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Preparing for Our Savior

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Preparing for Our Savior St. Mary's At-Home Guide - January 6 (Ch 10-14) - Grade 2 Lesson 10 Preparing for Our Savior Lesson Focus | In the centuries before Jesus came, God spoke to His people through prophets, holy men who told people to stop sinning and to prepare for the coming Savior. When the time came for the Savior to be born, God sent the archangel Gabriel to the woman who would be the Savior’s Mother. Her name was Mary. Beautiful, good, and loving, she always wanted to please God and never disobeyed Him. God made her this way, keeping her free from Original Sin from the moment she was conceived. 1 | begin Pray the Glory Be with your child. Together, make a list of all the things your family does to get ready for Christmas (e.g., baking, shopping, decorating, etc.). Explain that you do this so everything will be beautiful, joyful, and ready when the day arrives. Read Isaiah 40:3 aloud. 2 | summarize Summarize this week’s lesson for your child: Example: Before He sent the promised Savior, God had to get His people ready. He helped His prophets to prepare everyone, and He picked a wonderful woman, Mary, to be the Savior’s Mother. He prepared her by filling her soul with grace and keeping her always free from sin. 3 | review References Review this week’s lesson by asking your child the following questions: Student Textbook: 1. What does God want most for all His children? (For us to be happy in Chapter 10, pp. 50–54 Heaven forever.) Sacred Scripture: 2. To make that possible, what did God promise to send? (A Savior.) Is 40:3; Lk 1:26–38 3. Whom did God choose to be the Mother of the Savior? (The Blessed Virgin Mary.) Catechism of the Catholic Church: 4. What was Mary free from all her life? (Original Sin.) 62–64, 437, 461–63, 5. Who told Mary she would be the Mother of the Savior? (The angel 483–95, 522–24, 724, Gabriel.) 1168–71 6. What do we call the time of year when Christians prepare to celebrate the Savior’s coming? (Advent.) 84 | G2—10 Grade 2—10 4 | apply Help your child apply this week’s lesson by asking the following questions: 1. How was Mary different from other girls and boys? What do you think she never did? 2. How can you prepare your heart for Jesus’ coming at Christmas? 3. How do you think Mary felt when she heard the Good News about the coming Savior? Why do you think she felt that way? How does the Good News make you feel? 5 | conclude With your child, pray the Our Father. 6 | follow up During the week, do at least one of the following activities with your child: 1. If you don’t have one already, buy or make an Advent Wreath. 2. Pray the Hail Mary every night before bed. 3. Pick an activity your family can do together every day or week to prepare your hearts for Christmas, such as pray the Rosary, go to Mass on a weekday, go to Eucharistic Adoration, read a Bible story together, etc. notes G2—10 | 85 Lesson 11 The Savior Is Born Lesson Focus | Right before Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census. Because all the inns were full, they stayed in a stable. There, Jesus was born. Mary laid Him in a manger. Shepherds were the first to learn of His birth. Later three wise men came and gave Him rich gifts. After Jesus’ birth, the Holy Family fled to Egypt to escape King Herod. Jesus’ birth and infancy were marked by humility, poverty, and troubles. God willed it to be this way, because He wanted to share the life of the poor. 1 | begin Pray the Glory Be with your child. Place your family’s Nativity scene or an image of the Nativity on the table. Ask your child if he can identify all the people in it. Read Luke 2:1–20 aloud. 2 | summarize Summarize this week’s lesson for your child: Example: When Jesus, the promised Savior, was finally born, He didn’t come into the world as a rich king. He was born in poverty, to poor parents, and poor shepherds were the first to learn about His birth. In this, God helps us understand the virtue of humility. 