How To Stay On The Narrow Path
It is not easy living during our modern times. There are many distractions, sinfulness and temptations that can lead people astray in many different ways. You can be sure that it takes a strong-minded and faithful Catholic person to be able to live a holy life despite all of these trials, problems and sinful diversions. Some people may ask, "What can help my family and I lead holy lives so that we do not fall into sin or into temptation to do evil?" The important thing to remember is that the Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus told us what we must do in order to stay on the narrow path that leads to Christ. Are you going to follow on the narrow path or on the wrong path that only leads to misery, sin and degradation?
If you and your family want to continue on the narrow, holy path that leads to Christ, you must be sure to follow all of the 10 Commandments of God, the teachings of Jesus, the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, pray the Holy Rosary everyday and pray Novenas, participate in Eucharistic Adoration, attend weekly Mass, confess your sins, pray to St. Michael daily and have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It may be a little difficult to follow this basic routine, but once you and your family begin to follow a daily, faith-filled life of obedience and prayer, it will become easier to lead a good and holy life in the Catholic Church. Some people say that the Catholic Church is very strict and rigid, with many strict rules. Rules are meant to help keep Catholics on the right road that leads to Christ. Without these "rules", Catholics would not live a holy life and would probably go aimlessly through life in the secular lifestyle. When you think about it, these Catholic devotions, teachings and rules are very easy to follow.
1. One must follow all of the 10 Commandments of God. These Commandments are the following:
1. I AM THE LORD THY GOD: THOU SHALT NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME.
COMMANDS: faith, hope, love, and worship of God; reverence for holy things; prayer.
FORBIDS: idolatry; superstition; spiritualism; tempting God; sacrilege; attendance at false worship.
2. THOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.
COMMANDS: reverence in speaking about God and holy things; the keeping of oaths and vows.
FORBIDS: blasphemy; the irreverent use of God's name; speaking disrespectfully of holy things; false oaths and the breaking of vows.
3. KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY.
COMMANDS: going to church on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
FORBIDS: missing church through one's own fault; unnecessary servile work on Sunday and holy days of obligation.
4. HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.
COMMANDS: love; respect; obedience on the part of children; care on the part of parents for the spiritual and temporal welfare of their children;
FORBIDS: hatred of parents and superiors; disrespect; disobedience.
5. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
COMMANDS: safeguarding of one's own life and bodily welfare and that of others.
FORBIDS: unjust killing; suicide; abortion; sterilization; dueling; endangering life and limb of self or others.
6. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
COMMANDS: chastity in word and deed.
FORBIDS: obscene speech; impure actions alone or with others. Not to have a sexual relationship with another person's wife/husband.
7. THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.
COMMANDS: respect for the property of rights and others; the paying of just debts; paying just wages to employees; integrity in public office.
FORBIDS: theft; damage to the property of others; not paying just debts; not returning found or borrowed articles; giving unjust measure or weight in selling; not paying just wages; bribery; graft; cheating; fraud; accepting stolen property; not giving an honest day's work for wages received; breach of contract.
8. THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.
COMMANDS: truthfulness; respect for the good name of others; the observance of secrecy when required.
FORBIDS: lying; injury to the good name of others; slander; gossiping, rash judgment; contemptuous speech and the violation of secrecy.
9. THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE.
COMMANDS: purity in thought.
FORBIDS: willful impure thought and desires. Forbids wanting another person's wife or husband while they are still married.
10. THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S GOODS.
COMMANDS: respect for the rights of others.
FORBIDS: the desire to take, to keep, or damage the property of others.
(Commandments written by Michael Hains)
2. Jesus taught many things. One of Jesus' teachings is that one must be able to live out their faith, just not say that they love God but to show their faith and love through works. These can be described as the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in the Catholic faith. In case you do not know what the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are, here is a summary of them.
Corporal Works of Mercy
Spiritual Works of Mercy
If you and your family want to continue on the narrow, holy path that leads to Christ, you must be sure to follow all of the 10 Commandments of God, the teachings of Jesus, the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, pray the Holy Rosary everyday and pray Novenas, participate in Eucharistic Adoration, attend weekly Mass, confess your sins, pray to St. Michael daily and have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It may be a little difficult to follow this basic routine, but once you and your family begin to follow a daily, faith-filled life of obedience and prayer, it will become easier to lead a good and holy life in the Catholic Church. Some people say that the Catholic Church is very strict and rigid, with many strict rules. Rules are meant to help keep Catholics on the right road that leads to Christ. Without these "rules", Catholics would not live a holy life and would probably go aimlessly through life in the secular lifestyle. When you think about it, these Catholic devotions, teachings and rules are very easy to follow.
