A Small Collection of Necessary Actions
for Happiness Here and in Eternity

Part 1. is for children of any age; Part 2 is for older readers and the last section is for children 8 and up.

1. Pray Always
2. Gems of Wisdom
3. Tips, Tests, and Temptations


1. Pray Always
TAKEN FROM PRAY ALWAYS,
CATHOLIC BOOK PUBLISHING
IMPRIMI POTEST, NIHIL OBSTAT AND IMPRIMATUR, 1958

No ONE can go to Heaven unless he prays.
If you do not eat you will starve.
If you do not drink you will die of thirst.
If you do not breathe you will die for lack of air.
But prayer is more necessary for you than food and drink and air.
If you do not pray, you shall never see God in Heaven.

 Catholic Tradition has many prayers online, in this directory and in the Children's Prayer directory. The Penny Catechism has some, too. here are a few more:

Bits [or Nuggets] of Prayer
TAKEN FROM MY LEADER IN LIFE, FR. GEORGE BURNS, S.J.
IMPRIMATUR, 1942

IT is a good thing to learn by heart short and simple prayers, lines from hymns and invocations. They may become part of your 'mental furniture' and will spring up, unbidden, into your thoughts when at work, or idle, or tempted. They are useful at night when you find sleep very difficult.

Here is a selection of such 'Bits' [NOTE]:

Dearest Jesus, teach me to be generous:
To give and not to count the cost:
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not to seek for rest;
To live and die for Thee.

+ + + + +

My Jesus, teach me to give You my very best; to be upright in all things, unselfish in all things, pure in all things; help me to control myself in all things, for Your sake. Remind me when it is hard to do these things; when I am tempted to be content with what is only second-best, or what is evil.

+ + + + +

Lord Jesus Christ, You who were once a boy and the same age as I, help me never to do anything that would disgrace your Mother and mine. Help me to remember the promises of my Baptism and Confirmation; and the good resolutions of my day of First Communion; if I fall into sin, let me get out of it quickly by an Act of Contrition.

+ + + + +

Lord, for tomorrow and its needs, I do not pray:
Keep me, my Lord, from stain of sin Just for today.

+ + + + + 

The day is done, its hours have run,
And Thou hast taken count of all---
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall,
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.

Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways
True absolution and release;
And bless us more than in past days
With purity and inward peace.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

Though poverty and work and woe
The masters of my life may be,
When times are worst, who does not know
Darkness is light with love of thee.

+ + + + + 

Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled:
And the tempest-tossed Church---all her eyes are on thee,
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

+ + + + +

[TO MARY]

When troubles dark afflict me,
In sorrow and in care,
Thy light doth ever guide me,
O beauteous Morning Star,
So I'll be ever ready,
Thy goodly help to claim,
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
To love and bless thy name.

+ + + + + 

To your patron Saint---the Saint who bears your own name or your Confirmation Saint, or to any other Saint who attracts you: "Give me---
A clear mind, a strong will, a firm character, energy in work and complete unselfishness.

Help me to be generous in serving my neighbor. Help me to make my Communions more and more sincerely, seriously and lovingly. Make me a real Man/Woman."

+ + + + +

AT NIGHT:

As Christ upon the Cross His head inclined,
And to His Father's hands His parting soul resigned,

So now herself my soul
Would wholly give
Into her Father's arms
In whom all spirits live.

+ + + + + 

+ SIGN OF THE CROSS

Guardian Angel,
From Heaven so bright,
Watching beside me,
To lead me aright,
Fold thy wings round me,
O guard me with love,
Softly sing songs to me,
Of Heav'n above.
Beautiful Angel,
My guardian so mild,
Tenderly guide me,
For I am thy child.

+ + + + +

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I implore
For grace to love Thee daily more and more.
My Jesus, mercy: Mary, help.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
Heart of Jesus, pity the dying.
Angel of God, who art my Guardian, guard, govern, control and give light to me this night.

+ + + + +

JESUS

Go to Him---now---and give Him prayer---
He will give you strength;
Give Him love---
He will give you grace;
Give Him work---
He will give you rest;
Give Him time---
He will give you eternity.

+ + + + +

Know yourself, fight yourself, conquer yourself,
Keep on keeping on to the very end!

2. Gems of Wisdom

GOOD-BYE

O Lord Jesus Christ, our Leader in life, some of us are soon to leave and to move into a bigger world. However big and important we may have been here, we will be very small there, and of small account.

