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For many of us, the Christmas season is abruptly ended by New Year’s Day and the countless messages alarming us that it’s time to scrutinize our lifestyle. Or more pointedly, it’s time to scrutinize the size, appearance, and culturally-defined “desirability” of our bodies. As a clinically trained dietitian specializing in eating disorders and body image recovery, I often hear the retort that the pursuit of weight loss is a pursuit of health, a quest that we’re told should be endlessly encouraged and fought for. But at what cost?

Letting go of the “body project”

With the ring of a new year, many of us hear internal and external clangs of judgment, shame, and guilt over a body that doesn’t seem to proclaim evidence of hard work, self-control, or the laudable pursuit of health. And so, with the hopes of finally securing approval in this world, we resolve to achieve our best (read: smallest, strongest, sexiest, healthiest) self

If the notion of viewing your body as a project to accomplish feels relatable, you’re not alone. In fact, for years now, losing weight has ranked in the top three new year’s resolutions. Considering that 75 - 90% of women are dissatisfied with their bodies, the high prevalence of resolutions centered around improving the body should come as no surprise.

What I see in both my anecdotal experience with clients and in the evidence-based literature, is that the quest for a different body than the one you are currently in causes more harm than good. This is evidenced by the continuously climbing prevalence of eating disorders. 20% of which end in premature death. This is also demonstrated by an abundance of research that shows those who engage in chronic dieting and weight-cycling behaviors experience dramatically increased risk of many morbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. 

As it turns out, naming your body “unacceptable” and employing forceable efforts to change it (typically via food restriction, exercise abuse, and other disordered behaviors) negatively impacts both your physical and mental health. And while there are often individualized behavior adjustments we can make to better support our health and honor our needs, it’s important to recognize that weight loss isn’t simultaneous with health improvement, nor worth enhancement. It’s important to know that health does not come in one specific size, and worth is not determined by the health or functionality of our physical bodies.

What might it be like if, this year - rather than focusing your precious time, energy, and headspace on striving to manipulate the size and appearance of your body - you instead let go of the weighty and damaging pursuit of the “body project”?

What would it be like if, instead of fighting against the authority of your God and your genetics, you made the radical resolution to walk towards body acceptance?

Would it be liberating? Peaceful? Daunting?

Your body is already good

As a dietitian informed by my Catholic spirituality, I also see the damage that a constant rejection of your body places on your spiritual health. When you endlessly strive to make your body “good,” you reject the reality that God already made you good (see Genesis 1). When you are constantly preoccupied with achieving weight loss, meeting cultural beauty standards, and even perfecting physical health, you create idols as you begin to view these things as your litmus test of worthiness.

This year, I invite you to consider losing the weight of the burdensome endeavor to change your body. Instead, I encourage you to compassionately and curiously begin the journey of accepting the body you are in, today.

It is a good body.

Please use discretion when reading, as this article contains mentions of abuse.

The popular Netflix series Maid is a story of resilience. Based on Stephanie Land’s memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, the series follows a young woman named Alex (Margaret Qualley) and the struggles she faces as she flees an abusive relationship. It is a story about Alex’s hard work and determination - and the importance of asking for and accepting help. As much as she strives to be independent, Alex’s story shows us that hard times can require even the toughest among us to rely on the generosity of others.

(Spoilers ahead.) 

When Alex packs up her young daughter, Maddy, and leaves in the middle of the night, she tries to sleep in her car in a public park but is told by an officer that she is not allowed to be there. She goes to a social service office, but they cannot help her in the short term due to the sheer amount of red tape. Her friends and family are unhelpful for various reasons, and she is left totally alone, spending the night with Maddy on the floor of a ferry station with all her possessions in a duffle bag on the ground.

Alex finds herself in seemingly hopeless, dead-end situations several times throughout the series and, each time, she manages to redeem herself. Part of this is due to Alex’s grit, but she does not just “pull herself up by her bootstraps.” She is able to make it because of the goodwill of others, specific people in her community who make the choice to give her a hand. Here are three things that Maid teaches us about how to be a good neighbor: 

1. There are people in need within our own networks - we just need to keep our eyes open. 

While Alex comes from poverty, she seems to live in a mostly wealthy area. One of her first big breaks comes when Nate, a well-off acquaintance she met in a bar, sees her camped out in the ferry station and checks in with her. Initially unwilling to accept his help, Alex eventually develops a friendship with Nate, and she and Maddy stay in his home for a while. Nate could have been uncomfortable offering to help her; they didn’t know each other well, and they are clearly from different backgrounds. However, he saw her need and courageously offered to meet it. (The fact that he had a big crush on her probably helped, but hey - he was still a good neighbor.) 

2. Solidarity goes both ways: no one is just a charity case. 

Later on in the series, Alex and one of her uber-wealthy house cleaning clients, Regina, develop a reluctant friendship. Alex thinks Regina has the perfect life, but she eventually discovers cracks in the armor. Despite her lack of financial resources, Alex has a lot to offer Regina in terms of emotional support and parenting wisdom. Regina, on the other hand, cares enough about Alex to track her down and check on her when she returns to her abuser and stops coming to work.

Through Regina and Alex’s friendship, we are reminded that everyone has something to offer. As Pope Benedict XVI writes, “This proper way of serving others also leads to humility. The one who serves does not consider himself superior to the one served, however miserable his situation at the moment may be.” We should go into every service situation with the humility to understand that we have as much to learn as we do to give.

3. Advocating for justice on a large scale is not enough.

While our faith calls us to fight for social justice and use our political voices wisely, justice is not enough; we must also care for our neighbors through love. As Pope Benedict XVI elaborates, “Love — caritas — will always prove necessary, even in the most just society. There is no ordering of the State so just that it can eliminate the need for a service of love.”

It is easy to feel like we are doing enough to change the world through Instagram-activism or financial support of meaningful causes. These things are important, of course, but they don’t let us off the hook from our responsibility to care for our neighbor. Love is rooted in justice, but it does so much more. To quote Pope Benedict XVI again, “Charity goes beyond justice, because to love is to give, to offer what is “mine” to the other; but it never lacks justice, which prompts us to give the other what is “his”, what is due to him by reason of his being or his acting.”‍

‍Maid reminds us that love is an active choice that we make to recognize another person’s dignity and to become an active agent of love and justice in the world.

