Here is a simple prayer I found from Loyola Press A Jesuit Ministry that I prayed this morning and would like to share.
God, thank you for a new year.
May everyone in our family be willing to begin anew with a clean slate.
We know that you are always ready to forgive us.
Help us to be willing to forgive ourselves and to forgive one another.
As we begin a new year, remind us of our truest values and our deepest desires.
Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what you want us to do.
Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you now, one day at a time. Amen.
Historical background on the New Year's celebration:
I learned that celebrating the New Year was originally a pagan holiday to honor the god Janus. "Janus was the Pagan Roman god of beginnings and endings and of gates and doors. He was depicted having two faces with one face looking to what is behind and with one face looking toward what lies ahead. The reasoning behind the symbolism of the two faces is that both gates and doors have two sides and to end something to start a new beginning one must pass through being on one side or the other not remaining in the middle."
The origin of Janus, a pagan god is attributed to an actual person in history. He was the first king of Latium in ancient Rome, before Rome became a city. His kingship was known for being honest and abundance for his people during a time of peace. It was known as the "Golden Age" and his people requested blessings to Janus at the start of each day, month and year. Janus was also made a martyr and became known as St. Januarius with his feast day on September 19th.
This practice was replaced many years ago by the church. They instituted the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God which places honor on her son Jesus. It is meant to commemorate Mary's role in the mystery of salvation.
Resources:
Blessings,
Noreen
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thanks for the short history lesson -- i did not know that!! lovely prayer. Happy Blessed New Year to you, Noreen~!
ReplyDeleteHello Noreen
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog & for your kind comment. You say you don't know much about St David Lewis. If you would like to e-mail your address to me on breadgirl1@gmail.com I will send you a little book about him. My only purpose is to spread knowledge of & devotion to a great Welsh Saint & Martyr so the book is completely free. I would be more than happy to send it to you.
Thanks for your interest and I wish you & yours a blessing filled 2012.
Best wishes to you and your family for a Happy Healthy and Holy New Year.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I love the prayer, in fact, today I feel this prayer was written just for me. God bless you and your family in this new year and always.
ReplyDeleteHappy and blessed New Year Noreen! Stop over...I am having a small humble giveaway that I would love you to be part of.~Theresa
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Noreen! What a beautiful post. I learned so much from reading it today. Thank you! I am so glad that you found me and left your kind words. What a wonderful start to my New Year.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a beautiful blog you have..."Rosary Mom". I just returned to praying the Rosary in earnest last year and am continually amazed at the peace and tranquility our Blessed Mother provides us...especially during times of strife.
Best wishes for a blessed New Year!
Valerie
What a beautiful prayer! I enjoyed praying it, thank you!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year...
Happy New Year Noreen!
ReplyDeleteI wonder where God will lead us this year. Some years are more challenging than others! May God be with you in this new year giving you strength for whatever He asks of you.
Thanks for posting! I enjoy learning the history of various holidays. And that prayer is beautiful! Thanks for linking up to NOBH!
ReplyDeleteHi Noreen!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting my blog and for your kind comments! Your blog is lovely. I am happy to be your newest follower! :-)
As for the horse in my header, yes, it is real. We went to Busch Gardens in November for Thanksgiving and my daughter's birthday. It was lovely all decorated for Christmas. They have the Clydesdales there and were taking photos with them. :-)
God bless,
Lisa
What a lovely prayer. Thank you for sharing it. And, thank you for stopping by and commenting at Training Happy Hearts today. I love the way linkies help us find each other online. I know I will be visiting your two blogs again when my children aren't suddenly up and asking for breakfast!
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