Develping a Rule of Life: Rooting Out Defects and Growing in Virtue

This is my third post on Fr. Ripperger's video about developing a rule of life. (You can see part one here and part two here.) Making a rule of life is all about establishing a regimen of discipline that can help in all areas of life. Fr. Ripperger talks about taking a systematic approach to rooting out our defects. He echoes St. Ignatius when he encourages identifying our predominant fault and working on that one thing until we eliminate it or at least make considerable progress. For example, if you have a problem with gluttony, begin by giving up between meal snacks and desserts. Make a good beginning and stick with it. That approach follows Ignatian spirituality which advises working on one defect before moving on to another. With regard to the regimen, the examen is recommended at least twice a day - at midday and bedtime. How did I do this morning? How did I do later? Part of the evening examen is reflecting on the next day and its responsibilities so that you can hit the ground running in the morning. Ignatian spirituality gives the structure for overcoming the sin or fault. 

The First Consideration for the Rule of Life

Even little ones can start practicing a rule of life. 
See The Beginner's Rule of Life

I'm going to do a little series on the Rule of Life as Lent begins. Yesterday was part 1, Crafting a Rule of Life.  Today I'm going to begin going through the conference by Fr. Ripperger, essentially the How-to-do-it guidelines for developing a rule of life.

Crafting a Rule of Life: an Invitation to Grow in Holiness this Lent

I'm asking Mary to be 
my Lenten companion and guide.

I've had a loose rule of life for decades. What do I mean?  Priests have a rule of life that includes saying daily Mass and praying their office. Religious have a "rule" defined by their religious order. But what about the laity? 

Of course we have duties of our state in life, but these change depending on the "season." My duties as a grandmother and great grandmother no longer include the daily care and nurturing of children who live under my roof. I don't have the same obligations of daily rearing and teaching the faith as I did several decades ago. I can certainly be a help and support in the rearing of my grandchildren, but I have few obligations in that department. in fact it would be an abuse for me to try to "take over" and become a source of division between my grandchildren and their parents.