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Rosary, JOYFUL Mysteries

12/27/2020

2 Comments

 

Fifth Decade: The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple

Jesus Among the Doctors
by Heinrich Hofmann (1884)
oil on canvas
Currently located in The Riverside Church, New York, New York
Picture
Did you notice it by yourself? In our last two paintings, Ribera’s Adoration of the Shepherds and Rembrandt’s Presentation, Jesus shines with Divine Light. I’m sure you looked at Jesus first in this painting and saw how bright He is. Good job – this means you are growing in your ability to “read” and understand sacred art!

This painting shows Jesus in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem talking to rabbis, which means teachers in English. The story about how He got there is a little exciting; I think you are going to like it.

Jesus is 12 years old in this picture. Who do you know who is 12 years old? It’s funny to imagine Jesus the same age as you, or the same age as your brother or your cousin! But He was! Guess what happened. His parents left the city of Jerusalem without Him!! They didn’t realize it, I don't know if He realized it, but there He was for a couple of days!! And when His parents finally found Him, He says something that sounds like talking back … but was it? Let’s try to make some sense of all of this! WOW!

In ancient times, Jewish men were required to go to Jerusalem three times each year; one of those times was Passover, which celebrates God delivering the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. When these Jewish men took their families to Jerusalem, they stayed for a minimum of two days, up to about a week. You might remember that Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover with His disciples when He was a grown-up—we Christians call this Holy Week, and we celebrate His pilgrimage to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the one who remembered and told all of the details of this event so that it could be written down. She really made a point of saying that Jesus was 12 because being 12 years old was an important age. Jesus was just on the brink of manhood; when He turned 13, He would experience a special ceremony that would make Him a full member of His religious community. He would then be responsible in ways that adults were. When He was 12, He kind of tagged along on the trip to Jerusalem because St. Joseph had to go; when He was 13 and older, He was required to make the trip.
Picture
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
​

​Have you ever gone somewhere with your big, extended family, but not everyone could fit into one car? All the uncles and aunts line up their cars, everybody piles in, and you all pull onto the highway and follow each other. This is called a 
caravan. Those are exciting trips because your parents let you travel in your cousins’ car while your grandparents travel in your car. Your parents trust that the aunt and uncle you are traveling with is keeping track of you so you don’t get lost, right?
Well, that’s exactly what the Holy Family did on this trip. Their caravan was not a line of cars, pick-ups, SUVs, and vans following each other. In Jesus’ time, people walked, rode donkeys, and rode camels in a caravan. Other than that, it was the same. Jesus was allowed to run up ahead or fall back behind in the line so that He could hang out with His cousin John the Baptist. And the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph trusted that John’s parents and all the other adult relatives and friends in the caravan were helping keep track of them and the other boys and girls. Just like us, they probably listened to music, sang some songs, laughed, fought (!!), and spent some quiet time. Can you remember a trip you took like that?
Picture
Image by JimboChan from Pixabay 
Picture
​This was probably a huge caravan because Nazareth, Jesus’ town, is about 100 miles north of Jerusalem. It was going to be a long trip with maybe three or four nights camping out. At the end of the first day of walking, I imagine the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph looking for Jesus because it was probably time to wash up and eat. But they could not find Him. How do you think they may have felt?
​

Well, they had to walk back to Jerusalem to find Him. I can tell you because I am a grown-up: I would have been aggravated, then scared, then upset. Then when I finally found my child, I would feel relieved, then angry, then happy. Do your parents agree with me? I bet they do! And you know who else agrees with me? St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother. (Luke 2: 48, 50)
Do you know what Jesus said to His parents when His mother said, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety”? He said, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Uh-oh. Does that sound like talking back? To me it sort of does.

But then I have to stop and think. Jesus is God. God is always good. Would Jesus break His Father's commandment and talk back to His mother? Would He be disrespectful to His parents? We have to be very careful when we read this Scripture passage. Of course, Jesus would not be disrespectful to His parents or disobey them.

Have your parents ever asked you to do something that you didn’t do right away, but you know in your heart that you didn’t intend to be disrespectful? Here’s an example: maybe you are so focused on reading a novel or playing a video game; your mom asks you vacuum the living room. You kind of hear her and you kind of say “ok. In a minute.” Two hours later you roll out of your room and Mom announces that you are punished. “But it only felt like five minutes passed, Mom!! Mooooooom! Mom?!”

