6 daily habits to strengthen spiritual resilience

Jesuit priest John O’Brien shared six essential daily habits to deepen your spiritual life.

“If we want to know and love Jesus, we must spend quality time with Him, and that must be daily. It is a lifelong job, but we start today,” said the religious when disseminating the recommendations in the website of the Jesuits of Canada.

He adds that habits should be adopted gradually because “we are works in progress. They should become a priority, but add them little by little.”

The priest clarified that he did not include Sacraments, such as the Eucharist or Confession, in his list of daily habits because “you are supposed to practice reconciliation regularly.” However, he stressed that these sacraments are “by far the most important practices that lead to spiritual resilience.”

1. Morning prayer

Father O’Brien noted that “morning and night are the pillars of our day, two ‘mystical moments’, in which we are, in some way, closer to God.”

One of the prayers most recommended by the Jesuit priest is the Morning Prayer, “a fundamental act of trusting in his power and care, asking him—since God waits patiently for us to ask him—to receive us as we are and do fruitful all aspects of our day.”

The following are two of the morning prayers suggested by Fr. O’Brien:

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

I offer you all my prayers, work, joys and sufferings of this day,

in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass offered throughout the world,

in reparation for my sins,

for the intentions of your Sacred Heart,

and for the intentions of the Holy Father for this month.

Amen.

Padre,

I abandon myself in your hands; do with me what you want.

Whatever you want to do, I thank you;

I am willing to do anything, I accept everything.

May only your will be done in me,

and in all your creatures.

I wish no more than this, Lord.

Into your hands I entrust my soul;

I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,

because I love you, Lord,

and I need to give myself,

abandon me in your hands,

without reservations,

and with unlimited confidence,

because you are my Father.

Amen.

2. Pray with the Scriptures

The second habit Father O’Brien suggests is “spending time praying with Scripture.” According to the Jesuit priest, “first listen to hear the Word that is spoken. Then, enter the conversation by saying the Word you have heard.”

As a guide in this practice, he recommends the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, Lectio Divina and Ignatian meditation, among others.

In addition, he gives four considerations for carrying out this exercise: 1. Preparation for prayer: “Choose the Scripture with which you are going to pray and have it ready.” 2. Place: “Look for a space where you can be alone and free to respond.” 3. Posture: “Let it be comfortable, but alert, in harmony between body and spirit.” 4. Presence of God: “Be aware of His presence and recognize Him.”

3. Contemplate something beautiful

The priest reflects on the importance of being aware of the environment and notes that, “as human society moves away from the truth and goodness rooted in the worship of Christ, a certain banality is revealed.”

“The encounter with the good, the true and the beautiful is, therefore, an encounter with the footprints of God,” the text states.

Deliberately contemplating nature, art, poetry or music can be transformative since, according to Father O’Brien, “the encounter with beauty helps counteract what numbs and is surprisingly restorative for the soul.”

4. “The good deed of the day”

The priest uses the Boy Scout term “Good Turn” to refer to the commitment to perform a “good deed” each day. He explained that by constantly maintaining this attitude and his “prominent intention, the opportunity will present itself. Soon, it will become second nature.”

Good deeds, according to Father O’Brien, can range from larger commitments, such as “social service in your parish,” “helping at a soup kitchen or shelter,” or “participating in a Bible study,” to everyday gestures, such as “mow an elderly neighbor’s lawn,” “help a classmate or sibling with homework,” “take relatives to appointments,” or “volunteer to wash the dishes.”

5. Spiritual reading

Father O’Brien stated that many saints “have been formed thanks to the practice of spiritual reading.” He recommends dedicating a few minutes a day to this habit, since its value “does not lie in the quantity, but in the delight obtained.”

For this reason, “it is recommended to spend ten minutes, although this may vary depending on the person, disposition, and nature of the book. The key is commitment, and the steady drip of spiritual reading over time will lead to the transformation you seek. At the end there is also a list of good titles.”

6. The afternoon exam

Father O’Brien concludes by recommending taking 5 to 10 minutes at the end of the day to examine one’s conscience.

It says it “increases awareness of the originary impulses (spirits, both good and bad) behind my attitudes, thoughts and actions, so that I can better discern them in the future and order my life toward God.”

To help in this process, he proposes a five-step model: 1. Thank God for the benefits received, identifying some.” 2. “Ask God for the grace to know my sins and reject them.” 3. “Ask my soul for a balance of the day, hour by hour (or place by place) since my last exam.” 4. “Commit my sins to God and ask for forgiveness.” 5. “Resolve to do things better, with God’s help, and look to the future with hope.”