A Catholic New Year
Happy (almost) New Year! Holy Mother Church gives us prayers and devotions to help ring in the New Year right! Yes, the liturgical year began back on November 30th with first Vespers of the first Sunday of Advent, but even so, there are Catholic ways to keep the civil new year.
And let’s not forget that Pope Francis has proclaimed a jubilee, which began on Christmas Eve! Our local Catholic magazine, Northwest Catholic, has a good article on the jubilee year.
The theme of the Holy Year is “Pilgrims of Hope.” The papal bull, issued May 9, that introduced the coming Jubilee Year is titled “Spes Non Confundit,” or “Hope does not disappoint,” drawn from Romans 5:5. “Everyone knows what it is to hope,” Pope Francis wrote. “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring.
“Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt,” he continued. “Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness. For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope. God’s word helps us find reasons for that hope.”
Pope Francis also hopes the year draws Catholics toward patience, which he described in “Spes Non Confundit” as a “virtue closely linked to hope,” yet can feel elusive in “our fast-paced world, we are used to wanting everything now.”
So, how shall we start the year?
Attend Mass!
Remember that New Year’s Day is also the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. This is the Octave day of Christmas and a holy day of obligation.
So get thee to a Mass! Here in Tacoma, there are numerous options available, both on the Vigil (tonight) and on the Day. My own parish of Saint Patrick will celebrate a 9 AM Mass tomorrow morning.
Sing or Say the Te Deum on New Year’s Eve
A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who will recite or sing the Te Deum on the last day of the year in thanksgiving to all the blessings the Lord gave to us. The usual conditions apply:
- Receive the Eucharist the day the indulgence is performed
- Sacramental confession twenty days before or after the day the indulgence is performed
- Detaching completely from any affection for sin, even venial sin
- Prayer for the intention of the Holy Father
- Complete the act of indulgence as prescribed
Link to English text here.
Latin Chant:
English Chant:
Sing or Say the Veni Creator Spiritus on New Year’s Day
A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who will recite or sing the Veni Creator Spiritus on the first day of the year to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout the year. The usual conditions apply.
Link to English text here.
Latin Chant:
English Chant:
I wish a Happy and Holy New Year to all!
