Gifts of Epiphany

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany (yes, some of you celebrate it on Tuesday which is technically the real day but, being lazy, we wrap it all up into one day. Wouldn't want people to have to go to Mass twice in one week (lol...you can guess who said that) To be fair, we will be at Mass on Tuesday as well but...I digress).

I like that it was today because, finally having a minute to stop and collect my thoughts, I realized that today is also the feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. From Franciscan Media's Saint of the Day:

Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in the span of 46 years while raising her five children.

Five children? Yep, that's me. 46? That's me too. So, perhaps, Mother Seton had her hand on one shoulder while the Holy Spirit pushed from behind. I haven't done all the amazing things she did in that short life but I am trying to be ever more open to any opportunity to expose our kids to the faith. I know there was some extra-worldly encouragement to get us through what turned out to be a glorious day, full of gifts, as we celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings.

We went to Mass last night because #1 was serving. I'm not thrilled with the vigil, as you know, but it did give us a rare treat...time to sleep in on a rainy, windy morning. We were up, dressed and fed in time to head out for Childrens Rosary . I L-O-V-E this time with the kids every month. There are such faithful, loving people involved. It is an amazing opportunity to pass our beliefs, along with several generations of others, to our children. They love getting together with this group. What an amazing gift.

 

 Practicing his lector skills before we begin.

Beautiful people, beautiful chapel, glorifying Jesus through His Mother

We headed home and had some quiet time while we waited in great anticipation (and did a few rehearsals) for our reenactment of the Three Kings arriving to present their gifts to the newborn King.

 After a few costume adjustments he proceeded to jump around yelling "flap, flap, flap"

 Blessed Mother and our Kings (frankincense candle...purple box for the myrrh)

Presenting their gifts

Today is also the day that the kids open their final Christmas gift...this year it was from their other siblings. Tradition in the making.

Finally, we come together on this day to bless our home as a family...

20 + C + M+ B+15

This inscription is usually written in chalk above the door. The

20 and 15 refer to the year, the CMB are said to represent ei-

ther Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar-the Magi-or the Latin

Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means "Christ, bless

this home. - Liturgical Publications

How grateful we were this year to have a special guest! Our deacon is one special man; dedicated, faith-filled and hard working. He is so loving to our kids, always willing to give an extra blessing after Mass or educate them in some way...like today, as he was putting on his garb, he was explaining/asking/quizzing them on the different parts. He was such a good sport...going room-by-room with us to bless our home with holy water after DH wrote in the "5" (with our newly blessed chalk pen!). Amazing, amazing blessing we were given today.

How blessed we were to have this day, shared with family and friends, spending time to help our children learn about the beginning of Jesus' life in this world. How grateful I am to have these "gentle nudges" to seek out these opportunities. There may be other things to do but nothing that is this important. God is so good!

We are blessed! Happy Epiphany everyone! St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Pray for Us!

I like it...

How would our actions be different today if we first raised our eyes and hearts to God? Would we do and say the same things? I know I would not. What a great reminder! (I added the italics because that's a huge deal for me - resisting my natural impulses...which are often not "of God")

"It is necessary to have an absolutely sure intention in all our actions, so that the generous fulfillment of our daily duties may be directed toward the highest supernatural ideal. Thus, our life, apart from moments of prayer, will be a prayerful life. It is clear that the habit of giving an upward glance to God at the moment of action is a great assistance in aiding us to behave always with a pure intention and in freeing us from our natural impulses and fancies, so, that, retaining our self-mastery, or rather, God becoming the sole Master, all our movements become dependent upon the Holy Spirit. We see in the Gospel that whenever our Lord was about to undertake some important step, He always paused for a moment to raise His eyes to Heaven, and only after this moment of recollection did He take up the work He had to do. 'He lifted up His eyes to Heaven' is a phrase that recurs with significant frequency. And doubtless, when there was no outward sign of this prayer, there was the inward offering. The ideal is the same for us. The constant subjection of self to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is made easier from the fact of His presence in the soul, where He is asked explicitly to preside over all our doings . . .We shall not submit wholeheartedly to the invisible Guest unless He is kept in close proximity to us."
— Raoul Plus, S.J.