Rule of 7: Daily Devotions
The Soldier’s Guide To Daily Formation
The SOLDIERS OF CHRIST is a Catholic men’s apostolate based at the Cathedral of St. Eugene in Santa Rosa, CA. We are men forged into warriors for Christ—anchored in virtue, strengthened by prayer, and united in brotherhood.
To join the Soldiers of Christ is to embrace a plan of life and to walk in accountable fraternity. Our Spiritual Game Plan, built on the Rule of 7, is a path of prayer and discipline that forms us into men of courage, holiness, and fidelity.
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✠ Morning Offering
Rule of 7
Daily Disciplines
- Morning Offering – Begin the day by offering all to God.
- Rosary – Pray for holiness, your family, and your brothers in Christ.
- Examination of Conscience – Reflect, repent, and give thanks.
Weekly Disciplines
- Fraternity Meeting – Gather for prayer, support, and formation.
- One Daily Mass – Attend at least one weekday Mass in addition to Sunday.
- Friday Penance – Abstain from meat and social media, offering sacrifice for sanctity and brotherhood.
Monthly Discipline
- Confession – Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a month.
✠ Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of my family, friends,
and the Soldiers of Christ,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
✠ Liturgy of the Word
Adapted from the form prayed in Soldiers of Christ fraternity meetings, prepared here for private devotion.
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I unite myself with Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered throughout the world.
Strengthen me in faith, that I may listen to Your Word and grow as a man of courage and holiness. Amen.
Reading – Ephesians 6:10–17
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 68
GOD ARISES; HIS ENEMIES ARE SCATTERED.
Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
God arises; His enemies are scattered.
As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God.
God arises; His enemies are scattered.
But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!
God arises; His enemies are scattered.
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
God arises; His enemies are scattered
Intercessions
With trust in God’s power, I bring these petitions before Him:
For Pope Leo, Bishop Vasa, and Fr. Brown, may the Lord strengthen and protect them.
Lord, hear my prayer.
For vocations to marriage, the priesthood, and religious life.
Lord, hear my prayer.
For courage to live as a Christ-like man.
Lord, hear my prayer.
For the sick, suffering, and dying in our parish.
Lord, hear my prayer.
For the defense of life and an end to abortion.
Lord, hear my prayer.
For the faithful departed, may they rest in God’s peace.
Lord, hear my prayer.
[Personal Intentions]
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father…
Closing Prayer
Father, form me as a Soldier of Christ—faithful, brave, and obedient to Your will.
Clothe me in Your Spirit and guide me as I fight the good fight for Your Kingdom.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
✠ The Rosary: A Soldier’s Weapon
The Rosary is truly the liturgy of the family. God entrusts men with spiritual authority in their homes, calling us to act as priests of our households.
By leading the Rosary, a father sanctifies his family, shields them from evil, and exercises the authority God has entrusted to him.
The Rosary is not merely prayer, it is our weapon, our shield, and our anchor in Christ.
USCCB – How to Pray the Rosary
✠ Examination of Conscience
- Prayers – Was I faithful in prayer today? Did I remember God often?
- Works – Did I work honestly and diligently? Did I use my gifts to serve others?
- Joys – Did I thank God for blessings? Did I rejoice in others’ good without envy?
- Sufferings – Did I unite hardships to Christ with patience and trust?
- Sins – Did I fall into sin? Did I seek God’s mercy quickly?
- Family, Friends & Brothers – Did I pray for them and encourage them in faith?
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
The Soldier’s Renewal – Confession Guide
✠ Prayers of Protection
Prayer to St. Joseph, Terror of Demons
Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, cast thy solemn gaze upon the devil and all his minions and protect us with thy mighty staff. Thou fled through the night to avoid the devil’s wicked designs; now, with the power of God, smite the demons as they flee from thee! Grant special protection, we pray for children, fathers, mothers, families, and the dying. By God’s grace, no demon dares approach while thou art near, so we beg of thee, Saint Joseph, always be near to us! Amen.
Prayer for Protection
(From Prayers Against the Powers of Darkness — an appendix of prayers approved for use by the laity, taken from Exorcisms and Related Supplications)
O God, author of every mercy and all goodness, who willed Your Son to submit for our sake to the yoke of the Cross, so that You might drive from us the power of the enemy, look with mercy upon my lowliness and pain, and grant, I pray, that, defeating the onslaught of the Evil One, You will fill with the grace of Your blessing the one You made new in the font of Baptism. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
✠ The Father’s Blessing
Fathers share in the very Fatherhood of God, entrusted with real spiritual authority over their wives and children. This sacred role is expressed in prayer and blessing, especially with holy water.
✠ The Father’s Blessing
(From the Shorter Book of Blessings)
Make the Sign of the Cross on your child’s forehead with holy water:
May the Lord keep you and make you grow in his love, so that you may live worthy of the calling he has given you, now and forever. Amen.
Short option
May God bless you, ✠ the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
✠ As fathers, we are called not only to guard and provide, but to bless and sanctify our families. In this, we live as true Soldiers of Christ, leading our domestic churches in holiness and strength. ✠
✠ Words of Encouragement
“I must warn you against a ploy of satan — yes, without a capital, because he deserves no more — who tries to make use of the most ordinary circumstances, to turn us away, slightly or greatly, from the way that leads us to God.
If you are struggling, and even more if you are really struggling, you should not be surprised at feeling tired or at having sometimes to “go against the grain”, without any spiritual or human consolation. See what someone wrote to me some time ago, and which I kept for those who naively consider that grace does away with nature: “Father, for a few days now I have been feeling tremendously lazy and lacking in enthusiasm for fulfilling the plan of life. I have to force myself to do everything, and I have very little taste for it. Pray for me so that this crisis may soon pass, for it makes me suffer a lot to think it could make me turn from my way.”
—I answered only: did you not know that Love demands sacrifice? Read the words of the Master slowly: “Whoever does not take up his Cross quotidie — every day — is not worthy of Me.” And further on: “I will not leave you orphans…” Our Lord allows that dryness of yours, which you find so hard, so that you may love Him more, so that you may trust only in Him, so that you may co-redeem with the Cross, so that you may meet Him.”
St. Josemaría Escrivá' - # 149, The Furrow