Dear Father: What does the Church think about New Year’s Resolutions?

Dear friend in Christ,

Go for it! The Catholic Church is in favor of anything which helps us enhance our God-given human dignity. Getting up earlier or drinking more water are not necessarily spiritual practices, but they help us become more human, more disciplined, more confident and happier. And working to achieve a goal takes patience, endurance, commitment and perseverance. These are good things and doing good things for ourselves leads us closer to God. The Church celebrates everything which helps us do that.