A Rule of Life

One of the great benefits of being an active member of a Third Order is
that it provides a structure for ones daily life and duties. Without this
structure, which is known as ‘a rule of life,’ the best of intentions can be
left undone, and, as the saying goes, ‘the way to hell is paved with many a
good intention!’
Structure fosters order, which itself fosters peace. The word peace is often
used these days to mean an absence of conflict, but with no regard for
true order, not least that of submission to Almighty God. St Augustine in
his great work The City of God, describes true peace:
‘Peace of mortal man with God is well-ordered obedience in faith under
the eternal law. The peace of mankind is a well-ordered concord. The
peace of a household is a well-ordered concord of the members of the
community in the matter of command and obedience. The peace of the
heavenly city is social life in thorough good order and concord for the enjoyment
of God and of one another’s company in God. The peace of all
things is the tranquillity of order. Order is an arrangement of components
equal and unequal, assigning the proper place to each.’
The Angelic Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas, also insists upon the importance
of order in his great treatise on the Catholic Faith, the Summa Theologica:
‘Those things that are of God, are in order. Now the Church is of God, for
He Himself built it with His blood. Therefore there ought to be order in
the Church. [III, Supplement, qu.34, art 1]
On a practical note, it is important to note that the moments for prayer and
spiritual reading be fixed if not to a set time, the at least to a set occasion
such as a meal. Hence, the recitation of Prime before breakfast, or Compline
before changing for bed. In this way, even were the times of breakfast
or sleep to vary, the spiritual exercises themselves should remain
regular and orderly.

[to be continued]