Another Weekend with Back-to-Back Celebrations

As much as the pandemic has created a different sense of time, celebrations on the Church’s liturgical calendar remain compact.  

On Thursday, January 1, which is the Octave of Christmas, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God.  From ancient times, Mary has been honored as “God-bearer” (Theotokos), that is the “Mother of God.”  It wasn’t until the Council of Ephesus, A.D. 431 that this belief of the faithful was officially defined by the Church.  (There were other issues concerning our beliefs regarding the person of Jesus Christ, for which this proclamation served as a timely ally.  But those explanations are left for another time.)

Initially, our parish adopted this solemnity as our Feast Day.  However, two years ago, Pope Francis designated the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church to be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost.  Pope Paul VI was the first advocate for giving Mary this particular title as Mother of the Church.  This took place at the end of the 3^rd session of the Second Vatican Council, November 1964.

On Sunday, January 3, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.  All of us are familiar with the story of the journey of the magi.  Along with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which occurs on January 10, the feast of the Epiphany is often considered Christmas by our Orthodox brothers and sisters who use the Julian Calendar, rather than the Gregorian calendar that we in the Roman tradition use.  These are the days (Epiphany & the Baptism of the Lord) when Jesus Christ was “announced” to the Gentiles, as represented by the magi.

Worth Repeating:  A Christmas Gift from the Parish

Attachments 

• The Worship Aid for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Thursday & Friday)
• The Catholic Kids Bulletin for January 1
• The Worship Aid for the Feast of the Epiphany (Saturday & Sunday)
• The Catholic Kids Bulletin for January 3 - Epiphany

Grace Is Indeed Amazing!

This is a wonderful story about one of our young parishioners, Lucas Menz, who is a senior at St. John Vianney High School.  This article appeared in the December 21^st edition of the St. Louis Review.

https://www.archstl.org/vianney-student-leads-his-schools-effort-to-buy-toys-for-children-6018 

Day Is Done, Part 1

On a lighter note x 2

#1   Hmmm…..

Many believe that if the Magi were women they would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, brought practical gifts and made a casserole.

#2    More singing!!!!

Day Is Done, Part 2

Over these next few days enjoy what has now become a modern Christmas classic!

As another day comes to an end, 
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night and 
a joy-filled Feast of the Epiphany!

Fr. Chuck