In one of his first full-length interviews, newly-elected Pope Francis said,

We must therefore investigate further the role of women in the Church. We have to work harder to develop a profound theology of the woman. Only by making this step will it be possible to better reflect on their function within the Church. The feminine genius is needed wherever we make important decisions. The challenge today is this: To think about the specific place of women also in those places where the authority of the Church is exercised for various areas of the Church.

How has Pope Francis followed his own suggestion? Over his tenure, he has moved forward with several assignments that placed more women into offices in the Vatican. Let’s take a look at this year’s important appointments that demonstrate Pope Francis’ commitment to placing women in places where important decisions are being made.

Sister Raffaella Petrini, Secretary-General of the office governing the Vatican City State

Sr. Raffaella Petrini is a native of Rome and member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. This appointment makes her the highest-ranking woman at the Vatican and the first woman to head the Vatican’s administrative government. A role traditionally held by a bishop, as secretary-general Sr. Petrini serves in a role similar to a deputy mayor, overseeing the Vatican Museums, post office, and police force of the Vatican. She previously taught sociology and economics at the university level and holds a doctorate in social sciences, as well as a Master of Science in organizational behavior. 

Sister Nathalie Becquart, Undersecretary to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops

Sr. Nathalie Becquart is a French nun and member of the Xaviere Missionary order. Having served as a consultant to the Synod of Bishops, Sr. Becquart was elevated to the position of undersecretary, a post normally held by a bishop. Her day-to-day mission is to assist the General Secretary with the preparation of synods and implementation of the decisions made. Sr. Becquart serves as the first woman in this role, which comes with voting rights on texts that are debated at the synods - putting her in a position to help make key decisions during the process.

Catia Summaria, Promoter of Justice in Vatican Court of Appeals

Catia Summaria is an Italian magistrate who has been appointed as the first woman prosecutor in the Vatican Court of Appeals, following a long career as a prosecutor in Rome. She is married and has two daughters. In her new role as Promoter of Justice, Summaria functions like a district attorney. A major case she will take on involves the financial offenses of Vatican bank president Angelo Caloia, which has been a high-profile case at the Vatican. She also serves as a member of the Italian Ministry of Justice’s commission to work for judicial system reform.

Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary ad interim of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

Salesian nun and economist Sr. Alessandra Smerilli was appointed to serve as the interim secretary of the Vatican’s department for addressing issues of justice and peace. With this appointment, Sr. Smerilli became the first woman to hold a number two position in the Vatican’s administration. She also serves as a member of the governing council of the Vatican City State administration, a consultant to the Synod of Bishops, and the coordinator of the Economy Task Force of the Vatican Commission for COVID-19.

More Women Added to the Biblical Commission

The Vatican’s Biblical Commission is an organization of biblical experts that promotes the study of the Bible among Catholics and studies emerging problems in the discipline. This year, Pope Francis appointed Sister Nuria Calduch-Benages, a Spanish biblical scholar and member of the Congregation of Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family, as the first woman Secretary of the Vatican Biblical Commission. Pope Francis also appointed two more female scholars, Benedicte Lemmelijn and Maria Armida Nicolaci, to the twenty-member commission. He named the first woman to this commission in 2014 and has been adding more women as openings come up.

A Change in Church Law Opens Up More Ministries to Women

Early in 2021, Pope Francis issued an order (called a motu proprio) that changed Church law to allow women to be formally instituted as lectors, altar servers, and acolytes - giving women a greater role in the liturgy. A motu proprio is usually initiated by the Pope himself apart from the advice of a council or other committee and is personally signed by him - meaning that this was a decision made solely by Pope Francis. You can read more on why this matters here. 

Pope Francis has been moving the needle forward in putting women in positions of leadership that previously were almost exclusively given to clergy. His prior appointments over the years have also included:

• Dr. Francesca di Giovanni, the first female manager at the Secretariat of State
• Gabriella Gambino and Linda Ghisoni, undersecretaries at the Department for Laity, Family and Life
• Barbara Jatta, the first female director of the Vatican Museums 
• Six women appointed to oversee the Vatican’s finances
• First women to oversee and advise Vatican departments, including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for Religious Orders 
• First female deputy director of the Vatican’s Press Office
• Addition of female scientists to the Vatican’s Academy of Sciences 
  

Pope Francis has demonstrated his commitment to giving more seats at the table to women - and we love to see it!

After the unexpected whirlwinds of 2020 and 2021, we’re trying to enter 2022 without expectations, but with hope. Here are our takes on resolutions for 2022, plus some suggestions if you’re hoping to grow personally in the new year:

Executive Team

Samantha Povlock

Founder, CEO, and Editor in Chief

My Resolution

My resolution this year is to put my phone down in the evening while I’m with my family, and be present with them. Life is so busy and as I’ve begun to do more and more on my phone with different apps, it’s easy to want to stay “productive” all the time. But ordering groceries while we’re watching a family movie, or checking email when I’m playing with my kids, are things I know ultimately make me less effective and significantly less present with the people I care about most. Life is too short to let myself be distracted from them. 

My Suggestion

Reconnect with yourself this year by noticing when you feel most you - clearheaded, calm, connected. Then lean into those activities, places, and relationships. It’s so easy to get distracted on a daily basis and not invest in the parts of life that make life meaningful. Notice what brings you joy and follow that. In my experience God speaks to us there - in peace and calm but also where we find genuine joy. 

Amanda Bambury

Co-Founder, Managing Editor

My Resolution

In the past, I’ve started some new years with resolutions and some without. This year, I’m passing on a new resolution. I find myself in the middle of a particularly challenging time in life, and on most days, maintaining a good, healthy routine takes nearly all of my energy. So, my (not-so-new) resolution is to persevere: to persevere through this time, to resist the temptation to take on more than I should, and to do my best (even if that “best” is disappointing to my type-A self).

In any good fitness routine, we need days when we push ourselves hard and days when we recover. I’m starting to think that the other aspects of our lives need both types of days, too. Not every day or season is a time to lift heavy - literally or figuratively.

My Suggestion

I encourage you to balance self-compassion and self-discipline. Be honest with yourself: Are you in a time in life when you need to pause, stop taking on new things (or even let go of something), and just do your best until a certain difficulty or season passes? Or, do you need a little push to work on an area of improvement that you’ve put off for a while? Is now your time to lift heavy or to recover?

