Editor’s Note:  In his book, The School of Jesus Crucified, Father Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, Passionist, outlines 25 points as a “Practical Rule of Christian Life for Daily Observance”.  We will publish one a day.

Point 12

“Fly idleness as the mother of all evil.  Avoid those amusements which pander to the passions.  Enter not into any society which may be prejudicial to your innocence.  You are to be a Christian in your recreations as well as in your occupations.  Recreate your mind by some innocent amusements, but remember that the early Christians would have considered it a crime to appear in the Circus, or at public profane spectacles.”

Editor’s Note:  In his book, The School of Jesus Crucified, Father Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, Passionist, outlines 25 points as a “Practical Rule of Christian Life for Daily Observance”.  We will publish one a day.

Point 11

“Amidst your occupations, forget not sometimes to raise your heart to God by pious ejaculations.  If you are suffering from weariness and fatigue, think of Jesus crucified, and say to Him with all the affection of your heart:  O my sweet Jesus, how much more didst Thou suffer for my sake!  How much pain and sorrow and how many sufferings didst Thou endure for the salvation of my soul!  O my loving Redeemer, how much has my soul cost Thee!  I thank Thee for dying on a Cross for the love of me.  Thus you will labor as becomes a Christian, and the devout remembrance of Jesus Crucified will lighten every burden and relieve you under any fatigue.”

Editor’s Note:  In his book, The School of Jesus Crucified, Father Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, Passionist, outlines 25 points as a “Practical Rule of Christian Life for Daily Observance”.  We will publish one a day:  “Make it a rule to employ all your time in a Christian manner, punctually to fulfill all the obligations of your state of life, and carefully to avoid everything that can offend God and be hurtful to your soul.  What bitter grief, agony, and despair is felt at the hour of death by those who have not led a Christian life, and who have made a bad use of that time which was given them solely to gain Heaven!”

Editor’s Note:  In his book, The School of Jesus Crucified, Father Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, Passionist, outlines 25 points as a “Practical Rule of Christian Life for Daily Observance”.  We will publish one a day:  “Begin your daily occupations with the intention of fulfilling the Will of God.  Be careful at the commencement of each action to offer it to Our Lord in union with all His labors, fatigues and sufferings; and to have a pure intention of pleasing God, of promoting His glory, and of fulfilling His holy Will in all things.  You will not suffer thereby more fatigue, but, on the contrary, far less, and your actions will all be meritorious.  Great is the fatigue, frequent are the failures, and numerous are the annoyances experienced through the want of such pious intentions.”

Editor’s Note:  In his book, The School of Jesus Crucified, Father Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, Passionist, outlines 25 points as a “Practical Rule of Christian Life for Daily Observance”.  We will publish one a day:  “Never let a day pass without hearing Mass; and that you may more easily do so with devotion and benefit to yourself, go in spirit to Calvary, and remain there by the side of Jesus, who for your sake offers the sacrifice of His life to His Eternal Father, and for your sake renews it on the Altar.  If you cannot assist at the holy Sacrifice in person, be there at least in desire, and offer this pious desire to Our Lord; unite yourself in spirit with all the faithful who this day hear Mass, and, above all, with the priests who are celebrating and in union with them offer Jesus Christ, and His Passion, His Blood, and His Death, to the Eternal Father in satisfaction for your sins, for the conversion of poor sinners, and for the salvation of your soul; and beseech Him, through the merits of His adorable, Crucified Son, to give you grace never to fall into mortal sin.

“Daily attendance at Mass is a source of many graces, both spiritual and temporal; endeavor, therefore, never to deprive yourself of them.”