Imagine that in one meal, you consume all the calories you need for the entire day; now transfer this idea to your spiritual life. Occasionally, this is not a problem, but if it becomes a habit, you may lose the ability to fully appreciate these acts of piety. You would not be able to be fully attentive or live them with the same intensity as if you spread them throughout the day.
Parents, with their schedules full of extracurricular activities, medical appointments, and household chores, run the risk of concentrating all their spiritual practices in a single time of day. It is understandable that sometimes there is no other option with small children, but this approach can have some limitations, similar to eating once a day. While it can occasionally work, if it becomes the norm, we risk devaluing these acts of devotion and not living them with the attention and intensity they deserve.
Benefits of distributing the activities of piety
Frequency and regularity in our spiritual activities allow us to go deeper into them and better appreciate what they bring to our daily lives. If we do several practices of piety at once, we are likely to fall into a routine and do them automatically. In addition, we could become spiritually exhausted, without the energy necessary to face subsequent challenges. Although we know that perfection can be the enemy of good, during this Lent we could try to distribute our practices of piety throughout the day, from morning to night. In this way, they will become a cable that keeps us connected to God’s plans.
Continuous offerings
Beginning the day with an offering of works is like opening the door to a day full of blessings. Mid-morning, if the day has become complicated, we can reorient it by praying the Angelus, asking our Mother to guide us and give us peace in the midst of difficulties.
- The Holy Rosary: Finding a time in the day to pray the Holy Rosary, entrusting our family, is a powerful defense. By this practice, we protect our loved ones better than by any other measure.
- The Holy Mass: Attending the Holy Mass gives our day a sense of eternity. It is an opportunity to worship the Lord, thank Him for His blessings, make amends for our mistakes, and allow our prayers to reach God the Father.
- Organize and delegate: Distributing our standards of piety throughout the day helps us maintain spiritual balance. With this organization, we can regain peace or fill ourselves with patience to face the challenges of the day. Placing our spiritual goals strategically ensures that we have the necessary energy throughout the day. Why not allow God’s grace to permeate every moment of our day?
