BRILL: Embracing rituals and renewing our faith as we return to routine

(Photo by James Ramos/Herald)As the summer sun begins to wane and the school year begins, we find ourselves transitioning back into the rhythm of daily routines. This change can be both challenging and refreshing, as it invites us to rediscover the beauty and importance of the rituals that ground our lives.

As creatures of habit, we thrive on the structure and comfort that routines provide, especially when those routines are infused with our faith.

Rituals are more than just repeated actions; they are systematized series of interactions that help us connect to something beyond ourselves and allow us to return time and time again. We have plenty of rituals in our daily lives, like how we prepare for the day or how we greet family and friends. If you think you don’t have any rituals, I recommend you take a look at how you may take for granted certain repetitive aspects of your life.

These rituals can lead to acting on autopilot without much attention to the details, but if we approach them with passion we can find appreciation for how the rituals create a stable foundation amidst the tumult of our lives. Rituals are a safe haven when our world is in flux; they are a place where we can be at ease, and they provide order to the mundane.

Rituals can, and are, elevated by our faith. Whether it’s the simple act of blessing ourselves with holy water as we enter the church or the communal celebration of the Eucharist. These sacred rituals draw us closer to the divine and reinforce our identity as members of the mystical body of Christ. As we return back to the same pew that we have to sit in each Sunday, let us reassess what rituals we can include throughout our day to make Christ the center of our lives, some of which may have fallen to the wayside in the summer.

Can we incorporate prayers at the beginning or end of the day? Are there any sacramental, sacred signs that prepare us to receive the grace of the Sacraments that we can surround ourselves with?

With holy water — we could consider keeping a small bottle of holy water in our homes to bless our children each day as they leave for school. Wearing a blessed medal or carrying a rosary in a backpack are other tangible ways to keep the faith close, even in the midst of busy days.

Can we seek God’s blessing, like through blessings at important times in life, or engage the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist more?

As we embark on this new school year, let us recommit to the rituals that sustain us, engage more deeply in our parish communities, and embrace the sacramentals that draw us closer to God.

May these practices strengthen our resolve and bring us peace, knowing that we are never alone on this journey. Together, as a community of faith, let us welcome the school year with open hearts, ready to follow God’s will for our lives. 

Adam Brill is the director of the Office of Worship.