ARMOR Up

For immediate help with resisting an addictive behavior, it's critical to delay the instant gratification that we desire. While there are many ways to do that, this Rest. Pray. Serve. method works well for ARMOR:

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."
-Matthew 11:28

Rest

1. Stop and take a break from whatever you're doing and minimize all distractions.
2. Find a quiet place to be alone and kneel, sit, or lay down in stillness and silence.
3. Close your eyes and relax as if you're settling down to sleep, but stay awake.

"But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting."
-Matthew 17:21

Pray

1. Whisper or say quietly 3 times "Come, Holy Spirit", while breathing in and out slowly and deeply.
2. Reflect patiently on the adversity that is triggering this temptation, what you feel about it, and why you feel that way.
3. Fast from complaining about this adversity, and practice gratitude by thanking God for the opportunity to draw near to Him.
4. Read aloud one of the "I Am" affirmations or 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 with your name in place of "love" or "it".
5. Pray for others, especially all who struggle with an addictive behavior.
6. Pray to surrender anger and resentment toward others, then forgive them and yourself.
7. Fast from thinking, speaking, or doing anything, and be still in silence to experience God's response.

"Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."
-Matthew 25:40

Serve

1. To serve others, it's important to help yourself first. This TONE exercise tones up your brain "muscles" by reflecting on the adversity and your response to it:
   • Trigger. Remind yourself of the adversity that triggered the temptation.
   • Old response. What was your old, non-virtuous response, and what emotion did you feel?
   • New response. What will be your new, virtuous response, and what emotion will you feel?
   • Execute. Reward yourself by executing the new response, and feel the emotion.
2. Talk in person or on the phone with someone from ARMOR and/or with someone you trust, and share about your TONE exercise above. Then ask them about any adversity in their day, and listen with empathy without trying to fix it.
3. Strive to live virtuously today. Those who do not strive to live virtuously today will be ill-prepared to resist temptation in the future, “and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.” (Matthew 12:45; Luke 11:26)

The essence of addiction recovery for ARMOR is striving to Live Virtuously Today, every day, one day at a time. Yesterday is in the past and cannot be changed, but we can learn from it and apply those lessons today. Tomorrow is uncertain, which often causes anxiety. Jesus said "Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil." (Matthew 6:34) In other words, today is enough for us, and it's critical to stay focused on the present day if we hope to obtain our goal of inheriting eternal life in heaven. So we practice a growth mindset in striving to live virtuously today by:

• Participating in the Daily Virtue Renewal (DVR) call to talk with others in ARMOR about striving to live virtuously today.
• Growing in virtue during the next 24 hours with the help of the Grow in Virtue guide. 
• Using the Resources guide and the SPICE approach below to pursue specific areas of growth in virtue:
  • Spiritual fitness through prayer, fasting, almsiving, and the Sacraments
  • Physical fitness with proper nutrition, exercise, and rest
  • Intellectual / Mental fitness through learning and mindfulness
  • Communicative fitness by talking to others about our thoughts & emotions and listening to them talk about theirs
  • Emotional fitness by identifying and managing emotions properly
• Praying the Examen every night to reflect on our efforts in striving to live virtuously during the last 24 hours.

*Each person is encouraged to meet periodically with a certified spiritual director and a professional counselor to review their plan to Live Virtuously Today as well as the progress made in spiritual fitness and emotional & mental fitness.

Men's Meetings

• Regular Meeting is every Wednesday evening
  • Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm
  • Location: Christ the Redeemer Chapel Building (see campus map), Room 302 (hallway on left side of Chapel)
  • Agenda: See Regular Meeting Guidelines below
• Morning Refresh gathering is every Wednesday morning
  • Time: 5:30am-8:30am
  • Location: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, then First Watch
  • Agenda: Eucharistic Adoration at 5:30am, Mass at 6:30am, Confession at 7:10am, Breakfast with a DVR at 7:30am
• Click here to suggest other days/times for men's meetings.

Women's Meetings

• No meetings scheduled yet
• Click here to inquire about women's meetings.

Regular Meeting Guidelines

• Use the meeting script for consistency
• Theological Q&A is deferred for follow-up outside meetings
• Meeting duration is ~2 hours with this agenda:
  • Introductions and Rosary (~25 minutes)
  • Reading and Discussion (~45 minutes)
  • Accountability (~45 minutes) 
  • Closing Remarks and Prayer (~5 minutes)
• All meeting attendees are asked to do the following before the meeting:
  • Note prayer intentions to request for the Rosary
  • Read the planned reading and note any thoughts on the reading to share with others
  • Summarize your experience in striving to Live Virtuously Today over the past week
  • Prepare any closing remarks (e.g. desire to facilitate, need for a book, interest in specific outreach or social event, or any other announcements)
• Facilitated by someone who meets these requirements:
  • History of struggling with addictive behavior
  • Experienced in addiction recovery peer support
  • Current with Safe Environment training

As part of your recovery journey, it's important to give back monthly to the community using our time, talent, and treasure. Consider these ways of giving back:

Prayer Warriors
Gather together to pray for others. (Ephesians 6:18)

Mercy Warriors
Carry out corporal and spiritual works of mercy. (Matthew 25:33-40)

Music Warriors
Facilitate praise & worship through music outside the Mass. (Ephesians 5:19)

Fundraising Warriors
Attend events to raise awareness and funds for causes that work to preserve and restore human dignity. (Romans 12:13)

Testimony Warriors
Give personal testimony about your own spiritual journey. (Acts 5:20)

Practicing our faith in a world that doesn't place a high value on virtue can be exhausting, and it's important to take time away from our normal day-to-day routine of life to recharge our spiritual batteries at least once every year. Here are some ways to do that:

• Catholic Retreats at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center
• CtR Men's Retreat
• CtR Women's Retreat
• Cursillo
• Exodus 90 (for men only)
• Kolbe Prison Retreats
• Magnify 90 (for women only)
• Miles Christi