2017 is fading fast. Here in Maryland, the sun is setting on this last day of the year. When I went to Mass this morning, the temperature in the car was ten degrees, which was a far cry from the upper eighties I enjoyed during my Christmas trip to see my family in California. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to 2018, just hours away now. This past year, with all the political drama and scandalous revelations coming from the media, has been rather exhausting. That being said, there have been a great deal of good things which occurred this past year as well. After a grueling five years, I completed my doctorate. Hopefully, my recovery from that experience will be complete in 2018. I’m getting ready for whatever comes next, and that’s exciting!
I’m quite sure that you had some great things happen last year too. So often, we focus on the negative and lose sight of the positive events happening all around us each and every day. I hope we can change our outlook in the New Year and really work to see God’s infinite love and mercy all around us. To see the good in every situation and person. Let’s assume the best rather than the worst. It will be hard, but let’s give it a try, shall we?
In the Universal Church, a prayer is said/sung at the end of each year. The Te Deum is an ancient prayer and hymn of praise to God. It was sung this afternoon in St. Peter’s Basilica during a prayer service led by Pope Francis. An English translation can be found below. Let’s join our own voices and pray this together, with a hope-filled desire that 2018 will be a year of peace, joy and love.
O, God, we
praise You and acknowledge You
to be the supreme Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships You.
All the angels, the heavens and all angelic powers,
All the cherubim and seraphim, continually cry to you:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Your glory.
The glorious choir of the apostles,
The wonderful company of prophets,
The white-robed army of martyrs, praise You.
Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges You:
The Father of infinite majesty;
Your adorable, true and only Son;
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, You
are the King of glory!
You are the everlasting Son of the Father.
When You took it upon Yourself to deliver man,
You did not disdain the Virgin’s womb.
Having overcome the sting of death,
You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You sit at the
right hand of God in the glory of the Father
We believe that You will come to be our Judge.
We, therefore, beg You to help Your servants
whom You have redeemed with Your Precious Blood.
Let them be numbered with Your saints in everlasting glory.
Save Your
people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance!
Govern them, and raise them up forever.
Every day we thank You.
And we praise Your name forever; yes, forever and ever.
O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.
Have mercy on
us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Let your mercy, O lord be upon us, for we have hoped in You.
O Lord, in you I have put my trust; never let me be put to shame.
.
