AUDIO: Sermon – 123 MRE PS
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. – Luke 12:31
What does one have to do to arrive at sanctity? The answer according to St. Thomas Aquinas, is “To become a saint, one must will it.”
What are the means of this sanctification, to approach the good of sanctity? They can be found in this one small acronym – 123 MRE PS
1 – One end, one desire: The Kingdom of God.
All things given to us in this life must be understood as a means to an end, and they are helpful inasmuch as they move us towards God. We are either advancing in the spiritual life or we are moving back. But how many times do we spend hours in front of the TV or the computer, or simply wasting our time and we spend almost nothing with Our Lord? It’s because we do not have that One End in front of us. All things must be viewed in the light of God.
2 – Two formal prayers each day (morning/evening)
Formal prayer can be as simple as the Morning and Evening Offering. The Divine Office is the Church’s official set of daily prayers. Lauds in the morning and Vespers in the evening are great ways to bookend each day.
3 – Three Hail Marys each day for purity
The Mother of our Lord will always have favor with her Son. We should always seek her help and heed her requests. Sins against the 6th and 9th Commandment are often the hardest to overcome. Pray for help each day.
M – 3o minutes of Meditation (Mental Prayer)
Meditation is crucial to bringing order to our lives. A goal of 15 minutes is achievable for even the busiest of souls. 30 minutes or more should be the ultimate goal, and even an hour if possible.
R – Pray the Rosary every day
Our Lady of Fatima came down from heaven to tell us how important this is.
E – Examination of Conscience each day
From St. Bernard: “As a searching investigator of the integrity of your own conduct, submit your life to a daily examination. Consider carefully what progress you have made or what ground you have lost. Strive to know yourself. Place all your faults before your eyes. Come face-to-face with yourself, as though you were another person, and then weep for your faults.”
P – Penance: Small acts of self-denial or mortification
“Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)
“Unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)
S – Sacraments: Frequent Confession and Holy Communion
The Sacraments are the means of our sanctification.