What do running and prayer have in common?
Both take commitment—and both are often neglected during summer.
Without the structure of campus life, missionaries, or regular routines, it’s easy to drift. But summer isn’t just a break. It’s an opportunity for deep spiritual growth.
Here’s how to make the most of it:
1. Start Every Day with Prayer (And Get Out of Bed)
This doesn’t mean having a bowl of some Wheaties for breakfast. It means get out of bed and start the day with the Lord in prayer. I want to emphasize the “GET OUT OF BED” part for two reasons: first, lying in bed is a time when the imagination runs wild—reentering dreams or chasing thoughts that don’t pursue reality. Get up and praise God for the reality that is life. Be alive in it and rejoice. Second, starting the day in sloth shrinks the time available for everything else—suddenly prayer is pushed to the bottom of the list. Offer God the first fruits of your day, and don’t let distractions steal what’s most important.
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Don’t start your day scrolling or drifting in half-sleep.
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Get out of bed and begin the day with God, not without Him.
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Give God the first fruits of your day—not whatever time is left over.
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Mornings set the tone; sloth delays everything and often pushes prayer off the schedule.
2. Prioritize Daily Prayer
Constant prayer is what starts the transition from feeling pressured to pray to actually wanting to pray. Your relationship with God is like any other—you get to know Him by spending time with Him, not by checking in once a week with complaints. A switch doesn’t magically flip to make prayer easy; it’s a process, and especially in the summer, it takes effort to step away from the sun or the “busy nothing” and choose prayer.
Set a daily time and stick to it—even if it’s just 15 minutes. Pray with Scripture, a Rosary in the car, or whatever helps you connect. The more you pray, the more you’ll want to. By the end of the summer, a holy hour might not seem so intimidating. Just check your screen time—you’ve got the time. Make space for God.
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Set aside a consistent time to pray—start small if needed.
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It’s not about checking a box; it’s about showing up in relationship.
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Prayer builds over time: it may start as a discipline but will grow into a desire.
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Use the car ride for a decade of the Rosary, read Scripture, or a novena.
3. Form Your Intellect
The formation of the intellect is crucial to growing in love of God. As Frank Sheed puts it, “We can never attain a maximum love of God with only a minimum knowledge of God.” The more we know about Him, the more we can love Him.
Summer is the perfect time to grow in both knowledge and love. Pick up a theological book—it doesn’t have to be heavy or academic. Start with something approachable, like a title that ends in “For Beginners.” As your mind is formed, your heart will follow. The truths you discover will strengthen your faith in ways you didn’t expect.
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Summer is a great time to read theology or spiritual books—even beginner ones.
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Try something approachable like Theology for Beginners or Rediscover Catholicism.
- Check out our list of great Catholic podcasts and our list of Catholic sign-ups.
4. Get to the Sacraments
Confession and daily Mass may not be as convenient at home as they are on campus—but that doesn’t mean they’re out of reach. Do some research, find what works, and make the effort—even if it means waking up earlier or pushing dinner back.
Sometimes it’ll look like rolling out of bed and sprinting to church—I’ve been there. But it’s worth it. Jesus is present. He wants to be with you—go receive Him.
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Your campus might have made Mass and Confession easy—but now it’s up to you.
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Use masstimes.org to find local churches.
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Make an effort, even if it’s inconvenient or awkward. It’s always worth it.
5. Find a Group (or Start One)
One of the hardest parts of summer is the isolation. Your support group disappears, Bible studies end, and the Catholic crowd scatters. But you’re not alone—you’ve got a phone.
Call a friend. Check in weekly to talk about the faith. These simple conversations help keep you grounded and growing. Find a group, and build each other up.
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Call a friend. Start a weekly faith check-in. Share prayer intentions.
- Start a Bible Study
Just like running, prayer and faith grow through repetition, discipline, and community. Show up, even when you don’t want to. Stick with it, even when no one’s watching. And remember—God’s grace doesn’t take the summer off. So get out there and live faith well during the summer!
Additional Resources
Ready for the summer? Got an action plan for your spiritual life? Regardless if the answer is yes or no, you need to check out our guides to keeping up your spiritual life:
- Make An Impact This Summer: The Catholic’s 5-Step Action Plan
- The Two Foundations of Your Summer Game Plan
- How FOCUS Summer Projects Changed My Life.
And then, check out our practical guides to help you in your daily faith life:
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