In the pursuit of spiritual growth, it quickly becomes clear that to become holy, one must increase in virtue. This idea can seem vague and largely unattainable because we continue to see our weaknesses and faults rise to the surface of our lives. We have difficulty gaining and sustaining virtue when we are faced with the normal frustrations of daily life. But God does not require what we cannot attain. Obedience to Our Lord’s command to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” comes down to our faithfulness to specific acts of intention infused with God’s grace to bring about real and lasting change.
Let’s consider what the Church teaches about how to grow in virtue and holiness, the foundation of virtue in grace, and the role of prayer and devotion to Jesus and Mary. Our spiritual growth is a journey that unfolds as we open ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit and take practical, prayerful steps to overcome sin and choose the good.
Prayer and the Role of Grace in Virtue
Grace is the cornerstone of the Catholic life. It is a gift freely given by God, enabling us to respond to His divine call and to live according to His will. It makes possible what would be impossible for us alone. It elevates us, bringing us into the life of God’s supernatural love. Without this grace, we lack the necessary foundation to grow in virtue.
Christ made it clear throughout His earthly ministry that our lives would be a struggle. We are involved in a cosmic battle against our sinful tendencies and the powers and principalities that seek to separate us from our eternal destiny with God. While we must persevere in this battle to grow in holiness, it is ultimately through God’s grace that we are endowed with the virtues that bring us to union with Him.
Prayer opens us to the outpouring of this divine grace. Along with the Sacraments, prayer is a conduit through which God pours into us His transforming power. The Catholic Church teaches that prayer is indispensable in the spiritual life because first, it renders to God what is due Him from His creatures. It is expressing gratitude, but also the knocking, the seeking, and the asking that acknowledges our need for God and grants us favor with Him. In addition, prayer is the common and continual method for individuals to draw down the grace of God into their lives and into the world. Indeed, it is a command to every follower of Jesus that we pray and that we do so without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). We need God’s grace every moment to live a life of virtue in the face of ongoing temptations by the evil one who “prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” Satan does not want us to grow in virtue, for as we do, his power is diminished in our lives and on the earth.
There are many ways to pray, vocally and mentally. The Church provides us with myriad formal vocal prayers through Scripture, the Liturgy of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and also from the Fathers, Doctors, saints, and popes of the Church. These prayers have a prescripted format that can be read or memorized, begun in the morning, and repeated throughout the day. The key to vital vocal prayer, and indeed all prayer, is attention and devotion.
Mental prayer is more personal. It can be minimally vocal but is usually thought of as silent prayer, meditating on one of God’s truths, or speaking to Him from our hearts in a quiet space. Mental prayer may be more difficult for us to practice due to the work it takes to set aside this uninterrupted time to focus on quiet spiritual thought in God’s presence. But this prayer is indispensable to the spiritual life, yielding abundant fruit as confirmed by the saints.
While developing a morning and evening routine for daily prayers is necessary for consistent growth in virtue, it’s also important to nurture the life of God within us throughout the day while attending to the duties of our state of life. Saint Paul exhorts us to pray without ceasing and the saints throughout the ages have given us two powerful tools to live this exhortation, the practice of recollection and prayerful aspirations.
Recollection and Prayerful Aspirations
Saint Alphonsus Liguori taught that remaining in constant communication with God maintains us in a state of grace that will transform our souls. Recollection and prayerful aspirations go hand in hand to achieve this continual connection to the life of God.
Recollection of God’s presence is a powerful spiritual practice that cultivates virtue by fostering an attitude of humble recognition that we are always seen by God. This recognition gives rise to aspirations, short structured prayers, or reminders that can be whispered or recited throughout the day, such as “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.” The aspirations also serve to keep us recollected and therefore, both of these prayerful practices nurture one another.
Many saints have testified to the power of recollection in keeping them from sin. And the Psalms are filled with passages relating this truth, that when the one who prays considers the watchful eye of God, he is blessed with God’s protection from the evil one and will not succumb to temptation. By keeping God always in mind, we align our actions closer to His will, advancing in virtue, deepening our relationship with Him, and reaching that transforming union spoken of by St. Alphonsus.
