By Brea Cannon
Liturgical Rhythm of Life
Happy New Year! As one season ends, another always begins; we will now be entering Ordinary time. The return to Ordinary time in the bleak of winter seems fitting. It’s an opportunity to spend some extra time in prayer, snuggle up with a good spiritual book, or look ahead at the year and set some spiritual goals for yourself and your family.
As we enter this new year, let us look at some areas of prayer we are encouraged to participate in here in the United States and as part of the larger Universal Church. In addition to the liturgical calendar, the Church throughout the world also has special days of prayer and observances that are fitting to this time in salvation history. Each year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), supported by the Holy See, publishes this list of prayers and observances.
Ahead of us, we have Jan. 22, a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. This is observed in the United States and comes in response to the Jan. 22, 1973, Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. According to the USCCB’s website, “In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, Jan. 22 shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.” On this day, we keep in prayer and offer up small sacrifices (no meat or sweets) for the unborn children, their mothers, fathers and family.
This year, the Church celebrates World Day for Consecrated Life Feb. 1-2. According to the USCCB, “This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples.” This would be a great day to reach out to your parish priests or other consecrated men or women and let them know that you are praying for them.
Nestled next in February is National Marriage Week, Feb. 7-14, and World Marriage Day on the second Sunday of February, Feb. 9, 2025. These special days provide the faithful an opportunity to build a culture of life by supporting and promoting marriage and family. Let us all take time in this week to pray and support a marriage (offering a Mass) or family (providing a family dinner) in our lives. For married couples, there is an at-home marriage retreat available on the USCCB’s website: https://www.usccb.org/resources/nmw-2025-home-retreat-english.
Feb. 8 is World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. This special day of prayer coincides with the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once freed from slavery, St. Josephine became a Canossian nun and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and supporting the poor and suffering around her. Catholics all over the world are encouraged to pray on this day for the end to human trafficking — it is also an opportunity to fast for reparation of this sin against humanity.
St. Bakhita, assist all who are trapped in the state of slavery; intercede with God on their behalf so that they will be released from their chains of captivity. Those whom man enslaves, let God set free. Amen.
The Church gives us these special days of prayer “to entreat the Lord for the various needs of humanity” (“Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar,”Nno. 45). Each diocese in the United States has the authority to observe these days and discern what other special intentions are needed throughout the year (responses to natural disasters or special needs). The full calendar for the Days of Prayers and Special Observances can be found on the USCCB’s website. Let us together start the year in prayer; prayer for the Church and its intentions, the world, our country and our families. May the peace and blessings from our Lord be with all of us in this new year.
Brea Cannon is a Diocese of Evansville native and member of St. Peter Parish in Montgomery with her husband, three children and extended family.