Holy Mother Church recognizes each day of the week, each month of the year and even a year itself carries unique characteristics. She has set aside certain devotional practices for each day, month, and sometimes in a very special way a year as we have seen Pope Benedict XVI name this year, The Year of Faith. We too can attach a particular intention, virtue or focus to our days, months and years.
We have taken up this noble practice here at Suscipio by following the custom of setting aside Tuesday’s as a day to recommend ourselves and the prayers close to our heart to St Martha.
There is a common practice of “Naming” the year by setting aside a word for the year; a focal point to direct our days, weave our weeks together and attach month to blessed month. Just as a North Star, or the straight arrow of a compass will redirect the lost, weary and confused so our word for the year can gently lead us back on the path we have set out for ourselves. All steps are directed by God the Father, but the way in which we choose to walk is up to us.
We may begin the year with the grand and noble idea of working on our patience, so we name the year “Patience.” And in the course of the year, not only are we given the opportunity to work on our patience level–meaning our temper, or or reaction to life’s little annoyances–the good God may see fit to lead us to a deeper appreciation of patience as we await medical results, employment after a layoff, or the patience that can only be found in the depths of grief. The Lord may refine our patience as we grow large and heavy with new life tucked deep within our womb…or new life held deep within our heart. The body of patience can carry a variety of meat and bones.
In years past I have focused on such words as Trust, Joy, and Abide. And now another year has chosen its name. As I began praying about this year, “simple” kept coming to mind…but that it not my word for the year. As I looked up the definition and synonyms for simple, quiet caught my eye…but that is not my word for the year. One of the synonyms for quiet reached out and grabbed me–a kindred word to humble, lowly, meek, moderate, nice, proper, prudent, quiet, silent, simple, temperate and unassuming.
This new year has chosen to be to focused on what is good without being distracted by irrelevant superficiality. A word where life is essential, rewards are superfluous and nature opens to a wider world where ornamentation stifles. A year which contains the essence of self-forgetfulness.* I will take the words of Emily Dickinson to heart as I continue to wade through the fickle and ever-changing world. I will remind myself the internet serves me and not the other way around.
“My barefoot rank is better,” Emily Dickinson said and I type these words out on January 1st, sitting in my pajamas…barefoot.
I rang in the New Year with my family and friends at 11pm Mass, and literally, when the clock struck midnight and fireworks were exploding throughout the neighborhood, and the Times Square Ball slowly descended, so did our Lord’s body and blood in father’s hands upon the altar. I was focused on the supreme Good and the essential Life. The virtue of modesty in thought, word and deed encompassed my new year.
My word for 2013 is
Welcome back ladies to Suscipio–a place of support, acceptance for the Catholic Woman.
*above quotes taken from an article entitled “The Virtue of Modesty” by Donald Demarco.
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Happy New Year! I have never done this before but I feel drawn to it this year. My word is Listen!
I am so excited for my Year….
tina recently posted..The Year Of
I’m so excited that I forgot to say I’m excited for all of you as well!
Tina recently posted..The Year Of
Hi, Jenny! I’ve always felt overwhelmed by this task before, but after struggling with emotional paralysis at times during 2012, I have finally felt led to a word which will encompass my year. I just wrote about it and it posted today.
Only two days in, but I can already see how having a guiding principle is more focusing than having a big list of things to accomplish.
Thank you for your salient observations on the topic. They lend added depth to my understanding of the concept.
Grace and peace…
Jeannine
This year I am praying for conversion back to the church for all family members and those of the whole world.
Debbie recently posted..New post and a New Year
I think I’m going to renew last year’s word: HIDE. I failed to hide last year: I continued to assert myself, and continued to search for my niche in this world. Thank God I didn’t find what I was looking for, but I upset myself greatly, like a person who continues to eat a food he’s allergic to. So, away I go again in 2013–trying to HIDE self. To that end, I hopped over to Conversion Diary to generate a saint for the year, http://www.conversiondiary.com/2010/12/the-saints-name-generator.html, and I’m so happy with St. Charles Lwanga–patron saint of the tortured–that SO me!
So much of this past year, really the past 4 years, have been filled with sadness, anger, anxiety and loss and instead of turning to God I have turned away. What a foolish choice, it has gained me nothing good.
My word is obedience. I am turning it all over to The Lord, and returning to a life of listening and obeying and living as He has intended for me. It’s a great leap for me but I begin with baby steps. Thank you for your blog and Suscipio, it has been instrumental in my coming home again. I join you(in reading and prayer)often!
