I listened to a homily today by a Latin Mass priest in Warrington, England and he read a striking quote from Saint John Henry Newman; by the end of the quote my eyes widened and I was determined to share the profound contents.
The fallen human race uses the excuse and overused phrase “I am only human” far too often, but Our Heavenly Father demands us to strive for perfection. The Son of God commands it when He says to be “perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect”. This should not be something we shrug off simply because we are “fallen” and born with original sin. We are made in the image and likeness of God, therefore we should aim to imitate the Father in every way possible. We have three glorious Role Models to follow: The Son of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the good Saint Joseph; the Holy Family.
Newman also says,
It is the saying of holy men that, if we wish to be perfect, we have nothing more to do than to perform the ordinary duties of the day well.
Anybody can attain perfection by doing their ordinary duties well. The priest, the religious, the husband and wife, and the simple- even a child! Anybody.
This is the saint’s practical and attainable method of achieving perfection on earth:
If you ask me what you are to do in order to be perfect, I say, first-
- Do not lie in bed beyond the due time of rising.
- Give your first thoughts to God.
- Make a good visit to the Blessed Sacrament.
- Say the Angelus devoutly.
- Eat and drink to God’s glory.
- Say the Rosary well.
- Be recollected; keep out bad thoughts.
- Make your evening meditation well.
- Examine yourself daily.
- Go to bed in good time, and you are already perfect.
Mary's Secretary 
What a beautiful post first thing in the morning. I love the DOs. Thank you so much
I just realized we live in different time zones, I am in America are you in Europe?:)
India for sometime. Australia for rest😊
WOW! How fun; I had no idea. My past Mother Superior started a new Carmelite foundation in Mathoura, Australia recently. Maybe you are close to her community!
We’re mostly in India as we are at this time. Because children are in Perth, we spend time there as well. I have had my higher education (MBA) at Univ of Melbourne. Long association with that country.
I saw a Carmel, 150 years old at Patna , India recently. Both of us remembered you😊
AH, I am so honored that you both remembered me on such an ancient landmark; God reward you my dear friend!
Please see this post. It has a reference to you
https://timelessmind.org/2020/06/19/the-light-outside/
Go to Confession at least once a month, preferably more often.
Read Holy Scripture and spiritual reading everyday.
I would be so bold as to say, go once a week! How can we forget Mass (daily is the best blessing there is) 🙂
Amen amen – I always have gone once a week but today ….. sigh – this is too much to ask!
I cried tonight during the family Rosary – involuntarily – at the loss of the Mass – daily and Sunday – as our Churches are still closed – nearly 4 months now!
Oh my poor sister, don’t I know it! And you have every right to cry, these times truly remind me of Matthew 24 and what we have to suffer before “the end”, I share in your sorrow!
Absolutely, I feel thrilled at the thought but sad at the evidence around us. Thank you and let us hold each other in prayer for “the one who perseveres to the end will be saved” (Mt 24:13). Amen