Every year around this time many of us think about making New Year’s Resolutions. 

“A New Year’s resolution is a tradition in which a person resolves to continue good practices, change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve one’s life.” Wikipedia.

I always say that I will lose weight and try to exercise more (to lose weight) or learn to pray better (especially silent prayer where I can fail by starting to think about something else aside from concentrating totally on God or worse, fall asleep when closing my eyes as I enter into God’s presence).

Even though I tend to fail at such resolutions, I still make them and try each year to do better.

That made me think of whether our Church leaders have given guidance on making “Catholic” New Year’s Resolutions (those type of resolutions geared to improving one’s spiritual life.) Much to my surprise when I googled “Catholic New Year’s Resolutions,” I found many such offerings. Perhaps you might want to do that and will find that reading worthwhile.

Such resolutions can include things like reading the Bible regularly, getting to know the saints, signing up for a Holy Hour, reading a spiritual book, committing to daily silent prayer, completing a daily examination of conscience and saying an Act of Contrition, fasting, reciting a daily Rosary, going to Mass more than once a week, going to Confession and so on. I found over 30 such worthy ideas on the internet.

Then I found what Pope Francis suggested in January 2021 that we do for that year. These suggestions are so simple yet elegant and profound in their simplicity that they could be used every year. I would like to list them here for your thoughtful consideration for 2023:

·      Don’t gossip

·      Finish your meals

·      Make time for others

·      Choose the more humble purchase

·      Meet the poor “in the flesh”

·      Stop judging others

·      Befriend those who disagree

·      Make commitments, such as marriage

·      Make it a habit “to ask the Lord”

·      Be happy

Wishing you God’s peace and happiness in 2023 and my best wishes for a Blessed New Year’s.

-Deacon Tom

The noun, rumination, means a deep considered thought about something.