Ring in the new year with joyful optimism

St. Francis de Sales believed in possessing a cheery confidence in God. He identified it as a virtue and gave it a wonderful name: joyful optimism. (Christina Capecchi, a 2000 graduate of the Convent of Visitation in Mendota Heights, Minn., wrote a column about this concept. It's available here.)

May we ring in 2010 with joyful optimism, heeding the words St. Francis once wrote to St. Jane de Chantal: "Keep your heart wide open before God."

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Keep Advent with St. Jane & St. Francis

It can be difficult to observe Advent admit the cacophony of the commercial Christmas season. But St. Jane and St. Francis can help you find a way. St. Francis once wrote:

First thing in the morning, prepare your heart to be at peace; then take great care throughout the day to call it back to that peace frequently, and, as it were, to again take your heart in your hand.

When you are inwardly peaceful, don't miss the opportunity to perform as many acts of gentleness as you can -- and as frequently as you can -- no matter how small these acts may seem; for our Lord says: "To the person who is faithful in little things, greater ones will be given."