Emily Mentock

Co-Founder, Head of Marketing and Channels

My Resolution

This is going to sound basic but I really want to get in shape! Holiday food and stress caused some weight gain that isn’t the end of the world, but doesn’t leave me feeling great either. Not to mention that end-of-year work craziness eliminated workouts from my weekly schedule. My husband got me a Peloton for Christmas so I’m excited to try that and just get into a routine again! I workout to feel good — physically and mentally — and hopefully building some intentional habits in January will last all year round.

My Suggestion

You don’t need a Peloton or gym membership to workout! There are so many great YouTube channels that offer them for free. My husband likes Yoga with Adriene and I’m a big fan of The Body Coach.

Focus on building a habit of working out more than on weight or size goals. Once you get moving, you won’t regret it!

Section Editors

Sophie-Anne Sachs

Career Section Editor

My Resolution

One of my resolutions for 2022 is to eat more greens! I would love to experiment with yummy recipes that include cooked vegetables and salads. Next year, I’m going to go out of my comfort zone when it comes to cooking and eating. Have ideas? Share recipes with me on Insta @thrivebeyond5.

My Suggestion

Update your career biography! What new skills or projects have you taken on this year? If you’ve had a title change, finished a project, or earned a new certificate, make sure you have an updated biography to either share with your professional network, use as a draft for a cover letter, or just to keep a record of your accomplishments.

Kelly Sankowski

Body Section Editor

My Resolution

2021 was a bear of a year for me, personally. For the first half, I was hunkered down trying to survive morning sickness while writing a thesis, and then in the second half I was navigating a move to a different state, giving birth for the first time, and learning how to take care of a human. All in the middle of a pandemic, of course. So for 2022, I mostly want to slow down and re-introduce things that bring me joy: running, yoga, reading, and playing guitar (poorly). My most concrete goal, though, is to make a friend in my new city!

My Suggestion

Find something you enjoy that involves moving your body and do it for 30 minutes every day. This could be going for a walk, morning or evening yoga, swimming, biking — whatever you most enjoy! Sometimes exercise feels like a chore, but if you find something that makes you happy, it becomes more about self-care and less about guilting yourself into doing something you hate.

Mary Grace Cebrat

Culture Section Editor

My Resolution

I started going to the chiropractor for the first time recently, and one of my goals for 2022 is to keep up with this practice. I initially went for migraine relief, but as I’ve gotten better in touch with my body, I’m finding that I hold tension in places I didn’t even realize. (I wish someone would have told me sooner that stretching my hip flexors would address my period cramps better than most medications I’ve been given!) Going to the chiropractor has been a great experience of holistic self-care; not only do I get a massage and adjustment, I also learn exercises to build my strength and stretch my muscles. My resolution is to keep going regularly, even when I’m not having acute pain, to help me shift my healthcare goals from treating symptoms to holistic wellness. 

My Suggestion

Many of us get most of our news these days from social media, and as we know, it can be an echo chamber, only giving us certain opinions and zeroing in on the most salacious topics. As a resolution, choose one news source that you trust (I’d recommend somewhere near the middle of All Sides Media Bias Chart). Download their app on your phone, bookmark their website on your computer, or sign up for their email newsletter. Or if you’re old-fashioned, you can even subscribe to a print edition! Skim the headlines each day for a broad overview and actually read through an article or two to go beyond a tweet-sized sound bite. Instead of relying on your friends’ Instagram stories to get your news, resolve to become better informed by seeking out quality journalism.

Victoria Mastrangelo

Church Section Editor

My Resolution

Like many people these last two years, I’ve spent more time on my phone. Whether it’s following the constant stream of news, looking for inspiration for writing projects, or simply scrolling for entertainment or escape, it’s becoming more of a crutch than a tool. This year, I’m trying to break that habit and use the time for prayer, reading, or just letting myself be bored. 

My Suggestion

Introduce the Ignatian Examen as part of your day. Take 5 minutes in the middle or end of the day to assess how things are going. What are things you’re thankful for? What are areas that have been difficult? What have been areas of success? Hand all of that over to God, giving gratitude for what has been going well and asking for His guidance and help with what has been difficult. This practice is a great way to reflect on how God is moving in your day and identify the areas where you may want to let Him in. 

If you want a reminder that you can leave on your nightstand or take with you on the go, you can download this free prayer card.

Renée Roden

Sex & Relationships Section Editor

My Resolution

As an Enneagram 2, I have the temptation to be a help machine and ignore my own needs. 

Recently, I was talking with my roommate about accepting our own neediness. American culture values strength and power. We look down on weakness or dependency. So, even when we "help others," we don't challenge that part of ourselves that feels safe in being strong and self-sufficient and feels anxious at the thought of needing help or depending on others. 

In 2022, I'm going to be needy. I'm going to ask for help more and embrace the parts of myself that are weak and need a little extra aid! 

My Suggestion‍

My favorite New Year's resolution to date: Ask. More. Questions. Questions are small talk super powers. Whenever you're out of conversation, ask a follow-up question. Ask someone how they are, where they're from, what their siblings do. Questions can help diffuse tension. "Why did you say that in your text?" can open up more understanding than "wow, you sounded crabby."Questions place us in a position of relationship rather than control. It may feel unnatural or forced at first, but practice makes perfect.

When you picture a nun, you might think of a quiet, submissive woman in a habit who lives in a cloister - or a strict, no-nonsense, old woman rapping knuckles in an old-timey school. While these stereotypes are prevalent in pop culture, they certainly are not reflective of religious sisters as a whole.

History is filled with stories of sisters who subverted those stereotypes, many of whom were made saints for doing so. And while some were devoted to prayer in convents - which is also valuable! - there have always been sisters who went out to serve the poor and vulnerable. 

The role of religious sisters has continued to evolve to meet the needs of a changing world. It’s now common for sisters to be engaged in politics or active on social media, and they continue to serve those in need through diverse ministries. 

Because of their humility, we often don’t see the work these women are doing unless we have a personal connection with them. So, we reached out on Instagram to ask our readers about the cool nuns they know. Here is what their responses show us:

Sisters are active 

Sr. Rita Clare is a former professional women’s football player and Division 1 college basketball player.

The Missionaries of the Word run youth expeditions, ministering to teens and young adults through hiking and camping retreats.

Sr. Stephanie Baliga (“The Running Nun”) is a marathon runner, in addition to running a large food pantry in Chicago.

And who could forget Sister Jean, the 102-year-old nun who is Loyola basketball’s team chaplain and biggest fan?

