoid the observation of others in performing these pious practices, in order that humility may be exercised. It is always the delight of truly virtuous and humble persons, to serve God without ostentation, for by such secrecy, the reward must be great in proportion. This course is of like consequence, in giving alms, engaging in prayer, and in other spiritual exercises. “Take heed,” says Christ, “that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in heaven.”—(Matt. vi. 1.)

RULE XII.—It would be exceedingly profitable to meditate each day on the sufferings and love of our Redeemer for us, as such considerations are apt to inflame our love towards Him. Propose to follow His steps in the various trying afflictions of this life; learn humility by His meek example; patience by the adversities which He encountered; and that love which we should bear Him, by the sufferings and sacrifices which He endured for us. It is true, we can only follow Him at an humble distance, but more than we are able to do, He will not require from us. “He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also to walk even as He walked.” (1 John ii. 6.)

RULE XIII.—Give alms according to your ability, and relieve those suffering members of Christ, the poor and afflicted. “Give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” (Mark x. 21.)

RULE XIV.—Pray frequently to your Guardian Angel, to your patron saint, and to the Blessed Virgin, in particular, that they may intercede for you before the throne of grace: for the saints present our prayers to God, and are heard in our behalf. “The prayers of the saints ascended up before God, from the hand of the angel.” (Apocal. viii. 4.)

RULE XV.—Pray daily for the repose of the faithful souls departed. If through your prayers they are relieved from the prison of purgatory, they will not fail hereafter to pray for their benefactors on earth. “It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” (2 Macab. xii. 46.)

RULE XVI.—Read select passages from Lives of the Saints each day, that so you may be acquainted with the effective measures they took to restrain their predominant passions. Thus you will be armed with resolutions and remedies for the reformation of your own life. Perhaps no other practice will be productive of so much spiritual advantage, if performed with a proper intention. We must not only know the lives and actions of renowned saints, but endeavour also to imitate them. It is not only possible, but easy, to aspire to the most exalted sanctity, if the endeavour be seriously made. By aiming at such perfection, we shall hear some day that consoling sentence: “Come, you blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.” (Matt. xxv. 34.)

RULE XVII.—Before you retire to rest for the night, pray earnestly to God that He may take you under His holy protection, and preserve you from all snares of the devil. After your evening prayers, repeat ejaculations while you are undressing or preparing for sleep. Say often with the prophet: “My soul hath desired Thee in the night.” (Isai. xxvi. 9.)

RULE XVIII.—Before you compose yourself to sleep, think on death, of which night and sleep are images. If in mortal sin, perhaps these words of the gospel may be applicable to you before morning: “Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee.” (Luke xii. 20.)

RULE XIX.—Make a daily examination of conscience before you retire to bed, recalling in sorrow of soul a recollection of the many ways wherein you may have offended God, during the course of the day. Make an act of perfect contrition for such sins, beseeching the Lord to blot out all your iniquities, and resolve to avoid these offences for the future. Say some prayers or do some other act of penance in satisfaction for them. At the end of the week make a weekly examination, at the end of the month a monthly one, and at the year’s end take a general review of past annual delinquencies. It is good to make this a certain practice, as it enables us to have our sins constantly before our mind, and it always excites a wholesome fear for them. “Confess, therefore, your sins.” (James v. 16.)

RULE XX.—It is of essential importance, that you regularly frequent the sacraments of Penance and the Blessed Eucharist, at least once a month, and take particular care that you receive them worthily. It is not the frequent reception of sacraments, but the worthy manner in which they are received, that especially confers grace on him who receives. “But let a man prove himself; and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.” (1 Cor. xi. 28, 29.)

RULE XXI.—On Sundays and holydays redouble your prayers, austerities, and pious exercises. If possible, attend at Vespers, Morning Prayers, Devotions, &c. in the church or chapel. Spend a considerable portion of your time in the house of God. You are bound under pain of mortal sin to hear one Mass on each of those days, when able to attend; but if you can piously hear more Masses than one, you will derive great spiritual profit by so doing. Do not engage in any corporal works, except those of great necessity, such as dressing meals, providing necessaries for the day, &c. “Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.” (Exod. xx. 8.)

RULE XXII.—In your outward appearance and demeanour, endeavour to be more than usually circumspect: do not give way to unbecoming levity. But let this be apparent, particularly when in company with those of a different sex. Without adopting this as a rule of conduct, we may often give occasion of scandal and bad example to our fellow-creatures. Let us endeavour, as far as possible, to discountenance all bad actions, and approve only of those which are good, so that by these means, we will not only secure our own spiritual interests, but confer advantages and blessings on society. God has denounced severe judgments upon those who will not give edification to their fellow mortals. “Woe to that man by whom scandal cometh.” (Matt. xviii. 7.)

RULE XXIII.—When about to choose a sphere of life to engage in, if possible adopt that which will allow you most liberty for attending to the affairs of your salvation, and to your spiritual improvement. “Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto life everlasting.” (Jude i. 21.)

RULE XXIV.—The foregoing instructions are connected with duties of different stations in life, according to the sacred writings; and each Christian can form for himself certain practical resolutions founded on these directions or precepts.

“In all thy works, aim at perfection.” (Eccles. xxxiii. 23.)