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Saturday, January 9, 2016

Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord

10 January 2016
Today is the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord.
Please refer to the link on the right for more information about this feast.

Readings of the Day:
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 29
Acts 10:34-38
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

*We have finished our winter postings.
There will be no more postings until February.
We will begin posting again on Ash Wednesday (February 10) and will continue through Lent and the Easter Season.
God's Blessings on you all!!

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Christmas Season: Friday after Epiphany Sunday

Today is the 15th day after Christmas.
The following site has activities associated with this day.
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/seasons/christmas/christmas_days15.cfm
Readings of the Day:
1 John 5:5-13
Psalm 147
Luke 5:12-16

Christmas Season: Thursday After Epiphany Sunday

Today is the optional memorial of St. Raymond of Penafort.
A link has been added about this saint.

Today is the 14th Day of the Christmas Season.

Readings for the Day:
1 John 4:19-5:4
Psalm 72
Luke 4:14-22

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Christmas Season: Wednesday after Epiphany Sunday

Today is the traditional date for the Feast of the Epiphany.
Many feel that this closes the Liturgical Christmas Season. But, the Liturgical Season actually lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, which will happen next Sunday. This is when Jesus is baptized by John and Jesus begins his ministry on Earth.

Today is also the feast day for St. Andre Bessette.
A link has been added to the links list to the right in reference to this saints.

We live in an area of the world that celebrates Mardi Gras. The season of Mardi Gras has many connections with the Catholic Church. First of all, the season starts on Epiphany, or "King's Day," when the 3 kings brought the gifts of gold, frankincense and mur to the Christ Child. It is a time when the 3 liturgical seasons of Christmas (gold), ordinary time (green) and lent (purple) come together. The "baby" in the king cake represents the Baby Jesus. Also, it is a time of celebration before the season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Please refer to the link for more information about the Christian celebration of Mardi Gras.

Scripture: "And so, when Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judah, in the days of king Herod, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying: “Where is he who was born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and we have come to adore him.” Now king Herod, hearing this, was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the leaders of the priests, and the scribes of the people, he consulted with them as to where the Christ would be born. And they said to him: “In Bethlehem of Judea. For so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah. For from you shall go forth the ruler who shall guide my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod, quietly calling the Magi, diligently learned from them the time when the star appeared to them. And sending them into Bethlehem, he said: “Go and diligently ask questions about the boy. And when you have found him, report back to me, so that I, too, may come and adore him.” And when they had heard the king, they went away. And behold, the star that they had seen in the east went before them, even until, arriving, it stood still above the place where the child was. Then, seeing the star, they were gladdened by a very great joy. And entering the home, they found the boy with his mother Mary. And so, falling prostrate, they adored him. And opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received a response in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back by another way to their own region. And after they had gone away, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: “Rise up, and take the boy and his mother, and flee into Egypt. And remain there until I tell you. For it will happen that Herod will seek the boy to destroy him.” And getting up, he took the boy and his mother by night, and withdrew into Egypt. And he remained there, until the death of Herod, in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt, I called my son.”
Matthew 2:1-15

Readings of the Day:
1 John 4:11-18
Psalm 72
Mark 6:45-52

Monday, January 4, 2016

Christmas Season: Tuesday After Epiphany Sunday

5 January 2016

Today is also the Memorial of St. John Neumann.
A link has been added about this saint.

"On the twelfth day of Christmas...
my true love gave to me....
twelve drummers drumming...."

Symbolism: The twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve beliefs stated in the Apostle's Creed.

Scripture: "Now they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communion of the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers. And fear developed in every soul. Also, many miracles and signs were accomplished by the Apostles in Jerusalem. And there was a great awe in everyone. And then all who believed were together, and they held all things in common."
Acts of the Apostles 2:42-44

Readings of the Day:
1 John 4:7-10
Psalm 72
Matthew 6:34-44

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Christmas Season: Monday after Epiphany Sunday

Today is also the Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
A link has been added with the history of this saint.

"On the eleventh day of Christmas.....
my true love gave to me.....
eleven pipers piping..."

Symbolism: The "eleven pipers piping" is symbolic of the eleven faithful disciples.

Scripture: "Now the eleven disciples went on to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And, seeing him, they worshipped him, but certain ones doubted. And Jesus, drawing near, spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go forth and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have ever commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the consummation of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20

Readings for the Day:
(Feast of the Epiphany):

1 John 3:22-4:6
Psalm 2
Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Feast of the Epiphany (Celebrated)

3 January 2016
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.
It is usually celebrated on January 6, but can be
celebrated on the Sunday between January 2 and
 January 8, as it is this year.
A link has been added about this Feast and another link
has been added to the BLESSING OF THE HOME
customarily done as a family on the Feast of the Epiphany.

"On the tenth day of Christmas...
my true love gave to me...
ten lords a-leaping..."

Symbolism: The "ten lords a-leaping symbolizes the Ten Commandments."

Scripture: "I was the mediator, for I was in the middle between the Lord and you, at that time, to announce his words to you. For you were afraid of the fire, and so you did not ascend to the mountain. And he said: ‘I am the Lord your God, who led you away from the land of Egypt, from the house of servitude. You shall not have strange gods in my sight.
You shall not make for yourself a graven image, nor the likeness of anything, which is in heaven above, or on earth below, or which abides in the waters under the earth.
You shall not adore and you shall not worship these things. For I am the Lord your God, a jealous God, repaying the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation to those who hate me, and acting with mercy in thousands of ways to those who love me and keep my precepts.
You shall not use the name of the Lord your God in vain. For he will not go unpunished who takes up his name over an unimportant matter. Observe the day of the Sabbath, so that you may sanctify it, just as the Lord your God has instructed you. For six days, you shall labor and do all your work.
The seventh is the day of the Sabbath, that is, the rest of the Lord your God. You shall not do any work in it, nor shall your son, nor daughter, nor man servant, nor woman servant, nor ox, nor donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor the sojourner who is within your gates, so that your men and woman servants may rest, just as you do. Remember that you also were servants in Egypt, and the Lord your God led you away from that place with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. Because of this, he has instructed you so that you would observe the Sabbath day.
Honor your father and mother, just as the Lord your God has instructed you, so that you may live a long time, and so that it may be well with you in the land, which the Lord your God will give to you.
You shall not murder.
And you shall not commit adultery.
And you shall not commit theft.
Neither shall you speak false testimony against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his house, nor his field, nor his man servant, nor his woman servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything out of all that is his.’"
Deuteronomy 5:5-21

Readings for the Day:
(Feast of the Epiphany):
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

Friday, January 1, 2016

Christmas Season: Memorials of St. Basil the Great & St. Gregory of Nazianzen

2 January 2016
Today we celebrate the Memorials of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nazianzen.
A link has been added with the history of these saints.

"On the ninth day of Christmas...
my true love gave to me....
nine ladies dancing..."

Symbolism: The "nine ladies dancing" symbolize the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
(The Fruits of the Holy Spirit are sometimes listed as 9 subjects and sometimes listed as 12 subjects.)

Scripture: "But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, forbearance, meekness, faith, modesty, abstinence, chastity. There is no law against such things."
Galatians 5:22-23

Reading for the Day:
1 John 2:22-28
Psalm 98
John 1:19-28