Sisters are creative 

The Dominican Sisters of Mission San José in California run all sorts of creative ministries. As one reader explained, “They do a Christmas boutique every year and make the most amazing cookies and have their own olive trees to make olive oil! In addition to a music school. They’re the best!” 

Sister Dr. Miriam Therese Winter is professor of liturgy, worship, spirituality, and feminist studies at Hartford Seminary. She is a Medical Mission sister, but her healing is done through music. She has traveled the world performing songs about justice and gender, peace and reconciliation, and global inequality.

Sisters are educated

Sr. Jocelyn Edathil, is highly educated, having earned an M.D. and a Ph.D in organic chemistry. She is currently an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Temple University.

Countless orders of women religious continue to be involved with education at all levels. For instance, the Religiosas de Pureza de María run a university in Spain and the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia run K-12 schools in Nashville.

Sisters see a need and meet it

The Sisters of Life provide resources to pregnant and parenting women, including housing, employment, medical assistance, legal advice, and emotional and spiritual accompaniment.

The Sisters of Charity work in Juárez, Mexico with kids who have cerebral palsy or other special needs.

Sr. Josephine Garrett works with children as a trauma-informed school counselor.

The Mercedarian Sisters offer retreats to people who are suffering from a debilitating or terminal illness, helping them find spiritual consolation, guidance, comfort, and peace.

One reader described her personal connection to a Ghanian nun named Comfort, who works in public health in rural areas and is studying to be an OB/GYN

Sisters are hardcore...

The Cistercian nuns of the Abbaye of Boulaur are restoring and running their own 12th century-inspired cattle farm.

A group of Peruvian nuns formed Siervas, a rock band with an international following.

And as one reader put it, “The Cistercian nuns at Valley of Our Lady gather to pray the Divine Office at 3am. Bruh. That’s hardcore.”

...but they’re also normal

The Daughters of St. Paul, also known as “the media nuns,” use all forms of media to evangelize, including Twitter and TikTok. Sr. Bethany is especially popular.

One reader reminisced, “I have some great memories of nuns visiting the summer camp I went to through middle and high school and having them play laser tag and dodgeball with us.” 

Most recently, a group of sisters made headlines at an Astros game and were later invited to throw out the first pitch

In sum, women are incredible, and religious sisters are no exception. The next time you see a nun at the grocery store, keep in mind that she could be going home to train for a marathon, rehearse with her rock band, milk a cow, or learn the latest TikTok dance.

I love the weeks leading up to Christmas. We begin to think about Christmas gifts, play festive music, decorate our homes, and enjoy treasured stories like The Night Before Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. We listen to the retelling of the greatest story of all, the one in which Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is born in a lowly manger to bring peace and joy to the world. As joy-filled as the holiday season can be, though, we might not feel very full of joy. But it’s okay to not be okay during Christmas. In fact, when we don’t feel okay - whether because we’re lost, lonely, or suffering in some other way - we can trust that this is precisely why Jesus came.

The holidays can be a time of tense family interactions, and even if our Christmas day is beautiful and magical, we often return to our normal routines on December 26. After remembering the birth of our Savior and wondering about its meaning for us now, it might feel like nothing much happened when the gifts have been opened, leftovers polished off, and work schedules resumed. 

But Christmas gives us lasting meaning and hope long after December 25, and whether that day was filled with sorrow or joy.

A History of Sorrow and Joy

The Bible tells us the story of a God who continually invites His people to grow closer to Him, and to even grow a relationship with Him. The story of God’s first people (Israel), much like our own, oscillated between periods of waiting and joy, suffering and glory. ​

God spoke to Abraham and revealed a glimpse of that future glory: descendants as numerous as the stars in the night sky. But His people were enslaved and suffering. God heard their cries - not immediately, just as it usually isn’t immediate with us, but He eventually asked Moses to lead the people out of slavery.

And most importantly, God was with them during all of their wandering and grumbling. He never abandoned them. He appeared in pillars of smoke and fire and gave them the gift of food every morning. When His people reached their destination, they wanted a king. So God gave them one. 

It was easy for them to believe in God’s love when there were men like King David who loved God and led them courageously. But Israel was attacked, their place of worship destroyed, and their people exiled. Their suffering was great and it seemed like God was far from present. It seemed like He had abandoned them. The psalms in the Bible speak of the pain and near despair of this time: How long, O Lord, will you turn your face from us?

So, too, might we wonder when we feel abandoned: God, why are you letting me suffer? Why did you let this happen? Where are you? And when are you going to help me?

God With Us in the Sorrow and Joy

For God’s people, decades turned to centuries as they waited for the glory that God promised to Abraham so long ago. They waited for the glory that the prophets kept speaking of. There would be a Savior, someone to lift the people out of their misery. He would be called Emmanuel, God with us. 

And at last, in the darkness of night, in an empty cave, in the dirty feeding trough of farm animals, a child was born. He cried and was hungry and pooped and needed soothing. He was a baby totally dependent on his mother even to hold up his own head. He wasn’t the Savior they expected, arriving in a rush of kingly glory, because God saves us not by ending our suffering, but by entering into it with us.

God could have opened Heaven up to us in any number of ways. And yet, the all-powerful God chose to take on human flesh as a baby in the womb of a poor, single mother. Through the Incarnation, hope and love entered the world in a new way.

In becoming human, God gave us the ability to be with him - forever. Our salvation began with God becoming a tiny embryo in Mary’s womb, who would be born in the poorest of conditions. What beautiful and surprising love. 

This Christmas, we’ll hear many a familiar story of the birth of Jesus: Mary and Joseph finding no room at the inn, shepherds making haste to visit the babe, and wise men following the stars by night. We’ve heard this message of hope time and time again. And yet, this is why the Church has us listen to these stories every year: It takes time for us to grasp the depth of God’s love that we see in the birth of Jesus. And it shows us, every single year, that God enters into the messiness of our lives. He did so on the first Christmas, and He wants to do so every day of our own lives.

So yes, it’s okay to not be okay on Christmas, because Jesus came for those who were not okay, who needed his help, his healing, and his love. If you’re not doing okay this Christmas, we encourage you to ask God to be with you - and trust that He will come, as He did so many years ago.

