It is that time of year again where many of us write down our resolutions: Be more healthy, exercise more, save money, learn a new skill … the list is endless! Some of us will give up our resolutions after a few days and the feeling of guilt and failure will soon set in. However, this is not what a New Year is about, and Pope Francis is keen to remind us of this. When he met before Christmas with Vatican employees, mostly lay people with families, Pope Francis asked them to do 10 things that can serve as New Year’s resolutions to improve our lives at home, work and in our communities.
Why not follow these as your New Year resolution?
“Take care of your family life, giving your children and loved ones not just money, but most of all your time, attention and love.”
“Take care of your relationships with others, transforming your faith into life and your words into good works, especially on behalf of the needy.”
“Be careful how you speak, purify your tongue of offensive words, vulgarity and worldly decadence.”
“Heal wounds of the heart with the oil of forgiveness, forgiving those who have hurt us and medicating the wounds we have caused others.”
“Look after your work, doing it with enthusiasm, humility, competence, passion and with a spirit that knows how to thank the Lord.”
“Be careful of envy, lust, hatred and negative feelings that devour our interior peace and transform us into destroyed and destructive people.”
“Watch out for anger that can lead to vengeance; for laziness that leads to existential euthanasia; for pointing the finger at others, which leads to pride; and for complaining continually, which leads to desperation.”
“Take care of brothers and sisters who are weaker … the elderly, the sick, the hungry, the homeless and strangers, because we will be judged on this.”
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