Master the heroic minute

We often associate saintliness with the grand gestures associated with martyrdom, heroic sacrifice, and intense penance; but we don’t become saints overnight, and many of us won’t be asked to be martyrs. Instead, sanctity is formed in the day-to-day and even moment-by-moment decisions to unite ourselves to God, whether that’s through prayer, sacrifice, or the Sacraments. 

The heroic minute was a favorite practice of St. Josemaría Escrivá, the “patron saint of the ordinary.” He explained in his book The Way, “It is the time fixed for getting up. Without hesitation: a supernatural reflection and… up! The heroic minute: here you have a mortification that strengthens your will and does no harm to your body” (206).

A fresh start every day

Each new day is like the moment after Confession: We put the anger, wounds, and sins of yesterday behind us, and offer up this new day for the greater glory of God. We firmly resolve to unite our sorrows with those of Our Lord, to offer our work joyfully, and to love our neighbors, whether that’s our coworkers or our potty-training toddler. Each day is a new opportunity to cooperate with God’s grace and strive for sainthood.

It sounds like a simple devotion, but it’s easier said than done! It’s always tempting to hit that snooze button one more time and get another five minutes of sleep. But this hidden penance gives us the opportunity to unite the first moments of our day to Our Lord. 

There’s a few key aspects that can help you master it. Success starts the night before. Go to bed at a consistent time as much as possible and turn off screens at least an hour before bed. Keep your room cool and dark, and try to avoid caffeine in the evening. You can also create a soothing bedtime routine with reading, journaling, or night prayers before bed. 

Next, don’t keep your alarm clock near your bed! Put it across the room so that you have to get out of bed to turn it off. It’s much less tempting to press snooze and snuggle back under the covers if you’re already out of bed.

In addition, choose a simple morning offering and memorize it, or if you don’t have one memorized, print it off and keep it on your bedside table. I still pray the one I learned in my Faith and Life catechism books: “Lord, I offer you all of my thoughts, words, and actions today. Please keep me close to you, your mother Mary, and my guardian angel as I live today for your glory.”

After that, it helps to start the rest of your morning. Open your blinds or turn on the light switch, and grab your coffee and breakfast. 

Variety is the spice of life

Keep in mind that the heroic minute will look different in different seasons of life – a postpartum mom might offer her prayers while nursing her newborn in bed, and a retired adult might have more time for specific morning prayers than a student with morning classes, or a professional with a long commute.

Finally, don’t give up! It’s going to be hard at first, but habits don’t take forever to form. Before you know it, it will be second nature to offer the first moments of your day to God. This ordinary act of holiness will bring immense fruit to your spiritual life, and a newfound focus to your day.