Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord for the blessing of good beginnings.

Fr. Paul Colloton, OSFS, on Living in the Now

"We are at the beginning of a new year. St. Francis de Sales has a prayer for this time

"'I pray that God, in his goodness, will grant you a good beginning, a better continuation, and a perfect ending to this New Year that now welcomes you!'

"I find this prayer helpful and hopeful. What more could we want than a good beginning? A good beginning gives one a fine foundation for whatever may come each day of this new year. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Father Paul Colloton, OSFS (Superior, De Sales Centre Oblate Residence, Childs, MD), reflected on the importance of a good beginning and living in the now, in the present.

To access Fr. Colloton's complete reflection, please visit:

De Sales Weekly: Salesian Reflection: Living in the Now (5 JAN 24)

Reflection Starter from Vivian Greene

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." - Vivian Greene

Larry Chance And The Earls: "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

Tt's time for some more doo wop. Here is a presentation of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" by Larry Chance And The Earls::

 

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of our heritage, individually and collectively on the various levels.

Br. Thomas Nee, O.P., Remembering Who We Are while Looking Ahead to the New Year

"My last name, 'Nee,' is quite odd - terribly short and simple and, yet, somehow often mispronounced (it's just like 'knee,' by the way, and should be distinguished from its heteronym). I'm stuck with it, but that's okay. It ties me to my roots: my family background, my heritage, and the people who have known me by that name. A given name is something to cherish. And yet, people often want to change their names. Sometimes this is meritorious - a woman marks herself as part of a new family in marriage, or a religious takes on the yoke of a new consecrated name. But other times this desire for change is for less-than-noble reasons -identity crisis and confusion, perhaps even a desire to cast off one's past completely. These are radical examples, but I think at its root this desire aligns with the sentiment we take on at New Year's: it's a time of 'New Year, New Me.”'"

In a recent commentary, Brother Thomas Nee, O.P., reflected on the importance of, while looking ahead to the new year, not forgetting the "auld acquaintance" of who we are and where we came from.

To access Br. Thomas' complete post, please visit:

Dominicana: New Year, New Nee (29 DEC 23)

Reflection Starter from St. Basil the Great

"There is nothing unpremeditated, nothing neglected by God. His unsleeping eye beholds all things." - Saint Basil the Great, whose memory the Church celebrates today (2 January)

Logan Institute Singers: "Mary, Did You Know?"

As our holy day and Christmas Octave celebration continues, I offer this version of the Logan Institute Singers presenting "Mary, Did You Know?"

The Octave Day of Christmas, Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Today the Church celebrates the Octave Day of Christmas, the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. The assigned readings are Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, and Luke 2:16-21. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 67 (Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm : Cycle ABC - Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God (January 1)

The Gospel reading is as follows:

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflections related to these readings and this feast day:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Mary, Mother of God January 1, 2024

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Mary, Mother of God (January 1, 2024)

Crossroads Initiative: Mary, the Mother of God?

Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality: The Octave Day of Christmas Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God 

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings You have planned for us in 2024.

Daniel Esparza on the Promises of a New Year

"As the old year wanes and the new one rises on the horizon, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The past year is a closed door behind us, while the future is wide open - indeed, a bit too 'open.' The expectation of a new year is laden with the weight of the irreversible on the one hand, and that of the unpredictable on the other."

In a recent commentary, writer/scholar Daniel Esparza reflected on the necessity of forgiveness as we stand at the threshold of the new year with the promises made and broken in the year gone by.

To access Mr. Esparza's complete post, please visit: 

Aleteia: Daniel Esparza: The new year: A dance of promises and forgiveness (1 JAN 24)

Reflection Starter from Arnold Bennett

"The chief beauty about the constant supply of time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoilt, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment." - Arnold Bennett