It is important to remember that our efforts to remain united with God throughout our day can be significantly strengthened by invoking Mary’s intercession. St. Louis-Marie De Montfort, in his work The Secret of Mary, reminds us that turning to Mary frequently throughout the day ensures that the soul remains anchored in divine grace, even amidst life’s distractions and trials. He explains that it is the Blessed Mother who will make the work of spiritual growth smoother and more secure. And that through Her Immaculate Heart we gain the surest path to the Heart of Jesus, Her Son. Let’s take a quick look at the power of Devotion to Jesus through Mary.
The Devotion to Jesus through Mary
Many saints have attested to the truth that at the heart of personal sanctity is a profound devotion to Jesus through Mary, His Mother. Because of the complete surrender of Mary to God’s will in her fiat, Jesus entered the world through union with Her. At the moment of His conception by the Holy Spirit Jesus joined Himself to Mary, and God the Son subjected Himself to The Blessed Virgin’s will with full confidence that Her will would always mirror the will of God.
Saint Bernadine of Sienna writes, “From the moment that Mary consented, to become the Mother of the Eternal Word, she merited the title of Queen of the world and all creatures. . . . If Jesus is the King of the whole world, Mary is also Queen of the whole world: therefore, all creatures who serve God ought also to serve Mary; for all angels and men, and all things that are in Heaven and on earth being subject to the dominion of God, are also subject to the dominion of the glorious Virgin.”
Saint Bernard believed, “God wills that we should receive nothing that does not come through the hand of Mary”
For those who go to Mary for assistance, Her position as the Mother of God, the Queen Mother, grants her the privilege of obtaining from the Divine Trinity all that She desires. And Our Lady wants nothing more than for Her children to grow in sanctity. Therefore a deep devotion to Mary is essential for growth in virtue. Keeping her feast days, praying the Rosary, and meditating on her virtues aligns us with Her Heart and secures Her good favor.
However, we may go further in this devotion, choosing to consecrate ourselves to Jesus through Mary. This is a total surrender to God’s will, conformity to the life of Jesus, and entrustment of all that we are and hope to be to Mary’s maternal care. Saint Louis Marie De Montfort speaks of this consecration in The Secret of Mary and True Devotion to Mary where he expounds on the sanctifying grace that flows from uniting ourselves to Jesus through Mary. Saint Maximillian Kolbe in his work Total Consecration elucidates the sweet and secure blessings of this consecration. “The more you belong to [Mary], the greater will be the work of sanctification which She accomplishes in you.”
This grace obtained for us by Our Lady will reframe our understanding of daily challenges as opportunities to align ourselves more closely with Jesus and Mary and will have a profound impact on our journey toward virtue. When we consecrate our actions and intentions to them, we find that every part of our life becomes permeated with the grace necessary for spiritual progress and holiness.
Fervor and Purity of Intention
Virtuous actions require more than just the act itself; they demand fervor and purity of intention to be meritorious. Fervor in action is akin to igniting a flame of love within our hearts – a flame nurtured through daily prayer and sacrifice. Purity of intention purges our actions from self-love and makes them pleasing to God. Our daily duties, no matter how mundane, can be transformed into acts of worship when performed with the fire of love and a conscious intention to glorify God. The saints have frequently underscored that it is not the magnitude of our deeds but the love with which we perform them that God values most.
Saint Theresa of Calcutta is well known for saying, “Not all of us can do great things; but we can do small things with great love.”
Saint Paul reminds us, “Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (I Corinthians 16:13-14)
And again, “. . . whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)
It is in the daily deeds of a Christian performed with fervor and purity of intention that we give glory and honor to God, and the faithful acceptance of the small crosses of our daily routines is the greatest sign of growth in virtue. This is like a little reflection of Our Lady’s fiat, for it is a path that readily presents itself a thousand times a day offering us the opportunity to say “yes” to Our Lord and His will. By embracing our daily crosses with love and a spirit of sacrifice, we can unite our sufferings with those of Christ and Our Mother of Sorrows, deepening our union with them, growing in their holiness, and ultimately participating in the redemptive work of salvation.
