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Feast of the Epiphany

by Filed Under: 01 January, 01 January Saints, Epiphany Of Our Lord 3 Comments

We attended Mass as a family for the Feast of the Epiphany.  We picked up our blessed Epiphany water and chalk that was blessed on the Vigil of the Epiphany.

epiphany holy water and blessed chalk

Dad marked our home upon our return.dad blessing

~~~

Epiphany Chalk Blessing

The lintel of the main door of the house is marked with blessed chalk by the father of the household in the following manner:

20+C+M+B+12 while saying the following prayer:

The Three Wise Men

C  Caspar

M  Melchior

B  & Balthasaar, followed the star of God’s Son who became Man

20 Two-thousand

12 and twelve years ago

+ May Christ

+ Bless our home

+ and remain with us

+ through the new year.

Almighty God, incline Thine ear.  Bless us and all who are gathered here.  Send Thy holy angel who will defend us, and fill with grace all who dwell here.  Amen

~~~

epiphany blessing

We opted for a humble feast day celebration that represented the humility in which Christ was born.  Eating meat on a Friday was a simple treat that we enjoyed. 

We pray to continue to bring our gifts to Jesus, throughout the new year.

Happy feast of the Epiphany.

~~~

First Friday Link Up

Epiphany of the Lord

by Filed Under: 01 January, 01 January Saints, Epiphany Of Our Lord Leave a Comment

Omnes de Saba venient
aurum et thus deferentes
et laudem Domino annuntiantes.
Alleluja.

epiphany 3

THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE

The word "Epiphany" means "manifestation." The Church in the Mass commemorates a triple manifestation of Christ: to the Magi, that is, to the Gentiles; in His Baptism, when the Voice from heaven declared: "This is My beloved Son"; and in the miracle of changing water into wine at Cana.

The mystery of the Christ-birth is a rich and glorious beginning, splendid with promise. Today we worship a partial fulfillment when Jesus, as an Infant King, is manifested to wise men of the Gentile world and through them to all peoples. His royalty is neither frightening nor pompous, for the kingly majesty of the sovereign Redeemer is robed in babyhood. Coming in the simplicity of true greatness, Jesus makes Himself acceptable and at home to the little and the great of every nation under heaven.

~~~

How can we bring similar offerings to Christ?

We offer gold to Him, when we love Him with our whole heart, and out of love to Him, present Him our will by perfect obedience and continual self-denial, as our will is our most precious treasure. We also offer Him gold when we assist the poor by alms given in His name. We offer Him frankincense when we devoutly and ardently pray to Him, especially when we meditate upon His omnipotence, love, goodness, justice and mercy. We offer Him myrrh when we avoid carnal desires, mortify our evil inclinations and passions, and strive for purity of body and soul.

~ The Church’s Year by Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine’s

~~~

epiphany

Litany

(from Christmas to Epiphany)

….O Blessed parents of the Infant Jesus, Mary and Joseph,we humbly and earnestly implore you to beg for us, at the crib of your Infant Son, that like Him and as His true and faithful followers, we may love to live in true humility, disengagement from creatures, contempt of the world and it’s vanities, constant recollection of the holy presence of God, fervour and fidelity in all of our duties, and in the practice of the tenderest charity to all persons.  May we never blush at the humility of the crib, nor at the poverty  and simplicity of Bethlehem.  May we ever rejoice at our happy lot as children of the true Church; ever in tender charity look with a compassionate eye on those who live but for this world; and continually pray that all may come to bless, to praise and to love the Saviour, who comes to redeem them…Amen

~Excerpt from the Litany from Christmas to Epiphany, taken from the MC & LMC Prayer Book.

~~~

Resources:

 

All they from Saba will come,
bringing gold and frankincense,
and announcing the praise of the Lord.
Alleluia.

~Gradual for The Feast of the Epiphany. The text is from Isaiah 60:6

Sit nomen Dómini benedíctum!

by Filed Under: 01 January, 01 January Saints, Most Holy Name of Jesus 1 Comment

"Blessed be the Name of the Lord!"

Holy_Name_Pic

THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE

The Archangel Gabriel told Mary that her Son was to be called Jesus. Joseph, too, was told by an angel; and at the circumcision ceremony the foster father officially gave the name of Jesus to Mary’s Son.

The name means "God saves," and it describes the mission of the divine Child as the Savior of mankind. The redeeming life of this newly named Babe will be climaxed when He is lifted on Calvary above the hosts of men, when He rises from the tomb as Redeemer of the human race.

~~~

Litany to the Most Holy Name of Jesus

…Have Mercy on Us..

Jesus, splendor of the Father.  Jesus, brightness of eternal light. Jesus, King of glory. Jesus, sun of justice. Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary. Jesus, most amiable.
Jesus, most admirable. Jesus, the mighty God. Jesus, FathFile:IHS monogram Gesu.jpger of the world to come. Jesus, angel of great counsel. Jesus, most powerful. Jesus, most patient. Jesus, most obedient.  Jesus, meek and humble of heart.
Jesus, lover of chastity. Jesus, lover of us. Jesus, God of peace. Jesus, author of life. Jesus, example of virtues.  Jesus, zealous lover of souls. Jesus, our God.
Jesus, our refuge. Jesus, father of the poor. Jesus, treasure of the faithful. Jesus, good Shepherd. Jesus, true light. Jesus, eternal wisdom. Jesus, infinite goodness. Jesus, our way and our life. Jesus, joy of Angels. Jesus, King of the Patriarchs. Jesus, Master of the Apostles. Jesus, teacher of the Evangelists. Jesus, strength of Martyrs. Jesus, light of Confessors.  Jesus, purity of Virgins.
Jesus, crown of Saints.

