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“Domestic Church”? Prepare, and Rejoice at the Miracle of Christ's Birth

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“Domestic Church”? Prepare, and Rejoice at the Miracle of Christ's Birth Helping our children grow in their Catholic faith. December 2018 Nazareth Academy Sr. Evelyn Korenek, Principal Find the true meaning of Christmas in L-O-V-E Children of all ages enjoy gifts on the Savior’s arrival by marking the Christmas morning, but Catholic days on an Advent calendar you make parents know that there is more to together. Light an Advent wreath. St. Dominic of Silos Christmas than presents. It is a Decorate your Nativity St. Dominic was a celebration of hope scene gradually. Benedictine monk, fullled. God V – Visit. In born around promised he would addition to weekend 1000AD in send us a Savior so we Mass, make trips to Navarre, Spain. could live in Heaven church so children He was exiled with him forever. He can visit Jesus. Take because of a sent his own Son. Christmas cards conict with Help children to you have received the local ruler. experience the true and pray for the Recognized meaning of people who sent for his leadership abilities, St. Christmas by them. Dominic was made abbot of St. celebrating with E – Extend love. Sebastian’s monastery at Silos. He’s L-O-V-E: An effective way to also known for having freed L – Lower your experience love at hundreds of prisoners from the outside activities. the holidays is to Moors. St. Dominic, the founder of More than the gifts you give, give it. Act with love, the Dominicans, was named after children will cherish the Christmas especially when dealing with family. him by his mother, Joan of Aza, after memories you make. Limit the number Extending patience and kindness praying to St. Dominic for a son. of invitations you accept, and set aside during the holiday season can be a the extra time as family time. challenge and a true act of love. “For The Wait O – Offer anticipation. Instead of God so loved the world that he gave his We spend Advent waiting for focusing on gifts and lists, anticipate only Son ...” (John 3:16). something wonderful to happen. While impatient to get to that something wonderful, we can forget that the wait can be wonderful, too. Help children take Why do Catholics refer to the it one week at a time. Wait, hope, family the “domestic church”? prepare, and rejoice at the miracle of Christ's birth. The Church calls Church through our families. A Catholic difference families “the domestic Our parents had us baptized Catholics are never church” or “little in the Church, taught us to alone in our efforts. churches” because it is pray, took us to Mass, and We are members of the rst place where passed on the Faith the Church, the young, baptized (Catechism of the Catholic body of Christ, Christians learn about Church, #1656). What the and together we Faith. Church does—helps us make a difference. We learn how to love God encounter God and his love—the and become part of the family does on a smaller scale. © Copyright 2018 Success Publishing & Media, LLC December 2018 Page 2 Faith doesn’t require understanding Throughout history, God has given people mysterious that faith doesn’t require understanding. In the same way, we messages that defy reason but require faith. When don’t have to understand what God wants from us to know Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to that it is for the best. Very little in the angel’s the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38), she couldn’t message was logical but Mary didn’t pretend to help but wonder how that could happen. get it. She said, “Yes,” because she had complete The angel’s explanation hardly claried faith in God. things. Instead of asking more, she simply This month is the perfect time to talk with said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. children about Mary’s example of faith. When Be it done to me according to your word” (Luke we are worried or uncertain, we can do what 1:38. Mary did because good things always happen Children are used to trusting adults and know to people who say, “Yes,” to God. Luke 2:41-52, Jesus in the world In this reading, the Holy Family went to This was the rst recorded time Growing up, my Christmases were a Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years Jesus referred to his blur of waiting for the day and being old. This was an important moment in identity as God’s Son. Yet let down when it ended. I braced Jesus’ life. In the Jewish he knew his duties to his myself for my children to experience faith, a boy becomes heavenly Father would the same when our a man around the be fullled in time. pastor explained that age of twelve and is Meanwhile, he returned the Catholic Church recognized in a obediently to Nazareth celebrates Christmas special ceremony and fullled his obligations for twelve whole called a Bar to his earthly parents. days. “Christmas,” he Mitzvah. On this What can a parent do? explained, “is just occasion, Jesus stayed Christians live in the beginning.” behind to learn from the teachers, neighborhoods, schools, and So we lit our Advent wreath and who were amazed by his questions. communities. We are subject to decorated slowly. We played Advent When his parents discovered him days legitimate earthly authority. We can music – songs that spoke of our hope later, they were shocked. How could he grow in holiness wherever God has that God would be faithful to his just wander off without telling them? placed us. Find ways to teach children promises. Jesus calmly explained that he was to be holy while still living in the Christmas Day began with joyful “about his Father’s business.” world. carols at Mass and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist—the best Gift of all. The Dec. 9 – St. Juan Diego next twelve days were spent visiting (1548). St. Juan Diego was visited family and friends, enjoying our by the Blessed Mother at Tepeyac favorite Christmas music, watching Hill in Mexico. She asked that a chapel Christmas movies, and eating cookies. Dec. 2 – First Sunday of Advent. be built for her, and sent him with Someone asked why our daughter Today begins a new liturgical year in roses to the bishop as a sign. When the said, “Merry Christmas” on New Year’s the Church. During the season of roses were emptied from his cloak Day. I explained that for Catholics, Advent, we anticipate Christ’s birth before the bishop, it retained the Jesus’ birth was such a joyous occasion, and look forward to his coming on the image of the Blessed Mother. the Church set aside twelve days to last day. Dec. 17 - St. Olympias (408). celebrate it. Dec. 8 – Immaculate Conception of Born to a wealthy family in the Blessed Virgin Mary (1854). A Constantinople, this holy Holy Day of Obligation which widow devoted her large To help parents raise faithful Catholic children Success Publishing & Media, LLC commemorates that Mary was fortune to caring for the Publishers of Growing in Faith™ and Partners in Faith™ conceived in St. Anne’s womb without poor and supporting her (540)662-7844 (540)662-7847 fax original sin. Attending Mass together friend, St. John http://www.partnersinfaith.com (Unless noted Bible quotes and references are from is a wonderful way to celebrate. Chrysostom, in his work. the Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible.) © Copyright 2018 Success Publishing & Media, LLC.
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