1. COME HOME TO CHURCH
If you have not been to your local Maronite Parish, it is not a hotel for the perfect. It is for those most in need and most distant from Christ. Find it and start attending and experiencing the healing of Christ the Physician today. It is for everyone.
2. GO TO CONFESSION
Been a while? Make a resolution to experience the loving Mercy of God today.
3. ATTEND WEEKDAY MASS
Start attending an extra weekday Mass. Many Maronite Parishes have daily Mass or if unavailable, attend a Roman Catholic Parish nearby. Weekday Masses are usually short. Make a commitment to attending one extra weekday Mass in addition to the Sunday obligation.
4. CHOOSE A PATRON MARONITE SAINT
Learn more about Maronite Saints. They really are very interesting people. Perhaps focus on learning about St Maroun, Saint Rafka, St Marina, St Charbel, Saint Nemtallah or the blessed Massabki Brothers. Choose a Maronite or Eastern Saint as your patron saint for the year.
5. READ THE BIBLE
Dust off that copy of the bible hidden in your drawer or sitting on your bookshelf. If you don’t own a bible – buy one today or read the daily Gospel of the Maronite calendar each day by downloading the Evangelizo app and setting it to Maronite.
6. BREAK THE HABIT
Start dealing with those addictions or bad habits which are keeping you away from God. If you need professional help, make a resolution to get it now.
7. DAILY PRAYER
Get rid of one habit and take up another one. Make a commitment to daily prayer. Even it is a simple one line you say as soon as you wake up. Pray a Psalm first thing in the morning (Psalm 5 is perfect).
8. MAKE TIME FOR GOD
Do you travel to work or school by train? Do you drive? Do you work out? Make better use of those times by reading the Gospel, listening and praying with one of the many Rosary apps available or listening to one of the online Maronite or other Catholic radio stations.
9. READ A SPIRITUAL FATHER OR MOTHER
Choose one of the Maronite or Eastern spiritual Fathers or Mothers and read their works (some of them can be heavy, but you got the whole year). Ideas include St Ephrem, St Isaac the Syrian, St Jacob of Serugh, St John Chrysostom, St Basil or The Forgotten Desert Mothers: Sayings, Lives, and Stories of Early Christian Women by Laura Swan. While she is not Maronite or even Eastern, we love her and have Maronited her for ourselves, St Mary Mackillop, Australia’s first canonised Saint.
10. FOLLOW @LIVINGMARONITE
We will keep you up to date with all things Maronite and have plenty you can learn. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or at https://livingmaronite.com
