Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Mother
Mary is Jesus’ mother and before Jesus died He gave her to us to be our mother too. God chose Mary to be Jesus’ mom because she loved God very much and always said yes to whatever God asked her to do. When Mary was still quite young, God sent the Archangel Gabriel to Mary to tell her the wonderful news that God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son Jesus. Mary was amazed that God would choose her, but she trusted in God and she said YES! Mary, and Jesus’ dad Joseph, loved Jesus very much. They took care of him when he was a little baby and taught him all about God as he grew up. Mary believed that Jesus could do lots of amazing things, like make sick people better and turn water into wine at a wedding party. Mary helped Jesus’ friends (his Apostles) to be more like Jesus and she can help us too. Today we celebrate that she is God’s Mother, because Jesus is God, and she wants to be our mother too.
St Sylvester
St. Sylvester became Pope in 314 when Emperor Constantine ruled. It was a time of change for the church because the rule of Emperor Diocletian had just ended. Diocletian hated Christians and had many of Jesus’ followers killed. Emperor Constantine did not like Christians either, at first. Many were afraid he would be mean like the emperor before him.
Emperor Constantine found out he had leprosy, a very bad skin disease that had no cure in those days. One night the emperor had a dream he was visited by St. Peter and St. Paul. The saints told him to go visit Pope Sylvester and that he would be healed. Emperor Constantine hurried to see the pope and asked to be baptized. Pope Sylvester gladly did as the emperor asked and, during the baptism, the emperor was healed. Emperor Constantine then did everything he could to help spread the Good News of Jesus.
St. Sylvester continued to be pope until his death in 335. He was a very wise and strong leader. With the help of Emperor Constantine, he was able to build up Christ's Church after it had been through such hard times.
Emperor Constantine found out he had leprosy, a very bad skin disease that had no cure in those days. One night the emperor had a dream he was visited by St. Peter and St. Paul. The saints told him to go visit Pope Sylvester and that he would be healed. Emperor Constantine hurried to see the pope and asked to be baptized. Pope Sylvester gladly did as the emperor asked and, during the baptism, the emperor was healed. Emperor Constantine then did everything he could to help spread the Good News of Jesus.
St. Sylvester continued to be pope until his death in 335. He was a very wise and strong leader. With the help of Emperor Constantine, he was able to build up Christ's Church after it had been through such hard times.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
St Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was born in London, England. He was very well liked and had many friends, one of whom was the King of England, King Henry II. Thomas was studying to become a priest when the king asked him to be his chancellor. As chancellor, he was very prayerful and gave a lot of what he had to the poor.
When the Archbishop of Canterbury died, King Henry II wanted his friend Thomas to finish his studies to become a priest so he could make Thomas the archbishop. Thomas warned his friend that it was not a good idea and that it would be hard on their friendship, but the king did not listen.
As time went on, Thomas served God’s Church well but the king kept trying to take over more power in the church. At first, Thomas almost gave in to his friend but he stood for his faith in the Church instead. King Henry became so mad at Thomas that he sent out four of his knights to “rid him of this archbishop”.
On December 29th, 1170, Thomas was killed in his own cathedral for defending Jesus and His Church.
When the Archbishop of Canterbury died, King Henry II wanted his friend Thomas to finish his studies to become a priest so he could make Thomas the archbishop. Thomas warned his friend that it was not a good idea and that it would be hard on their friendship, but the king did not listen.
As time went on, Thomas served God’s Church well but the king kept trying to take over more power in the church. At first, Thomas almost gave in to his friend but he stood for his faith in the Church instead. King Henry became so mad at Thomas that he sent out four of his knights to “rid him of this archbishop”.
On December 29th, 1170, Thomas was killed in his own cathedral for defending Jesus and His Church.
Holy Innocents
During the time when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, three Wise Men from the East came to visit Him. They did not know where to find Jesus so they visited King Herod to see if he knew. When King Herod heard that they were looking for Jesus, the Messiah, he started planning a very evil plan. He was worried that this new king would take over his kingdom, so he wanted to get rid of Jesus.
Herod asked the Wise Men to return to him once they found Jesus so that he could also visit him. Once the Wise Men found Jesus, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. Joseph was also warned in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt.
When Herod found out that the Wise Men had disobeyed, he was very angry. He ordered his men to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem who were two years old and younger, hoping to get rid of Jesus.
Today we remember and honor all those innocent babies who were martyred. They are called the Holy Innocents.
Herod asked the Wise Men to return to him once they found Jesus so that he could also visit him. Once the Wise Men found Jesus, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. Joseph was also warned in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt.
When Herod found out that the Wise Men had disobeyed, he was very angry. He ordered his men to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem who were two years old and younger, hoping to get rid of Jesus.
Today we remember and honor all those innocent babies who were martyred. They are called the Holy Innocents.
Friday, December 26, 2014
St. John Apostle
St. John lived during the time of Jesus. His parents were Zebedee and Salome. He and his brother James were fishermen and were both called to be Jesus' apostles. John was the youngest of Jesus' apostles and is the only one who did not leave Jesus during his crucifixion and death.
After Jesus' resurrection, the apostles had been out on their boat fishing but did not catch any fish. A man from the shore told them to cast out their nets and they came up full of fish. It was John who recognized the man as Jesus.
After Pentecost, John was filled with the Holy Spirit and went out preaching the Good News of Jesus. He performed many miracles and hundreds of people became followers of Jesus. John lived to be over one hundred years old and never stopped preaching about Jesus' great love.
After Jesus' resurrection, the apostles had been out on their boat fishing but did not catch any fish. A man from the shore told them to cast out their nets and they came up full of fish. It was John who recognized the man as Jesus.
After Pentecost, John was filled with the Holy Spirit and went out preaching the Good News of Jesus. He performed many miracles and hundreds of people became followers of Jesus. John lived to be over one hundred years old and never stopped preaching about Jesus' great love.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
St Stephen
St. Stephen was the first person to be killed for his faith in Jesus. He is the first martyr. Stephen lived in the time of Jesus. All we know of him is from chapters 6 and 7 in the Book of Acts in the Bible. The apostles had made him a deacon and had asked him to care for the widows and children.
Stephen was a wise man who was filled with God's grace and power. When he preached about Jesus, many people would ask him difficult questions but Stephen always had an answer. This made many people very angry and, one day, they carried Stephen outside. They formed a circle around him and threw stones at him until he died. While he was being stoned, he prayed “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He then forgave the men that were stoning him and he died.
Stephen was a wise man who was filled with God's grace and power. When he preached about Jesus, many people would ask him difficult questions but Stephen always had an answer. This made many people very angry and, one day, they carried Stephen outside. They formed a circle around him and threw stones at him until he died. While he was being stoned, he prayed “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He then forgave the men that were stoning him and he died.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Christmas
The Roman emperor wanted a count of the people living in his empire. Mary and Joseph were part of the royal family of King David and had made the long and hard journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be counted. When they came to Bethlehem, the city was very busy and there was no place to stay. Mary was pregnant and it was time for the baby to be born. An innkeeper did not have room for them in his inn but he let them stay in the stable where he kept his animals. And so it was when the fullness of time had come, Mary gave birth to baby Jesus, God's only Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. God showed His great love for us by sending His only Son, Jesus.
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