Vacations and times of leisure can be a great gift, a time for refreshment and family. But we also know the feeling of needing a vacation from our vacation, being drawn into frenetic activity, and getting out of our normal rhythm and habits.
The Kings of Summer exercise looks at how David gave into distraction and ended up falling into grave sin. He grew comfortable in his new palace in Jerusalem and gave into the sin of sloth (also called acedia). He turned away from his duties as king and father and instead sought to create his own reality, under his control rather than following God’s will.
Here are some ideas to maintain a good rhythm throughout the summer:
- Stick to a schedule of daily prayer.
- Don’t get sucked into too much screen time.
- Stay in touch with your anchor and fraternity.
- Make time for confession.
- If you can, take a retreat day to go even deeper and find some needed peace.
Why not vacation different this year? Here are some ideas to make your vacations more meaningful.
- Look for any spiritual sites, monasteries, or shrines near to where you’ll be visiting.
- Attend daily Mass as a family.
- Spend some quiet time outside.
- Bring a Catholic book along to read.
Summer can both be a time of relaxation and lead to spiritual growth. We’ll have the best summer ever if we use our free time not only for relaxation but also to focus on what matters most.
Dr. Staudt serves as Director of Content for Exodus and as an Instructor for the Lay Division of St. John Vianney Seminary. He is the author of How the Eucharist Can Save Civilization (TAN), Restoring Humanity: Essays on the Evangelization of Culture (Divine Providence Press) and The Beer Option: Brewing a Catholic Culture Yesterday & Today (Angelico Press). He holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Ave Maria University and B.A. and M.A. in Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN). He and wife, Anne, have six children and he is a Benedictine oblate.
