Dan and Stephanie recently tackled one of the most frequent questions we get here at
Apostoli Viae in their June 12, 2020 podcast of Divine Intimacy Radio, which you can
hear here. Further information on the Plan of Love can be found in Dan's
book, Navigating the Interior Life. Dan also discusses the Plan of Love in this Reflection.
WHAT IS A PLAN OF LOVE?
A deliberate way of living that includes specific commitments of things you do every day
to honor the Lord and those He has placed in your care.
IS THERE AN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE TO MY
COMMITMENTS?
Yes.
The most important thing in your Rule of Love is your Sacramental participation--Mass
and Confession--which is where you receive the greatest graces from God.
We recommend a minimum of once a month, but Stephanie says even once every other
week or once a week helps if you are really trying to progress in your purgative life.
After this, mental prayer is the most important type of prayer. It helps us to get to know
God, which is the most important thing in our lives.
Then, the Examen prayer, which helps you to be aware of what is happening in your
spiritual life.
Lastly, the Rosary.
WHAT IF MY STATE OF LIFE PREVENTS ME FROM
COMPLETING MY PLAN OF LOVE?
Stephanie recommends planning your life around your Plan of Love. If you are married,
sit down with your spouse and work out your prayer schedule so you can both be sure
to have time with the Lord and each other.
Also, remember that the Lord will never ask us to do anything that is contrary to our
State of Life as husbands, wives, parents, etc.
WHAT ARE SOME POSSIBLE ITEMS FOR A PLAN OF LOVE?
Use your plan of love to help grow closer to God, increase in virtue, and minimize vice.
Stephanie organizes her Plan of Love by "Love of God" and "Love of Neighbor". Here are
some ideas culled from the fantastic group of Apostoli Viae Disciples, grouped by
function:
Loving God:
Act of Love at waking
spending time in mental prayer--start slow, then increase time as God gives you
graces
Lectio Divina--read and meditate on that day's Mass readings
Liturgy of the Hours
daily Mass
Spiritual Reading--set a specific time (15 mins a day) or amount from a book (a
chapter from a saint's life)
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament--daily, multiple times a week
Try to see God in all things
Invoke the Divine Will
Nightly Examen prayer
Mortification/Conquering Vice:
the Heroic Minute--get up as soon as your alarm goes off, ala St Josemaria Escriva
waking up early to pray every day
regular Confession
Fasting & other penances
Going to bed at a certain time, to ensure ease of getting up early to pray and
limiting irritability during the day due to sleepiness
Specific Prayers:
daily Rosary: Latin or English
Angelus/Regina Coeli
Litany of Humility
Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 pm
Chaplet for the theme of the month-- i.e. June: Sacred heart, May: Mary, July:
precious blood, etc.
Chaplet of Adoration & Reparation
Spiritual Communion
Prayers of reparation
Litany of Trust
Surrender Novena
Novenas according to time of year or need
Auxilium Christianorum prayers
Anima Christi
Sorrowful Mother Rosary
St Bridget Prayers
Addressing Your Rough Spots:
Exercise--love and take care of the body God gave you
Allowing myself to rest and appreciate good recreation
Restricting my use of the smart phone--detachment
Respond with love: am I responding with love and cheerfulness to all?
Confidence in God: did I exhibit confidence and trust in God today and not worry?
Is today’s clutter put away? (5th commandment relating to self-care or self-
respect)
Weekly virtue exercise: pick a virtue each week and work on it in a specific way
Am I being patient, loving kind? To my spouse? Children? Others?
Invoke the Holy Spirit before opening your mouth to speak... eat...
Practice wholehearted listening
Meditate on and practice the 10 Virtues of Mary
Avoiding trouble spots--TV, smoking, gossip, social media, shopping
Daily weigh in/calorie count--to conquer gluttony
Loving My Neighbor:
Daily compliment to my husband
Read Apostoli Viae posts and comment, to encourage others
Family faith--invite my family members to pray, try to talk about living the
Christian life, etc.
Did I treat (insert name of person I struggle with) as a daughter/son of the King in
thought, word or action?
Respond with love to all things