Teach us, then, to begin our new life well; with Faith, Hope and Charity, with the continual help of Thy Sacraments. Help us to remember Thy words of comfort and warning, Thy works of wonder and strength.

Our Faith will be challenged, attacked, derided, ignored. We will fight the battle of Life under Thy Leadership. As we grow in knowledge and in strength, so may we learn to know Thee ever more and better.

Give us, Lord, Thine Own great gift of Fortitude.
We need Courage:
To face persecutions with the spirit of Martyrs.
To bear mockery, wounds, and death as faithful soldiers.
To despise false affections, soft tenderness, deceitful words.
To resist depressions, despondencies, dissipations.

Help us to seek:
A deeper FAITH,
An enduring LOYALTY,
 Singleness of HEART,
Truthfulness,
Cleanness of Life,
Selfless Endurance.

We RESOLVE: To uphold our Faith and serve our country; to defend the rights and freedom of the human person; to obey lawful authority as representing the authority of Almighty God.

Jesus, true God and true Man, in the name of our families and of our country, we acknowledge Thee as the King of the universe. Thou hast created all things; exercise over us Thy Divine rights. We renew our Baptismal promises; we renounce Satan and all his snares.

Divine Heart of Jesus, we offer Thee our work, our sufferings, our joys in union with Thy one continual Sacrifice on the altars of the Church.

"Thy Kingdom Come" in our hearts, in our homes, in our parishes, in our country, throughout the world.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Amen.

FROM THE APOSTOLIC DIGEST, QUOTATIONS FROM THE SAINTS, POPES, DOCTORS AND FATHERS OF THE CHURCH:

I cannot sufficiently be astonished that such is the insanity of some men, such the impiety of their blinded understanding, such, finally, their lust after error, that they will not be content with the rule of faith delivered once and for all from antiquity, but must daily seek after something new, and even newer still, and are always longing to add something to religion, or to change it, or to subtract from it!

St. Vincent of Lerins

The nature of the Catholic faith is such that nothing can be added to it, nothing taken away. Either it is held in its entirety or it is rejected totally. This is the Catholic faith which, unless a man believes faithfully ann firmly, he cannot be saved.

Pope Benedict XV

Let us regard the tradition of the Church also as worthy of belief. Is it a tradition? Seek no further!

St. John Chrysostom

Change nothing; be content with tradition.

St. Cyprian

Therefore, no one is allowed to profess or to write up or compose or devise or teach a different faith.

Council of Chalcedon

 Nothing new is to be accepted except what has been handed down by tradition.

St. Vincent of Lerins

I accept with sincere belief the doctrine of faith as handed down to us from the Apostles by the orthodox Fathers, always in the same sense and with the same interpretation.

Pope St. Pius X

Let nothing of the truths that have been defined be lessened, nothing altered, nothing added, but let them be preserved intact in word and in meaning.

Pope Gregory XVI

It is an error to believe that Christ did not teach a determined body of doctrine applicable to all times and to all men, but rather that He inaugurated a religious movement adapted, or to be adapted, to different times and different places.

Pope St. Pius X

Every grace granted to man in this life has three successive steps: from God it comes to Christ, from Christ to the Virgin, and from the Virgin it descends to us.

St. Bernardine of Siena

All graces that have ever been bestowed on men, all of them came through Mary.

St. Antoninus

All those who, to the end of time, shall receive the blessing of our heavenly Father . . . shall receive their graces only as a result of their perfect obedience to Mary.

He who is faithful in the service of Mary will certainly be saved  . . .There is no one, however wicked, whom Mary does not save by her intercession when she wishes . . . He who has recourse to Mary shall be saved.

St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori

   No one, not even a sinner, who devoutly recommends himself to her shall ever become the prey of Hell.

St. Catherine of Siena

3. Tips, Tests, and Temptations

Remember:
 I. That you have relations with, and personal ways of approach to the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity. You have been brought into this world to praise, reverence and serve God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, and so to find happiness in Heaven forever.
II. That JESUS CHRIST---the second Person of the Trinity---is your Savior from sin and that His words can inspire your own life.
III. That He---in union with the Father and the Holy Spirit---works in you and throughout the Church through seven Sacraments---which veil but are the vehicle of His continual actions.
IV. That each of these Sacraments meets a need or a crisis in your life, in relation to God and in relation to the society of men.
V. That His Mother protects, guides and develops your spiritual life; she is willing to accept you as her special child.
VI. That Sunday Mass---and the whole meaning of Sunday---is of vital importance.

