This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has challenged us to strive for spiritual unity and for the strengthening of families by following the example of the Holy Family, especially in these difficult and uncertain times.
Then, this coming Wednesday, we begin the New Year, and we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Pope Francis also has encouraged the faithful to look to Mary as a model, and to follow her example of holiness. As reported in the media outlet, “Catholic News Agency”, he stated, “The New Year begins under the sign of the Holy Mother of God, under the sign of the Mother.” He noted, “We need mothers, women who look at the world not to exploit it, but so that it can have life.” He also challenged the faithful to take a more spiritual focus to the New Year, in the midst of the many temptations of the secular world.
This hope for a more spiritual focus is reflected in the following “A New Year’s Prayer” by an anonymous author:
May God make your year a happy one.
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead. Amen.
As we begin the New Year, and as we reflect on this prayer, many of us make resolutions to renew or revitalize our lives in certain ways. We may resolve to lose weight, or exercise more frequently, or be more punctual. But we can also consider ways that we can renew or revitalize our lives spiritually. One way we can embrace spiritual renewal is by praying each day, especially as a family if circumstances permit. It may be before meals. It may be at a certain time in the day. Most of us are busy people, with different schedules, often going in different directions within our family unit. So, it may require some discipline and structure to make the time to pray together but hopefully it will be spiritually beneficial.
On behalf of Msgr. Marren, Fr. Bill, Fr. Colin, our Deacons, and staff, we wish you and your families many spiritual blessings in the year to come.