Advent 2012

Welcome back to the OLQHS RELIGIOUS INTERACTIVE SITE.

Every Advent, Christmas, Lent & Easter, we come together to walk the journey of the seasons as a school. In this YEAR OF FAITH, please join us on our journey as we discover the deeper meaning of the Liturgical Seasons.

During Advent, we will be building a JESSE TREE. Every day, this site will post a Jesse Tree Symbol that goes with a story from Scripture. There will also be a short commentary about the symbol and scripture. The Liturgical Readings for the Day will also be notated, along with any special Feast Days or traditions. Feel free to use the links at the right of the page to navigate to sites, where you can access the Readings for the Day and other information.

We hope that you and your family have a FAITH-FILLED Advent Season.

WHAT IS A JESSE TREE?

The Jesse Tree

"O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign for all people, standing before the silence of kings, to whom the gentiles offer their prayers.  Come and deliver us."

The Jesse Tree helps us to remember that Advent is a time of waiting for the coming of the Savior.  It is a symbol of life and growth and is expressed through the ancestry of an individual.  The image is not unusual to us since we also speak about our family tree or our roots.

Jesse, whom the tree is named after, was the father of King David.  The tree reminds us of all the people who waited for the coming of the Savior.  We decorate the tree with symbols that remind us of some of the people who waited for the coming of the Savior--the patriarchs and matriarchs (our fathers and mothers in faith), the prophets, and the parents of the Lord.

If you would like to have your own Jesse Tree for your family in your home, please refer to links posted on the sidebar for assistance.

Easter Monday

9 April 2012

As we are finished with our Lenten Journey of 40 Days of Stories, I will be posting interesting tidbits of information to mark the Easter Season.

Today's topic: EASTER EGGS

Easter eggs are seen by many non-believers as a throw-back to pagan ritual, thereby negating the importance of the season. But our Eastern brothers and sisters of the Byzantine Rite may have a different take on the subject. There is a legend that Mary Magdalene went to Rome after Jesus' death and resurrection. There, she went to Tiberius to chastise him about how Jesus had been treated and to share with him the wonderful news of Jesus' resurrection. Upon hearing the story, Tiberius said that Jesus had no more risen from the dead as that egg is red. Mary had used an egg as an example of the empty tomb. No sooner had Tiberius said these words did the egg turn red..hence our Easter eggs are reminiscent of this legend. The egg also harkens to the Passover Plate....the symbol for rebirth as seen by thousands through the years.

Readings for the Day:
     Acts 2:14, 22-33
     Psalm 16
     Matthew 28:8-15

Collect for the Day:
"O God, who give constant increase to your Church by new offspring, grant that your servants may hold fast in their lives to the Sacrament they have received in faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever Amen."

Easter Sunday

HE IS RISEN!
ALLELUIA!

HAPPY EASTER FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!

Holy Saturday & the Easter Vigil

7 April 2012

Today is Holy Saturday. Tonight will be the Easter Vigil, the third pillar of the three liturgies that comprise Triduum. Please refer to the link at the right. The link contains many activities you can do with your family.

Our 40 DAYS OF STORIES is now complete. I urge you to look at some of the links to the right and use the activities found there to really mark this HOLY SATURDAY, the Vigil of Easter, so that tomorrow's resurrection may be fully experienced. One particular tradition in our family, is to make RESURRECTION COOKIES. Through this activity, the family physically experiences Christ's Passion. There is a link for that family activity at the right, as well.

Readings for the Vigil:
     Genesis 1:1-2:2
     Psalm 104
     Genesis 22:1-18
     Psalm 16
     Exodus 14:15-15:1
     Exodus 15
     Isaiah 54:5-14
     Psalm 30
     Isaiah 55:1-11
     Isaiah 12
     Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4
     Psalm 19
     Ezekiel 36:16-28
     Psalm 42
     Romans 6:3-11
     Psalm 118
     Mark 16:1-7

Collect for the Day:
"Christ became obedient for us unto death, even to the death of the cross. Amen."

Good Friday

6 April 2012

Today is Good Friday.

Our story today tells of when Peter Was Scared.
The scriptural basis for this story can be found in Mark 14.