Over the summer, this statue of the Virgin Mary by Maria Scanu went viral on Reddit, as people discussed whether or not it was intentional that the statue resembled a vulva. While we don’t know the artist’s intent, there is plenty of Christian tradition to support that the statue could have been designed that way on purpose.

Looking through the comments, you see a variety of opinions: there are some jokes being made, some people who are uncomfortable discussing female body parts (including the first comment that uses the phrase “lady bits”), some people who appreciate that the design both looks like a pregnant Mary and like a vulva, and some people who have to educate others on what exactly a vulva is. The assumption is that female body parts are gross or taboo, and that no one associated with a Church that emphasizes purity could possibly have intended to celebrate them.

Discussing the female body in the early Church

The exchange on Reddit reminded me of documents I read from the early days of the Church, when theologians debated Christ’s humanity. Even then, some theologians wanted to present the female body as too dirty and gruesome for God to emerge from. In one exchange, a theologian named Marcion stated his belief that the process of birth was unsuitable for God, and Tertullian of Carthage (also a theologian) defended it. He outlines Marcion’s complaints against the process of birth:

“...the filth of the generative seeds within the womb, of the bodily fluid and the blood; the loathsome, curdled lump of flesh which has to be fed for nine months off this same muck. Describe the womb – expanding daily, heavy, troubled, uneasy even in sleep, torn between the impulses of fastidious distaste and those of excessive hunger...” (On the Flesh of Christ)

Tertullian, however, said that the human body is inseparable from the rest of the human person, that God redeemed all of us, and that “He would not have redeemed what He did not love.” Ultimately, the Church sided with Tertullian - and declared Marcion a heretic.

This disagreement in thought about the female body seems to still exist in different forms today, but there are plenty of examples in Christian history of yonic artwork that celebrated the female body. Early Christians built vulva-shaped baptismal fonts like this one to celebrate being born into new life in Jesus, and medieval artists painted Jesus’s side wound in a yonic way, since it also produced new life as it released blood and water.

If, in fact, Maria Scanu did intend for her statue to resemble a vulva, her choice ought to be celebrated, rather than ridiculed. The vulva is the strong and flexible organ that pushes life into the world. And in Mary’s case, it is the means through which Jesus was brought to earth. If that idea is shocking, that is a good thing, because it helps us remember how truly momentous it is that God took on human flesh and was born to a young woman in Nazareth.

Remembering Mary’s side of the Christmas story

This Christmas, just five months after giving birth to my first child, I am trying to focus more on Mary’s experience the night that Jesus was born. The nativity story skips quickly from the tale of pregnant Mary riding on a donkey to baby Jesus sleeping in the manger, but any woman who has given birth will tell you that is not how it happens. Each year, we celebrate Jesus entering the world and taking on messy and fragile human flesh, which was entirely reliant on the blood, sweat, and tears of his mother’s laboring body.

When Christ was laying in the manger, she was still bleeding and aching, without the comfort of a hospital bed or pain killers. She was likely still recovering emotionally from a process that had a much lower survival rate than it does today, and the usual stress of assuming responsibility for a new person must have felt even heavier when that baby was an unexplained miracle. I imagine she was exhausted but couldn’t sleep, interrupted every few hours having to feed the baby Jesus, her nipples feeling the pain of that new experience.

It was because of Mary’s strength and resilience that Jesus was pushed into the world, nourished once he arrived, and loved as he grew. When I look at my nativity scene this Christmas, my eyes will linger a little longer on her figure, wonder why she doesn’t look a bit rounder and more exhausted. But mostly, I’ll be grateful that because of her birthing body, God came to be among us.

In my mind, it’s not Christmas until we sing “Joy to the World.” My childhood parish always concluded the family Christmas vigil Mass with this classic hymn, complete with an organ and trumpets. Well, almost always, because one year they didn’t, subbing in some other perfectly appropriate Christmas hymn I can’t recall. What I do recall is my disappointment at the absence of this cherished ritual. Even today, it makes me think of those Christmas songs that I just can’t live without.

I was upset and decided to take matters into my own hands, ushering in Christmas by singing my own a cappella rendition in the car on the way home. My brothers were not amenable to this idea and started yelling at me to stop, as I continued belting it out. Needless to say, my parents were less-than-joyful about this start to our celebration. Years later, I maintain that all of this could have been avoided if my church had just honored tradition by selecting the right carol!

Christmas carols evoke strong emotions in us. We love the songs we love, and we hate the songs we hate. While songs like “Santa Baby” and “All I Want for Christmas (Is You)” get most of the radio airtime, I think religious hymns deserve more attention.

So, we reached out to you, our FemCatholic community, to come up with a ranking of favorite Christmas hymns. Here is the definitive FemCatholic ranking of best religious Christmas songs of all time: 

16. “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”

This classic tune tells the story of the Annunciation to the shepherds, but it definitely has more of a lullaby feel than some of the other tunes. Honestly though, that’s fitting, considering that Christmas is a holiday celebrating the baby Jesus.

15. “For Unto Us a Child Is Born”

Based on a verse from Isaiah, this choral piece was written for Handel’s Messiah. PBS notes that it is widely considered “one of the most glorious expressions of sacred joy in the Christmas repertory.” But it seems this high music didn’t resonate with our audience as much as some other hymns.

13. (TIE) “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Fun fact: This song is sung to a different tune on each side of the Atlantic, but the American version is the original. In fact, it was written in the context of post-Civil War America, urging the divided and ravaged country to look to Jesus’ nativity as a beacon of hope. It’s a message that remains relevant today.

13. (TIE) “Go Tell It on a Mountain”

This song has its roots as one of the very few Christmas songs among the preserved canon of African American spirituals. It was later used in the Civil Rights movement, and the joy of the lyrics and melody carry on today in the enthusiastic hand motions of Catholic schoolchildren.

12. “What Child Is This?”

This sweet song set to the traditional folk melody “Greensleeves” paints the nativity scene with simple images, such as a little babe asleep on his mother’s lap. Like the next song, it also starts with a rhetorical question, but “What Child Is This?” promptly answers the question in the next stanza. As a result, it doesn’t get nearly as much flack as the next song.

11. “Mary, Did You Know?”

This song feels like a classic, but one thing I didn’t know is that it was first released just 30 years ago. What I do know about this song is that it’s controversial, beloved by some for its beauty, but loathed by others for its alleged mansplaining and questionable theology. And as some have pointed out, yes, “Mary freaking knew.”