The Particular Examination of Conscience
Maintaining fervor and purity of intention does not come easily. As mentioned previously, there is always a battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The particular examination of conscience, as given to us by Saint Ignatius Loyola, helps identify areas of spiritual laxity and rekindles the fervor needed for a wholehearted pursuit of virtue. This practice provides us the opportunity to confront our vices with a systematic plan to honestly assess and intentionally subdue them.
The particular examination of conscience involves focusing on specific areas of struggle and making concrete resolutions to overcome them. It’s a way to measure progress and cultivate true contrition for our faults. St. Ignatius taught that we should reflect at midday and in the evening on our actions, stirring up sorrow for our faults, and resolving to avoid future sin. This embodiment of the true penitential spirit is crucial for advancing in virtue and purifying our intention. It is not enough to remember our faults we must be truly sorry for them and resolve with God’s assistance to overcome them.
We begin during morning prayer by considering how we perform spiritual exercises, what our habitual temptations are, and the purity of intention in which we perform ordinary actions. Are we fully present to the task or the person at hand, or does our mind wander to other things? Do we focus on our duties with fervency and love or do we rush through certain tasks to get on to something more pleasant? We should begin by choosing one vice that we struggle with, so as not to become overwhelmed.
For instance, taking the vice of habitual hurrying, possibly always running late – this is related to impatience or impetuosity. We might make a resolution to move calmly, not to speed while driving, and to take a moment of reflection before acting or speaking. Every time we meet with temptation recognize it as an opportunity to turn toward Our Lord and pray an aspiration for help and grace.
We revisit this resolution at noon, making note of any infractions and either giving thanks to God for victory or confessing failure and purposing to do better in the afternoon. Keep in mind that these resolutions must be steeped in prayer, asking Our Lady, our guardian angel, and the saints to help us. It’s important not to determine to overcome our vices by our own strength. The enemy is stronger than our will and he knows how to prey upon our weakness. We must have God’s grace to be victorious.
In the evening, we review our progress, examining where and how we succeeded or failed and spending time in prayer for guidance and renewal. By examining our conscience twice a day, we can see our actions in light of the resolution set from the morning meditation. Keeping the commitment limited to half a day fosters greater focus and motivation. Once we start to see the benefits of this attentive examination we will look forward to including this practice in our daily routine.
We can use the particular examen to cultivate virtues as well. Focusing on the virtue of which we are most in need, we can make a resolution to practice it more throughout the day. Keep in mind that as we eradicate our defects, not just outwardly, but from the heart, we will naturally grow in the opposite virtue. And as we practice a particular virtue with God’s grace, we will begin to see the opposite vice diminish.
Creating Structure for Virtue
An Intentional Catholic Life should include a structured plan, which serves as a framework within which one can pursue spiritual growth. Order and virtue are almost synonymous. God dwells in order and peace, while the evil one dwells in chaos and discord. Thus, it’s important to have a general plan of life and a certain order for your day to grow in virtue. By structuring our days around prayer, work, recreation, and rest, we align our lives more closely with God’s intentions for us. Such a regimen is not simply about routine; it is a purposeful organization of our time that allows for consistent progress in the spiritual life, echoing the monastic tradition of “ora et labora” (prayer and work).
The first step in establishing order is rising promptly in the morning. We should be setting a specific time to wake up every day, make our morning offering with thanksgiving, and consider the fault or virtue to be worked on that day. This turns our first thoughts to God, giving ourselves and our day to Him. Do we arise at the sound of the alarm and give ourselves to God in the morning? Or do we hit the snooze button and roll over for a few more minutes? When we begin our morning by staying in bed, we are giving in to the flesh and its comforts. This sets us up to give the rest of our day to spiritual sloth.
“The Devil once declared that if he could have the first moment of the day, he was sure of all the rest.”
― St. John Vianney
We can see from the above quote why the devil creates a thousand hindrances to our morning routine of arising promptly to give Our Lord the first moments of our day. We should let nothing keep us from being faithful to this goal because morning graces will preserve us from falling prey to many temptations throughout the day.
Next, we should make a plan to keep our spiritual life in order. Establish a set time for formal prayers morning and evening at least, and perhaps a brief prayer like the Angelus at midday. Many Catholic faithful pray the Angelus at 6, noon, and 6 honoring a centuries-old prayer tradition that brings the plan of salvation front and center throughout the day. It calls to mind the inextricable link between our Lord and Our Lady in the story of Redemption. This simple practice is very powerful for keeping the enemy of our souls at bay.