It happens. People who study Scripture help us to stretch our imaginations in the right direction. Is it possible that Jesus was just so involved with listening, learning, and talking about God and a Messiah that He hadn’t realized that the caravan left without Him?

We’re all taught to “stay put” if we get lost; was that what He was doing?

Maybe He just couldn’t believe that His parents could actually leave without Him; they’re the parents – how could they not know with 100% certainty that He was with the group before they left?

Others ask us to consider that Jesus has a "Father" and a "father." When One says, "stay" and the other says, "Let's go," which one should young Jesus prioritize in obeying? Inside your Bible, Luke 2: 49 has a footnote that explains: 
"I must be in my Father’s house":
this phrase can also be translated, “I must be about my Father’s work.”
​In either translation, Jesus refers to God as his Father. His divine sonship, and his obedience to his heavenly Father’s will, take precedence over his ties to his family.
Picture
So what was Jesus doing while He waited for His parents to come get Him? Let’s look at the painting again. Look at Jesus’ face; He looks so rugged and mature. Even though Jesus is 12 here, and fully human, we can’t forget that He is also fully divine. His Holy Face reveals His wisdom.

Let’s look at the artist’s use of light coming forth from Jesus. He doesn’t have a halo, but there is light coming from His head through His hair, can you see it? Use your finger or just your eyes to trace the shape of the light – you should be tracing an oval or vertical rectangle, can you do it? This oval shape is called a mandorla and it is usually used only in relief sculpture or architecture. It is like a halo around His whole body. Halos, mandorlas, and aureolas are all artistic demonstrations of a person’s holiness.

Jesus is surrounded by five teachers or scholars who live and work in the Temple. These men are experts in the Scripture passages we call the Old Testament. Jesus is the New Testament, and even at this age, He is explaining Scripture to them. Look how carefully these teachers listen. How are they reacting? What are they thinking? 
Look at the rabbi who is sitting down. He’s turning the pages of his book as if he’s trying to debate or find an answer, but his hands are limp on the table as he realizes the Old Way has no value in the presence of the Christ Child’s wisdom. Can you see the rabbi with a scroll in his right hand and a closed book under his left elbow? These men are Doctors of the Old Law; their precious texts are closed up. The Old Law and the Old Covenants are symbolically passing away as they make way for the New Covenant between God and man. ​

Now, with The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple
in our imagination, let us pray.


If you want to pray the previous Joyful Mysteries also, go to
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple




​For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The Fifth Joyful Mystery, The Finding in the Temple. When Jesus was twelve years old, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the most important Jewish feasts: Passover. After about a week, Joseph and Mary joined a caravan to return to Nazareth, the town where they were living. They thought Jesus was with them, but He had stayed behind to spend more time in the Temple, God's house on earth. Mary and Joseph hurried back to Jerusalem, and after 3 days, they found Him in the Temple seated among the teachers and scholars, listening and asking questions. He returned to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary, who remembered the details of this time forever. Jesus was perfectly obedient to His parents as He grew up.
​
Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

Merry Christmas!

And happy feast day! Today we celebrate our parish's patron saint: The Holy Family!

Secretly, many parents feel relief when they learn about the mystery we encountered today. When you have some time, I strongly encourage you to read this short, easy-to-read list titled "That One Time Jesus Got Lost ... And What It Taught Me About Parenting." ​It will empower you and its application will strengthen your family bond.

This has been our fifth thus final decade of the Rosary. I hope you've enjoyed our slow journey through the Joyful Mysteries and that you learned something new or thought about something you already knew in a new way. These pages will remain on our website, and I hope you revisit them every once in a while, or at least every Advent.

