Sherry Antonetti on Ways to Begin the New Year with a New Spirit

"Every year, we pick a theme which we hope will be a reminder throughout the year in our prayer lives. Some have proven themselves memorable, like 'March on, God will provide.' Honestly, it happened. We'd outgrown our house, we would discover we'd be expecting our eighth. The state took our home and gave us a place big enough to house our whole family even when it expanded to ten. Another year, we picked 'Be not afraid,' and yes, we spent the year growing in courage, as we learned our ninth would have Down syndrome and need open heart surgery. When we've remembered our themes, they've stuck and resonated and helped cultivate our faith lives. . . .

"I’d love to say I'm consistent in my prayer habits or New Year's traditions, but I'm not. However, I've found both disciplines when applied, fruitful both in the physical and spiritual realm of growth. What I have learned, is adopt something new, whether a prayer discipline or a patron saint and expect things to happen. It can be anything, but if you're feeling brain drained by the holidays, here are a few I've sampled over the years and a few I know friends adopted which would bear good spiritual fruit."

In a recent commentary, writer Sherry Antonetti reflected on some ways to enter into the new year with a new spirit (including reading/reflecting on the readings of the day; joining a prayer group, volunteer service, or a bible study; and visiting a local adoration chapel).

To access Ms. Antonetti's complete post, please visit:

National Catholic Register: Blogs: Sherry Antonetti: 5 Ways to Begin the New Year with a New Spirit (1 JAN 19)