Dominica XVII post Pentecosten - Spiritual Life (Plan of Life)

LESSON: The need for a rule of life

Two weeks ago we looked at the first external means necessary for growth in holiness, Spiritual Direction. We examined the necessity of Spiritual Direction, and it is necessary baring a special grace from God, then we looked at how to find a spiritual director, and perhaps more importantly, how not to find one.

At this point I know you’ve all made contact with at least one possible candidate for a spiritual director, since I know you all take your spiritual lives seriously, and don’t put it on the back burner behind worldly concerns.

So today, we move on to the second external means for growth in holiness, a plan of life. You may have heard this particular discipline go by several names. Other than ‘plan of life’ you might hear it called a ‘rule of life’, a ‘plan of formation’, ‘norms of piety’, or any number of other monikers. This second means is actually contingent on the first, because a proper plan of life should be made in consultation with your spiritual director.

Those who live in religious life follow a rule, usually set down by the founder of the community, for the lay person, a rule of life functions in a similar way, acting like a compass that helps us to stay on the right path, and make good use of one of the most precious gifts that God has given to us, time.

Let’s consider first the person who lives without a rule. He hesitates often as to what the is best thing to do. He spends time deliberating what duties he should perform, and when one seems as equally valid as another, “Should I mow the lawn or work on that presentation? I have 15 minutes now, should I get some prayer time in, or save it until later in the day?” Without a proper perspective on the use of his time, the person without a rule is often led by curiosity, pleasure, or vanity.

Without a rule, it often occurs that he neglects certain duties because he hasn’t allotted time for everything he needs to do, and when something unforeseen comes up, he doesn’t know which of his commitments to forego to address the situation, and often the first thing to go is prayer.

With a proper and well rounded rule of life, all of these questions are answered instantly and effortlessly.

ILLUSTRATION: The usefulness of a rule of life

Turning then to the person with the rule of life, he waists no time in hesitation, he knows exactly what he has to do and when he has to do it. Even if his schedule is not detailed down to the minute (not every rule of life requires such rigour), nevertheless, a good rule of life will set down time-periods, and lay down principles with regard to religious exercises, recreation, work, and other activities.

Secondly, for the person with a good rule of life, very little is unforeseen, because even if something unusual does occur, a good rule of life has already determined what exercises may be shortened or skipped altogether, as well as the manner of making up for them.

Thirdly, a good rule of life works against inconstancy, by prescribing what I am to do every day, and at certain times of the day. The person with a rule of life begins to build up habits of work and prayer which create a continuity and assure perseverance.

But these are just the practical aspects. We’re talking about the spiritual life, so let’s take a look at the supernatural benefits.

A good rule of life enables us to supernaturalize all of our actions, and we accomplish this in two ways. First, it creates a frameworks to daily live obedience, and this virtue adds merit to everything we do, even the most mundane chore. Following a rule made in consultation with our spiritual director means that we are being obedient to him every day, even though we may only see him once a month.

Following a rule also means that we are living God’s will for us at every moment. Even if I’m just vacuuming the house, if that is done in accord with my rule of life, then it is holy work. Faithfulness to our rule has a real educative value. Instead of following our whims and living in disorder, duty and strength are built up as a consequence of living an ordered life. Our will begins to submit to God in all things, and our passions yield to the will, restoring us to our proper state.

Secondly, a rule of life infuses supernatural motives into all of our actions. There mere fact that we’re conquering our tastes and whims and putting order into our lives directs our actions to God. Additionally, a good rule of life allows time for a brief thought of God before all of our actions, giving them a supernatural intention. Thus we begin to consciously do everything out of love for God.

A good rule of life really is a program for sanctification.

APPLICATION: The qualities of a good rule of life

Having now seen both the necessity and usefulness of a good rule of life, what are some of the principles that we need to keep in mind when creating one (in consultation with a spiritual director)?

A good rule should be both flexible and firm to both sustain the will, and be adaptable to the circumstances of real life. It will have the necessary firmness if it fixes, at least in principle, the time for our spiritual exercises, the duties of our state in life, and the practice of virtue.

It will have the necessary flexibility if, once these have been determined it leaves enough freedom to change times when necessary, provide substitute practices for those not absolutely essential, provides for shortening certain practices when charity requires, and lays down a prioritization so that if we cannot fulfill all of our obligations we know which are more important than others.

Once we have made our rule of life, the next step is, of course, to live it. To truly be effective a rule of life must be lived in its entirety with punctuality. If we start picking and choosing from the various points of our rule without a reasonable cause then we lose the chief advantage of having a rule of life. Of course we must avoid scrupulosity in living out our rule, but we must also avoid laxity.

Our rule, to be effective, must also be lived punctually. If the appointed time comes for another activity, and I say to myself, “I’m making good progress on what I’m doing right now, I’ll keep going for another 10 or 15 minutes”, then I am putting my own will above the rule, and above obedience to God’s will.

Finally, a rule must be lived in a Christian manner, in other words, with supernatural motives. We have to remind ourselves, that we have a rule and we live a rule to overcome our own will, and submit ourselves to the will of God. We don’t follow our rule just out of blind duty, we do it because we love God, and want to draw closer to Him in every aspect of our lives.

This coming week, I urge you to continue your search for a spiritual director, if you have not already found one. If you already have a rule of life, take some time to look it over again and see if you’re living it out according to these principles, or whether a revision it needed, and if you don’t have a rule of life yet, take time to prayerfully begin drawing one up, so that everything we do, we may do for God.