Merry Christmas!

And just like that, Advent has come and gone and we begin the season of Christmas! How was your Advent, and your Christmas Day?

I ended up following a few particular practices for keeping Advent. They included a daily rosary prayed with special intentions and following the daily meditations in Give Us This Day, as well as keeping the Advent wreath tradition each Sunday. Overall I tried to keep the waiting, patient (and calm and loving!) attitude that is the hallmark of the season. And I think I did okay!

Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? In fact, I'm sure there are plenty of Catholics who do both those things (daily meditation and rosary) year-round. I learned last year, though, that over-committing left me frustrated and defeated the purpose of the whole season. There's nothing good about being spiritually competitive. So, a mindful and peaceful Advent, focused on its meaning, was the right thing for me this year.

And now - it is Christmas! I pray that you and your family had a beautiful Christmas day and a continued happy and bright Christmas season. Between now and January 9, here is what we have to look forward to:

• Feast of St. Stephen, Martyr (Dec. 26 - today)
• Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist (Dec. 27)
• Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs (Dec. 28)
• The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Dec. 30)
• Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (Jan. 1)
• The Epiphany of the Lord (Jan. 8)
• The Baptism of the Lord (Jan. 9)

That is one of the things I love about our Church - there are lots of opportunities to learn about the history and figures that built the Church have influenced her, as well as lots of opportunities to feast and celebrate. 

Oh and one last thing - as a Christmas present to myself (aside from a pair of black velvet Ivanka Trump heels on sale - come on, it is Christmas) - I bought, and am reading, Fulton Sheen's Life of Christ. I'm only a few pages in, but already it is beautiful and to the point in his signature way. Whenever I read Fulton Sheen I feel like he is looking over my shoulder and reading my soul and not letting me make excuses for myself. And that's a pretty good way to start the new year, eh?

I was on the radio!

I had the pleasure of joining Morning Air again yesterday morning (12/19) to talk about how to determine, Who's Your Patron Saint of 2017?

Check out the audio of the segment here. You can find my part at around 39:30. 

I have, ultimately, chosen TWO patron saints for this year. The first is Saint Homobonus. Although his strange name is reason enough to choose him, what really drew me to him is the fact that he is the patron saint of business people, himself being a successful merchant, but one that turned all his success toward helping the less fortunate. I need that reminder, particularly being in the uber-wealthy and uber-competitive DC bubble, that there are things more important and lasting than money and status.

The other is Venerable Fulton Sheen. He has a similar - though not as deep - hold on me the way Saint Pope John Paul the Great does. I think it is because of his communication style, that cuts right through to all the excuses modern humans make for themselves. He knew human nature in a startling way. I also just bought his highly-reviewed Life of Christ and will be reading that over Christmas.

Anyway, I chose him because of his efforts as a modern evangelizer, something which is (I hope obviously) close to my heart. He was on TV, he was on radio, he wrote books and he spoke from the heart. And I think I will see him as a patron for many years to come, not just in 2017. 

Who's Your Patron Saint of 2017?

The below post was originally published in Catholic Stand on December 18, 2016.

Who's Your Patron Saint of 2017?

As the new year approaches, you may be in a rush to set resolutions for working toward material self-betterment. The usual goals include weight loss, career or educational advancement, taking more vacations, and so on.

Have you considered, instead, setting a spiritual resolution? Imagine how much deeper those material resolutions can become when complemented by active work on your spiritual health.

One fun way to set spiritual resolutions is to make a goal to live like the saints, specifically by choosing one as your patron for the year. Most people have their favorite saints already, including the one chosen for a Confirmation name, the namesake of a home parish, a holy site once visited, or a devotion passed down from Grandma. These familiar saintly “friends” accompany us through life. This year, I encourage you to identify a new saint, one who may be unfamiliar (or even challenging) for you, and claim this new friend as your patron in 2017.

How Do I Choose?

The first way to select a patron is by making a random selection. This method is not the easy way out; it just means relying on the Holy Spirit to guide your choice. This includes using the Saint’s Name Generatoror checking out the Saint of the Day when you’re ready. You could even open up a liturgical calendar to a random date and let the selection fall where it may. Even though this is a less structured way to choose, it is important to pray first that you will meet a saint whose life has example for yours. You are completely relying on God – and perhaps the intervention of the saints themselves – to guide your choice. It is a great exercise in faith and obedience.

Thinking About Virtue

For those seeking a more structured approach, start with the virtues and traits you are looking to emulate. Here’s a list to get you started:

• Parenting
• Chastity
• Creativity
• Humility
• True vocation
• Sense of humor
• Charity
• Fidelity
• Courage

Whatever area of your life you’re focused on, there’s a saint who’s got you covered.

Choose Saint Philip Neri if you need to loosen up a little. St. Pope John Paul II understands your desire to deepen your relationship with the Blessed Mother. St. Blaise is there if you need to find your voice. Look toSt. Anne for a lesson in patient waiting.

Remember, too, that even the “great” saints, or the ones we think we know, have multiple dimensions. Newly-canonized Mother Theresa of Calcutta is the obvious choice if you want to grow your sense of charity. Yet at the same time, she can be seen as a patron of those in the “spiritual desert,” feeling separated from God, as she experienced for the majority of her life. In her own words: “If I ever become a saint, I will surely be one of darkness.”

If you can identify the virtue or trait you wish to see more of in your own life, search for the saint whose example will show the way.

What Happens Next?

Once your saint is chosen, learn as much as you can about them and begin to apply his or her virtues and traits in your own life. You will even end up learning things about your new friend, and be able to welcome those characteristics into your life, too. Learn to turn to your saint in times of both trouble and happiness, through prayer and conversation. Most importantly, always remember to give thanks to God for the messengers He has provided in your own quest for holiness.

Who Did You Choose?

Please leave your chosen patron in the comments – I’d love to hear how your selection goes! By the way, my 2017 patron is Saint Homobonus. Aside from having an unusual name (it actually means “good man” in Latin), he was a successful businessman who used his income for good, specifically to alleviate poverty. His way of life is a great reminder to never forget that, even when we find material and professional success, real success is found in serving others.

We are all called to become saints by living holy lives, becoming as close to God as possible. Luckily, the Church has given us countless examples to emulate in this quest for holiness, and the saints, that “great cloud of witnesses,” are among the best spiritual friends you can have.