Christmas...It's not over!

    I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family. 

    As Catholics we celebrate right through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 11th). 

    While other families are putting away the trees and lights today, we get to enjoy them for a few more weeks.

    Here are 5 feasts the Church celebrates during the holy season of Christmas:

     

    1. Feast of the Holy Family (Dec. 28th)

    The Holy Family is the model of all Christian families.  On the feast of the Holy Family, we reflect on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, and the obedience of Jesus to His parents.

    "Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.  After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.  After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”  And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  But they did not understand what he said to them.  He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.  And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man."  (Luke 2:41-52)

     2. Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1st - Feast of the Octave of Christmas)

    On this day, we honor Mary as Mother of Our Redeemer, because through her, all mankind has been granted salvation.

    "Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church's Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to Mary.  Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the "Seat of Wisdom." - (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 721)

     3. Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Jan. 3rd)

    Blessed be His Holy Name!  In fact, the Church dedicates the entire month of January to the Holy Name of Jesus. 

    "Because of this, God greatly exalted him  and bestowed on him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  (Philippians 2:9-11)

    Caption: Iesus Hominum Salvator - Jesus, Savior of men

    4. Epiphany of the Lord (Jan. 4th)

    Jesus' majesty and divinity is revealed to all nations through the visit of the Magi.

    "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." (Matthew: 2:10-11)

    5. Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 11th)

    The feast of the Baptism of the Lord ends the season of Christmas, where Jesus is Baptized by Saint John in the Jordan River, instituting the Sacrament of Baptism.  The Holy Spirit descends and Jesus is revealed as the Messiah.

    "It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.  And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9-11)

    Keep enjoying this holy season.  We have so much to celebrate!

    Love and Blessings, Wendy C.

    "Healing Mind, Body & Soul"

     

     

     

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