3 | review Review this week’s lesson by asking your child the following questions: 1. Where was Jesus born? (In a stable in the city of Bethlehem.) References 2. Where did His parents lay Him after He was born? (In a manger filled Student Textbook: with hay.) Chapter 11, pp. 55–59 3. When was Jesus born? (On the first Christmas day, more than two thousand Sacred Scripture: years ago.) Mt 1:18—2:15; Lk 4. Who is Jesus Christ? (The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, true God and 2:1–20 true man.) Catechism of the 5. Why did the Son of God become man? (To save us from our sins.) Catholic Church: 6. How was Jesus honored when He was born? (The angels announced His 249–56, 410–12, 437, birth, the shepherds came and worshiped Him, a star shone in the sky, wise men 456–83, 525–30 brought rich gifts.) 7. What sad thing happened after Jesus was born? How did God take care of the Holy Family? (King Herod wanted to kill Jesus. In a dream an angel warned Joseph about King Herod, and the Holy Family fled to Egypt.) 86 | G2—11 Grade 2—11 4 | apply Help your child apply this week’s lesson by asking the following questions: 1. What does the Christmas story teach us about the importance of money? 2. How can you be humble like Jesus? 3. After Jesus was born, the shepherds came to worship Him. How can you worship Jesus? 4. The wise men brought Jesus wonderful gifts. What kind of gifts can you give Jesus? 5 | conclude With your child, pray the Our Father. 6 | follow up During the week, do at least one of the following activities with your child: 1. Pay a short visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in your church or in an Adoration chapel. 2. Collect coats, toys, or food from your house to give to a local homeless shelter. 3. Help your child pick one special gift he can give to Jesus for Christmas (e.g., to eat all his vegetables, do his homework without complaining, pray every morning and night, etc.). A star of Bethlehem. notes G2—11 | 87 Lesson 12 The Holy Family Lesson Focus | The Holy Family teaches us about the beauty and dignity of family life. Joseph, Jesus’ foster-father, was a good and holy man who worked hard to care for his family. Mary also worked hard to care for the family, making their home a happy place to be. Jesus helped both His parents, learned from them, and obeyed them. Together, they prayed daily and served God, sharing their lives with Him and one another. 1 | begin Pray the Glory Be with your child. Show your child a picture of your family. Explain that just as God gave him a family to love, care for, and teach him, He also gave His own Son a family to do the same. Read Luke 2:22–40 aloud. 2 | summarize Summarize this week’s lesson for your child: Example: Through the example of the Holy Family we learn how beautiful families can be when everyone works hard to love and care for one another and serve God in all he does. 3 | review Review this week’s lesson by asking your child the following questions: 1. Who is Jesus’ Father? (God.) References 2. Who is Jesus’ foster-father? (Saint Joseph.) Student Textbook: 3. Who are the members of the Holy Family? (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.) Chapter 12, pp. 60–63 4. Where did the Holy Family live after King Herod died? (In Nazareth.) Sacred Scripture: 5. What was Saint Joseph’s job? (He was a carpenter.) Mt 1:18–25; 2:19–20; 6. In what way do all Christians belong to the Holy Family? (Through Lk 2:21–52 Baptism, Jesus is our brother, Mary is our Mother, and we can ask Saint Joseph to Catechism of the be our friend and protector.) Catholic Church: 531–34, 963–70, 1655–58, 2215–18, 2673–79, 2683–84 88 | G2—12 Grade 2—12 4 | apply Help your child apply this week’s lesson by asking the following questions: 1. In what ways is our family like the Holy Family? 2. In what ways is our family different from the Holy Family? 3. In what ways can you, as a member of our family, follow the example of Jesus as a member of His family? 4. How can our family love and serve God as the Holy Family did? 5 | conclude With your child, pray the Our Father. 6 | follow up During the week, do at least one of the following activities with your child: 1. Draw, buy, or download a picture of the Holy Family, and display it in your home. 2. As a family, pray the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary: the Presentation in the Temple. 3. After Sunday Mass, look for the Saint Joseph statue or altar in your church. Together, pray the Prayer to Saint Joseph (see Appendix), or ask Saint Joseph to help everyone in your family to love God and one another better.
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