10. “The Little Drummer Boy”

Three fun facts about this song: it was written by a woman, it was initially called “Carol of the Drum,” and it was first recorded by the Trapp Family Singers, a.k.a. the real life family that The Sound of Music was based on!

9. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”

While the language of this song is rather antiquated and confusing (“God rest you merry” used to be a way of wishing someone peace), the tune is certainly catchy. Now maybe if the anonymous composer sent well-wishes to a more gender-inclusive group, rather than just “gentlemen,” the song would rank higher with our overwhelmingly female audience. Just saying.

8. “Away in a Manger”

This song also is somewhat contentious in the Catholic world due to its erroneous attribution to Martin Luther (a creative claim stemming from a very-19th-century book called Dainty Hymns for Little Lads and Lasses) and the questionable theology of the line, “but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.” Still, there is something quite charming about watching a Christmas pageant and hearing sweet little voices asking Jesus to stay by their cradles. 

7. “O Come All Ye Faithful”

I’m surprised this song didn’t rank higher, as it’s a jubilant classic that is accessible even to the most amatuer of singers. One of my favorite things about the Catholic Church is its universality, and I love that you can hear some version of the Latin “Adeste Fidelis” nearly anywhere in the world (although mistranslations have resulted in funny wordings in some languages).

5. (TIE) “Angels We Have Heard on High”

This iconic song, based on the angels’ refrain in Luke’s Gospel, has become the topic of many a Catholic meme for stretching the word “Gloria” into an impressive 18 syllables. Theologically correct and undeniably fun to sing? It earns its place near the top of the list, tied with another angelic favorite.

5. (TIE) “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

This song, also based on Luke 2:14, has an odd history. It was initially written in the 18th century with a more solemn melody, but a century later, someone had the idea to set it to a new tune. That familiar melody we now know and love was from Mendelssohn’s cantata Festgesang, which was meant to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the printing press. This unconventional pairing stuck, and seems to have worked well enough to earn the song a high ranking among our readers.

4. “Silent Night”

This song comes with another odd origin story: A young Catholic priest in Germany wrote the song while looking out on his quiet village. Years later, on Christmas Eve, he wanted to set it to music, but his church’s organ was overrun by mice. An organist from a neighboring town gave him a hand, and a classic was born. Two centuries later, the song is so globally popular it has been added to UNESCO’s world heritage list for its universal cultural value.

3. “The First Noël”

This Cornish song (sometimes written “The First Nowell”) has oral roots dating as far back as the 15th century and written roots from the 17th century. Historians believe that it was sung by the common folk as a way to pass on the story of Christmas, despite their limited ability to participate in Mass at that time. Due to its word-of-mouth transmission, the lyrics sometimes got altered, leading to some transcriptions with a rather comical refrain of, “Oh well, oh well” in place of “Noël, noël.”

2. “Joy to the World”

Unlike most Christmas hymns, which are based on the Gospels, “Joy to the World” is mostly based on the Old Testament. The song was a team effort, with lyrics from a British poet and a tune inspired by Handel’s Messiah, all adapted by an American music teacher, who also added the iconic repetition at the end. I’m glad to see that many FemCatholic readers agree that the song of my childhood tradition is truly one of the best!

1. “O Holy Night”

“O Holy Night” has unlikely origins – written in France by an atheist wine merchant and a Jewish composer – and a storied history that includes a role in the American abolition movement. However, some Church leaders didn’t like its non-Christian origin story and justice-oriented lyrics and tried to “cancel” it, decrying its “lack of musical taste” and “total absence of the spirit of religion.” Clearly, plenty of people (including our readers) beg to differ, propelling it to victory in our contest.

Honestly, I’m not even mad that “Joy to the World” didn’t win because “O Holy Night” is just that good. (Plus, it plays a role in another of my cherished Christmas traditions, subjecting my loved ones to the “worst version ever” spoof.)

Thanks to everyone who voted in our polls. God rest ye merry, ladies!

One of the reasons why we like social media is that we get a behind-the-scenes look into someone’s life. But sharing about our relationships on social media can be messy.

When it comes to relationships, navigating this dance of what to post and what not to post leaves people in three camps: only post the good; only post the raw, real stuff; and stay far, far away from posting anything at all.

If you choose to share about your relationship on social media, it’s important to do so in a way that honors your relationship and your partner. Here are a few considerations to guide you along the way.

Talk to Your Partner

Talk to your partner about their comfort level with sharing their private life on social media and how they prefer to talk about their own life in their digital circles. Ask them whether they like taking selfies, when and if they want to share about your relationship online, and whether they like to post on social media in general. Share your preferences, as well, so your partner knows what to expect. There is no shame in being honest about your habits! Having this conversation early on in a relationship can be good practice in communicating vulnerably so that you and your partner are on the same page - or can find a happy middle. 

Think Before You Post

Posting on social media can be reactionary: a reaction of joy after something good or raw emotion in the wake of pain. Considering giving yourself a few minutes to think through these questions before you post:

Why am I posting this?

Who will be helped by this post?

Who will be hurt by this post?

Should I work something out with my partner before posting this?

What value does this post bring to myself or others?  

Self-Awareness and Thoughtful Posting

In thinking about these questions, you can think about the spiritual principles of consolation and desolation. Knowing where we are emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically helps us make decisions wisely.

Before posting something on social media - especially about your relationship - it can be beneficial to check in with yourself and see if you’re acting out of consolation or desolation. This will give you more control over what you say so that it better represents who you are and who you hope to be as a partner.

Courtesy of Vinita Hampton Wright, here’s a brief description of desolation and consolation to help you know which one you might be experiencing:

Desolation:

• Turns us in on ourselves
• Drives us down the spiral ever deeper into our own negative feelings
• Cuts us off from community
• Makes us want to give up on the things that used to be important to us
• Drains us of energy
  

Consolation:

• Directs our focus outside and beyond ourselves
• Lifts our hearts so that we can see the joys and sorrows of other people
• Bonds us more closely to our human community
• Generates new inspiration and ideas
• Releases new energy in us

Authentic Feeds

Relationships are complicated, and it’s difficult to give others an honest look at what’s really going on. When we only highlight the good, it can contribute to an inauthentic vision of life as a highlight reel of fun times. It’s important to think about what you’re saying, why it’s special, and why you think everyone in your circles should know about it – especially if it involves your relationship.