"And while Peter was in the court below, one of the maidservants of the high priest arrived. And when she had seen Peter warming himself, she stared at him, and she said: “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”  But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you saying.” And he went outside, in front of the court; and a rooster crowed. Then again, when a maidservant had seen him, she began to say to the bystanders, “For this is one of them.” But he denied it again. And after a little while, again those standing near said to Peter: “In truth, you are one of them. For you, too, are a Galilean.” Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, “For I do not know this man, about whom you are speaking.”  And immediately the rooster crowed again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he began to weep."

Readings of the Day:
     Isaiah 52:13-53:12
     Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-14, 15-17, 25
     Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
     John 18:1-19:42

Collect for the Day:
"Remember your mercies, O Lord, and with your eternal protection sanctify your servants for whom Christ your Son, by the shedding of his Blood, established the Paschal Mystery. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen."

Holy Thursday

5 April 2012

Today is the Feast of Holy Thursday. We remember the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and instituted the Eucharist. We also remember his prayer in Gethsemane and his betrayal by Judas. It is the first day in a 3--day liturgy known as TRIDUUM. To full participate in TRIDUUM, one must attend all 3 of it's parts: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.

I have also added some links to the right with activities you might want to do with your kids over the next few days.

Today's story tells of when Judas Leaves the Last Supper.
The scriptural basis for this story can be found in both Matthew 26 & John 13.

"And while they were eating, he said: “Amen I say to you, that one of you is about to betray me.” And being greatly saddened, each one of them began to say, “Surely, it is not I, Lord?” But he responded by saying: “He who dips his hand with me into the dish, the same will betray me. Indeed, the Son of man goes, just as it has been written about him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man will be betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” Then Judas, who betrayed him, responded by saying, “Surely, it is not I, Master?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
Matthew 26:21-25

"“Amen, amen, I say to you, that one among you shall betray me.”  Therefore, the disciples looked around at one another, uncertain about whom he spoke. And leaning against the bosom of Jesus was one of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved. Therefore, Simon Peter motioned to this one and said to him, “Who is it that he is speaking about?”And so, leaning against the chest of Jesus, he said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus responded, “It is he to whom I shall extend the dipped bread.” And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. And after the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those sitting at table knew why he had said this to him. For some were thinking that, because Judas held the purse, that Jesus had told him, “Buy those things which are needed by us for the feast day,” or that he might give something to the needy. Therefore, having accepted the morsel, he went out immediately. And it was night."
John 13:21-30


Reading of the Day:
     Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
     Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
     1 Corinthians 11:23-26
     John 13:1-15

Collect for the Day:
"O God, who have called us to participate in this most sacred Supper, in which your Only Begotten Son, when about to hand himself over to death, entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity, the banquet of his love, grant, we pray, that we may draw from so great a mystery, the fullness of charity and of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Wednesday of Holy Week

4 March 2012

Today's story tells of Jesus Washing the Feet of His Disciples.
The scriptural basis for this story can be found in John 13.

"He rose up from the meal, and he set aside his vestments, and when he had received a towel, he wrapped it around himself. Next he put water into a shallow bowl, and he began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel with which he was wrapped. And then he came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to him, “Lord, would you wash my feet?” Jesus responded and said to him: “What I am doing, you do not now understand. But you shall understand it afterward.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you will have no place with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Then Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him: “He who is washed need only wash his feet, and then he will be entirely clean. And you are clean, but not all.” For he knew which one would betray him. For this reason, he said, “You are not all clean.” And so, after he washed their feet and received his vestments, when he had sat down at table again, he said to them: “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you speak well: for so I am. Therefore, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash the feet of one another. For I have given you an example, so that just as I have done for you, so also should you do. Amen, amen, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his Lord, and the apostle is not greater than he who sent him. If you understand this, you shall be blessed if you will do it."

Readings of the Day:
     Isaiah 50:4-9
     Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34
     Matthew 26:14-25

Collect for the Day:
" God, who willed your Son to submit for our sake to the yoke of the Cross, so that you might drive from us the power of the enemy, grant us, your servants, to attain the grace of the resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."