~~~

Resources:

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“Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary”

~St. Bernardine of Siena

Mary, Mother of God ~ Cheerfulness

by Filed Under: 01 January Saints, Little Flowers, Marian, Mary's Birthday, Wreath III

SS Little Flowers 2011-12

We kicked off a new year of Little Flowers on the First Saturday.  We now have 35 Little Flowers!  Praise God!

We are on Wreath III and I decided to focus on Mary, Mother of God and Cheerfulness for the first meeting.  We had a Marian Birthday Party.

Happy Birthday Mama

The girls were delighted to come together for such a glorious celebration shared with Mass and friends.

Marian Birthday

Marian Birthday Menu: inspiration was found at Catholic Cuisine

  • Bake Blueberry French Toast
  • Cream cheese Lily Rolls
  • Marian Snack Mix
  • Fruit
  • Mary’s Prayer – Blue Chocolate Dipped Pretzels
  • Dried Blueberries
  • Mary Cookies
  • Cheer Sticks – Veggie Straws
  • Blue Drinks

Mary, Mother of God

I invited the girls to share what they knew about the Blessed Virgin.  We honed in on her cheerfulness in all situations.

We spoke of times when the girls have been cheerful and times when their cheerfulness was lacking. Then we identified what a non-cheerful “Yes” sounds like vs. a cheerful “Yes.”  The girls enjoyed proclaiming a “Yes” like Mary.

The girls also generated a list of words or phrases that could be said to cheer someone else up.

  • Cheer up!
  • Be happy!
  • I Love You!
  • Smile!
  • Be Joyful!
  • Jesus Loves You!

Cheer Card for a FriendA friend gave Sparkles this cheer card.

The talk on cheerfulness led us to our crafts.  The girls created Cheer Cards, cards that they could give to someone else in need of a smile.

P9032354

The girls also created a Mary, Mother of God journal.  I encouraged them to use their journal to record their cheerfulness, pray intentions, post their holy cards, and other spiritual practices.Mary Mother of God journal

We closed the meeting with the Rosary.  Unfortunately, we were a bit short on time and could only pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.  We prayed for an increase in cheerfulness and and the intentions of the Blessed Mother.cupcake rosary

The girls brought up their flower for Mary and ate a Hail Mary cupcake.

May we be cheerful like Our Blessed Mother.

~~~

Mary, Mother of God

January 1

Ave - Holy Mary Mother of God

~~~

Handouts: (in order)

Resources:

 

 

Mater Dei, ora pro nobis.

St. John Bosco

by Filed Under: 01 January Saints, St. John Bosco 2 Comments

"It is not enough that you love them, they must know they are loved."  ~ Don Bosco

SAINT JOHN BOSCO

Confessor

Traditional & New Calendar January 31

St. John Bosco was born on August 16, 1815, in a small town not too far from Turin, Italy. His father died when he was two years old. He was raised with tender love, yet firm discipline, by his mother, Margaret. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1841 and went to work in Turin, where the industrial revolution was attracting waves of young people to the city. The misery and abandonment of these youngsters moved John Bosco deeply.

He dedicated his life to them and began youth clubs for them. He then started hostels and boarding schools, where he taught them trades.  In 1854 he founded the Salesian Society and in 1872, the Salesian Sisters to work for girls. Three years later, he sent the first missionary group to Argentina. His work spread throughout the mission world and today more than half the Society works in mission lands.

The educational philosophy of John Bosco can be condensed in three words: reason, religion, and kindness. The basic principle of his system was a deep understanding and love for young people and their problems.

John Bosco died on January 31, 1888. Today the Salesian Family numbers 40,000 members working in over 100 countries.

Patron: Apprentices; boys; editors; Mexican young people; laborers; schoolchildren; students; young people.

RESOURCES:

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"Receive the sacraments often; be devoted to the Blessed Virgin; consider bad books worse than a plague; avoid bad companions even more than poisonous snakes." ~ Don Bosco

04-S Giovanni Bosco-8

Prayer To Our Lady, Help Of Christians

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christian,
how sweet it is to come to your feet
imploring your perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children, 
how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore you, 
your perpetual help in all my necessities, 
in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners.
Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life. 
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven.

~ St. John Bosco

~~~

Never send negligent pupils out of the classroom. Be patient with their light-mindedness." ~ Don Bosco

"The Salesian way of educating the young is quite simple. Basically, I insist on letting boys be boys. Let them play and enjoy themselves as much as they want as long as God is not offended. But if I have a philosophy of education, it consists in discovering a boy’s best qualities and then exploiting them to his advantage. You must admit, sir, that any person is at his best when he is doing what he likes and does best. Children are the same. Promote their positive qualities and they will thrive. As for discipline—love and respect for the young is the answer. In the 46 years I have worked among children, never once have I had to resort to corporal punishment, which by the way is very much in vogue. And if I may say so, all those children who have come under my care have always continued to show me their love and respect." ~ Don Bosco

~~~

~~~

 "Make the Exercise for a Happy Death every month; make it well, make it unfailingly well!" ~ Don Bosco

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