Blessings,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
Picture
2 Comments

Rosary, JOYFUL Mysteries

12/20/2020

4 Comments

 

Fourth Decade: The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
by Rembrandt van Rijn (c.1631)
oil on panel
(about 24 inches high and 19 inches wide)
Currently located in the Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery, The Hague, Netherlands
Here we are, standing on the slate floor inside the world-famous Temple in Jerusalem, action all around us. Look at the crowds of people climbing up and down the stairway. I can barely see the people moving around in the dim recesses of the Temple—it’s so dark in here you have to look carefully! This sure is a busy place. But wait –there’s an intimate, quiet, yet commanding group in front of us. What’s going on here? This looks important.​​
Picture
The Holy Family is in the temple to dedicate their newborn Baby Jesus to God. Our Lady, dressed in Marian blue, is in the very center of the small group. St. Joseph is squatting to her right. He holds two pure white doves near the floor. An old man with flowing, white hair and a long, white beard to the Virgin’s left holds the Holy Infant. Three men stand behind the group, bending in to get a closer look. They want to know why this old man is so awe-struck. A Jewish priest stands in front of the group, with his back to us. His hand is raised as if he’s astonished, or maybe he is giving a blessing. Let’s understand this a little better.

According to ancient Jewish custom, the first-born son in every Jewish family was "presented," or dedicated, to God. Each mother also offered God a gift: wealthy families offered a lamb, and poor families offered a pair of white doves. This celebration happened in the Temple in Jerusalem when the baby was at least 40 days old. Modern-day Orthodox and Conservative Jews (and to an extent, Reform Jews) continue this tradition, which is called Pidyon haben . 
Picture




​Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a small town about four miles from the city of Jerusalem, the capital city. Can you find those two places on the map? It took St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary about 1 or 2 hours to walk from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, but they walked and carried the 40-day-old Newborn King the whole way because this was important to do. They were a devout Jewish family. (Luke 2: 22-24)

​I don’t know about you, but I feel like coming closer to this group so I can hear what is going on. Come on; let’s go in.

​I think the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph were supposed to go up the stairway to make their dedication and offering like everyone else. They were interrupted at the foot of the stairs when the man with long white hair saw them and recognized that the Child they carried was the One he had waited his whole life to see. His name is Simeon. He has taken the Babe from His Mother's arms. Gently cradling the tiny swaddled Infant, Simeon looks to God in Heaven and opens his mouth to speak. Now I can hear the elderly man speaking—Simeon is calling the Baby “The Redeemer” and “The Messiah.” He tells Jesus’ parents that the Holy Spirit had revealed that Simeon himself would not die until he had seen the Redeemer.  (Luke 2: 25-32)
Picture
Do you remember the Ribera painting we looked at for the Third Joyful Mystery? It was called The Adoration of the Shepherds. There are two artistic devices that are used in that painting and the painting we are looking at today; let’s see if you can identify them.

​Remember how bright the Baby Jesus was in the Ribera painting? Do you see that again in this painting? The light is brightest around Jesus. The bright golden light you see in this painting is not a sunbeam or a moonbeam coming through the roof. This is a divine light that floods up and out from the Child Himself, can you see it? The Light has pierced and entered the dark world.
                                           Ribera                                                                                                  Rembrandt
Picture
Picture
Can you see how Our Lady places her hand on her heart in the Rembrandt painting? Do you remember this from the previous mystery? We saw one of the shepherds doing this in the Ribera painting we looked at for the Third Joyful Mystery. Do you remember what it means? Yes, it means that Mary has realized something at a very deep level about God. This time, it’s something sad. Do you want to know what it is? Simeon told Mary that her own heart would be pierced with a sword. (Luke 2: 33-35)

It’s important to know that this didn’t literally happen, it didn’t physically happen. In other words, when the Blessed Virgin Mary passed from this world into Heaven, it was NOT because someone violently stabbed her in the chest. When Simeon said that her heart would be pierced by a sword, he meant that symbolically. Have you ever heard someone say, “My heart is broken because you did that” or “When he said that, he stabbed me in the back” or “I feel like I was punched in the stomach when she said that”? These are words grown-ups and older kids use to describe how they feel emotionally. All of these expressions describe deep sadness and disappointment.
Picture
Have you ever seen this image of Mary? WOW! How many swords can you count?! Here, we call Mary “Our Lady of Sorrows.” Sorrow means sad. Even though Our Lady spent most of her life very very very happy
– and now she is VERY VERY VERY happy in Heaven!! –
there was a time when she was very sad. I think the seven swords means that she was something like
  1. Very
  2. Very
  3. Very
  4. Very
  5. Very
  6. Very
  7. Very
sad.  Can you think when this might have been? She was very sad when she saw her Son die, and this image helps us to remember that it’s ok to feel sad sometimes—even our Mother Mary feels sad sometimes.
​​She’s also very sad when she sees people in the world now doing things that do not help them get into Heaven. God the Father loves you very much and wants you to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. All of the angels and saints – including our Blessed Mother—pray for you and will help you get there, where you will NEVER feel sad. 
Won’t that be wonderful?
Picture

Now, with The Presentation of the Child Jesus in our imagination, let us pray.


