yourself unnecessarily from afternoon or evening services and benediction.
5. Pious Practices. — Keep yourself in the presence of God. Accustom yourself to saying short ejaculatory and indulgenced prayers. Keep a crucifix, holy pictures, and holy water in your room. Carry your beads with you. Wear a scapular, and a medal of the Immaculate Conception. Support your parish priest and your parish church in all good works. Help the poor and the orphans according to your means. Frequently think of death and eternity.
6. Blessed Virgin Mary. — If you love Jesus, you will love and honor His blessed Mother. Be most devout to her and daily perform some acts of piety in her honor. A pious servant of Mary will erect a home altar in honor of the heavenly Queen and Mother of God before which he will recite his prayers. On our Lady's feast-days he will place an offering of fresh flowers on this altar. Hear Mass and receive holy communion on the great feasts of the Blessed Virgin. Daily renew your act of consecration and say the Memorare for a happy death. Cultivate her virtues, especially purity, modesty, meekness, humility, charity, patience, resignation to the will of God, and devotedness to duty.
7. Retreat. — Make a spiritual retreat once a year.
8. Spiritual Communion. — An act of spiritual communion like the following should be made frequently, and especially at Mass: " My Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. I adore Thee. I praise Thee and thank Thee for all Thy blessings. I am sorry that I have offended Thee by my sins. By this act I wish to make reparation to Thee for all the insults and injuries committed against Thee in the sacrament of Thy love. I love Thee with my whole heart. Come to my poor soul; unite Thyself to me ... ✠ ... I thank Thee, my good Jesus. Oh! never, never leave me. Allow me not to be separated from Thee by sin."
9. In the Hour of Death. — When you are dying, make acts of contrition and of love. Pronounce the sweet and holy name of "Jesus."