1. One must follow all of the 10 Commandments of God. These Commandments are the following:
1. I AM THE LORD THY GOD: THOU SHALT NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME.
COMMANDS: faith, hope, love, and worship of God; reverence for holy things; prayer.
FORBIDS: idolatry; superstition; spiritualism; tempting God; sacrilege; attendance at false worship.
2. THOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.
COMMANDS: reverence in speaking about God and holy things; the keeping of oaths and vows.
FORBIDS: blasphemy; the irreverent use of God's name; speaking disrespectfully of holy things; false oaths and the breaking of vows.
3. KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY.
COMMANDS: going to church on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
FORBIDS: missing church through one's own fault; unnecessary servile work on Sunday and holy days of obligation.
4. HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.
COMMANDS: love; respect; obedience on the part of children; care on the part of parents for the spiritual and temporal welfare of their children;
FORBIDS: hatred of parents and superiors; disrespect; disobedience.
5. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
COMMANDS: safeguarding of one's own life and bodily welfare and that of others.
FORBIDS: unjust killing; suicide; abortion; sterilization; dueling; endangering life and limb of self or others.
6. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
COMMANDS: chastity in word and deed.
FORBIDS: obscene speech; impure actions alone or with others. Not to have a sexual relationship with another person's wife/husband.
7. THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.
COMMANDS: respect for the property of rights and others; the paying of just debts; paying just wages to employees; integrity in public office.
FORBIDS: theft; damage to the property of others; not paying just debts; not returning found or borrowed articles; giving unjust measure or weight in selling; not paying just wages; bribery; graft; cheating; fraud; accepting stolen property; not giving an honest day's work for wages received; breach of contract.
8. THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.
COMMANDS: truthfulness; respect for the good name of others; the observance of secrecy when required.
FORBIDS: lying; injury to the good name of others; slander; gossiping, rash judgment; contemptuous speech and the violation of secrecy.
9. THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE.
COMMANDS: purity in thought.
FORBIDS: willful impure thought and desires. Forbids wanting another person's wife or husband while they are still married.
10. THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S GOODS.
COMMANDS: respect for the rights of others.
FORBIDS: the desire to take, to keep, or damage the property of others.
(Commandments written by Michael Hains)
2. Jesus taught many things. One of Jesus' teachings is that one must be able to live out their faith, just not say that they love God but to show their faith and love through works. These can be described as the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in the Catholic faith. In case you do not know what the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are, here is a summary of them.
Corporal Works of Mercy
- To feed the hungry;
- To give drink to the thirsty;
- To clothe the naked;
- To give shelter to the homeless;
- To visit the sick;
- To ransom the captive;
- To bury the dead.
Spiritual Works of Mercy
- To instruct the ignorant;
- To counsel the doubtful;
- To admonish sinners;
- To bear wrongs patiently;
- To forgive offences willingly;
- To comfort the afflicted;
- To pray for the living and the dead.
So, we were taught in our First Communion classes that it is important to practice the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy whenever possible. In this way, we help to evangelize the Catholic faith to others, do spiritual and corporal work in this world as a disciple of Jesus, help bring others closer to the Catholic Church and closer to the Almighty Father, closer to Jesus and closer to the Blessed Mother.
3. It is important that Catholics follow all the teachings of the Catholic Church. There is a Catholic reference book where Catholics can learn all about their Catholic faith and the teachings of the Church. It is advised that Catholics read the Catechism of the Catholic Church whenever they can and when they have questions about certain subjects of the Catholic faith. This book contains all of the teachings of the Catholic Church that every Catholic must adhere to.
4. Our Blessed Mother has appeared in many places around the world but it was in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 that the Blessed Mother specifically requested that people recite the Holy Rosary everyday for peace in the world, for the conversion of sinners, and for your own petitions. Our Blessed Mother gave us the Rosary Herself and it is a very powerful weapon against evil. The more you and your family are able to recite the Rosary, the better prepared you will be to protect your home and your family from evil and from danger throughout the day. You will also receive spiritual graces, benefits and blessings from the recitation of the Holy Rosary.
Also, it is very beneficial to pray 9-day Novenas to the Blessed Mother, to the Lord Jesus and to St. Michael (for protection) so that they can help you with whatever petitions are important to you. The Blessed Mother is very good at helping those who pray to Her in Rosary and with Novenas. She is very powerful and hates evil. She will do all She can to help you and your family remain holy and protected. The Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a very powerful Novena because, in essence, you are asking Jesus to grant special petitions that you and your family mention. Those petitions can be for financial help, physical health, spiritual benefits, peace for the world, for protection, and so on. The Novena to St. Michael is also a very powerful novena because you are asking St. Michael to defend and protect you and your family throughout the day. These novenas can be found online or you can buy a Book of Novenas from any Catholic online bookstore.
5. Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist so it is possible for you and your family to visit with Jesus every day through Eucharistic Adoration. Many Catholic Churches have Eucharistic Adoration a few days a week but if you are unable to visit the Blessed Sacrament at the times when the Church makes it available, it is possible for you to still participate in Eucharistic Adoration online. EWTN, the Eternal Word Network, has made it possible for anyone to participate in Eucharistic Adoration every day through their website. Click here to view EWTN Eucharistic Adoration now. While visiting with Jesus, you can pray the Rosary, recite prayers, tell Jesus all about your difficulties and problems, and ask Him to grant you special graces, favors and petitions. This is also a wonderful time to get closer to Jesus and to have a lasting relationship with Him. Jesus told St. Margaret Mary Alacoque that He really wishes people to tell Him that they love Him and to appreciate all that He does for them. Many people take Jesus for granted and forget that He suffered and died for their sins so that they can have eternal life.
6. The most important requirement for staying on the right path in life is to attend every weekend Mass (except when you're sick or ill) and to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Receiving the Holy Body and Blood of Jesus is very important because Jesus feeds our soul and blesses us with sanctification. We, in essence, have Jesus in our soul and He is able to give us many special gifts and graces. When we follow Jesus, our lives become more illuminated and holy. Jesus is the Light of the World and as His disciples, we go through the world, illuminated by His Light and, through us, we help to bring Jesus' spirit, holiness, grace and illumination to the world around us.
7. Confession is a vitally important requirement of the Catholic faith. After a person sins, it is necessary for the person to go to confession right away because mortal sins (sins against the 10 Commandments) separate us from the Almighty Father and from Jesus. If a person commits mortal sins and becomes obstinate in their sins and refuses to go to confession to confess their mortal sins, it is possible that that person's soul could be condemned to Hell after death. The gravity of mortal sins is to be taken seriously. Therefore, if something or someone is causing you to sin against God (mortal sins), it is better to try to limit your interaction with that thing or person if possible.
8. Since evil is in the world, it is vitally important to pray and ask St. Michael to protect you, your family and the world daily. The St. Michael prayer and Novenas to St. Michael are still very powerful weapons that we have against Satan and against evil. St. Michael is still very important, especially in our modern day because evil is becoming more prevalent and St. Michael can protect us and combat evil wherever it exists.
9. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is very important because Jesus can bless, protect and bring peace to individuals, families, homes and to the world through His wonderful and loving Sacred Heart. Jesus said that He has a burning love for humanity and He desires to show His love to people. It is for this reason that Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during the 17th century. He asked her to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart so that people will know of His love for them and also for His desire to give blessings to individuals, families and to the world through His Sacred Heart. Therefore, individuals and families can consecrate their lives to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for peace within the home, for blessings on all of their undertakings, for assistance with spiritual and temporal needs and so on. Jesus promised to bless any home that has a picture of His Sacred Heart. The picture of the Sacred Heart must be located in a place in the home where it will be venerated and honored by everyone in the home. It is advisable to place a Sacred Heart picture in every room of the home for peace and protection. One can also place a Sacred Heart picture in his/her automobile for protection.
While it is difficult to live during our current social environment at times, it is possible for Catholics and their families to live holy lives with the Heavenly Father, with the Lord Jesus, with the Blessed Mother and with Heaven on their side as long as faithful Catholics and their families remain obedient to God and His Commandments, live by the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, attend Holy Mass every week, receive Holy communion as frequently as possible, pray the daily Rosary/Novenas, go to confession frequently, pray to St. Michael the Archangel and have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus every day. Living in this way, Catholics can be sure that their families and their own lives will be enriched, protected and blessed with many graces, peace and spiritual benefits. If people live out their entire lives on the straight and narrow road, they can be sure that Jesus will call them "Good and faithful servants" at the end of their lives and they will have salvation in Heaven.
4. Our Blessed Mother has appeared in many places around the world but it was in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 that the Blessed Mother specifically requested that people recite the Holy Rosary everyday for peace in the world, for the conversion of sinners, and for your own petitions. Our Blessed Mother gave us the Rosary Herself and it is a very powerful weapon against evil. The more you and your family are able to recite the Rosary, the better prepared you will be to protect your home and your family from evil and from danger throughout the day. You will also receive spiritual graces, benefits and blessings from the recitation of the Holy Rosary.
