The sunny days of summer are approaching, but it isn’t time to take a vacation from our spiritual journey! Though we may be taking a vacation from work or school, it’s important to stay vigilant in our Faith. “The spiritual life progresses slowly but surely, and consistency, attentiveness, being vigilant—those are things that are always articulated in the Gospel by Jesus. Like the foolish virgins versus those that were prepared when the bridegroom came, we want to be prepared. We never know the day nor the hour,” says Fr. Sam Martin, priest of the Diocese of La Crosse and regular contributor to The Inner Life^®.

Keeping up our spiritual momentum is also important due to something that Fr. Martin calls spiritual inertia. “A thing in motion tends to stay in motion, but once we are not moving spiritually, then we tend to get stuck and it’s a trap for us.” Therefore summer, like any other month, should be a time for us to continue to grow in holiness.

There are many ways to grow in Faith during the summer months. When you take a vacation, look up the Mass times in the area and attend Mass wherever you go. It can be inspiring to get out of your routine and see Catholics celebrating Mass in a different part of the state or country. Summer is also a great opportunity to plan a visit to a holy place, a shrine or beautiful church.

Take advantage of the warm, sunny weather and get outdoors for prayer. Pray a Rosary while on a walk through a park, or find a tree to sit under and read some scripture or a great spiritual book. Listen to an inspirational podcast while you take a bike ride. The beauty of God’s creation can help us to enter more fully into our prayer and gratitude.

For prayers and podcasts on the go, check out the Relevant Radio app!