7 Catholic New Year’s Resolutions

The New Year is upon us – and with its coming brings New Year’s resolutions – we are all familiar with them; we have all made them; we have all broken them by January 7…The media is replete with lists of the most popular resolutions which can usually be broken down into three categories: losing, quitting, and saving – as in weight, smoking/drinking, and money. It is a rare exception that a New Year’s Resolution involves our ultimate and final goal of this life – eternal happiness with the Lord in the next.  Don’t get me wrong – I am not suggesting that you cease making the “losing, quitting, saving” resolutions – just that you consider adding a resolution or two that will impact your life for all eternity. Here are 7 Catholic resolutions for the New Year to consider: 1. Go to Daily Mass one extra day per week. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting Lumen Gentium, describes the Eucharist as “the source and suumit of the Christian life” and states that “the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily.” If you are not already a Daily Mass attendee, resolve to attend just one more Mass each week.2. Add a new prayer to your prayer routine.  For me, this year, I am planning to embrace the discipline of doing Morning prayer and Evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours each day. However, there are so many ways of incorporating more prayer in your life: Daily Mass, the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Noon-time  Angelus- the list is endless. Make a commitment today that will be achievable – even if the only commitment you are able to make is to pray one single Our Father each day.3. Read the