If you want to pray the previous Mysteries also, go to
The Annunciation
The Visitation 
The Nativity

For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The Fourth Joyful Mystery, The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. All men and women are the children of God. St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary honored God by carrying little Baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem and offering Him and two pure white doves to God. A great prophet named Simeon saw the Baby and knew that this was the Savior of the world, and he proclaimed his belief aloud. A wise woman named Anna blessed the Baby and His dear Mother. Then Mary carried her Son home, where He grew up happily with St. Joseph as His beloved protector and Mary as His beloved teacher and nurse.

Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

An Advent Application

How exciting!! Only four days until Christmas!! Which Mass are you going to? Our schedule is on our Home page, and I hope to see you all there!

It's sometimes difficult to choose which Mass to go to. People have different cultural backgrounds which often dictate certain traditional activities like when to start your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals, what kinds of things you eat, when you will open presents, when extended family will arrive for a visit (and maybe a sleepover!!),  and so on. I grew up following a Polish tradition; while my mom was busy making final preparations in the kitchen (and my dad was desperately wrapping gifts in the basement ...!) my sister and brother and I were in charge of watching the night sky. Record albums would be stacked and spinning in our 6-foot by 2-foot maple cabinet stereo system, and we would be humming, singing, and dancing along to Christmas hymns and songs -- Mitch Miller, Johnny Mathis, Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Percy Faith, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass -- do you know these names?! LOL!
Picture
There it was -- the first star of the night: it was time to eat! This was about 6 or 7pm ... right smack in the middle of a "family" Christmas Eve Mass.

It's tough. Families take on tough things together. May I suggest:
  1. Bring your calendar/Christmas schedule to the table, or at least pick up a piece of paper and a pen.
  2. Gather the family together: your spouse, your kids, grandparents, godparents, the key players.
  3. Light all four of your Advent Wreath candles: violet, violet, rose, violet.
  4. Tell them the schedule you've planned so far for the Christmas Holy Days.
  5. Tell them that the remaining item is when to go to Mass. Ask your kids when they want to go to Mass.
You'll be surprised at their answer when you use the words want to go. The question no longer requires a yes/no response; you've already said "we're going" without saying "we're going." They are now in charge of deciding when to go. They're invested.

And writing it down in your schedule keeps you invested. After all, you are the one with the car keys. 

See you in church.

Blessings,

Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
4 Comments

Rosary, JOYFUL Mysteries

12/13/2020

2 Comments

 


​Third Decade: The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ

L'Adoration des bergers (The Adoration of the Shepherds)
by Jusepe de Ribera (c.1650)
oil on canvas
Currently located in The Louvre Museum in Paris, France
​
The third decade of the Rosary celebrates the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's Christmas in this painting! It’s the day Jesus was born.

I see the Holy Family in the center of this painting. Jesus’ mother Mary is kneeling behind Him. Her hands are together in prayer, and she looks up to Heaven. Jesus’ foster father Joseph is next to her, and his arms are crossed over his chest. He looks down at the infant Jesus. Both parents already know that Jesus is God the Son, and their gestures show that they know it.

The Baby lies in a manger. Look how bright he is! Nothing in the painting is as pure white as He is. Jesus is the Light of the World. Did you notice that the artist Ribera chose to show this adoration of the shepherds during the daytime? The Gospel stories tell us that the shepherds came at night, but here they are, in the daytime. Still, the natural sunlight is a different color from the bright, divine light radiating from the Holy Infant.
Picture
Picture
The Holy Family is surrounded by three shepherds, two men and one woman. Even though they are all inside a dark stable, everyone’s face is reflecting light. This symbolizes that these are people of faith. Even though these people had not heard any of Jesus’ teachings or seen any of His healings, they already believe. 

The peasant woman is looking directly at you. Can you see how she is communicating with you? She carries a basket near her head, but she is able to lift two fingers and point them to Heaven. It’s like she is telling you, This Baby is special. This Baby is God!
The shepherd on the left takes off his hat, which is a gesture of respect. Men never wear hats in a Catholic church! Why? Because gentlemen never ever wear hats indoors, and especially not a church.

