“‘Epiphany’ means’appearance of God.’ When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God himself appeared in our world.”

“At Epiphany we remember how rich wise men (magi) from countries of the East came to worship the infant Jesus in his simple stable. By doing this, the wise men showed that Jesus is the Messiah sent by God to save people of all nations.” 

Source: Lisa Reno, Magnifikid! Vol. 15 . Part 2. Section 2. January 7, 2018. Pages 3 & 4

 

For Families to Share Together:

Pray the Rosary with your children.  Use the Rosary crucifix to cross yourselves. The Rosary teaches the life of Jesus and is an important part of learning about our faith.

Several weeks ago, I saw a portion of “How to Pray the Rosary” of EWTN. The small part that I saw was so helpful. The speaker, Dr. Edward Sri, stated that there was a “hinge” between the first portion of “Hail Mary” and “Holy Mary” and that the hinge is the name “Jesus.” He suggested that we give the name of Jesus special attention and that we could reflect on one of the Mysteries, when we say His name. I have been using this technique and it makes a huge difference in giving this prayer the depth and reverence it deserves. Try saying the name, “Jesus” with a special emphasis or intonation, that indicates He is God.

How to Pray the Rosary Source: Catholic Child’s Prayer Book  By Rev. Thomas J. Donaghy St. Joseph Junior Books, Page 15 “We begin the Rosary with the sign of the Cross (for this is the way that we begin all of our prayers.)

After this, we pray the Apostles’ Creed. This is a very ancient prayer that proclaims the important truths of our faith.

After the Apostle’s Creed, we pray one Our Father, three Hail Marys and one Glory Be.

Now we come to the most important reason we pray the Rosary: to meditate on the Mysteries of our Faith. We proclaim each of the five Mysteries, followed by one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Remember, the reason for praying the Rosary is not to tally how many prayers we can say. It is to meditate on God’s love as shown in the lives of Jesus and Mary. This is why we hold the Rosary while we pray, so that we can keep track of the number of prayers we have said.”

For the Baptism of Jesus on Monday, January 8, let’s recite the Five Joyful Mysteries, and the Five Luminous Mysteries

We Recite the Mysteries

Beginning with The Joyful Mysteries (Normally, these are recited on Monday and Saturday.)

1. 1. The Annunciation“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to you word.” (Luke 1:38)
   2. The Visitation “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. (Luke 1:46-47)
   3. The Nativity “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
   4. The Presentation “My eyes have seen your salvation.” (Luke 2:30)
   5. The Finding in the Temple “Did you not know that I needed to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:41-52)
2. Add the Five Luminous Mysteries (Normally, recited on Thursday.)
   1. The Baptism of the Lord“I have baptized you with water, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8)
   2. The Wedding of Cana “What would you have Me do? My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4)
   3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)
   4. The Transfiguration“His face became as dazzling as the sun, his clothes as radiant as light.” (Matthew 17:1-2)
   5. The Institution of the Eucharist “Jesus took bread, blessed it: ‘Take and eat, this is My Body.'” (Mark 14:22)

   Source: Magnifikid! Vol. 14.Part 9. Section 4
   And, from COMPENDIUM Catechism of the Catholic Church Appendix A. Common Prayers Page 189

   Happening This Week

   Source: FranciscanMedia.org

   January 1, Mary the Mother of God
   “Mary’s divine motherhood broadens the Christmas spotlight. Mary has an important role to play in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.”

   January 3, The Most Holy Name of Jesus
   “Jesus died and rose for the sake of all people. No one can trademark or copyright Jesus’ name. Jesus is the Son of God and son of Mary. Everything that exists was created in and through the Son of God.” (see Colossians 1:15-20).

   January 5, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
   “Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in the span of 46 years while raising her five children.”

