Five tips for spiritual spring cleaning!

When the weather starts to turn warmer, a great event typically takes place in my house — spring cleaning. With the windows wide open to let the fresh air blow through the house, I clean, scrub, organize, donate, and simplify my home where nine of us dwell. In our own spiritual life, we, too, need to take some time out to perform some necessary spring cleaning of our soul.


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Get your spiritual life in order

Make sure you get to confession if you haven’t gone since Lent or before that time. Allow yourself to take some time out of your busy life to prune back the areas of your life that have gotten out of control. The sacrament of Reconciliation is a gift to us not just when we haven’t been to it in years; it is a blessing to start fresh in our spiritual life and gain the graces we need to love Christ and others.

How often do we hurt those in our lives and the first thing we do is turn to self-pity, anger, and resentment while lacking very little remorse? When relationships fail and life seems gray, start fresh with this sacrament. I have never regretted one visit to confession in my life! Each time we receive this sacrament we are renewed and restored.

To hear the final words of the priest during confession “your sins are forgiven, go in peace,” is real medicine for the soul!


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Increase your prayer time

Just like we need to prune our shrubs, bushes, and other landscaping, consider spending less time on devices and more time with the Lord. We learn to love Jesus through reading Scripture and spending time with Our Lord at Mass, Adoration, and entering into daily prayer. Consider turning off your form of electric entertainment and go for a walk and pray! You can’t love Christ if you do not know him. I have found that by signing up to receive the daily Scriptures from USCCB.org each morning, I can begin reflecting on what Christ is sharing in these Scriptures even while I am at the gym early in the morning.


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During month of May, turn to Mary and give her all of your intentions

As parents, we might be feeling stressed with the seasonal events of graduations, first Communions, and preparing for the children to get out of school for the year. We need to allow Mary to help guide us to her son. Consider praying the rosary this month for a particular intention and see how Mary would like to help you!

During May when we celebrate Mother’s Day, turn to Mary and offer up your motherhood! Consider getting an outdoor Marian statue and planting flowers near it. Allow your family to witness your dedication to Jesus’ mother and how you choose to place your trust in Jesus. Let Mary intercede for you and your intentions. We can all benefit from taking time out and reading Luke 1:46–49 and recounting the powerful prayer of Mary! This is not just a reading that should be read in the light of the Christmas season! These words are for us here and now!

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:46–49)

Her words can also be our words for we, too, are called to proclaim the great wonders the Lord has done in our own lives. Having a spirit of humility and gratitude allow us to proclaim God’s goodness!


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Get your home enthroned to the Sacred Heart

Consider seeking out a particular grace for your family by having your home enthroned to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Next month we celebrate this devotion (the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is June 8 this year.)

The enthronement ceremony is when we are willing to have our homes transformed into a little Bethany for the Lord.

This devotion is based on the direct request given by Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. She said there were 12 promises for those who venerate His Sacred Heart. The ninth promise is:

I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored.

Visit Enthronements.com to learn more. Just in Detroit and Columbus, Ohio, more than 200 missionaries are promoting this devotion and witnessing families enthrone Jesus the king of their hearts and homes weekly! This devotion has been around for centuries. When we honor Our Lord’s heart, he blesses us!


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Offer up your spring cleaning to the Lord

Consider uniting your physical work to the Lord and allowing him to use this time of work to be a prayer.

St. Joseph Escriva said, “Place careful concern for the quality of their everyday work, because it is this work, even in its most minor aspects, which they have to sanctify. Make sure that no matter how small your task is at hand, offer it up to the Lord.”

So next time you are cleaning out a closet, putting your winter clothes away, or deep cleaning your kitchen or garage, remember that your work can sanctify you and bring you closer to Our Lord!

Happy spring cleaning!

ConfessionMaryMary gardenPrayerrosarySacred Heart enthronementSacred Heart of Jesusspiritual spring cleaning
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