Holy Family, the Blessed Mother, and a New Year

As we celebrate the Octave of Christmas (an eight day feast), the eighth day (Jan. 1) honors Mary, the Mother of God, and the Sunday during this Octave (this year: Dec 31) celebrates the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family is obviously unique, so there are some aspects of their lives we are not all called to imitate (such as married persons remaining virgins). Still, there is much we can learn from them about the virtues of love and family life, such as the trust and faithfulness of Mary, the righteousness and compassion of Joseph, and the closeness of all three with God the Father.

Since January 1 falls on a Monday, this year it is not a day of obligation to attend Mass, but we will still celebrate our customary Masses in honor of the Blessed Mother on New Year’s Day: 10am at St. Martha and 12 Noon at St. Mary. I think the following prayer is appropriate as we prepare to begin a new year (as well as other times of transition). God is revealed in both the Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament) and the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) to be a generous giver of fresh starts. May the new year be for all of us a chance to make a fresh start in our prayer lives and our relationships with God and others!

For Times of Transition

God of Love,
You are with us in every transition and change.
As we enter into this new era with excitement and even some anxiety,
we recall your deep compassion, presence, and abounding love.
We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills with which you have blessed us.
We thank you for the experiences that have brought us to this moment.
We thank you for the work of others that gives breadth and depth to our own work.
Be with us as we move forward, rejoicing with you and supporting one another.
We ask this in your Holy Name.
Amen
Joseph P. Shadle (from JesuitResource.org)