It is possible to know Catholic doctrine well, but to practice it badly; to have a theory of Catholicism, but fail to apply it. Faith without "good works" does not avail to salvation.

You must therefore apply your Catholic dogma and Catholic principles to daily life. Here are a few "Tips and Tests": little duties, ways of doing things, "sign-posts" ... big issues sometimes depend on small fidelities; grace builds on, and in turn produces self-discipline. Make sure of why you are doing this or that ... if you are able to answer, "I am trying to please God," you cannot go far wrong.

Therefore, if you desire to be a real Catholic, you:

[Web Master's note: Some of the list below will depend on your circumstance; for instance, you may be schooled at home and have no parish to join because of non-traditional practices there. The priest who wrote the book did so a long time ago when life for a traditional Catholic life possible in the parish setting because every Catholic upheld Tradition by definition.]

I. OFFER YOUR WORK, SUFFERINGS AND JOYS TO GOD EVERY MORNING.
2. EXAMINE YOUR CONSCIENCE EVERY NIGHT.
3. MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH REVERENCE.
4. CARRY YOUR ROSARY.
5. ARE LOYAL TO YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR SCHOOL, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR PARISH.
6. ARE USEFUL AND HELPFUL TO YOUR PARENTS.
7. ARE COURTEOUS TO OTHERS.
8. ARE HONEST AND THRIFTY IN MONEY MATTERS.
9. ARE CLEAN IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED.
 
I. This offering is the most important part of your morning prayers. You may have to go to school [AND LATER WORK] at a very early hour in the morning. MAKE CERTAIN that you offer Our Lord the coming day of labor and toil.

Can you offer all your actions, including those not directly religious (like eating, playing, working), to God? And are they acceptable to Him? Yes, you can offer them because they are yours by God's gift to you of free-will, And if they are innocent actions, they are acceptable to Him, The reason is this: They are offered in and with and through Jesus Christ, with Whom you are united (if free from grievous sin). "For all the Intentions of Thy Divine Heart" means "for the obtaining of those things which Our Lord desires". Is it really possible that your prayers, your actions and your sufferings can do anything to obtain the fulfillment of the desires of Christ? So often you say, "Thy Kingdom Come." Can what you offer to do in the Morning Offering hasten the coming of that Kingdom, secure grace for the salvation of souls, extend the knowledge and sway of Christ in the world, forward His "Cause" and bring nearer the hour of final triumph? The answer to all this is YES, and the one reason is that Christ wills it, and by joining your actions to His Own, gives them an infallible power of intercession. Jesus could, but will not, fight alone the good fight for the glory of His Father. He wills to join you with Him in that struggle, so that He may join you with Him in the victory.
 
Cultivate the habit of short prayers to Him during the day; for instance, "Jesus, my day is for You."

II. Just as the principal part of morning prayers is the "offering" of the day, so the principal part of night prayers is the looking back upon the day and passing judgment upon it. Obedience to conscience is not merely obedience to a "boss", to a political party or to the police. It is obedience to some law-giver, whose watchful presence is felt almost as you would feel the presence of a friend in a dark room. Conscience does not merely give advice, but declares a law, and a law implies the existence of a law-giver. This law-giver can only be the Creator and the Redeemer of the World---Your Leader in life, Jesus Christ.

As you grow older, the "examination of conscience" which you used as a child may grow unreal. Riper years bring with them new moral problems. When you are in doubt or perplexity about this or that consult an older friend or a priest.

TRAIN your conscience to reflect His Laws accurately, and never fear that He will ask you to do the impossible.

III. All the Saints tell us that if we try to do small duties as well as we can, we prepare ourselves for greater tasks and responsibilities. The making the Sign of the Cross is in itself a simple and a short action. But it contains many truths. The words are a prayer to the Blessed Trinity. You say "In the Name", not names, to show that there is but one God, and the mention of the three names in particular reminds us of the three Persons. The sign is a reminder of the Death of Our Lord. It is made with the right hand, the sign of friendship and loyalty. We give each other the right hand when we pledge our love. Indirectly it is an act of Faith in the meaning of the Cross, an act of Hope in the power of the Cross, and an act of Love of Our Lord Who died upon the Cross. It is the Christian's salute to his Leader!

So make it with reverence and mean it. Martyrs, in all ages, have made the Sign of the Cross before meeting a terrible death. Our Lady taught Bernadette at Lourdes how to make it. Our sign can defeat the tyrannical and crooked "crosses" of the modern era!