Sharing vulnerably about hard things on social media can lead to solidarity and change. It can make someone feel less alone. It can provide hope or inspiration. At the same time, “[o]ur Facebook feed or Instagram cannot be a place where we openly discuss and digest the problems in our relationship,” Carrie Taylor - a wife, mother, and writer - told me in an interview. “It's violating and unfair to our partner. But sharing wisdom learned from hard-won battles, or perhaps unsalvageable losses, is extremely helpful. It's a vulnerability that doesn't lay blame.”

If we choose to share about our relationships on social media, doing so with intentionality and authenticity will better honor our partners, ourselves, and the society we’re creating through our social media representation.

Ah, the Christmas season. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, ornaments sparkling on the tree, and cheesy romance movies playing on your TV.

Admit it: You’ve wiped away a few tears as the career-driven heroine kisses the single dad in the softly falling snow and learns the real meaning of Christmas. 

But we also know the tired dramatic tropes like secret-boyfriend-back-home and the-lie-grown-out-of-control that don’t always depict particularly healthy or realistic relationships. And yeah, there are often inappropriate or even emotionally manipulative relationship habits on display. Fortunately, though, not every holiday romance movie falls into this trap.

If you're looking for a healthy, relatable holiday romance to capture that seasonal magic while also demonstrating what it really means to love another person, look no further than these gems:

The Christmas Ornament

Watching The Christmas Ornament each year feels a lot like unwrapping your favorite childhood decoration and hanging it on the tree. This quintessential Hallmark movie has all the trademarks: a grieving widow who has given up on Christmas, a handsome and funny Christmas tree salesman, and lots of ice skating. Come for the love story: the two leads' relationship starts slowly and respectfully as Tim gives Kathy lots of space and patience as she struggles to open up. Stay for the skating scenes: long, romantic, sequences mostly without dialogue, where the characters learn to connect with one another. Kathy's communication is often silent, but Tim understands her because he’s not just listening, he’s paying attention to her whole person. Even on a frozen rink, it warms the heart.

Holiday Rush

Netflix’s Holiday Rush brings a fun, fresh twist to the standard Christmas love story. When popular radio DJ Rashon “Rush” Williams loses his spot on-air, he and his long-time on-air partner Roxy set out to buy the failing hip-hop station where they got their start. Throughout the movie, their relationship evolves from a genuine friendship into something more. Roxy is sensitive to the fact that Rush and the kids are still mourning his late wife, and Rush is receptive and supportive when Roxy shares painful childhood memories with him. The movie avoids forcing drama into the relationship. There's no obligatory break up or "Big Lie." Instead, the pair supports each other differently at different times, working together to solve problems and keeping their eyes on a common goal.

Cranberry Christmas

Marriage is hard. Running a business with your spouse can spell trouble for anyone, even if that business is Cranberry Lane, a lifestyle brand designed to make life look like a Christmas card. Hallmark’s Cranberry Christmas is unique in that it features a married couple on the rocks after their vision for the future of their company puts them at odds with each other. But even though they're at a low point, Dawn and Gabe are always respectful and never cruel. When they have to put on a happy face for the cameras to help their local Christmas festival, this underlying mutual respect allows them to rediscover why they fell in love in the first place. This movie reminds us that a love story doesn’t end with that first magical kiss or at the moment when you say “I do,” but rather is a lifelong journey. After all, “There are no perfect marriages. Just imperfect people that don’t give up on each other.”

The Holiday Calendar

From the first moment we meet them, Abby and Josh are total #relationshipgoals. They laugh together, finish each other’s sentences, support each other, and trust each other. They click in every way, except one: Abby's not into him. Josh is stuck in the friend zone, which is wild considering how handsome, funny, and wholesome he is. But we’ll forgive Abby considering the other handsome, funny, and wholesome guy who has caught her attention (for now). As Abby’s Gramps says, “People can show you whatever they want, but it’s how they make you feel that counts.” Of all the couples on this list, Abby and Josh feel the most believable, like a couple you could invite over for a glass of wine and a Christmas movie. Plus, who doesn’t love a magical Advent calendar?

The Christmas House

What is family if not a collection of little love stories? In Hallmark’s The Christmas House, three couples in different stages of life navigate the joys and challenges of being in love. Bill and Phylis, who are finally both retired after decades of marriage, suddenly realize that they don’t have as much in common as they used to. Meanwhile, their son Brandon and his husband Jake are trying not to get their hopes up after multiple attempts at adoption have fallen through. Finally, their older son Robert finds himself reconnecting with his childhood sweetheart and the-one-who-got-away, Andi, after her recent divorce. The Christmas House is a sweet, simple story of familial love in all its variations.

A Christmas Movie Christmas

Unlike the other movies on this list, Hulu’s A Christmas Movie Christmas contains every awful relationship trope in the book - and it’s hilarious. Sisters Eve and Lacy wake up one morning to find themselves trapped in a Christmas romcom with no clue how to escape. If you love made-for-TV holiday movies as much as I do, you’ll crack up as this one hits every note in the Sugar Plum Symphony. This time around, though, the convoluted plot lines, inappropriate dating behavior, and unwarranted drama have a purpose. Both sisters learn that they are worthy of a real, honest relationship with a genuinely good person.

Bonus: Dash & Lily

This isn’t actually a movie, it’s an eight part mini-series! This delightful Netflix adaptation has everything you could want in a holiday binge: a couple with conflicting feelings about Christmas, a barrage of NYC holiday traditions, anonymous letters, several wild chases through the city, and a Jonas Brothers performance. (Nick Jonas produced the series and makes a cameo appearance.) Over the course of eight episodes, you see Dash and Lily's insecurities, dreams, and fears, which they share with each other in surprisingly vulnerable ways. They also have doubts about their own worthiness in love, which they have to overcome in order to find their way to each other. If you’re in it for the long holiday haul, I can't recommend this one enough.

You and the love of your life are ready to start a life together. Sharing your money is part of sharing your lives, but the thought of combining your finances seems daunting. Where do you start? How much do you share? What goes where? When two people begin a life together, merging finances often seems like a tactical exercise. But money is more than a currency of exchange.

Money is a tool that often carries emotional burdens from our lived experiences. Money can represent security for one person and freedom for another. Money can be a reminder of past mistakes or of personal successes. Because of the emotions attached to our money, combining finances successfully requires much more than a checklist of opening new accounts and adding authorized users.

