10 Simple, Easy New Year's Resolutions for Young Catholics in 2010

Here are 10 ways to be a little bit better Catholic in 2010 that are simple and easy to do. Most of them take very little time or effort, or are fun, or reap benefits FAR beyond the effort (like #3). Note that this is not a definitive list and that there are lots of things we should all do as Catholics that are not on this list, and that some of those things are not simple or easy but we should all do them anyways; we can explore those for Lent perhaps.

1. Say Grace After Meals every day. Most Catholics regularly say Grace before Meals, but far fewer seem to say Grace After Meals any more. The way it traditionally works is that before the meal you ask the blessing, and after it you give thanks.

Like Grace before Meals, it's really short and east to memorize:

We give thanks for all your benefits, almighty God, who lives and reigns forever. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

It's a simple, easy way to pray a little more often, observe traditional Catholic practices, and regularly keep the souls in purgatory in your prayers. Spreading this practice amongst your family and friends will likely reap huge dividends some day after your own demise, since what goes around comes around and you reap what you sow.

2. Go beyond the rote at the table. I heard a good priest state that if you want your kids (or anyone else you influence) to know Christ personally you need to demonstrate that you do yourself. This shows that it's possible and not limited to living saints only.He gave some tips on doing that, the easiest was to say more than the rote prayers before and after meals. I like the idea of someone leading in a spontaneous prayer and then everyone saying the rote prayers together.

3. Go to Confession every month, more if needed. You only have to go to Confession once a year, and you need to whenever in a state of mortal sin, especially before receiving Communion. However, every single plan for Catholic spiritual improvement I've ever seen says to go at least once a month.

4. Update your parish registration if necessary. Lots of young Catholics are not registered at the parish they attend, if at all. The Church thinks it's important to belong to a parish, and to be registered at the right one. It helps the Church plan its ministries, it determines how much money each parish has to send the diocese. Register at the parish you attend most and/or the one you have the biggest stake in. When in doubt, register to the closest one to your home. Not sure how to register, email the parish secretary, perhaps you can even do it online!

5. Contribute money to your parish electronically. Our generation likes digital solutions that are quick, easy, and maintenance-free, so now that you've updated your parish registration, sign up to contribute financially via automatic withdrawal. My parish does this either weekly or monthly. I chose monthly. I never have to remember to write a check and bring it to Mass, and the parish doesn't ever miss my contribution because I was out of town. You can sign up for any amount. I signed up for the minimal amount I felt comfortable giving automatically. When able, I give more to special collections or different charities, but my parish always has what I can always give, and I don't ever have to think about it.

6. Serve at your parish. Do anything, big or small. Big: Teach catechism, be a volunteer assistant youth minister. Sing in the choir every week. Small: Lector, be an extraordinary minister of holy communion, usher, sing in a special holiday choir. Truly better than nothing: gather discarded bulletins after mass, put away stray hymnals after mass, just show up at anything beyond Mass and be cheerful and helpful. Ask your priest for other ideas.

7. Sing hymns and spiritual songs at home. Music has a profound effect on most people, and an easy way to contribute to renewing your mind in Christ Jesus is to play and sing your favorite hymns and spiritual songs when your at home, in the car, in the shower, or anywhere that you could sing without creating a (large) disturbance. If you haven't memorized any spiritual songs, google the lyrics. Not sure where to start? I think every Catholic should know "Holy God We Praise Thy Name," and be able to sing it from memory. Try that.

8. Create a Station of the Cross in your home. Buy, find, make, or otherwise acquire a crucifix and place it on a wall in your home. Whenever you walk past it, make the sign of the cross and lift your heart up to God. A very simple way to pray simply more often. When able, stop and pray at the crucifix more actively. Only have a few seconds. Perhaps you can say the Jesus prayer or the Glory Be, or the prayer from the Stations of the Cross that goes:

"We bless You, O Lord, and we thank You, for by your holy cross You have
redeemed the world."

Having a rough day? Maybe you can just recall Christ sufferings and offer up your own to him as you glance at your crucifix and mark yourself with sign of the cross of Christ.

9. Commune with the Saints. One easy method: Put up some pictures of the saints somewhere in your home too. Holy cards are cheap and can be stuck on a bulletin board or on the fridge. Get extra, shove one in your purse or wallet, place one in your car, use them as book marks. Whenever you see one you can just think "pray for me St. So and So." On occasion grab one and pray a little longer with that saint. Maybe you'll end up with a half dozen or more on your fridge and you can regularly say a mini-litany of the saints while you're waiting on the microwave.

10. Be catechized by Catholic media. Read Catholic blogs, subscribe to Catholic news and Catholic podcasts, listen to Catholic radio and Catholic CDs. Pick one or more that appeals to you. These are the easy ways I know to learn more about the faith without trying very hard. You probably should try harder also though.