I know ther is no “formula” for this plan but any suggestions or sources that you or other bloggers recommend to help me begin a spiritual journey are welcome.
This year is my year of Health – I just wrote about it a few days ago!
Molly Makes Do recently posted..Focus 2013: The Year of ….
Oh, Jenny, it is so good to read your post at the start of 2013. My word for 2013 is SOLITUDE. I hope to write about it soon…
Marcia recently posted..Seven Quick Takes Friday: On the Fifth Day of Christmas
Love your word Marcia! I hope you will share how this will manifests in your life : )
Theresa recently posted..New Year~blank page
i adopt a word every year but i’m having a bit of trouble this year. there are three words that have great meaning to me and help direct me to Him. i’m a going to give it a few more days in prayer before i make my final decision.
prayers for a modest Christmastide & New Year!
Lena ~ JOYfilledfamily recently posted..Year in Review 2012
Happy New Year!! What a great idea. I love the word choice modesty. I will spend some time listening and waiting for the right word. I have trust, surrender and presence that are returning to my thoughts.
Thanks for this suggestion Jenny! I’ve been naming my years since I started blogging in 2009. 2013 will be the year of trust. God bless you!
http://annebender.blogspot.com/2013/01/trust_1.html
Hello Anne. Blessings to you as you embark on a most worthy journey of trust, taking Mother Mary as your beloved Mother to guide you.
Jenny recently posted..Naming the New Year
Hi Jenny,
I’ve been contemplating this all day, it seems providential that I came upon your post this evening. Gabrielle Bossis in her memoir, ‘He and I’ used to start each year with a ‘Keynote’. It’s the same concept and I had forgotten about it until now. Thank you for this post. I look forward to rejoining the audience here at Suscipio and perhaps sharing my thoughts throughout this new year. Blessings to you and may God guide you through your keynote of ‘Modesty’.
Hi Maria. I have read parts of that book but I either I do not remember or never got to her mentioning a “Keynote.” Thank you for mentioning that.
Jenny recently posted..Naming the New Year
I must also go back and look at “He and I” to see what is said about this…thank you, Maria, for mentioning it.
I have never heard of naming the year before. If I had named this year, its name would be Trust. Happy 2013 to all!
Connie Rossini recently posted..Resolve to grow closer to Christ in 2013
Happy New Year Connie. It’s funny how a year can take on its own characteristic without us being aware.
Jenny recently posted..Naming the New Year
Oh this was so beautiful, Jenny…Especially your description of the midnight Mass with Father holding Jesus. Thank you. We don’t have a Mass at midnight but we DO have all night Adoration. My husband was on duty so my older son watched the kids while I ran out for my “date with Jesus.” Next to Mass, it’s my favorite way to ring in the New Year:) God bless you for all you share here and peace of Christ in 2013!
Hi Tiffany. Yes, Mass, Adoration, even prayer…what a way to ring in the New Year. I read your post on love; very beautiful. A blessed new year to you.
Jenny recently posted..Naming the New Year
I LOVE this. I hope to join in (and write a post about it soon – thus keeping me more, ahem, accountable.. which is a real help). For now, visions of words dance round in my head… praise, gratitude, faithfulness, gentleness…. and I know I must wait and pray for the one God is directing me toward. What an exciting adventure!
That’s one of the fun parts–finding the word or letting it find you! I look forward to your post sweet friend.
Jenny recently posted..Naming the New Year
Happy New Year Jenny!
Oh, I’ve named-the-year before (and may do so again!), but not this year. This year it’s (turning out to be) all about listening daily to what He wants.
Which, I guess, means I could name this year the year of “listening”?
Peace to you, and a blessed New Year!!
~LuAnne
LuAnne recently posted..Happy New Year to a Dream Come True
Hello LuAnne…ah a year of listening…I can almost hear it. When I read your comment Blessed Mother’s words rang in my head, “Do whatever He tells you.”
Jenny recently posted..Naming the New Year
Happy New Year and Blessed Christmas Season to you and your family Jenny!
I have never focused on a word before for the year but I like the idea.
Gives me food for thought for a possible post. Hmmm…I need to get work : )
Theresa recently posted..The gift of time
Yes Theresa, you word had been chosen for you before you even knew it. A blessed year of discernment to you my dear friend.
Jenny recently posted..Naming the New Year