​Now look how the shepherd touches his heart. We Catholics touch our hearts during Mass. Why do we do this? This gesture means that we just realized something extremely important about God, and we are starting to deeply understand it. What do you think that this shepherd just realized? 
Picture
Picture
​Let’s look at the shepherd closest to the front of the painting. We can see that he is poor. Look at his bare foot sticking out of his leggings; he doesn’t have a good set of shoes to wear. His jacket is ragged and torn; you can see his white chemise poking through a tear in his jacket’s shoulder. This bergerie (meaning "shepherd" in French) wears a sleeveless sheepskin cote over his jacket. 

​Who is he looking at?

Is he kneeling, or is he genuflecting?

What is he doing with his hands? Why is he doing that?

The shepherds have brought a gift for the Baby Jesus. Can you see what it is? It’s a lamb. This lamb is not acting like a baby sheep. It’s not jumping and playing. It’s laying there, not moving. Can you find the lamb’s hooves? Can you describe them? Yes, they are bound together with rope. Why would the shepherds do that? And why is the lamb kind of hiding under the manger?
Picture
In Christianity, the lamb symbolizes Christ in His Passion, His sacrifice, His torture, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Perhaps Ribera, the artist who structured and painted this work of art, chose to hide the lamb on purpose. Perhaps Ribera was telling the end of the story that was hidden from everyone except God Himself. Notice the Blessed Virgin Mary’s face: it seems a little happy and a little serious. As she looks to Heaven, she is totally aware of who her Son is and why He came to earth.

​Mary is the only person in that space who might be able to see the lamb laying there; the manger would hide the lamb from everyone else’s view. Even still, the others also “knew” and adored Baby Jesus. Their gestures and attitudes mimic ours as we kneel toward the altar during the consecration of the Host. Before we receive Holy Communion, we ask the “Lamb of God” to take away the sins of the world. 
​​
Painted to gaze at Jesus
Picture
Can they see the lamb?
Picture
The Baby Jesus turns His head to look at the bergerie who is genuflecting. Look at Jesus’ little face. His expression is so gracious. He’s not crying or fussing because of the stinky place or people. The manger is roughly fashioned from planks of wood of various sizes – some even broken. The barn is old and dark, and the people are poor, but the artist uses a piece of fancy architecture-- the column in the upper left corner-- to make the place seem fit for a King. Despite the hint of grandeur, what we notice first is the simple yet profound faith of the shepherds.

We listen to Bible stories. We know that Jesus shows His love to the poor. Jesus said that poverty is holy. Poverty allows both givers and recipients of alms to practice virtue. This is something for us to think about and do. How will you and your family help others rejoice this Advent season?
Picture
Bonus challenge: Can you find the cow and the donkey? It's not easy to find the cow!

And what's up in the sky? It's not a helicopter! Tell your parents what's going on there.

Now, with The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ
in our imagination, let us pray.


If you want to pray the previous Mysteries also, go to
The Annunciation
The Visitation

For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The Third Joyful Mystery, The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Roman Emperor ordered all citizens to pay their taxes, but they had to travel to their home cities to do it. So St. Joseph helped the Blessed Virgin Mary onto the back of a donkey, and they travelled to a town called Bethlehem. Bethlehem was so full of visitors that Joseph and Mary could not find a house or inn to sleep in, so they had to camp. They found a spot that was sheltered, and there in that place, Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born. Jesus' birthday was the first Christmas.

Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

An Advent Application

Picture
Gaudete, Holy Family Families!
​The Lord is near!
(BTW, gaudete is pronounced in 3 syllables:
gow-det-tay , and no syllable is stronger than another.)

It's time to light three candles on your Advent wreath: first violet (hope), then another violet (faith), then finally rose (joy). 

Gaudete is Latin for rejoice, and that is what we all are too ready to do in this year that seemed to rob us of joy and delight. We will not let Satan win! We have learned to stop and to listen in order to hear the Holy Spirit whispering, leading us to discover ways of joy and happiness.
  • We have coped.
  • We have bonded.
  • We have laughed.
  • We have experienced moments of hope and resilience. 
With this week's painting, I explored the ideas of hope and resilience with you. Let's bring those lessons into 3D: it's time to set up all pieces of your Nativity set, except one.