IV. "After the Mass the most Catholic devotion is the Rosary," someone remarked. The reason is this: The Rosary links the life of Our Lady to the life of Our Lord. "To Jesus through Mary" was the way of the Saints. It must also be your way. How can you follow Jesus if you never think about His life?

i) If you love Our Lady you will often think of her.
(ii) You will want to know more about her Feasts and pictures and shrines.
(iii) You will strive to say a part of the Rosary every day.
(iv) You will carry your Rosary in your pocket.
(v) And buy another when you lose it!

V. LOYALTY is a fine word! The traitor has always been an object of scorn throughout the history of the world.
 
To your Country. Suspect the men or the parties who pour scorn on the virtue of patriotism. Perhaps you belong to a Youth Movement in which you mix with others who are indifferent or hostile to the Church. Prove to them that a Catholic is a true patriot.
To your School. Do not blame your school for your own failures; do not run it down to those who went to other schools.
To your Friends. "Have a few good friends and stick to them" is the advice of wise schoolmasters. Keep company with those of your own Faith, sex and age---as far as you can.
To your Parish. If you join a parochial organization, be an active member. You join to give your service, not merely to get your pleasure.

Or you may belong to a Club or " Youth Group".

1. Remember that the Chaplain is your friend.
2. Obey the "officers" cheerfully and promptly.
3. Be a good comrade to all.
4. Honour the uniform.
(This applies to the A. T .C., the Army and Sea Cadets.)
5. Keep the required silence on drills, etc.

"Test Yourself."

1. Can you accept just punishment cheerfully?
2. Do you pay your subscriptions?
3. Do you turn up in time?
4. Can you control your tongue?
5. Are you training your body for hardships and endurance?

VI. Soon after leaving school you may be earning good wages, you may be serving as an apprentice to a trade, or you may lose job after job!! But whatever money you bring into the home, you can always make yourself useful and helpful to your parents in many ways.

1. By running errands.
2. By helping in the housework.
3. By coming home at a reasonable hour in the evenings.
4. By prompt obedience.
5. By being cheerful.

Remember the motive; obedience to Authority is obedience to Christ your Leader.

VII. "Courteous" is a word derived from the practices of a Royal Court. There is dignity and decency in all "courtly" manners. Think of Our Lady, and you will quickly learn what to do and what not to do in all that concerns your relations with the other sex.

VIII. "Tiny dishonesties are the seeds of a mighty tree of crime" someone once said. It is very true. Little thefts---if anything is "little" which is also sinful---lead to big robberies. Watch small beginnings. Apart from the moral guilt, a boy who is suspected of being dishonest will never be trusted by his employer or firm with an important job. People who work with you may be stealing property in more ways than one. Stick to your own principles.

"Thriftiness" is nothing else than good management of your own affairs. Manage your money well when you are young: the shillings will mount up into pounds!

IX. Do you want to become "Captain" and "Master" over all wrong, weakening and degrading inclinations? To overcome temptations?

Say to yourself:
(i) "I TRUST OUR LORD because He is my brother, my Leader in life, sharing every minute of it with me, loving me as though He had no one else to love and in spite of the number of times I have let Him down.
(ii) "I NEVER GIVE UP, even though I don't win right away. If I have often given in I can't expect to suddenly become marvelously victorious. I have formed a habit of sin, I have to break it. This may take longer than I think, but no matter how long it takes I keep up the fight. So long as I try, He helps.
(iii) "I DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE because I know my own weakness. I can't afford to run risks, and so I don't dally with temptation. At the first sign of danger I get out of it.
(iv) "I PRAY daily for help for the moment of temptation. When I do this I am not taken off my guard, because I have called up the reserves in advance.
(v) "I USE THE SACRAMENTS because they are the most valuable means of making my partnership with Christ Our Lord real."

But to repeat. You must be a trier! You must exercise your mind; put virtues into action. Do things, not dream about them. To try, to fail, try, try once more---that is the fight. In boxing, you are not beaten out when you get knocked down, but when you stop down! When you fall---get up promptly and KEEP ON KEEPING ON to the end. You will die---still trying. Trying---to do what?

TO FOLLOW THE LEADER, JESUS CHRIST!

NOTE: I have met many men who have said: "It's those tiny bits of prayers taught me by my Mother, when I was a kid, that have helped me most ... and the hymns ... and what the nuns taught us." Hence this section.



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