Also, it is very beneficial to pray 9-day Novenas to the Blessed Mother, to the Lord Jesus and to St. Michael (for protection) so that they can help you with whatever petitions are important to you. The Blessed Mother is very good at helping those who pray to Her in Rosary and with Novenas. She is very powerful and hates evil. She will do all She can to help you and your family remain holy and protected. The Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a very powerful Novena because, in essence, you are asking Jesus to grant special petitions that you and your family mention. Those petitions can be for financial help, physical health, spiritual benefits, peace for the world, for protection, and so on. The Novena to St. Michael is also a very powerful novena because you are asking St. Michael to defend and protect you and your family throughout the day. These novenas can be found online or you can buy a Book of Novenas from any Catholic online bookstore.
5. Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist so it is possible for you and your family to visit with Jesus every day through Eucharistic Adoration. Many Catholic Churches have Eucharistic Adoration a few days a week but if you are unable to visit the Blessed Sacrament at the times when the Church makes it available, it is possible for you to still participate in Eucharistic Adoration online. EWTN, the Eternal Word Network, has made it possible for anyone to participate in Eucharistic Adoration every day through their website. Click here to view EWTN Eucharistic Adoration now. While visiting with Jesus, you can pray the Rosary, recite prayers, tell Jesus all about your difficulties and problems, and ask Him to grant you special graces, favors and petitions. This is also a wonderful time to get closer to Jesus and to have a lasting relationship with Him. Jesus told St. Margaret Mary Alacoque that He really wishes people to tell Him that they love Him and to appreciate all that He does for them. Many people take Jesus for granted and forget that He suffered and died for their sins so that they can have eternal life.
6. The most important requirement for staying on the right path in life is to attend every weekend Mass (except when you're sick or ill) and to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Receiving the Holy Body and Blood of Jesus is very important because Jesus feeds our soul and blesses us with sanctification. We, in essence, have Jesus in our soul and He is able to give us many special gifts and graces. When we follow Jesus, our lives become more illuminated and holy. Jesus is the Light of the World and as His disciples, we go through the world, illuminated by His Light and, through us, we help to bring Jesus' spirit, holiness, grace and illumination to the world around us.
7. Confession is a vitally important requirement of the Catholic faith. After a person sins, it is necessary for the person to go to confession right away because mortal sins (sins against the 10 Commandments) separate us from the Almighty Father and from Jesus. If a person commits mortal sins and becomes obstinate in their sins and refuses to go to confession to confess their mortal sins, it is possible that that person's soul could be condemned to Hell after death. The gravity of mortal sins is to be taken seriously. Therefore, if something or someone is causing you to sin against God (mortal sins), it is better to try to limit your interaction with that thing or person if possible.
8. Since evil is in the world, it is vitally important to pray and ask St. Michael to protect you, your family and the world daily. The St. Michael prayer and Novenas to St. Michael are still very powerful weapons that we have against Satan and against evil. St. Michael is still very important, especially in our modern day because evil is becoming more prevalent and St. Michael can protect us and combat evil wherever it exists.
9. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is very important because Jesus can bless, protect and bring peace to individuals, families, homes and to the world through His wonderful and loving Sacred Heart. Jesus said that He has a burning love for humanity and He desires to show His love to people. It is for this reason that Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during the 17th century. He asked her to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart so that people will know of His love for them and also for His desire to give blessings to individuals, families and to the world through His Sacred Heart. Therefore, individuals and families can consecrate their lives to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for peace within the home, for blessings on all of their undertakings, for assistance with spiritual and temporal needs and so on. Jesus promised to bless any home that has a picture of His Sacred Heart. The picture of the Sacred Heart must be located in a place in the home where it will be venerated and honored by everyone in the home. It is advisable to place a Sacred Heart picture in every room of the home for peace and protection. One can also place a Sacred Heart picture in his/her automobile for protection.
While it is difficult to live during our current social environment at times, it is possible for Catholics and their families to live holy lives with the Heavenly Father, with the Lord Jesus, with the Blessed Mother and with Heaven on their side as long as faithful Catholics and their families remain obedient to God and His Commandments, live by the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, attend Holy Mass every week, receive Holy communion as frequently as possible, pray the daily Rosary/Novenas, go to confession frequently, pray to St. Michael the Archangel and have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus every day. Living in this way, Catholics can be sure that their families and their own lives will be enriched, protected and blessed with many graces, peace and spiritual benefits. If people live out their entire lives on the straight and narrow road, they can be sure that Jesus will call them "Good and faithful servants" at the end of their lives and they will have salvation in Heaven.
