By Roy Rasmussen | For On Mission
As Catholics, we believe Jesus rose from death to life and is alive forever. But is he alive in your daily life or does your daily grind distract you from him?
Bishop David Ricken has invited us to “enkindle and renew the fire of eucharistic devotion,” according to his pastoral letter, “Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist,” by adopting five simple, yet profound, practices he calls Five Alive:
- Mass attendance
- Lectio divina Scripture meditation
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Confession (reconciliation)
- Rosary
These devotions feed our spiritual life, bringing us closer to Jesus, the Bread of Life, by pointing us to him in the Eucharist. Here’s how to put them into practice and where to find resources to help live them out.
Mass
If you’re not already attending Sunday Mass, make a confession and resume attendance to start reviving your spiritual life. But for spiritual growth, we must approach Mass as an opportunity, not just an obligation.
“We should approach our obligation to attend Mass each Sunday as uniting our life with Christ’s sacrifice, for it is a foretaste of the freedom we hope for forever in heaven,” said Fr. Michael French of the Fathers of Mercy (CPM), one of the priests stationed at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion.
“One of the beautiful aspects of the Mass is the invitation to lay our cares on the altar,” said shrine rector Fr. Tony Stevens, CPM. “If we believe that he changes bread and wine into his body and blood, do we trust in his plan for our life? We exercise our faith when we leave those cares on the altar, and we don’t drag them along with us when we leave the church.”
If you’re already attending Sunday Mass, consider attending weekday Masses, and focus on improving your quality of attendance in the following ways:
- Prepare by examining your conscience, attending confession if you’re conscious of mortal sin, and abstaining from food and drink for an hour.
- Read the daily Scriptures beforehand.
- Offer up a prayer intention.
- Stay focused by observing silence, turning off cellphones and listening closely. Receive the Eucharist reverently.
- Spend time digesting the Eucharist in silence, listening to the Lord within you.
The Diocese of Green Bay has 169 parishes offering Mass. You can find Mass times through parish bulletins or the diocese’s “Find a Mass” directory here: https://www.gbdioc.org/worship-jesus/find-a-mass/.
Lectio divina
Like Mass readings, Lectio divina (Latin for “divine reading”) helps us hear God speaking through Scripture.
“Lectio divina is a great opportunity to let the Word of God take deeper root in our heart,” said Fr. Stevens.
It includes four steps:
- Lectio (reading): Reading a passage slowly.
- Meditatio (reflection): Meditating on the passage by imagining yourself in it.
- Oratio (response): Praying for God to reveal what he wants you to hear.
- Contemplatio (rest): Quietly allowing God to speak to you.
You can find Scripture readings on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Daily Readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.
Eucharistic Adoration
In the Eucharist, we see, touch and taste Jesus. In Adoration, we continue seeing and listening to him as we rest in his presence, just as St. John laid on his breast at the Last Supper and Mary of Bethany sat at his feet.
You can find parishes in the Diocese of Green Bay offering Eucharistic Adoration here: https://gbvocations.org/eucharistic-adoration.
Some parishes, such as SS. Peter and Paul in Green Bay, offer Perpetual Adoration. The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion offers Adoration every afternoon.
Confession
While the Eucharist nourishes our spirit like food, confession heals spiritual wounds like medicine. Don’t be afraid to go to confession.
“It is a trick of the devil to make us think, ‘Once I don’t commit that sin anymore, then I’ll take it to confession,'” said Fr. Stevens. “No! Seek the Lord’s mercy in confession, confident in his love and forgiveness.”
To make a good confession, examine your conscience, make an Act of Contrition, tell the priest how long it’s been since your last confession and what mortal sins you’ve remembered since then, and do your penance. Keep it simple.
As Fr. Frenchl said, “Sins! Since?”
If you’re looking for confession times, the diocese has a link to help you “Find a Confessor” here: https://www.gbdioc.org/worship-jesus/find-a-confessor/.
Most parishes offer confession at least once a week or by appointment. The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion offers confession daily.
Rosary
The rosary deepens other devotions by helping us see Scripture and key events in the life of Jesus through the eyes of Mary, his mother, as we invoke her help.
Fr. French calls the rosary “the prayer of champions.”
Praying the rosary daily will grow your faith immeasurably. Many parishes pray rosary before Mass.
The Rosary Society at St. Mary Parish in Algoma has been fostering devotion to the rosary since 1870, recently distributing the Ascension publication “How to Pray a Better Rosary,” which can be found here: https://ascensionpress.com/products/how-to-pray-a-better-rosary.
Feed Your Faith with Five Alive
The Five Alive practices grow your individual faith and, when we practice them as a community, we help each other grow as the body of Christ in the diocese. Get involved practicing Five Alive with your parish to feed your faith.