This school year, we are beginning and ending with our virtue of the year: zeal. Zeal is an enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to accomplishing a goal–it is love in action. We can love, or be passionate about, many things: music, sports, our friendships, and family. It is very exciting to enjoy God’s creation, however we must always keep our Faith at the center.
When we have zeal for God, we can advance the Kingdom of God, sanctify souls, and give glory to Him. What this essentially means is we should put God first–pray when you wake up, pray before you go to bed, and visit Jesus in the Eucharist often. When we love someone, we want to spend more time with him or her. So, spend more time with God, and talk to Him during the day.
Consider what Jesus tells Saint Margaret Mary when He reveals His Most Sacred Heart to her, "My Divine Heart is so passionately in love with humanity that it can no longer contain within itself the flames of its ardent love." The key to zeal is ensuring that Christ is our Way, our Truth, and our Life. This school year, let us fill our hearts with the love of God, so that it may overflow and spread the warmth of true charity.
August: zeal
September: humility
October: initiative
November: sincerity
December: self-control
January: courage
February: respect
March: purity (of intention)
April: kindness
May: zeal