As you set up the stable, cow, donkey, hay, and manger, think of how Jesus' parents showed flexibility and toughness as they settled in and prepared for Jesus' birth... in a place they really didn't want to be.

As you set up the shepherds and sheep, think of their hope for a better life and their faith in this Infant to help them get there.

As you add St. Joseph, think of his joy when the Baby finally arrived; he saw that, for now at least, they were safe and sound, and he was grateful for it.

Don't place the Baby Jesus in the manger yet -- put that piece aside. You'll place Him in the manger on Christmas Eve night, or on Christmas Day. Instead, if your Nativity set has never been blessed, bring the statue of the Baby Jesus or the manger (crib) to Mass with you this week. It's Bambinelli Sunday! Ask the priest or deacon to bless it. (It should only be blessed once.)

Talk about this question with your family: How will I help others rejoice this season, even when everything seems disappointing or not as fun? I'm sure you will think of something fantastic.

Blessings,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
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Rosary, JOYFUL Mysteries

12/6/2020

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The First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Annunciation, is here.

PARENTING TIP: Notice that my letter here is broken into 3 parts: painting reflection, Rosary prayers, and Advent application. You know your children best, and you have options:
  • You could do all three of these activities back-to-back for a long period of time,
  • or you could do all three but spread out (for example, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one before bed),
  • or you can just do one of the activities and forget the other two!

The period of Advent should be peaceful, not stressful. Do what you can. Jesus knows your heart.
​Blessings,
​Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education

Second Decade: The Visitation

There are four Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Let's think about St. Luke a bit today.

St. Luke is a true artist whose writings have inspired countless painters, engravers, sculptors, poets, lyricists, composers, and writers all over the world since the beginning of Christianity. St. Luke is the Evangelist who gives all the details of Jesus' boyhood starting with stories about His cousins and His mother. If you look in your Bible, you will see that Chapter 1 of Luke's Gospel is called "The Infancy Narrative" and is broken into parts called The Announcement of the Birth of John, The Announcement of the Birth of Jesus, and Mary Visits Elizabeth. This chapter also includes two canticles (songs). Chapter 2's stories include The Birth of Jesus, The Visit of the Shepherds, and The Presentation in the Temple.

​You know, if all of this sounds familiar, you just might be an almost-expert in the Gospel of St. Luke!
The Visitation
by Raphael (c.1519)
oil on wood transferred to canvas
Currently located in The Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain
Picture
I'd like you to take a book from your prayer space and open it anywhere near the middle. Just look at it. It doesn't matter what page it's open to, and it doesn't have to be perfectly in the middle -- just open it sort of in the middle and lay it on a table or the floor or your lap. Look at it. See how the pages are joined? There's probably some thread or glue there holding the book together, and the pages smoothly come up from the binding and slope beautifully downward.
Picture
Now look at our featured painting. St. Elizabeth and the Virgin Mary are the main subjects in this painting by Raphael. ​What are they doing? Think about who their children are. Why do you think these two moms are holding hands? And why in the world did I ask you to look at the way a book is joined together?! ....

St. John the Baptist is the last prophet of the Old Way. Jesus Christ, our Savior and King, is the New Way. Elizabeth's and Mary's clasped hands are symbolic of the Old Testament and the New Testament. They are joined, but they are separate. The Old Testament is the time of waiting and multiple covenants. The New Testament is the time of grace, the time of Our Lord, the ever-lasting covenant. ​The Old is giving way to the New.




​A funny thing about this painting is that the future is shown in the background. Look over Elizabeth's shoulder. Can you see a tiny painting of St. John, the child of St. Elizabeth, baptizing Jesus, the Child of Mary, and God hovering with angels in the sky above them? This event is described in Matthew 3:17. They are near the bank of the Jordan River in the Holy Land, where you may visit someday and stand in the same water that Jesus and John stood in. 
Picture
While John's work was coming to a close, Jesus' work was just beginning.
​The Old Testament has ended, and the New Testament has begun.
Like I said at the beginning, St. Luke inspired many artists, so the scene of the Visitation has been painted a lot. All of them tend to show St. Elizabeth bending or bowing toward Mary. In almost all paintings, they touch -- in our painting, they hold hands, but in some they are hugging or they are touching each other's bellies.

