Resolutions of St. Maria Faustina

Yesterday I posted Pope John XXIII's daily decalogue. Today it's Sister Faustina's resolutions from her diary. Like Pope John XXIII, she offers me concrete ways to grow in love, virtue and holiness. I've never been much for making New Year's resolutions, but I do follow St. Francis de Sales' advice to make a resolution each morning and stick to it throughout the day ahead. Since he wisely observes that unless we're specific in our resolutions, they will amount to nothing, I strive to make my resolution as particular as possible. For example, let's say that today my resolution is #8. As I review my schedule for the next 24 hours, I note that it's going to be the sort of day wherein "the whirl of work" may possibly consume me. So I carefully plan here and there for mini retreats to "look up to heaven" so as to refresh my soul and restore my balance. Between Pope John XXIII and St. Faustina, I have an ample supply of resolutions for the year ahead. And every day, thanks be to God, I can begin afresh. Oh, glory!

RESOLUTIONS OF ST. FAUSTINA
from her Dairy of Divine Mercy, #226-227

1. The duty of the moment that I most often fail to obey, I will do my very best to improve.

2. I will keep silent before others who grumble.

3. I must take no heed of the opinion of others.

4. I must do everything and act in all matter now as I would like to do at the hour of my death.

5. In every action I must be mindful of God.

6. I must be faithful in my spiritual exercises.

7. I must have great appreciation for even the most minute task.

8. I must not let myself become absorbed in the whirl of work, but take a break to look up to Heaven.

9. I must speak little with people, but a good deal with God.

10. I must pay little attention to who is for me and who is against me.

11. I must not tell others about those things I have had to put up with.

12. I must maintain peace and equanimity during times of suffering.

13. In difficult moments I must take refuge in the wounds of Jesus; I must seek consolation, comfort, light and affirmation in them.

14. In the midst of trails I will try to see the loving hand of God.

Dear Saint Faustina, please pray for me to be at peace in Divine Mercy. Amen!

The Daily Decalogue of Pope John XXIII

Every year at the beginning of January, I pull out my copy of Pope John XXIII's "daily decalogue" and refresh my soul with his wisdom and simplicity. If I could successfully do just one of these things "only for today," surely I would become more saintly!

THE DAILY DECALOGUE OF POPE JOHN XXIII

1) Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2) Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behaviour; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3) Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4) Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5) Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6) Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7) Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.

8) Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9) Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.

10) Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

Dear Pope John XXIII, please pray for me and instill in my heart some of your goodness and joy. Amen!