When done correctly, joining finances can strengthen a couple’s relationship. As a Master Financial Coach, I help engaged couples create a plan for their financial future. Here are some guiding principles I’ve found helpful:

Wait until you’re married.

When planning a wedding, there is a lot of pressure on a couple. In that pressure cooker, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the couple is still discerning whether their partner is right for them. By keeping finances separate up until they say “I do,” the couple doesn’t have to feel pressure to get married because their lives are financially combined, which can be even harder to disentangle than emotions.

Keeping your money separate until after marriage supports your financial and emotional freedom as you prepare to build a life together. You want to keep yourself as detached from external pressures as possible to give a full, free “I do!” to each other on your wedding day.

Prepare to share.

While you’re waiting for your wedding day, it’s valuable to plan how you’ll share your money when you are husband and wife.

Whether your preparation is formal or self-led, you and your future spouse should dedicate time to individually reflect on your personal relationship with and attitude toward money:

What are your priorities for when money should be spent, saved, and invested?

What type of lifestyle do you expect your finances will afford you?

Then, share your reflections. You want to understand each other’s relationship with money and then discuss how they align and how they diverge. From your discussion, create shared plans for how money will be managed in the new family you’re creating.

The value of taking time before your wedding to discuss combining your finances is far greater than simply having a written to-do list for after marriage. As a couple, you’ll have a sense of peace from having a plan in place for the financial direction of your life together. You’ll have the added assurance that you and your future spouse are approaching the altar united about how you want to spend your lives – and money – together.

Give a purpose to each account you’ll use.

Although there are many different ways to manage shared money, I’ve found that the following structure is easy to manage, supports collaborative communication, and also encourages mutual trust and fosters individual freedom:

One joint checking account for all family income and spending.

Two separate checking accounts (with both spouses’ names on them!) for individual “fun money.”

Joint saving & investing accounts that match your goals as a couple.

Why? 

By sharing a joint checking account for family expenses, the spouses communicate on a regular basis about the money that will go into the account (paychecks) and how money will be spent from the account (rent, utilities, transportation, groceries; treats like dinners out, gifts for family and friends, and monthly saving and investing).

The “fun money” accounts provide each person with freedom. They also demonstrate that each individual is an adult capable of making choices that reflect his/her own preferences. As a couple, you decide how much each spouse will receive each month. Then, it’s up to each of you to decide what is fun to you. You both have the freedom to make independent, personal financial decisions without compromising the needs of your household.

Add each other’s names to everything.

Set aside a few hours to add each other to all of your accounts: checking, saving, credit cards, brokerages, and all utilities (including internet and wireless). Log into your work benefit plans – including retirement accounts – to update each other as beneficiaries. 

Having both spouses’ names on all accounts serves three important purposes:

1. It makes sharing responsibilities much easier when either of you can troubleshoot issues for any given account.
2. It creates accountability and trust. Even though spending in “fun money” accounts is done independently, transactions aren’t necessarily secret.
3. It provides a safety net in a worst-case scenario. If one of you is injured or dies, the other spouse is not locked out of accounts that might be critical to providing for the family.
   

If your marriage preparation program doesn’t have a financial component, or if you don’t participate in a formal marriage preparation program, I strongly encourage you to meet with a professional Financial Coach to be guided through financial marriage prep. Then, after the wedding bells have rung, it’s time to put your plan into action!

New year, new you - and new prayer life? 

‘Tis the season for the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Whether it’s Christmas shopping, traveling to see family and friends, or finishing work projects before some time off, we’re pretty rushed at the end of the year. Looking for a bit more peace and some Silent Night vibes? Often, the thing that gets in the way of our spiritual practices is time. We get busy and it becomes difficult to find those moments to recenter. Here’s our gift to you - a list of easy and accessible ways to pray.

It’s the perfect time to start a new prayer routine, too - because the new year in the Church is just beginning. Advent began November 28 and is the four weeks leading up to Christmas and the start of a new Church year. Pick one of these and commit to doing it for a week - then see how much more peaceful you feel. 

Prayer in Your Ear Buds

If you want to find a way to insert prayer into your daily routine, but always feel like you’re on the go, there are several ways to build prayer into your routine through your phone. Whether you’re on a run, doing laundry, or driving around on errands, you can find a way to plug in, hit play, and pray. 

The Hallow App is for “prayer, meditation, music and sleep” - it’s basically the Catholic version of other popular meditation apps like Calm. You can choose from different kinds of prayer, such as guided meditations or the rosary with calming rain in the background. The meditations also provide time options to help you fit prayer into the time that you have, whether it’s five minutes or half an hour. The variety provided lets you try different forms of prayer to find the one that best resonates with you.

Another great tool is Spotify. You can look up specific prayers, such as the rosary, and many recordings will pop up to choose from. You can also pray through music by finding Christian music playlists ranging from chant to pop to gospel. Grotto Network has some curated playlists we like. 

Podcasts are another great way to introduce prayer-on-the-go. The most popular is Fr. Mike Schmitz’s Bible in a Year podcast, which includes his reading of the Scripture passage as well as a reflection on it. Another great option is The Examen with Fr. James Martin which guides listeners in a meditative reading of Scripture.

Dive Into Scripture with Sunday or Daily Readings

Reading Scripture can feel overwhelming. We might struggle with knowing where or how to start, or feel like we need to have prior knowledge to understand it. The Bible is the Word of God and is therefore for everyone, so the best way to start is to just jump right in.

A simple way to begin is with the daily Mass readings. You can subscribe to have them sent to your email and then spend a few minutes reading the day’s Gospel on your commute, during your lunch break, or whenever you have a few minutes to sit down. And if a daily habit sounds overwhelming, start with just the Sunday readings. If it helps, this female-founded company creates journals specifically for reflecting on the Sunday Mass readings each week.

Begin Your Day with Just One Minute

It can be hard to set aside time for prayer during our day. If that’s the case for you, try setting aside just 60 seconds at the start of your day.

Called the “Heroic Minute,” St. Josemaria Escriva gave simple instructions for this concept: Get up with your alarm and without snoozing. Then spend that first minute of your day in meditative prayer. It can be a simple prayer intention, a moment of thanks, or asking God to guide your day.

When we begin our day in God’s presence, we can move into our morning routine having given over to God what may come in that day and opening up the possibility of seeing Him at work in our life.

Whichever way you choose, we hope these will help you jumpstart your prayer life in the new year and bring you peace.