Sometimes Elizabeth and Mary are alone, and sometimes other women are in the room. These other women might be related to St. Joseph, Jesus' foster father, or maybe they are the mothers of some of the future Apostles.

You probably know that shells are a symbol of baptism. Can you find any in some paintings? If there are plants, look at those closely-- artists think of everything! Strawberries are a symbol of righteousness, and lilies signify the coming of Christ. Plants that look like weeds represent the humble path we walk with Christ.

Now, with the Visitation in our imagination,
let us pray.

For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture


​For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The Second Joyful Mystery, The Visitation. The Archangel Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was to have a little son. This was a surprise to most people because Elizabeth was already old enough to be a grandmother or even a great grandmother! Elizabeth had no children or sisters or mother to share her happiness or to help her, but she had a cousin who could. The Blessed Virgin Mary was so excited for her older cousin that she hurried over the hills to take care of her. When Elizabeth saw Mary, she cried, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb!" Mary answered by saying the Magnificat. Mary stayed with her cousin until her baby John was born. Mary was Elizabeth's nurse and maid servant. When little John was born and Elizabeth was strong again, Mary returned to her own home to wait for the birth of her own dear Son, Jesus. When Elizabeth's baby grew up, he was John the Baptist.

Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

An Advent Application

Season's Greetings, Favorite Families!

It's time to add to your Nativity scene. Last week we displayed just the Virgin Mary and Archangel Gabriel pieces to depict the Annunciation. This week, let's add any palm trees and camels. If you don't have camels, display your donkey. Make it look like Mary is traveling between towns to visit Elizabeth. If you have a large Nativity set, you may use one of the village women to signify St. Elizabeth. Gabriel is Mary's Guardian Angel, and since our Guardian Angels never leave us, he should stay in the scene. How I wish I could see your display! If you'd like to, upload a photo in the comments, or send it to my email address!

Also last week I told you that the words of the Hail Mary prayer come from St. Luke's Gospel, particularly 
Luke 1: 28 and Luke 1: 41. This week, the Canticle of Mary (Luke 1: 46-56), sometimes called the Magnificat, is the important Scripture passage to focus on.  ​

Have you chosen to use an Advent wreath? This week you will light two violet candles. (If you don't have an Advent wreath, light any other candles you have, even the electric ones, preferably white.)

Turn down the lights in the rest of your home. Turn on your Christmas tree lights, if they are already up.

​Hold your Rosary in your hands. Play the video below, and while you are listening, look at the crucifix. Kiss it if you are moved to.

Close your eyes and listen, or view the two paintings and see the similarities in symbolism to the one I featured. The first painting is by Domenico Ghirlandaio (c.1491) and the second is by Jacopo Pontormo (c.1528).

The words you hear so beautifully chanted are the words the Blessed Virgin Mary said; nowadays, we hear and possibly use the hashtag #blessed. Mary had so much more to say than just that. You're hearing Latin in the video; her words in English are in your Bible Luke 1: 46-55, and are copied here:


Picture
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” 

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Rosary, JOYFUL Mysteries

11/29/2020

4 Comments

 
Before beginning your prayers, take some time to look at the painting. Read its description while looking at the painting carefully. Then, while you are praying, continue to look at the painting and think about the story it tells.

You may also wish to review:
​​Look in your children's workbooks or click here to become familiar with the parts of your Rosary.

Click here to understand why you shouldn't just launch into the prayers.

First Decade: The Annunciation

The word "annunciation" looks like the word "announce," and that's what happened during the annunciation to Mary. God asked Mary, through the Archangel Gabriel, to be the mother of Jesus. Probably the first thing you see when you look at this painting is the Archangel Gabriel in the bright left area and the Blessed Virgin Mary inside her bedroom on the right. There is man next to the Archangel; this is St. Emidius listening carefully to the Archangel.

The artist Carlo Crivelli painted so many symbols into this picture; let's discover a few that will help us meditate on the awesomeness of this event-- and it really is 'awesome.' People had been waiting and praying for millenia that God would come and save us, giving us the opportunity to enter into Heaven and be with Him again, so we celebrate that our prayers were finally answered when we meditate on the Annunciation-- that's why it's part of the "joyful" mysteries!

