Selecting a Word of the year is a practice that I adopted years ago along with the Saint of the Year.
I select a word of the year for assistance with my spiritual growth. The saint selection is random but choosing my word of the year has always been a process — an examination of the past year. I take time for spiritual re ading for this purpose and pray over it with my husband.
I encourage you to choose a word for the year to remind you of what God is asking of you during this season in your life.
Unbeknownst to me, my word of the year was placed on my heart upon entering my annual spiritual retreat this Advent. I entered into retreat with a complete assessment of my life — no attachments but only the desire to see myself with His eyes. As the week unfolded, I was led down a path to address one of my root sins. It all seemed so evident to me as it has often been included in the confessional. I even wrote it down as my number one point to address after my first visit before Our Lord while on retreat.
Through daily spiritual direction following pertinent meditations, the good Lord revealed that what was perceived to be at the root of my faults was not the case. Instead, it was the less obvious issue. So, as the retreat came to a close, I firmed up my resolution and plan, all with the guidance of my spiritual directors.
Now that I have returned to regular daily life for a month, the evil one has wasted no time and has begun to set his traps to have me doubt what it is that God is asking of me. “It’s not enough? You should be doing more? It’s not really the root of your sin! Focus on something else. It’s too much, you should just focus on one small thing…”
It’s that crazy and pathetic — all efforts to thwart what God has moved me to are exhausted. I made no movement from what had already been properly discerned and carried on us planned, very imperfectly.
As I read one of my first reflections on New Year’s Day, I received a small consolation. It was from one of my previous Saints of the Year, no less.
Thou givest me already Thy blood, O Word, whereas Thy holy humanity is only eight days old. What does Thy blood teach me?… Obedience.
St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
The small resolution that I took into my retreat turned out to be my primary resolution (not the type that one makes at the start of the New Year, but the type that one makes upon reflecting on the last four things while in a complete state of grace and removed completely from the distractions of the world), the ultimate root of my sins as He revealed to me (not acedia which I had thought was the case for many for years) — my word for 2021.
I trust that God’s grace will be sufficient for me to move forward. I am completely nothing without Him and I desire to be nothing else but that which He has ordained me to be. I want only to love Him as He deserves.
There are few persons who realize what God would make of them if they abandoned themselves entirely to His hands, and let themselves be formed by His grace.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
I am not moving in fear. My resolutions (made after a spiritual retreat and direction) are made out of LOVE for the One who so dearly loves me despite all my failings.
I’m not abandoning any of my previous words. In fact, through this practice, they have been imprinted on my heart. Perfection is not sought. My goal is only to move closer to Him and do His will.
Sts. Teresa of Avila, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Ignatius of Loyola, and Aloysius — orate pro nobis.
Sermons & Other Resources on Obedience:*
- Marching Orders for the Present Day — Obedience & Prudence, Liberty & Responsibility – Link to the full sermon of a holy priest (FSSP) who instructs the faithful and answers the question of what should be done during the current times. (Feast of the Holy Family) 1.10.2021
*this list will be added to throughout the year