The Spirituality and Miracles of St. Clare of Assisi

Holy New Year

Early this morning, I wished Brother Michael Guadalupe a "Happy New Year!" He replied "Holy New Year!" What a beautiful wish! Holiness is the true key to our happiness, for true happiness can only be experienced when our hearts are surrendered to His desires and His will for us.

Tonight, as I sang "Refiner's Fire" with a talented youth group during Adoration, I winced a little as I always do at the part where I sing "purify my heart", thinking to myself, "What new trial or suffering will I be challenged with in the upcoming New Year? Do I really want to ask for further purification? I know that purification is a prerequisite for eternal life, and if it doesn't happen in this life, it will come in the next. Do I really trust God enough to know that he will never try me beyond my strength? Have I not consecrated and surrendered my life to Him through His Holy Mother?"

How I could I ever forget Our Mother's words to Juan Diego (and to all her children) at Guadalupe? "Know for certain that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God . . . here I will show and offer all my love, my compassion, my help and protection to the people. I am your merciful Mother, the Mother of all who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who have confidence in me. Here I will hear their weeping and their sorrows . . . their necessities and misfortunes . . . Listen and let it penetrate your heart . . . Do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?"

Is there really anything else we need?

Have a Mary New Year!


Mary, Mother of God, stay close to us in the New Year and fill our hearts with hope.


Here is a very beautiful and inspiring poem / prayer from a gifted friend.

Dear Father,

Here we are again at the dawn of a New Year,
a time of beginnings.

Lord, I know not how many days lie before me,
or even if I will live past the start,
when the clock strikes midnight.

So much before us is uncertain,
uncharted,
in your most capable hands.

Yet, as this old year draws to its close,
I pray
that whatever time lies in front of me,
whatever days lay before me,
may I dedicate them anew to you,
lover of my soul,
King of creation,
my true goal
my God,
Abba,
Father.

Teach me, as each moment dawns anew,
to look at the time at hand,
with eyes that see as you would see,
to see the child beloved to you
who wears an undesirable face,
to see the soul deserving of my love
in the eyes of my enemy.

Let me see the time that can be consecrated to you,
to spread your peace,
where once I would have walked away,
to reach out
where once I would have clenched my fist,
to see opportunity
where once I would have seen obstacle.

Most of all,
let the fire of your love
burn so brightly in me,
that all that is dross in my soul
melts away,
that all that separates me from you
passes into ash, to be blown away.

In the morning,
be my first thought,
in evening, my last consideration.

May all my resolutions this year
resolve into the one:
To do what you would want me to do,
how you would want me to do,
when you would want me to do it,
not by my might,
but through the power of your Spirit,
now and forever,
Amen.

Sue Stone
sue_stone@stonesneatstuff.com
www.catholicmeditations.com