Happy New Year

This is my very first post of 2016. As I write I hear the popping sound of fireworks welcoming this new year. On New Year's Eve in our Boston chapel, we Sisters, Daughters of St. Paul, prayer together an Hour of Eucharistic Adoration. Our readings and reflections were mainly from Pope Francis' writings. When I stay up to midnight and beyond, I find myself running on "slow and stop" speed the next day! We Catholics celebrate New Year's Day with a Mass in honor of Mary, the Mother of God. Jesus entrusted the first 30 years of his life to his mother Mary. So we can do well to imitate the Master and entrust ourselves to Mary as we enjoy the gift of a brand New Year. We have already begun the Year of Mercy. We celebrate God's mercy extended to us in many ways: through our families who put up with us and know how to live with our quirks and character flaws; God's mercy flows through us to others as we forgive offenses done to to us, and when we admit our sins and mistakes and ask forgiveness. Pope Francis says to practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy as well as the Corporal Works of Mercy. The homeless in our own neighborhoods, the kids who misbehave in religious ed class, and on and on goes the list.