New Year’s Blessings

Facts of Life

At the beginning of this new year, may we thank God for the blessing of another year.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.”

In order to foster an attitude of blessing, Pope Francis offered advice in his pre-Christmas message to Vatican employees, in a “New Year’s Resolutions” list of sorts:

He reminded them to care for their spiritual life and family life, as well as their relationships with others. He added that they should use care with their words and heal wounds through forgiveness. He reminded them that they should do their work well and combat envy, hatred and negative feelings, as well as laziness. He added that they should stop “pointing the finger” at others, “continuously complaining” and gossiping.

An image of the Sacred Heart in the Church of the Jesu in Rome

Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Next week, the Bishops of the United States will meet in Orlando and consecrate America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This week on Register Radio we are joined by Bishop Kevin Rhoades to explain the importance of the consecration and how we can all take part and then Register senior writer Zelda Caldwell tells us about the remarkable phenomenon of diocesan priests living in community.