   January 7, The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

   

   We Learn Through Prayer

   At the end of praying the Rosary, it is customary to recite “Hail Holy Queen:”

   “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
   V- Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
   R- That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”

   We Learn Through Reading

   Gospel     Matthew, chapter 2:1

   “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
   in the days of King Herod,
   behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
   “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
   We saw his star at its rising
   and have come to do him homage.”
   When King Herod heard this,
   he was greatly troubled,
   and all Jerusalem with him.
   Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
   He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
   They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
   for thus it has been written through the prophet:
   And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
   since from you shall come a ruler,
   who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
   Then Herod called the magi secretly
   and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
   He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
   “Go and search diligently for the child.
   When you have found him, bring me word,
   that I too may go and do him homage.”
   After their audience with the king they set out.
   And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
   until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
   They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
   and on entering the house
   they saw the child with Mary his mother.
   They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
   Then they opened their treasures
   and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
   And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
   they departed for their country by another way.”  Source: USCCB.org

   We Learn Through Storytelling

   I had the great opportunity to visit Bethlehem in June, 2017, with my son, Father William Goldin. We had a reservation to celebrate the Mass in the Manger Grotto that is within the Nativity Church. Imagine–being in the cave that Jesus was born in. That’s right! The birthplace of Jesus was not a lovely stable, but a cramped little cave with a stone manger (feeding trough) for the animals that would have been kept there. I was surprised and somewhat overwhelmed to stand in the area known to be the birthplace of Christ. After my son had celebrated the Mass, we visited the Milk Grotto Church of the Virgin Mary which is very close to the Nativity Church. There, I took the picture of the stone carving above that depicts the Three Wise Men meeting Baby Jesus and Mary, with two angels overhead. Almost every day since that trip, I remember the things we saw and the Holy Sites we visited. Of all of them, standing in the cave where Jesus was born on a cold night with a brilliant star in the sky, was probably the most memorable and significant of all of them.

   

   

   

3.  
   

   We Learn Through Writing

   For Epiphany, “The Manifestation of our Lord,” it is the custom to write the following formula in chalk over the door to your home:

   20 + C + M + B + 18

   Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar are the names of the Three Kings or Wise Men. Source: OnePeterFive.com

   “Epiphany (also known as Twelfth Night, Theophany, or Three Kings Day) marks the occasion of a time-honored Christian tradition of “chalking the doors.” The formula for the ritual — adapted for 2018 — is simple: take chalk of any color and write the following above the entrance of your home: 20 + C + M + B + 18.

   The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi — Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar — who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “18” at the end mark the year. Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request for Christ to bless those homes so marked and that He stay with those who dwell therein throughout the entire year.” 

4. Source: OnePeterFive.com
   

   We Celebrate Through Song–We Three Kings of Orient Are

   Source: hymnary.org” Talk about the meanings of the words in bold for important information and vocabulary building.

5. 1 We three kings of Orient are;
   bearing gifts we traverse afar,
   field and fountain, moor and mountain,
   following yonder star.
   Refrain:
   O star of wonder, star of light,
   star with royal beauty bright,
   westward leading, still proceeding,
   guide us to thy perfect light.
   Refrain:
   O star of wonder, star of light,
   star with royal beauty bright,
   westward leading, still proceeding,
   guide us to thy perfect light.
   2 Born a King on Bethlehem‘s plain,
   gold I bring to crown him again,
   King forever, ceasing never,
   over us all to reign. [Refrain]
   3 Frankincense to offer have I;
   incense owns a Deity nigh;
   prayer and praising, voices raising,
   worshiping God on high. [Refrain]
   4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
   breathes a life of gathering gloom;
   sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
   sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]
   5 Glorious now behold him arise;
   King and God and sacrifice:
   Alleluia, Alleluia,
   sounds through the earth and skies.”
   [Refrain]
   United Methodist Hymnal, 1989
6. To Hear The Tune

We Celebrate Through Art

For a simple art project, use children’s soft pastels on dark-colored construction paper to make a night scene depicting the Baby Jesus in the manger, Mary, The Three Kings, and the brilliant star. You can have the children draw the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The rectangle boxes above the kings’ heads are symbols of the gifts.