Can you find the beam of golden light exploding out of the heavens? Follow the beam -- where does it land? It shines upon the head of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Do you see the white dove hovering over the crown of her head? We recognize the words of the Gospel: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1: 35). 

By the way, did you know that you have memorized some Scripture passages? The words of the Hail Mary prayer are in the Bible-- look up Luke 1: 28 and Luke 1: 41!
The Annunciation with St. Emidius
by Carlo Crivelli (c.1486)
oil on wood transferred to canvas
Currently located in The National Gallery in London, England
Picture

Let's look at the painting again. It's hard to miss that beautiful peacock perched on the ledge over the doorway. The peacock symbolizes Jesus -- He's right there with God listening to His Mother say her 'yes.' Even more, the peacock symbolizes the Four Last Things: death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell. How? Well, the "eyes" on the peacock's long tail feathers symbolize the "all-seeing" God, and the peacock's tough skin reminds us of Jesus' resurrection and ours.

It seems random that there's a gourd and an apple just laying in the street. The artist Crivelli included this produce in a prominent place for a reason, and he included it in so many of his paintings that it has become known as Crivelli's signature motif. Let's figure out why Crivelli liked it so much: Who in the Old Testament took a piece of fruit from a tree that they weren't supposed to eat from? The apple represents Adam and Eve’s
fall from grace. The Blessed Virgin Mary is called the New Eve. We experience death through Eve, but Mary's 'yes' in the Annunciation made it possible for us to experience everlasting life with God in Heaven again. 

The symbolism of the gourd is taken from the story of Jonah. You know the story of
Jonah and the whale -- that Jonah came out alive after an experience like that is a prefigurement of Jesus' Resurrection. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus Himself draws the parallel. In our own imaginations, we can see the shape of a gourd is similar to the shape of a whale. The story of Jonah ends with him sitting under a bush (Jonah 4: 6). Although not written in English in our Scripture, the original Hebrew language tells us this plant covered with gourds.

Together, the apple and the gourd tell us that, because of Mary’s 'yes,' the human race has been redeemed (saved) from the death of sin.

Here's a challenge: can you find the glass vase on the shelf in Mary’s room? It's exactly above the core of her body, isn't it? Crivelli chose a glass vase on purpose: it represents the perfect purity of the sinless Virgin. In other Renaissance paintings, artists painted a ray of light passing through the vase, which causes it to magnify and shine more powerfully. That symbolizes the fullness of grace and power of the Holy Spirit passing though Mary's soul, as she herself expressed to her cousin Elizabeth, as recorded in Luke 1: 46-56.

Finally, a word about the man with the Archangel Gabriel. His name is St. Emidius; notice that he's carrying a cathedral in his hands. Carlo Crivelli made this painting to decorate the Church of the Annunciation, and St. Emidius is the patron saint of
Ascoli Piceno, the city in Italy where the church is located. Maybe you can visit it someday!

Now, with the Annunciation in our imagination,
let us pray.

For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The First Joyful Mystery, The Annunciation. When Adam and Eve sinned in Paradise, they lost their right to happiness. But God promised to send His only Son to regain this happiness for them. Out of all of the world, God chose Mary to be the Mother of His Son. When Mary answered yes, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, God's Son, entered the world. This is called the Incarnation.

Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

An Advent Application

This weekend you should set up a prayer space in your home. It could be a little table off in a corner of the living room, or taking over your kitchen island, or some other place where your family and friends can see and interact with it often.

Use a tablecloth, doily, or cloth napkin as your base. For Advent and Christmas, violet, rose, white, and gold are your best choices.

Companies sell Advent wreaths and calendars. If you like those devotionals, use them, but you don't have to. The candles for the wreath must be 3 violet and 1 rose. Instructions for lighting the wreath every Sunday can easily be found on the Internet: violet, violet, rose, violet. Calendars or paper chains should contain good works for family members to perform, not just treats. (If you purchase anything from Amazon, please choose Holy Family as your charity when logging into Amazon Smile. Thank you!)

I highly recommend you keep your family's Rosary beads and a Bible in your prayer space. This is also a great spot for your Nativity set; you ought only set up the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Guardian Angel Archangel Gabriel pieces this week. Hide all the other pieces for now; they will slowly come out. I'll let you know who comes out next week,

Blessings,
​Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
Picture
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