We should set a certain time each day for spiritual reading as well. Studying the spiritual life deepens our understanding of holiness and the virtues, providing a compass to guide us on our journey. It’s also important to create a space of at least 15 minutes a day in which to meditate upon truths or convictions revealed in our reading. This meditation is referred to as mental prayer, which should be a regular part of our daily spiritual practice. Mental prayer is like a tap root, that by the water of the Word and the food of contemplation grows deeply into the mysteries of Christ.
“[H]is delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalms 1:2-3)
The saints tell us that mental prayer is so powerful in firmly establishing us in Christ and His Blessed Mother that the devil knows he has lost the souls who practice it.
In addition, If our state of life and situation will allow it, we can include Mass or a visit to the Blessed Sacrament in our daily routine. If this is not possible, we can schedule an extra Mass or two during the week and possibly a weekly Holy hour to meditate more deeply with Christ.
Finally, it’s good to establish a set time to go to bed every night after prayers and carefully make a particular examen, reviewing the day’s events and our progress in virtue or lack thereof. This reveals what we need to focus on the next day and what we need to confess. When we embark on the path of intentional spiritual growth, we should plan to go to Confession every two weeks or at least monthly. This keeps our souls clean and clear so we do not lose sight of our goal – that is Christ fully living in us.
Other ways to create structure include devotional practices as a family, such as reading the Bible together, praying before and after meals, and the family Rosary. The Rosary is both a verbal prayer and a meditation. A well-prayed Rosary carries indulgences and centers the family around the sacred lives of Jesus and Mary, providing a pattern of virtue to emulate and drawing down graces for each one according to their need.
The Holy Rosary as the Integration of Prayer and Virtue
The Holy Rosary is not only a prayer but a doorway to a comprehensive pattern of life that gives us a framework for the virtues of the Christian faith. Because this meditative prayer revolves around the contemplation of the life of Jesus and Mary, it integrates our desire to grow in holiness with the rhythm of prayerful reflection on their virtues. It guides us in walking the path that Jesus and Mary walked — one of obedience, humility, and love.
By meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, we immerse ourselves in the holy lives of Jesus and Mary. Each Hail Mary becomes an aspiration for grace and each decade a chapter in the story of a virtuous life. The Rosary offers a way to practice the recollection and aspiration so necessary for maintaining the presence of God in our lives.
Furthermore, as a prayer that binds us to Mary’s intercession, the Rosary wraps our endeavors toward virtue with potent spiritual protection and many promises of special assistance. Two of Our Lady’s 15 promises attached to the recitation of the Rosary are especially applicable to those seeking to conquer vice and grow in virtue.
Promises 3 and 4:
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell. It will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. The recitation of the Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish. It will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God. It will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
The third promise guarantees Mary’s special assistance and the great graces necessary to destroy vice, a safeguard for those who earnestly embrace the recitation of the Rosary.
The fourth promise assures us that the Rosary is an especially powerful means of sanctification. Mary’s role in the lives of those who devoutly pray the Rosary is dynamic and transformative. As we meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary and seek to imitate Jesus and Mary in their virtues, the graces obtained through its devout recitation bring about the fruition of these promises in our lives.
The Rosary thus stands as a bulwark against vice and a ladder to virtue. With Mary’s promises to give us courage, we have a clear path to withstand spiritual adversity and flourish in grace and holiness. Without a doubt the Rosary is a profound gift, offering a wellspring of graces to all who pray it with devotion and a sincere heart.
Gain the Prize
The life of virtue and holiness never accidentally happens. The world, the flesh, and the devil see to it that we are buffeted on every side when we desire to live as faithful Catholics. However, with God’s grace, it is attainable. By following these practices encouraged by the saints: we can achieve real growth in virtue and the spiritual excellence the Church venerates. Let us waste no time, but begin to apply these spiritual strategies, take up our crosses with charity, and run swiftly into the life of holiness, that we may gain the prize of eternal life! “[L]et us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, . . .” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
